Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Jared reached out, scraped some cream with his finger, and popped it into his mouth. A second later, his face contorted in agony, an expression of pain like none had ever graced his features before. Tina, alarmed, asked, "Could it be poisoned?" Jared waved his hand dismissively, leaning on Tina's leg, "It's just very bitter." Tina was speechless. "Is it really that bitter?" she questioned, tasting it herself, nearly allowing her fondness for strawberry cake to plummet. It was supposed to be cream, yet how could it be so bitter! Suddenly, Tina remarked, "It's like something my mother would make." As the words left her mouth, both she and Jared paused abruptly. They slowly lifted their eyes, their gazes meeting. The cake, indeed, bore an uncanny resemblance to Natalie's handiwork. They sat in silence, each hardly believing their own thoughts, though all signs of late seemed to point in one direction.

After a while, Tina shook her head, "I've never tasted a strawberry cake this awful." Jared unwrapped a piece of strawberry cake he had brought along and fed it to Tina, "Eat this one, it's sweet." Tina chuckled, her eyes glancing unintentionally at the bitterly disappointing cake. After finishing the sweet cake, Tina leaned back on the sofa, patting her stomach, "Uncle, didn't you say you needed to see me about something?"

Jared produced two invitations and laid them before Tina, "Take a look." Tina picked them up, flipping through them with a smile, "The director wants to meet me, could have just said so, why all the fuss?" Although Linden was hosting the banquet under the guise of the Reed family's name and had invited both Tina and Jared, they were no fools to Linden's true intentions. The banquet was clearly orchestrated for Linden to meet Tina.

"So, are we going?" Jared asked, observing Tina's expression which already hinted at her thoughts. Tina laughed, "Of course, we'll go. If we didn't, think of all the drama we'd miss." That evening, Tina and Jared dressed up and attended the event. Esther, with Audrey, greeted the guests at the door, their faces brightening upon seeing Tina. "Tina, you finally made it, I've missed you. Tried calling but couldn't get through," Esther approached warmly, taking Tina's hand. Esther seemed particularly cheerful, her husband's return evidently uplifting her spirits, her smile deeper than before. "I was off to Clearwater recently, had my phone off," Tina explained with a smile, then turned to Audrey, "Have you fully recovered?" After the accident, Tina had saved the person and hadn't followed up, since there was no longer any danger to their life. Audrey nodded, "Yes, I'm completely healed, but my cousin..."

"What happened to Griffin?" Tina inquired.

Audrey's eyes welled with tears, feeling guilty about Griffin's condition. If she hadn't been so reckless as to throw away her helmet, and had not been shielded by Griffin, he might have been alright. Esther sighed, "Griffin had woken up, but his condition worsened suddenly that night. After emergency treatment, his life was saved, but the doctors say he suffered brain damage and might remain vegetative." Tina was momentarily stunned, having performed the surgery herself, she was confident there had been no errors.

What on earth was going on?

"Why didn't you inform me? Where is Griffin now?" Tina demanded in a deep voice.

The person she had saved was having a relapse?

And the Reed family, why hadn't they informed her immediately? Otherwise, Griffin would never have ended up in a vegetative state. Esther tried to soothe Tina, "We did want to inform you, but... we couldn't keep bothering you, you have so much on your plate."

"Are we not family? Is that also a bother?"

Hearing this, Tina grew even more infuriated, yet felt somewhat helpless.

After all, her relationship with the Reed family could never be as open and straightforward as it was with Hugo.

The Reed family felt the same, each harboring feelings of guilt.

"Tina, we all know your heart, but we just couldn't face coming to you again," Esther said, wiping away tears, the guilt weighing heavily on her again.

Tina softened her tone, no longer reproaching, "Alright, Aunt, where is Griffin now?"

"Griffin has been sent abroad for treatment by Damian. They say it's a good place for recovery for vegetative patients."

Hearing that Griffin had been sent away, Tina sighed deeply. With so much going on in Ashbury, she couldn't possibly go after him; she'd have to let Griffin rest a while longer. "Let's go inside. I'll introduce you to your uncle," Esther said, drying her tears and leading Tina inside.

Linden was adeptly conversing with various individuals, managing his social connections effortlessly.

From a distance, upon seeing Jared and Tina approach, he walked over with a glass in hand.

"So, you're Tina. I've heard so much about you from your aunt, and truly, the reputation is well-deserved. You look like a fairy," Linden greeted her with a smile. With such a polite introduction, Tina couldn't very well respond coldly.

"Mr. Shaw, I've long admired your reputation, and I'm glad to finally meet you," Tina said with a smile, her face gentle, yet her eyes concealed layers of coldness. Linden seemed not to notice, pretending ignorance, "And this must be Mr. Farrell. Pleased to meet you."

Linden extended his hand in a gesture of politeness, as if meeting Jared for the first time.

Jared, reciprocating the gesture as if it were their first meeting, shook his hand, "Just call me Jared, Uncle."

After a round of polite exchanges, the party officially began.

There wasn't much to do except eat and chat.

Tina and Jared, not fond of bustling scenes, soon settled into a corner sofa.

Soon after, Linden came over with a fruit platter, setting it on the table.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

"Since when did the Director also start moonlighting as a waiter?" Tina joked, her gaze fixed on Linden, like a dangerous poppy flower.

Linden sat down casually, "Over the years, I've had my share of part-time jobs - waiter, courier, food delivery, meter reader, collecting electricity bills; I've been through quite a bit." Tina actually enjoyed Linden's humor, the danger in her expression lessening as she laughed heartily.

Jared picked a strawberry from the fruit platter and held it to Tina's lips, "Strawberries are rare this season."

"They're still available; my niece likes them, so I always make sure to find some," Linden pushed the fruit platter slightly towards Tina.

Just a remark revealed how well Linden understood Tina, his expression seemingly revealing more than one might expect.