CHAPTER 9: CHAPTER 9: AIDEN GRANT SHREDS DAISY’S PAINTING

Aiden Grant turned around, looking at Tiana Linden coldly.

In the chilly March wind, the breeze was gentle.

In the wind, Tiana Linden brushed her hair aside.

That sorrowful face summoned courage.

"Five years ago, when Professor Keene passed away, he took with him the core formula of Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals’ research secrets."

"That formula is now in my hands."

"Aiden Grant, as long as you promise me, as Daisy’s guardian, to raise her until she’s eighteen, and promise to set aside a sum of money in a trust fund to be withdrawn when she comes of age, I will give you this formula."

She had no other path to take.

Mr. and Mrs. Chaucer suddenly no longer wished to adopt Daisy.

Daisy’s ear problem meant no suitable adoptive family could be found quickly.

The only hope rested again on Aiden Grant.

The two stood several steps apart.

Aiden Grant walked back, step by step.

Close enough to stand in front of Tiana Linden, his expression was dark and ambiguous, "Why do you think I would believe you? If you had the formula, Chaucer Pharmaceuticals’ cancer drugs would have been on the market long ago."

Linden-Grant Pharmaceutical Group was developing a batch of drugs to treat specific cancers.

Handed down from the previous generation to theirs, they’ve been working hard for nearly twenty years.

Five years ago, they were on the verge of success.

The core formula was stolen.

But after the theft, the rival Chaucer Pharmaceuticals had no progress either.

Aiden Grant suspected Professor Keene protected the formula before his death.

Otherwise, Chaucer Pharmaceuticals would have succeeded long ago.

"..." The lie exposed, Tiana Linden fell into silence. She indeed didn’t have the formula, but she had clues to it, yet Aiden Grant didn’t believe her.

After a moment of contemplation, she brought out Daisy’s drawing, "Aiden Grant, look at this drawing, it’s the birthday gift Daisy gave me when I turned twenty-nine."

The unframed drawing was taken by Aiden Grant.

Aiden Grant was a painting genius, possessing his unique style in sketches, oil paintings, and ink paintings.

He was especially skilled at drawing various people.

Daisy was too.

As Aiden Grant looked at the drawing, Tiana Linden brought up her most unwilling memories.

"Aiden Grant, do you remember when I was eighteen, you also gave me a portrait of myself?"

"At that time, you said you would protect me for a lifetime, no matter what difficulties I encountered, you would always be there to resolve them for me, and now I’m truly facing difficulty..."

"Enough!"

A roar interrupted Tiana Linden.

The familiar character sketch triggered many memories for Aiden Grant.

And made his face harsh with anger.

Once, he drew Tiana Linden many times, stroke by stroke.

Every stroke, every line represented his boundless love for Tiana Linden.

Suppressing inner pain and hostility, Aiden Grant coldly mocked:

"Tiana Linden, do you have any sense of propriety, justice, integrity?"

"What right do you have to speak of the past? You are unworthy?"

Tiana Linden never wanted to bring up the past either.

It was her most ridiculous and tragic youth.

But for her daughter, she was unafraid of Aiden Grant’s every taunt, every sarcasm.

"Aiden Grant, if you don’t wish to consider the past, that’s okay."

"But look again at this drawing by Daisy, doesn’t it resemble your painting style?"

"When Daisy was two years old in prison, she started drawing sketches. At three, I let her formally learn painting."

"After just a year and two months, she can draw so vividly."

"I am truly facing difficulties, unable to raise Daisy anymore..."

Perhaps letting Daisy spend some time with Aiden Grant, he would discover Daisy shares his love for eating daisies, avoids green onions, avoids cilantro, is also allergic to peanuts, and possesses a high artistic talent in painting.

At that time, he would surely believe Daisy is his biological daughter.

Aiden Grant took one look at the drawing.

Indeed, it closely resembled his painting style.

In portrait drawing, he was meticulous with details, especially the strands of hair, making it look real.

This drawing was identical to his style.

But how could a four-year-old child possess such advanced painting skills?

The drawing was yanked by Aiden Grant.

In moments, he tore it into pieces.

"No...don’t..." Tiana Linden could not stop it in time.

Fragments of the drawing, scattered on the ground, resembled her shattered self.

Grieving, she squatted down in pain to pick them up one by one.

Aiden Grant did not care about her distress, coldly said, "A four-year-old child drawing this well, Tiana Linden, are you fooling ghosts?"

The drawing fragments on the ground, Tiana Linden wouldn’t miss a single piece.

Finally finished picking up and cautiously cradling them in her hands, it was already two or three minutes later.

She truly didn’t know how to make Aiden Grant believe.

Thinking about her daughter’s unsettled situation, she mustered her last strength to argue and persuade.

Then she hurriedly took out her diagnostic report from her bag.

"Aiden Grant, I truly have cancer."

"The couple who intended to adopt Daisy pulled back because of Daisy’s ear problem."

"I am truly at a dead end, and can only entrust Daisy to you."

"I am not here for Linden-Grant Pharmaceutical Group’s research secrets."

"These days I often cough up blood, I fear I don’t have much time left..."

The cancer diagnosis was slapped to the ground by Aiden Grant.

"Tiana Linden, the heavens watch as people act. To achieve your goal, you lie about having cancer, now you even use children, do you think your retribution hasn’t hit hard enough yet?

"Tiana Linden, every word, every sentence you say, I will not, believe."

As Aiden Grant was about to leave, Tiana Linden’s knees went weak as she fell to the ground, her throat like clogged with ice shards, unable to make a sound, her pleading turned into trembling lips.

Tiana Linden’s appearance made Aiden Grant uncomfortable.

But recalling many past events, he truly couldn’t soften his resolve.

"Tiana Linden, do you enjoy degrading yourself?"

"Do you enjoy degrading your daughter?"

Daisy’s cute figure floated in Aiden Grant’s mind.

Such an adorable child, Tiana Linden repeatedly tried to abandon.

Seeing Tiana Linden degrade herself, he kindly advised:

"Tiana Linden, I know you were the Linden Family’s darling, living comfortably."

"After prison, your life surely differs greatly from before."

"If you choose to be a good mother, become a positive role model for Daisy, repent and mend your ways, I can give you a sum of money, enough for you and your daughter to live."

For the lover who hurt and betrayed him deeply before, this is as much as he can offer.

Having said that, he got in the car.

Drove away with the vehicle.

Leaving Tiana Linden kneeling in the cold wind, collapsed, sitting by the roadside.

When the wind blew, she realized Daisy’s drawing, which Aiden Grant shredded, fell to the ground, then was blown scattered by the wind.

She hurried to pick up the pieces one by one.

Some fragments blew to the middle of the road, she rushed over to pick them up heedlessly.

A swiftly approaching car braked hard, the driver leaning out, "Do you have a death wish!"