Timothy maintained a stern expression and said, "I won't deceive Grandma."He turned to his secretary and said, "Have you found the doctor you were looking for?""Yes, we've found someone. They're experts in this field and are willing to perform the surgery for Mrs. Barrett Senior.""Very well. Arrange everything as soon as possible, and ask the doctors to come over quickly."The two women beside Timothy exchanged glances. Shelly couldn't help but speak up, "Timothy, didn't you say that Maya's brother would perform the surgery for Grandma Laura? I heard that he's the best doctor in this field.""I can't wait that long."He would never fight an unwinnable battle.Shelly felt that something was going wrong. If that was the case, then what would happen to Maya? She needed to inform Maya about this.…After a sleepless night, Mia woke up and touched her pregnant belly. She was unable to make a decision.She decided to call her fifth cousin, Jason. He answered immediately and as
Timothy's face remained stoic. "Do you believe that divorce is the solution?""Well, I intend to convince Grandma to undergo the surgery," Mia asserted.Timothy's eyes narrowed as he inquired, "And how do you plan on doing that?"Mia hesitated momentarily before replying, "That's none of your concern."At that moment, the hospital room's door swung open, revealing Martha. "Ms. Mia, Mrs. Barrett Senior wishes to have a conversation with both you and Mr. Barrett. She has matters to discuss."Standing close by, Maya interjected with a hopeful smile, "I've also come to visit Mrs. Barrett Senior.""I regret to inform you that Mrs. Barrett Senior has no intention of seeing you," Martha responded awkwardly. A rigid expression settled on Maya's face. She watched with resentment as Timothy entered the room with Mia. Mia felt the weight of Maya's intense gaze on her as she entered the hospital room. Nonetheless, she couldn't let herself be distracted by it.She held Laura's cold hands
Maya trailed closely behind Sharon, a hint of disapproval crossing her face when she noticed Mia seated.Although Mia perceived Maya's scrutinizing gaze, her present circumstances left her with little capacity to reflect on it.With a commanding tone, Sharon directed Mia, "Stand, Mia! We can't have Ms. Lane standing. She's an esteemed guest."As Mia began to stand, Laura held her back, but Timothy quietly murmured, "Stay seated. It's fine."Sharon promptly argued, "Tim, what's the issue? Can't Mia stand briefly? Ms. Lane went out of her way to come visit, and we couldn't even offer her a seat. It might become town gossip if we don't."Maya tactfully added, "It's quite alright, Mrs. Barrett. I can stand."Laura responded with a touch of sternness, "Mia is expecting, she ought to sit."The news landed like an unexpected bombshell.Maya was at a loss for words.Sharon, looking at Mia in disbelief, exclaimed, "That can't be right. How did this happen so suddenly?"Defensively, La
In that moment, a glimmer of hope flickered in Mia's eyes.Watching her frazzled appearance and wavering posture, Timothy noticed her deep almond eyes, their darkness exuding a sense of vulnerability and longing.That brief interaction momentarily softened his heart.Without hesitation, he stepped forward, clasping Mia's hand to steady her.Mia had braced herself for a fall, convinced that Timothy would favor Maya in any conflict between them.Much to her surprise, Timothy decisively stood by her side this time.Drawing closer to him, Mia gazed at him in disbelief. Her heart pounded, a blend of relief and anxiety.The chilling thought of what could have transpired had she stumbled, especially for their unborn child, was too distressing to imagine.Suddenly, Maya's voice rang out, carrying a subtle undertone of resentment as she called, "Tim!"Turning her gaze, Mia saw Maya still on the floor, her eyes showing signs of redness, nearly on the verge of tears.Mia blinked, surpri
"What if Timothy insisted on terminating the pregnancy?" Mia wondered.Suddenly, a sleek luxury car pulled up and honked.Mia immediately recognized it as Timothy's vehicle.She saw him in the passenger seat, his captivating features partly hidden within the sleek car.His sharp, intense eyes emitted a compelling aura."Hop in," he ordered.Despite Mia's reservations, Timothy's commanding tone allowed little dissent.Mindful of onlookers, she reluctantly bent down and stepped into the car.As the car door closed, it erected a barrier, isolating them from the world outside.Seated near the door, Mia felt unable to escape Timothy's powerful and imposing aura in such proximity.She held her breath in a hushed silence, almost as if bracing herself for his final verdict.After a momentary pause, his voice, low and chilling, resonated in her ears, "Do you have a fondness for children?"Mia hesitated, swallowing nervously before answering, "Well, um, yes, I suppose."After all, t
Why did Timothy need assurance about her ability to convincingly play the role of a pregnant woman?Mia thought for a moment, wondering why pretense was necessary. Considering she was genuinely pregnant, wouldn't this be an authentic portrayal?In response, Mia sincerely asked, "Is acting even necessary in this case?""You're right. You've always had a knack for acting," Timothy acknowledged. "Don't overthink it. Martha will be here to assist you, ensuring you maintain the facade without arousing suspicion.""Mr. Barrett, rest assured, I'll execute my role flawlessly. It's high time you prioritize scheduling that surgery."Mia had no intention of confronting Maya herself, she thought it would be more suitable for Timothy to handle the matter.Well aware of Maya's inclination to feign innocence, Mia expected her to continue the act in front of Timothy. Consequently, there should be no delay in the surgery from Maya's end.Exiting the car, Mia entered the living room with Timoth
However, some dishes were placed far from her, briefly escaping Mia's notice.Suddenly, Timothy's utensils appeared in front of her. He had scooped some dishes to serve on her plate. She paused, then calmly said, "Thank you, honey, but don't forget to enjoy your meal as well."Sporting a teasing smile, Mia picked a dish she knew Timothy wasn't fond of and served it on his plate.Timothy surveyed his plate calmly before placing his utensils down.Observing the nuances in their interaction, Martha gave a nod of approval, making a mental note to update Laura on the situation later.After savoring her meal, Mia gently massaged her belly, confessing, "I might have indulged a tad too much.""Mr. Barrett, perhaps you could join Mrs. Barrett for a stroll? It's beneficial for both the mother-to-be and the baby," Martha proposed.After a brief pause, Mia responded, "I think I'll pass."For Mia, a solitary walk seemed more appealing than having Timothy by her side.Next to her, Timothy's
Mia hadn't anticipated Timothy revisiting this question, and it was getting increasingly difficult for her to respond.With a hint of condescension, Timothy watched her struggle. "Having trouble answering?" he teased."Not exactly," Mia replied, pausing briefly as she met his gaze. "So, would you prefer the truth or a fabrication?" she asked."... Perhaps silence would be best," Timothy retorted indifferently before walking away.As Mia took a step forward, she noticed the dog standing beside her, its tail wagging eagerly as it looked at her.She stopped in her tracks, and instinctively stepped back. "Please, stay right there," she implored, her eyes fixed on the dog.While she held no ill will toward the creature, suppressed childhood fears surfaced as the dog moved closer."Here, boy."Just as Mia contemplated a quick escape, Timothy, who had just disappeared into obscurity moments ago, reappeared to rescue Mia.Beneath the soft glow of the streetlight, he reached out his ha
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,