Returning to the upstairs bedroom, Mia found that Timothy still hadn't returned. She thought that he is likely occupied in the study. She had become accustomed to their routine—him often spending nights in the study, and her in the bedroom. Turning around, she entered the walk-in closet, noting that, apart from Timothy's wardrobe, it predominantly housed her clothing.To her surprise, it appeared unchanged from the time she had left.Expecting to find Maya's clothes, she meticulously sifted through the closet but found no evidence of any woman's belongings.This situation struck Mia as peculiar.Leaning against the wardrobe door, she pondered. She was intimately acquainted with this space, and there were no clues that could escape her notice.Strangely, no traces of Maya were found.Recalling Holly's remark about Maya never staying overnight, Mia wondered if Timothy might genuinely be morally upright. Mia realized her attention had once again shifted back to Timothy.With
Timothy immediately sat up, his tone growing colder, "What happened?"Despite meticulous efforts to secure the right doctor for Laura's surgery, the expectation remained that a smooth procedure would welcome them on their arrival."Unfortunately, the doctor's been involved in a car accident, and is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.""I'm heading there right away," Timothy declared, throwing off the covers and going to the closet to get dressed.The call had also roused Mia, who lay next to him. Hearing the urgency in Timothy's voice, she couldn't help but wonder if complications had arisen at his workplace.Timothy emerged from the closet shortly after, dressed and wearing a somber expression.Rubbing her eyes, Mia asked, "What's going on?"After a brief pause, Timothy assured, "It's nothing major."Without revealing specifics about the doctor, he promptly left.Rushing to the hospital, Timothy found Heath waiting outside the emergency room."Mr. Barrett, the d
However, moments later, Timothy's phone chimed with a WhatsApp message from Maya.Reading the message, he swiftly left the bedroom.Hearing him leave, Mia slowly opened her eyes, a touch of irony glinting in her gaze.She gently rested her hand on her belly, steadied herself, and drifted into a peaceful slumber.The next day, Mia returned to her home to pack for her college enrollment.With a concerned expression, Patricia grasped Mia's hand, asking, "Must you stay on campus? If you come back, I can whip up delicious meals for you every day.""Aunt Patricia, I'm not a child anymore. I can handle things on my own," Mia asserted.Mia was set on her decision to stay on campus.If Patricia found out she was staying at the Barrett residence, she'd undoubtedly fret, risking an unintentional slip in front of Mia's brothers.Mia hoped to avoid complications, especially with Laura's surgery looming just a week ahead.After navigating through this week's charade, freedom would be withi
Maya vented her frustration, muttering, "Connor is avoiding me. With Mrs. Barrett Senior's surgery coming up, how am I supposed to negotiate with Timothy if he doesn't show up?"For Maya, convincing Connor to perform Laura's surgery was her only bargaining chip."Ms. Lane, unfortunately, the doctor Timothy enlisted is no longer available for the surgery," Kaleb informed Maya. "Our only feasible option now is to have your brother handle the operation, but it's crucial not to rush the process," he continued. "How can I not feel anxious? Didn't you witness it that day at the hospital too? I can't believe Timothy prioritized saving Mia. Besides that, he hasn't agreed to my conditions and even sought out another doctor for Grandma Laura's surgery," exasperation evident in Maya's voice.Maya perceived the situation slipping out of her control, particularly with Timothy's attitude toward Mia, intensifying her sense of crisis."Ms. Lane, as long as Timothy has a favor to ask of you, th
Mia stepped out of the restaurant, and her eyes caught the gleam of a sleek black luxury car parked nearby. A subtle anticipation flickered in her gaze—was Timothy already there?After a brief pause, Mia turned to Gina and said, "Tell everyone to go ahead. I'll just step back inside for a moment to use the restroom."Retreating into the restaurant, Mia lingered in hiding for a good ten minutes. She waited patiently to make sure most of her classmates had left before making her exit.Suddenly, her phone rang.Mia answered, hearing Timothy's deep voice on the other end. "Come out.""I'm on my way." Mia replied. Exiting the restaurant with a casual stride, Mia observed her classmates had dispersed. Approaching the sleek black luxury car, she hurriedly opened the door and slid inside. Timothy's gaze sharpened. "Since when does attending class come with social commitments?" he questioned.Mia calmly defended herself, "I just grabbed a meal with some old classmates after going back
