Meet My Brothers

“Congratulations, you’re one month pregnant. Everything looks fine.”

Mia Bowen held the results of her pregnancy test as she returned to her marital home, feeling like she

was dreaming. Was she actually pregnant?

She mustered the courage to text her husband, Timothy Barrett. “Will you be coming home for dinner

tonight?”

It felt like forever as she waited for a reply. He’d never liked it when people disturbed him at work, and

she was worried that her message would go unanswered as it had in the past.

In the next second, her phone lit up. Timothy replied curtly, “Yeah. I have something to tell you.”

After getting an answer, Mia hurried to get the groceries for that night’s dinner. She put the results of

the pregnancy test on the table, then flipped it over, feeling that she was being too obvious.

In the evening, a black limousine drove into the courtyard. Timothy got out with his suit jacket casually

flung over one arm. He had a tall figure and striking features.

“Timothy, you’re back.” Mia jogged over to him, reaching out to take his suit jacket. But Timothy handed

her some papers instead. A trace of surprise flashed in her eyes.

“Take a look at this. You can bring up any requests you might have,” he said.

Mia looked down at the papers. The first page had the words “divorce agreement” written on it. The

bright whiteness of the paper seemed to stab her eyes.

Timothy tugged his tie loose, traces of fatigue showing on his face. He looked down at Mia, taking in

the baby fat around her face. She looked like a minor.

He didn’t have any feelings for her. He’d only married her because his grandmother liked her. Her

presence had also improved his grandmother’s health, so this marriage was mutually beneficial.

If not for the accident a month back, he wouldn’t even have noticed that they’d been married for three

years.

Keeping this façade up would only be a waste of Mia’s time and youth. It was better for them to

separate.

Mia gently placed a hand over her belly and asked shakily, “If—and this is only hypothetical—I were to

tell you that I’m pregnant, would you still go ahead with the divorce?”

Timothy’s gaze landed on her belly. He frowned. “Didn’t I tell you to take the morning-after pill after that

time?”

What happened a month ago was an accident—the one and only accident that had happened over the

three years of their marriage.

Mia acted like her hand had been burned. She quickly moved it away, but Timothy grabbed her by the

wrist with a complicated gaze. “Are you really pregnant?”

Mia’s breathing hitched. “I asked you a question. If I were pregnant, would you want to keep the baby?”

“No.”

Timothy sighed. There was no point in having a baby when its parents were caught in a loveless

marriage. It was what had happened with his parents.

Mia’s heart seemed to empty out as he let go of her.

She watched as he walked away. Then, she tilted her head back to force the tears back. Timothy’s

words where like knives that stabbed her right in the chest.

Mia looked at the food she’d put her heart into making. They had gone cold. She poured them into the

trash, feeling a bit nauseous from the greasiness.

She rubbed her belly. There was a tiny life growing in there. She swallowed her bitterness as she

thought, “Your daddy may not want you, but I’ll definitely protect you with all I’ve got.”

She’d grown up as an orphan. Her adoptive parents had kicked her aside after giving birth to a pair of

twins, banishing her to her adoptive aunt’s house. Fortunately, her aunt, Patricia Bowen, treated her

well.

It was Mia’s biggest wish to have a family of her own. She knew Timothy didn’t love her, but she’d still

tried her best to be a good wife to him. Now, reality had proven to her that it was impossible for one to

make a rock melt.

Still, now that she was pregnant, she wouldn’t be alone anymore, even after the divorce.

Mia didn’t bother reading the divorce agreement. She just signed on the last page.

That night, she slept in the master bedroom as usual while Timothy slept in the study. Everything was

the same as before—they’d been married for three years but had also slept separately for those three

years.

…

The following morning, Mia received a call from her mother-in-law, Sharon Hopkins. Sharon sounded

imperious as she said, “Mia, have the maids tidy up one of the guest bedrooms on the second floor.

“A guest will be staying over for a few days. Remember to welcome her and treat her nicely.”

Mia didn’t even have time to ask who it was when Sharon had already hung up.

She smiled faintly, already used to how disdainful Sharon was of her. It was as if saying another word

to her would bring shame to the Barrett family.

When Mia came downstairs, Timothy had left for work.

