CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: THE WILL—THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED AT MY FUNERAL

Aiden clearly hated Tiana.

But when he learned that she was determined to get engaged to Harvey today, he impulsively pushed past the security guards and burst in.

Especially when he couldn’t find Tiana’s figure at the engagement banquet, he became even more impulsive.

As Tiana crawled forward on the dark carpet, she stopped when she saw them come in.

The torn dress exposed the skin on Tiana’s body, scratched and marred.

Those claw marks were glaring and obvious.

Aiden quickly took off his coat and wrapped it around Tiana, gently lifting her fragile and water-like form from the ground.

Daniel, who rushed in right behind Aiden, was enraged upon seeing this scene and kicked Harvey fiercely.

One kick wasn’t enough; he followed up with several more.

In his hatred, Daniel lost his reason, landing several punches on the screaming Harvey he had grabbed.

"Harvey, you promised to treat my sister well."

"What have you done to my sister?"

"You beast!"

Daniel ignored Harvey’s burning, swollen eyes, throwing him to the ground to continue beating him.

James, who normally disliked his eldest son’s violence, joined Daniel in fiercely kicking Harvey several times, considering what had happened to Tiana. "You beast!"

Then James came over to Tiana, crouched down, and looked at her with a pained expression.

"Tiana, are you okay? Did Harvey bully you?"

Harvey, beaten and lying on the ground, cried out in pain, "I didn’t do anything to her, you barged in and attacked me, I’m calling the police, I’m suing you."

Daniel gritted his teeth, "Fine, call the police, let them know what a brute this big entrepreneur is. My sister hasn’t even married you yet, and you’re already using such despicable means to force her. This is attempted rape, that’s still illegal."

Supporting Tiana, Aiden felt disgusted by what he saw as the hypocritical deceit of the Linden father-son duo.

Weren’t they the ones forcing Tiana to get engaged to Harvey?

He was going to carry Tiana out of there, but she, having regained some strength, stubbornly pushed him away.

In that moment of being shoved aside, Aiden didn’t know what to feel.

Clearly unwilling to see her bullied, yet he coldly reprimanded her, "Tiana, I’ve warned you that Harvey is no good. Do you know how foolish you are?"

Daniel kicked Harvey again, "What did you give my sister to drink, speak up, is there any side effect?"

Harvey stayed silent, and Daniel landed a few more kicks.

Harvey finally confessed, "I bought some colorless, tasteless obedience potion from overseas, no side effects, just makes her weak, she’ll be fine in half an hour."

Hearing that, everyone relaxed a little.

James declared angrily, "This marriage is off. Tiana’s not marrying!"

He couldn’t let the daughter he doted on since childhood marry a scumbag like Harvey.

They took Tiana, unable to walk, back to the Linden family home.

By then, Tiana had regained her strength.

She gulped down several large glasses of water brought by Uncle Cameron, but still felt thirsty.

Sitting nearby, James apologized, "Tiana, I’m sorry. Dad didn’t know Harvey was such a villain. You won’t marry him; Dad will find you someone better, okay?"

Daniel chimed in, "Tiana, I’ll find someone more reliable for you, someone who will make you happier."

Just recovered, Tiana looked at the father and son with pain in her heart.

The humiliation she endured tonight hadn’t deterred them from marrying her off.

She set down the glass, enduring the pain, and slowly asked, "Must I get married?"

Aiden interjected, "Of all the people you’ve chosen for Tiana, is any of them reliable?"

Daniel glared angrily at Aiden, "This is none of your business. You just need to focus on preparing your wedding with Vivian."

At this moment, James handed Tiana a photo.

"Tiana, take a look at this person. You met him when you were younger. He’s Uncle Armstrong’s son..."

Tiana’s mind was filled with Daisy. She interrupted James, "There’s no need to meet. I’ll just marry Harvey, I’ll register with him in three months."

She’s already received half of the dowry her mother left her.

She doesn’t want to take more.

What she has is enough to provide plenty for Daisy.

Meeting other men would only waste time and create more trouble.

Besides, the Linden father and son are so desperate to marry her off quickly for fear she’ll disrupt Vivian and Aiden’s wedding, how likely are they to find her a truly reliable man?

She no longer had the strength to endure more, "I’ll just marry Harvey."

The little time she has left, she wants to spend it all with Daisy.

So she got up, eager to leave, "I need to go pick up Daisy. We’ll talk about the wedding in three months."

By then, if they wanted to see her, they’d have to visit her grave.

Aiden grabbed her arm from behind.

He couldn’t understand why she insisted on marrying Harvey.

He looked at Tiana with disappointment, "Why must you marry Harvey?"

