Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
“All to change his fate?” A cynical scoff escaped Mia’s lips. She was well aware of the stringent rules that governed high society. Commoners like her marrying up rarely ended well. She knew that all too well.
She had heard stories about her adoptive parents being equally deplorable. It had been a brutal existence before the Lane brothers found her.
A cold glint flickered in her eyes. If her brothers faked her death to cut all ties with the Barretts, surely the Barretts themselves must have been ecstatic.
Yet, Timothy’s strange behavior didn’t paint that picture. Perplexed, she dismissed the notion of lingering affection on his part.
Guilt, perhaps, but nothing more.
Mia crossed her legs, a menacing gleam flickering in her eyes. “Everything seems to fall into place. I have a game to play now.” She was eager to find out why Timothy had been searching for her.
Wade sensed trouble brewing as he observed Mia’s expression. Tentatively, he cautioned, Ms. Mia, Dr. Grayson advised you to steer clear of the Barretts.”
“Didn’t he suggest trying the desensitization therapy? I figured it might be more effective if I interacted directly with Timothy.”
Wade was rendered speechless.
“Oh, and make sure Dominic doesn’t catch wind of this just yet,” she added, glancing up at him. She didn’t want Dominic bombarding her with incessant phone calls.
Alone again, Mia pondered her next move. She couldn’t brush off the bombshell she had just discovered.
She opened her suitcase and found it filled with vibrant and scanty clothes. Her current style was very distinct from her prudish self back then.
Feeling like she’d preferred plain and boring clothes in the past, she had Wade prepare a set of clothes that suited her old style. Then, she texted Timothy, “Mr. Barrett, do you fancy a dinner date tonight? See you at the usual place.”
She received no response from him. Yet, patience was a virtue, especially when dealing with men like him.
Timothy saw the message, and his mind blanked temporarily. He couldn’t believe that she’d just asked him out.
Caleb was curious. “Tim, who is it from?”
“Try and guess.
“No way. Is it Ms. Langford?”
Timothy set his phone down and contemplated. “Do you think she’s Mia?”
“Honestly, Tim, I’m not so sure anymore. I’d say no if she hadn’t mistaken me for her ex- husband. Yet, she clearly confused me with you.”
Timothy found the situation bizarre as well.
“Tim, it’s either she’s suffering from memory loss, or she’s pretending not to recognize us. “Caleb thought this was the most plausible explanation.
Timothy suddenly rose, adjusting his attire in front of the mirror. His demeanor exuded a mature charm.
Startled, Caleb questioned, “Where are you headed, Tim?”
“A date.” Timothy left after he answered Caleb. He wondered what tricks Mia had up her sleeve.
He made his way to the top floor, the same place where they had met over a meal last time.
The moment he stepped into the conservatory, his eyes widened. Mia stood before the full- length window with her back facing him, her dark locks cascading over her shoulder. She was clad in a simple T¨Cshirt and denim skirt.
“Mia?” he breathed, his voice thick with a mix of apprehension and a sliver of hope.
When Timothy laid eyes on Mla, he felt like he had been transported back four years in time. She looked exactly as she did in his memories, igniting a rush of emotions within him.
He couldn’t help but feel thrilled at their reunion.
Caleb found himself unexpectedly confronting his own feelings as he beheld Mia standing before him, alive and well.
Mia turned to face him. There was a mixture of grief and aloofness in her expression as she spoke, “Why, I’m surprised that you still remember my name.”
Timothy inhaled sharply. He stared at her calmly as he asked, “Are you finally going to drop the act?” He knew that she’d been feigning ignorance. She recognized him, yet she purposely acted like she didn’t know him.
Mia’s brows furrowed slightly, contemplating his accusation. If he believed she was merely acting, then perhaps she would oblige. With a nonchalant air, she replied, “Because it’s become tiresome.
“Mia, do you have any idea how long I’ve been searching for you?” Timothy stared at her intently, his Adam’s apple bobbing subtly.
There were so many things he wanted to say, but the words caught in his throat.
He wanted to tell her that he had never suspected her of hurting Laura.
Instinctively, Mia averted his gaze.
With a practiced grace, she pulled out a chair and sat down. The perfectly cooked steak on the plate seemed to hold her full attention.
