Tiana never expected Aiden to call her again.
Last ti, he had already made things very clear.
He said he was getting married.
He also presud to give her lots of advice.
But to Tiana, it was just a heap of nonsense she didn’t want to hear.
"eting place?" Tiana’s voice was very soft, yet concise.
Aiden on the other end, instead of answering, asked, "Tiana, without getting the drug component of M901, will you and Hector never give up?"
Tiana repeated, "eting place?"
Hearing her tone, Aiden felt suffocated.
She was supposed to be the one begging him.
Why was her attitude still so unwilling?
"Seraph Lake."
Leaving that sentence, Aiden hung up the phone.
Leo Sutton asked beside her, "Tiana, Aiden wants to et you?"
Tiana vaguely sensed the outco but still wanted to give it a try.
She got in the car, "Let’s et. If I can get the drug, I can live."
If she could live, she could continue to stay with Daisy.
Not for any other reason.
For Daisy, she had to fight.
Leo Sutton feared she might faint at any mont.
He decided to go with her, but he wouldn’t show himself.
He looked at Hector.
Hector said, "I’ll have the driver pick up, you take Tiana."
...
By the lakeside of Seraph Lake.
Leo Sutton pulled the car over and let Tiana get out alone.
"I’ll wait for you here."
"Okay."
"Tiana."
"Hmm?"
"If Aiden says sothing excessive, don’t take it to heart."
Leo Sutton looked at her with concern.
A warm feeling rose in her heart, "Don’t worry, I’ve let go of a lot."
In the distance.
Aiden stood by the flower bushes on the lakeside.
Wearing a black shirt, he was incongruous with the vibrant flowers.
He looked cold, and the air around him was extrely oppressive.
Even the sunshine seed less bright.
Tiana probably knew what he was going to say.
With a bag on her back, she slowly walked over.
When she reached his side, Aiden said nothing.
This Seraph Lake held too many of their mories.
The past joys floated in their minds, and the current disputes and resentnts only made his temple tight.
He didn’t speak, and neither did Tiana.
This silence stifled both of them.
Finally, Aiden turned his head, breaking the silence, and coldly asked.
"Did you watch the press conference held by Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals?"
"Yes." Tiana responded.
She originally didn’t want to ask Aiden again.
Knowing Aiden would misunderstand, she still wanted to give it another try.
The M901 anti-cancer drug from Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals was her only hope of living.
Last night Daisy heard she had a chance of being cured.
Those big eyes suddenly had light.
Like a rekindled light.
Tiana didn’t want Daisy’s light to be snuffed out again.
She spoke with difficulty, "Aiden, I..."
Aiden interrupted her sharply.
"Tiana, since you’re married to Leo Sutton, why not live well? Why help Hector?"
He really couldn’t see through her.
What kind of life did she really want?
"You’re using Leo Sutton, using , to help that murderer Hector."
"Doesn’t your conscience hurt?"
Tiana: "He’s not a murderer!"
Responding to Tiana’s words was Aiden’s sneer.
"Hector returned to The Chaucer Family, stepping on the corpses of his siblings to ascend to the seat of the family head."
"And you say he’s not a murderer?"
Aiden finally understood why, after marrying Leo Sutton, Tiana still wanted to help Hector get the drug component of M901.
"Tiana, is Hector worth you going through this fire and water?"
These words, Tiana didn’t know how to respond to.
"Aiden, I didn’t co today to fight or argue with you."
Aiden replied, "Tiana, I called you today, just to persuade you one last ti."
Tiana: "I don’t want to hear it."
Even if she didn’t want to hear it, Aiden persisted.
"Tiana, having been to prison yet still able to marry a man like Leo Sutton, is more luck than you deserve."
Tiana chuckled softly.
Aiden continued, "Don’t be obsessed with helping Hector, don’t think about M901 anti-cancer drug."
That was also his purpose today.
Saying more would be useless.
