Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Outside, Timothy grabbed his suit jacket and instructed Heath, “Have the vice president continue to chair the meeting. I expect a resolution by tomorrow.”
“Understood, Mr. Barrett. Where are you headed?” Heath inquired.
“To the hospital.”
Heath could likely guess whose call Timothy had just taken.
After all, only Monalize had the power to disrupt Timothy’s usual routine.
After concluding the call, Mia glanced at Tyler and said, “You know what to do when he gets here, don’t you?”
Adjusting his glasses, Tyler replied, “Yes, Mr. Mendes has instructed us accordingly. Sage’s blood sample has been dispatched, and we’ll promptly proceed with the bone marrow matching test.”
“Thanks for your help.”
Contemplating the possibility of Sage’s recovery from his illness, Mia’s spirits lifted. She hoped everything would proceed smoothly this time.
Shortly after, Timothy arrived at the hospital.
He couldn’t help but notice Mia’s slightly reddened eyes; it appeared as though she had been crying.
Timothy softened his tone and inquired, “Where’s the doctor? I’m here for the matching test.”
Mia had prepared numerous arguments to persuade Timothy, fully aware that the primary objective was to persuade him to donate his blood for a bone marrow match.
However, she was caught off guard when his first words were about the matching procedure.
A glimmer of surprise flickered in her eyes. “Mr. Barrett, this is indeed a pressing situation, and considering we’re in Bern City, you’re our only hope for assistance.”
“I understand, there’s no need to worry. I’ve arranged for the finest medical team to come immediately, and they will certainly treat Ginger,” Timothy assured.
Mia drew in a deep breath, fixing her gaze on him. “It’s my turn to thank you this time.”
If Timothy were to cooperate and donate his bone marrow, she planned to offer him the remaining reishi mushroom before leaving Bern City.
Accompanied by the nurse, Timothy proceeded to the blood collection room.
As he observed his blood being drawn, a touch of sorrow weighed in his eyes. Ginger was undeniably charming, affectionate and full of energy; he had never anticipated her falling ill.
Following the blood extraction, he asked the nurse, “When can we expect the matching results?”
“The test results will be available the day after tomorrow. However, there’s no need to worry. The biological father of the child usually demonstrates a high compatibility rate,” the nurse reassured Timothy.
Timothy paused, taken aback by the nurse’s words. The biological father of the child?
As he glanced at the nurse, he sensed that she might have mistakenly assumed he was Ginger’s father. Without inquiring further, he quietly stood up and left the room.
As he stepped outside, he spotted Mia waiting anxiously. Despite her usual confidence, there was a hint of worry and vulnerability in her eyes, making her appear more like a concerned mother.
Approaching Timothy, Mia handed him a candy. “The blood draw must have been painful, right?”
Timothy looked down at the candy Mia offered and replied calmly, “It wasn’t painful. I’m not a fan of sweets.”
“But Dr. Valoz did mention that the later part of the matching process might cause some discomfort,” Mia added, unwrapping the candy and holding it up to Timothy’s lips.
Almost instinctively, Timothy accepted and ate the candy. As the overly sweet taste filled his mouth, he furrowed his brows¨Cit was sweeter than he expected.
Mia grinned with satisfaction. “This is Ginger’s favorite candy. She’s quite afraid of needles and blood draws, so I bought this to cheer her up.”
Timothy glanced at the candy wrapper Mia held, making a mental note of the brand of the candy in his mind.
As they walked toward the ward together, Timothy spoke in a hushed tone, Does Ginger know about her condition?”
“No, I haven’t told her yet. She probably thinks it’s just a mild flu,” Mia replied, glancing at Timothy. “Please don’t mention it to her later. Ginger simply believes she’s anemic and needs your blood donation.”
Timothy responded, “Okay.”
Following their conversation, they proceeded together into the ward to visit Ginger.
Near the emergency exit, Luna lurked in the shadows. As she observed Timothy’s kind gestures toward Mia and Ginger, jealousy consumed her. Why should someone like Mia merit such treatment from Timothy?
Frustrated, Luna resorted to pinching herself in an effort to regain control over her emotions. However, as she pondered Ginger’s leukemia condition, she found herself unable to stifle a chuckle.
In her mind, it seemed like a fitting consequence.
Eventually, Luna pulled out her phone and dialed a number. “Mrs. Barrett, it’s Luna. Can we meet? There’s something crucial I need to discuss with you face¨Cto¨Cface!”
