Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Shelly gaped. “Mom, what are you doing?”
She didn’t expect her mother to give that bag to Sharon as a gift. She actually meant to sell it!
Harriette calmly squeezed Shelly’s hand. “Shelly, we’ve only had each other to rely on for years, and it’s all thanks to Sharon and her family that we’ve been taken care of. You may not always express it, but I know you’re grateful to Sharon.”
Shelly was seething with frustration. Every fiber of her being wanted to deny it, but she lacked the courage to do so publicly.
Sharon accepted the purple bag, her smile holding pride. “Why say that, Harriette? Don’t be such a stranger. We’re family.”
Shelly contemplated retrieving the bag, but Veronica beat her to it. “Sharon, just accept it. It’s a gift from them. We’re family, after all.”
Sharon gladly took the bag, and Shelly felt like she was about to explode. Her plan to make a significant profit by selling the bag had been thwarted!
Mia couldn’t help but tilt her head slightly as she observed Sharon accepting the imitation bag. What were the chances that the bag ended up in Sharon’s possession? It seemed almost like fate.
Veronica’s haughty gaze turned to Mia. “Ms. Monalize, what gift have you prepared for Sharon?”
The Chapmans turned their attention to Mia as well.
Nikki shrieked as soon as she saw Mia. “I¨CIs that Mia Bowen?”
Nikki had conducted a background check, so she knew what Timothy’s ex- wife looked like. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
Several guests with close ties with the Barretts had encountered Mia Bowen before. They were taken aback by the uncanny resemblance between the two women, their surprise registering visibly.
Mia smiled. “I know Mr. Barrett’s ex¨Cwife looks a lot like me. They say that pretty ladies often resemble each other. Don’t you think so?”
Nikki’s expression hinted at her alarm as she inquired, “Mrs. Barrett, who, is this?”
Sharon offered an indifferent introduction. “She’s Shelly’s friend.”
Shelly quickly interjected, “That’s not right, Aunt Sharon. Monalize is Tim’s girlfriend.”
“What are you talking about, Shelly? Since when has Tim had a girlfriend? not aware of that, and I certainly don’t approve of her either,” Sharon firmly declared.
Nikki and her mother visibly relaxed upon hearing Sharon’s stance.
After all, a woman couldn’t enter a wealthy family without proper acknowledgment by the family.
Shelly persisted, “We’ll find out once Tim arrives.”
Ignoring Shelly’s comment, Sharon redirected the conversation. “Let’s not pay attention to childish talk. How about a stroll in the garden? It’s beautiful out there.”
Amelia Mapp agreed, “I’ve heard that the private resort has tailored its services for you, Mrs. Barrett. We’re envious. It’s a service exclusive to your family!”
Sharon grinned proudly. “It’s thanks to my son that we get to experience this. Their service is indeed top¨Cnotch, not only in design but also in food.
The ingredients were freshly flown in this morning. You should consider hosting an event here in the future.”
The group of people strolled around. Meanwhile, the other guests couldn’t stop showering praises on the private resort.
Mia, trailing behind them, felt elated hearing the positive feedback. “It’s not too shabby,” she remarked with a chuckle. The swelling pride within her was unmistakable.
Nikki suddenly turned her head to look at Mia. “Ms. Monalize, is that your comment on the design? Not too shabby? You sure have high standards.”
All eyes immediately shifted to Mia.
Sharon scowled. “Since it’s not up to your standard, feel free to leave whenever you please.”
Mia calmly replied, “Sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.”
“You better not have,” Sharon retorted before leading the guests onward. “
dow me, everyone. Behold, a sea of blue roses. It’s said to cost millions to cultivate them. We may encounter blue beauties elsewhere, but genuine blue roses are a rarity.”
The guests eagerly began taking pictures of the blue roses.
Proudly, Sharon said, “You can buy the seeds and plant blue roses at home yourselves, but there’s no guarantee they will thrive.”
Nikki interjected, “It is not easy to grow blue roses, hence its rarity. It requires precise temperature control at 77¡ãF during cultivation, and once they bloom, they can only be exposed to sunlight for eight hours. Anything lesser or more than that is unacceptable.”
Impressed, Sharon nodded. “You know that too? I’m impressed.”
Nikki beamed but remained humble. “It’s just a hobby of mine. I dabble in flower arranging and cooking, so I’ve picked up a few things.”
Mia couldn’t resist interjecting, “She got it wrong.”
