Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
“Have you forgotten? I initially gave you just a week, yet here you are, still lingering after more than half a month.
“And at the banquet, you even attempted to undermine me. Did you truly believe I have infinite patience?”
“Hey, don’t think that having Tim’s backing gives you the right to be so arrogant!” Sharon retorted.
Upon hearing Sharon’s words, Mia’s gaze turned cold. “You’ve got it all wrong. I’ve never relied on Timothy for support. I’ve always been this bold.
“Don’t you enjoy using power to intimidate others? Unfortunately, the Lane family holds sway in Nord City. Even Timothy has to comply.”
Sharon’s anger was palpable, and her entire demeanor turned sour. “With that attitude, do you still believe Tim will agree to marry you?”
“Once again, you’ve misunderstood. I never entertained the idea of marrying Timothy. He’s the one pursuing me relentlessly.
“However, your words have given me an idea. If he genuinely seeks reconciliation and is prepared to marry into my family, it’s something I might consider.”
Sharon screamed in frustration, “Mia, you’re out of your mind!”
“Then let’s put it to the test,” Mia retorted before ending the call.
As she pictured Sharon’s angry expression, Mia felt a sudden surge of vindication.
Indeed, deriving satisfaction from others’ discomfort indeed seemed oddly gratifying.
Not to mention, simply eliminating someone troublesome instantly improved the atmosphere.
Suspecting that the individuals on Yellow Island were exploiting Sharon, Mia decided to send her back to Bern City.
As Mia sat down for lunch, she suddenly remembered that it was Sage’s first day of school. She couldn’t help but wonder how he was adjusting to the cafeteria food. Almost immediately, her phone rang-it was a call from the kindergarten.
Mia answered promptly. “Hello, what’s the matter, Ms. Graziosi?”
Could Sage be facing some difficulties at school?
“Ms. Lane, Sage got into a fight with another student during lunch. We need you to come in,” Casey explained.
“Of course, I’ll be there right away. Is Sage alright?” Mia asked, her concern evident.
“Both children are fine, they just sustained minor scrapes. There’s no need to worry. They’ve been checked by the school nurse,” Casey reassured Mia.
Mia felt an immediate wave of relief upon hearing this news. As long as Sage was unharmed, she was content.
Her primary concern for Sage was his well-being, above all else.
Nonetheless, Mia hadn’t anticipated him getting into a scuffle on his very first day of school!
Mia wasted no time in arriving at Sage’s kindergarten. Upon arriving, she approached Casey. “Ms. Graziosi, what led to the altercation between Sage and the other student?”
“To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. Both Sage and this new student recently transferred in, but the other child arrived a few days earlier.
“It’s difficult to fathom what might have triggered a conflict between two children meeting for the first time, yet neither of them is willing to provide an explanation.”
Mia shared Casey’s bewilderment. She knew Sage wouldn’t instigate a fight without reason. “Has this other student’s family been contacted?”
“Yes, they’re currently in the office.”
As Mia entered the office, her attention was drawn to a middle-aged woman, Tonya Waterford. Stepping forward, Mia introduced herself. “Hello, I’m Sage’s mother, and-“
“Well, well. So, you’re the mother who couldn’t raise her child properly. You appear respectable enough, but as a single mother, you must bear complete responsibility for your child’s actions,” Tonya interjected.
Mia’s gaze turned cold. “What a filthy mouth you have. Did you forget to brush your teeth before leaving the house? I’d love to see what kind of kid someone like you would raise.”
After all, behind every misbehaving child, there usually lay a misbehaving parent.
“Are you insinuating something? Do you even have any idea who we are? You’re hardly qualified to speak in such a manner. If you don’t offer a sincre apology for Mr. Asher’s injury, you’ll regret crossing us!”
Mia’s lips curved into a chilling smile. “How convenient. I won’t let this matter slide either, especially after my son was injured on his very first day of school.”
“Just so you’re aware, you might be in for a surprise if I reveal our family’s identity,” Tonya shot back.
Mia couldn’t fathom why there were so many individuals in this world who appeared eager to challenge her. She never expected someone would dare to boast about their status in her presence.
Raising an eyebrow, Mia responded sarcastically, “Well then, I suppose I’m rather intrigued to discover more about his identity. Please, feel free to surprise me.” “Mr. Asher is the mayor’s grandson.”
