CHAPTER 140: CHAPTER 140: SECRET CRUSH SINCE CHILDHOOD?

Tiana Linden was completely taken aback.

The motion of her hand holding the bacon involuntarily stopped.

As she looked into the eyes of the man before her, his gaze was so calm and natural, without any fluctuation.

Yet Tiana felt that his serene gaze seemed to want to burn her silhouette into his eyes.

Perhaps it was just her illusion.

At this moment, Hector Chaucer elegantly wiped the corner of his mouth, "I’m full."

In every gesture, he was so calm and composed, "Do you want anything else? I can get it for you."

Hesitating for a moment, Tiana finally put the half piece of bacon on the fork into her mouth.

She carefully chewed the bacon in her mouth, also thoughtfully pondering Hector Chaucer’s proposal.

After a while, she finally lifted her head and asked him:

"Hector Chaucer, don’t you plan to find a girl who can genuinely enter your heart in the future, get married and have children, and live a good life?"

Across the dining table, Hector Chaucer remained as composed as ever, "If I wanted to, why would I still be single now?"

He rested his elbows on the table, fingers interlaced, looking at her calmly.

"You should know, I never trust anyone."

"I’m surrounded by scheming, exploitation, and murder."

"Beauty brings trouble, and I don’t want trouble."

Speaking of this, Hector Chaucer gave a bitter smile.

Tiana was well aware of this.

Even the closest parents of Hector always used him.

He really couldn’t trust anyone.

No wonder he was reluctant to engage in romantic relationships.

If any woman approached him in the name of love, used him, schemed him.

He seemed numb and emotionless, his methods ruthless.

But if he were to fall in love with a girl, he would surely pamper and cherish her to the utmost.

If that girl approached him, used him, with his depth of affection, he would suffer terribly.

Thinking about it, it seemed quite sad.

Living so cautiously in The Chaucer Family, in the end, he almost got sent to the firing squad by them.

At this point, Hector Chaucer said again, "If it weren’t for you saving me, the only person I trust, I wouldn’t bother with your mess."

Tiana suddenly felt really good, "Hector Chaucer, I’m the only person you trust?"

With this, she felt she must reciprocate.

At the point of her near demise, it was Hector Chaucer who saved her life.

No, he saved her twice; the other time was when Sharon Sullivan charged at her with a knife, and he took the stab for her.

This made Hector Chaucer closer than kin.

Just now, she was pondering why Hector Chaucer repeatedly helped her out of trouble.

A childhood crush?

Setting her up all along?

But she immediately dismissed this guess.

Impossible.

The only explanation that made sense was that Hector Chaucer was always repaying the life-saving favor from childhood.

She hoped Hector Chaucer could meet a girl who would heal his inner wounds and illuminate his entire dim life.

"Hector Chaucer, let’s forget the marriage registration thing."

Hector Chaucer’s fate was more bitter than hers.

She didn’t want to selfishly occupy his life.

After all, marriage registration was not a game.

Her words cast a shadow over Hector Chaucer’s gaze.

Something seemed to shatter in his eyes.

He looked at Tiana, who kept her head down, continuing to eat, and asked, "After Aiden Grant, aren’t you ever going to touch feelings or marriage again?"

Tiana lifted her head, trying hard to squeeze out a smile, "Didn’t you also say that I used to be love-obsessed? From now on, I want to focus on my career."

She hadn’t yet received the inheritance from her mother.

And all her previous savings had been used to buy Daisy a school district house and set up an education fund of hundreds of thousands.

That money couldn’t be withdrawn.

She would soon run out of funds.

She needed to establish herself in society first; matters of affection were really not something she wanted to think about anymore.

Hearing this, Hector Chaucer felt he might have acted too hastily.

He chose not to pursue the topic further.

After breakfast, the two prepared to enter the conference venue.

When Hector Chaucer led Tiana Linden inside, they encountered Christopher Grant.

He asked Gordon Lowell to take Tiana inside first, then pulled Christopher Grant to a secluded spot.

Christopher Grant asked, "Hector, what’s up?"

Instead of answering, Hector Chaucer asked, "Recently, have you and Jane Summers had issues with your relationship?"

Christopher Grant was quite surprised, "Why are you suddenly asking me this? Jane and I have always been good, no issues at all."

Hector Chaucer: "..."

How was he supposed to warn Christopher Grant about this?

He was always accurate in judging people.

Jane Summers must have done something behind Christopher Grant’s back that let him down.

"You should pay more attention to your beloved at home."

"What do you mean, Hector?"

"Figure it out yourself!"

Hector Chaucer patted Christopher Grant’s shoulder before heading into the main venue.

Leaving Christopher Grant standing there, clueless, "Could it be that I’ve neglected Jane, didn’t spend enough time with her, and even Hector noticed?"

Lately, Aiden Grant completely ignored the affairs of the group.

Christopher was overwhelmed with work.

Jane Summers always complained he didn’t have time for her.

Moreover, Jane Summers was just thirty.

Thirty-year-old women are passionate.

It’s not that Christopher Grant couldn’t handle it; he was just too busy, neglecting Jane Summers lately and unable to satisfy her.

Christopher Grant began to blame himself, realizing he was not a competent husband.

While Christopher Grant was self-reflecting, Hector Chaucer had already sat beside Tiana Linden.

This pharmaceutical research academic symposium serves as a crucial platform linking academia with the pharmaceutical industry.

The conference stretches over three days.

By focusing on cutting-edge technology, sharing research achievements, and exploring industry challenges, it aims to promote the innovation of drugs and their clinical application.

Tiana Linden sat beside Hector Chaucer, attentively listening to speeches from various bigwigs.

Over the years, her studies were forced to stop, and she had been imprisoned, leaving her completely behind the times.

Luckily, she did her homework before attending; she had researched all the academic papers by all the keynote speakers in recent years.

Especially the doyen of traditional Chinese medicine, Simon Sterling, Mr. Sterling.

She had taken thorough notes on every paper he published.

During university, she studied Traditional Chinese Medicine.

If she could apprentice under Mr. Sterling, she could have a foothold in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the future.

After Mr. Sterling finished speaking, Hector Chaucer whispered beside her:

"Chaucer Pharmaceuticals has already reached a collaboration intention with Mr. Sterling. Later, I’ll introduce you to the elder."

Tiana turned her head to look at him, her eyes brimming with light, "Really?"

Hector Chaucer hadn’t seen such spark in Tiana’s eyes for a long time.

Back then, she was outstanding in medical school.

Every academic paper she released won awards.

But over the years, The Linden Family and The Grant Family had clipped her wings, preventing her from soaring.

Long ago, Hector Chaucer knew that Tiana wished to apprentice under Mr. Sterling.

During university, she closely followed all of Mr. Sterling’s academic papers.

Today, he had no real need to attend the conference personally.

He merely came to Kaneport personally to pave the way for Tiana.

At this moment, seeing the brightness in Tiana’s eyes, it seemed like the lively and clever Tiana from university days had come back to life.

Hector Chaucer’s lips curved with a hint of a content smile, "Yes, I have arranged a dinner tonight for you to meet Mr. Sterling."

Back then, Tiana Linden was like a flower.

A blossom in the sunlight, bright and lovely.

But she was ravaged, body and spirit wilted, and Hector Chaucer wanted her to blossom beautifully again.

He quietly watched Tiana Linden.

Tiana sipped some kumquat lemon water, then accidentally lifted her gaze, catching Hector Chaucer’s eyes fixed on her again.

Seemingly calm as a lake, no wind, no waves, no ripples.

Yet it felt like there was a hidden giant vortex about to draw her in.