Finally, she said, “Mr. Barrett, our marriage ended the moment the divorce papers were signed. What possible reason could you have had for searching for me?”
Based on her investigation, she was just an ordinary individual with no notable status or background. Mia was convinced that he had erased all her information out of concern that her existence might tarnish the Barrett family’s name if it became public knowledge.
Still, she was intrigued by Timothy. What truly motivated him to seek her out after all this time?
“I felt it necessary to clarify matters.”
Mia’s fork, scraping against her steak, paused mid¨Cmotion.
“Go on, then. What do you have to say?”
Timothy studied her intently, sensing something was off. However, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Mia raised an eyebrow. “Mr. Barrett?”
Timothy opted to steer the conversation elsewhere. “Why did you fake your death and disappear? Who is Ginger’s father?”
“Tsk. Mr. Barrett, 1
we’re at an impasse.”
is the direction you intend to take our conversation, I’m afraid
She had acted like her former self to uncover the truth behind her past. She had yet to regain her memories. But she couldn’t risk alarming her brothers by pressing them for answers. Their impulsive nature might lead them to Xanier Island, braving a storm in a helicopter.
Not wanting to complicate things, Mia was left only with Timothy as her sole recourse. Little did she expect him to sidestep the issue entirely. She was appalled by his audacity to ask about Ginger’s father.
Perhaps her brothers were right, after all. Her ex¨Chusband was nothing but an asshole. Timothy seemed promising at first, but she was disappointed to find him no better than the rest.
She met his gaze squarely and replied, “Surely you understand why I faked my death and left?”
Timothy pressed his lips together. While he comprehended the circumstances that led to her disappearance, he suspected her brothers likely faked her death without her consent.
He didn’t expect her to vanish for four whole years!
Undeterred, he pressed on, “I understand about your brothers helping you disappear by faking your death, but I can’t fathom your ruthlessness. You went missing for four years! If our paths hadn’t crossed, how long would you have remained in hiding?”
“So?”
“So, your demeanor only reinforces the notion that you are indeed the culprit.”
“The culprit?” Mia echoed Incredulously, her mind racing to connect the dots. With a clatter, she abandoned her utensils, the noise ringing out sharply.
“So you’ve spent four years tracking me down just to interrogate me about the culprit? I’m appalled.”
She grabbed a knife beside her and brandished it before him. “Mr. Barrett, what makes you think that I should put up with your baseless accusations?”
Though her memories remained elusive, her rage was unmistakable. If she were to uncover the extent of the injustice she had suffered, including how she had almost died from a hemorrhage during childbirth, she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from burning the Barretts alive.
They were all fucking bastards!
The cold steel of the blade hovered dangerously close to Timothy’s face, yet he remained steadfast, meeting her gaze without flinching.
“I just want to know the truth.”
Everything happened in a blur back then. Someone had been apprehended, purported to be the culprit, yet the destruction of all security footage left gaping holes in the narrative.
Mia’s gaze turned cold. She held the knife menacingly close to his neck as she hissed, “You’d do well to keep silent.” She was no longer her docile old self who tolerated all that bullying. Luna burst into the room, her eyes widening in horror as she witnessed the dangerous scene unfolding before her. “Stop right there! What are you doing, Mia? Are you trying to kill Tim?
Shocked, Luna nearly tripped over her own feet when she saw the knife pressed against Timothy’s neck
Mia withdrew her hand at once. Utterly speechless, she cast a mocking glance at Timothy.
Timothy frowned and asked Luna, “Who told you to come here?”
“Tim, you were in danger. If I hadn’t arrived when I did, who knows what might have happened? This woman is ruthless, nothing like the Mia we once knew. Be careful.”
Mia snickered. She leaned back languorously in her chair and glanced up at Luna. “Oh, my
116 ROHUS
dear Lina, you’ve got it all wrong. We’re just having a little filetation,” she quipped, trading her foot provocatively up Timothy’s pant leg as she spolo
Sensing that something felt wrong, he tensed. He shot Min a pusled fool, dumbfounded at how bold she’d become. He finally reached under the tablecloth, his hand pressing on her fool.
His expression was awloward as he urged Luna, “You can leave now.”