Meet My Brothers

Mia watched as Sharon and Edith grappled with each other, her eyes involuntarily shifting toward Timothy nearby.

He had thought this secret was securely guarded, shared solely between himself and Laura. However, Sharon's evident awareness of the situation took him by surprise. Indeed, this revelation should have been a crushing blow to Timothy.

Nonetheless, he remained remarkably composed and stoic, showing no visible signs of distress at the unfolding chaos.

Turning to Mia and the children, Timothy calmly directed, "Take the kids and wait in the private lounge. I'll handle things here and join you shortly."

Mia hesitated, unable to articulate her thoughts in front of Ginger and Sage.

After a brief pause, she nodded and replied, "Alright, let's go to the private lounge and order something. We'll wait for you there."

Sensing that Timothy might need some space, Mia didn't push the matter and quietly led Ginger and Sage away from the commotion.

Neither of them voiced any objections as they followed Mia.

As Sage moved forward, he couldn't resist stealing a glance back at Timothy's silhouette. The complexity of Timothy's identity had truly caught him off guard.

As they settled into the private lounge, Mia passed the menu to Ginger and Sage. "Take your time to look through the menu and decide what you'd like to eat."

Ginger's worry was palpable, her thoughts lingering on the fragments of conversation she had overheard earlier. With a furrowed brow, she glanced up at Mia and inquired, "Mommy, do you think he's really upset?"

Mia gently patted Ginger's head, reassuring her, "It's natural to feel uneasy in such situations, but don't worry too much. Timothy has known about this matter for some time now, and as an adult, he'll manage just fine."

Sage, however, remained skeptical. "If Timothy already knew he wasn't biologically related to the Barretts, why didn't he reveal it sooner?"

Fixing her gaze on Sage, Mia elaborated, "Back then, your father remained oblivious to his true lineage. After all, he was merely a baby when he was unknowingly switched into the Barrett family. Even Grandma Laura didn't stumble upon this revelation until much later.

"At the time, Mrs. Barrett faced significant struggles in conceiving her son. If she had been aware of her child's passing, it would have surely been a devastating blow.

"And as you've observed, the Barrett family's preference for male heirs is deeply ingrained.

"Without a son, Mrs. Barrett would have faced societal pressures and expectations as the matriarch of such a prestigious household.

"Hence, upon uncovering the truth, Mrs. Barrett chose to keep it concealed."

Ginger's innocent curiosity shone through as she asked, "But since she's a woman too, why would she discriminate against other women?"

With a heavy sigh, Mia explained,

"Regrettably, many still cling to this notion. Enduring years of oppression

has led them to believe that only be

bearing à son can they find a

happiness. Without one, life seems destined to be perpetually clouded with sorrow."

After all, individuals who have been through hardship or misfortune might feel more inclined to belittle those they perceive as more privileged than themselves.

"This explains the surge in resentful mothers-in-law these days. Having endured mistreatment themselves they may tend to overlook their past struggles once they assume the role of a mother-in-law. Instead, they often project all their grievances onto their daughters-in-law."

Sage paused before asking, "So, did he take any action after discovering his true identity?"

"Well, not exactly," Mia explained, "After uncovering his background, I'm certain Grandma Laura must have had a conversation with him. From then on, he began to see himself as a rightful heir. And as it turns out, he's proven to be remarkably exceptional."

Despite clarifying Timothy's identity to Ginger and Sage, Mia couldn't completely shake off her worries.

While Timothy had just stumbled upon the truth, Sharon had been aware of his illegitimate status for quite a while.

With this realization, the situation seemed to have become more complicated.

Taking Mia's hand, Ginger expressed her concern. "Mommy, why don't you go out and see how he's doing? I'm worried he might be struggling on his own."

Instinctively, Mia stole a fleeting glance at Sage. Nonetheless, he remained focused on the menu, his silence speaking volumes.