Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
It became clear why Timothy had personally attended the award ceremony a few days ago It was all because of Mia.
Timothy rose from his seat, exchanging a meaningful look with Mia, “Let’s go.”
Mia trailed behind him as they left Kennedy’s office. She stole a glance at him and expressed her gratitude, ” Thanks.”
“I just want to keep this from blowing up and reaching Grandma,” Timothy replied.
A hint of self¨Cdeprecation flashed in Mia’s eyes as she responded, “I understand,” choosing not to dwell on the matter.
Timothy seemed a bit uneasy, asking awkwardly, “How did you manage to get the IP address of the person who released the picture?”
Mia’s eyes drifted downward as she explained, “I asked a friend for a favor.”
Timothy’s gaze deepened as he wondered whether the friend she mentioned was, in fact, the award¨C winning actor.
Experiencing a twinge of discomfort, he decided to be upfront, expressing. “I’m busy at the moment. If there’s anything you need, please reach out to Heath.”
Surprised, Mia lifted her gaze, unsure of Timothy’s intentions.
“Try not to overanalyze this matter. If there’s something beyond your control, let Heath handle it. It’s wiser to prevent things from escalating.” Timothy advised.
Mia responded with feigned nonchalance, “I get it. There won’t be any such incidents in the future.”
Agitated, Timothy briskly walked away from the campus building.
Heath maintained a respectful demeanor as he assured Mia, “Mrs. Barrett, Mr. Barrett is aware of the situation on your end and will be on his way over.”
Mia offered him a smile without uttering a word.
She grasped that Timothy’s warning was a signal for her to steer clear of any trouble at this critical juncture to spare Laura any unnecessary worry.
Mia thinks that Timothy’s urgency in handling the situation wasn’t rooted in concern for Mia. Instead, it was driven by his consideration for Laura.
Nevertheless, she chose not to delve into further speculation.
Heath swiftly reassured Mia, saying, “You’ve got my contact details, Mrs. Barrett. Feel free to reach out whenever you need.”
With those words, he left. Mia returned to the study hall soon after.
Back at home, Mia addressed her brothers¡® inquiries in a composed manner, explaining, “The issue has been sorted out, thanks to Nathan’s help.”
Nathan casually replied, “It’s no trouble at all. If you ever face similar problems in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.”
Mia expressed her gratitude with a playful emoji.
Receiving support from her family provided Mia with a sense of comfort when facing challenges. It reassured her that she didn’t have to face these obstacles alone..
Soon after, the post on the campus forum was taken down, and an official statement quickly debunked any idea of insider information influencing Mia’s award.
In the aftermath, Taylor faced disciplinary repercussions from the college. Moreover, her guaranteed admission to graduate school was revoked.
Approaching Mia, Gina expressed her surprise, “I never thought Taylor would stoop to that level.”
“While there’s no real conflict between you two, she couldn’t handle seeing you succeed and deliberately spread false rumors to harm you.” Gina continued.
“In the investigation of the IP address this time, we unearthed a history of similar misinformation. This added weight to her punishment. She got what she deserved!” Gina said triumphantly.
Mia held no sympathy for Taylor. In her view, those scheming against others should be ready to face the consequences.
Having settled the controversy, Mia headed to the hospital right after her class.
It was crucial for her to visit Laura, especially with Laura’s surgery scheduled for the upcoming weekend.
As the elevator doors opened at the hospital, Mia unexpectedly bumped into Sharon.
With a hint of arrogance, Sharon quipped, “Mia, you seem rather pleased with yourself. Do you really believe you could’ve navigated that college debacle alone? It’s obvious the Barrett name played a role.”
Mia’s expression darkened as she digested Sharon’s words. “I could have handled it myself,” she retorted.
Sharon scoffed, “Enough of this charade. What have you done to manipulate my son? I don’t understand why he’s taken it upon himself to handle that college situation of yours.”
