Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
She was perfectly healthy now.
Peyton hesitated momentarily before speaking, “Ms. Mia, Mr. Barrett is still waiting outside the hospital. Your brothers had the bodyguards escort him out, but he refused to leave. He insists on waiting until he hears news about you.”
“So he’s still lingering outside the hospital?”
“Yes, he is. How do you want to handle this?”
“It’s simple. Just let him come in and see me.”
Peyton hesitated again. “Ms. Mia, what if your brothers find out about this?”
“Don’t worry, Connor has gone to fetch some food from the street stalls. He won’t be back for a while. I’ll resolve this quickly and ensure Timothy leaves before Connor returns.”
Mia’s expression turned serious. After four years, certain matters needed closure.
Without hesitation, Peyton left the room and found Timothy seated on a bench on the ground floor.
He appeared battered and disheveled, resembling a street thug. Naturally, no one dared to approach him.
Upon spotting Peyton, Timothy’s demeanor tensed as he asked, “Is she awake?”
“Yes, Ms. Mia is awake. She wants to see you.”
“Where is she? Take me to her immediately.”
Observing Timothy’s eagerness, Peyton hesitated momentarily before speaking, “Just so you know, Ms. Mia has fully regained her memory and remembers everything about her time with the Barrett family. Mr. Barrett, I suggest you don’t get too ahead of yourself just yet.”
Timothy paused, processing Peyton’s words. “She remembered everything?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, Timothy’s steps faltered, and he entered the elevator in silence.
As Timothy reflected on Mia’s past with the Barrett family, his demeanor shifted. Straightening his posture, he asserted, “Regardless of whether she remembers or not, my decision remains unchanged.”
Shortly after, Timothy entered the hospital room, pushing the door open with a determined stride.
Leaning against the headboard, Mia observed Timothy’s entrance. Despite four years having passed, his appearance remained unchanged, except for the deeper lines around his eyes, lending him a more mature air.
His presence still held a magnetic charm, reminiscent of days long gone.
Mia took a deep breath and calmly greeted him, “It’s been a while.” Noticing the bandage on Mia’s forehead, Timothy’s concern resurfaced. “Does it still hurt?” he inquired softly.
“It’s bearable,” she replied, her tone tinged with sarcasm, “but nothing compared to the anguish of remembering everything I went through with the Barrett family four years ago.”
“I’m sorry for how I handled things in the past. But moving forward…” “Enough, Timothy. What’s the point of saying those words now? I didn’t ask you to come here to hear your apologies.”
Timothy paused, noticing the change in Mia’s demeanor. She appeared distant, detached in a way he hadn’t seen before.
For some reason, her indifference unsettled him, stirring a discomfort he couldn’t quite explain.
Even before Mia’s memories resurfaced and while she regarded him as a stranger, Timothy had never felt such profound anxiety as he did in this moment.
After a brief silence, his voice trembled as he inquired, “So, what is it that you want to say?”
He had a sinking feeling that Mia’s response wouldn’t be what he hoped for.
Mia spoke carefully, “First and foremost, I want to thank you for your bone marrow donation to Ginger. However, let’s not forget that it’s also your responsibility as her father.
“Right now, Ginger and I are comfortably settled in the Lane family, so there’s no need for you to linger in Nord City. You can just go back.” Upon hearing this, Timothy’s throat tightened slightly. “Mia, could you consider giving me another chance?”
Exhaustion etched his face, his eyes heavy with emotion.
Mia didn’t know how to react to Timothy’s words. “If you had said this four years ago, I might have been thrilled.”
Timothy’s heart sank at her words, his voice strained. “But is it too late now?”
“Yes, itis. I used to hang onto your every word because I cared about you. But I don’t feel the same way anymore. So, what’s the use of you saying all this?”
Timothy felt a sharp pang in his heart, nearly breathless from the ache. He pressed his lips together and said, “I want to make things right for you and Ginger.”
“Well, the best way for you to make it up to me and Ginger is to leave Nord City immediately and never return to our lives.”
Mia’s words were composed yet firm, piercing into Timothy’s chest like a dagger, precise and unyielding.
At that moment, Timothy felt as though the air had been sucked out of the room. Mia always had a way of inflicting pain upon him.
Turning to glance out the window, Timothy was startled by the sudden resurgence of Mia’s memories.
He had been quietly strategizing how to win her over before her memories returned, thinking it might improve his odds.
