CHAPTER 37: CHAPTER 37: TIANA LINDEN LEAVES FOREVER

After discussing wedding details with the Linden Family, Aiden Grant arranged a private meeting with Daniel Linden.

The two stood under the kapok tree in the Linden Family garden.

Aiden looked at the early spring garden scenery and straightforwardly asked:

"Was it you who spoke with Director Lewis to keep Tiana detained for longer?"

A guilty Daniel, his expression evasive.

"What nonsense are you talking about? How could we do such a thing?"

The more guilty he felt, the higher Daniel’s voice rose, making Aiden’s expression even colder.

"I have said that my wedding with Vivian on May 1st will proceed as planned, regardless of any unforeseen events."

"What exactly are you worried about?"

Realizing what’s happening, Daniel countered, "Aiden, why did the detention center suddenly release her? Was it you who bailed Tiana out?"

"Yes." Aiden admitted, "I put in some effort to bail Tiana out, but it was only because Daisy had no one to take care of her."

"You’re lying. You clearly haven’t gotten over Tiana."

The two stood in the garden, arguing.

Since it was out in the open, Daniel had nothing to deny.

"I did speak with them, but it was only because I feared you would call off the wedding on May 1st and devastate Vivian."

"If you were truly devoted to Vivian, would I have done such a thing?"

Aiden was already clear in his mind.

No wonder he faced numerous obstacles when having Lawyer Lowell bail Tiana out.

He spoke firmly, "On May 1st, I will marry Vivian, and I ask my brother-in-law and future father-in-law not to trouble Tiana and Daisy further."

This warning left Daniel worried.

He stepped forward two paces, grabbed Aiden’s collar, and tightly questioned:

"Aiden, are you wavering because Daisy is also allergic to peanuts like you?"

"..." Aiden waved off Daniel and remained silent in contemplation.

This silence made Daniel even more anxious.

"Aiden, Daisy is Hector Chaucer’s daughter."

"Have you forgotten how Hector and Tiana both betrayed you?"

"Peanut allergy is just a coincidence."

Aiden remained unfazed, "Daniel, Tiana is also your sister."

One sentence, and it silenced Daniel.

Indeed, Tiana was the sister he pampered since childhood.

Yet Vivian tirelessly helped Tiana care for the child; not only was Tiana ungrateful, she even called the police.

She accused Vivian of attempted murder.

Such ingratitude, he would never allow!

...

Night deepened.

Hospital, pediatric ward.

Daisy awoke amidst the pain of her swollen body.

"Daisy, mom is back."

"I’m sorry, mom came back late."

Seeing her daughter swollen from peanut allergy, the inflammation not yet subsided.

Tiana’s heart broke.

Seeing her daughter open her mouth but unable to speak, she quickly held her little hand and whispered:

"Daisy, don’t talk. Your vocal cords are swollen, it’s normal that you temporarily can’t speak, tomorrow it will be better, be good!"

A line of grievance and painful tears rolled down Daisy’s eyes, swollen like a frog.

Finally, she saw mom!

The mother and daughter both cried their hearts out.

Tiana knew that this time Daisy’s peanut allergy was by no means accidental.

The guilt weighed heavily in her heart, "Daisy, I’m sorry... Mom shouldn’t have brought you back to Veridia."

She thought Aiden would recognize Daisy.

But this journey of appealing for custody was too arduous and nearly cost Daisy her life.

Originally, she should have been more decisive and directly found Daisy an adoptive family.

Foster parents, though not biological.

But reliable foster parents wouldn’t threaten Daisy’s life!

...

Two days later, Daisy recovered and was discharged.

The police also had the investigation results.

"Ms. Linden, regarding the peanut allergy and shock incident your daughter experienced, after our comprehensive investigation and evidence collection, it was deemed merely a prank among children, not an intentional attempt to murder."

"We have already criticized and educated the child involved in the prank."

Tiana went to the police station several times, receiving the same result each time.

And she had no evidence to prove it was directly Vivian who harmed Daisy.

But her intuition told her that this matter was inseparable from Vivian.

Evening.

As the sky darkened, Tiana took Daisy to the Linden Family home.

At this moment, the Linden Family was just beginning dinner.

Not only were James and Daniel present at the table, but also Sharon Sullivan and Vivian Linden, along with Aiden Grant.

They all looked toward the mother and daughter.

Sharon Sullivan spoke politely, "Tiana, we just started dinner. Have you and Daisy eaten? If not..."

"Uncle Cameron." Tiana interrupted, "Please help take Daisy out to play for a while, I need to handle something."

Uncle Cameron, with a lengthy scar on his face but a kind heart, had always been sympathetic to Tiana.

He gently led Daisy away, speaking to her amiably.

The atmosphere in the dining room suddenly turned somber.

Breaking this solemn moment was Tiana’s indignant voice.

"Vivian Linden, shouldn’t we settle the score regarding Daisy’s peanut allergy incident?"

"You are cunning, using others to do the dirty work, even using a child’s hand—truly masterful."

