CHAPTER 124: CHAPTER 124: GOOD NIGHT, MRS. CHAUCER!

At this moment, Hector Chaucer sat calmly across from the sofa.

He picked up the glass of water from the side table and took two sips.

As the warm water slid down his throat, his Adam’s apple made a smooth arc along his slender neck.

When he put the glass down, he watched Tiana Linden, who had been waiting for his response.

He captured every subtle emotion in Tiana’s eyes.

He knew well the pretense of strength she put on after being deeply hurt by the Linden Family and Aiden Grant.

He also knew that after her experience with Aiden, she had no thoughts about relationships anymore.

To dispel her doubts, he slightly raised an eyebrow and intentionally said, "I could reluctantly help you this time, but..."

Tiana no longer wanted to be entangled with Aiden.

Seeing him once would rip open her unhealed wounds all over again.

As long as it could make Aiden give up, she was willing to do anything.

She quickly said, "Hector, don’t reluctant. Since I once saved your life, help me. I’ll agree to any condition you propose."

In fact, Tiana felt quite ashamed about it.

As a child, it wasn’t really her who saved Hector.

She held onto a deflated swim ring, struggling to get to Hector’s side, only to have it completely lose air.

She sank several times.

Choked on a lot of water.

Her small hands kept grabbing frantically.

She clearly intended to rescue Hector but instead kept pushing his head under the water.

It wasn’t her who saved Hector.

It was clearly Aiden and Christopher Grant who saved both of them.

Who would have thought, Hector remembered this childhood favor all along.

Always seeing her as his lifesaver.

At this moment, Hector asked nonchalantly, "You’ll agree to my conditions?"

Tiana nodded, "But what? Go ahead, say it."

Hector said, "Haven’t decided, we’ll talk about it later."

Tiana extended her pinky finger, "Then you promised to help me, pinky swear no takebacks."

Seeing Tiana’s outstretched pinky, Hector didn’t immediately hook his finger with hers.

He patted her head and laughed, "A thirty-year-old mother acting so childish!"

But still, he linked his finger with hers for a pinky swear.

As they released hands, Tiana couldn’t help but mutter to herself.

Where’s the childishness in that?

However, she completely missed the fact that around Hector, she could be carefree as she was in her childhood.

The pain and suffering experienced with Aiden and the Linden Family seemed to vanish in an instant.

Even the light in the study seemed particularly bright.

Her mood was light and happy.

She stood up from the sofa, "Hector, it’s happily decided. I’m going to take a bath and then sleep."

As she spoke, she turned to leave the study.

At the door, she turned back, looking at Hector watching her leave:

"Hector, you should sleep early too, good night!"

Hector responded, "Good night!"

The sound of her footsteps gradually faded away.

It wasn’t until he heard the door close that Hector withdrew his gaze.

As he lowered his head, he inadvertently saw the hair tie Tiana had left on the sofa.

A pink crystal strawberry dangled from it.

Still, like her childhood self, she loved such cute hair accessories.

In the next instant, the hair tie was clenched in his palm.

In Hector’s drawer, there was also such a hair accessory.

It was one she left when she was six.

However, that one wasn’t with a pink crystal strawberry, but with two little green apples.

Over the years, Tiana’s taste in accessories hadn’t changed a bit.

She still liked these cute little charms.

Late at night, Hector didn’t leave the study to sleep.

He picked up the long-treasured, one with two little green apple charms that belonged to Tiana.

In countless cold winters, when his mother poured buckets of ice water over him, deliberately making him feverish just to see his father;

In numerous days being mocked, beaten, and confined in a dark cellar for days by the Chaucer Family siblings;

In countless dark days, nearly having given up on himself;

It was always this hair tie with two little green apples that gave him warmth, gave him strength, pulled him from the abyss and helped him get through.

It’s been twenty-four years.

This hair tie with two little green apples has always been alone.

Now, it’s different.

It rests with the one adorned with a crystal strawberry.

Finally, they’re a pair.

This day had been awaited for so long.

...

After her bath, Tiana lay in bed.

She planned to send Hector a message on WeChat.

Hoping he would accompany her tomorrow to send Daisy to kindergarten.

This way, Aiden could see she was with Hector.

She pulled up Hector’s profile picture.

It was an image of a tattered little boat, drifting in the turbulent storms of rain and wind.

Every time she clicked on it, Tiana felt a sudden shock to her heart.

This profile picture resembled Hector’s entire life, always battered by storms, always alone no matter the strong winds and waves.

No wonder this man said he was never interested in relationships.

He was born a solitary and broken man.

Outsiders say he was ruthless and unyielding, even against family to defy fate.

In Tiana’s eyes, Hector was actually someone full of compassion and integrity.

She wondered if there would be a warm-hearted girl to step into Hector’s life and turn his stormy life into a rainbow.

If such a day came, with a girl like that appearing in front of Hector, how wonderful it would be!

Then, she would end their pretend relationship and sincerely bless him.

She opened the chat window.

Ready to message Hector.

Coincidentally, as she did, a message from Hector popped up:

[Mrs. Chaucer, are you asleep?]

Tiana thought she misread.

She scrutinized it several times.

Did Hector just call her: Mrs. Chaucer?

Before she could react, Hector sent another message:

[Getting you used to the identity of Mrs. Chaucer in advance.]

She mentally responded with an Oh.

So this man was trying to get her into character ahead of time.

She smiled and replied: [Not asleep yet. Can you accompany me tomorrow morning to take Daisy to kindergarten?]

Hector: [Sure.]

Tiana: [Thanks, Mr. Chaucer. I’m going to sleep now, good night!]

Hector: [Good night, Mrs. Chaucer!]

Seeing the response, Tiana’s lips curved upwards again.

This man was quite considerate, getting her into character early.

That’s good.

To avoid being exposed in front of Aiden.

A few minutes passed.

Through the sheer curtains, Tiana saw a beam of carlight.

Followed by the sound of a car driving out of the villa gate.

She walked barefoot on the plush carpet, went to the window, and pulled back the curtain to look.

The maroon Hongqi Gregory drove out of the villa gate.

She returned to the bedside, picked up her phone, and called Hector.

Hector answered immediately.

Tiana asked, "Hector, it’s so late, why are you going out?"