Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

After dinner, Tina took Hugo and Jennie to the guest room. Annabelle had already arranged everything; the room was spacious and comfortable, with all new furnishings.

Hugo looked around, feeling relieved. “Seeing Tina living well now, my heart is finally at ease. I used to worry she would suffer in the Reed family.”

Jennie smiled. “Tina is so outstanding; who would give her a hard time? You shouldn’t worry too much about her.”

Hugo sighed. “You don’t understand. What father doesn’t worry about his daughter? Even though Tina has now been acknowledged by the Reed family, she will always be my biological daughter in my eyes.”

Tina glanced at him subtly, her smile deepening. After a moment, she collected herself and asked calmly, “Mr. Reed, did you take leave from your job in Ensford to come to the capital?”

Hugo hesitated for a moment before frowning. “I resigned!”

“Resigned?” Tina raised an eyebrow.

“Yes,” Hugo nodded. “At first, I thought the job was decent-high salary and respectable-but you wouldn’t believe how the chairman of Mendara mistreats his employees. Even when my projects were flawless, he would find faults and berate me in front of everyone. I quit out of frustration.”

Tina found it amusing. “You mean-the chairman of Mendara scolded you publicly?”

“Yes!” Hugo’s face darkened. “So besides mending relations with the Reed family, I also plan to seek new opportunities here in the capital.”

“What do you plan to do?” Tina asked.

Hugo hesitated before looking at Tina. “Tina, I’ve had this idea for a long time but needed your approval.”

Tina lowered her gaze, her expression calm. “Go on.”

“I want to start my own company using your mother’s perfume formula.” Hugo paused to gauge Tina’s reaction.

Tina looked up, signaling him to continue.

Seeing no change in her expression, Hugo went on. “The Ensford Reed family is history now. I don’t want to work for others anymore. Zackary is still young; his education and our living expenses require money. My job at Mendara isn’t enough to support us.”

“But as you know, the Reed family made its fortune in perfumes, and I don’t have other skills. Your mother left behind a perfume formula that I plan to develop into a business. However…”

Hugo paused before continuing, “Jennie accidentally tore up your mother’s perfume formula while organizing things. I tried piecing it back together but couldn’t restore it completely.”

Tina’s fingers played with an ornament on the table as she spoke evenly, “You want me to provide the perfume formula?”

Hugo felt awkward. “I know this might be difficult for you since it’s your mother’s legacy, but if I can establish this company, it will also benefit you greatly.”

Tina smiled faintly. “Alright! I’ll give you the formula.”

Hugo was overjoyed. “Tina, you’re wonderful! I knew my care for you wasn’t in vain.”

Tina’s cold eyes held a hint of depth as she looked at him.

“By the way, there’s one more thing…” Hugo suddenly remembered.

Tina looked up for him to continue.

“We don’t have startup capital,” Hugo said awkwardly. “Currently, we only have the three million dollars given by the Reed family, which isn’t enough to start a company. Tina… could you ask your father for an investment?”

Tina’s fingers paused on the ornament as her gaze darkened slightly. “How much do you need?”

“For initial funding, at least twenty million dollars,” Hugo replied.

Tina withdrew her hand from the ornament and put it in her pocket, speaking slowly. “Alright! I’ll give you twenty million dollars without involving the Reed family.”

Hugo and Jennie were stunned by how quickly Tina agreed.NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

Seeing their surprise, Tina raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Nothing,” Hugo quickly recovered his composure with a sheepish smile. “I just didn’t expect the Reed family to treat you so well-giving twenty million dollars just like that. Your mother would be happy if she knew.”

Tina’s lips curled slightly as she glanced at Hugo and Jennie. “Rest well; don’t worry about anything else.”

“Okay,” they both agreed.

Tina nodded and returned to her room.

As she closed the door, her eyes narrowed sharply, exuding a chilling aura.

She took out her phone and dialed Cole’s number.

The call connected quickly. “Serena.”

“Have you found him?” Tina’s voice was cold and devoid of warmth.

“Zackary is currently staying with his great-aunt in Royal Oaks,” Cole reported. “Hugo arranged for him to take a leave of absence from school. There are no suspicious individuals around his great-aunt’s house but…”

“But what?” Tina asked flatly.

“Zackary isn’t doing well there,” Cole continued reluctantly. “His great-aunt only feeds him once a day-plain vegetables and bread-and her two children bully him for fun. When we arrived, Zackary was covered in bruises and had lost weight significantly. To avoid detection, I secretly treated his wounds and gave him some food.”

Tina’s expression remained icy as she asked quietly, “Have you found Hugo?”

Cole hesitated before replying, “I’ve checked all of Hugo’s activities over the past two months and found nothing unusual or any unfamiliar people around him. Serena, could it be that you’re mistaken?”

“Have you checked Elsa?” Tina sat down and picked up a framed photo from the table.

The photo showed her with Hugo, Jennie, and Zackary-taken when she was about to get engaged to Jared at Jennie’s suggestion.

After developing it, she’d kept it with her always and made it into a frame upon arriving in the capital.

“Yes,” Cole confirmed. “There’s nothing suspicious about her either. She left Ensford shortly after you did with her boyfriend for the capital. When Hugo and Jennie arrived last time for your banquet, they met Elsa first before heading towards the hotel but made a detour to visit a friend at the hospital.”

Tina didn’t respond immediately; she gently caressed Hugo and Jennie’s faces in the photo before smiling faintly.

After placing the frame back on the table carefully, she spoke coldly again: “Bring Zackary to the capital immediately; as for his great-aunt’s family-Serenity Ridge’s coal mines would suit them perfectly.”

“Understood,” Cole replied before hanging up.