Filed to story: Mia Bowen and Timothy Barrett Novel
“Mr. Barrett, should we depart?” Heath inquired cautiously.
“Why wouldn’t we? Do you assume I have endless time to spare?”
Timothy pressed on, giving Heath a pointed look. “Find a caregiver for her. I’d struggle to explain to my grandmother if anything unfortunate happened to her while she’s in the hospital.”
Heath nodded knowingly. Timothy had a habit of speaking ambiguously.
As Timothy approached the hospital’s main entrance, Maya and Shelly emerged from a nearby taxi.
Rushing forward, Maya inquired, “Tim, how’s Ms. Bowen?”
“She’s stable,” Timothy responded tersely before continuing on his way.
A faint smile played on Maya’s lips. It seemed that Mia’s plan had not succeeded.
Just as Maya considered leaving, a young man in a white coat caught her eye as he hurriedly moved along the second¨Cfloor corridor. He seemed oddly familiar.
Pausing briefly, Maya’s thoughts raced. Could that really be Connor?
How could Connor be at a hospital in Bern City? Wasn’t he supposed to be in Nord City?
Without hesitation, Maya dashed into the hospital, leaving Shelly calling after her, “Maya, where are you going?
“I just need a quick restroom break. Wait for me out here,” Maya replied.
Brushing past Shelly, Maya swiftly pulled out her phone to dial Connor’s number.
As Maya looked for Connor, her repeated calls to his phone went unanswered.
Was she wrong about her suspicions?
Still, the individual in the white coat bore an uncanny resemblance to Connor.
Inside the emergency room’s infusion area, Mia lay on the bed.
The ordeal earlier had made her break into a sweat, but now she seemed to be recovering.
“Mia, it’s time you leveled with me. What’s really going on?” a stern voice pressed.
As Mia took a sip from her cup, she looked up to find Connor entering the room, startling her and causing her to choke momentarily.
Acting quickly, Connor gently patted her back. “Be careful. Let me fetch you another glass of water.”
Mia let out a cough, casting a vulnerable look toward Connor. Her eyes filled with tears, radiating an air of innocence.
Observing his sister’s expression, Connor’s initial anger dissipated, and genuine concern took its place.
He sighed deeply, dragging a chair closer to her bedside.
“Mia, my intent isn’t to reprimand you but to express my worry. You dropped the bombshell about being pregnant so suddenly. How did you expect me to process that?”
Having gone to great lengths to locate and reintegrate Mia, their beloved princess, into the Lane family, it was expected that she would lead a life filled with serenity and comfort.
By the time she reached her thirties and considered marriage, her brothers naturally thought that it would be their responsibility to choose the right man for her.
However, out of the blue came the startling revelation¨Cshe was already pregnant!
Mia’s eyes fell, and she murmured, “I understand, but all of this happened before you even found me.”
“Mia, can you tell me who the father is? I simply want to have a ¡®friendly conversation¡® with him. As your older brother, I believe I deserve to know,” Connor urged.
Beneath his composed exterior, a tempest of anger swirled.
If not for concern out of Mia’s feelings, he would have confronted and swiftly dealt with the man responsible for causing his sister such distress.
Mia pressed her lips together firmly. “Connor, that’s all in the past now, and I’d rather not discuss it.”
“Mia, you don’t need to be afraid. You have Jason, a lawyer who’s well¨Cconnected with prominent legal professionals. We’ll ensure that the man who hurt you faces the consequences!”
Mia was puzzled by Connor’s words, wondering if he had misunderstood the situation.
Lifting her eyes to meet his, she clarified, “Involving lawyers won’t make a difference. Remember, I chose to keep the child after we broke up. He doesn’t even know the child exists.”
Connor breathed a sigh of relief, initially fearing his sister had endured mistreatment.
Upon hearing the phrase “broke up,” a hint of displeasure shadowed his expression.
“Who could be so blind as to end things with you?” he inquired.
Connor held Mia in the highest regard, viewing her as the most perfect woman in the world.
He was convinced that only undeserving men would fail to recognize Mia’s worth.
Mia responded with a wistful smile. “I once harbored feelings for him in secret, but the emotional toll became too much. I chose to move on, leaving the past behind,” she explained.
“Connor, I’d rather not revisit those memories or discuss him further,” she pleaded with Connor.
She was determined to steer Connor away from confronting Timothy, as such an encounter would undoubtedly bring trouble his way.
After all, the Barrett family stood as the most affluent in Bern City, wielding substantial influence and power.
Furrowing his brow, Connor pressed, “Is the child Timothy’s?”
Mia paused, taken aback by Connor’s astute deduction. Did he catch a glimpse of Timothy escorting her to the hospital earlier?
Gathering herself, Mia swiftly replied, “No, it isn’t his.”
“Then why was Timothy accompanying you here?”
“I collapsed at the mall where I was working today. It just so happened that he was on a security patrol there. Recognizing me from the time I cared for Grandma Laura, he quickly came to my aid.”
Mia had quickly come up with a plausible excuse.
Noticing Connor’s lingering suspicion, she deftly changed the topic, “Connor, how did you figure out it was
Timothy who accompanied me to the hospital?”
Even though Mia had referenced her role as a caregiver in an affluent household, Timothy had maintained discretion on the matter.
So, how did Connor immediately discern that Timothy was the one who had accompanied her?
A flicker of hesitation crossed Connor’s face.
Could it be that Connor was familiar with Timothy due to Maya’s longstanding affection for him?
Naturally, revealing such a connection to his sister was out of the question.
After a brief pause, Connor responded, “The registration and payment details displayed the name ¡®Timothy.¡® A single glance was enough for me to recognize it.”
A sudden realization dawned on Mia. She hadn’t been aware that Timothy had also taken care of her medical expenses.
She delicately touched her belly, feeling a wave of gratitude for running into Connor. Without his unexpected appearance, concealing her pregnancy today would have been a challenge.
If Timothy had urged Mia to follow the prescribed medication, she might have felt compelled to disclose the truth for the safety of her unborn child.
Connor’s attention turned to Mia’s belly. “Mia, are you planning to keep the baby?”
Mia’s hand paused, her resolve evident. “Yes, Connor, I’ve decided to keep this child. I’ll work tirelessly to make sure we have everything we need.”
“It’s not just about the finances, Mia. Why would you want to keep the child of such a scoundrel?”
“Because, for the first time. I won’t be alone,” Mia confessed.
A sudden pang gripped Connor’s heart. He momentarily shielded his face before regaining his composure. “If that’s what you truly want, then so be it.”
“By the way, Connor, I haven’t shared my pregnancy with anyone, not even Aunt Patricia. Can you help me keep it confidential?”
“Of course. And for now, it might also be wise not to inform Dominic. He may be understanding most of the time, but he can be impulsive. I don’t want him to push you into any hasty decisions about the pregnancy,” Connor agreed.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but Dominic may have concerns about you taking on the role of a single mother,” Connor advised.
Mia had quickly come up with a plausible excuse.
Noticing Connor’s lingering suspicion, she deftly changed the topic, “Connor, how did you figure out it was Timothy who accompanied me to the hospital?”
Even though Mia had referenced her role as a caregiver in an affluent household, Timothy had maintained discretion on the matter.
So, how did Connor immediately discern that Timothy was the one who had accompanied her?
A flicker of hesitation crossed Connor’s face.
Could it be that Connor was familiar with Timothy due to Maya’s longstanding affection for him?
Naturally, revealing such a connection to his sister was out of the question.