CHAPTER 27: CHAPTER 27: TIANA LINDEN, YOU CAN’T MARRY HIM

Aiden watched as Tiana’s silhouette faded into the distance.

Behind him, standing beneath the shadows of the trees, Daniel watched Aiden’s back.

His gaze upon Tiana held a myriad of emotions, making Daniel very concerned.

Daniel then headed to the study, where he found James Linden brewing tea alone.

"Dad, today we must arrange a marriage for Tiana and make sure she agrees, only then can we return the dowry Mom left for her."

"Otherwise, I’m worried there might be changes to Vivian’s wedding on May Day."

James set down the teacup in his hand, his eyes filled with worry as he raised them, "You’re also worried Aiden might break the engagement?"

Daniel nodded, unable to find peace.

Just earlier, Aiden’s gaze as he watched Tiana leave was filled with deep resentment, but also mixed with complex feelings.

The deeper the love, the stronger the hatred.

"Dad, Aiden, who speaks about Tiana with such disdain, actually hasn’t truly let go of her."

Daniel sat across from James Linden, his brow furrowed tightly.

"Vivian has been with Aiden for five years, yet Aiden has never asked her to stay overnight at his home. If she ever did stay, it was always in the guest room, and they had never crossed any lines. It’s not because Aiden knows how to be a gentleman and keep his distance."

A man in love with a woman will not truly have that sense of gentlemanliness and boundaries.

If a man loves a woman, he will want to possess and claim her.

But Aiden doesn’t seek to possess Vivian.

The one possibility is that Aiden doesn’t love Vivian.

This is what worries both father and son.

Daniel continued, "Dad, Vivian suffered a lot before she could acknowledge her roots, and now she finally has the chance to marry the man she loves. If Tiana’s return to Veridia spoils this marriage, I’ll be heartbroken."

James Linden also felt the heartache, "I know what to do."

At that moment, Uncle Cameron brought Tiana to the door of the study and knocked.

Upon receiving permission, Tiana was led inside.

James Linden, a Gablemerian, had always loved drinking Kungfu tea.

The fragrance of tea permeated the entire study.

Before, Tiana loved this scent of tea.

Now she felt repulsed by it.

Previously, she had shattered antiques worth millions in James Linden’s tea room.

Yet James Linden never blamed her, only worried about whether she was hurt.

But, that was before...

James Linden glanced at her, noticing her ordinary cotton coat today.

A pair of faded jeans highlighted her slim, straight legs even more.

Seeing her thinness, which seemed abnormal, James Linden felt a twinge of heartache.

"Tiana, change into something else, and then Dad will take you to meet some people."

The guests attending the Linden Family’s event today were mostly single men aged thirty to forty.

At the garden dinner, a forty-year-old man even greeted Tiana.

That was Harvey Patton, the neighbor next to the Lindens’ old residence, who was into new energy development, with assets over several billion.

When Tiana was eighteen or nineteen, Harvey often sent her flowers.

Because of this, Aiden had once beaten up Harvey fiercely.

Back then, Aiden was as tall and thin as he is now, yet when he fought the fat, robust Harvey, who also practiced Muay Thai, he lacked the strength advantage.

Neither won nor lost.

Harvey ended up bruised and battered; Aiden fared no better.

Judging from Harvey attending today’s garden night banquet, Tiana could already guess James Linden’s intention.

The household servants wanted to escort her to change clothes, but her tall, thin frame stood there motionlessly.

"Mr. Linden, I’m here today to retrieve the dowry my mom left me. Not to let you arrange a marriage for me."

Seated at the tea table, Daniel glanced at her. "Since you’ve realized our intentions, let me be clear. Mom did leave you a generous dowry, that’s true. But since it’s a dowry, it’s meant to be yours when you get married. Without marriage, your dowry has to be kept by Dad for now—it’s yours nonetheless."

James Linden continued sitting before the tea table.

The purple lisianthus bouquet on the table was arranged by him personally because he knew Tiana liked lisianthus.

He also brewed ginger tea for Tiana himself, handing it to her, "Have a cup to warm up."

Tiana did not accept the tea, "I knew you wouldn’t agree so readily."

James Linden set down the untouched teacup with a heavy sigh, "Tiana, the Linden Family is affluent, we don’t lack your mother’s small fortune. That money is yours. I’m just concerned about you facing hardships alone with Daisy, wanting to ensure you have a stable home. Among the single men invited to the dinner today, each was carefully selected by me and your brother. Take a good look at them. When you marry with Daisy by your side, I’ll hand over your mother’s dowry entirely, moreover, I’ll prepare an even more substantial dowry for you."

Each is carefully selected?

Tiana found it laughable; she knew most of those attending tonight’s party.

