Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
As Mia gripped his arm tightly, Timothy’s expression became awkward.
Nonetheless, he regained his composure and commented, “Well, I don’t have any strong feelings about children.
“If you’re willing to stay within the Barrett family and peacefully welcome the twins into the world, I’ll regard them as my own and as future heirs of the Barrett family.”
Mia was at a loss for what to do next, thrown off by Timothy’s sudden willingness to take care of the twins and his refusal to finalize the divorce.
Caressing her protruding belly, she couldn’t help but ask, “And what would happen if the twins turned out to be biologically yours?”
Mia remembered asking Timothy numerous times before, yet he remained adamant about not keeping her twins.
This fueled Mia’s urgency to leave Bern City and distance herself from him.
Timothy furrowed his brow, appearing somewhat puzzled by Mia’s remark. Was she hinting at the idea of having children with him someday?
Timothy reassured her solemnly, “I won’t have any biological children. You can trust me on that.”
After all, the two children Mia carried were enough for him.
Mia’s breath caught momentarily. She pressed her lips together, preparing to ask more questions.
However, before she could speak, Martha caught up and interrupted, “Mr. Barrett, Mrs. Barrett, you’re still here?”
Mia quickly released Timothy’s arm and glanced up at him, unable to ignore his remarkably handsome appearance.
She locked eyes with his deep, unreadable gaze. Then, Timothy softly tapped her forehead and said,¡®
Let’s go.”
The faint sensation of Timothy’s fingertips lingered on Mia’s forehead as she quickly looked away, choosing to remain silent.
With Martha nearby, she couldn’t afford to disclose anything.
Despite Timothy’s outwardly gentle manner, Mia was aware that it was only a fa?ade he presented in front of Martha.
Entering the elevator after Mia and Timothy, Martha remarked, “Oh, perfect timing!
“Mrs. Barrett Senior was concerned that you young folks might struggle with the selection, so she asked me to come along and help. Mr. Barrett, Mrs. Barrett, rest assured, I won’t be a bother.”
Inside the elevator, Mia observed the reflections of Timothy and Martha on the elevator door in front of her.
Amidst the quietude of the elevator, her mind was preoccupied with Timothy’s recent words, leaving her emotions in disarray.
Timothy stood in silence, briefly catching sight of Mia in his peripheral vision, yet unable to perceive her expression.
Despite his outward composure, Timothy was far from calm.
After voicing those words earlier, he found himself questioning his sanity. Could he truly endure the idea of Mia giving birth to another man’s child?
Despite having expressed his thoughts earlier, Timothy couldn’t shake his concern about Mia’s potential response.
Once characterized by his decisiveness and firmness, Timothy was taken aback to find himself grappling with hesitancy and indecision, unexpectedly overwhelmed by his emotions.
After a silent car ride, they eventually arrived at a luxurious mall that specialized in selling high¨Cend maternity and baby products.
As Mia stepped out of the car, she took in the sight before her. Although she had desired to visit before, the fear of its grandeur and the possibility of encountering familiar faces had always deterred her.
Yet, by some unexpected turn of events, she now found herself here, confidently strolling without reservation.
Upon entering the mall, Timothy and Mia were promptly greeted by the store manager, who extended a warm welcome. “Mr. and Mrs. Barrett, welcome! It’s my pleasure to assist you today.
“Please feel free to let me know if there’s anything you need. If you’d like a quieter setting, I can arrange a VIP room for you, where we can have all the items you need brought over for your selection!”
Mia turned to Timothy and said, “You go ahead to the VIP lounge. I’d like to wander around on my own for a bit.”
After finally making the journey, Mia was eager to take the opportunity to explore and figure out what she might need.
Besides, looking at photos in the VIP room wouldn’t give her the same clarity as seeing the actual products.
She decided to take a walk nearby with Martha. After all, she was aware of Timothy’s aversion to wasting time on such matters.
However, after only a few steps, Timothy swiftly caught up.
Taken aback, Mia couldn’t resist stealing a glance at him, admiring his noble and handsome features.
“Martha, please take a break,” Timothy instructed.
