Delayed Regrets: He Regretted Only After Her Death-Chapter 74: Tiana Linden Will Die

Responding to Christopher was Aiden’s furrowed brow.

He pressed his lips together without saying a word.

The coastline was dark with rocks, just like Aiden’s suddenly changing expression.

The crashing waves relentlessly pounded against the rocks.

They also pounded against Christopher’s chest.

"Aiden, I’m telling the truth, Tiana is really in the late stage of lung cancer, and it has already spread to her brain."

"If Tiana doesn’t take the anti-cancer medication now, it will be too late."

"Hector told me this himself."

Aiden’s expression was as dark as a gathering storm, "If you’re not thinking clearly, jump into the sea and wash it off."

"You don’t believe me?" Christopher furrowed his brow tightly.

No one responded to him.

Aiden had already stood up from the rocks, brushed the dirt off his clothes, and was striding across the rocks, walking away.

Christopher also strode across, circled in front of Aiden, and grabbed his collar:

"Who’s the one not thinking clearly? Aiden, think about what Tiana used to be like, and what she’s like now."

"Let go."

After being pushed away by Aiden, Christopher thought of Tiana’s current frail appearance and said weakly, "Aiden, Tiana used to be tall and slim, but her face had flesh, a standard egg-shaped face, and her complexion was rosy. Look at her now, her egg-shaped face has turned into an oval face, she’s sick, and you just..."

"Enough!" Aiden interrupted coldly, "Did Hector and Tiana drug you with some potion?"

Tiana hadn’t mentioned cancer for a long time.

Yet, with Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals’ anti-cancer drug about to enter clinical trial stages, the issue of cancer resurfaced.

Even a fool knows this is to hurry and get the anti-cancer drug first.

As long as Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals hasn’t successfully launched M901, Chaucer Pharmaceuticals has the chance to seize the market.

Aiden grabbed Christopher’s collar.

The veins of anger bulged on his forehead, "Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals for over twenty years, two generations’ painstaking effort, do you want to hand it over to Chaucer Pharmaceuticals?"

"Aiden." Christopher similarly grabbed Aiden’s collar.

For the first time, tension arose between them.

The atmosphere was like the raging waves.

Christopher gritted his teeth, "This isn’t a business competition between Linden-Grant Pharmaceuticals and Chaucer Pharmaceuticals, this concerns Tiana’s life."

Responding to Christopher was Aiden’s cold snort, "Why is she thin?"

It’s nothing but waiting for the day when M901 is successfully developed, using cancer as a guise to steal their drug formulation.

Aiden snorted again, "Ask Tiana, is it tough to lose weight through dieting? If it’s tough, she should stop, no one will believe her."

"You..." Christopher was so furious that he punched Aiden’s cheekbone.

The punch was too hard.

Aiden almost lost his balance.

Christopher still wasn’t satisfied, "Aiden, are your words even humane? How could Tiana deliberately diet and slim down just to deceive you into getting the anti-cancer drug."

Aiden rubbed his bruised cheekbone, hissed... and endured.

He wouldn’t fight with his closest friend.

But neither would he explain much.

He had personally heard back then that Tiana and Dr. Zane forged cancer reports, and Dr. Zane taught Tiana how to diet and slim down to feign illness.

He heard it all clearly.

To convince him, Tiana had prepared for long-term dieting and slimming.

Thinking of such a Tiana, he took a deep breath, "Tell Tiana, if she wants M901, she’ll have to wait until I’m dead."

Dropping these resolute words, Aiden strode across the rocks into the stormy wind, quickly leaving the coastline.

The red-flagged state car parked by the sea soon drove away along the winding road, gradually moving further away.

The car lights receded, disappearing.

Leaving Christopher standing in the fierce wind, unsure of what to do.

Indeed, Hector understood Aiden better; Aiden, that dog of a man, lost his mind, disregarding even Tiana’s life and death.

...

8:30 PM.

Serenity Villa.

Daniel sat on the sofa with Vivian.

"What did Aiden go out for tonight? The M901 anti-cancer drug is successfully developed, there’s no need for him to work overtime in the laboratory."

