Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Standing next to Timothy, Mia waved at Luna. “Bye.”
Luna gritted her teeth so hard that they threatened to shatter. Initially planning a pitiful act, she found Mia had outsmarted her.
A flicker of amusement danced in Mia’s eyes at Luna’s fuming expression. Luna had it coming for her.
“Are you happy now?”
Upon hearing that, Mia shifted her gaze toward Timothy. “What’s that supposed to mean, Mr. Barrett? I almost went flying a moment ago, you know! I was so scared.
Timothy didn’t expose her.
One thing was undeniable¨Cthis woman resembled nothing like Mia Bowen other than looks!
By the time Mia took her food and returned to the table, Ginger and Caleb were playing something.
Ginger lifted her head. “Mommy, you’re back.”
Mia merely spared Caleb a glance before checking Ginger’s plate. “Good girl. You finished them all.”
A guilty smile plastered on Ginger’s face. “Mommy, I’m going to the playground with the bad guy. Have fun with Mister!”
Mia understood what Ginger was up to. The latter was trying to give them personal space.
Mia’s eye stayed on Caleb for a second. “Ginger, are you sure?”
“Yes, I’ll behave.”
Caleb spoke up, “The bodyguard and I will look after her.”
“Okay. If she returns with even a single strand of hair out of place, I’ll come for your head.”
“You have my word.”
Caleb quickly took Ginger out of the restaurant before texting Timothy secretly. The text read, “Tim, I’m risking my life to create an opportunity for you. Don’t let it go to waste!”
Meanwhile, Mia didn’t like that Ginger was hanging out with Caleb.
Timothy said, “Considering everything, they should spend some time together.”
She answered coldly, “There’s no need for that.”
“Ms. Monalize, since when do you know Caleb?”
Mia rested her chin on her hand, her arm propped up on the table as she looked at him. “Are you trying to pry information out of me? Because I have a question for you too. Is there a woman who you still hold dear to your heart?”
Mia couldn’t shake Luna’s comment from earlier. Timothy’s interest in Mia was clear, yet he remained frustratingly out of reach. However, the presence of another woman occupying his heart would explain his reluctance.
Timothy’s Adain’s apple bobbed as he stared at Mia. “You can take it that way.
Even after four years had passed, he still couldn’t forget about Mia Bowen. Though she had disappeared without a trace, he held firm to the belief that she was still alive.
That answer didn’t surprise Mia at all. A smile smeared across her lips. “No wonder you keep rejecting me. You even give up the reishi mushrooms for her. I’m curious. What is she like? What is so good about her that you can’t forget about her?”
His eyes narrowed slightly, but he wasn’t flustered by her questions at all. “I’ve answered your question. Now, it’s your turn to answer mine.”
Timothy was too smart to be played around.
Mia nodded. “Okay. Since when do I know Caleb? I think it’s four years ago when I got pregnant.”
“Four years ago?” His gaze instantly turned shrewd as though trying to see through her.
Mia found that strange. “Why are you looking at me like that, Mr. Barrett? Is it unbelievable? Ginger is almost four years old.”
Timothy looked at her deeply, trying to catch a crack from her expression.
After all, his questions were straightforward enough. Yet, she appeared so calm and unbothered.
Could someone change this much within four years?
Or did he get the wrong person?
His eyes narrowed. “It’s quite unbelievable. So, you’re interested in the woman who resides in my heart?”
Mia raised her head. “Yes.”
“She’s my ex¨Cwife.”
Mia’s hands paused the moment she heard the answer. Her guesses included a girlfriend or a first love, but ex¨Cwife? She didn’t see that coming.
Her hand stirred the coffee with a teaspoon. “You’ve been looking for your ex¨Cwife all these years? Have you found her?”
“Not yet, but I can’t say it for sure now.
His scorching gaze was trying to see through her soul.
Mia frowned. The strange feeling churned in her again.
Previously, the way he looked at her was weird. It was as if he was trying to find a familiar shadow in her.
Something crossed her mind, and she blurted, “Don’t tell me I look like her.”
His hands paused, and he stared at her. “That’s right.”
Mia almost let out a humorless bark of a laugh at that. How much worse could this get?
She sipped her coffee to calm herself down. “Mr. Barrett, your expression when I mentioned knowing Caleb four years ago was strange. Is it because you think I might be your ex¨Cwife?”
Chapter 662
Mia’s blatant confrontation evoked more questions in Timothy. He was expecting her to feel guilty after he put it explicitly. However, her attitude was free from guilt and nervousness. She only appeared surprised.
He had faith in his observation skills when it came to reading people’s emotions. Yet, he failed to read anything from her face.
His heart sank. He instantly nodded. ‘Yes. Guess there’s no need to keep up with the act anymore.”
Mia sighed upon realizing that she had guessed correctly. She then leaned back in the chair, hand resting on the armrest.
A knowing smirk touched her lips, and a shift in the atmosphere hinted at a newfound confidence. “Mr. Barrett, with all due respect, your flirting skills are old-fashioned. Even soap operas have moved beyond these tired clich¨¦s. What makes you think I’d fall for it?”
Disappointment gnawed at her. She’d held onto the hope that he was different. Yet, here he was, mirroring the same tired pattems. He was no less different from the men she knew. The only “difference” was his outdated flirting techniques. She could almost laugh-how close she came to falling for them.
“To be honest, the whole amnesia act feels a little outdated and immature, don’t you think?”
*Amnesiac? Me?” Mia’s voice squeaked, a mixture of disbelief and indignation. The words wouldn’t form. Speaking to Timothy felt like an insurmountable task.
She stood up. “Sorry, Mr. Barrett. I don’t think there’s any point in continuing this. My time is valuable.” Her patience had limits.
After that, she turned and left the restaurant. When she thought about his words again, she found them hilarious.
Mia headed straight to the playground, where Ginger and Caleb were having fun together.
Ginger didn’t appear to be forced, so Mia let them be.
Sometimes, stopping children would only serve to fuel their desire for it. Given Ginger’s longing for a fatherly figure, Mia figured she might as well let her enjoy her time with Caleb.
That way, Ginger would understand that a father figure was unnecessary-not when the father was a bastard.
Timothy’s words echoed in her mind. They seemed somewhat juvenile, yet a sense of unease lingered. She pulled out her phone and began searching for him online.
According to official records, Timothy was married, and there was no indication of a divorce. However, there were no mentions or photos of his ex-spouse.
Mia’s search yielded little information other than the gender of his ex-spouse.
Yet, Mia, with her knack for peeling back layers, finally managed to dig out information about this enigmatic ex- wife of his years of secret message-ordinary woman-passed away four years ago.
Mia scanned the sparse information again. It seemed the Barretts had gone to extraordinary lengths to keep the details of Mrs. Barrett’s life under wraps.
Then, it clicked. Based on her understanding of affluent families, the Barretts must be embarrassed by Mrs. Barrett’s background, hence the secrecy.
Mia wished she could see how much she resembled his ex-wife, but to her dismay, she still couldn’t find any pictures.
Undeterred, she contacted Wade. “Look into Timothy and his ex-wife, I want her pictures too.”
Wade’s expression shifted. “M-Ms. Mia, why the sudden interest?”
Wade couldn’t help but wonder if a forgotten memory had perhaps stirred within her.
Wade was acting weird, but Mia simply brushed it off by reasoning that Caleb was the cause of it. After all, Caleb was good friends with Timothy.
She managed her tone. “Do I have to explain why I want to investigate them?”
“Of course not. I’m on it.” Wade hung up the call, feeling the need to call Dominic.
Things were discoursing in the wrong direction. Wade called Dominic to report the situation. right away.