Delayed Regrets: He Regretted Only After Her Death-Chapter 73: Did You Sleep Together?

Hector Chaucer was drying his hair, slowly sitting down on the leather sofa.

Then, he looked at Christopher Grant and spoke indifferently:

"Didn’t Tiana Linden already give you the answer?"

Across the sofa lay Aiden Grant, who was dead drunk.

The room was filled with the smell of alcohol, causing Hector Chaucer to furrow his brows.

"Gordon Lowell, take him to the guest room."

Soon, Gordon Lowell found two people to carefully escort the drunken Aiden Grant to the guest room.

Christopher Grant knew that Hector Chaucer hadn’t completely broken off with Aiden Grant.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t let Aiden sleep in the guest room.

He asked again, "Hector, you should make things clearer."

Sitting on the sofa, Hector Chaucer still spoke indifferently, "Everything that needed saying, Tiana Linden has already said."

Upon hearing this, Christopher Grant frowned, pondering for over ten seconds.

Soon after, a realization hit him.

"Hector, Tiana doesn’t want Daisy to reunite with Aiden, right?"

Reflecting on everything that had happened.

Christopher Grant became more certain.

Tiana and her mother definitely harbored deep resentment towards Aiden.

Hector Chaucer responded to Christopher’s question with something unrelated:

"You and Tiana have been as close as siblings since childhood, you also understand Tiana."

"You should know what Tiana wants."

Of course, Christopher Grant knew.

When Tiana returned to Veridia, she initially wanted Daisy to reunite with Aiden.

She also consistently declared to everyone that Daisy was Aiden’s daughter.

But later, she firmly denied this fact.

Even personally admitted, Daisy is indeed Hector Chaucer’s daughter.

"To what extent does Tiana resent Aiden, that she is so unwilling to let Daisy reunite with him again?"

Hector Chaucer’s face turned dark, "If someone wanted your son Joshua Grant’s life, what would you do?"

Christopher Grant answered without hesitation, "Of course, I’d fight them to the death."

The answer was obvious.

Daisy almost lost her life twice at Aiden’s hands.

Of course, Tiana doesn’t want Daisy to have any more involvement with Aiden.

Suddenly, Christopher Grant realized something else.

"Hector, I see Tiana has lost a lot of weight."

"Is it true that she has cancer?"

She was the little neighbor he watched grow up.

She was only twenty-nine.

Twenty-nine, such prime years.

She still had so much wonderful future ahead.

Her Daisy was so adorable.

Little Daisy can’t be without her mother so soon.

If Tiana really has cancer... just thinking about it made Christopher’s chest ache with sadness.

He sat down, urgently asking, "Hector, has Tiana told you about her condition? She mentioned it to me before, but she later denied it. Has the cancer metastasized?"

This topic caused Hector Chaucer to take a deep breath.

Suddenly, sadness filled the air.

Hector Chaucer didn’t answer, instead asked, "What stage is Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals’ anti-cancer drug in development?"

"Right, we have the drug." Christopher realized, "Our anti-cancer drug is about to enter clinical trials. Tiana mentioned she’s suffering from lung cancer?"

Hector Chaucer responded with a nod, "Yes."

"Perfect." Christopher was excited, "M901 anti-cancer drug is especially effective against lung cancer."

Hector Chaucer continued to ask, "What is the tumor remission rate for late-stage cancer during clinical trials?"

Speaking of this, Christopher was tremendously confident: "Ninety-three point nine percent."

This firm voice carried Christopher Grant’s pride and sense of achievement as a pharmaceutical researcher.

Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals had dedicated two generations to the development of this anti-cancer drug.

Finally, it was near fruition.

"Hector, Tiana will be alright."

"This drug is about to enter the clinical trial phase."

Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals is set to hold a press conference in a few days.

As the spokesperson, Aiden will formally announce the results of the anti-cancer drug research.

Christopher’s excitement was palpable.

But Hector Chaucer’s face remained somber.

Christopher Grant frowned, "Hector, why aren’t you happy, don’t you believe me?"

Hector Chaucer said, "In the clinical trial phase, with a tumor remission rate of ninety-three point nine percent for late-stage cancer, it indeed brings hope."

