Delayed Regrets: He Regretted Only After Her Death-Chapter 163: Becoming Hector Chaucer’s Woman
Daniel Linden looked eagerly towards the door.
Seeing Tiana Linden with a cold expression, he still thick-skinnedly pushed his wheelchair forward to approach her.
"Little Sis!"
This "Little Sis" was filled with many emotions from Daniel towards Tiana.
Seeing that she had already changed into new clothes, no longer in the gasoline-soaked ones, and her face was clean, looking complete, he felt a huge relief in his heart.
His little sister wasn’t ignited by Sharon Sullivan’s fire, she wasn’t hurt at all.
This achievement was something he exchanged for with his life!
At this moment, Daniel felt a slight sense of relief and pride.
With reddened eyes, he said to Tiana, "Little Sis, now I can finally face going to mom’s grave with dignity."
Before their mother died, he had promised her to protect his little sister with his life.
This time, he finally had not broken that promise.
He finally protected his most beloved sister.
Tiana knew what Daniel meant.
Their mother had died in childbirth, and before she died, Daniel had indeed promised to protect Tiana with his life in the future.
But Tiana was displeased with Daniel playing the emotional card like this.
She kept a straight face and said, "You saved me and Daisy, and I’m very grateful. But this doesn’t mean we can be siblings like we were before."
"Tiana!" James Linden, who hadn’t seen her in a while, immediately tried to ingratiate himself, "Dad knows Hector is sincere with you. This time, Dad supports you and Hector in building a new family. When are you getting married? Let your brother and I prepare the wedding, okay?"
The last "okay" was filled with James Linden’s pleading.
Tiana gave a bitter smile.
She couldn’t forget that when she was close to death, James Linden and Daniel were preparing a wedding for Vivian Linden.
This lifetime, perhaps this kinship by blood could never be cut off.
But she would never again call James Linden "Dad" as she did before.
"I’m not planning to invite either of you to my wedding."
After saying that, Hector Chaucer, who walked out from behind her, wrapped an arm around her shoulder and admonished James Linden and Daniel Linden, "Gentlemen, my fiancée is tired and needs rest. Please don’t linger here. Gordon, show them out."
Gordon Lowell stepped forward and pushed Daniel Linden’s wheelchair away.
James Linden had no choice but to follow his son.
He pushed the wheelchair to the elevator, hit the button, and once Daniel was in, he pressed the button for the hospital ward floor where Daniel was staying.
"Gentlemen, I hope you will no longer disturb Miss Linden. Some wounds cannot simply be wiped away with a few words of remorse or a few acts of compensation."
As the elevator doors were about to close, James Linden hurried inside to hold onto his son’s wheelchair.
Staring at the closed door, just like Tiana’s closed heart, Daniel Linden wept in pain.
"Dad, Tiana still hasn’t forgiven me!"
James Linden patted his shoulder, "Give it time. Gordon is right. Some wounds can’t just be erased with a few remorseful words or a few acts of making amends."
The next day, Daisy underwent a series of tests.
The doctor said she was fine and could be discharged.
Luckily, Daisy, having endured many hardships since childhood, hadn’t been left with any psychological shadows from this incident.
This child, so resilient that it hurts to see.
Before being discharged, Catherine Armstrong and Gabriel Chaucer both came.
Gabriel hugged Daisy with tears in his eyes.
Catherine embraced Tiana, tears streaming down her face, "Tiana, luckily nothing happened to you this time, or else I don’t know how I would have lived."
Catherine only had one daughter, Kiera Chaucer.
But Kiera had died in childbirth.
If anything happened to her only goddaughter, Tiana, it would be the end of her life.
"Mom, Daisy and I are fine, don’t worry. Hector gave Daisy and Laura hair ties, clips, protective cords, and backpack charms, all with satellite positioning systems. Didn’t we come back safe and sound? Don’t cry!"
Tiana wiped Catherine’s tears and, seeing Gabriel also teary-eyed, she followed suit with tear-filled eyes.
Now she had a new big family.
In this family, everyone loved her dearly.
Her heart was filled to the brim.
"Dad, Mom, I promise you, I’ll be well from now on, and won’t give you any more worries. Please, don’t cry."
The family was immersed in the joy of surviving misfortunes together.
No one noticed that not far away, James Linden was pushing Daniel’s wheelchair and watching them from a distance.
James heard Tiana calling someone else mom and dad, and again heard Daisy calling others grandpa and grandma, which was immensely bitter for him.
And there was Daniel in the wheelchair, his voice filled with desolation, "Dad, Tiana and Daisy have a new big family, they really don’t want us anymore."
Although their family was weeping, they were harmonious and lively.
Unlike James and Daniel, who were lonely and pitifully standing in the corner.
All the happiness and joy had nothing to do with them.
