Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
He never anticipated that it was due to Mia’s plea that Connor agreed to perform the surgery on
Laura!
Why hadn’t Mia disclosed this information?
Indeed, that morning when Timothy overheard Connor’s conversation with Maya, it hinted at a close relationship between them, especially considering they were together so early in the morning.
The mere thought weighed heavily on Timothy’s chest, making it difficult to breathe.
Sensing Timothy’s peculiar reaction, Connor wondered if he had crossed a line.
Unable to contain himself, Connor spoke up. “Timothy, Mia might not have shared this with you earlier, but now that you’re aware, I urge you to keep your distance from her in the future. Don’t get too close!”
Timothy’s voice was strained as he replied, “I cannot agree to that condition.”
“Whether you agree or not is inconsequential. The successful execution of the surgery for your grandmother lies solely within my capabilities, and her health cannot endure any delays.
“If you still have an ounce of respect for her, you’ll comply!”
Initially, Connor considered it undignified to resort to such tactics to threaten people.
However, for Mia’s sake, he had thrown aside such reservations.
Dominic sneered, “Mia’s association with individuals from the Barrett family is bound to bring her misfortune. Every time she faced trouble in the past, wasn’t it somehow connected to your family?
“If you hold her in such low regard, why entangle yourself with her once again?”
Timothy suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
Upon careful reflection, everything Dominic said seemed undeniably true!
Timothy rose slowly, directing his gaze toward the three Lane brothers in front of him.
Dominic yelled at Timothy in a fit of rage, asking. “What’s with that look in your eyes?”
Timothy offered no response. Instead, he turned away and hastily exited the main hall, his steps. disjointed and awkward.
Watching Timothy’s retreating figure, Connor couldn’t help but notice the peculiarity in Timothy’s reaction
Had Connor overlooked a crucial detail?
In that tense moment, Nathan brought to Dominic’s attention. “Dominic, it appears that Maya has lied once again.”
Pausing for a moment, Connor remarked, “I never expected Maya to boldly fabricate such things to Timothy. This isn’t the first time she’s shamelessly lied!”
Timothy’s earlier response hinted at a consistent pattern of dishonesty from Maya toward the Barrett family.
Now, Connor found himself pondering whether Timothy genuinely harbored feelings for Maya.
Rubbing his temples, Dominic asserted. “I’m aware. I’ll resolve Maya’s identity issue before Mia returns. I won’t allow any injustice to befall Mia.”
Nathan chimed in. “Mia is the designer for this engagement ceremony, and she should be arriving soon. We need to figure out how to explain things to her.”
Connor’s mouth twitched as he remarked, “Navigating this situation is indeed quite complex. Dominic, as the eldest, it falls on you to handle this. You got this!”
Dominic frowned, countering. “I’ve noticed Mia has a good relationship with you. Why don’t you take the lead in explaining?”
Despite their seasoned experiences in navigating life’s challenges, the three brothers found themselves hesitating in the face of this unexpected situation.
Exchanging glances, they all wished they could simply fade into a corner. How were they supposed to explain this to Mia?
Meanwhile, in the upstairs dressing room, Maya had slipped into a radiant white wedding gown.
As she admired herself in the mirror, a smug expression adorned her face. The day she had waited for so long had finally arrived.
In Maya’s mind, getting engaged to Timothy meant she was now the rightful Mrs. Barrett, and there would be no place for Mia in the Barrett family.
Standing beside her, Shelly couldn’t help but compliment, “Maya, you look stunning today.”
“Thank you. After all, every girl looks her most beautiful in a wedding gown. Your turn will come in the future.” Maya replied.
Shelly rolled her eyes and inquired eagerly. “Maya, does Nathan have a girlfriend?”
Upon recent investigation, she discovered that Nathan was a rising star in the tech industry. showcasing boundless potential.
This revelation was a decisive factor in her preference for Nathan, the owner of his own company. over Connor, who was a doctor.
Raising an eyebrow, Maya commented, “From what I’ve gathered, he probably doesn’t have a girlfriend. After all, Nathan is a workaholic. He’s usually very busy.”