“He’s even hesitating to commit to Ms. Lane because of you. He also postponed his grandmother’s surgery, searching for another doctor and disrupting the planned schedule,” she accused.
Mia’s expression changed. “What are you talking about?”
It was clear that she struggled to grasp Sharon’s words.
“Still feigning ignorance? Let me spell it out for you. Maya’s brother set a condition. He would only proceed with Laura’s surgery if Tim agreed to marry Ms. Lane. However, Tim refused and chose to quietly seek another doctor instead.” Sharon admonished.
A whirlwind of emotions swept over Mia as she processed the shocking revelation.
After a momentary silence, she finally said, “I was unaware of all this.”
Mia had always presumed that Maya’s brother would be the one conducting Laura’s surgery.
With a derisive snort, Sharon added, “However, the doctor Timothy enlisted ended up in a car accident, sustaining a wrist injury. Now, he’s unable to perform Grandma’s surgery.”
“Because of this, the surgery is now delayed. Mia, given Grandma’s kindness toward you, would you honestly consider using her health as leverage against Tim?” Sharon asked harshly.
Mia responded firmly, “I have never used Grandma as a bargaining chip with Timothy.”
Sharon shot back, “Then do the right thing. Divorce Timothy immediately so he can get engaged to Maya. That way, Maya’s brother can proceed with Grandma’s surgery.”
Mia’s heart churned with turmoil. “I know what I have to do.”
“You better.” Sharon retorted before walking away.
Mia stood still for a long time. Sharon’s words echoed hauntingly in her mind.
She hadn’t anticipated Timothy’s refusal of Maya’s proposal. This is a decision that, on the surface, should have been straightforward for him.
After all, Timothy and Maya seemed perfectly matched in terms of background and status.
Gathering herself, Mia stepped into the hospital room.
Inside, the caregiver subtly shook their head, signaling that Laura was asleep.
Mia stood quietly by Laura’s bedside, tenderly holding her cold hand.
The sight of Laura’s pronounced weight loss and deteriorating condition deepened Mia’s anguish.
Clearly, the surgery couldn’t afford any more delays.
After checking with the hospital staff, Mia confirmed that Laura’s surgery had been postponed, aligning with Sharon’s information.
The delay was attributed to the lead surgeon’s recent accident, and a suitable replacement had yet to be found.
Leaving the hospital, a resolute determination solidified within Mia.
Back home, she discreetly arranged for Martha to return to the hospital, advising her to spend time with Laura.
With the house to herself, Mia went into the kitchen to prepare a meal.
Upon Timothy’s arrival, he spotted Mia coming out of the kitchen, wearing an apron and carrying a plate filled with familiar dishes.
His gaze lingered momentarily, recalling the countless meals she had prepared during their three years together.
Yet, since signing their divorce agreement, he hadn’t tasted a single dish she’d made.
Reflecting on the campus forum incident, Timothy wondered if Mia’s actions were her way of expressing gratitude toward him.
As they settled at the dining table, Timothy looked at the spread before him. “No poison, I hope?” he quipped.
Mia mustered a faint smile, replying, “Rest assured, it’s entirely natural and uncontaminated.”
As Timothy began eating, he noticed that Mia hadn’t touched her food at all.
Arching an eyebrow curiously, he inquired, “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“We need to talk.”
2
Timothy set down his utensils, fixing Mia with a steady, intense gaze,
Taking a deep breath, Mia inquired, “Why did you replace the doctor for Grandma’s surgery? Maya’s brother is arguably the best in his field. Having him operate on Grandma seems like the safest choice.”
A shadow crossed Timothy’s face, his throat tightening. “Who told you that?”
“I met your mother today during my visit to the hospital,” Mia replied.
Timothy leaned back and asked coldly, “Is that all you wanted to discuss?”
“Timothy, perhaps you should consider agreeing to Maya’s brother’s terms. It doesn’t seem like a loss on your end,” Mia suggested.