Meanwhile, Mia couldn’t resist stealing a glance at Timothy’s silhouette as she leaned against the headboard. His tall, slender frame remained just as upright and commanding as ever.
Indeed, Timothy had always been the object of desire for many women. However, Mia was never fully accepted into the Barrett family even after marrying Timothy. She endured mockery from them, and was constantly reminded that she wasn’t good enough for him.
Her youthful infatuation had left her deeply wounded, nearly costing her life.
As Mia reminisced about the past, her heart ached with pain, but she quickly regained her composure. With her brothers by her side, she felt invincible.
As long as Timothy couldn’t separate her from Ginger and Sage, Mia remained unfazed.
Breaking the silence, Mia spoke up, “Connor will be back soon. You should leave.”
However, deep down, Timothy was still unwilling to surrender. Addressing Mia, he softly uttered, “Take care.”
“Timothy, some things can’t be forced. Remember? Those were your words to me before. I hope you understand that.”
Pausing by the doorway, Timothy cast a glance back at Mia. “Is Ginger also being treated at this hospital?”
Mia’s guard went up at the mention of Ginger. “Ginger isn’t here.” “This is the Lane family’s private hospital, isn’t it? How is it possible that Ginger isn’t here? Mia, what else aren’t you telling me?”
Timothy had just confirmed downstairs that this was indeed the Lane family’s private hospital.
How could Ginger be anywhere else?
At this juncture, Timothy couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was. Mia regarded him calmly. “Regardless, Ginger is receiving treatment, and thus far, everything is progressing smoothly. Once Ginger’s treatment concludes, I will make arrangements for you to see her.” “Mia, that’s not what you said yesterday.”
Mia paused, her mind wandering back to the shopping trip she had gone on with Timothy. “Back then, I hadn’t fully regained my memory, so…”
“So, your previous words didn’t count?”
Timothy took out the small toy he had bought with his 50-dollar wage from his pocket, his voice calm as he presented it. “Look, I’ve already purchased Ginger’s gift. I must see her.”
Mia was momentarily taken aback by the sight of the toy in his palm. “The only reason I agreed earlier was because my brothers hadn’t discovered you yet. But now that they know you’re here, do you honestly think I can still take you to see Ginger?”
“Mia, you’re just finding excuses. Are you worried about me seeing Ginger because you’ve been deceiving me all along? Was my bone marrow donation even meant for Ginger? Is she really ill?”
Mia’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing Timothy’s speculations. Since when did he become so astute?
Underneath the covers, Mia’s grip tightened, though she maintained a composed exterior. “Yes, it’s true, your bone marrow was intended for my child. I’ve been honest about that.”
However, the truth was that Timothy’s bone marrow wasn’t meant for Ginger; it was for her son, Sage.
Although Timothy couldn’t challenge her children’s custody, Mia instinctively avoided revealing Sage’s existence to him, wary of potential complications.
Sensing the tension in Mia’s response, Timothy spoke calmly, “I’m simply concerned for Ginger’s well- being. I hope you can understand my position.”
“I’m sorry, but I think it’s important for everyone to show mutual understanding.”
Suddenly, the hospital room door swung open, and a stunning woman entered.
With a piercing stare, Eva confronted Timothy, “Mr. Barrett, don’t you realize that you’re not exactly welcomed by the Lane family?
“Yet, here you are, shamelessly trying to cling to Mia. Consideration doesn’t seem to be your forte, does it?”
At the sight of Eva, Mia’s heart skipped a beat. Eva’s arrival meant that Dominic was possibly privy to everything.
If Dominic were to find out that Timothy was here, Timothy could face serious consequences.
However, Mia noticed that Eva had arrived alone, carrying a food container, with no sign of Dominic.
This realization eased Mia’s anxiety momentarily, and she nervously inquired, “Eva, what brings you here?”
After all, hadn’t Connor mentioned he was going out to fetch dinner for her?
Approaching Mia, Eva explained, “Connor had to rush to the hospital for an emergency surgery, so he asked me to come over.
“If he hadn’t called, I wouldn’t have known about any of this. How long were you planning to keep me in the dark?”
Were it not for Connor’s call, Eva wouldn’t have been aware that Mia was hospitalized due to a concussion caused by Connie, let alone the fact that Timothy was serving as Mia’s private bodyguard.
What on earth was going on?
Mia playfully stuck out her tongue and replied, “Eva, I didn’t mean to hide all of this from you. It didn’t seem like a big deal, and I thought I could handle it myself.”