Delayed Regrets: He Regretted Only After Her Death-Chapter 76: See Her One Last Time

Aiden could clearly sense Vivian Linden’s worry and fear.

He asked softly, "Vivian, what are you afraid of?"

"I, I, I’m just scared that Tiana will go after the M901. If we go to Solara Isle, she won’t be able to find us."

Vivian was extremely guilty as she said this.

Actually, she didn’t want Tiana to die, either.

Tiana still had little Daisy.

Daisy had just turned five.

No matter what bad things Vivian had done, she still didn’t want a child that young to lose her mother.

But she felt so guilty.

She quickly added, "Aiden, anyway, the wedding is just five days away on May Day. If we fly early to Solara Isle, it’ll be like starting our honeymoon early, okay?"

Aiden gently stroked Vivian’s hair. "Be good, wait two more days. I still have a few things to take care of here."

Daniel Linden, standing to the side, asked, "Aiden, did Tiana have Leo Sutton ask you for the M901 anti-cancer drug?"

Aiden replied, "Don’t worry, I’m not that stupid."

...

Eastmere International Kindergarten.

After treating his facial injuries, Leo Sutton waited at the school gate early.

Laura and Daisy came out holding hands.

When they saw Daddy’s face covered in scratches, his swollen right eye, and the bandage on his forehead, the sisters felt terrible.

"Daddy, how did you get hurt?"

Leo picked up his two daughters and walked toward the Hummer parked by the roadside.

"Daddy’s fine."

Daisy clung to Leo’s neck, feeling very guilty. "Daddy Leo, does it hurt a lot? Put me down, I can walk by myself."

"It’s fine, Daddy just wants to hold you." Leo’s heart ached bitterly.

M901 anti-cancer drug—Aiden hadn’t given it to him.

Tiana’s condition was getting worse by the day.

No one knew whether Tiana would see tomorrow’s sunrise.

Thinking about how Laura and Penelope had just lost their mother, and Daisy was about to lose hers, Leo’s throat tightened and his nose stung with sadness.

"Daddy Leo, why are you crying? Who bullied you? I’ll beat them up!"

Her little fierce voice was full of Daisy’s heartache and protectiveness for Daddy Leo.

Leo put the two kids in the car and ruffled Daisy’s hair again.

"Don’t worry, Daddy already beat up the bad guy."

Tiana had made the right decision.

Daisy couldn’t stay with someone as cold and heartless as Aiden.

From now on, he would treat Daisy as his own.

Even if one day, Daisy’s true parentage was revealed—

He would never let Aiden near Daisy.

...

After taking her medicine, Tiana fell into a deep sleep.

When she woke up, Daisy was lying by her bedside, staring at her without blinking.

The little girl had probably been crying.

Her big, adorable eyes were still marked with tear stains.

Seeing Tiana awake, the tiny figure slipped carefully into her arms.

"Mommy, Aunt Quinn said you vomited blood again today. Mommy, does it still hurt?"

"Mommy, I’m sorry. I wish I could hurt for you, but I can’t."

Daisy teared up as she spoke.

Her lips trembled, struggling hard to hold it in.

Tiana just hugged Daisy tighter, her heart aching. "Mommy’s fine, Mommy took her medicine, feels much better."

But just as she’d fallen into that deep sleep, she’d dreamed of her mother, Wanda Townsend.

In the dream, her mother asked her: Little Tiana, are you tired? If you’re tired, just sleep. Once you’re asleep, Mommy will always stay with you.

Seeing her mother made her so happy.

But the meaning of that dream wasn’t good.

Did it mean she would be able to see her mother soon?

Which also meant, she’d have to leave her precious Daisy forever?

She felt so much reluctance for Daisy.

...

At dinner, Tiana could barely eat anything.

Catherine Armstrong knew her appetite was bad, so she had stewed everything extra soft and mushy.

The vegetable and lean meat soup was boiled until mushy, the tofu was falling apart, the congee silky soft.

Tiana still barely ate.

Just to leave a good impression on the child, she even wore delicate makeup at the dinner table.

Even if she couldn’t eat, she still held her spoon, slowly feeding herself the mushy congee she’d prepared.

Catherine Armstrong watched her anxiously.

As a retired doctor, Catherine knew better than anyone else.

When a cancer patient can no longer eat, it means the end is near.

The entire family kept putting food into Tiana’s bowl.

At that moment, Ms. Quinn came over to the table.

"Miss Linden, that obnoxious Mr. Linden from last time is here to see you."

"I already sent him away."

"But he’s refusing to leave."

"Mr. Linden, you can’t go in!"

Just as she spoke, Daniel Linden barged into the Suttons’ dining room, pushing past the family staff.

No one at the table welcomed this uninvited guest.

Least of all, little Daisy.

She glared at Daniel Linden. "Big meanie! We don’t welcome you! Leave!"

Daisy was Daniel’s biological niece.

Her lack of manners made Daniel frown deeply.