Either womanizers or gamblers and drifters.

In the past, when she was James Linden’s beloved daughter, if any of them dared to give her a second glance, James would angrily reprimand them.

James Linden would say that his daughter should marry the best man in the world.

If any man at the party dared to covet his precious daughter, he’d break their leg.

Now she wasn’t his precious daughter anymore; he pushed her out without a thought.

Tiana’s heart still ached.

For one-time James Linden and Daniel were willing to reach for the stars for her.

Yet she admonished herself not to hurt, "I won’t choose any of those men."

"You find them unworthy?" Daniel frowned at her.

Suppressing the pain inside, she asked mockingly, "I recall Harvey Patton well—the news only broke three months ago about the passing of his fourth wife. He’s publicly seeking a new wife while looking after five kids left by his deceased spouse, with rather stringent conditions. Once married, there can be no more children."

The conditions were prime: to serve as a free housemaid.

And to secure a prenup requiring the woman to get nothing in case of divorce.

There was spite visible in Tiana’s eyes, "Mr. Linden, if you find him suitable, why don’t you arrange for your sister Vivian to marry him?"

Daniel gritted his teeth, pained, "Tiana, isn’t Vivian my sister? Aren’t you my sister too? I thought it necessary to consider that you’ve been to prison and have a disabled child with hearing impairment, afraid you wouldn’t find a better match. Harvey Patton may have married many wives and has five kids—the man is a bit overweight—but marrying him wouldn’t be a loss. He can accept your child and relieve you from working hardships outside. If you don’t divorce him, you and Daisy can enjoy a lifetime of prosperity, better than wandering outside. Why don’t you realize mine and Dad’s good intentions?"

James sat at the tea table in agreement, "Tiana, more than that, you were Harvey’s white moonlight, he wanted to marry you from early on—if he does marry you, he’ll surely treat you well."

Both father and son tried persuading her, each speaking in turns; it made Tiana nauseous and enraged.

Yet she knew if she turned her back on them and refused, she wouldn’t leave with any of the dowry her mother left.

She just wanted to secure more wealth for Daisy, to provide Daisy with more security.

Without further fuss, she stopped bickering with the father and son.

Instead of quarreling, it’d be better to spend more time with Daisy.

"I’ll agree, but I have conditions. Engagement can be set now, but the actual registration must wait three months."

Three months later, she should be dead.

She would find Daisy a trustworthy adoptive family before she died.

This is just her temporary strategy.

James Linden didn’t expect her to agree so quickly.

Daniel Linden was also a bit surprised.

She no longer had the strength to resist them.

How much time does heaven still allow her?

Instead of resisting, it would be better to take the immediate gains and leave them all to Daisy.

She weakly said, "I’ll just marry that Harvey Patton."

Harvey Patton was somewhat chubby and burly and also famously stingy.

But at least he wasn’t sleazy.

She added, "I know that before I register with Harvey Patton, you won’t give me the dowry my mom left me. But during the engagement, I want to get half of it back first."

James Linden readily said, "Okay!"

Daniel Linden worriedly said, "Dad..."

This worry was stopped by James Linden raising a hand, meaning that’s that, he was willing to trust Tiana Linden.

Daniel Linden said nothing more.

Tiana Linden, standing in front of the tea table, never sat down to have a good talk with the father and son from start to finish.

After the brief talks were settled, she only cared about her current interests, "The sooner the engagement, the better. If possible, I’d like it set for this week."

James Linden nodded, "Okay, Tiana, ever since you were in high school, Harvey Patton kept asking me to marry you. He will definitely be very happy if he knows you agree to this marriage, and he’ll certainly treat you well."

Tiana Linden didn’t want to say more to the two of them, "After the engagement date is set, inform me. I will attend on time, and please make sure Mr. Linden returns half of my mother’s dowry to me first."

After speaking, she left the study.

Daniel Linden looked at James Linden worriedly, "Dad, aren’t you afraid she’ll trick you and back out when you promised her half the dowry upon engagement? After all, she’s really good at scheming."

James Linden let out a long sigh, "The Linden Family isn’t short of that little bit of money. Besides, she’s still your sister, trust her one more time."

Tiana Linden didn’t want to see anyone at the dinner party anymore.

She had no appetite for the various gourmet dishes.

She only wanted to quickly go to Ms. Hayes’s house and bring Daisy back home.

The path to leaving was completely blocked by Aiden Grant, who appeared suddenly.

Under the dim evening lights, Aiden Grant’s expression was dark and ominous.

The hatred and anger bursting from his eyes seemed to want to tear Tiana Linden’s frail body apart.

"Tiana Linden, are you that desperate for a man? Even someone like Harvey Patton, with his fat head and big ears, who has caused the death of four wives and has five children, you’re okay with him?"