Following Kennedy's words, unease washed over Mia like an unwelcome tide.She shot a hesitant glance toward Timothy, silently pleading with her eyes.Timothy responded casually saying, "It's alright."A sense of relief flooded Mia as she watched Kennedy usher Timothy his seat. Timothy sat in the front row, signifying his esteemed position.Puzzled, Mia wondered about Timothy's unexpected presence, considering his demanding schedule.However, the reason would soon unfold.As Mia ascended the stage, Timothy, the generous sponsor behind the financial grant, took the initiative to personally bestow the awards upon the worthy recipients.Mia observed Timothy's polished appearance and graceful demeanor.With the award certificate in hand, he cast a patronizing glance her way, remarking, "Keep up the good work."Suppressing her true sentiments, Mia offered a forced smile as she took the certificate, momentarily entertaining a rebellious urge to confront him head-on.The award cere
The call ended, and Mia received a Starbucks voucher from Nathan short after.However, she put up a wry smile. Her pregnancy meant bidding farewell to her beloved coffee. Ten minutes ticked away before Mia got the information Nathan had sent. True enough, the name tied to the IP address was none other than Taylor.With a determined glint in his eyes, Nathan inquired, "Do you want me to reveal this person's identity?"Mia responded firmly, "No need, I'll take it from here."The campus forum buzzed with the incident, and quickly became the talk of the college.With no afternoon classes, Mia headed straight to the studio.Just as she took her seat, Felix emerged from the office, saying, "Mia, I heard about the forum chaos. Remember, a clear conscience is your best defense.""I'm aware," Mia replied calmly.Having unraveled the culprit's identity, Mia had a plan in mind to tackle the situation.Upon learning of the incident, Wilhelmina immediately forwarded the link to Shelly, s
Suddenly, a chilling, resonant voice sliced through the tension within the office.Mia turned around, her eyes locking onto Timothy's silhouette by the doorway. His towering and commanding presence seemed to eclipse the ambient light.Yet, amidst the gravity of the moment, a peculiar flutter stirred within her heart.Timothy's authoritative aura filled the space as he entered the room. Kennedy quickly interjected, "Mr. Barrett, what brings you here?"Timothy's eyes held a piercing intensity as he declared, "I'm here to clarify. The car shown in the photo belongs to me."Upon hearing this unexpected revelation, Kennedy's expression stiffened, leaving him momentarily speechless as he worked to regain his composure.The last thing he anticipated was that the car in question belonged to Timothy.Stammering, Kennedy tried to defuse the tension, assuring, "Mr. Barrett, our sole purpose is to investigate the matter. There are no ulterior motives."Unfazed, Timothy casually sat on a
None of the major shareholders was a fool.After that, Mia was busy handling Barrett Group affairs and barely had time to rest.With an exhausted look, she returned to the hospital.Mia looked at Timothy and said, "I'll run away if you don't wake up soon.""No… Please don't go…" Timothy grabbed her hand. His gaze was deep.Mia's eyes reddened as she gazed at the man who had just regained consciousness. Timothy finally came out of his coma.After that, everything was back to normal. Those who caused trouble quieted down.Sharon visited Timothy and told him that she was going to settle down overseas and would not come back anymore.Timothy bought her a property and gave her a huge sum of money before sending her away from Bern City.As for Maya, it was discovered that she was not the granddaughter of the Prime Minister of Yellow Island but merely his caregiver. Yet, she had been deceiving people outside.After Maya was exposed, she ran away dejectedly. Nobody knew where she was
Sage stood beside Timothy in silence.Soon, news that Timothy was hospitalized spread, and Barrett Group's stock plunged.The relatives of the Barrett family requested to hold a board meeting to elect another CEO.On the day of the board meeting, Mia brought her two children to Barrett Group.They managed to keep everyone on a leash as Sage bore a striking resemblance to Timothy.Mia marched into the meeting room, sat in Timothy's chair, and glanced at everyone present. "Let's begin. Didn't you all want to have a meeting?"One of the middle-aged men said, "Ms. Lane, this is the Barrett Group board meeting. It's not appropriate for you to be here.""That's right. Though the kids are Mr. Barrett's children, they're still young and do not have any shares. You all shouldn't be here."Mia flung a document onto the table. "This is an agreement signed by Grandma Laura to authorize me to manage Timothy's shares.""Anyway, we still need to elect a CEO to handle our company affairs.""
