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Upon seeing Timothy lying pale on the hospital bed, she was instantly enraged. “You said you were okay. Look at you now, do you really think you look okay?”
“Mom, why are you here? I really am fine.”
As Sharon caught sight of Ginger by the bed, she exclaimed, “So, this is the leukemia- stricken burden, huh?”
With a solemn expression, Ginger corrected her, “I’m not a burden!”
“If you’re not a burden, then what are you? Born without a father’s care, you’re nothing but a liability!”
Mia’s expression turned cold, and she stepped forward to shield Ginger.
Mia locked eyes with Sharon, her tone defiant. “Do you feel no shame speaking like this in front of a child?”
Sharon scoffed, “What’s the problem? Did I say something inappropriate?”
Ginger peeked out from behind Mia and stated, “Yes, you’re wrong. Mommy said that a child nobody loves is the real burden.”
“How can you claim you’re loved when you don’t even have a father?”
Timothy pleaded, “Mom, please stop.”
In a crisp voice, Ginger spoke up, “But I do have a father! Tim is my daddy!”
Upon hearing Ginger’s words, Mia’s expression shifted abruptly.
She instinctively glanced toward Timothy, who wore a similarly startled expression, his gaze complicated as he looked at her.
Mia was suddenly washed over by a pang of guilt.
The next moment, Sharon spoke disdainfully, “Huh, it seems that nowadays anyone can just casually claim someone else as their father. What a lack of manners!”
Shielding Ginger’s ears, Mia escorted her to the ward’s entrance and passed her over to Peyton. Mustering a smile, Mia remarked, “Ginger, why don’t you go back first? Mommy will join you later.”
Upon seeing Mia’s expression, Ginger instinctively pulled back, her neck tensing. Whenever Mia wore that smile, it meant that trouble was on the horizon for someone.
After her words, Mia closed the door of the hospital room, the smile disappearing from her face instantly.
Turning around, Mia regarded Sharon with a cold gaze. “I’ve heard that Mr. Barrett’s father passed away a long time ago. Mrs. Barrett, it must have been quite challenging for you to raise such a burden on your own all these years.”
Sharon’s expression froze. “Y¨Cyou… What nonsense are you talking about?”
Despite living in luxury for many years, Sharon never expected anyone to dare to label. Timothy as a “burden”!
Had Mia ever encountered a “burden” as wealthy as Timothy?
“But I didn’t utter anything inappropriate. Didn’t you yourself mention earlier that a child without a father is considered a burden?
“It seems to mirror your own circumstances quite accurately, Mrs. Barrett,” Mia countered, her smile carrying a hint of sarcasm.
“To be completely honest, Mrs. Barrett, I didn’t expect you to speak so negatively about yourself. What’s troubling you so much? Why not share with us so we can support you and help you feel better?”
Sharon was infuriated. “You must have misheard. I was insulting you and your daughter!”
“But isn’t Timothy also considered a burden:
Sharon turned to Timothy in frustration. “Tim, did you hear that? She had the nerve to call you a burden!”
Timothy’s expression hardened. “Yes, someone did mention me being your burden when I was younger.”
“Unbelievable! Whoever said that, I’ll definitely have a word with them!”
“It was Aunt Edith. She insinuated that I was a burden and said I might hinder you from finding a new partner,” Timothy revealed.
Sharon was filled with rage, her emotions in turmoil. She never expected to have her own words hurled back at her.
She couldn’t fathom why her older sister, Edith, would describe Timothy as a burden. What was she thinking?
If Sharon were to remarry, wouldn’t that involve transferring everything from the Barrett family to someone else?
Mia looked at Timothy with astonishment. She hadn’t anticipated him to be so candid.
It was truly surprising for him to acknowledge that he had been a burden.
Sharon felt deeply embarrassed. Addressing Mia, she said, “But Tim is the heir of the Barrett family. His status sets him apart from an ordinary child.”
“But that doesn’t change the fact that you described him as a burden!” Mia retorted.
“You… You!”
Sharon was too furious to come up with a response. In her with a response. In her rage, she fainted on the spot.
The medical staff quickly rushed to attend to Sharon and escorted her away.
D
Next to Sharon, Kaleb deliberately reminded, advise us Mr. Barrett, Mrs. Barrett nearly had a stroke after fainting yesterday. Didn’t you advise us not to upset her further?”
Upon hearing this, Mia instinctively glanced at Timothy. After a moment’s pause, she said, I hope you understand that no mother can endure her child being humiliated. My reaction was purely instinctive.”
Mia hadn’t expected Sharon to be so fragile, given Sharon’s typically assertive demeanor.
However, if Sharon were to suffer a stroke due to anger, it would undoubtedly complicate burden?”
matters.
Timothy looked at Mia with a complex expression. “Do people often say that Ginger is a burden?”
Mia paused, collecting her thoughts before replying, “Well, the truth is, Ginger doesn’t have a father. And there are always gossiping individuals around.
“But Ginger is not deprived of love, and she doesn’t let these things affect her. She couldn’t care less whether she has a dad or not.”
Timothy was deeply stung by Mia’s words. Having experienced the loss of his own father many years ago, he could empathize with the potential for hurtful situations surrounding Ginger.
With a hint of guilt, he replied, “No one will dare to speak ill of Ginger in the future.”
Mia couldn’t help but smirk. “Even your mother?”
Timothy frowned in response. “Once she wakes up, I’ll arrange for someone to escort her out of this hospital.”
Upon hearing Timothy’s reassuring words, Mia felt relieved. As long as Sharon didn’t cause any trouble during the bone marrow donation tomorrow, everything would proceed smoothly.
After a moment of silence, Mia suggested, “Perhaps you should go and get some rest. I won’t keep you any longer.”
“Are you really going to leave so abruptly?” Tim asked suddenly.
Mia turned back with a smile. “Um, is there something else?”
“Could you do me a favor?” Timothy asked as he lay on the bed, the needle still lingering in the back of his hand.
Seeing Timothy struggle to sit up, Mia hurried over to assist him. “What do you need?
Would you like some water?”
Timothy pursed his lips. “I need to use the restroom.”
Mia coughed nervously as she helped Timothy, taking his arm over her shoulder. His weight pressed down heavily on her, nearly causing her to stumble.
Timothy was much heavier than she expected!
Summoning her strength, Mia walked Timothy to the restroom, feeling exhausted quickly.” Can you manage on your own from here, or should I fetch Heath or call a nurse?”
“Please don’t! I can handle going to the restroom by myself,” Timothy quickly declined.
Mia couldn’t help but smile at Timothy’s stubbornness. She found it unexpectedly endearing to witness this side of him.
Timothy lowered his gaze and asked softly, “Are you laughing at me?”
“No, no, not at all!”
Mia immediately straightened up, but in the next moment, Timothy pressed down on her shoulder.
“If that’s the case, maybe you could assist me all the way.”
Mia was puzzled by his request. What did he mean by that?
However, she soon noticed Timothy reaching for his pants out of the corner of her eye. Reacting quickly, she exclaimed, “What are you doing?”
Timothy’s hand paused as he nonchalantly remarked, “Just going to use the restroom.”
“Why are you asking me to stay here while you go to the restroom? You’re being weird!”
“I can’t stand steadily. I need someone to support me.”
“Then let me go find someone to help you.”