Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
It was clear that Timothy couldn’t possibly make it up to Mia.
A flicker of guilt crossed Timothy’s face. “I was unaware of all this back then. If you hadn’t staged her death and taken her away, I wouldn’t have been absent for so long.”
“Enough with the excuses. Why didn’t you take action sooner? Weren’t you the one who suggested divorce back then? Your interest only sparked when we finally located her. But let me make it clear—it’s too late!”
Clutching his injured shoulder, Timothy spoke up, “I understand if you don’t believe me now. But all I want is for Mia and Ginger to be safe.” “You’ve certainly got some nerve,” Jason remarked sarcastically. Turning to Peyton, Jason ordered, “Get him out of here. Keep him away from Mia at all costs!”
With that, Jason turned and made his way to the ward.
Several bodyguards quickly surrounded Timothy, ready to escort him away.
Peyton approached Timothy with a sense of unease and said, “Mr. Barrett, please don’t make this harder for everyone. Your presence here might hinder Ms. Mia’s recovery.”
“Fine, I’ll leave. But I’ll wait outside the hospital. Make sure to keep me updated on her progress.”
“Alright.”
After Peyton agreed, Timothy promptly left the hospital. He understood that lingering there wouldn’t bring him any closer to Mia.
But he wasn’t ready to give up.
Watching from the sidelines, Dylan’s expression grew complex. He never imagined that this bodyguard would turn out to be Mia’s ex- husband.
He was aware that the Lane family heiress had been missing for many years before being found four years ago.
However, rumors circulated that she had gotten married and even had children, only to later divorce her reprehensible ex-husband.
Some even alleged that her ex-husband was a lowlife who mistreated Mia, and it was only thanks to her family’s intervention that she was able to escape him.
Turning to Peyton, Dylan inquired, “Is he Mia’s ex-husband?”
Peyton maintained his composure as he replied, “I’m sorry, but I can’t disclose that information. I hope you understand the importance of maintaining discretion outside of these walls. Here’s the confidentiality agreement for you to sign.”
Dylan eventually signed the agreement, although he was already convinced—that bodyguard was undoubtedly Mia’s ex-husband!
It appeared that Timothy had become aware of Mia’s newfound status as the heiress of the Lane family, which could explain his audacious attempt to make amends.
Nevertheless, Dylan was determined to keep this scoundrel away from Mia!
Meanwhile, in the private deluxe ward, Mia felt as though she had just stepped out from an alternate universe she dreamed up.
In the dream, she relived her experiences in the Barrett residence, including her marriage to Timothy and the mistreatment she endured there.
Like a flickering strobe light, fragments of memories raced through Mia’s mind, swiftly passing by.
In the past, Mia had caught glimpses of these fragments in her dreams. However, they had always remained disjointed, lacking any cohesive narrative, and she hadn’t felt personally affected.
This time, however, was different. She was overcome with deep distress.
Finally awakening from her slumber, Mia opened her eyes and found herself staring at the ceiling of the hospital room.
As she sat up to wipe her eyes, she noticed that tears had dampened a small patch of her pillow.
At that moment, a flood of memories from her time in the Barrett family rushed back to Mia.
Her emotions became profoundly complex at that instant. Over the past four years, she had forgotten everything about her time in the Barrett residence.
Her family had only alluded to her unhappiness there, yet she remained unaware of the details of her time there.
Now, however, everything came rushing back to her.
Mia swiftly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, her demeanor turning somber.
Thankfully, Mia emerged unscathed from the accident four years ago, and her children were also unharmed.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have hesitated to hold the Barrett family accountable.
As Mia contemplated Timothy’s role as her bodyguard, a cold expression briefly crossed her face. Indeed, men could be pathetic.
In the past, when Mia had feelings for Timothy, he showed no interest in her, going as far as seeking a divorce and kicking her out.
However, everything changed after her reunion with her family.
“Mia, you’re awake. Do you feel any discomfort anywhere?” Connor asked as he entered the ward, noticing that Mia had woken up. Without delay, he hurried over to assess her condition. “Mia, are you experiencing any discomfort at the moment, like dizziness, nausea, or blurry vision?”
“Just a slight headache,” Mia responded as she gently touched her forehead, noticing a bump. It was undoubtedly from Connie’s assault. For all those years, Mia hadn’t dared to retaliate.
“Mia, please don’t touch it. Your injury hasn’t fully healed yet. It will take a few days for the swelling to go down. Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere else?”
Mia pulled back her hand. “No, nothing else.”
“Mia, you’ve sustained a minor concussion and need to be monitored in the hospital for a day. Going forward, please exercise more caution and ensure you always have a bodyguard with you. It’s crucial not to rely on unreliable individuals for your safety.”
