Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
“Luna was apprehended last night, but not without exchanging some harsh words. Timothy was so overwhelmed by anger that he collapsed on the spot,” Heath detailed, recounting the events from the previous evening.
Mia’s expression shifted, her concern evident in her eyes. “How is Timothy holding up now?”
“He’s still unconscious. The doctor mentioned that Mr. Barrett has been really worn out lately and needs some proper rest.” After a brief pause, Mia asserted, “Let him rest then. I’ll take care of matters with Luna.”
Glancing down at Ginger and Sage, she instructed, “You two stay here at the hospital, okay? Wait for me to come back.” Ginger nodded eagerly. “Once we catch the bad woman, Great-Grandma Laura will be safe, won’t she?”
“Yes, exactly. So, make sure you both stay here and keep Great-Grandma Laura company.”
Before leaving, Mia gave Sage’s head a reassuring pat. “I’m trusting you to handle things here, alright? They’ll heed your words.”
Once she had everything sorted, Mia headed straight to the police station.
After a night in confinement, Luna looked utterly disheveled.
Mia intentionally stood before Luna, her appearance impeccable. “What drove you to conspire against me all those years ago?”
It had always been a lingering question in her mind.
Upon noticing the prestigious brand on Mia’s attire, Luna’s eyes flickered with envy. “Just the fact that you don’t deserve to be part of the Barrett family,” she spat.
“If Mrs. Barrett Senior could accept a lowly orphan like you, why couldn’t she accept me and Asher? All I wanted was to teach that old hag a lesson.
“It would have been perfect if she were dead-then no one could stand in my way.”
Mia wasn’t surprised by Luna’s response.
After all, toxic people rarely change.
Fixing Luna with a steely gaze, Mia retorted, “But now, prison is where you’ll spend the rest of your life.”
“Mia, what is there for you to boast about? If our positions were reversed, you might not have acted any differently. I’m convinced I wouldn’t be facing this predicament if I had been born as the heiress of the Lane family.”
“Even now, it’s truly unfortunate that you remain so oblivious to reality. When I was just an orphan, Grandma Laura showed me such kindness. Yet, she never quite warmed up to you. It wasn’t about your status; there’s something inherently flawed in your character.”
Standing up, Mia locked her gaze on Luna. “Rest assured, your time in prison won’t be pleasant. In the years to come, you’ll realize that simply being alive is a luxury.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
With those ominous words, Mia offered Luna a cryptic smile, causing a shiver to run down Luna’s spine.
Upon departing from the police station, Mia’s thoughts were consumed by concern for Laura’s condition, casting a somber shadow over her mind.
Unfortunately, it was a common truth that the virtuous often faced misfortune, while the wicked appeared to thrive unchecked.
Rarely did justice seem to catch up with the latter.
Nevertheless, Luna’s actions had caused harm to many, making it imperative for her to face accountability.
Upon her arrival back at the hospital, Mia noticed Sage deeply engrossed in a laptop, with Heath attentively assisting him. What was going on here?
As soon as he spotted Mia, Heath hurried over to her.
In a hushed tone, he relayed, “The software engineered by the development team has just been delivered, but Mr. Barrett is still. unconscious. Without him, there’s
?
no one capable of conducting thorough testing.
“Despite pressure to sign off prematurely to meet project deadlines, Sage intervened and identified some critical issues Currently, he’s actively troubleshooting the bugs.”
Heath was astounded by Sage’s unexpected competence.
It seemed that the members of the development department had initially intended to cause trouble. Thankfully, Sage swiftly thwarted their efforts.
Now, they were left pondering whether Timothy had brought a tech prodigy into the company.
Meanwhile, Mia wasn’t surprised at all.
With a smile, she remarked, “Just let him take care of it. Handling these issues is like second nature to him.”
Heath was rendered speechless. It appeared that talent truly ran in the family.
Suddenly, a nurse approached them. “Mr. Barrett has regained consciousness. Family members can now visit him.”
Mia was puzzled. Why were they all staring at her?
After all, she was only Timothy’s ex-wife.
Despite her initial reluctance, Mia eventually found herself making her way to Timothy’s ward.
As she entered, she couldn’t help but notice Timothy’s expressionless demeanor as he lay there.
