CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28: TIANA LINDEN’S ENGAGEMENT, AIDEN GRANT CRASHES THE SCENE

As Aiden walked away, Vivian Linden looked anxiously at Daniel Linden.

Her eyes were filled with grievance.

"Brother, will the wedding on May Day be held as scheduled?"

"I’m really afraid that Aiden will change his mind."

Daniel Linden patted her head, "Don’t worry, with me here. If Aiden changes his mind, I’ll drag him to the wedding if necessary. But rest assured, you’re so good to him, he won’t let you down."

Vivian Linden didn’t want any mishaps at the wedding.

If something went wrong, she wouldn’t be able to survive.

She had put in so much effort to be by Aiden’s side, she couldn’t fail.

...

Under the night sky.

Thinking of Daisy, Tiana Linden was eager to return.

At the entrance of The Linden Villa, she was stopped again by Christopher Grant.

Tiana Linden had just agreed with James Linden and Daniel Linden to marry Harvey Patton, and Christopher Grant immediately received the news.

Blocking Tiana’s path, he looked at her like an older brother, disappointed, "Tiana, no matter what happens, you shouldn’t marry Harvey Patton. Why did you agree to marry an older man who’s eleven years your senior, who has had multiple wives, and who has five children?"

In this world, probably only Christopher would believe what she said.

But she couldn’t tell the truth to Christopher.

Because she didn’t want to implicate Christopher.

"Christopher, I said before, you don’t need to worry about my affairs."

"You and Jane should live well together, don’t misunderstand because of me."

Christopher Grant: "I can’t just watch you jump into the fire pit."

It’s not a fire pit.

To Tiana, it’s the only road she can pave for Daisy.

Once she gets half of the dowry left by her mother, it will all go to Daisy.

By then she would set up a complete will.

In the future, whoever adopts Daisy will give her financial security.

She kept a distance from Christopher Grant, "Christopher, just consider me ungrateful. Besides, I’m a second-hand woman with a criminal record, who has been in prison, and has a disabled child. What better choice do I have?"

Aiden stood behind them, angrily and hatefully watching Tiana’s thin figure:

"Tiana, will you die without a man? Even someone like Harvey Patton isn’t off limits for you, are you that desperate?"

Christopher turned back, "Aiden, keep a level head when you speak, don’t let hate cloud your judgment. Tiana might have her reasons."

This advice was ignored by Aiden.

He only looked at Tiana, "Tiana, I’m still saying the same thing. Name your price, whatever it takes for you not to marry Harvey Patton, I’ll give it to you."

For old times’ sake, he was willing to give her a hand during her toughest times.

Just like when she was sentenced to five years, he secretly helped reduce her sentence by three years.

After all, she was once Aiden’s woman.

He hated her.

But he would never treat his own woman poorly.

Such words were not ones Tiana wanted to respond to.

She only politely distanced herself from Christopher Grant in front of her, "Thank you for your kindness, Christopher, I’m leaving first."

Just then, the ride-hailing car she ordered had already stopped at the gate of The Linden Villa.

In the night breeze, she walked out, opened the door and got into the car.

The car turned a corner in the night, disappearing into the internal road of the villa area.

No longer visible, Aiden still gazed in that direction.

He looked into the distance, saying to Christopher Grant beside him, "Christopher, persuade her. Maybe only she will listen to your words."

Christopher looked at him, "Don’t you wish Tiana would get her comeuppance? Why are you worried about who she marries and how it turns out?"

With hatred in his heart, Aiden stubbornly refused to admit, "Who said I’m worried about her?"

That hatred clamored in his heart.

He clenched his fists, gazing into the darkness in the direction where the car disappeared, and said heavily:

"I just don’t want Daisy to suffer with Tiana at The Patton Family."

"The sons of The Patton Family are all domineering bullies; Daisy will be bullied."

This was something Christopher also knew.

He sighed deeply, "Aiden, just admit it."

Aiden withdrew his gaze from afar, looking with a somber face at Christopher, "What do you want me to admit? I’ve said Vivian is the one I want to spend my life with."

"Aiden, I just hope you’re happy," Christopher said, looking at him.

When their eyes met, Christopher organized his thoughts before speaking again, "Aiden, let’s talk about the feud between Chaucer Pharmaceuticals and our Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals."

