A WEEK LATER
Ash was leaving with his parents to the camp on the outskirts of a neighboring country. He wasn't bothered in the least about not meeting Mia when he returns because he was very sure she would leave as soon as he and his parents left.
'Thank goodness I thought of putting a tracker in her phone that way she can never run away' he thought with a mischievous smile.
Of course Mia understood that smile very well but she feigned ignorance. She hugged her dad. In the past few days she had tricked him into signing a new bank account for her as well as change of name.
She felt bad about it but she didn't want either of her parents, especially her mom to find her because they'll just drag her home. Her dad may object but she knew her mom too well. She transferred all the money from her account and hired a private computer expert to make sure no one found out.
"I'll miss you Cooks" her dad said with a sad smile "come visit when you can"
"Of course. I'll miss you too" she was at the brink of crying.
"Don't bring shame to me" her mom said.
"Don't worry no one'll even notice me" she lowered her voice "I'm sure" her words had an underlying meaning that Jewel caught on.
"Good" her mom said "your grandma wants to see you before you leave for your crazy adventure"
"Okay" Mia answered with a small voice. She couldn't say that she wasn't going to miss her mom because she will.
"I still don't understand why you are doing this everyone in the Martin family is a soldier. That's why we are respected"
"Tee give her a break" Sydney said before shooting Mia an apologetic smile.
Taylor walked close to Mia and whispered softly "I will drag you here the moment you stain my name whether you are alive or dead. Why didn't I have normal girls? Tsk. Don't cause trouble and most importantly try not to get into any scandals" she paused "that would be suicide on your part" she turned and walked away when she was almost at the Martin's chopper she stopped and glared at Mia over her shoulder.
Taylor was not happy that someone said no to her. She was used to being in command and worse the culprit was her daughter who she hoped would take after her.
She even carefully drafted out how she was going tell Mia on her birthday only to be told that Mia wants to be a doctor. The disappointment nearly gave her a heart attack.
She shook her head and entered the helicopter. The object of the glare was shaken to her bones even though she put up a straight face.
The moment the helicopter disappeared from view she ran to her room locked the door and cried her eyes out. She felt less bad about everything she did now. Mia wasn't a spoilt brat sometimes she went out of her way to make her mom happy.
Her mom was a perfectionist and always scrutinized everything so Mia was always on her A game.
Mia applied for a scholarship at the Oxford University and she had to take the exams in half a month. Although she was already smart she didn't laze around and always read her books at least ten hours a day. She doesn't want to be caught unawares or anything else.
Mia stood up from the toilet seat and wiped her eyes. The only place she poured out her emotions was the bathroom since there's no CCTV camera there.
She decided to take a warm bath. She stepped out with her hair stuck to her face. She walked into the walk-in closet.
She sighed softly and slowly got dressed. She pulled her two suitcases out and placed them close to her bed. She needed to leave so that she'll familiarize herself with the campus.
She texted the computer expert and asked him to prepare train tickets for her to Cambridge. She would then spend a night there then fly to Manitoba. There she stay for three days before going to Oxford.
Why so much stress? One would ask.
But she knew how her family's minds work so she needs them to think she is going to study elsewhere. She doesn't want unnecessary visits.
She needs to prove to her mom that she will get what she wants no matter what. After arranging everything with Oliver, the computer expert she hired, Mia plopped down on the bed and decided that she would learn to hack computers. You can't trust anyone especially in an escape plan.
Her eyes fell on the phone on her bedside table and she smirked, her brain already formulating a plan. She scrambled off bed and changed to more decent clothes before skipping out of the room.
"Jewel! Jewel!! Let's go buy some ice cream" Mia giggled remembering her plan.