Five years ago, Tiana Linden had already explained it.
But he didn’t believe her.
Five years later, at a desperate juncture, she hurriedly explained again:
"Aiden Grant, I didn’t sleep with Hector Chaucer five years ago, nor did I collude with him to leak the Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals’ research secrets to Chaucer Pharmaceuticals."
"You all sent to prison; I was completely wrongly accused."
"Daisy is truly your daughter."
"Don’t call Aiden Grant—you’re not worthy." Aiden Grant’s eyes were filled with hatred, only believing in evidence, "With conclusive evidence, no one wronged you."
After a while, Tiana Linden had the strength to straighten her thin, frail body.
Enduring physical and ntal discomfort, she restored her previous detachnt, politeness, and plea.
"Mr. Grant, at that ti Daisy was still in my womb, I had no evidence."
"But now, you can do a paternity test."
"I don’t ask you to love her deeply, just to give her a bite to eat, support her education, let her live to adulthood, and then be self-reliant."
"Mr. Grant, you may choose not to believe , you may perceive as a deceitful woman full of sches, none of that matters... But I beg you to do a paternity test, please, I’m asking you!"
This voice was humble and lowly, like dust.
After speaking, she quickly took out a box from her bag and handed it to Aiden Grant.
"This is a lock of Daisy’s hair."
Aiden Grant didn’t imdiately reach for the box.
Tiana Linden held it out humbly, afraid to leave anything out, she continued to supplent:
"Our daughter is four years and ten months old this year; her birth date was half a month later than the due date."
"Her nickna is Daisy, because she particularly likes eating grapefruit just like you; no amount is ever enough."
"Her official na is Ginny Linden."
Ginny—Aiden Grant had chosen this na.
Back then, Aiden Grant said if they ever had a daughter, she would be nad Ginny.
Innocence and purity, wholeheartedly.
Such a beautifully aningful na, causing the hatred and pain inside Aiden Grant to surge, scream.
He still did not take the box from Tiana Linden’s hand.
His elegantly cold face showed a mocking smile.
"Tiana Linden, does your daughter deserve such a na?"
Tiana Linden was helpless, "She’s also your daughter, the last one we conceived."
"Tiana Linden, we already disputed this five years ago, is it necessary to argue again? That ti I used protection, it’s impossible for you to get pregnant."
"But it was precisely from that ti."
"Enough!"
An impatient shout interrupted Tiana Linden.
Tiana Linden suddenly felt physically and ntally helpless.
"Mr. Grant, what would it take for you to agree to a paternity test?"
"Should I kneel and beg you?"
"If that’s what you need, I can..."
As she spoke, holding the box, eager to kneel down.
Yet that humble plea didn’t bring the slightest pleasure to Aiden Grant.
He took the box and angrily interrupted her:
"Enough! Don’t taint my ho’s carpet; your dignity is worthless. I’ll take the hair, you can leave now..."
Even though he had taken Daisy’s hair.
Tiana Linden still felt uncertain in her heart.
With utmost sincerity and full of pleading, she supplented with a couple of sentences:
"If Mr. Grant is willing to do a paternity test with Daisy, Tiana Linden would be deeply grateful!"
"Also, before the test results co out, please, Mr. Grant, don’t let a third party know our conversation today."
"Please!"
After speaking, Tiana Linden gave a deep bow, knowing enough to turn around and leave.
Aiden Grant’s gaze shifted from the box in his hand to her departing back.
The thin, frail figure grew distant, like a dream that couldn’t be grasped.
At the doorway, Vivian Linden stood with tea and snacks.
Opening the door, Tiana Linden almost bumped into her.
"Sister, did you finish talking so soon? I was about to bring you so tea and snacks."
"I won’t disturb you—I’ll leave now."
Tiana Linden slightly turned and walked away.
After she left, Aiden Grant took the tray from Vivian Linden’s hands, and the two entered the study together.
When seated, Vivian Linden began to show concern and worry:
"Aiden Grant, what did sister want from you, is she in so trouble or are there problems between her and her daughter?"
Aiden Grant didn’t answer directly, "Don’t overthink it, no matter who cos, it won’t affect our wedding."
"I’m only worried about my sister and her daughter."
When Vivian Linden said this, Aiden Grant glanced out the study window again.
He just saw Tiana Linden and her daughter leaving, their figures in the crippled moonlight appeared particularly forlorn.
He turned back and spoke to Vivian Linden once more; when he looked again, Tiana Linden and her daughter’s figures were gone.
There, aside from the cold moonlight and the swaying shadows of the trees in the yard, there was nothing, just like his empty heart over the years.
The fleeting look of loss was still captured by Vivian Linden, her face imdiately fell, gripped by sudden unease.
Aiden Grant lowered his head, looking at the box in his hand.
Inside was a lock of Daisy’s hair.
In his mind, Daisy’s well-behaved and adorable figure surfaced.
He had only seen the child once, yet rembered Daisy’s features so vividly.
Vivian Linden, curious, smiled and asked, "Aiden Grant, is the box left by sister? What’s inside it?"
Aiden Grant looked up.
Vivian Linden’s gentle smile reappeared, "It’s alright, I won’t ask anymore. No matter what, I know your heart surely remains with ."
As she spoke, Vivian Linden pulled from Aiden Grant’s shirt collar a red string holding a Vermillion Bottle.
"After your car accident, I walked nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine steps at Clear Spring Monastery to seek this peace charm for you. I’ve been feeling very unsettled lately; you absolutely mustn’t take it off, otherwise, I’ll be even less at ease."
"Don’t worry, I’ll continue to wear it." Aiden Grant, burdened with cares, forced a smile.
Then, he perfunctorily said, "You go sleep in the guest room; I’ll send you back tomorrow. There are still many dealings regarding the research and developnt of the anti-cancer drug that I must attend to."
"Alright." Before leaving, Vivian Linden also reminded him not to take off the peace charm.
Once she left, Aiden Grant kept holding Daisy’s hair, imrsed in deep thought for a long ti.
Could Daisy truly be his daughter?
Could he have wrongly accused Tiana Linden?
Should he take Daisy’s hair and go for a paternity test?
Holding Daisy’s hair, Aiden Grant quickly reached a decision.
...
In the night wind, Tiana Linden held her daughter’s little hand as they walked out of this quaint luxury residential area.
Daisy, usually chattering away, remained silent the entire ti.
Until Daisy stopped, looked up with her head, concerned with her exhausted mother, "Mommy, was that really an uncle just now my dad?"
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