"Or is it that no matter what kind of man, as long as there’s money, you accept them all without hesitation?"

Once, Tiana Linden was Aiden Grant’s woman.

She was the one he had to marry, the one he wouldn’t allow any other man to touch.

The thought of her marrying that obese Harvey Patton, who he had once fiercely beaten, made a pain and hatred uncontrollably flare in Aiden Grant’s eyes.

"Tiana Linden, are you trampling on your own dignity, or mine, Aiden Grant’s dignity?"

What dignity does Tiana Linden have left?

Her dignity had long been trampled into the mud by Aiden Grant, James Linden, and Daniel Linden.

She was trapped in that mire that ruined her life, with no chance to even struggle.

She hated the Linden father and son, and she hated Aiden Grant even more, "Mr. Grant doesn’t seem to have the right to interfere."

All pain will end with her death.

But her maternal love for Daisy couldn’t be stopped.

With her thoughts on little Daisy still being cared for by Ms. Hayes, she averted her gaze, turned, and walked away.

A strong and firm arm stretched over, pulling her back with force, "Tiana Linden, you can’t marry Harvey Patton. I don’t agree."

"What right do you have not to agree?"

Aiden Grant was pulled back by Daniel Linden, who strode over.

The anger in Daniel Linden’s eyes was made even more glaring by the night lights.

"Aiden Grant, you’re Vivian’s fiancé, you only need to be responsible to Vivian. Don’t interfere in Tiana Linden’s matters, maintain some sense of boundaries and responsibility."

Aiden Grant forcefully shook off Daniel Linden’s hand, his face terrifyingly dark:

"Daniel Linden, you know Harvey Patton is naturally stingy, requires a prenuptial agreement for marriage, demands a free housewife after marriage, and expects her to take care of five troubling children, not to mention he’s already forty years old. You’re pushing Tiana Linden into the fire. Tiana Linden isn’t Uncle Linden’s biological daughter, but she and you share the same mother. Not only is Vivian your sister, but Tiana Linden is also your sister, and you can be so heartless?"

"How am I heartless, I’m obviously doing it for her own good." Daniel Linden was unwilling to admit it.

Although he also felt guilty.

If Tiana Linden didn’t do those disgraceful things, she’d be his best sister, a little angel sent from heaven, worthy of the best man in the world.

Marrying her off to a forty-year-old, overweight Harvey Patton did indeed make Daniel Linden feel bad for Tiana Linden.

But Tiana Linden had served time in prison and was raising a disabled child, being able to marry someone was already quite good.

Besides, only after Tiana Linden got married would her past feelings with Aiden Grant not rekindle.

Vivian Linden could then, on May Day Labor Day, wear her beautiful wedding dress, and marry Aiden Grant without any surprises.

Thinking of this, the warning in Daniel Linden’s eyes deepened, "Aiden Grant, don’t forget, when you were in a coma after the car accident, who stayed by your side day and night for seven days and seven nights, and who went to Clear Spring Monastery to kneel nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine steps, to pray for your peace charm."

That past made a trace of gratitude appear in Aiden Grant’s eyes, "Vivian’s kindness to me, I won’t forget. I will marry her as scheduled, but you can’t push Tiana Linden into the fire."

"That’s not fire, it’s redemption. Harvey Patton will be good to Tiana Linden."

"Bastard!"

Aiden Grant, in his rage, threw a punch at Daniel Linden.

Just like when Harvey Patton, knowing he and Tiana Linden were dating, continued to pester Tiana Linden and send her flowers, and he had beaten Harvey Patton.

The anger was uncontrollable!

He hated Tiana Linden.

Even wished she’d get what she deserved.

But she couldn’t marry such an undeserving old man like Harvey Patton.

His woman, Aiden Grant’s woman, couldn’t marry someone so unworthy.

Daniel Linden was furious that Aiden Grant was about to marry Vivian yet still wanted to interfere with Tiana Linden’s matters.

His angry fist strongly retaliated.

Just as the two were about to fight, Vivian Linden rushed out and stood between them.

"Aiden, brother, stop fighting."

At this moment, Aiden Grant felt he might have been too impulsive.

He felt sorry for Vivian Linden, and a bit of blame, "Vivian, the May Day wedding will go on as planned. You don’t need to worry about any changes, and the Linden Family doesn’t need to push Tiana Linden to a dead end."

Vivian Linden immediately felt wronged, "I never forced my sister."

Daniel Linden hurriedly explained, "She didn’t force Tiana Linden, it was all mine and Dad’s idea."

Aiden Grant didn’t say anything more.

Turning to the night, the figure of Tiana Linden had long since vanished.

He didn’t care about anything, and chased after her.