Chapter 47: "Gavin, Will You Marry Me?"
Gavin's POV
When Eva lost control, I noticed something off about her relationship with Mia.
They didn't seem like people who had only met a few times recently.
Mia's eyes darted away, her tone evasive.
"We don't really have a relationship. We just ran into each other a few times at school."
I laughed coldly. "Then how would she know your mother's name and say you lived at the Bell house? Mia, are you hiding something from me?"
My interrogation made her panic. Mia's voice grew agitated.
"She must have been too angry and said it without thinking. Don't believe her."
The more she denied it, the stronger my suspicions grew.
Combined with all of Mia's recent unusual behavior, for the first time I strongly doubted her identity.
We returned to the villa. Mia went to play with Peggy while my irritation only intensified.
I called David.
"Look into Mia," I ordered. "I want to know everything about her past. Her family, her relationships, all of it."
I hung up and watched Mia in the room, my gaze complex.
For three years, I thought I had complete control over her.
She was a toy I'd bought with money, an obedient mistress.
But now I realized I might never have truly known her.
If Mia had really been hiding something from me, I would never let it go easily.
The next day, I was in my study processing documents about the new drug.
David walked in and handed me an investigation report.
I set down my papers and took the report, opening to the first page.
It showed Mia's photo, her university enrollment ID picture.
She looked more innocent than now, but those eyes still held that clear, defiant quality, an unyielding spirit.
I continued reading.
Mia had told me her father died young, her family went bankrupt, her mother fell gravely ill, and she had nowhere else to turn before working at the bar.
But she'd lied to me.
The report clearly stated that she and her mother Susan had been driven out of the Bell family three years ago.
And Susan had once been a servant in the Bell household.
Most shocking of all, Mia had once had the Bell surname.
Connecting all this information, I couldn't help but suspect she might be Henry's illegitimate daughter.
An illegitimate daughter abandoned by her family who became my mistress for money and survival.
The story seemed reasonable enough.
Staring at those words in the report, irritation surged through me.
I didn't care about Mia's identity. Whether she was illegitimate or something else didn't matter.
But her deception crossed my line.
She'd stayed by my side for three whole years without ever telling me any of this.
What was her purpose? Had Henry sent her to spy on me? Or did she want to use me to take revenge on the Bell family?
Countless thoughts flashed through my mind, each one fueling my anger.
I hated this feeling of lost control. I hated deception.
Mia's POV
Gavin threw the investigation report in front of me.
"Mia, don't you think you owe me a reasonable explanation?"
I looked at the scattered papers on the floor, filled with information about my past.
My heart sank.
"Gavin, I..."
"Why did you lie to me?" Gavin cut off my explanation. "Did Henry send you to deliberately approach me?"
"An illegitimate daughter lurking by my side all this time. What exactly is your purpose?"
That phrase "illegitimate daughter" stung.
I felt deeply wronged.
My eyes reddening, I shot back, "I'm not Henry's illegitimate daughter! I wish I didn't have his blood running through my veins at all!"
My reaction seemed to surprise him. The suspicion in his eyes faded slightly.
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.
"Susan was once Henry's wife, the hostess of the Bell household."
"The year I was born, the Green family went bankrupt. To climb the social ladder, Henry immediately divorced Susan."
"Susan volunteered to stay at the Bell house as a servant to support me."
"Later we were driven out and saddled with massive debt. That's why I worked at the bar to pay it off."
As I explained, Gavin gradually calmed down.
But he still demanded coldly, "If it was all coincidence, why did you change your surname and hide it from me for three years?"
Gavin pressed closer until my back hit the wall with nowhere left to retreat.
I broke down and shouted at him, "Because I wanted to completely cut ties with the Bell family! I hate them!"
"And I was afraid that once you knew, you'd despise me and abandon me. That's exactly what happened."
My words seemed to touch something in him. The coldness in Gavin's eyes receded, replaced by guilt.
He pulled me into a tight embrace.
"I'm sorry, Mia."
Gavin's apology surprised me.
Leaning against his chest, feeling his warmth, my emotions tangled.
Just then, I suddenly remembered Fiona's plan.
I shouldn't show him my weakness. I should make him disgusted with me so he'd let me go.
So I shoved him away hard.
"Gavin, you don't need to apologize."
"Just tell me one thing. Was Eva behind that striptease video?"
Gavin frowned but didn't deny it.
Though I'd suspected it, having it confirmed still hurt.
"You knew she framed me, yet you still chose to get engaged to her and protect her."
"I hate them! I can't stand you getting engaged to Eva!"
I grabbed his hand and pleaded, "Gavin, cancel the engagement with her, please?"
"I don't want to see that woman anymore. I don't want her in our lives."
"If you like me so much, then marry me instead. I want to be your wife. I want to stand by your side openly."
Gavin's frown deepened, disappointment crossing his face.
He pulled his hand away and stepped back, putting distance between us.
"Mia, I thought you understood the nature of our relationship."
"Between us, there's only money and sex. I could never give you marriage."
Something exploded in my brain. Why did hearing those words hurt so much?
I cried until I could barely speak.
"Why? Why can Eva marry you but I can't?"
"I love you more than she does. I understand you better. I'm the one who should be your wife!"
I even knelt down, abandoning all dignity, and clung to his legs.
"Gavin, please... don't get engaged to her. Please..."
Finally, heavy disgust colored Gavin's expression.
"Mia, you're asking for too much. Take some time alone to calm down."
"Figure out your place and stop coveting things that don't belong to you."