Having said it all, he turned and, stepping on the grass by the lakeside, left.
By the lakeside, Tiana took out a pair of ceramic dolls from her bag.
"Aiden, do you rember these ceramic dolls?"
"These ceramic dolls, you made them yourself during our visit to Klayburg."
"You even engraved them yourself."
The girl doll was engraved: Red String Tied Early.
The boy doll was engraved: Stay Together Forever.
Symbolizing that they were ant to be together forever.
When they went to Klayburg, Tiana was chased by a dog.
Aiden protected her and was bitten several tis.
Those scars were still on Aiden’s leg.
Those past events, Aiden hadn’t forgotten.
After Tiana was released from prison, he had Christopher return all of Tiana’s belongings to her.
Including those ceramic dolls.
They reminded him of his foolish past.
Just a couple of days ago, he personally wrote his wedding invitations to Vivian Linden.
He also rembered these ceramic dolls.
Crash!
The pair of ceramic dolls, as Aiden turned, shattered on the ground.
Even though it was grassy, the dolls still broke into pieces.
So ceramic fragnts splashed up, scratching Tiana’s leg.
"Tiana, you’re beyond hope."
The scratched leg hurt a bit.
But Tiana’s heart was already numb.
It felt like cent was poured into her chest, rapidly solidifying.
It took her a while to breathe again slowly.
"Aiden, no matter what I say, you won’t give the drug, right?"
Aiden’s anger was the clearest answer.
But she wanted to live.
She wanted Daisy to always have her mother with her.
Last night Daisy told her she wanted to rember her mom’s scent...
She didn’t want Daisy to only see her mother in mories.
She didn’t even have the strength to beg.
She said weakly:
"I don’t want to die."
"I want to live, I want to see Daisy grow up healthy."
"If you don’t believe , you can personally do a cancer antigen test for right now."
"Tiana, that’s enough." Seeing her pitiful face, Aiden didn’t feel well.
He had previously asked the doctor.
But she and that buzz-cut Dr. Zane colluded.
What couldn’t she fake?
He beca even colder, "Tiana, does going to jail feel good? Want to go back again?"
Tiana asked: "Aiden, is it only when you see dead that you’ll believe ?"
Aiden replied: "Good people die young, scourges live a thousand years. You won’t die."
Looking at the sunny Umbra Lake, Aiden had too many mories.
Back then, they fell in love at Umbra Lake.
His fingers ran through her hair, he kissed her.
He rembered her sweet taste, never forgetting it.
Back then, he said, black swans are the most faithful species to their partners in this world.
If one dies, the other would rather live alone for the rest of its life than find another partner.
He once vowed he would only marry Tiana like a black swan.
Even now as he was about to marry Vivian, he still wasn’t happy.
He sincerely advised, "Tiana, if you don’t want to go back to jail, turn back before it’s too late!"
At this mont, Tiana had nothing left to say.
Aiden left in the midst of his complete disappointnt and having said everything.
Leaving Tiana standing alone by Umbra Lake, looking around with utter despair.
Thinking of Daisy, she held on.
She couldn’t die.
Since Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals’ anti-cancer drug was already developed, she had hope to survive.
She had to find a way to get the anti-cancer drug.
Leo Sutton saw Aiden leave and then approached Tiana.
Seeing her looking so dejected, Leo Sutton already knew the answer, "Aiden Grant really is heartless."
At this mont, Daniel Linden called her.
On the phone, Daniel Linden’s attitude was extrely cold.
"Tiana, Aiden has already told . Stop scheming about the anti-cancer drug. If you’re short of money, co see at ho, and I can give you so."
"Brother, I really need this anti-cancer drug, you promised Mom before she died that you’d always protect . Can you help just this once, please?"
She never expected Daniel Linden to call her so quickly.
She humbled herself, pleading with Daniel Linden.
She hoped Daniel would save her for the sake of their sibling bond.
