Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Mia’s demeanor hardened as she fired back, “His identity is none of your concern. I see no reason to disclose it to you, nor do I appreciate your intrusion into our lives.”
“Mia, did you think I wouldn’t eventually discover the truth? This boy is the spitting image of Tim. It’s glaringly obvious he’s his child. I can’t fathom why you hid this from me.” Sharon had long assumed that Timothy had only one daughter, a belief that had nearly plunged her into despair.
Now, confronted with the knowledge of Mia’s son, Sharon couldn’t shake the suspicion-had Mia intentionally kept her son hidden to gain leverage for more favorable terms?
“I find this situation rather amusing, wouldn’t you agree? Why should I feel compelled to share any information with you?
“These two children are my flesh and blood, and as their parent, it’s my prerogative to choose whether or not to reveal their existence to anyone.”
“Mia, this young boy is the heir of the Barrett family. You don’t have the authority to separate him from us.
“If he were a girl, the situation might be different, but as a son, he is destined to be raised within the Barrett family. Regardless, I’m determined to see him return to where he rightfully belongs.” Shooting Sharon a chilling stare, Sage retorted, “I have no desire to go back to the Barrett family.”
He had absolutely no intention of returning, none whatsoever.
Sharon knelt down, her gaze penetrating as she addressed Sage. “My dear, perhaps you’re still too young to fully understand the significance of your father’s position.
“He happens to be the CEO of the esteemed Barrett Group in Bern City. If you leave your Mommy and return to our family, you will inherit everything we own.
“You’ll have access to immense wealth and wield considerable influence. Do you grasp the significance of this opportunity?”
However, Sage remained resolute. “So what? None of that matters to me,” he countered.
“Indeed, you’re still just a child who hasn’t fully understood the whole situation,” Sharon remarked, her tone tinged with disappointment.
“As you grow older, you’ll come to regret the decisions you’re making now. That’s why Grandma is making this choice on your behalf. Someday, you’ll understand and appreciate what I’m doing.”
To Sharon, Mia seemed reminiscent of Luna, attempting to exploit Timothy as a means to return to the Barrett family.
Following her declaration, Sharon locked eyes with Mia and demanded, “Please, state your conditions. I’m adamant about keeping this child within the Barrett family.”
“After everything that’s happened, what makes you think you can speak to me like that?” Mia shot back. “Even Timothy himself wouldn’t dare challenge me for custody. What gives you the right to feel entitled?’
“Well, it’s because we’re currently in
Bern City. Have you forgotten that this territory belongs to the Barrett family? I this had happened in Nord City, perhaps I wouldn’t have a say. But here, within the boundaries of Bern City, your authority holds no weight.”
“Mom, I’ve already emphasized that your involvement in Mia and our children’s affairs isn’t necessary. Have you forgotten already?” Timothy interjected, frustration lacing his words.
“Tim, were you aware of this young boy’s existence all this time? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? He’s the sole grandson of the Barrett family. Are you seriously considering. leaving him with Mia instead of bringing him back to our family?”
Sharon couldn’t help but feel puzzled. While she had only recently discovered Sage’s existence, Timothy had known all along. And to compound matters, he deliberately kept him hidden from her. Timothy’s demeanor remained aloof as he asserted, “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I’m not going to contest custody. They can decide where they want to be.”
“And who do you plan to designate as the heir to the Barrett family fortune in the future? Considering you have no other children, what strategy do you have in place?” Sharon pressed.
“If there truly isn’t anyone to take on the responsibility, then perhaps donating everything for a noble cause could be an option,” Timothy replied.
“No, I can’t agree with that! The entire legacy of the Barrett family must be passed down to an heir.
Regardless, this young boy net stay within the Barrett family.
can’t make decisions on younown this time,” Sharon insisted.
With a smirk, Mia challenged, “What makes you entitled to seek custody of Sage? Let’s not forget how you and Luna put his life at risk. Have you conveniently forgotten about that?” Sharon’s bewilderment was unmistakable. “What do you mean? How did I endanger him?”
“It’s because it wasn’t Ginger who was sick back then; it was Sage. We intentionally misled you by falsely claiming that Ginger was the one who fell ill, all to keep Timothy unaware of Sage’s existence. “While Sage was confined in the isolation chamber, awaiting the donated bone marrow, you and Luna deliberately swapped it, putting his life in jeopardy. Were you even aware of that?” Mia reprimanded. Upon hearing Mia’s accusation, Sharon’s face drained of color, and she quickly tried to justify herself, stuttering, “I-I wasn’t aware it was him who fell ill at that time.”
“Regardless of whether you knew it was Sage or not, your actions still endangered him. Just on that account, you won’t stand a chance of gaining custody in court,” Mia declared.
She was determined to ensure her children never returned to the Barrett family.
Sharon stole a glance at Sage, struck by his uncanny resemblance to Timothy. They could almost be mistaken for twins.
The undeniable truth stared back at her: Sage was Timothy’s son.
However, the memory of how she had nearly endangered Sage’s life filled Sharon with overwhelming guilt, making it impossible for her to face Mia.
Summoning her courage, Sharon pushed back, “But can all the blame truly be laid at my feet? If only you had been honest from the start, I wouldn’t have prevented Timothy from donating his bone marrow. “Instead, I would have implored him to do everything in his power to save my grandson. It was your deceit that led to this tragic outcome!”
