Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
“Okay, okay, what’s all this noise about?”
At that moment, the elevator doors opened, and Laura stepped out. Catching sight of Mia, she greeted her with a warm smile, “My dear Mia, come here. Let me get a good look at you.”
Just as Mia stood up, Dixie hurried toward Laura, crying out, “Mrs. Barrett Senior!”
However, Laura deftly moved aside, causing Dixie to miss her and tumble painfully to the floor.
Mia cringed at the sound, almost as if she could feel the pain herself.
Laura gently patted her chest. “My delicate body can’t endure being tackled like that. Mia, come here, let me have a look at you.”
Mia grinned as she approached, assisting Laura in settling onto the sofa. “Grandma, did we disturb your sleep?”
“It’s alright, I’ve already had a long nap. It’s time to wake up, or else I’ll struggle to sleep tonight,” Laura reassured.
Just then, Dahlia stepped forward, offering a gift box.
“Mrs. Barrett Senior, I heard you have a fondness for scarves. I specifically visited this store and picked up their latest collection. The colors in this batch are limited edition, only one of each.”
“Really? Let me take a look.”
Mia cast a glance at the box, noticing it bore a striking resemblance to the packaging from the store where she purchased her scarves.
Was it merely a coincidence?
As Dahlia revealed the contents of the box, Mia observed three scarves nestled inside.
Turning to Mia, Dahlia proposed, “I noticed you also got some scarves. Why not show them to Mrs.
Barrett Senior?”
Maintaining her composure, Mia opened her box, revealing scarves that were an exact match in color to the ones Dahlia had selected.
A brief, awkward silence hung in the air.
Suddenly, Dahlia spoke sharply, “Mia, why would you buy counterfeit goods? You know Mrs. Barrett
Senior adores scarves.
“Even if you couldn’t afford it, resorting to fake items to deceive her is unacceptable.
“Imagine if she wears it in public, and someone recognizes it as fake¨Cit would bring shame to the Barrett family!”
Laura scrutinized the scarves in the boxes, swiftly discerning between the authentic and the counterfeit.
Mia’s smile broadened as she interjected. “It’s still uncertain who bought the counterfeit goods, isn’t it?”
“Mia, what are you suggesting? Given your circumstances as an orphan without support and with adoptive parents facing financial struggles, how could you possibly afford a silk scarf worth over a thousand dollars?”
Rising to her feet, Dixie coldly retorted. “Let’s face it, Mia. It’s clear you purchased the counterfeit goods. especially considering your recent divorce from Tim.
“How could you suddenly have the money to afford such expensive scarves?”
Mia clicked her tongue disapprovingly before presenting the receipt. “Here’s the receipt from my purchase today. Would you like to double¨Ccheck?”
“This can’t be!” As Dahlia examined the receipt, she found no evidence of forgery.
Feeling a pang of unease, she shifted her gaze and commented, “Humph, in this day and age, anything can be falsified.”
“Exactly. Considering your background, it’s clear you can’t afford it. Stop pretending.”
Turning to Timothy, Mia retorted, “But I went shopping with him today. He can vouch for me.”
Upon hearing this, Dahlia and Dixie were left momentarily speechless, their expressions frozen in astonishment.
They hadn’t expected Timothy to join Mia on her shopping excursion.
Now, caught off guard, they found themselves scrambling to come up with a plausible explanation.
With a smirk, Mia gazed at Dahlia and Dixie. “Do you still have anything to say?”
Dahlia and Dixie felt a flush of embarrassment. They had expected Mia to be out shopping with Timothy. If they questioned the authenticity of Mia’s purchase, wouldn’t they also be questioning Timothy’s taste?
Enraged, Dixie managed a strained smile as she replied, “Considering Tim was with you, it’s unlikely the scarves are fake.”
Dode had intended to assert dominance over Mia, but her plan seemed to have backfired!
With a knowing smile, Mia glanced at them. “So, if mine aren’t knockoffs, does that mean yours are?”
Dode’s expression froze as she struggled to come up with a response.
Undeterred, Mia pressed on. “These scarves are limited edition, with just a single authentic piece available across all the malls in Jeinburg.”
