Meet My Brothers by Red Thirteen ( Mia Bowen )
Chapter 570

If Mia's other brothers were to discover her pregnancy, she feared she wouldn't be able to hold them back.

Just as Mia was about to respond, she noticed the reflection on the wine bottle beside her—a man standing at the doorway behind her. Wasn't that Timothy?

What a coincidence! Was his private room adjacent to theirs? How long had Timothy been standing there behind her?

Mia hesitated for a moment, exchanging a glance with Nicholas across from her. "Because the babies aren't his," she finally explained.

Upon hearing this, Nicholas' eyes betrayed a slight flicker of surprise; he wasn't entirely convinced by Mia's explanation.

As Mia's words trailed off, she kept an eye on Timothy's shadow reflected on the wine bottle.

Soon enough, he turned and retreated into the room.

Mia breathed a sigh of relief. She was resolute in keeping the twins' paternity a secret, intending to take them away.

Halfway through the meal, Connor arrived, fashionably late.

"Connor, I ordered your favorite risotto for you," Mia informed him.

Connor took his seat, wearing a smug expression. "As always, Mia knows how to spoil me the most. Having a sister like Mia is truly a blessing. Right, Nick?"

Mia fell silent. Was Connor once again flaunting his closeness with her? How awkward could this get?

Nicholas clenched his utensils, resisting the urge to jab Connor.

Glancing at the neighboring balcony, he deliberately remarked, "I remember our parents discussing arranged marriages when we were kids. They used to joke that if your family had a daughter, she could be my future wife."

Mia nearly choked on her water at the unexpected comment. Was there ever such a proposal?

Connor quickly grew agitated, on the brink of delivering a sarcastic retort.

However, his attention abruptly shifted as he caught sight of a figure on the neighboring balcony—wasn't that Timothy?

In a sudden realization, Connor nodded decisively and remarked, "That sounds about right, Mia. He could be seen as your fiancé, in a way."

Mia found herself utterly bewildered.

Connor deliberately narrowed his eyes and turned to Nicholas, stating, "But don't think for a moment that winning her over is a simple task. My sister is extraordinary—kind, compliant, and incredibly sensible.

"Most men wouldn't meet her standards, especially not her contemptible ex-husband, who was conniving, miserly, and petty.

"He struggled to handle social or domestic situations. Just thinking about him makes my blood boil!"

Upon hearing Connor's words, Mia sensed a chill in the air. She glanced toward the wine bottle and spotted Timothy on the balcony.

Reacting swiftly, she poured some water for Connor. "Connor, here, have some water."

Mia hoped he would take the hint and stop talking.

After taking a sip of water, Connor persisted, "It's our fault for not replaceing Mia sooner. Considering Mia's ex-husband's poor character, he wouldn't have been considered suitable to marry into our family if this had happened three years ago!"

"Connor, aren't you hungry? You should eat," Mia interjected, coughing nervously. She quickly grabbed a spoon and began feeding Connor.

Reluctantly, Connor paused, but after a few bites, he spoke deliberately, "Mia, rest assured. Once you're back in Nord City with us, I'll introduce you to a husband who's not just sophisticated and socially competent, but also proficient in managing household affairs.

"He'll be someone you can rely on, obedient to your every instruction."

"Then she might as well replace a dog!"

Suddenly, a low, restrained voice emerged from behind Mia—it was Timothy. She could no longer pretend not to notice.

Connor raised an eyebrow and quipped, "You couldn't even measure up to a dog."

Timothy was taken aback.

Sensing the tension, Mia quickly took Connor's hand. "I'm suddenly feeling a bit chilly out here. Shall we head inside and eat?"

If this confrontation continued, it might escalate into a physical altercation.

Considering they were in Bern City, challenging someone like Timothy didn't seem like a wise move.

After the trio returned to the private room, Nicholas excused himself, stating, "I need to use the restroom for a moment."

As he left the private room, he coincidentally encountered Timothy emerging from the restroom.