Delayed Regrets: He Regretted Only After Her Death-Chapter 64: He Still Kept Those Wedding Rings
Everyone at the dining table looked towards Aiden Grant.
Aiden Grant was different today than usual.
His handsome face was covered with mosquito bites.
Especially when he got closer, the red mosquito bites were very obvious.
Several mosquito bites protruded on his long and strong neck exposed by the white shirt, with red scratch marks on them.
Aiden Grant’s blood type attracts mosquitoes.
Tiana Linden always knew that.
In high school, they secretly dated behind their elders’ backs.
Tiana Linden loved parks, riversides, and places where she could connect with nature.
Every time they dated, she loved having Aiden take her to explore nature.
The more flora in the jungle, the more mosquitoes there were.
Every time they dated, Aiden would end up covered in mosquito bites.
But at that time, Aiden especially liked feeding the mosquitoes.
He told Tiana that his blood type was just right for attracting mosquitoes, so they would bite him instead of his most beloved girl.
The girl from back then had become a mother now.
The child’s father was right in front of her, but Tiana Linden no longer wanted Daisy and Aiden Grant to reunite.
That memory was something Tiana wanted to throw away but couldn’t.
Just seeing the mosquito bites on Aiden’s body made the past resurface in her mind.
She glanced at Aiden.
That man had already spent the night before last feeding mosquitoes beneath her building.
Where did he feed the mosquitoes again last night?
But what did it matter to her?
She indifferently averted her gaze, seeing Laura with her head down, and sympathetically served her a bowl of millet porridge.
Kiera Chaucer had just passed away, and the child hadn’t yet come out of her grief.
Tiana thought of Daisy, who would soon lose her mother too, and felt deeply pained inside.
"Laura, if you don’t want to eat bread, how about some millet porridge?"
Laura still kept her head down, "Thank you, Auntie, I don’t want to drink it."
"Then how about some yogurt?" Tiana asked gently.
Throughout, Aiden’s gaze was fixed on Tiana.
Since he walked in, she hadn’t looked him in the eye, as if he were air.
And there she was, sharing breakfast in a warm, harmonious way with Leo Sutton and the kids at the table.
It felt like a heavy stone hit his chest.
In the fresh air, Aiden felt suffocated for quite some time.
At that moment, Leo Sutton was still observing Aiden and casually asked, "Aiden, feeding mosquitoes again last night?"
Leo Sutton also knew that Aiden’s blood type attracted mosquitoes the most.
Back then, he and Tiana secretly dated behind teachers’ and parents’ backs.
Every time they dated, they loved wandering in the park.
Every time he came out of the park, Aiden was sure to be covered in mosquito bites.
Aiden replied to Leo with something completely unrelated, "Leo Sutton, can I have a word with you?"
A minute later, the two men left The Sutton Family’s dining area and walked into The Sutton Family’s garden.
The garden was filled with fragrant gardenias.
White as far as the eye could see.
The air was exceptionally fresh.
Yet, Aiden still felt like his chest was suffocating.
Back in high school, Leo Sutton had a crush on Tiana, and Aiden knew.
At that time, he was certain that Leo Sutton stood no chance and that Tiana would definitely become his bride.
Now, the first person to become Tiana’s husband turned out to be Leo Sutton.
Aiden clenched his fists tightly.
The cigarette burn in his palm stung sharply.
This pain pierced straight to his heart.
"Leo Sutton, since you’ve married Tiana, you must take responsibility for her. Treat her well."
With everything settled, Aiden had nothing left to say.
He looked at the garden full of gardenias, then added, "Tiana doesn’t like gardenias; she likes lisianthus, especially purple ones."
This was to tell Leo to plant some flowers Tiana liked.
Leo found it amusing, "Aiden, did you come looking for me early in the morning just to tell me to treat Tiana well? Do you think you’re doing this for her? You don’t know anything about Tiana’s situation."
Leo admitted that he once had a long-lasting crush on Tiana.
But he didn’t marry Tiana for love.
His heart only belonged to his late wife, Kiera.
He married Tiana only to better settle Daisy’s situation.
Tiana’s will, which he had personally handled, was specific in one respect: after she passed, Aiden wasn’t allowed to attend her funeral or even visit her grave.
In time, Aiden would regret it.
"I don’t understand her; you do?"
Aiden’s reason was overtaken by jealousy.
His voice abruptly rose.
But thinking about how Leo was still a man worth trusting, far better than that bastard Harvey Patton,
Moreover, Leo Sutton’s reputation in the legal world was excellent; he was a person full of a sense of justice.
Aiden’s rationality gradually returned, "Anyway, treat Tiana well. If you wrong her, I won’t spare you."
Leo responded with a scoff.
What an arrogant man.
Tiana’s whole youth was buried in this man’s hands, and yet he thought he was doing her a favor?
In the end, this man couldn’t even provide Tiana with the most basic trust.
Tiana deserved better.