However...

Hector Chaucer continued, "Clinical trials involve human subjects. The patients selected for the trial have already been predetermined six months ago. Ordinary patients won’t have access to the trial’s anti-cancer drugs."

This clinical trial process underwent numerous regulatory reviews.

Only a few predetermined subjects would receive the anti-cancer drug.

Unless M901 successfully goes to market.

But clearly, they haven’t even held the press conference yet.

This drug is just about to enter the clinical trial phase.

Christopher Grant was dismissive, "Yes, ordinary people need to become predetermined subjects to access the drug. But Tiana doesn’t need that. We have the drug. If I speak to Aiden and Uncle Linden, they will undoubtedly provide it."

Hector Chaucer responded with a cold chuckle.

He ridiculed Aiden’s feelings for Tiana.

And the Linden father’s and son’s affection for Tiana.

Both were far too weak.

So weak that, with someone’s ill intentions, they were able to send the innocent Tiana directly to prison.

"Hector, why are you laughing?"

Hector Chaucer sneered, "You still don’t understand Aiden, nor do you understand James and Daniel Linden."

...

Noon.

The scorching sun was overhead.

Aiden woke up with a splitting headache.

The layout of the room started to look increasingly familiar.

Was this Hector Chaucer’s guest room?

He remembered leaving Hector Chaucer’s party last night and Christopher accompanied him to the beach to drink.

He couldn’t recall anything afterward.

Why did Christopher bring him to Hector’s house?

As he left the guest room, the aunt at Hector’s home approached with a tray.

"Mr. Grant, you’re awake?"

The aunt carried bamboo shoots soup on the tray.

The soup contained kudzu root, roasted licorice, ginger pinellia, bamboo shoots, and jujube.

It helps with hangovers, relieves nausea, and soothes the stomach.

Many years ago, Hector had personally prepared this hangover remedy for him.

Back then, there was no rift between them as brothers.

Despite Hector’s habit of masking his emotions with an expressionless gaze,

He was warm-hearted deep down.

He knew how to care for people.

Holding up that bowl of bamboo shoots soup, Aiden took a small sip.

The taste was still the same.

Despite many things remaining unchanged, everything seemed different now.

He couldn’t understand why such a good brother would sleep with his woman and choose to sever ties with him.

After drinking the soup, he set the bowl down, politely saying to the aunt, "Thank you, could you please convey my apologies to Mr. Chaucer for the disturbance."

The phone kept ringing repeatedly.

Leaving The Violet Pavilion, Aiden answered the phone.

Daniel Linden’s urging voice came blaring through.

"Aiden, what’s going on?"

"We agreed to write invitations today. Where are you?"

Aiden: "The Violet Pavilion."

Daniel: "You’re with Hector Chaucer? Aiden, you didn’t get into a fight, did you? The wedding is just ten days away, you can’t afford an injury."

The voice on the phone was full of concern.

When it came to matters involving Tiana, Aiden would invariably lose his mind.

Lose his mind, inevitably leading to fights.

Daniel understood him too well.

Years ago, Aiden fought Harvey Patton for Tiana.

Also fought Leo Sutton.

Even back in high school, he had beaten a boy from a neighboring class who had written love letters to Tiana.

Daniel worriedly asked, "Aiden, speak up? You’re about to become a groom, is your face injured?"

Whether due to agitation or something else,

This voice was overly annoying.

Aiden was somewhat impatient, "I’ll be over shortly, hanging up."

...

Tranquil Villa.

In front of a three-meter-long traditional Chinese-style desk.

James Linden, Vivian Linden, and Sharon Sullivan, were sitting together.

The family was writing wedding invitations.

Actually, such tasks could be handled by a wedding company.

James Linden and Daniel insisted on writing them personally.

Because it holds a special significance.

After the call, Daniel Linden returned to his desk.

Vivian Linden looked up at him, "Brother, did Aiden answer the call?"

"He did." Daniel sat down, "He’s coming right over."

Seeing his sister so worried, Daniel picked up a pen and a blank invitation card, but didn’t start writing.

He gently patted his sister’s hand and comforted her warmly:

"Vivian, don’t worry, your wedding is just around the corner."