Sharon’s skill at deflecting blame was becoming increasingly apparent.
“What do you mean by intentionally deceiving you? Are you suggesting that if Ginger and Sage weren’t Timothy’s children, you and Luna would have been justified in plotting against them? Are you both unaware that murder is a crime?”
Mia found Sharon’s logic utterly baffling.
Meanwhile, Sharon was left speechless, unable to muster a single word in response.
She never expected Mia to give birth to twins-a boy and a girl.
Initially, Sharon’s intention was simply to teach Mia a lesson by swapping the marrow, but she never imagined the potential risk of endangering her grandson in the process.
If there had been any genuine missteps back then, the potential consequences would have been utterly unimaginable.
While Sharon reflected on this, she nearly lost her balance, her resolve wavering.
Stepping forward, Edith reached out to steady Sharon, her voice firm. “Why stoop to her level?” she quipped. “You’re this little boy’s grandmother, for goodness’ sake.
“Right now, he understands nothing. But as he grows older, he’ll realize the importance of being part of the Barrett family.
“After all, who in their right mind would willingly abandon such a substantial inheritance only to endure hardship abroad with their mother?”
Ginger couldn’t hold her silence any longer. She turned to Edith, asserting, “Mommy would never allow us to suffer. We’re happy with her.” “Really, what could a young girl like you possibly understand? Even if you wanted to go back to the Barrett family, they wouldn’t accept you. “They only care about that little boy. You see, it’s through a son that they carry on the family name and lineage.”
In an instant, tears filled Ginger’s eyes, her heart heavy with emotion.
Seeing Ginger’s distress, Timothy quickly embraced her, giving Edith a stern look. “You better watch what you say,” he warned.
“I’m not wrong, am I? Throughout history, it’s been sons who’ve upheld the family legacy. When have you ever heard of daughters inheriting the family estate?”
“Just because it’s unconventional doesn’t mean it’s out of the question. If Ginger expresses such a wish in the future, I’m fully prepared to pass down all of my family’s possessions to her.” S
“This is completely unacceptable! If you’re considering passing on to your daughter, you might as well think about my son. After all, your cousin is also a boy. He can eventually inherit everything from the Barrett family in your place.”
Mia could easily discern Edith’s motives. Wasn’t she just trying to stir up trouble by exploiting the fact that Timothy didn’t have any legal heirs?
Timothy’s tone grew icy as he warned, “I suggest you abandon that idea. Even if I were to distribute all of my assets, not a single cent would go to an outsider.”
Upon hearing Timothy’s words, Edith quickly turned to Sharon. “Did you hear what Tim just said? Why should the wealth of the Barrett family be given to an outsider?”
In response, Sharon forcefully pushed Edith aside. “Don’t think I’m unaware of your intentions. It seems you all believe that because Tim doesn’t have any legal heirs, there’s nobody to inherit his wealth, right?
“Let me make it crystal clear: all of Tim’s assets belong to him alone, and none of you will receive a single penny!”
“Sharon, what’s come over you? Didn’t Mom and Dad teach us better? Just look at how Ralph is struggling in Nord City.
“With the Barrett family’s immense wealth, what’s the harm in lending a hand? I truly don’t see any issue with sharing a portion with Ralph when the opportunity arises.”
Sharon’s demeanor shifted abruptly at Edith’s words. “What’s this? Am I supposed to keep sacrificing just because I’m a daughter? I’ve had enough!
“Our parents passed away long ago, so why should I continue to be taken advantage of by all of you?”
“If Timothy intends to donate all his wealth, wouldn’t it make more sense to keep it within the family?”
“Unfortunately, you’re not a member of the Barrett family, so you don’t have any inherent claim to it. What justification is there for your son to inherit the Barrett family’s wealth?”
“But is Timothy truly a legitimate heir of the Barrett family? After all, he’s not even your biological son.”
Mia found herself stunned by the sudden revelation. Could it be possible that Edith was aware of the truth regarding Timothy’s parentage?
Wasn’t Timothy’s true lineage supposed to be a tightly kept secret within the Barrett family?
According to Timothy’s earlier claims, only Laura and he were privy to his origins. Meanwhile, Sharon was supposedly kept in the dark.
Yet, with Edith’s unexpected disclosure, it seemed apparent that Sharon might have been aware of this information. Otherwise, how else could an outsider like Edith have come to know about it?
As a closely guarded secret within the Barrett family, Mia was certain that Laura would have taken stringent measures to prevent any leaks.
Therefore, there was only one conceivable explanation-Sharon must have been privy to this secret all along and inadvertently disclosed it to Edith.
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense. Mia hadn’t expected to find herself in such a predicament during what was meant to be a casual dinner with Ginger and Sage.
Instinctively, she glanced at Timothy, but his expression remained impossible to decipher.
Meanwhile, Sharon’s face twisted
???.
with distress as she delivered a sharp slap across Edith’s cheek. “How dare you spread such lies! Timothy is my son! He belongs to no one else but me. He is the rightful heir of the Barrett family!”
Stung by the unexpected slap, Edith, typically the aggressor in their exchanges, found herself on the receiving end for once, a sensation she couldn’t bear.
Fueled by her anger, she retaliated fiercely, “You were the one who confided in me about Timothy not being your biological son, sharing the heartbreaking story of losing your biological child years ago!
“You’ve been avoiding facing this truth, fearing the Barretts might discover your deception and realize you’re not the rightful matriarch.