Tiana shook off Aiden’s hand and said bluntly:

"If I told you I’m dying. That by agreeing to marry Harvey, the Linden father and son would give me half of my mother’s dowry."

"I want to leave this dowry for Daisy, to pave her future, would you believe me?"

Even now, she hoped Aiden would trust her.

She hoped there might be a chance for him to take care of Daisy.

But Aiden sneered coldly, "Tiana, are you putting on an act again?"

Hearing that, Tiana didn’t want to explain anything further, "Since Mr. Grant doesn’t believe me, then please, Mr. Grant, don’t meddle in my affairs anymore."

...

Dressed in new clothes, Tiana was sent back by Daniel.

On the way back, Daniel suddenly stopped the car.

Turning around, he looked at Tiana with deep remorse.

"Tiana, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I didn’t guard you well enough."

Tiana looked out the car window, avoiding Daniel’s eyes, "Please take me to Splendor Garden, I’m in a hurry to pick up Daisy."

"Brother has more to say to you, can we talk a bit longer, okay?"

"We have nothing to talk about."

Seeing her expressionless, hopeless look, Daniel’s heart ached.

Tiana, like his sister, was someone he doted on since childhood.

She was nearly raped by Harvey just now, and he felt deeply guilty.

He sighed and explained:

"Tiana, don’t blame brother, it’s just that seeing Aiden still has feelings for you, I was worried that Vivian might get hurt, so I acted hastily."

"But both you and Vivian are my sisters, and I want the best for both of you."

These words, Tiana didn’t want to hear at all.

She felt they were the height of hypocrisy.

Pushing open the car door, she prepared to get out, "No need for Mr. Linden to take me to Splendor Garden, I’m in a hurry to pick up the child, I’ll take a cab."

"Tiana, brother begs you one thing." Daniel called out to her.

She paused, listening to Daniel’s earnest plea, "Tiana, stay away from Aiden, don’t have any dealings with him anymore, don’t entangle with him, okay? Your brother is begging you."

Tiana released the door handle and looked up weakly, "When did I ever entangle with Aiden?"

"Aren’t you trying to evoke Aiden’s sympathy so you can rekindle your old feelings?" Daniel furrowed his brows, showing his hatred for her, "You know full well Aiden is about to marry Vivian, why must you continue to entangle with him?"

Tiana almost laughed out of anger.

The first few times, she did actively seek out Aiden for help.

When she was desperate, she had no choice but to do so.

But these recent times, it was clearly Aiden who sought her out.

Daniel continued, "Also, Tiana, if you don’t want to change your marriage partner and insist on marrying Harvey, could you advance the wedding to before May 1st Labor Day?"

That way, once she and Harvey got their marriage certificate, it wouldn’t affect Vivian’s May 1st wedding anymore.

Tiana felt like a heavy weight was slammed against her chest, "Daniel Linden, didn’t mom tell you something before she died, have you forgotten?"

When Wanda Townsend died, Tiana Linden was just born.

At that time, Daniel Linden was five years old and already had memories.

Mom clutched his little hand, instructing him earnestly.

"Little Daniel, you only have Tiana as your sister. You must spoil her, give in to her, protect her in the future, and never let her suffer any injustice."

Back then, as a little boy, he cried and promised his mom.

And before his mom took her last breath, he made a vow:

"Mom, if anyone dares to bully my sister, I’ll fight them to the end."

Tiana heard these stories from James Linden and Uncle Cameron.

She remembered them clearly.

For Daniel Linden, they were etched into his memory.

A sense of guilt surged from the depths of Daniel Linden’s heart.

He felt he failed Tiana.

"But Tiana, it was you who betrayed Aiden Grant first, and now Aiden is Vivian’s fiancé."

"You came to fight Vivian over a man; that’s your mistake."

"As a brother, I’m not wrong to do this."

"Though Vivian was born to Dad and Aunt Sullivan, she is also my sister, and you can’t bully her like this."

Tiana laughed in anger once again.

"Mr. Linden, from now on, you only have Vivian Linden as your sister."

Daniel Linden angrily said, "Tiana, you can’t be so unreasonable. Clearly, you’re the one who’s wrong first..."

Tiana, suppressing her pain, interrupted, "Clearly, I’m about to die, but none of you believe me. Instead, you push me to the brink, step by step. Do you really need to see me die in front of you to stop being so overbearing?"

Daniel Linden disdainfully responded:

"Tiana, the specific anti-cancer drug from Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals is about to be developed."

"No one will believe your repeated claims of having cancer and dying."

"You won’t deceive the years of research efforts from two generations of Linden-Grant."