"Brother, you should go back, don’t keep tracking Aiden’s whereabouts as if you’re watching a prisoner. He’s just meeting Christopher, not doing anything else."

"I’m worried this guy will go see Tiana again. With the wedding approaching, you need to keep a close eye on him."

"Brother, if Aiden truly wants to back out of the marriage, watching over him won’t do any good."

Her only strategy was to advance by retreating.

Just as they were talking, Aiden walked in from outside.

His black shirt accentuated his tall and commanding presence.

Yet the half-swollen face immediately took away from his handsome appearance.

Daniel jumped up from the sofa, "Aiden, how come you’re disfigured again? Who did you fight with this time? Was it Hector again?"

Daniel guarded against everything, fearing this guy would run out and get into fights.

"You say you..." This brother-in-law was worried sick, "You’re about to be the groom, and with that injured face, how are you going to walk down the aisle?"

Daniel Linden started his endless chatter, "The wedding will be filmed the whole time, as a keepsake."

Seeing Aiden Grant’s swollen cheekbone, ruining half of his handsome face due to the redness and swelling, Vivian Linden also stepped forward with concern.

"Aiden, you didn’t get hurt anywhere else, did you."

Vivian pulled Aiden to sit down and quickly fetched the medicine box.

Aiden saw her anxious expression and softly explained, "Sorry, had a bit of a dispute with Christopher Grant."

Daniel Linden: "Christopher Grant hit you? Why would he hit you? You two never fight. Could it be this Christopher is also bewitched by Tiana Linden?"

Except for Tiana, Aiden wouldn’t fight with anyone.

Vivian stopped her action of applying medicine to Aiden, then turned around and glared at Daniel:

"Brother, say less. How about you go back first."

Moments like this are perfect for the couple to enhance their relationship.

Daniel definitely understood Vivian’s intention.

He tactfully stood up and left.

The night descended.

After applying medicine, Aiden took a shower and came out of the bathroom.

He tightened the white bath towel around himself.

Just about to dry his hair, Vivian pushed the door open from outside.

This was the first time Vivian saw Aiden just after showering.

Her gaze inadvertently caught sight of Aiden’s lean waist and ab muscles, and his powerful chest, feeling as if missing a beat in her heart.

But her eyes remained clear, neither shy nor flustered, as she calmly carried the bowl in her hands and slowly approached.

"Aiden, the weather is getting warm, I made some pear soup for you."

Aiden didn’t say anything.

He seemed not very fond of Vivian’s sudden intrusion.

He furrowed his brows and turned to the closet.

When he came out again, he was already dressed.

Every button in the front of his collar was buttoned tightly.

He glanced at Vivian, "Next time you come in, remember to knock."

"Aiden, we’re getting married..." Her tone carried a hint of grievance.

Implying, does he really need to guard against her like this?

"Sorry." She lowered her head, tears dropping onto the dark carpet, "Next time I come in, I’ll definitely knock."

She placed the pear soup down and turned to leave, "Ow..."

"What happened." Aiden stepped forward and held her.

She shook her head, "Nothing, just the wound suddenly hurt a bit."

She was referring to the bite wound from a mad dog.

Recalling this, Aiden was filled with guilt.

Vivian leaned into his embrace with her slender, fair fingers resting on the first button of Aiden’s shirt.

Soon, a blush appeared on her face.

"Aiden, let’s have a child..."

This soft and delicate voice carried a hint of invitation.

Suddenly, her slender, fair hand was grasped by Aiden.

The buttons at the front of the shirt ultimately remained unopened.

Aiden gently said, "Vivian, I still have things to take care of."

Vivian looked at him with eyes full of autumn water, "Then I’ll wait for you to come back, okay?"

"Be good, go back to your room and sleep. After our wedding."

"But..."

"Vivian, girls should be a bit more reserved."

"Okay...fine."

Vivian withdrew with grievance.

But, at that time, was Tiana reserved?

Aiden probably wished Tiana wouldn’t be reserved.

Just after graduating high school, they tasted the forbidden fruit.

Why does she have to be reserved here?

Ultimately, it’s still about not loving.

Vivian understood but didn’t speak out; she feared any unexpected incidents at the last moment of the wedding.

She obediently replied, "Aiden, I’m going back to sleep."

