Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

At the entrance of the art gallery, Ian Brookes held the copied painting Tina had given him and sighed softly. He had been standing there for hours after everyone else had left, staring at the painting. The more he looked at it, the more familiar the figure in the painting seemed to him. But clearly, this figure was different from Alina. Perhaps he was just getting old and mistaken.

When Alina went missing, she was only ten years old. The figure in the painting appeared to be around thirty-five, a significant age difference that made it hard for him to identify any resemblance. Was it just because of that mole?

Just then, a man in a black suit hurried over. “Dad, I only lost sight of you for a moment, and you came here? If something happened to you, my brothers would tear my head off.” He was Ian Brookes’ fourth son, Jack.

Ian Brookes glanced at him with an air of authority. “What? Do I need your permission to go somewhere?”

“That’s not what I meant!” Jack said helplessly. Ever since their sister went missing, their father had been displeased with his sons for over thirty years, never showing them a kind face.

Jack sighed and said, “Your health isn’t good. You should let me know where you’re going so we don’t worry.”

Ian Brookes snorted coldly. “Instead of worrying about me, go find Alina!”

“We’ve already sent people out to look again,” Jack replied.

Ian Brookes looked down at the painting in his hand and handed it to Jack after a moment of silence. “Check on this person. The owner of this figure is deceased. She has a daughter named Tina Reed.”

Jack glanced at the painting and was stunned. He then exclaimed, “This mole! It’s exactly like our sister’s! Dad, how did you get this painting?”

“Why do you ask so many questions?” Ian Brookes shot him a cold look and said expressionlessly, “Tina has a fiance named Jared Farrell. Look into them and see if you can find any clues about Alina!”

“Alright! I’ll have someone investigate immediately!” Jack said excitedly. After their sister went missing years ago, they had exhausted all family resources but found nothing. Now they finally had a trace but suddenly lost it again-until they got this painting.

The mole behind the ear in the painting was identical to their sister’s. Jack had a feeling they might have found a clue about her.

Ian Brookes looked at him with disdain and said, “Hurry up and get out of my sight! Seeing you all annoys me!”

Jack sighed internally. While other families favored sons over daughters, their father seemed to favor daughters over sons-disdaining them like stray cats or dogs.

Jack couldn’t leave his father alone outside and said, “Dad, let’s go home first. Trust me; I’ll find our sister.”

If he didn’t take his father home, his brothers would tear him apart!

Ian Brookes roared, “Go home? As long as Alina isn’t back, I’m not going back! Also, I’m officially informing you to buy me a house here; I’m staying for a while.”

He felt an inexplicable familiarity with Tina and needed to understand why he felt this way toward her.

“What!” Jack exclaimed. “You want to stay in Ashbury? No way! It’s too dangerous here; you must come back with me!”

Before he could finish speaking, Ian Brookes hit him on the head with his cane. Jack winced in pain as his father angrily said, “Just do as I say! What’s dangerous here? Wolves or tigers? Let anyone come; I’ll knock their teeth out!”

Jack sighed but complied. “Fine, I’ll get you settled first.”

He needed to inform his brothers quickly so they could arrange protection for their father.

As Jack tried to help him up, Ian Brookes pushed him away coldly saying, “Since when did I need help walking?”

Jack remained silent; anything he said would be wrong.

Ian Brookes glanced at him without much expression and said, “Until we find Alina, I’ll stay alive no matter what-even if Death himself comes for me!”

Jack felt helpless; their father’s health had been poor for years but he stubbornly refused to rest.

“Hurry up and get me that house! Do you want me to freeze out here?” Ian Brookes shouted angrily at his son.

Raising sons was useless; they were nothing but trouble compared to daughters who were caring and considerate.

His Alina was wonderful-always clinging to him as a child, sharing her favorite treats with him. Her first words every morning were always calling out for her parents lovingly.

She would comfort him when he was angry by patting his back gently and singing softly: “Daddy don’t be mad; Alina will sing for you.”

She would cry when he got hurt and try to soothe him: “Daddy let me blow on it; it’ll stop hurting.”

These memories from before she turned five were etched deeply in his mind.

But these sons-what good were they? They only knew how to anger him!Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Jack sighed internally again; silence was golden.

—

Farrell Family

After Walter and Vivienne returned home together, Walter immediately sought out Clara.

“Mom! You have to stop Vivienne! She wants to give Tina a billion dollars!” Walter raged.

The thought of losing such an amount pained him deeply.

Clara almost dropped her million-dollar necklace upon hearing this. She hastily caught it before looking at Vivienne incredulously. “Are you crazy? Giving them a billion dollars? Do you think money grows on trees?”

Over the years they had saved just about that much!

Vivienne calmly glanced at Walter before saying expressionlessly: “Ask your son what he did first.”

Clara then turned towards Walter and asked sternly: “What did you do?”