In the afternoon, a young woman dressed from head to toe in branded clothing walked into the living

room. A trace of surprise flashed in Mia’s eyes. Was this the guest Sharon had mentioned? A beautiful

young woman?

A hint of mockery flashed in Mia’s eyes. In the past, she would’ve felt terrible. But now that she and

Timothy were divorced, it didn’t matter how many women were to stay in the villa. It had nothing to do

with her.

Mia stepped forward. “Hi—”

Before she could finish, the beautiful woman ignored her and walked around the living room. Then, she

said to the butler, Kaleb Gould, “Those curtains are hideous, and so is the couch. Remember to also

change the beds in the bedrooms to the brand I like.”

Mia watched as this “guest” criticized every corner of her marital home. She said bluntly, “Who are

you? We’re not doing any renovations here.”

“Allow me to introduce myself—I’m Maya Lane, and I’m the future lady of this household. Naturally, that

means I call the shots when it comes to this villa’s furnishings.”

“You’re Maya Lane?”

A trace of bitterness crept into Mia’s heart. It was no wonder Timothy had suddenly brought up the

divorce. Maya was back.

Since his first love was back, Mia, the cheap substitute, had to go.

“I guess you’ve heard of me. Hurry up and sign those divorce papers, then. You’ve held onto this

position for the past three years; it’s time for you to return it to its rightful owner,” Maya said.

Mia said calmly, “You make it sound like you really love Timothy. If that’s the case, why didn’t you marry

him three years ago when he was in a coma from the accident?”

Back then, Timothy had gotten into a terrible accident. His grandmother, Laura Graham, wanted to get

him a wife so he could leave some offspring behind, but the socialites that usually crowded around him

wanted nothing to do with him.

At the time, Mia had been Laura’s carer, and Laura treated her incredibly well. She’d even lent Mia

money to repay her debts. Mia couldn’t bear to see Laura devastated by her grandson’s death, so she

agreed to marry Timothy.

Everyone had thought Timothy wouldn’t make it through, herself included. She thought the marriage

was only for show. But to everyone’s surprise, Timothy had suddenly regained consciousness!

Since then, her position in the Barrett family had become too awkward for words. After all, everyone

would only make fun of the Barrett family, the richest family in Bern City, because of its scion marrying

a regular carer.

That was why her identity had been kept a secret for the past three years.

Maya stiffened. “That’s because my brothers refused to let me marry Tim and even locked me up at

home. I lost my chance to marry him because of that, and you swooped in.

“I’m warning you—I’m the heiress to the Lane family from Nord City, and my brothers are all super

powerful. It’d do you good to worry about your family if you ever wanted to go against me!”

Mia’s expression turned cold. “I won’t let you off the hook if you dare lay a hand on my family.”

“Sign the agreement if you don’t want anything to happen to them, then.” Maya glanced at the divorce

agreement on the coffee table, feeling smug. She’d waited for this day for three years.

Mia said calmly, “I’ve already signed it.”

“At least you’re not a complete idiot.” Maya pulled a check out of her bag. “This is a million dollars. Take

it as a little gift from me.”

A trace of mockery flashed in Mia’s eyes. She didn’t accept the check.

“Don’t tell me you think it’s too little. This would be ten years’ worth of your pay as a carer. Take the

money and stay away from our lives. Tim and I are a perfect match for each other, unlike you.

“You’re just a country bumpkin. You and us rich people are from different worlds.”

Maya’s words stabbed Mia. She staggered to the master bedroom in a daze. Even if Maya hadn’t

dropped by today, she would’ve left anyway.

Since she and Timothy were now divorced, there was no point in her staying here.

As Mia packed, she realized how few belongings she had. They weren’t even enough to fill one

suitcase. The past three years seemed like a dream to her.

She looked at the pregnancy test on the bedside table and told herself it was time to put an end to

things.

At this moment, Maya strode into the master bedroom like she owned it. She was still holding the

divorce agreement. “Are you done packing?”

She glanced around, spotting the piece of paper on the bedside table. She seemed to catch the words

“children’s and women’s hospital” on it. A trace of confusion flashed in her eyes.

Mia quickly grabbed the pregnancy test and crumpled it into a ball. Maya asked in surprise, “Wait, are

you pregnant?”