Mia fell silent abruptly, her mind flooded with confusion.
Upon hearing Tonya’s statement, Mia raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The mayor’s grandson?
Was it what she suspected?
Observing Mia’s puzzled expression, Tonya misinterpreted it as shock.
She immediately seized the opportunity to gloat. “See? You’re taken aback, aren’t you? I told you, revealing our identity would definitely startle you.”
Turning to Casey beside her, Mia inquired, “Is this new student named Asher Maynard?”
Casey nodded affirmatively. “Yes, do you know him?”
Mia was struck by the coincidence. She looked at the arrogant Tonya and remarked, “Aren’t you just a nanny? How dare you assume you can waltz in here and flaunt yourself?”
“Who do you think you’re insulting? You know I’m associated with Mr. Shelbert’s family, yet you dare speak to me like this? Clearly, you lack basic manners. Do you even have a man backing you since you talk so boldly?”
Without hesitation, Mia raised her hand and delivered a sharp slap on Tonya’s face.
She glared at Tonya and quipped, “With that filthy mouth of yours, you should really consider keeping quiet.”
“How dare you slap me!”
“And why shouldn’t I? If you’re brave enough, have Mr. Shelbert come to me personally. Let him know that if anything happens to my son, the Lane family will hold all of you accountable.”
After saying her piece, Mia exited the office. At that moment, her only concern was to see Sage and ensure he wasn’t injured.
In a state of shock, Tonya stared blankly at Casey. “Who is that woman, exactly?”
“She’s Ms. Lane,” Casey responded.
“I mean, is she part of the prestigious Lane family?”
Casey nodded. “Yes, she’s the heiress of the Lane family, the wealthiest magnate in Nord City.”
Tonya’s legs weakened as she realized Mia’s true identity. She hadn’t expected her to come from such a powerful lineage. This was indeed trouble.
As Mia walked toward the classroom, she spotted Sage sitting with Ginger. Sage was engrossed in a book while Ginger played with toys. Approaching them, Mia asked, “Sage, is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable?”
Upon seeing Mia, Ginger immediately stood up. “Mommy, it’s not Sage’s fault. The chubby kid started calling names first.”
Mia gently patted Ginger’s head. “I know it’s not Sage’s fault.”
Lifting his head, Sage spoke calmly, “I’m not hurt. Uncle Nicholas taught me self-defense techniques at the research institute.” “Yeah, Sage pinned the chubby kid down and gave him a good beating. It was so cool.”
Upon hearing Ginger’s words, Mia felt a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
She had been concerned about the potential repercussions of Sage’s scuffle, but it seemed she had been worrying unnecessarily. Glancing at Sage and Ginger, Mia said, “Well, I’m relieved that everything turned out okay. Could you tell me why you two ended up fighting?”
After all, Casey mentioned she couldn’t determine the cause of the altercation.
Sage hesitated briefly before responding, “It’s nothing.”
Mia turned to Ginger, who spoke indignantly, “That chubby kid was hurling insults at you, remember? Anyway, Sage couldn’t stand it, so he acted out. That chubby kid’s mom is a mean lady.”
Indeed, Ginger had encountered
Luna before and always harbored a strong dislike for her, particularly since tuna had once nearly interfered with Sage receiving medical treatment.
As Mia contemplated this, she fell silent for a moment. She started to grasp the reason behind Asher’s sudden animosity toward Sage.
It seemed evident that Asher had not been raised properly.
Addressing Sage and Ginger, Mia assured them, “I see it now. You two don’t need to worry about this. I’ll take care of it.”
After ensuring her children were safe, Mia left and headed back to the office. With Sage unharmed, the other matters could be easily resolved.
Upon entering the office, Mia noticed Asher was present.
When Asher spotted her, his eyes brimmed with resentment, reflecting the same hostility Mia had witnessed during their previous encounter.
Mia sensed that having a child like Asher in the same kindergarten as Sage and Ginger was akin to having a ticking time bomb.
She couldn’t risk such a potential threat to her children’s safety.
Given Luna’s desperation, Mia feared the actions she might take in the future.
Regardless, she had to ensure that Asher left the school.