Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Walking behind him, she noticed his shadow cast under the streetlamp. Intentionally lagging a step, she mischievously stepped on his silhouette.
Catching her antics from the corner of his eye, Timothy smirked. “Mia, resorting to childish tricks?”
“What did I do? I wasn’t doing anything!” Mia protested.
“Don’t assume I missed that,” Timothy replied coldly.
“You’ve been keeping a close eye on me, haven’t you? How amusing,” Mia said sarcastically.
Timothy looked away before retorting, “You’re getting bolder, aren’t you?”
“If I hadn’t been bold before, how could I have slept with you?” she countered.
After nonchalantly saying this, Mia realized her slip of the tongue and fell silent.
Glancing at the nearby villa, she muttered to herself, “I wonder what Martha has cooked, I should go check.”
Picking up her pace, Mia quickly moved ahead of Timothy.
Timothy couldn’t help but feel amused, even if he wasn’t consciously aware of it.
Hurrying into the living room, Mia made a beeline for the kitchen, eager to avoid any potential awkward moments.
After spending some time in the kitchen, she returned to the living room. Noticing Timothy’s absence, she let
Feeling a tad remorseful, Mia scolded herself for the impulsive comment earlier. It was an embarrassing moment.
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¨Chim often spending nights in the study, and her in the bedroom.
Turning around, she entered the walk¨Cin 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.
Without hesitation, she grabbed a set of her pajamas and swiftly made her way to the shower.
The opulent nightwear set out for her had been meticulously chosen by the household staff, with the inner garments handpicked based on the season.
The day they finalized their divorce agreement, Mia chose to only take her clothes, leaving behind all the branded goods.
Post¨Cshower, Mia stepped out, adorned in a silk camisole and gracefully wrapped in a flowing robe.
Truly, there were merits to indulging in luxurious things.
After blow¨Cdrying her hair, she came out of the bathroom with a yawn. Much to her surprise, Timothy stood by the window, his posture tall and upright.
She stopped yawning.
Timothy’s return to their bedroom was unexpected and puzzling. It simply didn’t make sense to Mia.
Timothy turned around and caught sight of Mia emerging from the bathroom in a camisole nightgown.
Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, with a few strands gracefully falling onto her collarbone.
His gaze followed the flow of her hair downward, and his expression noticeably deepened.
He hadn’t anticipated such a sight. Adopting a suggestive tone, he remarked, “Wearing so little intentionally?
Mia quickly tightened her robe.
Blushing, she replied, “You sleep in the study all the time. What are you doing in the bedroom so early?”
“Don’t worry. You’re a ¡®pregnant woman¡® now. Martha cautioned me not to fool around with you during this time.” Timothy reassured.
“So, are you planning to stay here tonight?”
Approaching her, Timothy’s eyes lingered on her securely fastened robe.
Ironically, the delicate fabric only accentuated her figure, providing minimal coverage.
After a glance, Timothy suddenly felt uneasy, a slight dryness settling in his throat.
He averted his gaze and said, “Rest assured, I’m not that audacious.”
Timothy then proceeded to the bathroom after the casual remark.
It wasn’t until after hearing the sound of running water did Mia finally catch on to Timothy’s subtle jest.
Earlier, she had playfully made a similar remark about him.
Little did she foresee him remembering and using it against her!
Turning around, she retrieved a spare blanket from the closet and spread it neatly on the opposite side of the bed.
Settling into a comfortable position, Mia closed her eyes tightly, hoping to avoid any potential awkwardness with Timothy.
Despite wanting to drift off to sleep, she remained alert to the sounds from the bathroom.
As soon as the water stopped, Timothy opened the door and stepped out.
Seeing Mia’s huddled position, Timothy’s expression shifted. He poured himself a glass of cold water, downing it in one go to quell his simmering frustration.
Timothy settled on the opposite side of the bed, pulling his blanket snugly around him.
Having Mia beside him was a departure from the norm, and he expected some discomfort.
Yet, to his surprise, it wasn’t as unpleasant as he had imagined.
Mia also assumed that she wouldn’t be able to sleep next to him due to discomfort. But, she found herself drifting off soon after.
The next morning, the sound of Timothy’s cell phone stirred Mia from her sleep. Still half¨Casleep, she kicked her foot, muttering, “How annoying.”
Timothy had her feet draped over his waist, one hand securely holding onto her ankle to prevent any restless movements.
Extending his hand to pick up the phone, he said, “Hello, I hope you have a valid reason for this call.”
“Mr. Barrett, there’s been an issue. The doctor we had arranged for Mrs. Barrett Senior’s surgery encountered complications and won’t be able to proceed.”
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 doctor’s not in life¨Cthreatening condition, but he has a fractured right hand. It’s uncertain if he’ll be able to return to the operating table soon,” Heath updated.
Timothy’s complexion paled. “Why now, of all times?”
“We’ve investigated. It was a Charvy car that ran a red light and accidentally collided with the doctor’s car.”
Timothy pursed his lips tightly and ordered, “Find another doctor.”
Regardless of the circumstances, he was determined to ensure that Laura’s surgery proceeded as planned.
After Timothy left, Mia allowed herself to slip back into a short nap. Lately, she found herself more inclined to indulge in extra sleep.
Upon waking, she descended the stairs with a yawn and asked, “Martha, what’s on the menu for lunch?”