Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Sharon’s face twisted with frustration, unable to formulate a retort to Mia’s accusations.
Undeterred, Mia continued, “Why the sudden silence? From the beginning, you’ve been driven by selfish motives, treating Timothy as nothing more than a means to an end. What makes you believe you have the right to manipulate him like this?”
Sharon asserted, “Well, firstly, I’ve been the one raising him since he was young. I’ve treated him as my flesh and blood, giving him the best education and pouring all my hopes into him.
“And what do I get in return? He turns out to be nothing but the illegitimate child of a mistress. If you were in my position, could you honestly say you’d handle it any differently?”
As Mia took in Sharon’s distressed expression, she couldn’t help but notice how Sharon seemed to age right before her eyes at that moment.
It was understandable. Facing such circumstances would overwhelm anyone.
All of a sudden, Mia’s realization hit her like a bolt of lightning. “But why did you accuse me of disclosing Timothy’s parentage to him?”
“Wasn’t it you?” Sharon quickly retorted. “It happened during that chaotic time when I found out Timothy wasn’t my biological son 4 was in distress, barely holding myself together. It was when my sister came to comfort me that you happened to overhear ou discussion.”
With a look of disdain, Mia shot back, “I didn’t eavesdrop on your conversation. In fact, I only learned about Timothy’s parentage recently, directly from Timothy himself.” “What difference does it make? At that time, who could determine whether you knew or not?”
“So, let me get this straight. Besides your aversion to my orphan status, there’s another critical factor at play, isn’t there? It’s your fear that I might disclose Timothy’s true background to him. “After all, you could risk losing everything if that information ever came to light. That certainly explains why you’re so keen to get rid of me.”
Finally, Mia grasped why Sharon harbored such intense animosity toward her all those years.
It turned out it wasn’t her fault at all. Rather, Sharon was simply consumed by guilt.
Sharon’s calm facade started to fracture, her tone dripping with contempt. “Why does it even matter, anyway? An orphan like you has no right to marry into the Barrett family or uphold its legacy.
“I honestly never imagined you’d have Tim wrapped around your finger like this. It just proves how influential bloodlines can be. If he were truly mine, he wouldn’t be attracted to someone of your lowly status.”
Mia’s contemptuous laugh echoed through the room. “Have you conveniently forgotten how you adored that imposter who sneaked into the Barrett residence? You practically worshiped her. “And now, you have the audacity to suggest that a rightful heiress like me isn’t deserving of the Barrett legacy? Please, spare me your charade.
“It’s obvious you can’t handle the fact that Timothy isn’t your biological son. So, you cling to the idea that he owes you everything that he should bend to your every whim. Unfortunately, your elaborate justifications only reveal your selfishness.”
Sharon’s sentiments toward Timothy had always been intricate, fueled by her conviction that he owed her his entire existence.
Ultimately, Sharon revealed herself as a selfish individual. For years, she had kept the truth hidden for her own benefit, portraying herself as the victim in the situation.
Suddenly, Sharon’s voice erupted with indignation as she said, “But did I say anything wrong? If my son were still here, he wouldn’t dare treat me like this.
“It’s because Timothy’s not my flesh and blood, but rather the offspring of that mistress. That explains why he acts this way.
“However, considering I raised him since he was young, shouldn’t he repay me for my efforts? Just look at how he treats me now.”
Timothy’s expression remained impassive as he replied, “I understand. What is it that you want?”
Sharon voiced her request. “Well, I want to inherit everything that belongs to the Barrett family. Since you’re not interested in heirs and intend to donate the family’s entire fortune, why not designate it all to me? “It’s only fair, considering my past contributions. Without my intervention, could you have regained your position as the Barrett family heir? Timothy, don’t forget that everything and everyone you have today is thanks to me.”
After taking a moment to think, Timothy replied, “I can’t hand over complete ownership of the Barrett family’s assets to you, but I’m open to transferring all the shares to you. However, you’ll only have the right to receive dividends without any involvement in the company’s management.”
“Fair enough. Money holds its value regardless. And given my age, I’m not exactly well-suited for running a company.
“Now, there’s an urgent task I need you to handle for me. Please secure a VIP membership card from Vior as soon as possible. Also, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t interfere with my spending from now on.” Timothy nodded in agreement. “Understood.”
With that settled, Sharon adjusted her clothing and left the restaurant.
Meanwhile, the security personnel remained vigilant, ensuring all entrances and exits were secured to prevent unauthorized access.
As Sharon walked away, Mia turned to Timothy and asked, “Are you really thinking about giving her all your shares?”
Timothy remained composed as he replied, “If that’s what she wants, then so be it. Given my circumstances, these assets shouldn’t be mine to keep anyway.”
Mia couldn’t help but feel a twinge of concern at his words.
