Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Tina kicked Jared hard under the table without changing her expression. What exactly was going on between the two of them, Jennie wondered, didn’t he have any idea himself? Furthermore, she noticed that Jared seemed addicted to holding her hand, seizing every opportunity to stick close.

Suddenly, a news alert popped up on Tina’s phone: “Chairman of the Reeds Company urgently hospitalized!” Tina tried to pull her hand away from Jared’s grasp without success, her gaze turning icy as she contemplated whether flipping the table and starting a fight would scare Jennie.

Jared, unabashed, put down his chopsticks and considerately unlocked his phone to open the news article, handing it to Tina. Tina glanced down, seeing an image of medical personnel carrying someone out of Moon Gate Estate and into an ambulance. Despite the mosaic blur over the image, the clothes made it clear it was Elizabeth. Well, the photo was pleasing enough to put her in a good mood, so she decided not to settle scores with Jared for the moment.

Jennie, watching the couple’s interaction with a goofy smile, suddenly lit up with a call. “Hello, Hugo, what’s happened?” Whatever Hugo said, Jennie’s expression grew increasingly grave.

“Tina,” she sighed after hanging up, “your dad called to say your grandmother was hospitalized, and he wants us to visit her.”

“Haven’t we already cut ties with them?” Tina’s tone cooled.

“That’s true,” sighed Jennie, “but she is still your dad’s mother. There’s an old saying, ‘Blood ties cannot be severed, and kinship can sometimes grow distant.’ Out of filial duty, your dad has to show his face.”

Jared knew Tina was upset as she played with her noodles in silence, and he scratched her palm to comfort her, but she just gave him a cold glance.

“Don’t worry, though,” Jennie paused before continuing, “your dad is sensible. Let him go by himself; we won’t get involved for now.”

She said this while casting a sidelong glance at Jared, suspecting the Farrell family’s involvement meant Elizabeth likely knew as well. If not, why would Elizabeth, who usually disliked Tina, want to see her now, if not to take advantage of Jared?

Jennie was right in her guess; Elizabeth indeed had such thoughts.

In the hospital, in a VIP ward, Elizabeth had just woken up, looking ill and more sullen than ever. She stared coldly at her two sons by her bed, asking, “Was it truly the Farrell family’s doing?”

“The bank isn’t clear about it,” Pinewood replied with an equally dark look, “but several suppliers did say it was pressure from the Farrell family.”

“Damned Farrell family, damned Jared, damned Tina!” Elizabeth nearly spat out venom with her words. “And Hugo? Am I so close to death that my own son doesn’t come to see me?”

As soon as she finished speaking, hurried footsteps approached, and Hugo pushed through the door, “Mom!” At the sight of only him, Elizabeth frowned, “Where’s Tina?”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Tina didn’t come.”

Elizabeth grabbed the thermos from the bedside table and hurled it at Hugo. With a loud bang, the thermos hit the white wall of the hospital room, bits of plaster scattered down, and the lid flew off, striking Hugo’s shin. The water inside splashed against the wall and onto Hugo.

Fortunately, it was only warm water; otherwise, Hugo could have been scalded. Hugo stood at the door, a hurt look flashing across his face, but still he gritted his teeth and looked at Elizabeth, “Mom!”

“Don’t call me mom!” Elizabeth, not caring in the least whether Hugo was hurt, glared at him with venomous eyes, “Bringing Tina back, do you think my life is too long? I wholeheartedly helped her to become the daughter-in-law of the Farrell family, and this is how she repays me? By letting the Farrell family destroy the Reed family?”

Stunned by the realization, Hugo connected Amber’s posts with the negative news about the Reed family. His tone sank, “Mom, the engagement of Tina and Jared was arranged by Rebecca. The Reed family’s lineage couldn’t match the Farrell’s, and it was you who first despised Jared for his disability, not wanting Amber to marry him. Later, you harbored the thought of using Tina’s marriage to make a fortune. So let’s not pretend it was all for Tina’s sake.”

Elizabeth’s face flushed with embarrassment and anger, “So having the Farrell family’s support changes how you speak!”

“And as for today’s incident, if it really was the Farrell family’s doing, it was Jared standing up for Tina,” Hugo continued, seizing the opportunity to speak.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know about Amber slandering Tina, claiming Tina stole her fiance and then took credit for curing Mrs. Fanning’s granddaughterof illness,” Hugo said, showing Amber’s post on his phone. “But before I came here, I had already confirmed with the Fanning family that it was actually her who used the wrong medication and almost killed Beatrice’s daughter. If it wasn’t for them finding Tina in time, Miss Woodham could have suffered severely, and Amber would be in jail right now!”

After understanding the full story, Hugo was so angry he had never regretted the decision to adopt Amber more. This adopted daughter was not only selfish and greedy, but she also nearly caused a catastrophe and had the audacity to turn the blame onto others.

“Amber is your daughter too! She’s Tina’s sister!” Pinewood interjected, “Even if there really was a conflict between the sisters, did it have to be resolved publicly, causing the Reed family to fall apart?”

“That’s right, Hugo, don’t forget who you are!” Talon chimed in as well.

Pinewood and Talon’s dissatisfaction with their niece Tina had evolved from initial discontent to wishing she had never returned. Since her return, the Reed family had not only failed to gain any benefits from her but had also been beset with constant trouble, now teetering on the brink of disaster.

Hugo, however, found it laughable. Who was he? He had never felt a shred of warmth from this family, only burdens.

“Resolve privately? If Amber wanted to resolve things privately, why did she post online to slander Tina, leading to cyberbullying?” Hugo then turned to Elizabeth, “Today, someone blocked my house, and there were disturbances at Zackary’s kindergarten. Jennie said, our front door was splashed with red paint, cursed with words against Tina.”

He laughed coldly, suddenly feeling an immense wave of weariness, “The netizens aren’t fools. Online bullying, sending intimidating parcels is one thing, but how many would be foolish enough to rally for Amber, a person with no blood ties, and cause such open havoc?”

“What are you implying?” Elizabeth’s eyes darted away, avoiding Hugo’s intense gaze.