But Daniel Linden on the other end was cold and ruthless, "Tiana, didn’t you say before that I’m not your brother? Calling brother doesn’t help; no one will give you the anti-cancer drug."
Daniel Linden hung up the phone.
The bright April sunshine suddenly felt like a living hell to Tiana.
If she couldn’t get the anti-cancer drug, she would die in this radiant April day on earth.
...
The next day.
Star River Bay, The Linden Family, Tranquil Villa.
Daniel Linden and Jas Linden were sitting in the tea room, going through the long dowry list.
There were twelve days left until Vivian’s wedding.
Daniel Linden took out a gift agreent and placed it on the tea table.
"Dad, the AI technology I developed this ti has secured over fifty billion in orders both dostically and abroad."
"I’m planning to give fifteen percent of the shares as Vivian’s wedding dowry."
Jas Linden nodded, thinking about his beloved daughter about to get married, feeling both joyful and reluctant.
"Back then, I raised Vivian secretly outside, not daring to let her openly return to the Linden family. I owe her too much."
"This ti with the dowry, I want to make it up to her properly."
Daniel Linden hesitated.
Knowing his son well, Jas Linden asked, "Is there sothing else you want to tell ?"
"Dad, although Tiana has made many mistakes, she’s still my half-sister."
"I also promised Mom to protect her all my life."
"When I started an AI business, it was you who funded my startup."
"But I still want to give ten percent of the shares to Tiana so that she, Daisy, and Leo Sutton can live peacefully and stop thinking about the anti-cancer drug."
Jas Linden pondered for a mont, "It’s not that I can’t part with the shares; I’m just afraid that even if she gets them, she won’t learn to repent."
"Dad, but she’s still my sister."
"You decide; I also hope Tiana will turn back from the wrong path."
Just then, Uncle Caron ca to report, "Daniel, Tiana is back."
Jas Linden frowned, "Why is she here? Did she fail with Aiden yesterday, so she’s coming to us today?"
Daniel Linden replied, "I asked her to co. Uncle Caron, let Tiana in."
Two minutes later, Tiana, carrying a bag, stood before the two Linden n.
Today, Daniel had summoned her.
She didn’t know why Daniel wanted to see her.
"Now that you’re back, don’t just stand there; consider this your ho." Jas Linden looked at her, "Sit."
The physically weak Tiana lacked the strength under her feet.
So she sat down across from them.
Daniel Linden handed over a glass of water.
It was her favorite kumquat lemon.
Then, he handed her a few docunts.
"Tiana, Vivian is about to get married. You and Leo Sutton are also married."
"You’re both my sisters, and I won’t favor one over the other."
"I will give each of you fifteen percent of my AI technology stocks as your dowry."
"But you need to sign a guarantee, agreeing to two conditions: first, you will not pursue the anti-cancer drug anymore, and second, you will not disrupt Vivian and Aiden’s marriage."
Tiana remained silent.
From her bag, she took out a photo album.
Opening the album, Tiana as a baby lay in the arms of a four or five-year-old Daniel Linden.
She flipped through it page by page.
"Brother, do you rember our childhood?"
"Every ti I faced trouble, you were the first to stand up and help out."
How could Daniel Linden forget those childhood days?
He had protected Tiana growing up.
Precisely because he rembered, no matter how great a mistake Tiana made, he was willing to forgive her.
This was the first ti the two siblings recalled the past since Tiana’s imprisonnt.
Daniel Linden took the album and flipped through it again.
Being a grown man, seeing the adorable past Tiana, his tears fell.
After a long sigh, he gently urged:
"Tiana, don’t get involved with The Chaucer Family anymore. You should find your way back."
"Brother, I don’t want your shares; just give a box of the anti-cancer drug, please?"
Tiana only had these few days left.
She could only plead bitterly.
"Tiana, why do you insist on obtaining the research secrets of Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals?"
"Is Hector Chaucer worth such a break with your family?"
