CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: TIANA LINDEN—MAKING IT A DONE DEAL

Although Daniel Linden was also distressed about Tiana Linden being sick.

Wasn’t it that pitiful look of hers that swayed Aiden Grant, who was about to marry Vivian Linden?

Thinking of this, anger rose in Daniel Linden’s heart.

Without any regard for sibling affection, he said bluntly:

"Tiana, you were quite well-behaved when you were young, how did you become so shameless now?"

"Even though Aiden Grant is already engaged to Vivian, even if you once..."

"Get out!"

Before Daniel could finish, Tiana kicked him forcefully.

She was still sick at this time.

But with that kick on Daniel’s stomach, she used all her strength and directly kicked Daniel out of the ward.

The kick made Daniel stagger, almost falling backward.

The eustoma flowers in his hand fell to the ground.

As he stepped back, he accidentally stepped on them.

Looking down, he saw the bouquet of eustoma flowers crushed beneath his foot, just like the shattered sibling bond between him and Tiana.

He had raised her since she was young, always teaching Tiana to have a conscience, but how did she end up like this?

Boom! Looking at the tightly closed ward door, Daniel angrily stepped forward and banged on it, "Tiana, I warn you again, don’t think about ruining Vivian and Aiden’s marriage."

Inside the door, Tiana truly regretted not kicking Daniel so hard that he couldn’t have children.

The sibling bond from childhood was drained completely dry.

Toward Daniel, she only harbored hatred.

Outside, suddenly came Daniel’s painful yell, "Ginny Linden, are you a dog, ah, let go of me..."

Tiana opened the door.

Daisy, returning from the nurse’s station, was forcefully biting Daniel’s hand.

"Let go, ah..."

"Daisy!"

Tiana called out once.

Only then did Daisy release her bite.

The small figure hurried to her mom’s side.

Then she spread her arms, protecting her mom, glaring at Daniel.

"I won’t let you bully my mom!"

Daniel covered his bleeding hand from Daisy’s bite, looking angrily at this mother and daughter.

"Tiana, is this how you educate children?"

"After all, I’m still Daisy’s uncle, doesn’t this child know to respect her elders?"

The term uncle was truly ironic.

In terms of blood relation, Daniel was indeed Daisy’s biological uncle.

But had he ever acted like an uncle?

When she was serving her sentence with Daisy in prison, there was a time Daisy was critically ill with a high fever.

She begged Daniel to use his connections to immediately get medical care for Daisy.

Because the procedures for medical parole from prison were very complex.

Daisy simply couldn’t wait for the procedures to be completed before going to the hospital.

At that time, seeing Daisy delirious from the fever, she was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

The last hope was pinned on Daniel, her only brother.

But on the phone, Daniel heartlessly said: it’s just a minor cold, it won’t kill anyone.

He even said: Daisy is Hector Chaucer’s illegitimate child, it’s her fate if she dies.

Recalling the past, Tiana still felt heartbroken.

She coughed violently a few times, then clutched her chest, determinedly saying, "Of course, elders should be respected, but there’s no need to respect someone worse than a pig or a dog."

"You..." Daniel’s face turned livid with anger, "You’re saying I’m worse than a pig or a dog?"

"Get out!" Tiana grabbed a fire extinguisher at the door.

If he didn’t leave, she would use the fire extinguisher to attack him.

Daniel knew her temper.

After all, she was the sister he had pampered from childhood. Daniel didn’t want to fight with Tiana, so he bit his tongue and left.

"Mom, are you alright?"

Beside her, Daisy gently tugged on Tiana’s clothes.

Tiana then put down the fire extinguisher, squatted down, and embraced Daisy, "Daisy, that person was indeed your uncle. But you don’t have to treat him as an uncle. People who aren’t worthy of respect, we don’t need to be polite to them."

Daisy nodded firmly, "Mom, I understand."

...

Daniel, contemplating over and over, still worried that Tiana might ruin Vivian and Aiden’s marriage.

At twelve noon.

Daniel arranged to have lunch with Harvey Patton.

When he arrived at the private room, Harvey, with his burly figure, plopped onto a chair, "Brother-in-law, it’s rare that you proactively ask me out. What’s up?"

The dishes on the table were ordered by Daniel in advance.

He poured a glass of red wine for Harvey, offered the cup, and got straight to the point.

"You should hurry and bring forward your marriage with Tiana."

