CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47: URGENT! TIANA LINDEN PASSED OUT

Daniel Linden knew that Aiden Grant, who appeared resolute, was actually wavering.

Yet Aiden stubbornly refused to admit it.

Daniel fiercely wanted to rush forward and tear apart the portrait of Tiana Linden and her daughter.

But they were his own sister and niece, so he held back, "Aiden, can you really say your heart isn’t wavering?"

At that time, Aiden was deeply in love with Tiana.

Everyone in The Linden and Grant Families, and even the entire circle of nobles, knew this.

Everyone wanted to marry their daughters to Aiden.

But Aiden wanted no one but Tiana.

Back then, Daniel was very pleased that his sister Tiana had found a good husband.

But now, Aiden was the fiancé of his other sister, Vivian Linden, and Aiden’s heart could only hold Vivian.

"Aiden, if you dare to back out of the wedding, I won’t spare Tiana."

Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, Aiden said calmly, "Isn’t Tiana your sister?"

"And isn’t Vivian your fiancée?" Daniel, indignant, questioned angrily.

Aiden pondered for a moment, "I’ve said, there will be no changes to the wedding. Brother-in-law, you needn’t worry."

...

Evening.

Vivian Linden brought the medical kit and sat in front of Aiden Grant.

"My brother is just like that, doesn’t know how to show restraint. Your face is swelling, how can you have the wedding on May 1st?"

Vivian wanted to apply medicine for Aiden.

But Aiden took the cotton swab from her, "I’ll do it myself."

Tears welled up in Vivian’s eyes, "Aiden, you aren’t really thinking of backing out, are you?"

"The wedding is almost here, stop overthinking."

Aiden stated affirmatively.

But his indifferent tone made Vivian’s heart uneasy.

At this moment, Aiden looked at her and asked, "Yesterday when Tiana slapped you, did you complain to Daniel?"

Upon hearing this, Vivian tightly gripped the corner of her clothes, "No, I didn’t say anything."

"Really?"

"Aiden, my brother saw my face was red and swollen, he kept asking about what happened. I didn’t want their relationship to worsen, so I didn’t say anything. It was my brother who called Noelle, and Noelle told him."

...

Aiden scrutinized Vivian’s face but made no reply.

The scrutinizing gaze made Vivian anxious.

She dared not look into Aiden’s eyes.

Lowering her head, she began to cry with grievance.

At this moment, Aiden asked, "Yesterday when you left the seaside restaurant, your face wasn’t swollen."

This detail, Aiden remembered very clearly.

Vivian suddenly panicked, "Maybe, maybe it swelled up after I got home."

Saying this, she quickly grabbed the cotton swab from Aiden’s hand, wanting to apply ointment to his mouth injury.

Aiden stopped her.

Then he swiftly treated his own wound.

Putting away the medical kit, he glanced at the not-so-deep scar on Vivian’s face.

That was caused by Daisy’s peanut allergy, the ceramic broken by Tiana had cut her.

"The wedding is exactly thirty days away; I’ll have someone send you some scar removal cream later."

With the evening still young, Aiden had someone take Vivian back to The Linden Family.

Soon, the special scar removal medicine arrived at The Linden Family estate.

But Vivian remained in low spirits.

James Linden and Daniel Linden, seeing Vivian so unhappy, each sighed heavily.

Night deepened.

Daniel went to knock on James’s door.

The April night in Veridia was slightly cool.

James, wearing a thin coat, sat on the sofa by the window, his brows furrowed deeply.

"Dad, you’re still up?"

Daniel entered and heard James sigh deeply, "Daniel, with just thirty days until Vivian’s wedding, I truly fear Aiden might back out. He and Tiana have a deep emotional foundation, and with Tiana frequently appearing before him, Aiden seems to be wavering lately. An old flame rekindling isn’t impossible. What would Vivian do then?"

"I’ve come to discuss this with you." Daniel sat down.

The father and son talked through the night, trying to secure Vivian’s marriage.

Ultimately, James wavered, "Daniel, are we going too far?"

...

The next day, spring was vibrant.

Tiana Linden flipped the calendar; April 1st.

The remaining time was getting shorter.

Picking up Daisy, she took two morphine pills.

Before, because Daisy had cavities, she always controlled Daisy’s diet, not allowing her to eat chocolate, ice cream, candy, nor letting her have KFC.

Today, after picking Daisy up from school, they headed straight to KFC.

Tiana ordered a family bucket.

Daisy ate with great joy.

Watching Daisy’s satisfied smile, Tiana smiled too.

But her smile halted abruptly with the sudden arrival of someone.

The person sitting in front of her was the man who had been frequently appearing before her lately—Harvey Patton.

Tall, strong, and hefty Harvey Patton was very noticeable.

The several bodyguards he brought were even more eye-catching.

Tiana quickly shielded Daisy in front of her, looking guarded, "What do you want?"

"We are engaged, and every time I ask you out, you ignore me. Future Mrs. Patton, don’t be so aloof!"

Harvey had long shown his lascivious side to Tiana.

This time, he didn’t bother pretending.

His fat hand fell on Tiana’s slender and weak hand.

Bang!

Tiana slapped it away.

Beside her, Daisy glared fiercely at the fat, big-eared uncle, "You are not allowed to touch my mom."

"Daisy, right?"

Harvey looked at Daisy, who indeed looked beautiful, exactly like Tiana when she was young, with a classic oval face and a soothing aura.

"Daisy, you can’t be so mean to Uncle, Uncle will be your dad in the future."

Saying this, Harvey reached out to touch Daisy’s soft and tender cheek.

His fat hand was slapped away by Tiana with a bang, "You are not allowed to touch my daughter, Harvey, have you forgotten my warning? Don’t test me."

