CHAPTER 4: CHAPTER 4: THE PATERNITY TEST RESULTS ARE OUT

What she said was utterly unimportant.

If it were, five years ago, he wouldn’t have teamed up with James Linden to send her to prison.

"Mr. Grant, I stand by what I said. I’ve never wanted to disrupt your current life. Even if the paternity test results come out, I don’t wish to change your relationship with Miss Linden. I simply ask for your help in taking care of Daisy."

The tone of intimacy and distance clearly pulled her away from Aiden Grant.

Aiden clearly felt this, "Tiana, are you blaming me?"

"..." Tiana Linden took a deep breath.

Past memories surged in her mind.

Yet, she suppressed the pain, "Let bygones be bygones..."

She maintained her distance and plea, "Just hope Mr. Grant informs me of the results as soon as possible."

"..." Aiden didn’t know how to respond.

After a while, he took out his phone, "Let’s add each other on WeChat; it’ll be easier for future contact."

However, Tiana didn’t take out her phone.

Looking at the WeChat QR code Aiden presented, she said indifferently, "No need. Once the results are out, you can have Christopher find me."

When she was released, she stood on the street with two-year-old Daisy.

She was penniless, looking around, unable to take a step.

She was even homeless.

When she went to find Aiden, she discovered he’d moved away and blocked all her contacts.

He had Christopher Grant return all her belongings.

He had Christopher bring her a message: "Tiana, Aiden said he never wants to see you again, so don’t bother him anymore."

At that time, Christopher said many comforting words to her. She heard nothing; she only knew Aiden blocked her.

Since she was blocked back then, there’s no need to add him back.

At this time, the kindergarten kids were almost all gone.

Only a few whose parents hadn’t arrived yet were bustling around.

Tiana called Daisy back, "The school is closing soon, Mr. Grant. Daisy and I will leave now."

Holding Daisy’s hand, she looked down at her.

Daisy understood promptly and politely waved at Aiden, "Uncle, goodbye. Mom and I are leaving first."

"Daisy, goodbye!" Aiden waved back with a complex look.

In his eyes lingered reluctance, as if there were many unsaid words. But mother and daughter had already walked far.

The silhouette of one big and one small figure made him stare for a long time.

When they were out of sight, he felt an emptiness in his chest.

Exiting the school gate, Tiana got on her electric scooter.

The small head in the front child seat suddenly lifted up, looking back at her.

"Mom, I know, actually that uncle is my dad."

"How do you know?" Tiana was momentarily at a loss, afraid it wasn’t safe to ride, so she stopped.

Looking at her daughter, who turned back, she didn’t know what to say.

Eventually, she asked, "Did he tell you?"

Her daughter still looked up at her, but spoke with no happiness, "No, he didn’t tell me, but I just know. I don’t like him. But don’t worry, Mom, I’ll be very polite. As long as Mom doesn’t leave me, I don’t care about anything else."

This last sentence made Tiana ride the scooter very slowly when she continued.

...

The person Aiden could rely on the most was his good friend, Christopher Grant.

But this time, to ensure no mistakes, he didn’t have Christopher help; he personally sent his and Daisy’s hair for the paternity test.

He didn’t tell anyone.

Waiting for the results would take five days.

Five days felt like five years.

The following days, Aiden’s mind was filled with turmoil.

Even the weather echoed his feelings with two consecutive days of strong southeastern winds.

During winter in a coastal city, when the sea wind blows, it cuts like knives.

Around nine at night, Tiana was still working with her daughter, at a part-time job outside.

These years, to take care of her daughter, she didn’t have a real job. Who would hire a woman needing to bring her child to work?

What’s more, she only completed three years at Medical University, didn’t even have a college diploma.

Above all, she’d been to prison; she had a record.

But thanks to the Linden Family’s substantial investment from an early age, she could compose, play piano, and take part-time jobs in upscale clubs and restaurants playing piano.

Her music had depth, and her skills were high, earning 200 to 300 an hour.

Sometimes she lucked out, and clients listening to her piano gave her tips.

But when unlucky, she might encounter men who lust after her beauty, harassing her openly and secretly, pressuring her to add them on WeChat, and some even blocking her path after work.

Such a livelihood was very unstable.

So she frequently changed jobs.

Thankfully, she could usually keep her daughter by her side.

That night, a man with a big belly and glasses, who listened to her piano for a long time, blocked her and her daughter on her way home.

In the dark and windy night, she held her daughter tightly.

Thinking she’d run into trouble again, the big-bellied glasses-wearing man handed her a business card, "Miss Linden, don’t be afraid. I’m from Chaucer Pharmaceuticals. Upon hearing you’ve returned to Veridia, I’d love to collaborate with you."

Five years ago, she was caught in the scandal involving the Lin, Grant, and Chaucer families over leaked pharmaceutical research secrets.

The closest father and the man she loved didn’t care if she was framed or wronged and directly sent her to prison.

Now, she didn’t want to be swept up in this storm again.

She refused.

For the next two days, the glasses-wearing man continued to pester her.

Fortunately, with her resolute attitude, on the third day, the big-bellied glasses-wearing man didn’t show up again.

The southeastern winds in Veridia blew for five days.

The fifth day, the winds grew stronger, unsettling hearts anew.

Staying in Grant Pharmaceutical Group, Aiden received a call from the paternity test institution at noon.

"Mr. Grant? The test you took with us has results now. You can come to collect them, or we can mail them to you."

The turbulent sea wind outside was nothing compared to the intense emotions inside Aiden’s heart.

He immediately got up, not even taking his jacket, gripping the phone, rushing out, "I’ll pick it up myself."