It was only by solidifying the marital relationship between Tiana and Harvey that Vivian and Aiden’s marriage wouldn’t be threatened.

Receiving the wine glass, Harvey sneered.

"I also want the wedding to be earlier, but it depends on your sister agreeing, too."

"You know her temperament, no one can change her mind."

Daniel frowned, "Tiana insists on waiting three more months to register the marriage, this is her delaying tactic."

Harvey took a sip of the red wine, placed the glass down, and said, "Of course, I know."

Looking at the red wine on the table, Daniel picked it up and shook it.

"Harvey, how about this? You and Tiana should spend more time dating; take her out to watch movies, have meals, enjoy the sea breeze, attend a music concert. But you must not force her, nor bully her."

Last time Harvey was engaged to Tiana.

This man nearly forced Tiana, which made Daniel very angry.

He set the glass down, seriously warning, "If you dare force Tiana again, don’t blame me for turning hostile."

In response to Daniel, Harvey gave a sneering smile.

"What are you laughing at?" Daniel asked.

Harvey chuckled more disdainfully, "Daniel, if you truly cared about Tiana, you wouldn’t marry her off to me. You can’t have it both ways."

This sentence made Daniel’s expression turn cold.

Yet Harvey continued, "You want Tiana to be with me, simply because you’re afraid she’ll interfere with your other sister Vivian’s marriage. If you truly want to help Vivian, why not directly send Tiana to my bed? Once Tiana and I become involved, how can she go after Aiden?"

The words hadn’t finished echoing before igniting Daniel’s fury.

He stood up angrily, grabbing Harvey by the collar, "Harvey, have you forgotten the beating you got last time for plotting against Tiana? Even if it’s an accomplished fact, it must be after Tiana legally marries you."

Despite being grabbed by the collar, Harvey remained calm.

He maintained his derisive smile, "Daniel, I’ve never seen anyone as hypocritical as you. You and your father in The Linden Family use Aunt Townsend’s dowry and relics given to Tiana to coerce her into marrying me. How is that different from being despicably shameless?"

The words "despicably shameless" pricked Daniel’s conscience.

He knew he had indeed wronged Tiana.

Releasing Harvey’s collar dejectedly.

Sinking back into the chair, Daniel’s conscience ached.

Harvey continued, "Daniel, the entire upper circle knows that I, Harvey Patton, have been widowed four times, with five sons. Yet you still push Tiana into marrying me, what else is that but throwing her into the fire pit?"

Amidst the disdain, Daniel was left speechless.

Harvey Patton picked up the cup, casually swirling the drink inside, "Daniel Linden, since you’ve already done such a thing to harm Tiana, don’t pretend to have deep sibling love, don’t speak of morality and conscience. One shouldn’t be so hypocritical, you can’t be both a whore and a saint."

Harvey clinked his cup lightly against Daniel’s and added, "If you’re willing to send Tiana to my bed, I promise she will never have anything to do with Aiden again. Your sister Vivian can then marry Aiden without any worries."

This time, Daniel did not get angry.

What Harvey said left him feeling both ashamed and not entirely unreasonable.

He even began to waver a little.

If Tiana were truly tainted by Harvey, she and Aiden could never mend their relationship, and Vivian could marry smoothly.

He almost gave in.

But, Tiana was also his sister.

His biological sister!

Before their mother died, he had sworn he would protect Tiana with his life if he had to.

Ultimately, his conscience overcame the temptation, Daniel clenched his fist, glared angrily as he retorted, "Harvey, I’m warning you, don’t you dare force Tiana. If you really like her, treat her well and date her properly, or I won’t let you off."

What responded to Daniel was a sarcastic chuckle from Harvey, "Daniel, you’re really contemptible."

Harvey took another sip of his drink, then smiled lightly with the cup in his hand, "But that’s okay, if I can’t win Tiana’s heart, sooner or later I will have her body. Once you figure things out, come find me."

...

The next day, the spring sunshine was bright and beautiful.

Tiana insisted on leaving the hospital.

The doctor said she had at most a little over a month left.

Whether treated or not, nothing would change.

In that case, she might as well spend the painful days of chemotherapy with Daisy.

The day after she was discharged, Daisy went back to school.

That morning, Tiana put on exquisite makeup.

To cover her sickly appearance, she applied blush more heavily than usual and wore bright red lipstick, still radiant and charming.

But she was too thin.

So she wore a set of wide-leg denim overalls and tied her hair up in a youthful bun.

