CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: AIDEN GRANT VISITS TIANA LINDEN IN THE HOSPITAL ROOM

Solara Isle.

Aiden was coordinating with the wedding planning team, instructing them on wedding details.

A phone call made him hurriedly leave the hotel meeting room.

The intermittent cries of a child on the line weren’t very clear.

Aiden quickly asked, "Daisy, is that you? Daisy, don’t cry. What happened? Is your mom with you?"

"..." No one responded.

"Daisy, speak up."

The call was disconnected at some point.

When Aiden called back, there was no answer.

The next day, Aiden returned home.

Upon arriving at the airport, his mind was filled with Daisy’s cries from the previous day on the phone.

So he called Tiana.

At that moment, Tiana was lying on a hospital bed receiving an IV.

When she answered Aiden’s call, she weakly said, "Hello!"

Aiden was queueing for security check, "What happened with Daisy yesterday?"

"Nothing happened with Daisy."

Tiana’s tone was somewhat weak, also somewhat cold.

Colder still was Aiden:

"If nothing happened to Daisy, why would she call me crying? Tiana, how are you being a mother?"

In anger, Tiana coughed violently a few times.

Once her breathing steadied, she clutched her aching chest and angrily said, "You have no right to question me like this."

She painfully questioned, "Aiden, Daisy called you crying yesterday, and you’re only asking today what happened? Do you think this shows you care about her?"

The heartbroken Tiana wished to sever any ties between Daisy and Aiden.

She coldly warned, "Mr. Grant, Daisy has nothing to do with you, she doesn’t need your concern."

Just as she was about to hang up, Aiden’s voice carried some anger:

"Tiana, you, as her mother, didn’t take care of the child. Why are you mad at me?"

"Beep beep..." Tiana instantly hung up the call.

Airport.

Security personnel reminded Aiden several times, but he failed to cooperate with the security check.

Only when urged by people behind did he finally calm down and say, "Sorry!"

In the hospital room, Tiana held Daisy’s small hand, looking at her tenderly, "Daisy, when mommy collapsed yesterday, did you call that person?"

The person referred to is Daddy Aiden.

This has become an unspoken understanding between mother and daughter.

Daisy shook her head, "Mommy, I didn’t call him. Maybe I accidentally pressed it."

Tiana understood clearly now.

She kissed Daisy’s forehead, "Mommy will definitely find you reliable adoptive parents before she dies. Don’t worry, after mommy leaves..."

"Mommy, you won’t die."

Large tears rolled down Daisy’s pitiful little face.

Both Daisy and Tiana were crying.

Tears flowed down Tiana’s nose and into her mouth.

That bitter taste immediately spread to her entire body.

"Daisy, listen to mommy, you must accept this."

"Mommy won’t live much longer."

"You need to learn to be strong."

She used the gentlest voice to encourage Daisy.

But Daisy cried, begging, "Mommy, you won’t die. Please don’t say that, you won’t die..."

The small figure sobbed and trembled.

Tiana hugged Daisy tightly, repeatedly saying: Daisy, I’m sorry!

That night, Tiana lay on the hospital bed.

Daisy slept on the folding companion bed beside her.

The bed was very narrow.

Tiana still moved to the right, patting the space beside her, "Daisy, come sleep next to mommy."

"Mommy, the bed is too small, Daisy is afraid of squeezing mommy."

"It’s okay, let mommy hold you more."

Choking back tears, she tried to suppress her sobbing.

But when Daisy finally couldn’t hold back and snuggled into her blanket, nestled in her arms, her tears were unstoppable.

Both mother and daughter cried helplessly.

Because they both knew the chances to hug like this were becoming rare.

Early the next morning.

Daisy alone bought some pork congee for Tiana.

Tiana knew that buying pork congee required crossing the street.

Daisy was only four years old.

It was Tiana who hoped Daisy would become strong and independent.

But when Daisy truly became strong and independent, she felt even more pain.

Her expression suddenly turned serious, "Daisy, it’s too dangerous on the road. Tomorrow you can’t go out alone to buy food."

"Didn’t mommy say, when you..." Daisy began to choke up.

She couldn’t say the words "after mommy passes away."

Tears immediately filled her big eyes.

She bit her lip, holding back tears, bravely said, "Didn’t mommy say Daisy must learn independence early?"

After wiping her tears, Daisy forced a bittersweet smile, "Mommy, Daisy won’t disappoint you. Daisy wants you to get better soon."

Gently stroking Daisy’s head, Tiana was heartbroken, "Daisy, mommy won’t get better."

"No!" Daisy shook her head frantically, "Mommy, eat more, sleep more, and rest more, you’ll surely recover."

That morning, the pork congee Daisy bought was obviously the most delicious delicacy in the world.

But Tiana couldn’t swallow it.

After Daisy saw mommy had finished breakfast, she took the bowls and chopsticks outside to wash them.

And Tiana, seeing her own pale face due to illness, put on some makeup.

She didn’t want to look lifeless.

At the sink.

Daisy washing dishes, crying bitterly.

With mommy not by her side, she dared to cry.

By the time she returned to the hospital room, Daisy had already wiped away her tears.

The small figure suddenly caught the attention of several people passing by.

One of the men stopped her, "Daisy, why are you here?"

When Daisy turned around, the warm smile originally meant for her mom instantly cooled.

Because she saw the person she least wanted to see — Aiden Grant.

Aiden was accompanied by Vivian Linden and Noelle.

Seeing Daisy’s tiny figure with slightly reddened eyes, Aiden felt a sharp tug at his heart.

He took a couple of steps forward, "Daisy, why are you here, are you sick?"