They were like deserted pitiful creatures.
...
The Sovereign.
That night, there was a rare family dinner.
At the dining table were Gabriel Chaucer, Catherine Armstrong, Leo Sutton, Daisy, Laura, Penelope, along with Hector Chaucer and Tiana Linden.
This family was a very curious combination.
Gabriel Chaucer wasn’t the biological parent of Leo Sutton and Tiana Linden.
Yet they were deeply respected and loved by Leo and Tiana.
Hector Chaucer understood that the Linden family could no longer decide Tiana’s marriage.
Thus, he only considered Catherine Armstrong and Gabriel Chaucer as Tiana’s family.
During dinner, Hector put down his chopsticks and respectfully addressed the elders, "Uncle Chaucer, Aunt Armstrong, there is something I wish to discuss with you both."
Catherine looked at Hector curiously, "What is it?"
"I want to marry Tiana." Hector turned his head, glancing at Tiana who was drinking soup and nearly choked upon hearing his words.
He quickly patted her back gently, asking with concern, "Are you alright?"
Tiana blinked.
Under her long lashes was a look of surprise.
After coughing a few times, Gabriel and Catherine quickly asked, "Tiana, did you choke?"
Tiana shook her head, "I’m fine."
Seeing she was okay, Catherine eagerly looked at Hector, "Hector, what did you just say, you want to marry Tiana?"
Across the table, Hector, with eyes full of sincerity, said, "I hope both of you can allow your precious daughter to marry me. I’ve already chosen the date, prepared the betrothal gifts, and set the wedding date. I will spend the rest of my life taking care of Tiana and Daisy."
As he spoke, Hector held Tiana’s hand.
His arm was still bandaged.
It was the injury he had sustained when shielding Tiana from harm.
Both Gabriel and Catherine knew this was the second time Hector had protected Tiana from injury.
This man was truly protecting Tiana with his life.
Though Catherine’s heart was secretly delighted, she still pretended to be stern:
"Agreeing is fine, but if you dare to do anything to hurt our Tiana and Daisy, Old Chaucer and I will definitely break your legs."
"No, Grandma. My dad loves me and mom very much," said Daisy while munching on a cola chicken wing.
With soy sauce and cola sauce around her mouth, Daisy wiped her mouth and said a bit sorrowfully, "Grandma, you can’t break my dad’s legs, he’s the best dad in the world."
They naturally knew Hector was the perfect match for Tiana.
It was merely a joke.
Catherine ruffled Daisy’s hair, "Hector, your little darling hasn’t been doted on for nothing."
After dinner, Catherine kept Daisy in their home, "Daisy, tonight would you like to stay here and sleep with Grandma and Laura? Grandma will tell you your favorite ’The Story of the Female Sailor,’ alright?"
Of course, Daisy refused, pouting her lips and saying, "No, I want Daddy to tell me a story."
Hector reached out his hand to Daisy, "Come, let’s go home. Daddy will tell you a story."
As he was about to reach Daisy’s hand, Catherine drew Daisy towards her and crouched down, whispering in her ear:
"Daisy, don’t you want a little brother or sister from Mommy and Daddy? Agree to stay with Grandma for a while, and Mom will soon be pregnant with a baby."
Grandma’s voice was so soft, no one else knew what they were whispering about.
Daisy whispered softly, "Really?"
"When have I ever lied to you?"
"Great!" Daisy cheered, "Then I’ll stay and sleep with Grandma and Laura."
Tiana watched Daisy suddenly change her mind and curiously asked the grandmother and granddaughter, "Mom, what did you and Daisy just whisper about?"
Aunt Armstrong laughed, picked up Daisy, and beckoned to the two of them, "It’s nothing, Laura just wanted Daisy to stay. The two sisters haven’t played together for a long time. You guys should go back. With me taking care of Daisy, you can rest assured."
Tiana was worried that Aunt Armstrong would be too tired taking care of three children by herself.
Penelope was only nine months old now, and it was time for nighttime feeding.
"Mom, I’d better take Daisy back, so you can have a good rest tonight."
Aunt Armstrong waved her hand, "Whether it’s one child or three, it doesn’t bother me. You guys go ahead."
As she spoke, Aunt Armstrong gently pushed Tiana and Hector out.
Before leaving, Daisy waved to them, "Dad, Mom, you go back. I’ll listen to Grandma and won’t kick off the blanket."
The two turned and left.
Their tall and short figures fell under the moonlight, with even their shadows appearing so sweet and intimate.
Unconsciously, Hector held Tiana’s hand, clasping it tightly in his palm.
The thick calluses on his fingertips made Tiana’s heart ache.
She knew how challenging it had been for Hector to walk this path alone.
