Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Jared immediately straightened up, shedding his earlier weak demeanor. He took Tina’s hand and followed Jasper Reed into the Reed family car. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to instruct Hayden, who was left behind, “Make sure Courtney is settled in, and be careful of GTO coming back.”

Hayden glanced at Courtney and nodded. Courtney exchanged a look with Tina but said nothing more.

Once Tina and Jared were in Jasper Reed’s car, she asked Jared with amusement, “Your back doesn’t hurt anymore?”

Jared immediately hunched over slightly, clutching his left side with a fragile expression. Leaning against the seat, he looked at Tina with a pitiful gaze that seemed almost tearful.

Tina felt a shiver run down her spine. She thought that if Jasper Reed weren’t sitting nearby watching them like a hawk, Jared might have leaned into her arms to act spoiled.

Imagining such an unbearable scene made Tina shudder uncontrollably.

Jasper Reed, sitting next to Tina, had been observing the interaction between the couple. Watching Jared use his eyes to act spoiled toward Tina, he inwardly scoffed with disdain. Such affectation was just a tactic to deceive his daughter.

Although Natalie had chosen him, it had been ten years since her passing. Ten years ago, Jared had been a gentle and refined young man. Back then, Jasper Reed had thought highly of him.

He had even thought that if he ever had a daughter, she would marry Jared in the future.

Now, many years had passed, and people change. Just by looking at Jared’s demeanor, he was no longer the same young man from back then. For Tina’s future happiness, Jasper Reed felt he needed to scrutinize Jared carefully.

This was why he had so readily agreed to let Jared accompany Tina back to the Reed family; it was easiest to observe him up close.

Whispering Pines.

Audrey Woodwind sat thoughtfully on the swing in the garden, frowning as she swayed back and forth.

This time, after returning from Ensford, she first went back to the Woodwind family with Esther.

She had done well in her college entrance exams this year and could get into Northern University. However, the Woodwind family intended to send her abroad for further studies and called her back to ask for her opinion.

As she pondered whether to go abroad or attend Northern University, she heard the sound of car horns outside the gates of Whispering Pines.

The electric iron gate of Whispering Pines opened wide as a black stretch limousine drove in, escorted by two other cars.

Curious, Audrey Woodwind jumped off the swing. She wondered when her uncle started liking such grand entrances.

The rear door of the stretch limousine opened first. A pair of long legs stepped out, followed by a tall man whose presence made Audrey Woodwind pause.

He was dressed casually today; even his hair was unstyled. Yet he still exuded his usual elegance. The morning sunlight turned his tousled hair golden and softened his typically cold eyes into something more tender.

He stood by the car door and extended his hand to help a tall girl out of the back seat.

This was the third time Audrey Woodwind had seen this beautiful girl. Like before at Willow’s piano recital, she was dressed casually in a white T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.

Upon closer inspection, her clothes were even a bit dirty.

But standing together under the daylight with that man, there was an indescribable harmony and compatibility between them.

Jasper Reed was the last to get out of the car. He gave Jared a disapproving glare before looking at Tina with some disappointment.

He had wanted to open the door for his daughter himself and help her out of the car personally but was preempted by Jared.

“Uncle,” Audrey Woodwind greeted warmly as she walked up quickly and extended her hand affectionately towards Tina. “Tina, you’re finally back! Uncle has been looking for you for days.”

“Hello,” Tina said hesitantly as she extended her hand. She intended just to shake it briefly but Audrey Woodwind held onto it firmly and led her towards the main house, leaving Jared behind.

“Come on! I’ll take you to see Grandma!”

Jared glanced at Jasper Reed. When Jasper started walking first, Jared followed politely at the rear.

As Tina followed Audrey Woodwind towards the main house, she took in Whispering Pines’ surroundings.

The Reed family was a century-old lineage; Whispering Pines’ history dated back hundreds of years. The then-head of the Reed family built Whispering Pines which had been renovated over generations. The place exuded traces of old times while blending seamlessly with modern elements-a unique charm indeed.

The Reed family once fell out of Ashbury’s four major families and faced decline; even Whispering Pines nearly got auctioned off to pay debts.

Later on, it was said they received help from some mysterious force which allowed them to make a comeback into Ashbury’s four major families-surpassing both Ward and Emerson families to rank second again.

As soon as they entered the hall, Annabelle came downstairs supported by Esther upon hearing news about their arrival. Seeing Tina brought tears of joy to Annabelle’s eyes as she smiled warmly at her granddaughter-to-be: “Tina! I never expected you’d turn out being my granddaughter.”

Stepping forward eagerly while tightly holding onto Tina’s hands-smiling yet teary-eyed-Annabelle reminisced: “I always felt connected with you ever since you saved me.”

Her expectant gaze fell upon Tina who understood what Annabelle wanted-to be called ‘Grandma.’

But instead of showing any warmth or enthusiasm towards Annabelle’s gesture-Tina merely glanced indifferently before uttering flatly: “Grandma Reed.”

Not everyone deserved such an honorific from her lips-even if biologically related!

If investigations revealed that Annabelle had wronged her mother back then-even biological ties wouldn’t spare anyone!

“It’s okay…we can take our time,” Annabelle said disappointedly but understandingly given what she knew about how Elizabeth mistreated young Tina back at Ensford’s Reed household through Jasper’s investigation reports earlier on…

“Oh dear! Has Jasper brought home another ill-mannered daughter?” A sharp voice echoed from upstairs: “Didn’t your mother teach you any manners? Can’t even greet your grandmother properly?”

Tina squinted slightly as she looked up towards where that voice came from-a woman with neatly tied hair wearing beige linen suit slowly descended down while scrutinizing Tina disdainfully…

Standing beside Annabelle now-the woman scanned every inch critically before sneering contemptuously: “Jasper-your daughter lacks basic etiquette! How did Natalie raise such an ill-mannered child? Visiting dressed like this is bad enough-but dirty clothes too!”

“Liliosa!” Annabelle scolded sternly: “She’s your niece! Watch your words!”

“Tina is my daughter,” Jasper interjected coldly while glaring at Liliosa: “She isn’t visiting-she belongs here-as part owner! She can dress however she likes within her own home without needing anyone’s approval!”Content provided by NôvelDrama.Org.