Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
Noah glanced back at Heath before turning to Timothy beside him. “And who might this be?”
Upon learning that Heath was the CEO’s secretary, Noah deduced that the man beside him must be a high-ranking executive in Barrett Group. Heath reaffirmed, “I am the CEO’s secretary, so naturally, this gentleman here is my boss, Mr. Timothy Barrett, the CEO of Barrett Group.”
Noah’s face visibly drained of color upon hearing Heath’s revelation.
Though he felt a sense of familiarity upon seeing Timothy, Noah struggled to recall where they might have crossed paths before.
However, with Heath’s clarification, Noah’s memory was jogged. Timothy was indeed the CEO of Barrett Group.
He had glimpsed him once from afar during a brief encounter in a certain business circle.
After all, elite families like the Barretts were well out of Noah’s social sphere.
Just then, Noah’s legs momentarily weakened, nearly causing him to lose his balance. With a hesitant stutter, he turned to Mia and asked, “I-I-Is she Mr. Barrett’s former wife?”
Timothy’s gaze turned cold as he responded to Noah, “My ex-wife is not someone you need to concern yourself with.”
As Noah’s legs gave way, he knelt on the ground, pleading, “Mr. Barrett, I was unaware that Ms. Lane is your ex-wife! It was a mistake on my part, and I inadvertently offended her. Please, don’t stoop to my level and hold it against me!”
Bewildered by Noah’s sudden display, Pamela interjected, “Noah, a man’s dignity is priceless. Why are you kneeling before him?”
Noah rushed to explain, “Mom, he’s the heir of the Barrett family-the most prominent family in Bern City! If I offend him, it won’t just be me; our whole family will suffer.
“Besides, your friend seems rather dubious. Is she deliberately trying to sabotage me by arranging this blind date?”
The thought of offending Timothy filled Noah with dread.
Given Mia’s former status as Timothy’s wife, how could someone like Noah possibly compare to him? To make matters worse, it was clear that Timothy still harbored feelings for her.
Pamela seemed to have caught on, tightly gripping Diane’s arm. “You’re utterly ruthless! You promised to introduce Noah to a wealthy, easy-to-please woman, someone without family ties to worry about. “Yet, surprise, surprise, this so-called bachelorette turns out to be the ex-wife of the Barrett Group’s CEO! Do you realize the mess you’ve thrown us into?”
Noah’s act of kneeling certainly underscored the gravity of the situation.
If he were genuinely impacted by this, it would unquestionably pose considerable challenges.
Feeling unsettled, Diane stumbled over her words, hastily blurting out, “I-I had no clue that Mia’s ex-husband was the CEO of Barrett Group, the prominent tycoon in Bern City Aunt Patricia never mentioned it.
They only knew Patricia’s niece’s ex-husband was well-off, but they had no idea about the depth of his riches, merely presuming him to be a reasonably successful businessman. Who could have fathomed he hailed from the wealthiest family in the city?
Indeed, it seemed unimaginable for an ordinary person to even contemplate such a scenario.
But considering Mia’s status as an orphan, how could she have possibly married into such an esteemed family?
Patricia’s disdainful snort cut through the tension. “I didn’t bring it up because I prefer to maintain a low profile, and I didn’t want to bring any trouble Mia’s way. That’s the only reason-not some excuse for you to slander her.”
Nonetheless, it was remarkable how judgmental people could be nowadays. The more someone strived for modesty, the more others seemed to look down on them.
Diane’s expression betrayed her discomfort, “If you had been straightforward from the beginning, we wouldn’t be caught up in this confusion now. At first, your silence led me to think you were shy or overly sensitive.”
Patricia could feel her frustration escalating. “Are you suggesting that this is my fault?”
“What other explanation is there?” Diane retorted.
Watching Patricia’s struggle to counter the argument, Mia realized that Patricia’s character hadn’t evolved much.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so easily manipulated by others.
With a cold stare fixed on Diane, Mia quipped, “That’s rather amusing. I clearly recall both Aunt Patricia and I rejecting your advances last night.
“And again this morning, when you shamelessly showed up to deliver something, Aunt Patricia turned you down once more. If audacity could be a meal ticket, you’d never go hungry.”
Diane’s cheeks reddened with embarrassment, and she paused, searching for her words.
After a moment, she spoke hesitantly, “So, what do you propose we do? If you’re not interested, then perhaps it’s best to leave it at that. There’s no need for any physical confrontation, is there?” “It was you who spoke rudely and entered our home without permission. Plus, she’s the one who started the physical confrontation just now. We were simply defending ourselves,” Mia retorted. Realizing the tide was turning against her, Pamela quickly cried out, “Noah, I’m having a terrible headache! Please, take me to the hospital!”
Noah promptly grasped the situation and prepared to escort Pamela away, but Joe blocked their path.
With a stern look at Noah, Heath questioned, “Do you plan on leaving without offering an apology?”
In response, Noah turned to Mia with a remorseful demeanor. “I apologize, Ms. Lane! Today has been filled with misunderstandings, and it seems we’ve all been affected by them. Please forgive us! Let’s all agree to put today behind us, shall we?”
Mia’s brow furrowed slightly. “Your apology should be directed toward Aunt Patricia, not me.”
Following Mia’s words, Noah promptly offered his apology to Patricia as well.