Back in her room, Vivian stood by the window, seeing Aiden get into the Red Flag ceremonial car.

The headlights turned on.

The car drove out of the garden garage and soon disappeared into the hazy night.

Aiden in the car pressed the car phone.

Then he held the steering wheel, waiting for the other to pick up.

In the passenger seat beside him lay a red invitation card.

Answering the call was Gordon Lowell.

Hearing a voice that wasn’t Hector Chaucer’s, Aiden Grant, driving, said politely, "Could you please let Hector Chaucer take the call?"

Gordon Lowell replied, "Mr. Grant, you’ve already severed ties with my master, no longer brothers. What might you be calling about, then?"

Aiden Grant was left speechless by these words.

When he declared they were no longer brothers, it was in a moment of anger.

How could he casually throw away his brotherhood?

He repeated, "Let Hector Chaucer take the call."

Gordon Lowell: "Sorry, Mr. Grant. My master is currently handling important matters at the estate."

Aiden Grant: "He’s at The Chaucer Estate?"

Gordon Lowell: "Mr. Grant, my master says he’s not available for guests."

...

The Chaucer Estate.

Mr. Chaucer, Caleb Chaucer, lying in bed, was coughing incessantly.

He looked angrily yet helplessly at the cold and indifferent Hector Chaucer before him.

The bowl of snow pear bird’s nest soup, personally prepared by Hector for him, was smashed to the ground by Mr. Chaucer.

The dark carpet was instantly littered with shards.

The elderly Mr. Chaucer coughed even more violently.

However, Hector Chaucer sat opposite, eyes cold and detached, "Calm down, sir."

"What do you want? Since you returned, the second and fourth sons have died, and the third and fifth have been imprisoned by you."

"Are you planning to kill the Sixth too?"

Furious, Mr. Chaucer rose abruptly from his chair.

Unsteady, he nearly fell.

The old butler quickly supported him, "Sir, please calm down, take care of your health..."

"Let go," Mr. Chaucer waved off the butler, pointing at the calm and indifferent Hector Chaucer, "Don’t even think about becoming the Head of the Family, cough cough cough..."

At this point, Hector Chaucer lifted a teacup from the table and casually blew on it.

Both Mr. Chaucer and the butler stared at the cup, silent.

Unexpectedly, Hector Chaucer put the cup back, "Does this tea have poison?"

The old butler’s face changed subtly, "Seventh Young Master, don’t say such things."

Humph!

The large study filled with the sound of Hector Chaucer’s disdainful snort.

He had been poisoned since childhood.

By siblings, his biological father, and even his mother.

Would he not know if there was poison in the tea?

After setting down the tea, his expression remained unchanged.

In those numb eyes hidden the endless blood and tears from his many years in the Chaucer family.

"The offenses committed by the Sixth Chaucer would either get him the death penalty or life imprisonment if he were caught."

"But I have use for him, so for now, I won’t act against him."

Hector Chaucer stood up from his chair.

He walked over the ceramic shards underfoot, his expression unchanged as he faced Mr. Chaucer with numbed eyes:

"Regarding the head of the family position you mentioned."

"The second and fourth are dead, the third and fifth are imprisoned."

"I have leverage over the Sixth, and he obeys me completely now."

"Who else in this entire family can take charge?"

Without him, no one could bear the weight of the immense family dynasty.

"You, you, you’re hoping for the death of the entire Chaucer family, leaving only yourself, aren’t you?"

"The second and fourth were killed by the third," Hector Chaucer stated, moving closer to Mr. Chaucer, "Even you nearly died in the car accident meticulously arranged by the third."

Here, his eyes, usually numb, now displayed other emotions.

They revealed anger, unwillingness, and the mockery he felt towards the world.

Clearly, he was the most outstanding in the Chaucer family.

Yet, in Mr. Chaucer’s eyes, he was never accepted.

"I’m your son too; why not me?" he asked, word by word.

"You?" Mr. Chaucer chuckled a few times.

Laughter mingling with coughs and derision.

Soon, he snorted, "Just born to a lowly woman, cough cough..."

That "lowly woman" was Hector Chaucer’s biological mother.

Indeed, she was lowly.