These two pharmaceutical research companies had been competing for decades, fighting for decades.

Chaucer Pharmaceuticals repeatedly attempted to steal Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals’ research secrets.

They seemed to be secretly laying a long plan.

Christopher analyzed, "Aiden, have you ever thought that Chaucer Pharmaceuticals might want to wait until our Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals is chaotic inside, then seize the opportunity to steal our research secrets? If that’s the case, Tiana could be innocent."

This feeling lingered faintly in Christopher’s heart.

Without evidence.

Yet it was always Christopher’s concern.

"Aiden, I hope that when Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals faces a crisis, you won’t be so irrational. Can you have a calm talk with Tiana, then look at the whole situation and analyze it well?"

Aiden said plainly: "Your analysis is good, but do you have evidence? Tiana colluding with Hector Chaucer to steal the secrets of Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals is proven."

Christopher said disappointedly, "Aiden, you’re really overwhelmed by love and hate."

The response to Christopher’s words was Aiden’s departure.

Christopher shouted from behind, "Aiden, Hector Chaucer’s execution is next month. I’m going to visit prison next week; do you want to come with me?"

Hector Chaucer was a bastard son of The Chaucer family, having no standing in The Chaucer family, and was very ostracized by them.

Once, the three of them were close brothers.

But Hector Chaucer ignored brotherhood, got involved with Tiana, stole research secrets from Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals to offer to The Chaucer family, and even got Tiana pregnant.

This hatred lingered in Aiden’s heart.

He didn’t wish for Hector Chaucer to die.

But it didn’t mean he forgave Hector Chaucer, "What does his execution have to do with me?"

The painful resolve in that departing silhouette left Christopher’s chest tight.

Good brotherhood, good Tiana, and good memories, why did it become this way?

...

Soon came Thursday.

Today was Tiana and Harvey Patton’s engagement day.

Tiana asked Ms. Hayes to help take care of Daisy.

She came alone to the engagement venue, Zenith Grand Hotel.

Harvey Patton was in the luxury circle involved in new energy, wealthy and ostentatious, he booked the entire hotel, inviting many guests to attend his engagement banquet.

The dress Tiana wore was one James Linden specifically made her change into.

The makeup artist applied heavy blush while doing her makeup.

"Miss Linden, have you been too tired recently? Why does your face look so pale, so poor?"

She wasn’t too tired.

But she was dying.

Next to her, James Linden sighed, "Tiana, raising a child on your own is too exhausting. Once you marry Harvey Patton, you won’t have to work so hard. Then you can take care of your health properly."

Tiana Linden said nothing.

Only she knew that her pale and dull complexion was due to her being in the late stages of lung cancer.

When Harvey saw Tiana, who was slim yet stunning and ethereal after putting on makeup, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Harvey had been smitten with Tiana since she was eighteen or nineteen.

Back then, she was a bit plumper, with a fuller face, a classic beauty with bright, sparkling eyes, and delicate skin.

Every time he saw her, the blood in Harvey’s body would start to boil with excitement.

Even though Tiana is now twenty-nine, no longer a young girl, having been in prison, given birth, and become much thinner, Harvey still couldn’t control his feelings.

Now, he was finally going to have Tiana.

As Harvey reached out to hold her hand, his voice was full of excitement, "Tiana, let’s go, let’s announce our engagement outside."

Tiana retracted her hand, refusing to let him hold it, then turned to James Linden, "Mr. Linden, as agreed, return half of the dowry my mother left me upon the engagement. If I don’t receive the dowry, I won’t go out."

James Linden gave Daniel Linden a meaningful look.

Daniel Linden then took out a small box.

Tiana opened it to find some gold jewelry her mother left her and a bank card.

She took it, and James Linden said, "The password is your birthday."

James Linden added, "The rest will be returned in full once you and Harvey register the marriage."

Next to them, Harvey, eager to have Tiana soon, couldn’t hold back and said, "Tiana, why don’t we get engaged today and register tomorrow? I promise that after the wedding, I will love and protect you."

Tiana knew about Harvey’s family situation.

If she were to marry him with Daisy tomorrow, his domineering sons would surely bully Daisy.

And once they registered the marriage, once she died, Daisy would have to live with a stepfather.