Carrying a tray of food, Mia approached him. “The doctor pointed out your extreme fatigue. It’s crucial that you increase your food intake and prioritize proper rest to reduce the risk of sudden complications.” Upon hearing Mia’s voice, Timothy lifted his gaze to find her seated beside him. His lips moved slightly as he asked, “What did you tell Luna?”
“Not much,” Mia responded. “Just a sprinkle of salt on the wound and a dash of psychological pressure to make sure Luna doesn’t have it easy in prison.”
Placing the tray of food in front of him, Mia urged, “Please, just a few bites.”
“I’ll eat later. By the way, the kids have been here at the hospital for quite a while. You should take them home,” Timothy suggested.
Frowning, Mia insisted, “You should eat something first.”
As her words faded, Timothy glanced up at her, a playful sparkle in his eyes. “Is all this fuss because you’re thinking about giving our relationship another shot?”
“Timothy!” Mia snapped, standing abruptly from her seat. Meeting his gaze, she retorted, “Whether you eat or not is entirely your decision.”
With a sharp turn, she stormed out of the ward, seething with frustration from their recent exchange. Each step felt like a release of pent-up irritation as she kicked out at the empty air. How aggravating. Timothy was truly a piece of work.
Despite her genuine concern for him, he persisted in his playful banter.
He had no one to blame but himself for being alone.
As Mia ascended to the upper ward, she found Ginger fast asleep on the sofa, wrapped snugly in a blanket.
Laura, on the other hand, was awake, a soft smile gracing her face as she watched over Ginger.
“Grandma Laura, how are you feeling?” Mia approached, her voice laced with concern.
Upon spotting Mia, Laura offered a slight nod. “Much better.”
As Mia tenderly held Laura’s hand, she couldn’t help but notice a slight chill. “That’s great news. Just make sure to take good care of yourself and follow the doctor’s advice. You’ll be back on your feet before you know it.”
“Don’t fret, I’m quite in tune with my body. Oh, by the way, Luna has been caught, hasn’t she?”
“You seem to catch everything, don’t you? But we’ve got this covered; no need for you to worry.”
Looking sincerely at Mia, Laura confessed, “If only I had summoned the courage to send her away back then. If I had, you wouldn’t have been hurt, and the children wouldn’t have suffered.”
Mia understood that despite Laura’s illness, her mind remained astute.
In a hushed tone, Mia reassured her, “There’s no reason for you to shoulder the blame for any of this. Who could have foreseen Luna’s cruelty and her capability for such deeds?
“Fortunately, we’ve all emerged unharmed, and the children have grown. That’s all the more reason for you to focus on your recovery. Remember how you once mentioned your wish to see Ginger and Sage?” “Mia, I appreciate your endurance over the years. I assume you’re aware of Tim’s background now, aren’t you?”
Mia fell silent momentarily. “I am. Mrs. Barrett is aware too.”
Laura remained composed as she responded, “If she’s aware, then so be it. Secrets can’t stay hidden forever, after all.”
As Mia’s mind wandered to Timothy’s agreement with Sharon, she felt compelled to discuss it with Laura.
Upon hearing the news, Laura raised an eyebrow. “Did she really make such a demand?”
“Yes. I have no doubt that Timothy is a man of his word. If he’s made a commitment, he’ll surely follow through without hesitation. Remember when Mrs. Barrett hurried to Nord City for her brother’s sake? “If she were to inherit everything from the Barrett family, there’s a danger she could be manipulated or exploited. After all, her family is not to be underestimated.”
“That foolish woman! Who does she think has been looking out for her all these years? I can’t believe she now wants to take control of the Barrett Group Doesn’t she understand that Timothy has poured his heart and soul into building his company?”
Mia couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a hidden layer to Laura’s words.
She proceeded cautiously, inquiring, “Is there more to this?”
“Yes, there is. Ask her to come and see me. It’s time to address certain matters.”
Mia hesitated briefly before responding, “But what about your health? The doctor cautioned against getting agitated; it’s not conducive to your well-being. If there’s anything, perhaps I can convey the message on your behalf.”
Mia hesitated to risk exposing Laura to Sharon’s potential agitation.
Due to Sharon’s emotional vulnerability, she often spoke impulsively. With Laura’s delicate health in mind, any disruption was simply out of the question.
As Laura recounted past events, Mia remained silent, absorbing her words.
Upon hearing Laura’s story, Mia was taken aback. She hadn’t expected there to be hidden aspects to Timothy’s family history.