Known for her gentle nature, Patricia chose to remain silent.
Once Pamela and Noah had departed, only Diane remained at the scene.
Shifting his focus to Diane, Heath remarked, “You must make a decision-apologize or face potential legal consequences. The choice is yours.”
Initially, Diane had believed she could dismiss the situation as before. However, Heath’s resolute stance left her with no option but to swallow her pride and offer a begrudging apology.
Patricia’s patience wore thin as she urged, “Please, leave now. Do not come back to trouble Mia again.”
Despite her reluctance, Diane had no other recourse but to depart dejectedly.
With the troublemakers gone, the living room gradually returned to a state of calm.
Upon catching sight of Timothy, Patricia instinctively called out, “Mr. Barrett?”
Timothy nodded in acknowledgment as he met Patricia’s gaze. “Apologies for the delay,” he remarked.
In response, Patricia added, “You can put Sage down now. Everyone has left.”
In that instant, Timothy suddenly realized that he had been cradling Sage in his arms all this time. He had been so engrossed in managing the situation that he had forgotten about Sage resting against him.
Mia’s gaze also fell upon Sage nestled in Timothy’s embrace. The resemblance between father and son was remarkable, especially noticeable when they were together. Their family bond was unmistakable at a glance.
Feeling slightly self-conscious, Sage gently eased himself out of Timothy’s embrace. Despite his stoic demeanor, a hint of emotion flickered in his eyes.
During the earlier altercation, Sage was undeniably furious. Given his small stature, he realized he wouldn’t be able to confront Noah alone.
However, Timothy’s unexpected intervention completely changed the situation. Timothy not only confronted Noah but also defended Mia, ultimately resolving the conflict.
When Sage was briefly cradled in Timothy’s arms, he experienced a peculiar yet oddly comforting sensation, one entirely unfamiliar to him.
Lost in contemplation, Sage remained silent.
Meanwhile, Timothy shifted his attention back to Mia and Patricia after gathering himself. “Are you both okay? Aunt Patricia, do you think you should consider going to the hospital for a check-up?”
Patricia waved her hand dismissively. “I’m fine; it was just a small scuffle with some hair-pulling. I fought back too, and that old hag got hurt as well. “Growing up in the countryside, I’m accustomed to dealing with these kinds of situations. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble for either of you.”
Mia let out a sigh of relief upon seeing Patricia unharmed.
She then turned to Timothy and asked, “What brings you here?”
Mia found herself questioning how Timothy had conveniently arrived at that pivotal moment, right after her return from the hospital with Ginger and Sage. Timothy paused briefly before explaining, “Since Ginger and Sage are finally here, I thought it would be a good time to bring them some gifts.”
It became evident that Timothy’s timely appearance was due to the gifts he had prepared, dispelling any initial suspicion Mia had of Luna’s involvement.
However, the timing appeared to align well, particularly in light of Luna’s recent infiltration of the hospital.
Given Luna’s reputation for vigilance and caution, it seemed plausible that she would patiently await the perfect moment to act.
Patricia swiftly stepped in, acknowledging, “Your kindness is greatly appreciated, Mr. Barrett. I haven’t had the chance to get any gifts for Ginger and Sage since their arrival.
“If you’ve already prepared something, please bring it in, and we’ll ensure it’s set aside for them.”
Had Timothy not arrived promptly, Patricia, Mia, Sage, and Ginger would have been at a significant disadvantage against Noah, Pamela, and Diane.
Nevertheless, Patricia couldn’t help but notice a slight easing of tension between Mia and Timothy.
Was it possible that Laura’s influence had played a role in improving their relationship?
Mia refrained from intervening, acknowledging that Timothy’s timely arrival had spared Patricia and the children from potential harm.
This time, Mia admitted her own oversight, regretting the absence of any bodyguards with her. After all, she never anticipated such an incident occurring in this location. Shortly after, Heath and his team arrived with the gifts, swiftly occupying a substantial portion of the living room.
A faint smile played on Mia’s lips as she remarked, “Why did you purchase so many?”
Timothy remained composed as he elaborated, “I wasn’t certain about Ginger and Sage’s preferences, so I picked up a variety of items. They can choose what appeals to them.” Mia was utterly stunned. Timothy’s extravagant gift-giving mirrored her brothers’ lavishness perfectly.
It was truly remarkable how her children hadn’t been swayed by growing up in such opulence.
Patricia, too, was surprised by Timothy’s generosity. She paused briefly before commenting, “Mr. Barrett, you’ve bought quite an array of gifts. The children might not be able to appreciate all of them.”
With a hint of arrogance, Sage remarked, “I already have all these gifts. So, I’m not really interested in any of them.”
Timothy gestured toward a sizable box, remarking, “These are accessories for the telescope you received last time. I’ve heard they greatly enhance the viewing experience.” Sage hesitated for a moment before swiftly realizing the truth. “You’re the one who bought that telescope?” he asked.
Upon noticing Sage’s reaction, Mia grinned sheepishly as she admitted, “Yes, he was the one who bought that telescope. He managed to sneak it past me last time.” Sage’s expression froze, torn between irritation and indifference.
Patricia gently took Sage’s hand and encouraged him, saying, “Feel free to take it. Since it was your father who bought it, it’s only right to accept. You shouldn’t hesitate.”