Mia sensed Connor was alluding to Timothy as the unreliable person. With a hint of resignation, Mia responded, “I understand. Connor, could you also keep this incident from Dominic for the time being?”
“Are you referring to your injury or the decision to have Timothy as your bodyguard?”
Upon hearing Connor’s words, Mia couldn’t help but feel guilty. She nervously fidgeted and said, “Connor, it’s a long story.”
“Perfect, I have plenty of time to listen,” Connor quipped.
He was also curious as to why Mia chose to keep Timothy as her bodyguard. Did she still harbor feelings for him?
Taking a moment to gather her thoughts, Mia explained, “Initially, I intended to dismiss Timothy when I went to the hospital. But I ended up keeping him around as a bodyguard just to see him embarrass himself. I never expected him to be so persistent and stay by my side.”
Mia had only wanted to play a prank on Timothy, which was why she kept him around as her bodyguard.
“Mia, Timothy is a cunning man. Don’t let his words deceive you. It might be safer to keep your distance from him. What do you say about that?” Connor suggested.
“I understand, Connor. By the way, where’s Timothy now? Is he alive?” Connor’s response was sharp and direct. “Why are you so worried about someone insignificant? Whether he’s dead or alive, it’s none of your concern.”
Mia let out a sigh and replied, “Connor, it’s not like I care deeply about him. But he is the biological father of my twins. We can’t just wish for his death, can we?”
“If Timothy wasn’t the father of your children, he’d be long gone by now.”
Mia felt a sense of relief upon hearing Connor’s words. It seemed that Timothy was still alive.
“Mia, listen to me carefully. Please don’t let Timothy near you anymore. He brings nothing but trouble. Every time he’s around, something bad happens to you. Try to avoid him as much as possible, do you understand?” Connor reminded her again.
Mia raised her hand and swore earnestly, “Okay, Connor, I promise. I’ll make sure to keep my distance from him in the future.”
Connor’s demeanor softened as he saw her adorable gesture of commitment. “Mia, are you feeling hungry? I can go grab some dinner for you.”
“I’m really craving those street tacos. Thanks, Connor!”
Shortly after Connor left, Peyton entered the room, pushing the door open gently. “Ms. Mia, is there anything you need?”
Lowering her voice, Mia inquired, “How’s Timothy doing?”
Peyton hesitated briefly before responding, “Honestly, the situation isn’t great.”
Upon hearing this, Mia tensed. “My brothers didn’t leave him crippled, did they? Or did they turn him into some sort of freak?”
“It’s not that severe. Referring to him as a freak is a bit harsh, but he did come close to being crippled.”
Peyton proceeded to recount the events outside the operating room. As Mia listened to Peyton’s account of Connor nearly stabbing Timothy with a surgical knife, her emotions became entangled. She spoke slowly, “He didn’t even try to dodge?”
Was Timothy truly unafraid of death?
After all, given Mia’s brothers’ genuine animosity toward him, they would undoubtedly act upon it without hesitation.
“Yes, Mr. Barrett’s skills are quite impressive. However, at that moment, he didn’t budge an inch, showing no signs of backing down. He was adamant about seeing you, Ms. Mia. Isn’t that commendable?”
Mia’s eyes betrayed a hint of sarcasm upon hearing this. “Do you seriously find his actions admirable?”
Peyton paused for a moment before replying, “I mean, considering Mr. Barrett’s status and position, it’s indeed remarkable for him to go to such lengths.”
Besides, wealthy and powerful men like Timothy typically had no shortage of romantic options.
Hence, it was highly unusual for someone of his stature to take such perilous risks, especially when their life was at stake.
Just then, Mia voiced her thoughts, “Love that arrives late is like delayed rain; it doesn’t offer much. It reminds me of all the experiences I had with the Barrett family.
“Timothy never really cared about me back then; he was distant and neglectful. He even handed me divorce papers and kicked me out. It’s hard to shake off that bitterness.”
Peyton’s expression turned grim instantly. “It seems like you’re remembering everything that happened back then. Are you experiencing any discomfort now?”
“Yes, I feel uneasy. I want everyone in the Barrett family to face the consequences of what they did to me!”
“Ms. Mia, would you like to consult with a psychologist?”
Shaking her head, Mia replied, “That would not be necessary. To be honest, I don’t have any psychological issues. It’s just that when my brothers brought me back, they were worried I might still have feelings for Timothy. So, they made up stories about me having mental health problems.”
Now that Mia had recalled everything, she realized she had never actually suffered from depression.