“Maya, as we’re on the verge of becoming family, wouldn’t it be wonderful for us to grow closer? Perhaps you could arrange for me to meet Nathan at some point.”
Maya sensed Shelly’s intentions and found them audacious, questioning whether Shelly was truly deserving of someone like Nathan.
Despite harboring inner disdain, Maya concealed it and replied with a smile, “I’ll be happy to arrange an introduction after my engagement.”
“May?, thank you¨Cor no, I should be regarding you as my sister¨Cin¨Claw now, right?”
With a subtle satisfaction, Maya smiled and added, “By the way, Shelly, are you aware of the issues surrounding the demolition at Mia’s old neighborhood?”
“Please, don’t even mention it. Because of that incident, I almost incurred my mom’s wrath. I’ve been confined to my home and am not allowed to venture outside.
“It took a considerable amount of pleading, but today I finally managed to convince my mom to let me attend your engagement ceremony.
“She’s quite superstitious, thinking I should stay indoors for a few days to ward off negative energy, which is also the reason she couldn’t make it today.”
Maya reassured her, saying, “It’s understandable. Your mom is just concerned about your well-
“What? Maya, aren’t you concerned that Mia might cause trouble at the wedding?”
Maya’s smile turned cold. “She wouldn’t dare. The engagement venue today bears her design. If anything goes awry, it’s not just her career on the line; her entire studio will face the consequences.”
“I see. By the way. Maya, how about having Mia assist with your wedding gown’s train? Let that bitch witness the contrast between us.”
Shelly was now desperate to eliminate Mia.
Because of Mia, Shelly’s reputation had suffered a blow. Even though the Barrett family later clarified that the video and photos were manipulated, those in the know were aware of her involvement.
It was all because of Mia!
Maya smirked. “Alright, let’s head downstairs. You can manage it on your own later. Just ensure it doesn’t impact the engagement.”
“Maya, don’t worry. I’ll handle Mia without a hitch. You just sit back and enjoy the show.”
Upon hearing this, Maya’s smirk deepened.
Descending the stairs, she was taken aback to discover the main hall empty.
Where were Timothy and her brothers?
Sharon offered a reassuring smile, saying, “Maya, Tim and your brothers likely stepped out to discuss matters. Let’s not worry about them for now.
“We should head directly to the engagement venue at the back.”
Maya forced a smile, entertaining the possibility that Sharon might be right.
Yet, an intense twitching in her eyelids persisted, and she couldn’t quite pinpoint the cause.
Upon Maya’s arrival at the engagement venue, Timothy and her brothers were nowhere to be found, and panic began to set in.
Sensing Maya’s unease, Sharon commented, “Maya, I’ll call Tim to find out where they’ve gone.”
After Sharon’s departure, Maya turned to Felix, inquiring, “Has Ms. Bowen arrived?”
Approaching hesitantly, Felix spoke, “I’m sorry, Ms. Lane. She hasn’t arrived yet but should be on her way.”
“On her way? Is this the level of professionalism in your studio, Mr. Quilter? Mia, the designated designer, is conspicuously absent.
“How am I supposed to have confidence in your studio’s ability to deliver satisfactory results?”
“I apologize, Ms. Lane. I’ll contact Mia immediately.”
Felix promptly dialed Mia’s number, his expression turning uneasy. Eventually, he reluctantly informed, “Ms. Lane, Mia’s phone is switched off.”
Shelly sneered, “Switched off? Could it be that Mia had no intention of coming and deliberately turned off her phone to avoid being contacted? She certainly seems quite cunning.”
Maya’s mood soured even more. As she turned around, her brothers were nowhere to be found.
She quickly grabbed her phone and called Dominic, “Dominic, the engagement is about to begin. Where are you guys?”
“We’re on our way.”
Dominic ended the call, exchanging glances with Nathan and Connor, stating, “Let’s go. There’s no avoiding it anyway.”
Connor voiced his concerns. “Dominic, perhaps you should go. I could use a bit more rest. I’m feeling anxious!”