She didn’t want Daisy to enter the Patton Family, so she firmly said, "Engagement today, and the registration three months later, or I won’t marry."

She had to find a reliable adoptive family for Daisy.

...

At today’s engagement banquet, Harvey invited many guests from Veridia’s upper-class society.

But he didn’t invite Aiden, specifically instructing the security not to let him in, holding Aiden’s photo.

They had been arch-enemies before.

Because of Tiana, Aiden and Harvey had gotten into many fights.

When Aiden barged into the engagement banquet, he didn’t see Tiana, only James and Daniel Linden clinking glasses with the other guests, laughing and chatting happily.

Someone complimented James Linden on his magnanimity, "President Linden, your adopted daughter once stole research secrets from Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals and leaked them to your arch-rival, Chaucer Pharmaceuticals, yet you still kindly arrange her marriage and find her such an excellent husband. Truly, President Linden, you have a heart like the sea."

Truthfully, James Linden was not very satisfied with this marriage.

His Tiana once deserved the best man in the world.

But now that Tiana had been in prison and had a child, it’s already good enough that she could marry out.

He sighed, "It’s unfortunate for our family. Tiana went astray because I spoiled her too much before. It’s my duty to bring her back onto the right path."

The other person replied, "President Linden, you’re truly a good father."

Aiden was already accustomed to the flattery among the upper-class elites and politicians.

Hearing about Tiana marrying Harvey, such an unworthy man yet deemed a good match, Aiden clenched his fist tightly.

He didn’t know if he was angry that Tiana would marry just anyone.

Or displeased with the marriage the Linden family arranged.

With a dark expression, he walked over, interrupting James Linden’s conversation with the others, "Where’s Tiana?"

Upon seeing Aiden, James and Daniel Linden were a bit shocked, "Harvey didn’t invite you; why are you here?"

Aiden’s expression was grim, "I’m asking you, where’s Tiana?"

Daniel Linden glanced towards the lively area of the banquet, "She was just there; maybe Harvey called her to discuss the wedding in three months."

...

In the hotel suite.

When Tiana woke up, she found herself lying on the bed.

Dizzy, with weak limbs.

She hadn’t eaten anything from the engagement banquet.

She only asked a server to bring her a bottle of mineral water when she took painkillers.

Could there have been something wrong with the water?

Feeling weak and wanting to leave, Tiana found she didn’t even have the strength to get off the bed.

It must have been Harvey’s doing.

She had to leave here immediately.

While she was anxiously thinking of a way, the bathroom door in the room opened.

Wrapped in a white towel, revealing his upper body, Harvey looked even more bulky and stout.

With each step he took toward Tiana, her feeling of disgust intensified in her heart.

"Tiana, tonight, you’re finally mine."

Harvey’s eyes, glancing over her charming figure, like appraising a piece of jewelry, made Tiana feel even more nauseated.

Yet, all she could manage was to lift her hand; the rest of her body refused to move.

Tearing off the towel, Harvey couldn’t wait another second to pounce on her, "Tiana, I really, really like you."

Her shawl was pulled away by Harvey.

Her frail body was pressed down heavily.

A ripping sound followed.

The bodice and neckline of her dress were torn open simultaneously.

The fat, repulsive hand brushed over towards her slender leg.

It was at that moment that Tiana took a small bottle and sprayed it.

"Sizzle, sizzle!"

Harvey was suddenly sprayed in the eyes with the unknown liquid.

Instantly, he clutched his eyes, screaming in pain, "Ah, ah, ah, my eyes."

The air was filled with a pungent, throat-burning, eye-stinging smell.

It was Tiana’s quick thinking and presence of mind that led her to pull out the pepper spray she always carried.

For years, living alone with Daisy, she feared an accident would leave no one to take care of Daisy.

So she maintained the habit of carrying pepper spray with her at all times.

She had encountered such situations many times before.

As Harvey rolled and screamed holding his eyes, Tiana rolled off the bed.

Even with the thick carpet on the floor, she still felt pain throughout her body when she hit the ground.

Though she had no strength, she crawled to get out.

Thinking of Daisy waiting for her at Ms. Hayes’ house, those slender, weak arms strained to pull her forward.

Just then, the door to the room was kicked open.

An arrow-like figure rushed inside.

The first person to burst in was Aiden, his forehead veins pulsing.