"Stop making things up."

Finally, Daniel Linden hardened his heart and said:

"Tiana, stop thinking about Aiden Grant and stop trying to access the research secrets of Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals, or don’t blame your brother for taking real action against you."

Tiana asked painfully, "Do you also want to drive me out of Veridia, like Aiden?"

Daniel Linden’s expression turned grim, "If you don’t heed my advice, it’s not impossible."

Tiana knew she couldn’t fight against them.

And she had nothing to say.

At this moment, Daniel Linden’s expression turned colder, "Take a cab home by yourself."

Then, he left her on the cold streets at night, driving away.

And Tiana quickly pulled herself together from this terrible emotion.

She then hastily took a cab to Splendor Garden and picked up Daisy from Ms. Hayes’ home.

That night, after Daisy fell asleep, she stayed by Daisy’s bedside for a long, long time.

A week later.

Tiana’s coughing got worse, and she started coughing up more blood.

But she still dragged her terminally ill body to complete two major tasks.

First, with the five million in her hands, she spent three and a half million to buy a seventy-square-meter property in a normal community in Veridia for little Daisy.

With the remaining one and a half million, she found a lawyer to draft a complete will.

Among which, one million was Daisy’s education fund from kindergarten to university.

Fifty thousand was to thank the adoptive family.

The lawyer assisting her with the will was a single mother around her age.

The other woman sympathized with her greatly, "Miss Linden, is there anything else you’d like to add to the will?"

Tiana thought for a moment.

Her lifeless face curved into a bit of pain.

"Add one more clause: after I die, Aiden Grant, James Linden, and Daniel Linden are not allowed to attend my funeral."

The countdown on the calendar for her life had only a little over a month left.

This was under the premise that her condition remained relatively optimistic.

If not optimistic, she might leave even sooner.

Evidently, she belonged to the latter.

The next day, Tiana spent over ten thousand to buy herself the cheapest burial plot.

Then she went to the community neighborhood committee to make arrangements for her affairs after death.

"Director Chaucer, I’ll count on you for my afterlife affairs."

"And also for finding an adoptive family for Daisy, please do your best; the time I have left is very short."

In the afternoon when Daisy was out of school, Tiana applied heavy makeup.

She found that ordinary blush and foundation could no longer conceal the deathly pallor on her face.

So she applied her lipstick heavily.

Finishing her makeup, she was the first to go pick up Daisy.

Spring was almost here.

Tiana took Daisy to the mall, wanting to buy her some new spring and summer clothes.

If she didn’t get new clothes for Daisy soon, she feared she’d run out of time.

While Daisy was in the fitting room trying a new dress, Tiana coughed badly.

Suddenly, a pool of blood surged out, and she cupped it in her hands.

Then she weakly made her way to the restroom.

Daisy heard her mom’s coughing from inside the fitting room, and when she came out, her mom was already gone.

The beautiful princess dress she was wearing suddenly meant nothing to her.

Seeing the blood left on the floor, her small heart pounded fiercely.

The sales assistant saw her panic and hurried over to squat and console her, "Little girl, your mom seems to have a nosebleed; she probably went to the bathroom. Wait here and don’t worry, okay?"

Daisy’s round big eyes suddenly shrank.

The light in her eyes faded.

Is Mom going to die soon?

At that moment, with tears in her misty eyes, she saw Aiden Grant and Vivian Linden holding a little girl’s hand, walking into the children’s clothing store.

That little girl was about the same age as Daisy.

She coyly said to Aiden, "Aiden Dad, Noelle is tired from walking, can you carry Noelle?"

"Sure." Aiden doted on her with tenderness.

This girl named Noelle was the daughter of Vivian’s best friend.

Four years ago, when Noelle was born, Aiden and Vivian took her as their goddaughter.

Aiden didn’t like being called godfather.

So he let Noelle call him Aiden Dad.

He gently picked up Noelle and continued looking at children’s clothes, "Noelle will be participating in a piano competition. Aiden Dad will buy you a new dress for the competition. How about it?"

Noelle happily hugged Aiden’s neck and nodded, "Okay, thank you, Aiden Dad."

The three of them walked into the children’s clothing store.

Aiden was about to pick beautiful clothes for Noelle when he saw Daisy standing not far, eyes filled with tears.

That small figure seemed to be crying to pieces.

Aiden’s heart tightened.

He walked over quickly with Noelle in his arms, "Daisy, why are you here alone, and why are you crying?"

Looking around, there was no sign of Tiana.

Aiden’s brows instantly furrowed, "Did Tiana leave you here alone again, not caring about you? How is she even fit to be a mom?"