Meet My Brothers by Red Thirteen ( Mia Bowen )
Chapter 111

Maya vented her frustration, muttering, "Connor is avoiding me.

With Mrs. Barrett Senior's surgery coming up, how am I supposed to negotiate with Timothy if he doesn't show up?" For Maya, convincing Connor to perform Laura's surgery was her only bargaining chip.

"Ms. Lane, unfortunately, the doctor Timothy enlisted is no longer available for the surgery," Kaleb informed Maya.

"Our only feasible option now is to have your brother handle the operation, but it's crucial not to rush the process," he continued. 

 "How can I not feel anxious? Didn't you witness it that day at the hospital too? I can't believe Timothy prioritized saving Mia. Besides that, he hasn't agreed to my conditions and even sought out another doctor for Grandma Laura's surgery," exasperation evident in Maya's voice.

Maya perceived the situation slipping out of her control, particularly with Timothy's attitude toward Mia, intensifying her sense of crisis.

 "Ms. Lane, as long as Timothy has a favor to ask of you, there's still a chance to turn things around," he suggested.  

"You're right, but Timothy hasn't approached me about it yet," Maya said. 

Feeling extremely uneasy and uncertain about Timothy's potential decision, Maya hastily ordered, "Deploy more personnel to investigate Connor's whereabouts." I reached out to a friend at the Red Cross, and it seems Connor hasn't been there at all," Kaleb answered.

The top priority was to replace Connor and persuade him to perform the surgery for Laura.

As long as Connor consented, everything else would be manageable.

With her suitcase in hand, Mia headed to the campus to register for her classes.

As her gaze swept across the university she hadn't seen in years, a wave of nostalgia washed over her, "Mia, welcome back!" Gina hurried pg over, embracing her warmly. "Do you know how sad I was when you had to leave back then?" Mia sighed softly. "Things happen, but thankfully, I'm back now." "That's fantastic news! Let me accompany you to your dormitory, and afterward, we can share a meal together," Gina said excitedly.

"Everyone, including Ms. Matterson, our college counselor, is looking forward to seeing you after all this time," Gina added.

Mia settled her luggage in her dormitory before joining Gina in catching up with old friends.

However, just as Mia stepped into her college journey again, her former classmates were nearing graduation.

"Mia, I'm truly jealous of you. Even after taking a hiatus from your studies, you still managed to win first place in the Fleur International Design Competition," a familiar voice chided.

It was Taylor.

"Those of us who have been toiling for three years still can't surpass you. Ms. Matterson has been singing your praises in the group chat since learning about your award," Taylor said sarcastically.

A moment of awkwardness lingered at the dining table.

Mia took in the scene and spoke calmly, "Taylor, initially, I had to take a leave of absence due to financial issues at home.

She continued, "If it weren't for the award, I wouldn't have been able to come back to study alongside all of you. I've always looked up to you guys." Gina stepped in quickly, lowering her voice as she spoke to Mia, ""Mia, just ignore her. Taylor is simply being envious." Mia didn't dwell much on these trivial matters. After all, compared to the opportunity to resume her studies, these issues seemed insignificant.

After finishing her meal, Riley turned to Mia, saying, "Mia, securing first place in the Fleur International Design Competition holds great prestige within the college."

"In a few days, there will be an award ceremony for outstanding students, and I've secured a spot for you. Plus, there's a financial grant available to help ease some of your monetary worries," she explained patiently.

"Thank you, Ms. Matterson." Mia welcomed the grant—securing a grant would be helpful, especially given her current financial situation.

The meal stretched on for quite some time.

Mia's phone buzzed with a WhatsApp message from Timothy. "Where are you?" pausing briefly, Mia replied, "I'm grabbing dinner ata restaurant off- campus. I'll be back later."

Putting her phone away, Mia couldn't help but suspect that Timothy's sudden interest was likely because of Martha.

It seemed unusual, as Timothy had never shown such keen interest in her whereabouts before.

Mia's response was calculated, giving Timothy a valid reason and making sure Martha wouldn't grow suspicious if he decided to pick her up.

After half an hour, Mia finished her meal.