Luna was determined to prevent Timothy from donating his bone marrow to Ginger.
After all, Sharon would never approve of a divorced woman with a child marrying into the Barrett family!
In the hospital ward, Ginger played until she grew weary, eventually drifting off into sleep.
As Mia looked at Timothy, her gaze held a mixture of emotions. “Thank you for playing with her so patiently. Ginger hasn’t had a father figure around since she was young, so she looks up to you a lot.”
Watching Timothy’s tender Interaction with Ginger, Mia felt a curious emotion stirring in her heart.
Was this the power of familial bonds?
Timothy’s glance briefly swept over the sleeping Ginger before settling on Mia. “You mentioned earlier that you initially thought Caleb was Ginger’s father, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct,” Mia replied in surprise, sneaking a glance at him. Was Timothy onto something?
Timothy followed up, “So if Caleb isn’t the person you’re searching for, does that mean the individual you’re looking for is from Bern City?”
Mia nodded. “I think so.
Curious, Timothy pressed on, “What made you initially believe that Caleb was Ginger’s father?”
Mia sensed the conversation taking an unforeseen turn. She paused before responding, “Mr. Barrett, may I ask why you’re inquiring about these matters?”
“Well, if Ginger’s father is from Bern City, I can assist you in locating him. After all, I have a knack for finding anyone in this city.
“The nurse mentioned that Ginger’s biological father has a very high compatibility rate. Given Ginger’s condition, it’s crucial for her biological father to come forward.”
Upon hearing Timothy’s explanation, Mia’s tense demeanor eased slightly.
She had worried that he had discovered something significant.
After a brief moment of silence, Mia replied, “Actually, I accidentally found out from my brothers that Ginger’s father is from Bern City. However, I don’t have any further details.”
“It looks like you don’t know your baby daddy too well, huh?”
With a poker face, Mia replied, “Who can remember the detalls of a one- night stand, anyway?”
As her words trailed off, she couldn’t help but notice Timothy’s expression.
darken considerably.
Clearing her throat, Mia continued, “But that was a long time ago. I was young and naive. We all have our rebellious phases, don’t we?”
Timothy responded, “Give me all the details you have. Tracking down this person could take some time.”
Mia’s expression stiffened momentarily. This was certainly not the outcome she had anticipated.
Mia was surprised by Timothy’s unexpected kindness in offering to help find Ginger’s father.
However, unbeknownst to Timothy, he was Ginger’s father!
Of course, Mia couldn’t disclose this information to Timothy just yet, so she swiftly declined, saying, “That won’t be necessary. Once Ginger’s health improves temporarily, I intend to take her back to Nord City for further treatment.”
Timothy frowned in response. “Why not have her treated here in Bern City?”
“It’s not that we’re unable to,” Mia responded before continuing, “but considering we’re from Nord City, it complicates matters. Besides, Ginger’s illness appeared suddenly, and the necessary follow¨Cup treatment will likely extend over a considerable period. It wouldn’t be feasible for us to ain in Bern City indefinitely.”
With a sincere expression, Mia added, “But I want to thank you for offering to undergo the bone marrow matching for Ginger. Your willingness means a lot to me, regardless of the outcome.”
“If the match is successful, Ginger will need to undergo treatment in Bern City. I won’t be able to spare the time to travel to Nord City to donate my bone marrow,” Timothy replied.
Mia was taken aback by his response. Opting for treatment in Bern City would bring about its own set of challenges.
By then, it would be necessary to bring Sage to Bern City, which would also carry additional risks./
Sage bore a striking resemblance to Timothy. If anyone acquainted with Timothy were to spot Sage, it would be challenging for Mia to conceal her secret.
After a brief pause, Mia responded, “Mr. Barrett, donating bone marrow is similar to donating blood. You don’t need to be physically present with
Ginger.
“When the time comes, you can donate in Bern City, and the hospital will manage the transportation to Nord City. It’s a simple process, and you won’t need to personally travel to Nord City.”
Unbeknownst to Timothy, donating bone marrow wasn’t simply about giving up his bone marrow¨Cit involved contributing hematopoietic stem cells found in his blood.
Mia’s plan was to persuade Timothy to consent to donating these stem cells. Afterward, she would return with Ginger to Nord City, thus reducing the risk of exposing their identities.