Even in Darkness She Chose to Rise (Tatiana and Jasper) novel Chapter 415

Chapter 415 The Secret Gift

Finished

These men looked terrifying–tough, thick–skinned, with a murderous glint in their eyes. Yet, when they saw the women approaching, they would stop dead in their tracks, force a stiff smile, and bow respectfully to Tatiana.

They were exceptionally deferential.

Tatiana had tried to tell them many times that such formalities weren’t necessary, but they never listened. To them, this was the only way to express their genuine loyalty and respect. Eventually, she simply let them be.

“I hope they didn’t scare you,” she said to Rose.

Rose shook her head, though her gaze remained complicated. “Tatiana, are they all…?”

“Employees of my company.”

“Company employees?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know. They don’t look like office workers to me. They look more like bandits. Their eyes are far too fierce.”

Tatiana thought to herself: You hit the nail on the head.

Pirates were, by definition, bandits. However, they had all been “whitewashed” into legitimate corporate employees with full benefits, insurance, and excellent pay.

“Perhaps it’s just their heritage; they tend to have rugged features. But don’t worry, they’re actually quite kind–hearted.”

Rose felt more than ever that Tatiana’s background was shrouded in mystery.

After their walk, they returned to the main hall, where Tatiana introduced Rose to her grandmother. “Grandma, this is my friend, Rose.”

Madam Lindsey looked up, and a flicker of surprise crossed her face. It seemed they weren’t entirely strangers. Rose also recognized the elderly woman immediately, her eyes widening in shock. “Tatiana, this is your grandmother?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

Lindsey smiled gently. “We’ve crossed paths a few times.”

Rose looked a bit flustered but quickly regained her composure, maintaining a respectful tone. “I wish you a long and healthy life.”

She presented her gift–a painting by a famous Ming Dynasty master. It was a piece of considerable value. Lindsey accepted it with a graceful smile.

Rose found an excuse to step away for a moment. Tatiana didn’t follow her, instead turning to her

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Chapter 415 The Secret Gift

grandmother. “Grandma, you two know each other?”

Finished

“Acquaintances, mostly. I’m more familiar with her husband; he’s a decent young man. It’s just… their relationship is quite complicated.”

Lindsey didn’t elaborate, leaving the thought there. Seeing that her grandmother didn’t disapprove, Tatiana added, “We get along quite well.”

“It’s good. You really do need to make more friends.”

Lindsey didn’t care about the sordid dramas of other wealthy families. If Tatiana wanted to be friends with her, she wouldn’t stand in the way.

Tatiana felt a weight lift from her chest and gave the elderly woman an affectionate hug. “Thank you, Grandma.”

In the middle of the celebration, Tammy wheeled out a massive six–tier cake. Ann and Hubert jumped out from the side, hands raised high, as a fleet of dozens of drones took to the sky behind them.

The drones shifted into various formations–first a bouquet of flowers, then a silhouette of Madam Lindsey, and finally, a string of bold characters wishing her a life as long as the southern mountains and happiness as vast as the eastern sea.

Ann and Hubert shouted in unison, “Happy Birthday, Great–Grandmother!”

The sophisticated drone display captivated the guests from the nursing home, who looked on with envy.

“You really are blessed! Such a devoted granddaughter and such filial great–grandchildren!”

“What a pair of brilliant, adorable children. They’re simply delightful!”

Amidst the shower of praise, Lindsey couldn’t stop smiling. Her heart felt full, and she felt as though the hardships of her earlier life had all been leading up to this moment of pure happiness.

“Great–Grandmother!” The two little ones lunged forward, surrounding Lindsey.

“Oh, my precious darlings!”

The sight of the three of them embracing filled Tatiana with a sense of peace, patching the holes in her heart.

“Alright, let Great–Grandmother cut the cake first. Everyone is waiting.”

As Lindsey and the children prepared to make the first slice, a subordinate approached Tatiana with a strange expression. “Ma’am, someone just delivered a gift outside.”

“Oh? From whom?”

“We… we don’t know. It was just left at the gate. It’s a massive crate, but there was no one in sight.”

Tatiana frowned. She paused the banquet and went to the gate herself. Sure enough, a giant crate sat there. A card was attached to it.

“Wishing you health and peace.”

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Chapter 415 The Secret Gift

The handwriting was far too familiar. Tatiana froze on the spot. It was… him..

Lindsey and the children followed her out. “What is it? Did someone arrive?”

Finished

Ann and Hubert ran to their mother’s side. Before they could speak, both pairs of eyes landed on the card. They gasped in unison. “It’s Daddy!”

If Tatiana could recognize it, the children certainly could recognize their father’s script. They never expected him to send a gift.

Hubert was the quickest to react, running out to scan the surroundings, but his eyes soon filled with disappointment. “Daddy isn’t here.”

Ann looked up at her mother. “Mommy, should we open it?”

Tatiana took a deep breath and nodded. “Open it.”

Tammy, sensing a potential threat, stepped forward to open the crate herself. As she pulled the items out, a collective gasp went up from the crowd.

Inside, protected by beautiful glass cases, were several incredibly expensive auction pieces. Among them were many of the artifacts from the auction the other night–specifically, the ones that had been snatched away from Tatiana.

The expression on her face slowly turned to stone.

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