Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Determination etched on his face, Timothy stood his ground, engaging in a fierce altercation with Connor’s bodyguards. Despite being outnumbered, he refused to yield.
Observing this scene unfold from the sidelines, Dylan was completely taken aback.
After all, Connor was Mia’s third brother. Judging by their earlier interaction, it seemed Mia’s relationship with Timothy was anything but ordinary.
Pondering this, Dylan’s curiosity only intensified.
Was Timothy really just an ordinary bodyguard?
Nonetheless, the Lanes’ clear disdain for Timothy was a welcome sight for Dylan.
At that moment, Connor directed a hostile glance toward Dylan and asked, “And who might you be?”
Feeling uneasy, Dylan promptly clarified, “Hello, Mr. Lane. I work at Ms. Lane’s company. She and I had plans for dinner tonight.
“But unexpectedly, Ms. Lane ran into the Bowens in the restroom, and Mrs. Bowen ended up injuring her.”
Though Dylan felt reluctant to divulge, keeping silent might implicate him further with Timothy.
Besides, it was widely known in Nord City that the Lane brothers were fiercely protective of their younger sister.
Upon hearing this, Connor finally grasped the situation. “The Bowen family sure has some nerve, don’t they? Assaulting Mia like that! They’re getting way too cocky!”
Despite this, Connor’s animosity toward Timothy remained palpable. Seeing all his bodyguards lying defeated at Timothy’s feet, Connor was taken aback. “Seems like you’re quite skilled, huh?” he grumbled. “Get more reinforcements here, now!”
Connor couldn’t believe it. Was Timothy seriously gaining the upper hand in the Lane family’s territory in Nord City?
Shortly after, over ten additional bodyguards arrived. Despite Timothy’s prowess, he was quickly outnumbered.
As Dylan observed from the sidelines, his expression became increasingly complex. Why was Timothy still refusing to leave?
Did he truly want to risk his life?
“Stop!”
A commanding voice echoed from the elevator, abruptly halting the altercation.
Upon hearing the interruption, Connor glanced up, his expression clouded with displeasure.
Spotting Jason, he immediately frowned and retorted, “Why are you stopping me? Every time this Barrett bastard appears, trouble follows Mia. He’s nothing but bad luck!”
As Connor’s outburst ceased, the other bodyguards also halted their actions.
Timothy sat alone on the ground, visibly battered with bruises, his shattered sunglasses scattered nearby.
Jason approached without sparing Timothy a glance, addressing Connor instead, “There’s a lot of attention on the Lane family right now. Causing a fatal incident in the hospital won’t bode well for us.
“If you wish to deal with him, please find a more discreet location.” Observing from the sidelines, Dylan was taken aback. Wasn’t it a bit too risky to discuss such matters in front of Timothy?
Nonetheless, Timothy remained unfazed by Jason’s words, showing no signs of intimidation.
As a seasoned lawyer, Jason was adept at managing such situations, which was why he stepped in when he witnessed Connor’s bodyguards brutally assaulting Timothy.
Regardless of the circumstances, they couldn’t risk anything happening to Timothy there, not even leaving behind a single piece of incriminating evidence.
Jason subtly acknowledged Dylan’s nearby presence with a careful glance, silently conveying the need for discretion.
Dylan quickly reassured him, saying, “Mr. Lane, you have my word. I won’t mention a thing about what I saw. I’m firmly on Ms. Lane’s side.” Jason responded with a calculated smile, “That’s good to know. However, I’ll need you to sign a confidentiality agreement.”
As a lawyer, Jason understood the importance of having contractual evidence.
Meanwhile, Connor’s expression grew darker, revealing his dissatisfaction.
Hadn’t Claude’s associates already dealt with Timothy during their previous encounter at the airport?
Plus, with rumors circulating about Timothy and his entire entourage hastily departing Nord City, it was especially surprising for Connor to find Timothy still lingering in Bern City.
Contemplating this, Connor found himself questioning Claude’s proficiency in managing the situation.
Observing the disheveled Timothy, Connor quipped, “Hey, punk, why are you still hanging around Nord City?”
With a composed demeanor, Timothy wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and replied, “I plan to stay until Ginger has fully recovered.”
Upon hearing Timothy’s declaration, Connor and Jason’s expressions shifted abruptly. They couldn’t help but wonder: Had Timothy somehow learned the truth about the bone marrow donation?
But then Timothy continued, stating, “Ginger is my daughter too. I have every right to remain by her side and ensure her recovery!”
Connor breathed a sigh of relief at Timothy’s words. It appeared that Timothy was still unaware of whether the bone marrow was intended for Ginger or Sage.
At that moment, Jason sternly intervened, saying, “Mia risked her life to bring Ginger into this world. And let’s not forget, it’s been the Lane family’s effort to raise her over the years.
