Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Jared Farrell slightly curled his lips, realizing that his Tina too felt jealousy. “I don’t like you keeping secrets with other men either. Was that Sutcliffe looking at you just now?”

“Friend,” Tina responded indifferently, without further explanation.

Jared’s gaze subtly shifted, sweeping past Jasper Reed not far away. “The head of the Reed family has been watching you too.”

Tina’s cool gaze moved towards Jasper, meeting his eyes. Perhaps because her expression was so cold, Jasper, long accustomed to others avoiding his imposing presence, inexplicably looked away first, though he couldn’t help but steal another glance.

For some reason, he felt she looked familiar, even though he was sure he had never met Tina before. In her, he seemed to see a shadow of Natalie Whittaker…

“Jasper,” Elizabeth, noticing Jasper Reed’s continuous observation of Tina, stepped forward nervously. She tried to force a smile on her stern face to divert his attention, “Amber is about to take her exams, have you discussed with her which university she prefers?”

“She’s leaning towards Ashbury,” Jasper politely replied, caught up in conversation with Elizabeth, and no longer looking at Tina but towards the stage where Amber was.

At the climax of her performance, Amber forcefully lifted her hands, the flowing piano music in the hall abruptly stopped, and as the piece ended, she stood to bow. The audience, showing their respect, applauded generously.

Amber’s first glance was towards Jared Farrell, eager to see if her piano playing had moved him. Unfortunately, Jared’s gaze was solely fixed on Tina.

Biting her lower lip, she didn’t descend from the stage but instead smiled towards Tina in the crowd, “Tina, it’s your turn now. I am really looking forward to this gift.”

All eyes then turned to Tina, waiting for her reaction.

“Amber,” Annabelle’s face darkened, “If Miss Reed doesn’t want to play, don’t pester her. It makes us look rude.”

Who was Annabelle? Back when the Ashbury Reed family was embroiled in internal strife, she stood by Muff Reed and eventually became the head matron of the Reed family.

She could see through Amber’s little schemes. Thinking Tina would not play, she naturally stepped in to defend her savior.

Amber’s face turned pale, not expecting Annabelle to publicly protect Tina, especially at her own party where she was supposed to be the star.

“Miss Reed, we have failed in our discipline, please don’t mind,” Annabelle apologized to Tina.

“I do mind. What about it?” Tina’s gaze lifted, meaningful and deep, directed at Annabelle.

“This…” Annabelle paused for a moment, “I will discipline her properly when we return.”

“No need!” Tina’s gaze fell on Amber, her lips slightly curling, “Since we are family, I’ll teach her myself.”

She emphasized the word “family” heavily.

Annabelle was stunned, not understanding what Tina intended to do.

Before she could react, Tina was already walking towards the stage. The crowd, initially believing she wouldn’t play, was now whispering among themselves.

Given Amber’s preceding performance, unless Tina could play at Sutcliffe’s level, she would likely become a laughingstock.

“Tina,” Amber said as Tina ascended the stage, feigning surprise and delight, “I knew you would fulfill my wish.”

“Is that so?” Tina’s smile grew colder, “Then do enjoy this gift!”

Amber’s face flushed with embarrassment as she stepped down angrily and watched Tina approach the piano. Tina casually tested the keys and flexed her fingers.

Amber, seeing Tina’s unfamiliarity with the piano, sneered inwardly at her presumption. Having won national awards, Amber was confident in her superiority, especially after performing first to overshadow Tina’s potential attempt.

Her lips slowly curved into a smirk of triumph, but her smile froze the next second.

Tina, loosening her fingers, began to play. The piano notes started softly like a gentle morning breeze and a slow stream, then gradually built in speed and intensity, turning into a fierce storm and turbulent waves that resonated through the hall.

“Is this the Maltese Fantasia?” Esther whispered in awe.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Anyone with a slight knowledge of piano recognized it as the notoriously difficult Maltese Fantasia, inspired by the composer’s experiences of a hurricane and a poignant love affair in Malta.

The complex technique and emotional range required had always been daunting, but Tina played effortlessly, perhaps even surpassing Sutcliffe.

Amber’s face darkened. Her performance of Summer Dance, also known for its emotional depth, was supposed to showcase her talent adequately. But Summer Dance paled in comparison to Maltese Fantasia in both fame and difficulty.

Unable to believe the masterful performance unfolding, Elise Chandler approached Amber, “What’s going on, Amber? You said this Tinahas always lived in the countryside and never learned to play the piano?”

“I… I don’t know when she learned,” Amber forced a smile.

Indeed, Tina had always lived in a rural temple, and Amber had never imagined she could play the piano. But now, Tina’s virtuosic performance was metaphorically slapping Amber’s face.

Amber had intended for Tina to embarrass herself as a mere backdrop to her own performance, but now it was clear that she was the one being overshadowed.

She had lifted a rock only to drop it on her own foot.

“Amber, I must say Tina plays the piano much better than you,” Audrey Woodwind chimed in mockingly, “I thought you were setting her up to fail by making her play after you. But it turns out you were sincerely inviting her to perform. Even warming up the audience for her with your piece, just to highlight her excellence.”