“Okay then, I wouldn’t have much time to explore anyway. It’s better to have Mr. Barrett accompany you,” Martha said before departing.
Mia paused, her voice softening as she inquired, “Timothy, did you perhaps take the wrong pill today?”
Timothy’s imposing presence seemed to loom over her as he stood tall, casting a shadow.
He lowered his eyes, gazing at Mia with an inscrutable expression. “What’s wrong with a husband accompanying his pregnant wife to shop for maternity and baby supplies?”
But that was exactly the problem!
Feeling anxious, Mia was about to say something when Timothy suddenly wrapped his arm around her shoulder, his large hand firmly gripping her arm, pulling her almost into an embrace.
As Mia’s cheek rested against his chest, she could feel the slight stiffness and roughness of Timothy’s suit jacket.
In a whisper, he said, “Stay still, Martha is watching us.”
Confused, Mia discreetly glanced out of the corner of her eye and indeed spotted Martha standing nearby, covertly observing them.
Quickly averting her gaze, Mia asked, “What’s Martha doing?”
“It’s likely Grandma’s orders. Your behavior earlier raised her suspicions, so she sent Martha to keep an eye on us. Let’s continue ahead and avoid looking back to prevent arousing any suspicion.”
Mia obediently followed Timothy as they strolled together. “Can we please have fewer people following us? I’m not used to it,” she whispered.
Timothy signaled to Heath beside him, and soon all the people tailing them dispersed.
Mia and Timothy stepped into the elevator together, appearing like any other ordinary couple.
As soon as the doors closed, Mia let out a sigh of relief and asked, “Martha won’t be able to see us now, right?”
“Most likely,” Timothy replied as he continued to place his arm around Mia tightly.
Mia was feeling a bit uncomfortable standing so close to Timothy and tried to subtly move away. However, Timothy’s arm tightened around her, pulling her closer into his embrace.
As her forehead collided with his chest, Mia’s vision blurred momentarily,
Timothy spoke gently as he held her, “Considering Martha’s capabilities, she will likely catch up from another elevator.
“She’s quite adept at monitoring us. If we’re going to act, we might as well give it our all.”
Mia’s cheeks turned red as she spoke, “Do we have to keep hugging like this?”
“If hugs aren’t your thing, what would you rather do?” Timothy asked, his intense gaze causing Mia to instinctively step back.
With a sudden “ding”, the elevator doors slid open.
Reacting swiftly, Mla shoved Timothy to the side and swiftly turned away to exit the elevator.
The confined space had made every breath feel like a challenge.
Yet, as Mla raised her eyes, she spotted Martha ascending the escalator on the opposite side. Timothy’s forecast had caught her off guard.
“Why the rush?” Timothy’s voice unexpectedly sounded from behind. Mia felt a surge of warmth as he firmly grasped her hand.
Guided gently by his touch, Mia couldn’t help but steal a glance at Timothy beside her.
Bathed in the amblent light, his remarkable features were impeccable, drawing attention effortlessly wherever he stood.
Walking hand in hand, Mia complied as she trailed beside him, their fingers tightly interlocked.
To observers, they seemed like a loving couple, but his grip on her hand was firm and domineering, denying her any opportunity to break free.
At first, Mia was tense and uneasy, but with time, she gradually relaxed.
After all, it was merely a charade. What was there to be afraid of?
Keeping this in perspective, Mia became noticeably calmer. She couldn’t ignore the assortment of children’s attire showcased in the nearby baby boutique.
Compelled by curiosity, she felt drawn to the display, and Timothy, catching her eye, trailed behind her into the baby clothing store.
With eagerness, Mia picked out a collection of miniature garments, admiring their gentle texture and charming size.
Tara Gilmore, the shop assistant, greeted them warmly. “Can I assist you, sir, madam? How old is your little one?”
“They’re not born yet,” Timothy replied, casting a glance at Mia’s abdomen, his tone unexpectedly gentle.
Without delay, Tara retrieved another pair of tiny socks and handed them to Timothy. “Sir, in that case, perhaps you’d like to purchase several more pairs of these tiny socks.”