She tightened her grip on Hector’s hand, holding it firmly, "Hector, isn’t your marriage proposal a bit too simple? You didn’t discuss anything with me, skipped the dating stage, and directly wanted to get married. You didn’t even ask if I was willing."
As they spoke, they reached the entrance of the villa.
Hector paused, "I thought you agreed."
Tiana stopped too, muttering, "When did I agree?"
In the next moment, Hector’s thin lips came down.
As his hair brushed past her fair cheek, his lips didn’t touch her.
At that moment of pause, his breathing became cautious.
The bitterness of first love turned into sweetness, like the gentle wind sweeping over Hector’s heart.
Although he kept his eyes closed, he cautiously sensed Tiana’s reaction.
She didn’t resist.
She didn’t avoid it.
In the next moment, he slowly opened his eyes.
His large hand rested on Tiana’s slender waist.
The soft waist came into his embrace.
On Tiana’s fair and captivating face was the gentleness of the night breeze, mixed with the hazy intoxication of a young girl.
Seeing that he hadn’t kissed her, Tiana slowly opened her eyes.
In those eyes was her hazy intoxication and her gentle affection.
"You didn’t reject me, so you must have feelings for me too, right?"
In the night, Hector asked cautiously.
His clean voice carried his tender toughness.
In the night, Tiana replied in her gentlest voice:
"Hector, I’ve thought it over seriously."
"Life shouldn’t be tied to just one tree."
"I should give myself a chance to embrace a new life."
Hector was very satisfied with her answer.
He smiled.
That smile seemed to want to gather all the gentleness of the stars.
The starlight of the entire city fell into this moment of sweetness.
The night wind gently swept by.
Hector brushed aside the hair by her cheek, tucking it behind her ear, revealing a fair and captivating ear.
Tiana happened not to be wearing earrings today.
Hector, as if performing a magic trick, took out a pair of earrings and spread them in his calloused palm.
"Do you remember these earrings?"
Those earrings looked familiar to Tiana.
Seemingly familiar.
But she couldn’t remember.
Hector reminded her, "Think carefully, Shop 99 on Long River Road, the peculiar jewelry craftsman."
Following Hector’s reminder, Tiana suddenly realized, "I wondered where these earrings went, turns out they were with you?"
These were the birthday gift she bought herself on her twelfth birthday.
At Shop 99 on Long River Road, custom-made by that peculiar jewelry craftsman.
A pair of cherry-shaped golden earrings.
Later, no matter how she searched, she couldn’t find them.
Turns out they were with Hector.
Hector said, "That day, your principal was standing at the school gate catching bad students wearing earrings. You hurriedly took them off but dropped them by the roadside, and I happened to pick them up."
Tiana wondered, "How did you happen to pick them up?"
Hector brushed aside her hair by her ear, "Because I happened to be walking right behind you."
Tiana felt the cool earrings pass through the hole in her ear. As she reached to touch, he had already put them on for her.
Then she playfully smiled at him, "Hector, were you intentionally walking behind me?"
It was a silent and bitter puppy love.
When Tiana was twelve, Hector was already fifteen.
But every day she was like a little tail following Aiden, only circling around him.
Even if he stood right next to Aiden, she wouldn’t notice him.
Many times, he could only silently follow her or stand at a distance, taking a glance at her.
After placing the earrings on her other ear, he looked and said, "Great, they finally returned to their rightful owner."
When he had picked up the earrings, he told himself that if he could be with her in the future, he would return the earrings to her rightful owner.
If not, he would let the earrings, along with the hair tie she lost, accompany him for a lifetime.
Now, they could finally return to the owner’s ears.
"They look really pretty on you."
"Tiana." He looked at her seriously, "Actually, even if you don’t agree, it’s too late."
As he spoke, he raised her hand with a smile.
On her slender fair finger was a diamond ring.
Under the night, the fine light shimmered.
With Tiana’s fair skin, wearing this ring, she looked noble like a princess.
Hector gently lifted her finger wearing the ring, smiling as he said, "This ring wasn’t bought by Gordon Lowell on my behalf, I spent over two months crafting it myself."
On it was a letter, H.
And also a Chinese character: 衡.
One was the last letter of his name, and the other was the pinyin abbreviation. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
And it also symbolized eternity.
He smiled with pride, "Wearing this ring, can you still escape from my grasp?"
"Alright, Hector." Tiana pretended to be angry, glaring at him, "Turns out you’ve been planning all along how to trick me into your hands?"
Hector wrapped his arm around her waist, smiling as he asked, "So, have I succeeded in tricking you?"
"Come here, Hector." Tiana beckoned him with a finger.
He obediently leaned his head towards her.
Her slender fair hand landed on the back of his neck, kissing him boldly, "That’s not how you kiss, let me teach you properly today."
That night, sparks flew.
Everything fell into place naturally...
