CHAPTER 154: CHAPTER 154: THIS MAN HAS A WEAKNESS TOO

Aiden Grant had never imagined that the brotherly bond between him and Hector Chaucer could break again and again.

Before, it was because he had wrongly blamed Hector, misunderstood him.

Now, it was because Hector had truly stolen his woman.

No matter how broken this brotherhood became, Aiden still hoped the other would be safe and live a long life.

Looking at the wound on Hector’s forehead, he forced down his bitterness and pain, and asked with concern:

"Did you get hurt anywhere else?"

It was at this moment that Tiana Linden, who was in Hector’s arms, finally lifted her head and stood up.

She obediently stood by Hector’s side.

Hector, naturally, took her right hand and interlaced his fingers tightly with hers.

This tiny movement was completely seen by Aiden.

His heart ached as if stabbed by needles.

But he knew, he had no right to say anything.

He had been the one who pushed Tiana away.

Facing their sweet affection, he could only clench his fist in silence—he had made his own bed.

Hector replied coldly, "Relax. I won’t die."

Aiden knew, even now Hector still resented him—for never trusting him, for getting Tiana but not cherishing her, letting Tiana suffer so much grievance and pain.

"..." He let out a long sigh, then asked, "Was it someone from The Chaucer Family who did this to you again?"

Hector: "None of your business."

At this moment, little Daisy ran out of the school gate and happily pounced in front of her mom and Mr. Chaucer, with Laura following closely behind.

Hector took one child in each hand and led Tiana into the car.

Aiden shouted from behind, "Hector, I know a top car modifier, he can custom-make you a ride with better safety."

But the only response was Hector’s cold back.

Cars came and went, crowds bustling by.

So noisy, so lively.

Yet Aiden felt that his world only had himself left.

He found himself utterly alone, deserted, with nobody caring about him.

Seeing Hector take Tiana and the two kids away, he dragged his zombie-like body back into that black Red Flag limousine.

He dialed Christopher Grant’s number again.

Christopher asked, "Why’d you hang up on me just now?"

Aiden didn’t answer, going straight to the point, "How’s the cash flow I asked you to prepare?"

Christopher was very curious, "Aiden, why are you suddenly withdrawing two hundred billion in cash flow, what’s going on?"

Aiden: "Just do as I said."

Two hundred billion. He was going to use it to buy islands overseas, invest.

He was quietly pulling off a huge plan.

When he returned to the South Bank of the Pearl River, he locked himself in the tool shed again.

This was the third time he’d tried to fix the ceramic doll Tiana had smashed.

As he repaired it, a strong conviction welled up inside him—Tiana, trust me, we’ll return to the way things were, we will!!

...

Three days later, it was a crisp autumn weekend.

Tiana took Daisy and Laura out shopping at the mall.

She always remembered how Kiera Chaucer had been kind to her and her daughter.

After Kiera’s passing, she treated Laura and Penelope as if they were her own, loving and cherishing them, gently guarding them.

Every time they went out to play, Daisy and Laura were always together.

That day, the two little girls gained a haul of toys, clothes, snacks.

On top of that, Tiana bought a lot of new-season clothes for Gabriel Chaucer and Catherine Armstrong.

The weather was getting colder.

As a daughter, she needed to show her filial piety too.

Daisy lugged bags big and small, craned her head up at her mom, "Mommy, since we bought clothes for Grandpa and Grandma, shouldn’t we buy a set for Mr. Chaucer too?"

That, Tiana hadn’t thought of.

"...But Mommy doesn’t know Mr. Chaucer’s size, or what kind of clothes he likes."

Daisy beamed, "Just call and ask!"

Saying that, Daisy used her watch to call Hector.

Hearing that his little girl wanted to buy him clothes, Hector laughed, "Guess I didn’t dote on you for nothing."

Daisy’s lips were honey-sweet, "Of course, Daddy, Daisy loves you the most!"

Once she got Hector’s size, Daisy pulled Tiana into a men’s clothing store.

