CHAPTER 151: CHAPTER 151: TIANA LINDEN IS THE ONLY LIGHT IN HIS LIFE

"Hector, what are you busy with?"

Tiana Linden didn’t know why she made this call to Hector Chaucer.

Today was her first day back in Veridia, accompanying Mr. Sterling for consultations.

Mr. Sterling was only consulting for half a day today.

She accompanied him for that half day.

Afterward, she had lunch in the hospital cafeteria.

Then she went to the supermarket to buy some groceries before heading back to The Sovereign.

At this moment, she was pushing a shopping cart, calling Hector while wandering around the supermarket’s fresh produce section.

On the other end, Hector, upon hearing Tiana’s voice, felt the gloom in his chest dissipate considerably.

Tiana’s voice seemed to carry immense healing power.

Hearing her voice, Hector immediately felt even the air was fresher.

Back when he was in prison, the only strength in his heart was Tiana.

As long as he could hear Tiana’s voice, the troubles with the Chaucer Family didn’t matter at all.

He chuckled softly over the phone, "Did you miss me, and that’s why you called?"

"..." On the other end, Tiana was momentarily at a loss for words.

She stopped the shopping cart.

She had intended to check the seafood prices, but suddenly forgot what she was actually there to do.

The scene of Hector kissing her last night flashed through her mind.

That was Hector’s first kiss.

Tiana’s ears felt hot, but she steadied her breathing and deliberately covered up, "I just wanted to ask you what you’d like for dinner. I’m buying groceries at the supermarket."

On the other end, Hector sat on a bench by the lotus pond at the estate, and said lightly, "So you’re concerned about my appetite?"

Though his tone was light, there was a hint of playful intimacy common among couples.

The question made Tiana feel a bit guilty on the other end.

Seeing she didn’t answer, Hector laughed and added, "I usually only share my likes about food and activities with my girlfriend. Are you?"

"..." Tiana’s mind went blank.

What did Hector mean with this question?

She pushed her shopping cart forward, muttering under her breath, "Hector, if you don’t say, forget it. Tonight, I’ll just make what Daisy and I like, you can eat out."

Saying this, with a skipped heartbeat, she was about to hang up.

On the other end, Hector quickly changed to a concessionary tone, "Alright, I won’t tease you anymore. Being with you and Daisy, I like eating anything. You buy according to you and Daisy’s preferences, and I’ll be fine with it."

This remark, Tiana didn’t read into any ulterior motive.

It meant that with the person you like, you enjoy anything.

After hanging up, Tiana was still pondering Hector’s words.

Why was Hector acting so strangely today?

It felt like he was trying to express something.

She pushed her cart, aimlessly wandering, forgetting what she needed to buy, all the while trying to guess the implication behind Hector’s words.

Did it mean what she thought?

Whatever it was, Tiana felt her ears burning even more.

...

The Chaucer Estate.

Gordon Lowell stood by Hector’s side, unable to hold back a laugh.

Every time the Patriarch called Miss Linden, his mood, no matter how bad, would instantly improve.

Even his cold and numb gaze would soften instantly.

Gordon chuckled, "Patriarch, you should call Miss Linden a few more times every day."

That way, you’d often see a smile on the Patriarch’s face.

He didn’t want to see the Patriarch looking cold-faced and indifferent to everyone all the time.

Only Miss Linden could bring a gentle smile to the Patriarch’s stern face.

Gordon was feeling gratified, just as the curve on Hector’s lips was instantly suppressed.

The smile dissipated from his lips.

As he raised his eyelids, his pupils seemed to be covered with a layer of frost.

A chill spread along his sharp brows.

Dark tides surged in his pitch-black eyes.

The air seemed to freeze.

Following Hector’s gaze, Gordon saw an unwelcome guest.

That was Hector’s biological mother.

Once, at Mr. Chaucer’s fiftieth birthday banquet, she drugged Mr. Chaucer to climb into his bed as a Chaucer family maid—Lillian Jewel.

The woman who brought Hector into this world, yet never fulfilled her maternal duties, her mind solely on using Hector to solidify her position in the family, selfish and hypocritical.

Gordon thought: Bad news!

The Patriarch’s good mood was about to be shattered by this selfish woman.

Lillian knew Hector didn’t favor her, but she still brazenly walked over to the lotus pond, feigning kindness as she spoke to Hector.

"Hector, I heard you were in a car accident last night. Are you okay?"

As she spoke, Lillian raised her hand, reaching for Hector’s injured right temple.

This hand, however, was slapped away coldly by Hector.

Every servant around Caleb Chaucer was carefully selected by Gordon.

They certainly wouldn’t dare betray and assist a powerless old man in a wheelchair.

Everyone in the Chaucer household knew clearly who was in power and who had influence now.

Who would dare for the sake of an imprisoned old man to attempt such a thing?

The person likely conspiring with Caleb Chaucer was probably not the nurse attending to him but the hypocritical woman standing before him.

Hector’s brow and eyes were as if imbued with ice, "How did you know I was in a car accident?"

This incident was known only to Caleb Chaucer, he, Gordon, and Tiana.

A guilty Lillian didn’t dare meet Hector’s eyes.

Her gaze wandered as she stammered, "I, I passed by a car dealership and saw that Aiden sent the maroon FLAG SUV for repairs, so I guessed you might have been in an accident."

"Hmph!" Hector sneered, "What did Caleb promise you for my death?"

Lillian raised her head, on the verge of tears:

"Hector, what are you talking about? How could I wish you dead?

You’re my own son.

I’ve waited so long for you to become the Patriarch so that those women in the family won’t bully me anymore.

If you die, what benefit do I have?

Besides, I’m your biological mother."

Biological mother!

How could Lillian bring herself to utter these words?

From the time Hector had memories, his biological mother Lillian would often deliberately make him sick just to see Caleb Chaucer.

Putting him in icy water during the harsh winter to catch a cold and fever.

Or personally pushing him down the stairs, breaking his leg bones, and then lying to Caleb that he accidentally fell.

Because only when he was hurt would Caleb agree to see them.

More importantly, only when he was injured would Caleb pay Lillian money.

The pain from childhood, like a searing brand, was imprinted deeply on Hector’s mind and body, leaving an indelible shadow.

If he could choose, he would never want to be the son of Caleb Chaucer and Lillian Jewel.

Yet, his veins carried Lillian’s blood.

He curled his lips into a cold smile.

Mocking his own birth and Lillian’s hypocritical words.

Such a cold smile made Lillian’s heart shiver.

She cautiously observed every change in Hector’s expression, hardly daring to breathe.

However, her mind still clung to her own interest, "Hector, you’re now the Patriarch of the Chaucer family, and all the properties of the family are yours. Can you increase my monthly allowance? The three thousand you give me a month isn’t enough."