CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: TIANA LINDEN, YOU’VE LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT RECENTLY

Tiana Linden is a dying person, what does she have to fear?

Vivian Linden has already been beaten down by her.

And Daniel Linden’s eyes were swollen, his forehead bleeding, sitting awkwardly on the chair.

Seeing his three children fighting like this, James Linden felt a dull pain in his chest.

The injured ones were an utterly beaten Vivian Linden and a bleeding Daniel Linden.

But seeing Tiana Linden’s slender figure almost swaying, James also felt heartache.

Misfortune in the family!

In the silence, Tiana warned aloud:

"Daniel Linden, if you dare to secretly take Daisy again, I’ll beat Vivian Linden."

"Do you think I dare to beat her to death?"

Even if it’s life for life, it would be worth it.

She is a dying person anyway, if she can drag Vivian Linden down with her, she won’t lose out.

Daniel, covering the bleeding on his forehead, furrowed his brows tightly.

He was utterly puzzled by Tiana Linden’s logic.

"Tiana, what kind of logic is this? What does this have to do with Vivian? From beginning to end, it was all my and Harvey Patton’s idea."

"The kind of logic to fight you." Tiana responded fiercely.

Then added, "You care about your Vivian Linden, I care about my Daisy. If you dare to take Daisy away, I’ll beat Vivian Linden to death."

These words were said with determination.

The voice seemed murderous.

Even her gaze was the same, carrying a fierce killing power.

Sitting on the ground, with several bumps on her head, Vivian Linden was frightened to the point of weakness.

Just now, Tiana almost killed her.

Looking at Tiana with murderous intent in her eyes, Daniel Linden angrily said, "Tiana, you are simply unreasonable."

Seeing Daniel bleeding profusely, Vivian didn’t care about her injuries, she dashed to Daniel’s side, crying in pain:

"Brother, don’t talk anymore, you’re bleeding, I’ll take you to the hospital for bandaging."

...

Late night.

Daisy was sound asleep.

Only then did Tiana dare to take off her clothes to look at her own injuries.

Jane Summers had invited a doctor for her, had it cleaned and disinfected, and applied medicine.

These flesh wounds weren’t serious, but they were shocking.

These external injuries would take at least three to five days to scab over.

After scabbing, it would take another seven or eight days to fully recover.

In the April of Veridia, the weather was getting hotter.

Many people on the streets were wearing short sleeves.

She could only wear long sleeves to cover up.

At eleven o’clock at night, there was a knock on the door.

This was Aiden Grant’s first visit to where Tiana and Daisy lived.

The environment in the village of Veridia was really poor!

Aiden’s tall and noble figure clashed with the narrow stairwell.

It was only then that he realized, the once heiress of The Linden Family, doted on by James Linden and Daniel Linden, was living so frugally.

Who knows how she’s been these years since her release from prison.

Is it because her days are so hard, that she wants to send Daisy away for adoption?

The door opened.

Tiana, standing at the door, was clearly surprised.

The surprised look on her face quickly turned cloudy.

Tiana didn’t even say a word to Aiden, and immediately shut the door.

Aiden put his hand in the door gap.

Ow... Tiana slammed the door with too much force, nearly breaking Aiden’s arm.

But ignoring the pain in his arm, he forced the door open and squeezed himself inside.

Squeezing inside, he forced Tiana to step back two paces.

Looking at the uninvited guest, Tiana showed no kindness, "Make it quick."

Aiden carefully scrutinized her, "How are your injuries?"

She was wearing pajamas, with her injuries completely unseen.

But Aiden’s brow remained furrowed tightly.

He handed over a bag, "I’ve brought you some scar removal cream. If you don’t treat those many wounds on your body properly, they’ll leave scars."

"No need!"

She doesn’t need such things at all.

Besides, she’s almost out of time, so what does it matter if she has a few scars?

In the suffocating atmosphere, Aiden spoke again, "Tiana, I know your days after getting out of prison have been hard. Don’t marry that Harvey Patton, and don’t send Daisy away. For old times’ sake, I’m giving you a check, the amount is yours to fill. But you must take Daisy and live well."

To Tiana, money was just a number.

No amount of money could attract her.

The night wind blew in from the door.

Coldness washed over.

She shivered.

Then she straightened her chest, pretending to be fine.

"Aiden, do you think you’ve done enough for me?"

The response to Tiana was Aiden’s silent silence.

He took off his suit jacket and put it over Tiana’s thin shoulders, "You seem to have lost weight recently."

That clothing just landed on Tiana’s shoulder.

The recognizable scent of Aiden lingered on it.

Tiana felt disgusted, took it off and flung it outside the door, "Get out!"

