CHAPTER 36: CHAPTER 36: AIDEN GRANT REFLECTS: REPEATING THE PATERNITY TEST

After leaving the hospital building, Aiden drove away alone.

A black Hongqi L5 was aimlessly driving through the streets.

In the car, Aiden’s eyes grew darker as he constantly reflected on himself.

Christopher had said that he needed to calm down.

To calm himself down, he kept the windows open, allowing the cold March night wind to blow through as he reviewed everything over and over again.

Eventually, he called Christopher, "Let’s meet and talk."

"Does it have to be tonight?"

Hearing the melancholy in his voice, Christopher knew he was troubled.

Without waiting for Aiden to reply, Christopher added, "Let me check with Jane. If she agrees to let me out so late, I’ll meet you at the usual place."

After hanging up, Aiden sighed: Christopher really does listen to Jane for everything.

Once, he also listened to Tiana for everything.

Aiden didn’t understand why he and Tiana had ended up where they were today.

Half an hour later.

The two brothers met at the usual place.

It was a coastline where the waves roared fiercely.

Sitting on a rock, Aiden had already prepared the alcohol, bracing the cold wind as he waited for Christopher.

Christopher tightened his coat, "For meeting you, Jane is angry with me again. How are you going to make it up to me?"

"Christopher, how well do you understand me?" Aiden held the bottle, gazing at the sea waves in the night.

The upheaval was in the waves.

It was in his heart as well.

Christopher paused, then sat down and replied, "You’ve always been smart since you were a child, talented, with a photographic memory, a natural gift for painting, you love eating Daisy, don’t eat onions and cilantro, allergic to peanuts, and you have a serious flaw—you’re naturally too suspicious."

Aiden: "Daisy also loves eating Daisy, doesn’t eat onions or cilantro, also allergic to peanuts, with the same natural gift for painting."

Christopher: "Aiden, what are you trying to say?"

This was the man who had once held a paternity test denying his father-daughter relationship with Daisy.

At that time, Tiana and her daughter were helpless and embarrassed.

Christopher opened a bottle of beer, "Don’t tell me you now suspect that Daisy is your biological daughter?"

Aiden responded by drinking heavily.

The alcohol coursed through his system.

Chill.

The chill spread throughout Aiden’s body.

"Christopher, tonight Tiana admitted to me that Daisy is Hector Chaucer’s daughter."

She had never admitted it.

But today, she spoke so decisively.

Reflecting on this, he made a resolute decision, "Christopher, I want to redo a paternity test with Daisy."

Christopher understood, "How do you want me to help you?"

"If someone deliberately prevents me from recognizing Daisy, then the institutions in Veridia are already compromised. It’s very likely..."

Having reflected, Aiden patted Christopher on the shoulder, "This time, take the test to be done out of town. We’ll talk once the results are out."

Christopher held up the bottle, clinked it with Aiden’s, "Congratulations Aiden, your reason and clarity have returned."

Facing the sea breeze, the two brothers drank several bottles.

Christopher was troubled, "Aiden, Hector Chaucer has been missing for a while, whether he’s alive or dead is unknown."

Aiden was troubled too, "Let’s hope there’s no news ever."

If there were news about Hector, he’d either be arrested or shot on the spot.

...

After Tiana reported to the police.

The next day, the police came to investigate at The Linden and Grant Families.

Whatever the police asked, Vivian answered openly and calmly.

After the police left, the Linden father and son were furious.

James Linden set down his teacup and shook his head in disappointment.

"Vivian was kindly helping Tiana take care of the child, and it ended up in deep hatred."

Angry, Daniel Linden tightly gripped his teacup.

Then he set it down and stood up angrily, "I’m going to see Tiana!"

"Stop!" James called out to the impulsive son.

Vivian also stopped Daniel, "Brother, don’t be impulsive."

Holding Daniel’s arm, Vivian pleaded:

"Daisy almost couldn’t be saved from the peanut allergy, big sister impulsively hit me and called the police, which is understandable."

She continued.

"Besides, I didn’t really harm Daisy. The police will clear my name."

"Big sister taking care of Daisy alone isn’t easy, don’t make things harder for her."

With just a few words, Daniel felt even more sympathetic towards Vivian.

"Vivian, if Tiana had half your understanding, it wouldn’t have attracted such hatred."

Sharon Sullivan glared at her daughter while pouring tea, "Vivian, you’re too soft-hearted, Tiana bullied you."

Vivian: "Mom, don’t exaggerate."

Seeing Daniel had calmed down, Vivian quickly tugged him to sit down.

Then she took the purple clay pot from Sharon and poured fresh tea for James and Daniel.

"Dad, Brother, have some tea, calm down."

"Promise me, stop blaming big sister. She’s raising a child alone, which is hard enough—we should understand."

As the four sat around the tea table, someone stood at the entrance of the tearoom.

It was Aiden.

Watching Vivian’s understanding figure, Aiden fell into thought.

If someone truly prevented him from meeting Daisy...

The one preventing him might be Vivian.

Even though Vivian appeared the same, Aiden’s gaze on her back felt somewhat unfamiliar today.

He walked in, looking at Vivian’s forehead wound, "Vivian, is your forehead okay?"

Vivian shook her head. Aiden asked, "The police just left?"

The Linden father and son and Sharon Sullivan were non-stop blaming Tiana.

Aiden comforted, "Vivian is upright, there’s nothing to fear from a few investigations, once they clear Vivian’s name, Tiana will have to stop."

Vivian sat him down, "Aiden, you came at the right time; I have something to tell you."

After some thought, Vivian frowned and spoke:

"Aiden, go and redo the paternity test with Daisy."

"She is also allergic to peanuts, and doesn’t eat onions or cilantro just like you."

"Maybe Daisy really is your daughter."

"If she is, I’ll treat Daisy as my own."

"If..."

At this point, Vivian’s eyes filled with tears.

"If you don’t want to marry me anymore and wish to reunite with big sister, I’ll also step back and let you..."

Her voice trembled with sobs.

"Aiden, I’ve always hoped for you to be happy."

"If being with me doesn’t make you happy, I’d rather set you free."

Aiden recalled all the kindness Vivian had shown him.

Remembering that it was Vivian who stood by him through his most difficult times.

Raising his hand, he wiped away her tears from her cheek.

"Don’t overthink, the Seraphina Isle dream wedding you’re looking forward to, I’ve already started preparations."

"When the time comes, you’ll be a beautiful bride."

Vivian sniffed and spoke chokingly, "Aiden, I’m serious, go and redo the paternity test with Daisy."

Aiden did not answer.

The first to object was Daniel, "Vivian, several institutions already provided the same non-biological report; Daisy is not Aiden’s daughter, there’s no need for another test."

"Your brother is right, it’s been done, there’s no need. We need to discuss some wedding details; let’s talk business." Aiden responded calmly.

This time, he only told Christopher about redoing the paternity test.

Christopher was the one person in the world who would never betray him.

And this time, Christopher arranged for an expedited process of the paternity test.