Then, Hector sent a WeChat message.

It was his clothing size, and a line: Much obliged!

Tiana muttered to herself: This man really isn’t polite at all!

Daisy put down her shopping bags and started shrewdly picking out clothes for Mr. Chaucer.

"Mommy, since we’re buying clothes for Mr. Chaucer, let’s get a set for Leo too."

Those two dads, they doted on her more than her own father ever did.

Daisy was a considerate little girl.

She always thought of both her dads.

"You’re really quite filial."

"Well, I’m not buying anything for that loser dad."

No.

That bastard didn’t even deserve to be called her father—calling him a loser dad was too good for him.

"Then you go pick for your Mr. Chaucer and Leo."

As Tiana finished saying this, just as she was about to catch her breath, a woman dressed elegantly and luxuriously suddenly appeared at her side.

The woman looked to be in her forties, but was actually in her early fifties.

She was alluring and glamorous, like the archetypal femme fatale in a movie.

It was Hector’s mother—Lillian Jewel.

Tiana didn’t know who she was, so when the woman stared her up and down, she politely asked, "Ma’am, is there something I can help you with?"

Lillian Jewel extended a well-maintained, fair and delicate hand, signaling for a handshake:

"Hello, Miss Linden. I’m Hector Chaucer’s mother. You may call me Aunt Jewel, or Ms. Jewel."

The woman looked so young, calling her "Ms." seemed possible.

But as soon as she heard she was Hector’s mother, Tiana’s face fell.

Tiana knew all too well how vicious this woman had been to Hector when he was young.

Once, Aiden had taken her to visit Hector at the hospital.

At that time, Hector’s leg had been broken.

It was this woman who’d deliberately pushed him down the stairs and broke it.

The woman before her would only ask Mr. Chaucer for money for medical bills, never caring about Hector at all.

Once she had the money, she left Hector alone in the hospital.

At that time, Hector was only about ten years old.

Lillian Jewel wasn’t fit to be a mother at all.

Isn’t it always the case in novels that the wicked old woman shows up to break the couple apart?

Tiana said firmly, "If you’re here to try to make me leave Hector, you needn’t bother. Hector’s private life is none of your business."

This woman was definitely trying to use Hector’s marriage to rake in more money.

With a mother like that, poor Hector.

Tiana showed Lillian no respect and left swiftly with the two kids.

Nothing good could ever come from getting mixed up with such a poisonous woman.

...

Half a minute later, at a Chaucer Pharmaceuticals factory far away, Hector received word that Lillian Jewel had gone to see Tiana.

In less than half an hour, Hector rushed straight back to The Chaucer Estate.

The East Wing—Lillian Jewel’s salon—was kicked open by Hector.

At this moment, Lillian was sitting leisurely at the coffee table, enjoying her favorite floral tea.

Hector strode inside.

The whole gorgeous salon seemed to dim and gray under the suffocating aura around him.

"Who gave you permission to approach Tiana?"

When he spoke, his voice was icy cold.

Every word seemed to freeze Lillian’s eardrums.

Even the air turned instantly to frost.

This chill carried barbed menace that drilled right into Lillian’s spine.

She knew: crossing this son of hers would not end well, but their mother-son relationship had been shattered to dust ever since Hector was a child.

Hector would never go easy on her.

If she wanted a life of wine and luxury, she would have to scheme for it herself.

Lillian put down her tea cup.

In front of her, the incense was sending up thin trails of smoke.

The smoke, fragrant as ever!

Hector found the scent almost irritating.

Lillian smiled, "Look at how anxious you are. I didn’t do anything to Tiana, just wanted to meet my future daughter-in-law as her future mother-in-law."

Hector: "You don’t have that right."

Lillian sighed, "I know. That year, when you were nine, The Chaucer boys pushed you into the pool, and Tiana was the first to jump in and save you. Has this girl been on your mind ever since then?"

So this man, even he had a soft spot!