Chapter 26

chapter26

Timothy watched Mia across the breakfast table, noting with a raised eyebrow that she had finished four pancakes, two slices of toast, and a full bowl of cereal.

Had she always had such a hearty appetite? he wondered. He realized how little he actually knew about her daily habits, despite three years of living under the same roof.

Once breakfast was over, Laura reached into her handbag and pulled out a gold-embossed envelope. “Mia, I’ve secured a spot for you as a contestant in this competition.”

Mia took the invitation, her breath catching as she read the script: The Fleur International Design Competition. Startled, she looked at her grandmother-in-law. “When did you do this, Grandma?”

“You sent me those interior design sketches a while back, remember? I happened to hear about this competition and knew I had to get you in,” Laura explained with a warm smile. “Give it a try, Mia. I know you’ll do a magnificent job.”

Mia stared at the invitation, a wave of melancholy washing over her. Years ago, this had been her dream. But after marrying Timothy, she had funneled all her energy into being the perfect wife, neglecting her own passions until they were nothing but dust.

Shelly strutted into the dining room, her voice dripping with poison. “Mia, that isn’t just some local hobby show. It’s an elite international stage. Considering how... unskilled you are, you really shouldn't bother. You’ll only embarrass yourself—and the Barrett family along with you.”

Laura’s eyes snapped toward her granddaughter. “Shelly, you didn’t even manage to graduate from college, so keep your mouth shut!”

Flushing with shame at having her own failures aired out, Shelly stomped away in a rage. Seeking revenge, she remembered that the Lane family was sponsoring the event. She immediately called Maya.

“Maya, are you in charge of the Fleur International Design Competition?” Shelly hissed into the phone.

“I am overseeing several departments for it. Why?”

“Grandma got Mia a spot,” Shelly informed her, her voice shaking with indignation. “She’s being so biased. You have to find a way to stop Mia from entering!”

Maya’s expression turned icy. “That’s simple. Tomorrow is the final day for registration. I’ll just instruct the committee to close the portal a day early.”

Shelly smirked, her mood instantly brightening. “Perfect! I’ll go there tomorrow just to watch her face when they tell her she’s too late. It’s going to be glorious.”

Maya smiled back, a cold, calculated expression. “Go ahead. Make sure you give me a play-by-play afterward.”

In Maya’s mind, a woman from Mia’s background had no right to stand on the same stage as a Lane—or to compete for a man like Timothy.

The Audacity of Mia Bowen

After saying her goodbyes to Laura, Mia left the Barrett residence, clutching the invitation. She heard Timothy’s rhythmic footsteps behind her before his voice cut through the air.

“You know how to do interior design?”

This explained why Laura had approached him in secret a few days ago, asking him to pull strings for a competition entry. He had complied without checking the name. He never imagined it was for his "unskilled" wife.

Mia lowered her eyes, her voice flat. “Is it so surprising?”

“Cat got your tongue, Mia?”

Mia tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and looked him in the eye. “Not at all. I just have nothing to say to you.”

“You’re lying.”

“Bingo! I’m just not interested in telling you anything.” Mia retorted, before waving down a cab and disappearing inside.

Timothy was left standing on the curb, stunned. He tugged at his tie, his irritation mounting. The audacity of this woman.

Heath, his assistant, stepped out of the car. “We’ll be late for the board meeting if we don’t leave now, Mr. Barrett.”

Timothy stared at the retreating cab. “Do you think she’s been provoking me on purpose lately? You know, just to get my attention?”

Heath hesitated. “I think—”

“You think so too, right? Exactly. It’s a classic move,” Timothy stated, convincing himself. He climbed into the car, determined to stop wasting his mental energy on her.

However, as they drove, Heath’s expression turned complicated. “Sir, about the medical bills for Mrs. Barrett’s uncle... if we stop the payments, his life might be in danger. Are you certain you want to halt them?”

Timothy’s eyelids twitched. “Did I actually tell you to stop the payment? Use your head, Heath.”

He only wanted to scare her, to teach her a lesson in humility. He didn't actually want a man's death on his conscience.

But the message hadn't reached the hospital in time. Mia’s phone rang while she was still in the cab.

“Hello? Is it my uncle? Has his condition worsened?” Mia asked, her heart racing.

“No, Ms. Bowen,” the hospital administrator replied. “But the account for his medical bills has been frozen. It's been days since the last payment cleared. You need to come settle the balance for the upcoming month immediately, or we will have to move him out of the private ward.”

The line went cold. Mia felt the blood drain from her face. Timothy had actually done it. He was using her uncle's life as a bargaining chip.