Harvey smiled, "Don’t be so nervous, I just happened to pass by and saw you and your daughter here, so I came in to say hello."

Tiana Linden had been plotted against and threatened by Harvey before.

Harvey never succeeded.

Seeing Harvey’s malicious grin, Tiana almost had the word "disgust" written on her face.

Harvey continued to smile, "Tiana, what’s the difference if the wedding is postponed for two or three months compared to now? Why not move into my place tonight and live with me, how about it?"

Tiana replied, "I’ve said it before, don’t even think about it."

Harvey still smiled, but this time with more cunning, "Anyway, you will be mine sooner or later."

After saying this, Harvey led his people away.

When he turned around before leaving, that glance made Tiana’s whole body tense.

She could only hold Daisy tightly.

"Mom, who is that chubby uncle? Why did he say he will be my dad?" Daisy asked her, looking up from her arms.

She firmly replied, "Don’t worry, Daisy, I won’t let him be your father. I will find you good adoptive parents."

The marriage arrangement agreed upon with Harvey was set for over two months later.

By that time, she would no longer be alive.

She would never allow Daisy to have such a stepfather.

...

The next day.

The calendar showed April 2nd.

Tiana crossed off another day on it.

Another day was gone.

As life slipped away, Tiana cherished the last moments with Daisy immensely.

She was the first to go to the kindergarten to pick up Daisy.

Ms. Hayes, who had recovered and been discharged from the hospital, came to her apologetically, "I’m really sorry, Daisy’s mom, but Daisy..."

"I’ve already taken Daisy with me," it was Daniel Linden in front of Tiana.

Ms. Hayes explained, "Daisy’s mom, ten minutes ago this man who claimed to be Daisy’s uncle forcefully took her away. We called the police, but they haven’t arrived yet."

It was useless to call the police.

Daniel had power and influence.

When the police arrived, they would only say it was a family dispute.

After all, Daisy was indeed Daniel’s niece.

But Tiana had long denied such family ties.

Tiana comforted the ponytailed Ms. Hayes, "Ms. Hayes, it’s not your fault. I will handle it myself."

"Tiana, I just want to have a chat with you." Daniel looked at Tiana.

As Vivian’s wedding day approached, Daniel grew increasingly uneasy.

Aiden Grant watched Tiana slap Vivian, yet didn’t protect her.

This made Daniel determined.

At this moment, Tiana’s expression turned extremely cold, "I want to see Daisy."

"As long as you have a proper chat with me, I’ll take you to see Daisy right now."

Tiana thought for a moment and looked at Daisy’s head teacher, "Ms. Hayes, if I don’t call you in half an hour, please call the police for me."

"Tiana, I just want to talk to you, why do you need to call the police?"

Tiana insisted, "Take me to see Daisy now."

Ten minutes later, Tiana was taken to a clubhouse.

In the private room, there was no sign of Daisy.

"If I can’t see Daisy, then we have nothing to talk about."

Tiana’s attitude was firm.

Daniel sighed deeply, then finally hardened his resolve, "Tiana, I just want to discuss a deal. If you’re willing to marry Harvey immediately, Dad and I are willing to give you the other half of Mom’s inheritance right away. Moreover, you’ll marry off with full honor as the heiress of the Linden Family. The wedding will definitely be grand."

The status of the Linden Family’s heiress was something Tiana had long stopped caring about.

She coldly replied, "I’ve said it before, don’t worry about Aiden and me rekindling our old romance. Even if all the men in the world died, I wouldn’t go back to him. I won’t advance the March agreement by a single day."

"Tiana, why are you so stubborn? Standing between Aiden and Vivian is very unfair to Vivian. Can’t you be more sensible?"

"Where is Daisy?"

"Is there really no room for negotiation?"

"None."

"Then don’t blame your brother..."

Daniel took out a handkerchief, forcing Tiana to retreat step by step.

Her skin tingled with goosebumps, "Daniel, what are you trying to do?"

She didn’t want to waste words, and as Daniel closed in on her, she had already pulled out the pepper spray from her pocket.

Whoosh, whoosh!

"Ah..." Daniel’s eyes stung painfully.

Soon security guards burst in, and under Daniel’s pained orders, they closed in on Tiana.

Even with pepper spray in hand, Tiana could not withstand the Linden family’s security.

The colorless, odorless handkerchief ended up over her mouth, after she had managed to wound half of them with pepper spray.

Amid the colorless, odorless mist, Tiana quickly lost her strength.

The knockout liquid again.

The last time someone used this illegal foreign substance on her was Harvey.

And this time, it was her half-brother—Daniel Linden.

Before losing final consciousness, she looked at Daniel, whose left eye was swollen from the pepper spray, full of malice and devoid of compassion.

Tears of despair silently slid from the corners of her eyes.

This was her half-brother by blood.

He promised their mom that he would protect her with his life.

"Daniel Linden, Mom would never forgive you in the afterlife..."

The scene before his mother died was fresh in Daniel’s mind.

His conscience suddenly ached.

Watching Tiana’s struggling body finally go limp, tears of contradiction and pain fell from Daniel’s eyes.

Yes, when Mom died, he had promised her by Tiana’s crib to protect his sister forever. If anyone dared bully her, he would fight them to the end.

But Vivian was his sister too.

Looking at the no longer struggling, fragile figure, Daniel only felt that Tiana was too frail.

So frail that it was almost abnormal.

Yet he held his pepper-sprayed left eye, hardened his heart, and said coldly, "Take her away!"

When Tiana woke up, she found herself on a soft big bed.

Her limbs were tightly bound to the bed with hemp rope.

Harvey, wrapped in a white towel, looked at her thin arms and legs with the same jewelry-appreciating gaze as before.

Her fair skin enticed Harvey, making him salivate...