Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Indeed!

Audrey Woodwind glanced up and saw Jared Farrell dressed in a black suit, standing sideways by a pile of pastries, looking down as if searching for something. He was tall with long legs, one hand in his pocket, accentuating his broad shoulders and narrow waist. A rare gentle smile graced half of his handsome face, though it was unclear what he was thinking about.

Despite his uncharacteristically gentle demeanor, Audrey Woodwind dared not greet him. She remembered how Jared Farrell had humiliated Lily Ward before. Even though Lily Ward’s eyes occasionally fell on Jared Farrell as soon as she entered the banquet hall, she dared not approach him.

This man was cold to every woman except Tina. Audrey guessed correctly that Jared Farrell was indeed thinking about Tina. He scanned the table of pastries and found a strawberry cake in the middle. Just as he reached out to take it, another slender hand reached out simultaneously, and they both grabbed the plate of strawberry cake, startled.

Jared Farrell looked up to meet the owner of the other hand-a handsome young man with a high nose bridge, beautiful phoenix eyes, and thin pink lips. The young man looked at him with slight surprise, “Mr. Farrell likes strawberry cake too?”

Jared Farrell recognized the handsome young man as Lysander, the only son of Hawk from the Emerson family. Normally, he wouldn’t pay attention to someone who had just entered Ashbury’s elite circle. However, he had heard his cousin Orson mention Lysander often enough to remember him.

Orson and Lysander were both regarded as genius esports players. Lysander had become a professional player at fifteen, leading his club to seven consecutive championships under a mysterious coach and earning seven FMVPs himself. Orson, who also became a professional player that same year, spent a year on the bench before becoming a starting player. Though Orson’s club later won two championships and he earned two FMVPs, people often compared him unfavorably to Lysander.

Lysander’s club had experienced consecutive defeats this season, dropping from Group S to Group B. Yet he still received higher praise than Orson. People said Lysander was too loyal to switch teams and was dragged down by older teammates with declining skills. Otherwise, with his talent, he could have won another championship with a better team. This made Orson resentful of Lysander, often cursing him in front of Jared Farrell.

It was hard for Jared Farrell not to remember Lysander.

“It’s my fiancee who likes it,” Jared Farrell replied coolly to Lysander’s question without letting go of the plate. He was growing impatient waiting in the banquet hall; it had been over eighteen hours since he last saw Tina. Although they had video-called at noon, it wasn’t the same as seeing her in person.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Lysander graciously let go of the plate and smiled, putting his hands back into his pockets. Jared Farrell nodded slightly and walked away with the only strawberry cake.

As he passed by Audrey Woodwind and her friends, he overheard them talking about Lysander.

“Isn’t that the illegitimate son recently acknowledged by the Emerson family? He’s quite good-looking but lacks manners-attending a banquet in a T-shirt and jeans? Why doesn’t Mr. Emerson do something about it?”

This behavior seemed familiar to Jared Farrell. He glanced back and saw Lysander dressed casually in a T-shirt and jeans, hands in his pockets, lazily following behind Hawk.

“Didn’t you dislike sweets when you were younger? Since when do you like strawberry cake?” Hawk asked Lysander.

“It’s for an old friend who likes it,” Lysander smiled. “If she likes it, then I like it too.”

Hawk frowned slightly; he felt helpless with this illegitimate son of his. He had brought Lysander here to introduce him to Ashbury’s elite families, but this kid showed no respect by dressing so casually-as if Hawk had mistreated him.

Not many members of the Farrell family attended today’s event, but even those few were enough.

When Sophia saw Jared Farrell approaching with the strawberry cake, she smiled and said, “Brother must have gotten that cake for you.”

“Of course,” Marie smiled while patting Sophia’s head.

Sophia nodded obediently; she needed to help her brother bring Tina into the Farrell family quickly.

Vivienne glanced at Sophia with a faint smile; after tonight’s banquet, they might change their attitude and no longer want Tina as their daughter-in-law. That would be ideal-having someone capable of curing Crimson Silk around was troublesome for her.

“How much longer are we supposed to wait?” Nathaniel sneered impatiently. “Even my grandfather’s birthday celebration wasn’t this grand.”

Jared Farrell’s eyes narrowed coldly as he glared at Nathaniel. “It seems I shouldn’t have reattached your jaw so quickly last time.”

Nathaniel stiffened and angrily closed his mouth but continued glaring maliciously.

“Jasper, I think most guests have arrived,” Willow said while clinging to Jasper since entering the banquet hall, acting like the hostess while greeting guests alongside him.

Jasper tried to maintain some distance from her but couldn’t shake her off without causing a scene. So when she spoke up now, his brows furrowed tightly.

He glanced at Muff and Annabelle; Muff nodded and said, “Most guests have arrived.”

Jasper signaled to the staff; the music in the banquet hall softened immediately. Someone went to notify Tina in the lounge upstairs that it was time to enter.

The top-floor banquet hall spanned two levels high; Jasper stood on the steps connecting upstairs with a microphone in hand and lightly cleared his throat to draw everyone’s attention.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Jasper began, “tonight I am hosting this banquet specifically for my daughter Tina. After many years apart from our family, she has finally returned to us at Reed family. Tonight I formally introduce her to all of you.”

Many guests recalled that Jasper’s biological daughter found earlier was named Amber-had she changed her name? No one dared ask aloud; they simply looked expectantly toward the lounge upstairs where Tina would appear soon-to offer compliments and build connections as part of their purpose for attending tonight’s event.

The banquet hall fell silent except for soft background music flowing through the air as everyone focused on those stairs waiting patiently for Tina’s appearance.

But as minutes ticked by without any sign of Tina emerging from upstairs-the atmosphere grew increasingly awkwardly silent-many began wondering what could be causing such delay?