Daniel Linden slamd the album on the ground.
The crystal cover shattered imdiately.
Beneath the cracks, the photo of Tiana Linden and Daniel Linden was unrecognizable.
What shattered was not just the crystal album, but Tiana’s already fragnted heart.
"Brother, do I look like soone who would lie?"
"You can feel my pulse."
A slender, frail hand reached out.
Daniel Linden glanced and remained motionless.
"Tiana, modern makeup techniques are very advanced."
"The living can be turned into the dead. The dead can be brought back to life."
"Stop acting. I won’t give you the anti-cancer drug."
Tiana looked at Jas Linden, who was silently frowning.
"Dad!"
She placed her last hope on Jas Linden.
"Dad, Daisy can’t be without a mother. Dad, can you help ?"
This was the first ti since her imprisonnt that Tiana had called Jas Linden dad.
The word broke Jas Linden’s heart into pieces.
He recalled many things from Tiana’s childhood.
He was unwilling to see Tiana fall so far.
"Tiana, what exactly did Hector Chaucer offer you?"
"Your brother gave you a fifteen percent share of AI technology, and you aren’t interested?"
"Why are you so intent on the anti-cancer drug?"
To Tiana, those external things had no use.
Even continuing to live had beco a luxury.
"Dad." Tiana knelt down, "Please save ."
"Go back." Jas Linden was utterly disappointed, "If you’re not prepared to stop, don’t return to The Linden Family."
...
The Sovereign.
That evening, Tiana did not sit at the table to dine with everyone.
Seeing Daisy sullen and not eating, Catherine Armstrong placed a piece of chicken wing on her plate.
"Daisy, give it a try."
Daisy shook her head and said thank you.
Then she carried the bowl of lean at congee that her mom hadn’t eaten and left the table.
The tiny figure walked out of the dining room.
Everyone felt a tug at their hearts.
Catherine Armstrong was about to follow when Leo Sutton quickly stood up.
"Mom, you stay and eat with the kids, I’ll go take a look."
Daisy ca to her mother’s bedside.
Tiana had just taken painkillers, and her pain had subsided a lot.
Seeing Daisy, she slowly sat up, "Daisy, why aren’t you eating properly?"
"Mom, didn’t you say the doctor prescribed you new dicine?"
"Will you get better after taking the new dicine?"
Daisy held the bowl of congee, looking at her sorrowfully.
Her throat tightened, "..."
"Mom, please eat sothing, okay?"
Daisy obediently stopped asking further.
She scooped up so congee, stood on tiptoe, and fed it to her mother.
Tiana opened her mouth with tears in her eyes.
She had promised to take care of Daisy.
Yet in the end, it was Daisy who had to take care of her.
That night, Tiana was critically ill and rushed to the ergency room.
Daisy stayed outside the ergency rescue room.
Even though it was late at night, no matter how much Catherine Armstrong and Gabriel Chaucer tried to persuade her, she shook her head, unwilling to leave.
"I want to wait for my mom!"
The tiny figure squatted outside the ergency rescue room.
Gabriel Chaucer and Catherine Armstrong saw that the child neither cried nor threw a tantrum.
Daisy just quietly squatted there.
Their hearts were breaking.
Gabriel Chaucer thought of his own daughter who had recently died in childbirth.
Now the newly recognized daughter, Tiana, was also on the brink of...
Tears ran down his old face as he turned away to wipe them.
He handed a tissue to his equally tearful wife.
"Catherine, take Laura ho to sleep first, I’ll stay here with Daisy."
Laura felt a deep bond with her sister Daisy.
A small hand embraced Daisy.
"I want to stay here with Daisy, I’m not going anywhere."
Daisy continued to keep vigil there.
Everyone accompanied her.
At this mont, the door of the ergency room slowly opened.
A doctor ca out holding a few sheets of paper.
They were Tiana’s critical condition notice.
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