Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Mia was relieved that Timothy always had a bad impression of her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be able to come up with an excuse for the child.
“But we haven’t finalized the divorce. You’re still my wife!” argued Timothy.
“But aren’t you engaged to Maya? What’s the difference? You’re a pot calling the kettle black!” Mia met his gaze squarely. “Timothy, we’ve been keeping up the act for Grandma Laura’s sake, and we’ve agreed not to meddle in each other’s personal lives. I haven’t broken our deal.”
Right after Mia said that, she felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from Timothy. It was silent yet threatening.
But she couldn’t back down. If he sensed anything was amiss, the child would be at risk.
Timothy cleared his throat. “But our agreement didn’t include you getting pregnant!”
“And does it include you being engaged to Maya?” Mia retorted. At that moment, she was filled with courage, like a lioness protecting her cub.
Timothy bent down to her eye level with a dark gaze. He hissed, “No man can tolerate being cheated on. Mia, I’ll give you a choice.”
As he inched closer, Mia instinctively backed away. But her back was already against the headboard with nowhere to go.
She widened her eyes as Timothy approached. At this proximity, she could see Timothy’s handsome features, how smooth his skin was, and even his pores.
Timothy’s skin was much smoother than hers.
They were so close they could feel each other’s breath.
Mia pursed her lips. “And what’s that?”
“Abort the baby!” growled Timothy.
“No!” Mia’s refusal was instant and resolute.
At the same time, her heart sank. He wouldn’t keep the child, after all.
Timothy’s gaze hardened. “Do you think I’m giving you a choice? Since you don’t want to take the easy way out, fine. I’ll arrange for a doctor to perform the abortion.”
“No!” Mia grabbed his arm and gave him a pleading look. “Please!”
He grasped her chin firmly. “What makes you think begging would work? Until we’ve finalized the divorce, you’re still my wife. How dare you carry another man’s child? Do you think I run a charity?”
Despair washed over Mia. She cried out, “Timothy Barrett, you have no right to take away my child!
“Well, it’s not my child.” Timothy huffed cruelly.
“Who says it’s not?” shrieked Mia.
Mia lost her cool and yelled at Timothy, driven by the need to protect her child.
She knew how stubborn Timothy was. If he said he’d arrange an abortion, he’d follow through.
The hospital room fell silent.
Timothy shot Mia a look of disbelief. “What did you just say?”
He forced her chin up to meet his scrutinizing gaze.
Mia mumbled, “Didn’t you hear me?”
She felt a pang of regret. But she was out of options. This was a hospital. Timothy could easily arrange for an abortion.
Timothy leaned down and stared at Mia’s belly.
Mia trembled and instinctively covered her belly, though he swiftly moved her hand aside. When his gaze landed on her belly, panic gripped her. She and her baby were at Timothy’s mercy.
Timothy lowered his head, and Mia couldn’t make out what was on his mind. After a moment, he finally croaked. “That’s my child?”
“Yes, it’s yours.” Mia admitted. She needed to calm Timothy down before seeking help from her brothers in Nord City. Once she was there. Timothy would never find her again.
Yet, Timothy sneered. “Mia Bowen, do you take me for a fool? How dare you lie to me to protect this bastard? Where’s your pride?”
Mia was stunned. She never thought Timothy would doubt her!
She insisted, “Really, this is your child.”
Timothy huffed. “You’ve slept with many men. Are you sure this is mine? I never even touched you!
“You did, once. Have you forgotten?” Mia recounted.
Mia observed Timothy, noting the suspicion in his gaze. She felt truly embarrassed right now.
Timothy shrugged. “You’re right. But I didn’t do it willingly. Weren’t you the one who drugged me?”
The corners of Mia’s mouth twitched. “So you don’t believe me.”
“I don’t. You won’t fool me twice!” Timothy withdrew his hand and took a step back. ¡®I’ll arrange
With that he turned and left the room. Ma’s voice sounded weakly behind him. “Would you keep the child if it were really yours?”
Mia watched hopefully as Timothy walked away. If he agreed to keep it, she would suggest taking a paternity test to prove the child’s lineage.
But Timothy never even spared her a second glance and uttered coldly. “There’s no ¡®its¡® in this world.”
And with that he was gone.
Mia’s hope shattered in an instant, and she couldn’t stop tears from flowing down her cheeks.
She looked up at the ceiling, forcing herself to choke back tears. She asked him the same question before, why didn’t she take the hint then?
Why did she have to hurt herself? Timothy wasn’t even the man she fell for!
Mia curled weakly on the bed, her body trembling in fear. She touched her belly and whispered to herself, “Don’t worry, my child. Mommy will protect you.”
At the same time. Timothy stood in the corridor outside the ward. The urge to smoke was stronger than ever. He tore his tie off, feeling like an enraged lion.
Heath was shocked to see Timothy’s state. It had been years since he had seen Timothy this furious.
Timothy glanced at the hospital director beside him. “What happens if she gets an abortion?”
The director looked confused. Why was Timothy bringing up abortion when Mia hadn’t been pregnant for lonu?
But the director didn’t dare question it and answered truthfully, “It depends. Generally, one should get an abortion as early as possible, and they shouldn’t get too many abortions.”
Timothy scowled. “Schedule her for surgery.”
The director hesitated. “Mr. Darrett, I’m not sure what’s going on, but Mrs. Barrett’s health is fraulle and an abortion might not be advisable. If she goes through with it, she might not be able to conceive again. She’s finally pregnant with twins. I suggest she carries them to term.”
“Carry them to term?” Timothy’s expression darkened and he gritted his teeth.
Heath wished he could shut the director up. Who wants to hear about their wife being pregnant with another man’s child?
Seeing Timothy’s Irritation, the director noticed his mistake and hurriedly attempted to rectify the situation. “Should I arrange surgery with the doctor right away?”
Timothy’s expression soured even more.
Heath quickly shot a look at the director, silently urging him to stop talking.
Suddenly, a nurse burst into the room. “Director, something’s wrong! The patient jumped out ther window!”
Timothy immediately dashed toward the hospital room. He kicked down the door to find the window wide open and the bed empty.
In a furious roar, he demanded, “What are you all waiting for? Go save her! If anything happens, I’ll shut down your damn hospital!”
He marched to the window but saw no sign of Mia’s mangled body below. He paused, bewildered. “Didn’t you say she jumped? Where is she?”
The nurse stammered. “I- I’m not sure. I heard someone say she jumped.”
Soon, the head nurse came to clarity. “She didn’t jump. It was a false alarm. The patient exited via the balcony, climbed down a pipe to the first floor, and bolted.”
The director wiped the sweat from his forehead with relief. “So it was just a scare.”
If Mia had jumped, he’d be in hot water,
Timothy sneered and kicked the bed hard. “Mia Bowen, you sure gave me a massive fucking surprise! Let’s see where you can hide! Find out which neighborhood she lives in!”
Meanwhile, Mia dashed out of the hospital, fearing Timothy’s people were catching up to her.
She refused to sit idly and wait for her inevitable capture.
Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and answered immediately, “Connor! Help!”
Her voice was trembling and she sounded breathless as if she were still running.
Connor had prepared a gift and was about to ask about Mia’s whereabouts. Instead, he dropped everything and floored the gas pedal. “Where are you? I’m on my way. Find a safe place to hide!”
Mia ran as far as she could and hid in a park. But she still stood out in her hospital gown. A passerby even Jogged over to ask, “Do you need help?”
“No, my family’s picking me up.” Mia shook her head.