Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
They couldn’t possibly welcome Mia back to the Lane family with Maya still in the picture.
Besides, Connor believed that someone as calculating as Maya wasn’t fit to stay in the family for long.
Meanwhile, Mia skipped work, opting for lectures or secluding herself in the study hall to avoid her adoptive parents.
With Dominic by her side, Bob and Mary might think twice before coming up to the doorstep.
All Mia had to do was endure until Patricia signed the demolition contract. Once that happened, her adoptive parents would be powerless.
Felix reached out to her. “Mia, the coast is clear these days. You can return to work.”
“But I want to wait until the demolition is over.”
“Mia, don’t tell me that you’re planning to quit after the demolition. You’ll be rich when that happens,” Felix teased.
Mia chuckled. “I’m drowning in debt. How could I be rich?”
“Mia, regarding the Mael Neighborhood Project, the client specifically wants you to be in charge of it. They prefer your eye for aesthetics and details.”
“Okay. I’ll stop by the studio.” Mia hung up the call and headed to the studio.
She wore a mask, fearing that her adoptive parents might catch her.
Felix raised an eyebrow at her. “Playing detective?”
“I’m worried my adoptive parents might spot me. It’ll cause trouble to everyone. You can send me the follow-
ups of the project through email. I’ll go through it to see if there’s any problem.”
As soon as she settled at her desk, an unexpected guest stormed into the studio like a hungry beast.
“Mia Bowen!”
Mia’s head shot up at the unexpected guest.
It was Wilhelmina.
It had only been days, but she appeared disheveled in shabby clothes, as if she hadn’t washed up for days.
Mia put her work on hold for a moment. “Anything I can help you with?”
Felix left his office immediately and stood before Mia. “Wilhelmina Jones, you’re already fired. If you’re trying to cause trouble here, I won’t let it slide that easily.”
Wilhelmina’s expression contorted. “Why are you doing this to me, Felix Quilter? Have you forgotten what you said to me that night? That you’d take responsibility for it? And that you’ll reveal our relationship once we’re stable?”
There was a nuance in his expression, but he calmly replied, “I never said such things.”
She retorted, “You jerk! We slept together!”
Frustrated, he snapped, “Wilhelmina Jones, everyone knows what you did. You were the one behind it and yet you framed Mia. This is the ending you brought upon yourself.”
Had he known earlier that she was a sugar baby, he wouldn’t have touched her at all.
He even went for a body checkup to make sure he was healthy.
Her eyes welled up with tears as she knelt before Mia. “I was wrong about that. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me!
Mia was completely dumbfounded. Wilhelmina was all confrontational as though she was trying to settle the score, yet she was the one on her knees now.
Mia scanned the area, wondering if it was a prank.
Wilhelmina had Shelly’s support, so Mia needed to tread carefully.
12:05
The company had declared bankruptcy, leaving the family with no gains but the looming threat of substantial debt.
Shelly, who had long deleted Wilhelmina’s contact number, didn’t answer her calls. Shelly clearly showed her intention to cut ties with Wilhelmina.
Adding to the pressure, Wilhelmina also received a letter from a famous law firm, which demanded she beg for Mia’s forgiveness, Otherwise, they would send Wilhelmina behind bars!
Left with no choice, Wilhelmina got on her knees to plead for forgiveness and mercy from Mia.
Wilhelmina raged internally. She won’t forget this. She wondered how Mia Bowen managed to outshine her in the Fleur International Design Competition. How did Mia turn the tables and earn Felix’s recognition? Wilhelmina is just as hardworking and capable as she is! Why does she get all the good stuff?
Meanwhile, Felix was equally taken aback.
He wondered that perhaps Mia is from a powerful family.
Still finding the situation perplexing, Mia approached Wilhelmina. “What are you-
Before Mia could finish, Wilhelmina abruptly charged in her direction.
When Wilhelmina lunged at her, Mia stood frozen, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events.
Mia protected her belly instinctively, guarding her precious secret.
Reacting swiftly, Felix managed to stop Wilhelmina by pushing her aside. He then yelled at her, “Are you out of your mind?”
Wilhelmina cackled like a villain, her eyes on Mia’s belly. “I know your secret, Mia Bowen. I know what you’re hiding.”
Wilhelmina already had her suspicions about Mia’s pregnancy before this confrontation.
The more Wilhelmina thought about it, the more upset she was.
While Wilhelmina was left with nothing, Mia was a top designer, and under Felix’s wings at that!
Being the green¨Ceyed monster, Wilhelmina targeted Mia right at her belly to expose her secret.
Unfortunately for Wilhelmina, Felix got in the way.
Mia’s face paled, her widened eyes staring at Wilhelmina.
Something bad almost happened back there!
Had it not been for Felix, Mia couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened.
Mia stepped forward and slapped Wilhelmina with a chilly glare. “I’m sure you’re out of your mind, Wilhelmina
Jones. Cross me one more time, and you won’t get away with it.”
If something happened to her child, Mia would never show mercy.
Wilhelmina chuckled, her eyes dark in stark contrast. “I know your secret, Mia Bowen. You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
Mia’s expression stiffened briefly before cracking into a sneer. “A piece of advice, Wilhelmina Jones, why don’t you take an MRI scan for a brain check?”
“You’re feeling guilty, Mia Bowen. If you’re not pregnant, why were you protecting your belly?”
Mia looked down her nose at the erratic woman. “Funny, I thought I should protect the area you were attacking. Was I supposed to hug my head?”
There was no way Mia would admit the pregnancy.
Until the divorce proceedings were finalized, no one should know about her baby’s existence. No one.
Yet, she hadn’t expected Wilhelmina to sniff out the truth.
Wilhelmina burst into laughter. Her gaze shifted toward Felix. “Did you see that? This woman has been acting this whole time. Mia is actually a rich person’s mistress, and she’s now pregnant. She’s been lying to you and trying to cheat on you.”
Mia snorted coldly, “What’s the point of saying that, Wilhelmina? There’s nothing going on between Felix and I.”
Felix’s expression turned cold as he glared at Wilhelmina. “Leave or I’ll call the security guards.”
Wilhelmina rose from the floor, shooting an angry look at Mia. “Why do you win in everything? Why!” she raised her voice at Mia.
That plan was so perfect, and Mia could’ve learned her lesson the hard way.
Emotions barely showed on Mia’s face. “You’re the mistress, not me.”
It was the wrong decision Wilhelmina had made to begin with.
She wanted to cause a bigger ruckus but was dragged out of the studio by the security guards.
Strings of curses could be heard from outside. Wilhelmina pulled her phone out to call Shelly but to no avail.
In the end, she resorted to message Shelly on Twitter. ¡®Mia Bowen’s pregnant.¡®
Soon after, Shelly contacted Wilhelmina. “Wilhelmina, is it true that Mia Bowen’s pregnant?”
“Yes. I swear.”
“Evidence please.” Shelly wouldn’t take it at face value that easily, especially since she deemed Wilhelmina foolish.
Wilhelmina was the reason Shelly’s cards were frozen and she had to tighten up her belt.