“You have no right to be by Ginger’s side. If you’re even considering attempting to gain custody of her, I strongly suggest you drop that idea right now!”
Given his experience as a lawyer, Jason had encountered many divorce cases before, giving him a good understanding of men’s thoughts in such situations.
Throughout this time, Timothy brazenly lingered in Nord City, adamantly refusing to depart from Mia’s side. He even insisted that he wouldn’t leave until Ginger had fully recovered.
Nonetheless, his true intentions remained hidden. Behind the scenes, he could be scheming to secure custody of Ginger.
Despite this, Ginger and Sage rightfully belonged to the Lane family, and their custody was not up for grabs.
As Timothy steadied himself against the wall, he met the gaze of the Lane family with a steely resolve. “I have no intention of contesting custody of Ginger,” he asserted firmly. “You have my word on that.”
Yet, beneath his outwardly reassuring words, there was a dual implication. Timothy’s desire for custody of Ginger was intertwined with his longing for Mia to return to him.
In his heart, he yearned for the restoration of his family—his wife and his child.
However, Timothy wisely kept those thoughts to himself, knowing that expressing them aloud could lead to dire consequences.
“Hey, Barrett, I’ll give you credit for having some insight, but even if you attempt to pursue custody, you won’t succeed. Have you forgotten what I do for a living?
“If I allow you to take custody of Ginger, then what was the point of being a lawyer all these years?”
To preempt any potential custody battles from Timothy in the future, Jason had already made thorough preparations since Ginger and Sage were born.
Therefore, Timothy didn’t stand a chance, not even the slightest opportunity.
Observing Timothy’s attire, Connor felt puzzled. He turned to Peyton and asked, “Wasn’t there a recent scandal involving a bodyguard and Mia? Could it be him?”
Peyton reluctantly nodded in response.
At this stage, there was no point in hiding any longer.
Connor’s anger flared instantly as he strode forward, gripping Timothy’s collar tightly. “Alright, you think you’re clever, huh?” he snapped. Timothy maintained a blank expression as he responded, “I just want to stay and see Ginger recover. Nothing more.”
“Listen here, punk! Ginger’s recovery is progressing smoothly. She’ll be healthy again soon. We don’t need you pretending to stick around.” Jason interjected firmly, “Mia was managing fine before you arrived. But as soon as you showed up, she got hurt again.”
With a forceful shove, Connor pushed Timothy back. “I’m warning you, get out of Nord City immediately. Never come back, or I assure you, your life will be in jeopardy next time!”
Knocked off balance by the shove, Timothy struggled to steady himself against the wall. He responded earnestly, “As I’ve said before, once Ginger has fully recovered, I’ll leave Nord City.”
“Seriously, do you want to end up dead? Don’t assume I won’t take action. Keep in mind, this is Nord City, and I have plenty of ways to make you disappear without a trace.”
In a burst of anger, Connor abruptly grabbed a surgical knife and swung it toward Timothy…
Connor’s surgical knife was exceptionally sharp, its edge gleaming ominously.
Nevertheless, Timothy remained motionless, almost as if he had resigned himself to whatever fate awaited him.
In that tense moment, even Jason found himself holding his breath. With a swift motion, the knife sliced through Timothy’s sleeve, drawing blood as it left a jagged tear in its wake.
Observing Timothy’s lack of reaction, Connor gritted his teeth and remarked, “You’re truly tempting fate, aren’t you?”
What a madman!
Unfazed, Timothy glanced at the blood-stained knife, his expression devoid of emotion as he replied, “Even if you were to kill me now, my answer would remain unchanged. I won’t leave.”
Enraged, Connor prepared to strike again, but Jason intervened. “Connor, why don’t you go check on Mia’s condition? I’ll handle this.” Even if they wanted to destroy Timothy, now wasn’t the right moment to do so.
Upon hearing Mia’s name, Connor reluctantly put away the surgical knife. With one final glare at Timothy, he warned, “Consider yourself lucky today. But don’t think you’ll escape next time.”
After Connor left, Jason fixed a cold stare on the disheveled Timothy standing before him. “Speak up. What are your true intentions?”
“I’ve already told you.”
“We’re all sensible people here, so I trust you’ll be equally astute in this matter. Mia is now the heiress of the Lane family, and Ginger is invaluable to us. You should understand that Mia is no longer the vulnerable orphan who could be intimidated by your family.”
Jason’s voice dripped with mockery as he reminded Timothy of his family’s mistreatment of Mia in the past.
Lowering his eyes, Timothy admitted, “I understand. I just want to make things right now.”
“How virtuous of you, Barrett,” Jason retorted sarcastically. “But what can you possibly offer to make amends? Mia has everything she desires now. What makes you think you have anything worthwhile to contribute?
“Where were you when she suffered at the hands of your family, or when she almost died giving birth? Could you endure the suffering she went through? Obviously not.”