A cleaning woman in the Chaucer family, elementary education, lowly origins, relying solely on her youth and beauty, dared to drug the master.

She was only nineteen when she got with Mr. Chaucer.

Mr. Chaucer was already fifty.

Because of this incident, Hector Chaucer was mocked, ridiculed, and tormented by the Chaucer family for over thirty years.

Yet, no matter how lowly her status, no matter how shameless she was,

he remained Caleb Chaucer’s biological son.

He was despised by his own father.

These prejudices and injustices no longer mattered to Hector Chaucer.

Soon, his eyes returned to their usual numbness.

"The master seems to have forgotten, I hold a lot of evidence."

"Evidence that can not only prove my innocence in several major criminal cases involving economic crimes but also prove you are the one behind them."

He continued:

"Hand over the family authority, stay in Chaucer for me to take good care of you."

"Or face labor reform meals in prison."

"Between these two choices, you can only pick one, master."

Infuriated, Mr. Chaucer took deep breaths, "You, you, you..."

Hector Chaucer, eyes still numb, smirked, "I’ll give you a day to think it over."

At that moment, Gordon Lowell walked over to him and whispered in his ear, "Mr. Grant is waiting in the parlor."

...

The family head’s parlor.

Aiden Grant looked around.

The last time he was here, the parlor’s style was traditional redwood.

Since Hector Chaucer returned, it transformed completely.

The gray-white decor was the style Hector always favored.

And beneath the ceiling beam, there stood the several-meter-tall Statue of Liberty sculpture.

Wherever Hector Chaucer went, it was always there.

Evidently, just as the elite circles whispered, the Chaucer family was undergoing a complete transformation.

Years ago, Mr. Chaucer had already designated a successor.

Yet no one expected it to be the controversial illegitimate son, Hector Chaucer.

"What are you looking at?"

Behind him came Hector Chaucer’s voice.

Aiden Grant turned around, "Congratulations, the next Patriarch Chaucer."

Hector Chaucer knew Aiden’s visit today was certainly not to offer congratulations.

His face turned cold, "Say what you have to say."

Aiden Grant answered irrelevantly, "Hector, just how far are you willing to go to achieve your goals?"

In response, Hector Chaucer calmly sat down.

Sitting on the sofa, he lit a cigar, "Five minutes."

Meaning he only gave Aiden five minutes to speak.

Aiden sat across, "Standing on the corpses of brothers and siblings to become the head of the Chaucer family. Don’t you have nightmares?"

At that, Hector Chaucer paused, holding his cigar.

A gray ash fell onto the dark carpet.

The parlor suddenly became eerily quiet.

Gordon Lowell broke the silence, saying, "Mr. Grant, you’re mistaken..."

Hector Chaucer merely gestured, and Gordon immediately fell silent.

What his master didn’t allow him to say, he kept silent about.

Hector looked at Aiden, "You have four minutes left."

Aiden picked up the invitation he had brought from the coffee table, "I’m getting married on May 1st. Whether you come or not is up to you, but I must deliver the invitation. If you come, the best man’s position is still yours."

Back then, they had made an agreement that if Aiden got married, Hector would be his best man.

Back then, his fiancée was still Tiana Linden.

Everything had changed.

He was about to marry Vivian Linden.

And Tiana, whom Hector had forcibly taken away, didn’t end up staying with him.

"Hector, stop thinking about the anti-cancer drug with Tiana."

"Tiana didn’t ultimately choose you; she chose Leo Sutton. Let her be, let her and Leo have a good life."

"If you attend my wedding, I still consider you my brother."

Hector didn’t respond.

He tapped off the ash from his cigar, placing it down, he cast a faint look at Aiden, "Christopher Grant contacted you?"

Aiden gritted his teeth, "Don’t take advantage of Christopher’s softness and kindness either."

In response, Hector released a cold snort, "Ha! So even if Tiana’s on the verge of death, you’re planning to sit back and watch?"

Aiden tightened his face, "She doesn’t have cancer at all."

Hector stood, and with a few steps, was in Aiden’s face.

He really wanted to strangle the man before him.

But he didn’t, as he calmly asked, "If one day Tiana dies right before your eyes, will you regret it?"