When Daisy entered kindergarten, she stood at the school gate, smiling and waving goodbye to Daisy.

Not far away, in a black car, a pair of eyes were fixed on her intently.

Once Daisy was out of sight, Tiana turned to leave.

The person in the car gave an order, "Invite Miss Linden into the car, be polite and courteous to Miss Linden."

"Yes, boss!"

Tiana walked along the road.

Suddenly, two men rushed out in front of her, "Miss Linden, our boss would like to invite you for a cup of coffee."

The cautious Tiana unzipped her backpack.

Before she could take out her pepper spray, she was already coerced and shoved into the car.

Seeing Harvey inside the car, Tiana looked displeased.

"Harvey, you dare to kidnap me so blatantly in broad daylight?"

Harvey noticed her holding her bag cautiously and said, "You don’t need to take out your pepper spray, I have no intention of harming you today, I just want to have a simple cup of coffee with you."

Tiana didn’t believe Harvey.

Harvey continued, "Tiana, did you forget about our engagement? Since we’re engaged, can’t we date like normal couples?"

Tiana: "What exactly do you want to do?"

Harvey: "Don’t worry, I won’t force you to do anything today, just taking you to a place."

Half an hour later, Harvey took Tiana to a high-end tea restaurant.

At the window seat, there was a familiar couple.

It was Aiden and Vivian on a date.

After sitting down, Harvey looked down to order drinks, "You see, Aiden and Vivian’s relationship is deeply affectionate. You and Aiden can no longer mend your relationship."

On the opposite side, Tiana straightforwardly said:

"You don’t need to rush me to get the marriage certificate and hold the wedding."

"I’ve set the time for three months later, not because of Aiden. You needn’t worry that I will mend things with him."

"Really?" Harvey finished ordering, returned the menu to the waiter.

After the waiter left, Tiana looked Harvey directly in the eye, "Why do you all think I want to mend things with Aiden?"

That jerk, she really didn’t want anything to do with him anymore.

Harvey chuckled, "Back then, you swore you’d marry no one but him."

His words brought back many memories for Tiana.

Every event in the past represented her foolishness.

That ridiculously laughable youth, she didn’t want to reminisce about it.

She asked Harvey, "Do you think I would marry a man who personally sent me to jail?"

Unless her head was caught in a toilet seat.

Harvey: "Love can make people lose their heads."

Tiana: "I’m not that foolish."

Harvey: "Are you sure you won’t think about Aiden anymore?"

Harvey had grown up with Tiana and Aiden.

He witnessed their childhood friendship and romance.

Harvey knew how deeply Tiana loved Aiden.

What responded to Harvey was Tiana’s eyes filled with hatred and determination, "Rest assured, Aiden is nothing but trash I’ve discarded. Since I’ve agreed to marry you, I will marry you in three months."

By then, she wouldn’t even be alive.

After all, she had already acquired half of the dowry left by her mother, Wanda Townsend, along with some of her mother’s belongings.

She had also bought a house and set up an education fund for Daisy, and made sure her will was in order.

By then, Harvey can go marry a ghost.

At this moment, the waiter brought the drinks and desserts Harvey ordered.

Harvey pushed the dessert in front of Tiana, "Tiana, I have a ball this evening and need a date. Do you have time to accompany me?"

Tiana: "I don’t have time."

Harvey: "You are my fiancée; you have an obligation to accompany me to such events."

Tiana stood up, "I only promised to marry you in three months, I have no other obligations."

With that, she intended to leave.

Harvey remained seated, "Tiana, since we are getting married in three months, I think it’s necessary for my sons to start bonding with your daughter. After all, they will become siblings in the future."

Tiana turned around, "Harvey, what do you intend to do?"

Forty-year-old Harvey had five sons.

The youngest two were in kindergarten.

The eldest was already seventeen.

This eldest son, at the age of fourteen, was involved with two other wealthy minors in a gang rape case involving an underage girl.

Because they were minors, along with the families pressuring and bribing to get the girl’s forgiveness, spending a lot of money to make the issue disappear, there was no conviction.

The case was appalling.

Tiana broke out in a cold sweat, "Harvey, I’m warning you, do not let your sons near my daughter."

Harvey said nonchalantly, "Unless you accompany me to the ball."

Tiana: "I’ll go with you."

Harvey stood up, smiled slyly, "Now that’s a good girl!"

His fat, nauseating hand was about to touch Tiana’s thin face, but was suddenly gripped firmly by another hand.