She knew well the effort Timothy had put in. She understood that the Barrett family’s success owed much to his hard work.
Changing the topic swiftly, Mia suggested, “Shall we proceed with dinner?”
The pair then entered the private lounge, where the table was soon filled with a variety of dishes.
Timothy’s melancholy was evident, even to Ginger and Sage.
Without hesitation, Ginger placed a freshly baked pie in front of Timothy. “This one’s a real delight,” she exclaimed cheerfully. “It’s so delicious that it’s bound to lift your spirits.”
Timothy affectionately ruffled Ginger’s hair before savoring a few bites of the pie.
Mia silently observed from the sidelines. It was clear that words had limited impact at this moment. Afterall, Timothy was well-versed with the situation.
With everything laid bare, it would take time for him to process and navigate through these emotions.
Throughout the evening, Ginger stayed faithfully by Timothy’s side, assisting him with fetching food and tending to his needs.
It became apparent that only his children could provide comfort to Timothy’s heart at this moment.
To everyone’s surprise, Sage exhibited remarkable maturity today, refraining from occasional jibes or sarcastic remarks aimed at Timothy.
After the meal, Timothy took Ginger’s hand and offered, “Let me accompany you both home.”
“But there’s an amusement park nearby.”
As Ginger gazed through the restaurant’s expansive windows, she spotted an amusement park not far away, its towering Ferris wheel catching her attention.
Timothy couldn’t help but notice Ginger’s meaningful gaze as he glanced out the window.
However, Mia interjected at that moment, “Ginger, it’s getting late.”
She didn’t think Timothy would be in the mood for the amusement park today.
But without hesitation, Timothy embraced Ginger in a hug. “Let’s go. I’ll take you both there for some fun.”
As they left, Mia sighed quietly to herself.
Sage looked up at Mia and encouraged, “Come on, Mommy, let’s go. You know how much Ginger loves to have fun. It’s not like this is a surprise to you.”
“I understand your perspective, but today might not be the best day for the amusement park,” Mia gently expressed.
Sage quickly countered, “We can’t be certain about that. You’re not Timothy.”
Mia took a brief moment to contemplate Sage’s words, acknowledging a hint of truth in his perspective.
Turning to Sage, she confessed, “I’m just worried that you won’t enjoy yourself. Sometimes you can be a bit particular, you know.”
“I’m not particular,” Sage defended.
“If not you, then who is?” Mia probed.
After a moment of contemplation, Sage responded with a question, “Once his background is exposed, will he lose everything and become just like an ordinary person?”
Mia couldn’t help but notice a mischievous glint in Sage’s eyes.
She took a moment to gather her thoughts before replying, “It’s possible, especially since he just promised to transfer all his shares to Mrs. Barrett. He might soon find himself penniless, unable to afford luxurious gifts or trips to expensive amusement parks like today.”
Sage remained composed as he asserted, “Then today, we must truly make the most of it and enjoy ourselves.”
Before long, the four of them headed to the amusement park. Throughout the journey, Ginger stayed close to Timothy.
Timothy displayed incredible patience during the visit, enthusiastically participating in every activity with the children. He even rode the carousel with them, showing no signs of impatience whatsoever. Meanwhile, Sage was determined to make the most of the outing, adopting the motto “Go big or go home”.
He embraced the role of the enthusiastic tourist at the amusement park, indulging in nearly every attraction and snack available.
Observing Sage’s antics, Mia chose to remain a silent observer.
She saw no need to intervene, especially considering Timothy’s willingness to go along with Sage’s spending spree.
As the day drew to a close, Ginger found solace in Timothy’s embrace, drifting off to sleep contentedly.
Heading back to the car, Mia carried a tired Sage in her arms. Soon enough, Sage too succumbed to fatigue and drifted off to sleep.
With that, both adults found themselves cradling a child in their arms.
As Mia stole a glance at Ginger and Sage, a surge of emotions stirred within her. She couldn’t help but contemplate the profound impact parents had on their children.
It was evident that Ginger cherished her time with Timothy.
Throughout the ride, a comfortable silence enveloped them.
Upon arriving at Patricia’s house, Timothy took the lead in carrying Ginger out of the car.
As Mia cradled Sage in her arms, she was taken aback by the unexpected weight he seemed to have gained. Holding him now felt surprisingly challenging.
This moment served as a poignant reminder of how quickly Sage was growing, especially as he approached his fifth birthday.
“Here, let me take him,” Timothy offered, opening the car door and approaching Mia with outstretched arms.
Mia raised an eyebrow, her voice barely audible as she whispered, “Are you sure you can handle both of them?”
In a swift movement, Timothy effortlessly took Sage from her arms, exemplifying his “boyfriend material” by adeptly balancing one child in each arm.