Daisy resented Aiden.

She didn’t want to speak to him.

But she still politely responded, "Thank you, Uncle Grant, for your concern, but my matters have nothing to do with you."

After saying this, she turned and entered room 1302.

Aiden, leaning his head, wanted to see what was going on in the ward.

But the door quickly closed.

Beside him, Vivian Linden and Noelle waited for him to get to the main business.

That tightly closed door seemed like an insurmountable barrier separating him and Daisy.

But why was he feeling so uncomfortable?

Clearly, Daisy was Hector Chaucer’s daughter.

Noelle looked up at him, standing still, "Daddy Grant, that Daisy is so rude. You kindly care for her, but she keeps a dark face, acting like she doesn’t know how to speak properly."

Aiden knew Daisy was still angry with him because of Noelle’s incident.

He didn’t take it to heart.

But Daisy’s cold face towards him did make him a bit uncomfortable.

He lowered his head to gently pat Noelle’s head and advised her:

"Noelle, don’t speak ill of Daisy behind her back."

"Previously, you caused Daisy to have a peanut allergy. You still owe Daisy an apology. Find a chance and apologize to her later, okay?"

Noelle nodded obediently, despite feeling unwilling, "I know, Daddy Grant, I will be a good child who knows to correct my mistakes."

"Good girl!" Aiden smiled contentedly.

He joyfully picked up Noelle, joining Vivian Linden to visit Noelle’s mom’s ward.

Noelle’s mom, named Shelly Hayes, was Vivian Linden’s best friend.

A pneumonia that developed from an ordinary cold had worsened for Shelly Hayes, thus needing hospitalization for IV treatment.

Aiden and Vivian were there that day to visit her specifically.

Half an hour later, the visit ended.

As they passed room 1302, Aiden’s gaze briefly glanced at the door.

Ultimately, he decided to go in and take a look.

...

In the ward.

Daisy sat on the bed, with Tiana Linden braiding Daisy’s hair behind her.

Halfway through the braid, Tiana’s hands froze upon the entrance of Aiden and his companions.

The slight smile in her raised eyes vanished.

She looked at Aiden, who was arm-in-arm with Vivian, and unwelcomingly asked, "What is Mr. Grant doing here?"

Aiden did not reply.

Vivian responded, "Sister, we thought Daisy was sick. What happened to you? Is your health alright?"

"It’s none of your concern, you should leave." Tiana withdrew her gaze and continued braiding Daisy’s hair.

Opportunities to quietly braid Daisy’s hair were rare.

She didn’t want to be disturbed.

Seeing her unfriendly attitude, Aiden coldly reminded:

"Tiana, the police concluded the investigation of Daisy’s peanut allergy. It wasn’t Vivian’s fault."

Even though Daisy was sitting right there in front of her, Tiana was still fearful.

Her Daisy almost died.

During the rescue, Daisy’s heart had already stopped.

Yet Aiden kept defending the culprit.

Driven by hatred, Tiana stopped her actions and glared fiercely at Aiden.

This glare full of hatred made Aiden’s brows knot in distress.

Thinking she was still sick, Aiden was uneasy, "Are you unwell?"

Beside him, Vivian also asked with concern, "Sister, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Tiana would no longer speak the truth.

Even if she said she was dying of late-stage lung cancer, Aiden wouldn’t believe her.

Instead, it would only make Aiden find her even more detestable, bringing further trouble onto herself.

She continued braiding Daisy’s hair, coldly replying, "Don’t worry, I won’t die. You may leave now."

At that moment, Noelle grumpily retorted, "Why are you speaking so harshly to my mom? My mom is concerned about you. You’re truly ungrateful."

Before her eyes, this little girl deliberately caused Daisy’s peanut allergy, nearly suffocating her to death.

Tiana hadn’t settled this score with her yet.

Looking form all angles, this little girl seemed cunning and scheming.

So young, yet with such a malicious mind.

Tiana looked at Noelle, her gaze turning cold, "Peanut candy in Daisy’s cup, was it you who put it there?"

"Noelle, apologize to Daisy." Aiden reminded Noelle.

Although feeling unwilling, Noelle still opened her small mouth, "Daisy, I’m sorry..."

This apology did not satisfy Tiana.

She moved Daisy aside and got out of bed.

Then she warned Noelle with a sharp gaze.

Little Noelle, hiding behind Aiden, burst into tears, "Daddy Grant, the auntie is fierce, Noelle is scared."

Seeing Noelle trembling with fear, Aiden advised Tiana:

"Tiana, you’ve gone too far. It’s just kids’ mischief between themselves, and Noelle already knows she was wrong. Do you need to treat a four-year-old this way?"

Tiana looked toward Aiden’s blatant favoritism with a heart full of grief and indignation, "You also know she’s just a four-year-old. I only glared at her. But Daisy, also just four, almost lost her life..."

As Daisy’s biological father, Aiden still looked down on Daisy’s living, breathing life.

One would have hoped that Aiden could at least adopt Daisy, feeding her, letting her study, and raising her.

Unexpectedly, Daisy nearly died.

She pulled the protected Noelle out from behind Aiden.

"Sister, what are you doing, don’t frighten the child."

Tiana didn’t care if she was still a child or not.

She knew Daisy was allergic to peanuts, but deliberately put peanut candy in Daisy’s cup. That was being a murderer.

Murderers are not divided by child or adult.

"Listen, I don’t care whose goddaughter you are. Next time if you dare hurt Daisy again, I won’t let it slide."

Noelle was already frightened to tears.

At this point, Aiden pulled Tiana aside, "Tiana, don’t go overboard. She’s just a four-year-old child, why scare her like this?"