Seizing the opportunity, Dahlia reprimanded Dixie, “I told you to buy the scarves from the mall, but your insisted on having a friend buy them for you! Look what happened¨Cyou got scammed, didn’t you?”
Dixie quickly caught on and responded tearfully, “Mom, I had no idea my friend would deceive me like that.”
Mia couldn’t help but admire Dahlia and Dixie’s acting skills. They had effortless around.
Just then, Laura intervened, saying. “That’s enough!”
turned the situation
Dahlia quickly turned to Laura with a pleading expression. “Mrs. Barrett Senior, Dixie was misled by her friend. There’s no way she’d knowingly purchase fake goods as gifts for you.
“Besides, you’ve already seen much of the world. You don’t need such trivial items. Anyway, the scarves are simply a small gesture from us, wouldn’t you agree?”
Mia clicked her tongue disapprovingly. “Buying counterfeit goods just to save a few bucks doesn’t exactly scream sincerity.”
Mia was well aware of Laura’s contempt for Dahlia and Dixie. Despite Laura’s cold treatment toward them, they shamelessly continued to visit, pretending to be oblivious to her disdain.
Dealing with such brazen individuals was undeniably frustrating.
Dixie swiftly turned to Timothy, her eyes brimming with tears. “Tim, please believe me, I didn’t mean it like that!”
Timothy’s demeanor hardened as he responded, “I don’t know you.”
Dixie faltered for a moment, her voice catching. “But we were so close when we were younger. How did things change as we grew up? I recall you once sald-“
Upon hearing this, Mia’s Interest was piqued. Could Timothy have some history with Dixie?
However, Laura intervened sternly, cutting off Dahlia and Dixie. “That’s enough. Your grandfather was the one who shamelessly proposed the marriage contract, but our family never agreed to it.
“If you continue spreading such rumors, it will tarnish Timothy’s reputation; expect to receive a lawyer’s letter if you continue.”
Dahlia remained resolute, retorting. “Mrs. Barrett Senior, we haven’t spread any rumors. Now that Tim is divorced and single again, I simply thought it would be beneficial for Tim and Dixie to reconnect, considering they were childhood friends.
“After all, it’s better than Tim associating with those women of dubious backgrounds. You shouldn’t have allowed such individuals to marry into our family in the first place!”
Laura fired back sharply, “Remember when Tim was on the verge of death? You all scurried away, afraid I’d track you down and coerce you into marrying into the Barrett family!”
Mia couldn’t help but vividly recall that tumultuous time when Timothy’s accident rocked the Barrett family to its core.
A heavy silence settled over the living room as Dahlia and Dixie bowed their heads, unable to muster a response.
After all, who, in their right mind, would risk marrying someone on the brink of death?
Laura pressed on, During that time, Mia was the only one who stepped up, showing a moral character that far surpassed those motivated solely by self¨Cinterest.”
Dahlia and Dixie were rendered speechless by Laura’s statement.
A sense of satisfaction welled up within Mia, and a faint smile played on her lips.
However, she couldn’t help but notice Timothy’s unwavering gaze fixed upon her from the corner of her eye. Mia swiftly looked away, ignoring Timothy’s presence beside her.
She had no desire to discem Timothy’s expression, nor did she wish to speculate about it.
Timothy’s voice cut through the tense atmosphere. “Kaleb, escort these two out and ensure they never set foot in the Barrett residence again.”
“Mrs. Barrett Senior, If we’ve caused any offense, please don’t take it to heart!”
“Yeah, Mrs. Barrett Senior, we beg you not to drive us away!”
However, Laura didn’t even spare a glance for Dahlia and Dixie. Instead, she simply lowered her head and poured herself a cup of tea.
In truth, Laura had been tolerating their presence solely out of respect for her patriarch.
Nonetheless, Dahlia and Dixie’s disrespect toward Mia moments ago crossed a line that Laura couldn’t overlook.
Once Dahlia and Dixie were escorted out, the living room returned to its serene ambiance.
“Mia, don’t let their words affect you. I’ve always held you in high regard,” Laura reassured Mia.
“I understand,” Mia replied. She gently grasped Laura’s hand, feeling somewhat moved.