Aiden stood firmly and didn’t leave.

Tiana nudged him a few times, but he remained unmoved like a mountain.

Tiana had no choice but to use her trump card, pulling out her pepper spray, covering her nose, and spraying wildly.

The spicy scent stung eyes, throat, and nose.

Aiden had to cover his face, under Tiana’s aggressive advances, and slowly retreated.

Bang!

Tiana slammed the door behind him.

Outside the door, Aiden coughed a few times.

"Tiana, open the door."

Tiana didn’t respond.

Until she returned to the room, the coughing from outside occasionally persisted.

...

At one in the morning.

A black sedan slowly drove through the gates of Serenity Villa, Star River Bay.

Seeing the car stop in the garage, Vivian slowly stood up from the stairs.

Aiden walked over from the garage.

Vivian walked down the steps, standing in front of him with grievance.

She tightly gripped the corner of her clothes, "Aiden, I just found out about my sister’s situation. Fortunately, you and Christopher got there in time, otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Did you just return from my sister’s? How is she?"

The response to Vivian was Aiden’s scrutiny and silent silence.

He wasn’t sure if this matter was related to Vivian.

Without evidence, he wouldn’t conclude.

"What are you doing here?"

Vivian wiped her tears and cried softly:

"Aiden, I’m really sad about what happened to my sister."

"Harvey Patton is really a scumbag. If my sister stays with him, she’ll surely suffer more."

"Aiden Grant, I know, deep down, you can’t let go of my sister. After all, you grew up together and have a profound bond."

"I also know you care a lot about her..."

In the quiet night, Vivian Linden’s crying was somewhat disturbing.

When Aiden Grant had his car accident, Vivian Linden also cried in front of him every day.

She said her heart ached seeing him so gravely injured.

She said if she could exchange her life to let him stand again, she would willingly give up ten, twenty, or thirty years of her own life...

She went to Clear Spring Monastery, taking nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine steps in prayer to get a peace charm for him. When she put it on him, she was crying as she said, "Aiden, you have to get better."

Maybe it was from that moment, seeing her tears, that a seed of guilt was planted in his heart.

Now this seed of guilt seems to have changed its nature.

This guilt made him restless!

"Stop crying!"

The gentle voice of comfort carried a hint of impatience.

In the night, Vivian Linden sniffled, not daring to cry out loud anymore, yet she couldn’t stop the tears.

She quickly wiped away her tears and said, "Aiden Grant, I have a way to prevent my sister from marrying Harvey Patton. That way, you won’t have to worry about her suffering."

Aiden remained silent.

She wiped her tears and added, "Aiden Grant, I’ll go and tell my dad and my brother that we won’t have the wedding anymore. I don’t want to get married either. They won’t blame you. Then you’ll be free to pursue my sister again, and you can stop her from marrying Harvey Patton."

As Vivian Linden spoke, she felt more and more aggrieved.

She lowered her head and wiped her tears, "Aiden Grant, I can step aside to fulfill both of you."

While wiping her tears, Vivian Linden had already made up her mind.

After all, Tiana Linden already had a terminal illness.

Stage VI lung cancer.

The doctors all said she wouldn’t live past this month.

This strategy of retreating to advance would certainly make Aiden Grant feel she was understanding and considerate.

She raised her head, simply showing a blessing smile, "Aiden Grant, I wish you happiness! If you’re not happy, I won’t be happy."

Aiden Grant said blandly, "Stop talking nonsense, our wedding won’t change."

Late night.

Vivian Linden returned to The Linden Family.

She firmly told Daniel Linden and James Linden about her decision to call off the engagement with Aiden Grant.

Daniel Linden and James Linden were shocked simultaneously!

"Vivian, you love Aiden Grant so much, why call off the engagement?"

"Yes, Vivian, your wedding is on the first of next month, and you’ve waited six years for this day."

Vivian Linden cried with a bitter smile, "But marrying someone you don’t love, neither of us will be happy. In that case, it’s better to fulfill them. Besides, Dad, brother, what you all did to my sister, I’m ashamed. After my sister got out of prison, it’s been hard for her to raise Daisy alone, and I also want to fulfill her and Aiden Grant. If my stepping aside will bring them back their happiness, I’m willing to."

She spoke firmly.

"Don’t blame Aiden Grant; Aiden Grant did nothing wrong."

Seeing Vivian Linden cry in such grievance yet with such magnanimity, Daniel Linden firmly said, "No, I don’t agree to cancel the wedding."

James Linden also firmly said, "I don’t agree either."

Vivian Linden cried, "Dad, brother, why are you so stubborn? How can a marriage built by force be happy? I hope you truly fulfill Aiden Grant and my sister. If you don’t agree, I’ll go on a hunger strike."