The first to respond was the furious table-slap from Daniel Linden, "Tiana, what madness are you spewing? The police have closed the case; it was just Noelle’s momentary jealousy leading to a prank. Don’t spew your baseless accusations here."

"Brother, lower your voice." Vivian shot Daniel an angry look.

Sharon Sullivan and Daniel Linden hurriedly defended their daughter.

Vivian Linden’s words of defense, Tiana Linden didn’t want to hear a single one.

She suddenly pulled a knife out of her bag.

The blade glinted coldly, causing everyone’s faces to pale in fear.

Aiden Grant, who was next to Vivian Linden, quickly shielded her behind him, "Tiana, what do you want to do?"

With a clang.

The blade in Tiana Linden’s hand struck a plate on the table.

The ceramic shards scattered.

Hiss, Vivian Linden’s face was just cut by the flying shards.

Blood slowly welled up along Vivian Linden’s fair skin.

Everyone looked at Vivian Linden with concern.

At this moment, Tiana Linden warned with determination:

"I won’t allow anyone to target Daisy."

"If anyone dares to touch Daisy again, they’ll end up like this plate."

"Even if it costs my life, I will not go easy on them."

Looking at Vivian Linden’s fair and beautiful face, now marked with a long blood scar, James Linden was furious.

He angrily slammed the teacup in front of him, "Tiana, you’re too arrogant, apologize to Vivian."

The shattered teacup was a piece of blue and white porcelain tea set that Tiana gave James Linden for his fiftieth birthday.

Knowing James Linden liked tea sets.

Tiana Linden had personally gone to Klayburg, spending an entire summer learning the intangible heritage porcelain firing process.

What shattered was more than just a piece of blue and white porcelain tea set.

It was also the father-daughter relationship of over twenty years between Tiana Linden and James Linden.

Tiana Linden, struggling to fight against them with her frail stature, stood proudly, "Daisy almost lost her life, has Vivian apologized?"

She couldn’t defeat this powerful family.

But as a mother, she couldn’t back down.

Slap!

James Linden stepped forward and slapped Tiana Linden.

This slap seemed to use all of James Linden’s strength, causing the already weak Tiana Linden to fall to the ground.

On the cold marble floor, blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.

Among violent coughs, blood gushed.

She spat out a mouthful.

The bloody spittle contained a broken milky white tooth, shattered by James Linden.

Three meters away, Aiden Grant looked on indifferently.

Although he felt bad seeing Tiana Linden lose a tooth from the slap, after she got up, he coldly said, "Tiana, you shouldn’t have used a knife to threaten Vivian!"

Now, Tiana no longer needed Aiden’s help for adopting Daisy.

She didn’t want to look at this man even for another second.

She didn’t want to hear a word he said.

She looked at James Linden, pointing at the shattered blue and white porcelain on the ground, speaking with the faintest yet firmest voice.

"I will always be grateful for your upbringing."

"But from now on, the father-daughter bond between us is like this broken blue and white porcelain cup."

"In this life, we’ll have no further entanglements."

After Tiana left with Daisy, James Linden looked at the shattered blue and white porcelain cup on the ground.

It was Tiana’s gift to him for his fiftieth birthday.

Handmade by Tiana herself.

He had cherished it ever since Tiana was imprisoned, and now it was broken.

He regretted slapping Tiana just moments before.

But she shouldn’t have threatened his precious daughter, Vivian Linden, in such a manner.

...

Night.

Tiana Linden and her daughter were packing luggage while chatting.

Daisy was folding her small clothes, neat and tidy, "Mom, where are we going?"

"Leaving here, never to return," Tiana looked at her daughter.

Some words, she had to cruelly tell her daughter, "Daisy, mommy’s illness is incurable, mommy will soon die..."

She choked.

Mother and daughter’s impending separation was a pain that pierced to the bone.

She could only brutally force Daisy to accept reality.

"Mommy, you won’t die, Daisy won’t allow you to die."

Seeing Daisy’s tear-streaked face repeatedly saying she wouldn’t let her die, Tiana’s heart broke.

"Daisy, you must accept this reality. After mommy takes you away from Veridia, I will definitely find you a good adoptive father and mother before I die."

"Mommy, I don’t want you to die, you won’t die, mommy, Daisy will always be with you..."

That night, Daisy’s cries didn’t stop even in her dreams.

Once Daisy fell into a deeper sleep, Tiana continued to pack their things.

In the dim light, the lavender-colored lisianthus on the coffee table hadn’t had their water changed for days.

The flowers, dehydrated, drooped listlessly.

They were no longer vibrant.

Just like Tiana’s life, soon to be completely drained.

Returning to the bedside, she quietly watched over the small form of Daisy.

Death wasn’t frightening.

The fear was in how lonely and helpless Daisy would be after her passing.

"Daisy, mommy is sorry!"

...

The next day, Tiana carrying limited luggage, took Daisy, boarded the high-speed train departing from Veridia.

The mother and daughter sat in their seats.

The train’s broadcast announced: The train will depart in two minutes...

They would leave this city forever, never to return.

A tall figure suddenly approached the aisle beside Tiana and her daughter, standing there, looking at them.