"Tiana is already married to Leo Sutton."

"There won’t be any more complications."

Vivian, with a troubled expression, sighed heavily, her heart full of worries.

"Aiden didn’t come home at all last night, and his phone was unreachable."

"I don’t even know where he went."

James Linden, who was writing invitations, stopped his work, frowned, and looked over, "Not home all night?"

Vivian nodded, "Dad, I keep feeling like something big is going to happen before the wedding."

Afraid that Aiden agreed to hold the wedding on schedule, yet still somehow gets involved with Tiana.

Even though Tiana is already married to Leo Sutton, James Linden is still worried she might ruin his daughter Vivian’s wedding.

James Linden quickly glanced at Daniel, "Daniel, what did Aiden say on the phone?"

The more Daniel thought about it, the more he felt something was off, "... No, I have to go check. I hope it’s not that Aiden got into a fight with Hector Chaucer because of Tiana again."

As he spoke, Daniel already stood up.

Sharon Sullivan, next to James Linden, couldn’t help but complain a bit:

"James, look at the daughter you’ve raised since she was little, always causing trouble?"

"These men, all revolving around her."

"Your illegitimate daughter really has a knack for enticing men."

Vivian glared at Sharon Sullivan, "Mom, stop talking about my sister; she’s raising a child on her own, it’s not easy."

Sharon Sullivan was even more thrilled, "Raising a child and still having several men revolving around her, that’s quite an impressive talent."

James Linden knew that the root of all this was Tiana.

But Tiana was so well-behaved when she was young.

She never caused them any trouble.

Back then, she was just a little bundle, like Daisy is now.

While he practiced calligraphy at the desk, the little Tiana would quietly stay by his side, not making any noise.

Sometimes she would fall asleep while guarding him.

Back then, Tiana was still very small, and James Linden had already begun to worry about her finding a good husband when she grew up.

He was afraid the man she found would treat her badly, afraid that the man would bully her and make her sad.

Now, this profound fatherly love has shifted to Vivian.

He’s just as afraid that Aiden would make Vivian sad.

After taking a deep breath, James Linden reassured the mother and daughter, "Don’t worry, as long as I still have breath, I won’t let Tiana ruin this marriage."

Sharon Sullivan couldn’t help but add, "She’s already married, if she can still ruin Vivian’s marriage, then that would be a real skill."

Vivian: "... Mom, say no more, I’m already worried enough."

...

Serenity Villa, living room.

When Aiden finished showering and went downstairs, he bumped into Daniel who was just entering.

Even though he just cleaned up, Daniel could still smell the strong scent of alcohol on him.

This man never lets himself get drunk.

Unless it’s because of that person—Tiana.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Daniel couldn’t help but angrily step forward, "Aiden, did you drink again because of Tiana?"

The black shirt buttons were being fastened one by one by Aiden’s clearly articulated fingers.

He glanced at Daniel lightly, "Are you a dog?"

Only a dog’s nose would be that sensitive.

Hearing this, Daniel’s expression turned stern, "Aiden, the wedding is in ten days, I’m warning you, don’t see Tiana again."

...

The Linden Family study.

When Aiden arrived, he specially apologized to Vivian.

Then patiently explained, "Vivian, I was with Christopher last night."

Vivian looked at him with grievance, "I’m just glad you’re okay. I’m just afraid something happened to you. Next time, don’t ignore my calls."

"Sorry!" Aiden rubbed Vivian’s head, "Next time I won’t."

James Linden had a surge of anger in his heart.

The daughter’s and son-in-law’s wedding is approaching.

But the son-in-law was out all night.

Can he, as the father-in-law, not be upset?

Seeing Aiden return and picking up the pen to meticulously write the wedding invitations, James Linden suppressed his anger.

As long as the wedding proceeds on time, he won’t make things difficult for Aiden.

On the crimson invitation, the few golden words made Aiden pause as he lowered his pen.

Those golden words were: Bound by red strings, together until old age.

Aiden remembers them very clearly.

That year, James Linden was preparing for his fiftieth birthday celebration.

Because James Linden liked blue and white porcelain, Tiana Linden went to Klayburg months in advance to personally learn kiln-making.