The next morning, Vivian Linden started her hunger strike.

She stayed hungry for two days.

Sharon Sullivan saw her daughter hadn’t eaten for two days, and she cried at the dining table to James Linden.

"James, if Vivian keeps going hungry like this, she’ll harm herself."

"If she doesn’t eat, I won’t eat either."

"My poor daughter, what did she do wrong? She has suffered in so many ways since she was young, and now that she finally gets to marry a good man, the wedding is about to be ruined."

Sharon Sullivan cried deeply.

That crying made James Linden extremely guilty.

Vivian was his illegitimate daughter raised secretly outside, naturally not living as comfortably as Tiana Linden.

Until Tiana was twenty-one, he found out Tiana was not his biological daughter and then brought Vivian back to The Linden Family.

To this day, he had not given Sharon Sullivan an official status.

He felt that he owed Sharon and Vivian dearly.

This meal, James Linden no longer had the heart to eat.

He put down his chopsticks, stood up, and firmly said, "I’m going to find Aiden Grant; there must be a way to resolve this."

Daniel Linden pulled James Linden, "Dad, let me go. You go back and persuade Vivian to eat something."

Evening.

Daniel Linden met Aiden Grant, who was sketching by the lake.

Daniel Linden had grown up with Aiden Grant.

He might not know Aiden entirely, but he understood him seventy to eighty percent.

At this moment, Aiden Grant’s mind must be very troubled.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone to the riverside to draw.

Every time Aiden faced troubles, he would paint these landscapes to seek inner tranquility.

The landscape on the easel was only half done.

Aiden Grant’s hand with the paintbrush had not moved an inch.

He was frowning, lost in thought.

"Choosing between Tiana Linden and Vivian Linden, this choice must be painful for you, right?"

Daniel Linden interrupted Aiden Grant’s contemplation.

Aiden Grant cast a faint glance at Butler Carter beside him, "Who told you I was here?"

Butler Carter replied with difficulty, "Mr. Grant, when it’s a matter of life and death, you should talk to Mr. Linden."

By the riverside at sunset, only Aiden Grant and Daniel Linden were left.

Daniel Linden said in a deep voice, "Aiden Grant, since the night before Vivian returned from your house, she’s been on a hunger strike until now. Can’t you persuade Vivian to eat something?"

There was a tone of pleading in the voice.

Thinking of his sister having been hungry for two days, Daniel Linden’s throat tightened.

He choked up.

"Vivian said she hopes Dad and I can let you be with Tiana, or she won’t eat."

"She’s already skipped six meals."

Aiden Grant made no response.

Daniel Linden continued, "Aiden Grant, even if you don’t love Vivian, you can’t just watch her torturing herself like this, can you go and persuade her? I’m begging you."

Eventually, Aiden Grant put down his paintbrush.

...

Star River Bay, Tranquil Villa.

Aiden Grant stepped into The Linden Villa.

At this moment, Tiana Linden had been invited to The Linden Family by Vivian Linden.

At first, Vivian Linden called Tiana Linden, requesting her to visit The Linden Family, but Tiana Linden hung up immediately.

Subsequently, Vivian Linden said she had found an item belonging to Tiana’s mother, Wanda Townsend, which she wanted to return to Tiana.

Of course, Tiana wanted to retrieve her mother Wanda Townsend’s relic.

So, she came to The Linden Villa and was invited into Vivian Linden’s room.

On the bed, Vivian Linden weakly sat up, "Sister, have a seat."

"Where is my mother’s relic?" Tiana Linden asked coldly.

Vivian Linden weakly sat there, "Sister, I lied to you—I don’t have Aunt Townsend’s relic. I invited you today because there’s something I want to discuss with you."

"There’s nothing to discuss." Tiana Linden turned to leave.

From behind, Vivian Linden said again, "Sister, please wait. What Harvey Patton did to you, I had no idea. I want to apologize on behalf of Dad and brother!"

With that, in her weak state, she fell to her knees with a ’thud.’

"Sister, Dad and brother didn’t mean to hurt you this way, please don’t blame them."

"If you must blame someone, blame me. I shouldn’t have returned to this family; it’s because of me you lost everything that was originally yours."

"Sister, I’ve already broken up with Aiden Grant. Sister, I also hope you wake up and don’t marry that horrible Harvey Patton. Reconcile with Aiden Grant. I don’t want to see you continue suffering with someone worse than a pig or a dog."

At this time, at the door of Vivian Linden’s room, a pair of black leather shoes approached.

Hearing the voices in the room, the black leather shoes slowly came to a stop.