What a lack of upbringing.

But as her uncle, Daniel didn’t stoop to her level.

He said gently, "Daisy, Uncle has some things to discuss with your mom. Children shouldn’t butt in."

At the table, Leo Sutton looked over coldly.

"Daniel Linden, this is the Sutton Family home."

"My daughters don’t need your discipline."

"She’s free to speak her mind, wherever and whenever."

Seeing Leo’s battered face, Daniel understood immediately.

Sure enough, Aiden had gotten into another brawl with Leo Sutton over Tiana.

Fueled by anger, Daniel snorted and looked toward Tiana at the table.

"Tiana, what on earth are you up to?"

"Vivian and Aiden are about to get married, and you just have to make trouble at this crucial moment, don’t you?"

Who exactly was causing trouble?

Catherine Armstrong wanted nothing more than to grab a bowl and smash it over Daniel Linden’s head.

But she remembered—they needed a favor from him.

If they wanted the M901 anti-cancer drug, Daniel’s permission was necessary.

Catherine forced down her anger.

"Tiana, is there some misunderstanding?"

Tiana knew that fiery Catherine suddenly speaking in such a polite tone meant she wanted to ask Daniel for the medicine.

But Tiana wouldn’t let Catherine beg.

"Mom, I’ll talk with him alone."

She stood up from the table.

Daisy and the others watched her anxiously.

"Mommy!"

"Tiana!"

Tiana smiled at everyone. "It’s okay."

Finally, her thin hand gently landed on Daisy’s head, giving her a soft pat.

"It’s alright, Daisy. I’m just going to talk with Uncle."

The smoldering rage in Daniel faded a bit at Tiana’s "Uncle" in front of the child.

After all, blood is thicker than water.

He actually hoped Tiana would change for the better.

He wished even more that the two siblings could go back to how they once were—close and loving.

So as they left the table and entered the garden, Daniel’s expression had softened.

Even his tone was gentler.

"Tiana, I just came today to ask you—not to cause trouble at Vivian and Aiden’s wedding, okay?"

"On the day of the wedding, can you please stay away from Aiden?"

"Don’t go to the wedding?"

"Think of this as your big brother begging you, will you?"

Tiana was only able to stand there in the garden, talking with Daniel Linden,

because Hector Chaucer had asked Leo to bring her that potent painkiller from overseas.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have the strength to stand.

She gave a bitter smile. "Brother, I won’t cause trouble at the wedding."

That word "brother" triggered so many memories for Daniel.

He suddenly felt his heart soften.

"What did you just call me?"

This grown man actually got a little teary-eyed.

How many years had it been since Tiana called him "brother"?

Tiana knew what she’d say next would irritate Daniel.

But she had no choice.

She wanted to live, wanted to stay and watch Daisy grow up. "Brother, the M901..." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"So that’s what you’re after." Daniel snapped, "Now I see why you’re suddenly being so sweet—actually calling me brother?"

Daniel snorted again and said:

"Tiana, let me tell you—M901 is the product of two generations of Linden-Grant Group’s sweat and tears."

"And you think you can just hand it over to Hector Chaucer? Don’t even think about it."

He said, in the tone of an older brother, lecturing Tiana,

"Tiana, are you brainless?"

"Isn’t Leo Sutton a great catch in every way?"

"How is he not better than that murderer Hector Chaucer?"

Tiana defended Hector, "Hector didn’t kill anyone. He’s already been acquitted."

Daniel snorted again. "You really think the deaths of the Second Chaucer and the Fourth Chaucer have nothing to do with him? He’s only been acquitted for three days, and the Second Chaucer and Fourth Chaucer—one run over by a car, one killed by falling debris. That’s just a coincidence?"

As for Hector’s troubles, Tiana didn’t have the strength to argue.

She tried to appeal to Daniel’s love as her brother:

"Brother, I really have late-stage lung cancer—there aren’t many days left for me. The M901, can you please..."

Daniel was unyielding. "I told you already—the anti-cancer drug is out of the question. If you insist on making the same mistake, I can’t stop you. But if you cause trouble at Vivian’s wedding on May 1st, I’ll break your legs."

...

A few minutes later, the people at the table saw Tiana return, looking dejected.

Daniel had left.

He was gone, but left a harsh threat behind.

Tiana was numb to these people’s coldness and ruthlessness.

Only when she looked at Daisy, so full of worry and love, did her emotions stir.

That M901 anti-cancer drug could have saved her life.

But the drug was still in clinical trials—she couldn’t get it.

Daniel still refused to give it to her.

He was her own brother.

Did it mean she really had to leave Daisy behind, never to see her again?

She’d thought she was ready to say goodbye to Daisy, once and for all.

But at this moment, she still couldn’t let go.

Night.

Daisy had fallen asleep.

Tiana sat quietly by Daisy under the moonlight.

Her thin hand rested on Daisy’s little cheek.

Warm tears slid down from the corner of Daisy’s eyes.