After finishing a set of blue and white porcelain teaware, Tiana and he crafted a pair of porcelain dolls together.

On that pair of porcelain dolls, he personally engraved: "Bound by red strings, together forever."

These eight words seemed to be engraved in his heart as well.

Even after all these years, he still remembers the scene and feelings when he carved those words.

It was a sunny, leisurely afternoon in tranquility.

Tiana sat on the prayer mat, earnestly watching him carve the words.

Her hands and hair were smudged with dirty clay.

Her face was dirty too.

But through the sunlight, when he looked at her, she was the most beautiful image in his heart.

Sunlight, clay, and her face have always appeared in his dreams over the years.

Along with those eight words.

He had never imagined that these eight words would connect him to another woman.

The hand holding the invitation barely moved.

He fell into a long contemplation.

Even Vivian Linden, beside him, noticed and asked, "Aiden, what’s wrong?"

It wasn’t until Daniel Linden nudged his arm that Aiden snapped out of it.

Vivian Linden asked with concern, "Aiden, are you okay?"

Aiden buried his head and continued writing, "I’m fine."

Vivian, however, paused, understandingly saying, "Aiden, I maintain my stance. If you feel unhappy being with me, I won’t force you."

"Vivian..." James Linden started to worry.

Vivian firmly said, "Dad, let me finish speaking to Aiden."

As she spoke, Vivian’s hand landed on Aiden’s hand, seriously asking, "Aiden, are you unhappy?"

"Don’t overthink it." Aiden withdrew his hand and tousled Vivian’s hair.

Recently, many things have indeed made him anxious.

But Vivian in front of him, not only knelt down nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine steps at Clear Spring Monastery to pray for his safety charm during his car accident injury but also directly blocked a stray dog when it rushed at him and was fiercely bitten by the vicious dog.

Even now, Vivian walks with a limp.

He gently held Vivian’s hand, "I won’t meet Tiana anymore, after the wedding, let’s live a good life together. You like children, right? Let’s have a child after marriage."

Vivian immediately began to cry.

"Don’t cry, sweetheart! I’ve neglected you these years."

At this moment, James Linden asked, "Aiden, since you’ve decided not to meet Tiana anymore, there’s no need to send her an invitation."

Logically, Tiana is also considered Vivian’s sister.

His and Vivian’s wedding is such a big event; they should notify her, at least send an invitation.

But he had resolved to live a good life with Vivian and cut ties with the past.

Thus, he firmly said, "No need!"

Upon hearing this, James Linden unhesitatingly crossed out Tiana’s name from the invitation list.

...

At night, Christopher Grant arranged to meet Aiden.

The meeting place was still the old spot—the windy coastline with crisscrossing reefs.

This time, Christopher didn’t bring any alcohol.

Seeing Christopher, Aiden sat on the reef facing the sea breeze.

"What’s the matter? Make it brief."

"I promised Vivian to go back early tonight."

Christopher replied, seemingly unrelated, "Aiden, let me guess. Although Vivian has moved to The Violet Pavilion and is living with you, you’re definitely still sleeping in separate rooms, right? You haven’t been intimate yet, have you?"

The chill of the sea breeze was matched by Aiden’s gaze.

"From now on, don’t mention her name in front of me again."

Christopher deliberately asked, "Whose name shouldn’t I mention, Tiana?"

Of course, he had to mention her; he understood his brother, didn’t he?

This man was always best at saying one thing and meaning another.

The closer the wedding, undoubtedly the more restless he became.

"Why don’t you want me to mention Tiana?"

"If you have nothing to hide, why fear hearing Tiana’s name?"

"Does Tiana’s name unsettle you?"

Aiden’s forehead tightened, "Christopher, that’s enough!"

"See, I knew the only one who can make you lose your mind is Tiana." Christopher understood Aiden well.

Amidst the gusty sea breeze, Christopher changed his tone, seriously saying:

"Aiden, can you crack the password vault and give the developed drug to Tiana?"

"Tiana truly has lung cancer."

"You wouldn’t want Daisy to lose her mom so young, would you?"

This was Christopher’s purpose for finding Aiden today.

For Tiana, so Daisy wouldn’t lose her mom.