Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Jared watched Tina enter the building before he started his car and drove away. On the road, he called Nathan. "Check on the Brookes family, leave no stone unturned, not even a dog, especially those who are dead or missing," he instructed. Nathan didn't ask further, simply acknowledged, and hung up the phone. Jared comforted Tina outwardly but harbored doubts within himself. Since it involved the Brookes family, Tina was deeply connected. After all, the person who altered Tina's paternity test had not yet been found.

The next day, Jared was waiting downstairs at Tina's house early in the morning, and she came out promptly, unusually not oversleeping. "My mom made you breakfast, try it." As Tina got into the car, Jared handed her a food box. Inside, the so-called breakfast was a cream bun stuffed with butter-fried egg, accompanied by a few slices of tomato. Tina took a bite; the taste was surprisingly good. "Did Marie make this herself?" she asked while eating. Jared sighed silently, "Sort of. The cream buns were cut by her hand, but the eggs were fried by my dad, since my mom turned all the eggs in the fridge to carbon."

Tina could picture that scene; in fact, she often did the same! Eventually, Jennie couldn't stand it anymore and banned her from the kitchen. Soon after, they arrived at the Brookes family home. Before they even entered, they heard crying from inside. But, it wasn't Kiki or Mimi, nor Scarlett. The two walked in and immediately understood upon seeing the sports car parked in the yard. Brandon had arrived. And he wasn't alone, as the crying was from a woman; Brandon himself couldn't cry.

Scarlett was outside studying a strawberry cake, having finally mastered the art of separating egg whites from yolks. Seeing Tina, she hurried over. "What's going on?" Tina asked. Scarlett touched her nose, "Wait a bit before going in, it's quite messy inside, she's been crying all morning." Clearly, Scarlett was quite annoyed by the crying. Scarlett was usually easy-going, never showing displeasure or coldness towards anyone. It was rare for someone to annoy her to this extent. Tina didn't insist and sat in the yard, watching Scarlett continue her experiment with the cream ratio.

Before long, a shout came from outside the gate. "Is that my dear niece arriving? Uncle Brandon saw your car!" Scarlett looked up, "Your Uncle Brandon's here; he's been fussing about wanting to see you. I told him you'd be here today, and that finally calmed him down. Really annoying." Although Scarlett spoke with annoyance, her face still wore a smile, starkly contrasting the crying from inside the house. Brand approached Tina, holding a bouquet of flowers in one hand and various pastries in the other, "Niece, long time no see, missed your uncle?"

"Yes, I missed you," Tina smiled, just as she was about to take the flowers from Brandon, Jared intercepted them. What a joke, how could he just watch Tina take flowers from another man! Even if it was her uncle. Brandon looked at Jared appreciatively, "Hmm, you've got my style! A jealous man is a good man!"

Jack had had enough. "Brandon, that's enough. Go inside and take a look around before people start thinking something's wrong with our family."

Scarlett nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Brandon, stop fooling around and do something useful."

Brandon sighed. "Scarlett, you'll never get this cake right!"

Scarlett almost threw the unwhipped cream all over Brandon!

Fortunately, he ran fast.

Tina laughed out loud. Uncle Brandon really had no clue.

A minute after Brandon went inside, the crying stopped.

He came out pushing Grandpa Brookes in a wheelchair, with a woman beside him. Grandpa Brookes, seeing Tina, smiled even more broadly. "Tina, come here, let me introduce you."

Tina walked over, and Grandpa Brookes introduced the woman behind him. "This is Rachel, my adopted daughter, four years younger than Alina. Rachel, this is Tina I've told you about."

Rachel stepped forward and hugged Tina warmly. "Tina, I'm your aunt. I mentioned visiting you when you were last in Clearwater, but your Uncle Brandon said you were busy, so I didn't come. I'm glad we finally meet." Tina frowned slightly; she disliked being hugged by a stranger.

However, in front of Grandpa Brookes, she restrained herself.

"Hello," Tina greeted.

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She noticed Rachel's red eyes and knew she had been crying a lot.

Rachel held Tina's hand warmly, as if looking at her own niece. "Tina has grown up to be so beautiful, really looks a lot like Alina."

Brandon walked over and pulled Tina away. "Rachel, you were only six when Alina was still here. Do you really remember what she looked like?"

"I was six, of course, I remember. Besides, the house is full of Alina's photos. How could I forget?" Rachel complained, sitting down next to Grandpa Brookes. "Dad, look at him, always teasing me." Grandpa Brookes tapped Brandon with his cane. "Don't always bully your sister."

Brandon said nothing, handing Tina back to Jared, and commented, "Take care of your own wife; how can you let just anyone touch her?"

Rachel's face showed embarrassment, especially since Brandon's comment was quite pointed.

Jared chuckled, keeping Tina close to his side.

He didn't dislike Rachel but knew Tina disliked strangers getting too close, and Rachel's overly enthusiastic hugs and hand-holding made Tina uncomfortable.

Grandpa Brookes shook his head at his son's attitude toward Rachel; his sons' behavior toward her hadn't changed over the years, no matter how much he advised.

He sighed, unsure what was wrong with Rachel.

"Hey, Tina, I brought you a gift. See if you like it," Brandon said, retrieving a gift box from his car.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

Inside was a jade hairpin, exquisitely made, with high-quality gemstones.

Tina smiled knowingly. "I like it."

She picked up the hairpin, noting its weight. Upon closer inspection, it concealed a hidden weapon!

"Carry it with you. It's the latest style, and it will definitely look good on you," Brandon said with a smile.

Jack had informed Brandon about Warren Pace and the mysterious note, prompting Brandon to prepare this item for Tina's self-defense.