"Daisy, you’re still awake?"

Daisy opened her eyes and looked at her. "Mommy, I was just pretending to sleep."

Choking back sobs, Daisy said again:

"Mommy, every time you tuck me in, I can’t bear to fall asleep."

"I want to remember the way your gentle eyes look at me."

"Remember how you tuck my blanket around me."

"Remember the way you sneak a kiss on me."

Because—that’s what it feels like to be loved by Mommy.

Choking up, Daisy remembered the words she’d heard today, and the tears overflowed once more.

"Mommy, Aunt Quinn said you’re about to die."

"I don’t want you to die."

Daisy sat up and flung herself into her mother’s arms.

Tiana didn’t know how to comfort Daisy.

All she could do was hold Daisy tightly.

Maybe, she should tell Daisy there was still hope.

"Daisy, you know what? There’s a new anti-cancer drug now that could let Mommy get completely better."

"If Mommy takes this medicine, she’ll get all better."

Daisy lifted her head from Tiana’s embrace and wiped her tears. "Really?"

"When has Mommy ever lied to you?"

"Will the doctors give you the medicine?"

Tiana didn’t know how to explain this to Daisy.

She could only gloss over it. "Mm-hmm."

Light suddenly shone in Daisy’s eyes. "Mommy, that’s great! Tomorrow let’s go see the doctor. I’ll go with you!"

...

The next morning, the always-busy Hector Chaucer unexpectedly arrived at The Sovereign bright and early.

Leo Sutton and Tiana were having breakfast with the two kids.

Gabriel Chaucer and Catherine Armstrong were together feeding Penelope her morning bottle.

Leo set down his glass of milk and looked at Hector’s strong, handsome figure:

"You’ve just taken over the Chaucers."

"Being Patriarch Chaucer can’t be easy—how do you have time to come here first thing in the morning?"

Leo hadn’t really known Hector well before,

but after helping clear his name, the two had hit it off like old friends, almost like brothers now.

Hector sat right down at the table, completely at ease, and asked Ms. Quinn for another set of utensils.

"Hope you don’t mind if I crash breakfast?"

As he spoke, he glanced at Daisy and Tiana.

His gaze softened as it landed on Daisy’s adorable little face. "Good morning, Daisy!"

Then he greeted Laura, "Morning, Laura."

Daisy beamed. "Morning, Mr. Chaucer!"

"What’s got you so happy?" Hector was surprised.

Daisy was in such a good mood that her little mouth could hardly stop smiling.

"Mommy said the doctor will give her a medicine that can cure her cancer, so she can get better!"

Everyone knew "that medicine" meant M901.

This time, Hector looked at Tiana. "Did you take the painkillers?"

Tiana nodded. "Yes, thank you, Hector."

Hector sipped the soy milk Ms. Quinn had poured for him. "In a bit, I’ll come with you to drop Laura and Daisy off at school."

Because he had something to discuss with Tiana.

Leo asked suspiciously, "You’re not busy today?"

Hector didn’t answer. Instead he looked at Tiana and asked, "After taking the painkillers, has your appetite gotten any better?"

She did seem a bit more energetic.

Seeing her nod, Hector didn’t ask further.

Today, Daisy was indeed in a good mood.

After breakfast, a few of them rode together to the school.

Daisy chattered on with Hector all the way.

"Mr. Chaucer, you look so handsome today."

Hector gently stroked Daisy’s little head. "Which day am I not handsome?"

Mommy said the doctor would give her a new medicine today.

Once she took the new medicine, she’d be all better.

So Daisy was delighted. "Mr. Chaucer, do you have a girlfriend?"

Hector replied patiently, "No."

Daisy asked again, "Then is there a girl you like?"

This time, Tiana, sitting beside Daisy, gently tapped her on the head. "Why are you so talkative today?"

"It’s fine." Hector looked back at Daisy from the front seat. "I used to, a long time ago."

Then he turned around,

and looked up at the rearview mirror in the center of the car.

In the mirror, he saw Tiana and the two kids.

Hector’s gaze lingered on Tiana’s reflection.

Leo asked, "Hector, how come you’re so free today?"

This time Hector looked away and said lightly, "I just happen to be free today."

Twenty minutes later, Daisy and Laura entered the kindergarten.

Hector stood at the school gate, looking at Tiana as she waved to Daisy.

"Are you going to find Aiden?"

"To beg him for some M901 anti-cancer drug?"

Tiana pulled her eyes away from her two little ones disappearing into the distance. "Even if I begged him, maybe he wouldn’t give it to me."

Hector said, "Don’t go to him. Just keep taking those painkillers I had brought from overseas."

Right then, Tiana’s phone rang.

An unfamiliar number was calling.

Tiana guessed it was Aiden.

Since she’d already blocked him, he always called from strange numbers now.

But maybe it wasn’t him.

He had said: from now on, they would never meet again, never have any ties again.

Confused, Tiana answered the call.

"Tiana, let’s meet."