Leo’s expression cooled, and he said coldly, "You don’t need to teach me; you have no right to interfere in Tiana’s matters."
Aiden acknowledged it; yes, he was the ex-boyfriend.
What right did he have?
But today, he came with a purpose.
He had to finish what he needed to say.
"I want to talk to Tiana alone."
Leo was resolute, "She doesn’t want to talk to you alone."
Without Leo’s permission, Aiden returned directly from the garden to the dining room.
"Tiana, come out for a second, I have something to say to you."
Tiana was feeding Laura millet porridge.
In the days following Kiera’s death, Laura had lost a lot of weight.
The bright little flower bud, which should have been blooming, had suddenly wilted.
Tiana felt heartache.
"There’s nothing for us to talk about."
They had talked about everything they needed to.
She continued coaxing Laura to drink the porridge.
Aiden stood beside her, watching her, "It’s fine, I’ll wait until you finish breakfast."
His gaze inevitably fell on Daisy.
He looked at Daisy, and Daisy looked back at him.
Yet in Daisy’s eyes, there was sheer aversion towards him.
Daisy hated him.
Aiden knew.
He had wanted to adopt Daisy, to gradually mend their bond.
Now that Leo had become Daisy’s stepfather, he lost that opportunity.
He was waiting for a result.
Waiting for the forensic department’s results to confirm his paternity with Daisy.
This result would be authoritative.
Even if someone wanted to interfere, their hand couldn’t reach that far.
However, the forensic department’s procedures were more intricate than outside agencies, he needed to be patient.
After feeding Laura the millet porridge, Tiana comforted her low spirits.
She still had no intention of engaging with Aiden.
Seeing that everyone had finished breakfast, Tiana looked at Leo and said, "Leo, it’s time for the kids to go to school; let’s send them to kindergarten."
Leo knew Tiana had no desire for any interaction with Aiden.
He nodded and then looked at Aiden, who was still waiting, "You should leave, Tiana has nothing to discuss with you."
Aiden immediately stepped forward and grabbed Tiana’s hand, pulling her away from the table.
"Aiden, let go..."
Tiana struggled, already having been pulled several steps away by Aiden.
At the dining table, young Daisy jumped down from her chair and rushed towards Aiden, "You big villain, let go of my mom."
After all, Daisy is just a child.
How could she possibly keep up with Aiden Grant, who was striding out of the restaurant holding Tiana’s hand?
Leo Sutton walked over quickly and picked up Daisy. "Let Mom talk to him."
If Aiden and Tiana couldn’t finish their conversation, Aiden would go on endlessly.
...
In the garden.
Knowing that Tiana Linden had married Leo Sutton, he gentlemanly released her wrist.
"Let me finish, just a few words, it won’t take much of your time."
Tiana rubbed her wrist, reddened from Aiden Grant’s grip.
Ah... this man had such a strong grip.
He didn’t care about her at all.
Her wrist felt like it was going to snap.
With resistance in her eyes, she looked at Aiden, "Two minutes."
She would only give him two minutes at most.
This attitude made Aiden’s face tense.
There were many things he wanted to say, wanted to ask.
But in the end, Aiden restrained his pain and anger and succinctly advised:
"Tiana, Leo Sutton is quite a good man."
"Since you’ve chosen to marry him, live well together, don’t go astray, don’t cause trouble anymore."
Again, with that well-meaning tone.
Tiana might not appreciate the sentiment.
She did not respond.
She looked at the self-important Aiden with an uncomprehending smile.
"Mr. Grant, you’re being too meddlesome."
Again, calling him Mr. Grant.
This distant address tore at Aiden’s heart.
He clenched his fist again, the pain from the burn in his palm piercing his heart.
"Tiana, despite everything, we had a good time. You’ve married Leo Sutton, and I’m about to marry Vivian Linden. Can’t we be friends again and wish each other well?"
Amidst the white gardenias, Tiana stated firmly, "I don’t need to be friends with someone like Mr. Grant, nor do I need your blessings."
In the fresh fragrance, Aiden felt a suffocating sensation, "Tiana, could it be..."
Tiana firmly cut him off again, "The two minutes are up."
With that, she gave Aiden no more time.
She turned and walked towards the restaurant at the other end of the garden.
Aiden called after her, "Tiana, wait."
In his palm appeared two delicate little boxes.
Inside the boxes were two rings.
If nothing unexpected had happened, these rings would have been their wedding rings.
Six years ago, he had been prepared to propose to Tiana.
Unexpectedly, she and Hector Chaucer had double-crossed him.
He also unexpectedly had a serious car accident.
With Tiana’s imprisonment, their relationship completely deteriorated.
The rings had been locked in his drawer ever since.
He approached Tiana, handing her the boxes.
"They never served their purpose; they were tailored for you. I’m giving them to you and Leo Sutton as a wedding gift."
Tiana glanced at them; they were the familiar boxes.
That year, she had been full of anticipation, waiting for his proposal.
