As Mia looked up, she recognized the woman as Isabella Bowen. It seemed fate had a twisted sense of humor to reunite them once more.Why couldn't the Bowen family just leave them be?Isabella strutted in, flaunting her designer handbag. "Mia, I can't believe you're being so stingy, only giving your little toy boy 50 dollars for shopping!"When Mia heard Isabella refer to Timothy as her "little boy toy", she struggled to contain her laughter.Clearing her throat, she responded, "That 50 dollars is his compensation for two days of work.""So, you're only giving him 50 bucks for two days' work? You might as well come to work for me, pretty boy. At least I won't shortchange you."Isabella was taken aback as she turned to look at Timothy, who wasn't wearing sunglasses. She hadn't expected him to be so attractive.No wonder Mia had been involved with this bodyguard!Taking a step closer to Timothy, Isabella boldly pulled out a wad of cash from her wallet and addressed him, saying, "H
Timothy lowered his gaze and glanced at Mia, asking, "So, what's your offer?"Meeting Timothy's suggestive gaze, Mia swiftly adjusted her expression, retorting, "You're mistaken. I'm a person of integrity!"Shortly afterward, the store attendant arrived with a small toy, stating, "This toy is on sale for exactly 50 dollars. It's the least expensive item in our store and also a suitable gift for you, sir."Glancing at the modest toy, Mia couldn't help but notice its simplicity compared to the lavish gifts Timothy had previously selected for Ginger.Without hesitation, Timothy picked up the toy and placed 50 dollars in cash on the table, declaring, "I'll take it."Mia was surprised by Timothy's sudden decisiveness. She hadn't realized Timothy could be so flexible and accommodating.Mia turned to the attendant nearby and asked, "Now that he's finished shopping, could you help me gather some items I need?"Having decided to visit Ginger in the hospital, Mia realized she needed to pr
Upon hearing Agatha's words, Mia found herself at a loss for where to begin her critique!It appeared that the Jones family had a close relationship with the Bowen family, evident from Lewis' prior approach to Mia regarding the Jones family's affairs.However, Mia hadn't anticipated the Jones family leveraging their partnership with the Barrett family to intimidate her.The Bowens often boasted about the Barretts' prominence in Bern City, unaware that Timothy Barrett, the CEO of the Barrett group, was currently serving as Mia's bodyguard.Despite this, Timothy had never acknowledged any collaboration with the Bowen family.Mia couldn't comprehend where the Bowen and Jones families derived their confidence to behave so arrogantly.Upon seeing Mia's continued silence, Agatha assumed she was intimidated and pressed on triumphantly, "Ms. Lane, we are both esteemed figures in Nord City's high society. There's no need to strain our relationship over a commoner woman, wouldn't you agree
Upon hearing Jason's inquiry, Mia hurried to explain, her tone betraying a hint of nervousness. "Oh, that rumor? It's merely media exaggeration. "I had a minor slip, and my bodyguard assisted me. I suspect the Bowen family is behind this, attempting to smear my reputation.""I see. Rest assured, I'll handle it."Mia felt a wave of relief as Jason seemed to accept her explanation without any hint of suspicion. Yet, she knew she couldn't conceal Timothy's presence indefinitely.Beside Mia, Timothy overheard her conversation with Jason. Her tone and demeanor were noticeably different; it was evident that Mia shared a close relationship with her family.Turning to him, Mia asked, "If I arrange for you to visit Ginger in the hospital, will you agree to leave Nord City?"Timothy's gaze narrowed slightly as he responded, "Certainly. As long as Ginger is healthy, everything is open for discussion."However, Timothy's reply merely hinted at the possibility of negotiation; he didn't outr
Timothy's expression turned cold as he observed the sudden appearance of the man. Who was he?As the car door swung open and Mia prepared to step out, she was taken aback to find Dylan unexpectedly present.A smile graced her lips as she remarked, "Dylan Lane, what a wonderful surprise to see you here."The man gracefully opening the door for Mia was none other than Dylan Lane, the male supporting actor in her current project. He was someone she viewed as having tremendous potential and wished to support.Dylan's performance in this film was exceptionally impressive. Even before the movie hit the screens, leaked footage had sparked excitement and anticipation."Mia, for an event as significant as today's, it's only fitting for me to be here to welcome you in person," Dylan expressed warmly."Well, you're certainly more considerate than most," Mia replied, returning his smile.Stepping out of the car, Mia couldn't shake off the sudden chill she felt from Timothy nearby, his eyes
As Mia was about to leave, Dylan came up to her and said, "Mia, it's been a while since we last saw each other. We discussed grabbing a meal together previously. How about we celebrate today? Let's toast to the movie's box office success in advance.""Sure, sounds good," Mia replied, her mood considerably lifted by now.However, as soon as she accepted Dylan's invitation, Mia felt a sudden chill. She turned slightly, catching sight of Timothy's darkening expression.Following her gaze, Dylan's eyes settled on Timothy, who stood behind Mia with a stern countenance, his eyes concealed behind sunglasses.Despite the shades, Timothy's striking features and athletic build were unmistakable.Dylan couldn't help but suspect that Timothy was the bodyguard who had been the subject of recent media buzz.As Dylan glanced at Timothy, a hint of complexity flickered in his eyes. He casually remarked, "Mia, is this that handsome bodyguard of yours? He looks even better in person than in photos.
Tension immediately filled the air as Mia turned to see Timothy and Dylan standing in front of the car door.She remained silent, curious about their confrontation.However, Dylan showed no signs of yielding. He stood casually by the door, blocking Timothy's access. "Sorry, but Mia and I have plans to dine together tonight. It just doesn't feel right having a bodyguard in tow, you know?"Dylan was taken aback by the bodyguard's audacity. He had never encountered one so bold as to insist on sitting in the backseat with their employer.Yet, Timothy stood his ground. "As her bodyguard, it's appropriate for me to sit here."Dylan persisted, "Actually, it's more suitable for a bodyguard to sit in the front passenger seat."The two men locked eyes, neither showing any sign of backing down.In the next moment, Dylan turned to Mia and proposed, "Mia, why don't you decide? Where should the bodyguard sit?"Mia paused briefly before suggesting, "How about we all sit together and make room
Upon catching sight of Mia's cheerful expression in the rearview mirror, a wave of emotions stirred within Timothy. He couldn't believe how happily she was chatting with Dylan!Suddenly, a twinge of jealousy gnawed at Timothy's heart.The tension hung thick in the air, so tangible that even the driver beside him seemed to shrink into his seat. If he hadn't been the one behind the wheel, he might have preferred to be in the other car instead.Despite the tense atmosphere, Mia decided to brush it aside and carry on her conversation with Dylan as if nothing was amiss.Meanwhile, Dylan remained oblivious to Timothy in the passenger seat.With his extensive experience in the entertainment industry, Dylan knew that lacking the foresight and determination to seize opportunities could hinder his advancement.Indeed, some opportunities were meant to be fought for.An hour later, they arrived at the restaurant.Dylan kindly held the door open for Mia, remarking, "Mia, this restaurant has
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,