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“But didn’t we agree that I’ll be the one to tell her the truth a few days ago? Why are you making it seem like I made a mistake?” She flung his hand away. “Timothy, do you think that lying to her is the best way to go?”
He pursed his lips. “I didn’t know you’d tell her this soon without waiting until she is discharged. You’re worried that we won’t divorce and you can’t leave the city, aren’t you?”
Mia was so angry that she laughed. “Think however you want. I’ve come clean with her.”
“How did you explain about the baby?” he interrogated.
She paused. “I told her that it was fake.”
He snorted. “Mia Bowen, don’t you feel guilty lying to her about this?”
Words failed her. She couldn’t explain about her pregnancy at the moment, so she made Laura believe that the pregnancy was fake.
“Are you dumb?” His mockery resounded above her.
Her eyes glistened with tears as she was furious. The anger wasn’t only directed at Timothy; she was angry at herself too.
How could she be this weak? She simply couldn’t control her tears in front of him.
“Timothy Barrett, how could you speak that way to Mia?” Right then, an enraged Laura chided behind them.
Puzzled, Mia turned to look at Laura standing by the door. Not knowing how much Laura had overheard from the conversation, Mia panicked.
Laura walked toward Mia’s side with a cane, her head raised at Timothy. “Timothy, do you usually treat
Mia this way?”
His lips pursed into a thin line. “How much did you overhear, Grandma?”
“Why the question? Isn’t it enough to hear your final bit of the conversation? Just how many more nasty words did you say to her?”
Noticing the flaring anger, Mia pulled Laura’s hand. “Calm down, Grandma. Don’t be angry.”
“How can I not be? Mia, I thought you’d have a better life with us, not this. I’m so sorry about what you’ve been through.”
Mia quickly responded, “Why don’t we return to the room first? We can talk inside.”
Laura was so angry she almost couldn’t balance herself.
Laura did as Mia suggested, but her body staggered after taking barely two steps.
Timothy quickly helped her. “Be careful, Grandma.”
“Stop pretending to be nice.” She slapped his hand away. “I didn’t know my grandson was such a jerk.”
Taken aback, Mia didn’t expect Laura to be this enraged. Still, she remained silent and helped Laura into the room.
Once Laura seated herself, Mia turned to pour her a glass of warm water. “Here, Grandma.”
“It’s all my fault, Mia. I shouldn’t have made you stay with us. It’s been three years. Since you don’t have feelings for each other, there’s no point in sustaining the relationship. It’ll be a waste of your youth. You found your family. It won’t be bad if you divorce and return to them. Go and start a new life.”
Mia didn’t know how to reply to that. Laura was being so nice to her.
Laura even agreed to the divorce!
Timothy was equally shocked as well. His eyes unconsciously followed Mia’s back as he pursed his lips.
With Laura’s support, nothing would hold Mia back anymore, right?
Timothy’s mood took a nosedive.
He thought that Laura would be the last person to agree to the divorce!
Laura took the glass of water, her gaze fixed on him. “Timothy, it’s a working day today. Go to the courthouse to proceed with the divorce procedures. I heard that there’s a one¨Cmonth cooling¨Coff period nowadays. The sooner you do it, the sooner she’ll be free.”
Stunned, Mia added meekly, “Grandma, we’ve actually made an appointment for the divorce. But there was your surgery and other things happening, so we didn’t go.”
As soon as she said that, she could feel the intimidating gaze behind her grow intense.
However, she didn’t turn around. Now that she had Laura’s support, there was nothing that concerned her anymore.
Laura pulled her hand. “I’m sorry, child. You put it off because you were worried about my surgery, didn’t you?”
Mia pursed her lips. “The divorce is nothing compared to your health, Grandma.”
“I knew you were a good girl. Too bad Timothy doesn’t have the luck to be your husband. Alright, now that I know everything, you don’t have to keep acting in front of me.”
“I’m sorry, Grandma.” Mia couldn’t help but feel guilty.
“Don’t be. It was my fault. Three years is long and precious to a woman. Proceed with the divorce and return to your family.”
Mixed emotions reflected in Timothy’s eyes. Until today, he had not found out who Mia’s biological parents were.
Mia said gratefully, “I’ll visit you often after settling down there. We can have video calls too.”
“Got it.” Laura patted her hands before shifting her gaze to Timothy. “Oh, if you’re going to divorce, how are you going to settle the property?”
Mia quickly interjected, “I don’t want anything, Grandma.”
“Mia, oh, Mia. People always get as much money as they can from it when it comes to divorce. How could you not want anything? What do you take us for?”
“Grandma, I married Timothy not because of money anyway. Plus, my family is financially stable. I don’t need money. You don’t have to worry about it.”
Timothy added, “Grandma, I gave her property, but she didn’t want them.”
Mia nodded honestly. “Yes, he’s right.”
Laura waved her hand. “I’ll make the call for this. I’ll make another arrangement for the property settlement. I’ll contact the lawyer later to bring over an agreement.”
Mia knew that Laura was a woman of her word. Laura would surely make Mia sign the property settlement agreement.
Still, Mia didn’t want money from the Barretts. “It won’t be done in time. Actually, Timothy and I have agreed to go to the courthouse later. You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s fine. I’ll tell the lawyer to deliver the agreement to the courthouse. You can settle everything there altogether.”
Mia didn’t expect Laura to be this adamant.
At this point, Mia knew that Laura would make her accept the properties no matter what.
She nodded. “Okay. It’s getting late. I should get going now.”
“Go ahead. There’s still time before the courthouse closes. I’ll urge the legal team to draft the agreement as soon as possible,” Laura urged, still on the topic of their divorce.
Mia nodded and left the room. When she was outside, she realized that Timothy didn’t follow her. She didn’t know if she should go ahead first or not.
Timothy, who was still in the room, looked at Laura. “Grandma, are you not angry?”
“I am! I didn’t know how you actually treated her in private until today. I regret not asking you guys to divorce.”
Those hurtful words hit his soft spot. “Don’t you like Mia? Why did you agree to the divorce?”
Laura gave him a meaningful look. “What’s the matter? What are you trying to imply?”
“I mean, I don’t care who my wife is. Since Mia can make you happy, you can make her stay.”
*Timothy, do you think that you’re a hot catch? How can I be this selfish by letting her waste her time with us? She’s still young and she found her family. I heard that they’re financially stable. Even if she’s a divorced woman, she’ll be able to find a man who loves her and build a family with her. Why must she stay with us?”
Her reaction was beyond his expectations.
Frustration bubbled in him when he heard that Mia would find another man and build a family after the divorce.
At the same time, Laura was sharp enough to tell something was off.
Her eyes narrowed, “Timothy, is it possible that you don’t want to divorce her?”
His eyes wavered. “No. I’m just thinking about your wellbeing.”
“Don’t put it that way. You’re turning me into a sinner. Since you don’t like Mia, divorce then. Stop torturing each other.”
Timothy was frustrated. “Grandma, why must it be a marriage of love? Marriage is just troublesome to me.”
“Congratulations then, you’ll become single again today. You’re free from the trouble,” Laura retorted.
He was rendered speechless. He just stood there, failing to find the words to continue the topic.
Laura spoke again. “You should get going. The courthouse is going to close soon.”
With pursed lips, he finally exited the room.
Laura watched his back and sighed faintly. At the end of the day, she failed to make Mia stay.
Martha sneaked into the room. “Mrs. Barrett Senior, why didn’t you persuade Mrs. Barrett? She respects you. As long as you disagree with the divorce, she’ll never divorce Mr. Barrett.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? But I can’t force them. Nothing good will come from forcing a couple to be together.”