What she got instead was wrongful accusation and imprisonment.
Even the unborn child, Daisy, became a hated illegitimate child to him.
The dusty past was still vivid.
The pain, Tiana had never forgotten.
"Thank you!" she replied, distantly indifferent, "But neither Leo Sutton nor I need them."
After all, theirs was a marriage of convenience and required no wedding rings.
Least of all, she needed Aiden’s ostentatious and meaningless blessings.
Her slender legs moved once more.
This time, watching her retreating figure, Aiden did not call out again.
And she, she did not turn back.
...
In the hospital.
Leo Sutton handed the little daughter Penelope back to the nurse.
"Thank you!"
Kiera Chaucer died in childbirth, and little Penelope had a slight lung infection.
After three more days in the hospital, she could be taken home and cared for.
The baby in swaddling clothes never saw her mother, permanently losing her.
Having been a mother, Tiana felt heartbroken thinking about Penelope’s fate.
She herself also didn’t have much longer to live.
After her departure, Leo Sutton would have to play both father and mother, caring for three children.
He also had a large law firm to manage.
She feared Leo Sutton would overexert himself.
On the way back, Tiana sat in the back seat of the Hummer, "Leo, let’s hire two more reliable nannies for the children, I’ll cover the expenses."
Driving, Leo Sutton seemed distracted.
Perhaps he was missing his late wife, Kiera Chaucer.
Tiana called him again, he came back to his senses, and she repeated her words.
Hearing this, Leo Sutton, while driving, responded, "No need, Tiana. These days, you don’t need to worry about anything, just take care of yourself."
After all, the longer she lived, the more time she could spend with Daisy.
He didn’t want to have another funeral right after one had just been held.
Were it not for the traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Kaneport, her energy and vitality would have been diminishing daily.
The car traveled down the highway, and Leo Sutton added, "Tiana, my father-in-law and mother-in-law will be moving in today. They will help look after the children. You have nothing to fear about the kids."
Mr. and Mrs. Chaucer had only one daughter, Kiera.
Now, their daughter had passed away in childbirth, leaving two motherless children behind. How could the elderly couple rest easy?
Moreover, before passing, Kiera had told the elderly couple about Tiana.
They sympathized with Tiana and supported their daughter and son-in-law in adopting Daisy.
However, before they could adopt Daisy, their daughter unexpectedly passed away.
Mr. and Mrs. Chaucer adored girls, and given Daisy’s turbulent fate, they would surely regard her as their own granddaughter.
Tiana knew how the Chaucers were.
Yet, meeting them after they moved in, she couldn’t help but feel anxious and uneasy.
After all, Kiera had just passed away, and this convenient marriage to Leo Sutton to adopt Daisy seemed partly unfair to Kiera.
But when the Chaucers saw her, they held no blame.
At lunch, Mrs. Chaucer, who was a doctor, even specially cooked her a nourishing soup to invigorate her.
The steaming bowl of soup was carefully placed in front of Tiana.
Tiana quickly extended her hand to receive it, "Thank you, Aunt Armstrong!"
"Dear, this soup contains several types of traditional medicine, it’s to invigorate and extend life. Please drink more."
"Kiera and Leo have told me about you. I’m also a doctor, and I’ve seen all your reports."
"The cancer cells have metastasized to the brain; this situation is dangerous. A small slip could result in sudden unconsciousness in public."
"So you must have someone beside you. During this time, let us old folks take care of you and the children. Rest assured, just concentrate on getting better, and aim to live each day to the fullest."
Steam rose from the bowl.
But it also warmed Tiana’s heart.
Aunt Armstrong didn’t blame her for getting a marriage certificate with her son-in-law before Kiera’s memorial was even over, and instead comforted and took care of her.
Such kindness was immensely generous.
Tiana was instantly moved to tears.
She never had a mother growing up, but now it seemed she saw the shadow of a mother in Catherine Armstrong.
The missing piece in her heart seemed filled.
"Auntie, I don’t know how to thank you!"
Catherine wiped her tears, also welling up, "Silly child, there’s no need for thanks. You were dear to my daughter before she passed, and thus you are dear to me as well."
Thinking of her only daughter’s untimely death, Catherine choked with emotion.
Tiana hurriedly embraced Catherine, "Auntie, I am your daughter from now on."
Seeing the two tightly embraced, Gabriel, Mr. Chaucer, as well, seemed to witness the bond of mother and daughter past, also suddenly welled up with tears.
Choking with emotion, Gabriel said, "Tiana, from now on, we are your parents, and Penelope’s grandparents."
Just as everyone was immersed in emotion, Ms. Quinn, the Sutton Family’s housekeeper, approached briskly, stopping in front of Tiana, "Miss Linden, someone is looking for you."
What was going on today? Earlier, Aiden Grant had sought her out, and now someone else had come.
"Who is it?" Tiana released Kiera’s mother and looked towards the restaurant’s entrance.
At this moment, someone approached.