"Because to me, you're my family too," Timothy said.When Sharon heard the word 'family', her eyes turned red. Then, she turned around and left the ward.Mia walked out and asked Peyton to send Sharon to the hospital for a checkup.Looking at Sharon's back, Mia said, "I hope you don't let him down since he regards you as his family. He's the only one you can depend on now."Sharon did not turn her head around. Mia did not know if Sharon would listen to her advice.Mia immediately called her brother. "Dominic, I met Maya."She then told him everything about Maya.Dominic frowned. "I never thought she would go to Yellow Island.""Do you think she's really the granddaughter of the Prime Minister of Yellow Island?""Don't you know how good she is at lying?" Dominic said.Mia nodded. "Yeah, you're right. But I still don't know whether she's related to Yellow Island.""Don't worry, I'll find out."When Mia returned to the ward after ending the call, she saw a doctor bustling arou
Mia went straight to the hospital to ask Timothy about the matter.But when she arrived, someone had reached there earlier than her."Timothy, what do you mean? All I did was pull a few strings, but you want to humiliate me publicly. How am I going to maintain my standing in the company?" Sharon said.Mia went in with a frown. "This is funny. It's not just about pulling a few strings, but it's aimed at me. Mrs. Barrett, your actions have leaked confidential commercial information.""Stop trying to scare me. It's my son who opened doors for you. It's the Yellow Islanders who wanted to collaborate with us, and they are much better than you," Sharon retorted. Mia said with a half-hearted smile, "At first, I didn't want to pursue this matter. But since you put it this way, wait for my lawyer's letter then.""Such big talk, huh?" A mysterious-looking woman wearing a hat and a mask walked in from outside.Mia felt that the woman looked somewhat familiar. "Are you the rumored granddau
Mia glanced at the person on the screen. Without answering the woman, she turned off the laptop.After all, there was no need for Mia to explain anything.After Mia turned off the laptop assertively, she turned around and looked at Timothy. He did not say a word but started eating.Soon, Heath received a call. He left the ward and said to the woman on the other side of the phone, "She's Mr. Barrett's ex-wife. You'd better not mess with her."While Timothy was eating, Mia finished reading the proposal in her hand.She had to admit that the document was very valuable.Mia was about to leave the ward when Timothy almost finished eating, but his voice sounded behind her. "What did you say when you met her at the cafe earlier?""Did you follow me?""I followed her, to be exact. After all, the Hopkins are not good people."Mia totally agreed with that.She paused briefly before she said, "Grandma Laura asked me to talk to her because she doesn't agree with you about giving her all
"You don't know anything," Sharon said.Mia retorted, "I might not know everything, but Timothy is innocent. Before he knew the truth, he always regarded you as his mother. Even after he found out the truth, he has never mistreated you."Besides, when you said you wanted the Barrett family's wealth, he agreed. Tell me, who else could do what he did?"Mia felt that Timothy might have been hurt by Sharon's words.He seemed impressive on the outside, but his identity was a dark secret.Therefore, his relationship with Sharon became awkward.Sharon's eyes reddened. "But I also treat him like my biological son.""You're also his foster mother. Now everyone related to him is dead, and you're the only one he has. What are you afraid of?"Sharon wiped off her tears. "I'm not afraid of anything. It's just that I felt that I can't trust anyone.""Timothy is a man of his word. However, Grandma Laura said that if you remain stubborn, making the will public is her only option," Mia said.
Mia noticed Sharon's expression changing slightly when she mentioned Laura.Sharon took her cup of coffee and said, "What? Does Mrs. Barrett Senior still want to lecture me even when she's on her deathbed? She must have known Timothy's identity all along, but she conspired with her son to keep the truth from me. "She and the Barretts are birds of a feather. What else does she have to say?"Mia was not surprised by her words. She had expected that Sharon would certainly think this way.Fortunately, she managed to stop Laura when she said she wanted to meet Sharon.Sharon was emotionally unstable now. What if Laura said something unpleasant and Sharon retorted? Her words might upset Laura.Mia took a kraft envelope out of her handbag and placed it in front of Sharon. "I hope you won't regret saying those words after reading this.""What's this?""This is the will that your husband left behind, as well as the divorce agreement."Hearing that, Sharon quickly took the document out
Mia hesitated to risk exposing Laura to Sharon's potential agitation.Due to Sharon's emotional vulnerability, she often spoke impulsively. With Laura's delicate health in mind, any disruption was simply out of the question.As Laura recounted past events, Mia remained silent, absorbing her words.Upon hearing Laura's story, Mia was taken aback. She hadn't expected there to be hidden aspects to Timothy's family history.Taking a moment, she asked, "Does Timothy have any knowledge of this?""He doesn't. Some things are best kept from him," Laura replied calmly.Mia harbored some lingering questions in her mind. Unable to suppress them any longer, she asked, "Considering your knowledge of Timothy's background, what is your opinion of him?""Tim is a commendable young man, and he has never let our family down. He has achieved remarkably well for himself. To be honest, I feel indebted to him as well."At first, I only kept him around for the sake of preserving the Barrett family li
Despite her initial reluctance, Mia eventually found herself making her way to Timothy's ward.As she entered, she couldn't help but notice Timothy's expressionless demeanor as he lay there.Carrying a tray of food, Mia approached him. "The doctor pointed out your extreme fatigue. It's crucial that you increase your food intake and prioritize proper rest to reduce the risk of sudden complications."Upon hearing Mia's voice, Timothy lifted his gaze to find her seated beside him. His lips moved slightly as he asked, "What did you tell Luna?""Not much," Mia responded. "Just a sprinkle of salt on the wound and a dash of psychological pressure to make sure Luna doesn't have it easy in prison."Placing the tray of food in front of him, Mia urged, "Please, just a few bites.""I'll eat later. By the way, the kids have been here at the hospital for quite a while. You should take them home," Timothy suggested.Frowning, Mia insisted, "You should eat something first."As her words faded,