As soon as Mia said that, Sharon retorted, “You’re quite bold to challenge. Ms. Chapman’s expertise, Ms. Monalize. She’s a seasoned professional in this field.”
In truth, Mia hadn’t intended to speak up. However, she foresaw potential doubts arising among the affluent guests if they followed Nikki’s advice to purchase seeds from Aide Castle and encountered discrepancies in their growth.
Mia corrected Nikki not out of personal interest but to safeguard the resort’s reputation. Otherwise, she wouldn’t even have bothered to speak up.
Nikki gazed at Mia, displeased. “If you believe there’s an error in my information, please enlighten me.”
“Firstly,” Mia began evenly, “the optimal temperature for seed growth is 78.8¡ãF, but it should vary during the sprouting, growth, and blooming stages. It’s not advisable for the temperature to remain constant.
“Additionally, while the recommended sunlight exposure duration is indeed eight hours, it shouldn’t be continuous; rather, it should be cumulative and adjusted based on the plant’s growth stages. Continuous exposure can lead to leaf burn.”
Nikki’s complexion paled. This contradicted what she had found online. Was the information she accessed inaccurate?
“Ms. Monalize, we aren’t experts in this matter. How can we trust your words?” Amelia’s tone turned frosty.
Sharon quickly agreed, “That’s right.”
Mia arched her brows. “Well, we can consult the garden staff for confirmation.”
At that moment, a staff approached. “Is there anything I can help you with
Sharon inquired, “If we were to purchase the blue rose seeds, how could we go about cultivating them?”
“You’ll have to follow strict instructions to grow them. We have gardeners who can teach you how to cultivate your garden for free.”
Amelia cut him off, “Just tell us how to grow them so that we know the process.
“Sure. The most important condition for cultivating blue roses is the temperature. It has to be precisely 78.8¡ãF, but it’s different for every stage of growth. As for sunlight exposure, it’s crucial to manage the duration, especially during later growth stages where an accumulated eight hours is optimal. Continuous exposure risks leaf damage,” the staff member elucidated, delving into the intricate details.
The atmosphere shifted.
Sharon’s expression turned awkward, as she didn’t expect Mia to be telling the truth. On the contrary, Nikki had given false information.
Nikki and Amelia exchanged glances. Nikki was chewing her lip due to embarrassment.
Shelly gloated. “Did you hear that? Monalize was right. It would’ve been a waste of money if you had blindly followed someone else’s advice.”
Nikki was on the verge of crying. Who would’ve known that the information she had found online was false?
Nikki knows only a thing or two about it. It’s normal to get the details wrong. After all, she’s not a professional.” Amelia attempted to lighten the mood.
“Right.” Sharon nodded.
Mia responded calmly, “Misleading others with inaccurate information can have detrimental consequences, Ms. Chapman.”
Nikki countered, “Are you a professional, Ms. Monalize? You seem to know this kind of stuff very well.”
“We don’t know as much as a gardener does. After all, families like us hire gardeners to take care of the garden.” Amelia joined the mockery.
M¨ªa managed to read between the lines. “Just a hobby of mine. Similar to Ms. Chapman, I only know a thing or two.”
“But you know as much as a professional does. You’re being humble, Monalize. Tim has found himself such an all¨Crounder girlfriend,” Shelly lauded, showering Mia with a compliment.-
When there was a chance to shower Mia with compliments, Shelly wouldn’t hold back.
Shelly even glared at Nikki as if chiding her for trying to stand out when she didn’t know a thing.
“Everyone’s here, Tim. The flowers are gorgeous,” Luna’s voice echoed from behind, her triumphant expression evident as she stood next to Timothy, casting a challenging glance at the affluent ladies.
Timothy’s gaze was immediately drawn to the woman in red, her striking attire perfectly complementing her demeanor.
Noticing his gaze, Mia smiled.
Finally, he arrived.
Sharon beamed. “Tim, finally done with your work? Come here. Let me introduce someone to you. This is Nikki Chapman. You’ve met her before.”
A bashful smile adorned Nikki’s face. As he drew closer toward her direction, her heart raced uncontrollably.
Timothy exuded an air of effortless charm as he made his way through the crowd, his striking appearance capturing everyone’s attention.
However, he stopped right in front of Mia. “Do you feel bored?”
m fine. The garden is pretty, especially with the rare blue roses. I heard that there will be a surprise performance too. I’m excited about it.” Mia went all out when it came to her private resort.
Nikki’s face lost its color. Timothy was clearly walking in her direction, but why had he stopped to talk to Monalize?