Chapter 117

Timothy set down his utensils, fixing Mia with a steady, intense gaze,

Taking a deep breath, Mia inquired, “Why did you replace the doctor for Grandma’s surgery? Maya’s

brother is arguably the best in his field. Having him operate on Grandma seems like the safest choice.”

A shadow crossed Timothy’s face, his throat tightening. “Who told you that?”

“I met your mother today during my visit to the hospital,” Mia replied.

Timothy leaned back and asked coldly, “Is that all you wanted to discuss?”

“Timothy, perhaps you should consider agreeing to Maya’s brother’s terms. It doesn’t seem like a loss

on your end,” Mia suggested.

A palpable tension enveloped the dining room following her words.

Gazing at Timothy, Mia suddenly felt a disconnect, as if she couldn’t grasp his intentions.

With a smirk, Timothy quipped, “No losses, you say? Is your rush to find solace in another man’s arms

fueling this misguided justification?”

“It’s the best decision, for both of us and especially for Grandma,” Mia asserted.

“That’s merely your viewpoint,” Timothy countered.

With a creak of his chair, he stood up, drawing Mia’s attention. “And what about your perspective?” she

pressed.

Timothy paused, rooted to the spot, as Mia’s voice echoed behind him. “That’s none of your concern,”

he

replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Undeterred, Mia continued, “You’ve been dragging out the divorce. Is it possible you’ve developed

feelings for

me?”

A brief tension gripped Timothy’s before he turned to confront her, his tone laced with condescension.

“Mia, what gives you the audacity to even propose such an idea?”

“Isn’t it a possibility?” she probed.

In reality, Mia’s words seemed more like a thoughtless jab, aiming to provoke Timothy into proceeding

with

the divorce.

Timothy’s lips pressed firmly together. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. This is solely for

Grandma’s

sake. I won’t be coerced into marriage a second time.”

Mia paused, catching Timothy’s subtle reference to their previous marriage.

In his eyes, she detected a mix of indifference and disdain, revealing the extent of his aversion to their

past

union. A wave of unease swept over her.

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Lowering her gaze, Mia suggested. “There’s no need to tell Grandma about the divorce, and I won’t

mention anything about you and Maya until after her surgery.”

Having regained her clarity, Mia had no intention of further complicating things with Timothy.

A sudden wave of irritation washed over Timothy, causing him to furrow his brow.

“Mia, the fate of our marriage isn’t yours to dictate! Abandon those scheming thoughts of yours,” he

retorted before exiting the dining room.

Left alone, Mia took her seat, her gaze drifting to the barely touched food before her.

Finally, she picked up her utensils and began to eat, though the flavors seemed muted, robbed of their

usual

appeal.

That evening, Mia found herself alone in the master bedroom, her sleep plagued by restlessness and

unease.

As the hours ticked away, Timothy remained absent, his absence stretching throughout the night.

The following day, Mia received a call from Patricia, inviting her over for dinner.

With no classes scheduled for the afternoon, Mia decided to head straight home.

To her surprise, Connor was also present when she arrived for dinner.

After finishing their meal, Mia hesitated before asking. “Connor, how crucial do you think the choice of

surgeon is for heart surgery? Is there a significant difference between the best surgeon and the

second–best?”

Connor considered her question thoughtfully before responding, “There’s undoubtedly a distinction

between surgeons, but there’s typically one considered the best.”

“However, if everyone sought out this top surgeon, they’d be overwhelmed. The importance of having

the very best often depends on the specifics of the situation,” he explained.

“Not every procedure demands the foremost expert, and it also hinges on the individual patient’s

circumstances. There is no one–size–fits–all answer,” he elaborated.

Sensing a change in Mia’s demeanor, Connor asked, “Mia, are you alright? You seem unwell.”

“I’m fine,” Mia replied hesitantly. “It’s just that my friend’s grandmother is ill. She has a weak heart and

requires surgery.”

“However, the top surgeon they were considering is unavailable, so they’re debating whether to

proceed with another doctor.” she added.

“Are you certain it’s heart surgery they’re discussing?” Connor asked, his eyes brightening with interest.

After all, cardiac surgery was his specialty, and he had earned recognition as a top–tier surgeon in that

particular field.

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