Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Listening to Logan’s blessings, the Reed family started to have other ideas.

“Mr. Farrell, surely you have more than just verbal blessings for this young couple. I wonder what kind of gift you have prepared for them?”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Aside from a few, Logan could tell at a glance that the rest of the Reed family were of a vampiric nature. Knowing what they were after, he chose not to disclose the gifts he had prepared for his grandson and granddaughter-in-law, responding only with a smile and remaining silent.

Seeing this, the Reed family grew restless and began to speak up: “Since Jared was disabled, our Reed family was willing to marry into the Farrell family. You Farrells can’t let us down now, especially not Tina. At the very least, you should give a substantial wedding gift.”

Logan, not one to indulge such behavior, replied with a cold laugh, “I’ve actually given them a gift worth a hundred thousand dollars.”

Upon hearing it was only a hundred thousand dollars, the Reed family was stunned. For an ordinary family, a hundred thousand dollars was significant. But the Farrells were not ordinary-such an amount was trivial to them. No one could have imagined Logan to be so frugal.

“Mr. Farrell, surely you aren’t giving such a small gift just because Jared’s leg has healed,” they taunted collectively, not giving Logan a chance to speak.

Amber, although shocked that Logan had only offered a hundred thousand dollars, was secretly pleased. What did it matter if Tina was their real daughter? To the Farrell family, she was only worth that much from Logan. Now that Jared’s leg was better, they cared even less about Tina, which meant Amber might still have a chance to reclaim the marriage alliance.

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Hugo couldn’t stand it any longer and shouted angrily, “The amount Mr. Farrell gives is his business! I am marrying off a daughter, not selling one. I don’t care about the amount of the gift, and it’s not for you to comment on.”

Elizabeth’s head shot up in disbelief at her son’s words, astonished that he wouldn’t ask the Farrell family for more.

She had hoped to use the opportunity to secure a financial lifeline for the faltering Reed family business. Now that her son was acting this way, he was cutting off all opportunities, and she angrily retorted, “Hugo, what nonsense are you talking about? We are family, all wanting what’s best for your daughter! After all, marriage is a major life event, and it’s only right for the elders to provide some startup funds for the new household.”

Hugo, with a serious expression, replied, “Mother! Are you disappointed? Did you expect me to ask the Farrell family for fifty million dollars and then give it to you? Stop dreaming!”

“You beast!” Elizabeth, clutching her chest, cursed as she felt a sharp pain. “I gave birth to you, raised you, and never expected to have raised an ungrateful son. If I had known you would be so unfilial, I should have strangled you at birth!”

She had longed for this fifty million dollars to save the Reed family business. How could she not be furious that her own son had ruined it?

“Hugo, you are too much! You are her son, Tina is her granddaughter, and our family’s marriages have always been decided by mother. But for such a big matter, you didn’t even consult with her, making decisions on your own. Do you even consider mother’s feelings?” Pinewood angrily accused.

“Reed family, don’t you realize our predicament? Do you want to watch our family collapse before you’re satisfied? Hugo, when did your heart become so cold?” Talon also accused.

The Reed family’s situation was clear to everyone, yet no one wanted to bring it up publicly, especially not in such a setting, revealing that the Reeds were seeking money from the Farrell family to save their company from the brink of bankruptcy.

But the Reed family could no longer afford to care about appearances. They had to secure a larger dowry. Even if it wasn’t fifty million dollars, a few million or ten million would suffice to alleviate the Reed family’s financial strain.

Hugo looked at them coldly, “I find it odd, Tina is my daughter, how is it that I don’t have the right to decide for her? Are we the only family in Ensford who demands a dowry for our granddaughter?”

“Family in trouble, what’s wrong with asking my granddaughter’s fiance’s family for some money?” Elizabeth retorted with righteousness.

“Mother, Tina isn’t married yet. It’s not proper to ask her fiance’s family for money. We’ve already delayed too much today. With everyone watching, if you keep making a scene, I’ll have no choice but to ask you to leave,” Hugo said with an uncompromising tone.

“You don’t have the final say!” Elizabeth, knowing her son had already distanced himself from her and that further words were useless, didn’t want to waste more time arguing.

She turned to Logan and said, “Logan, I make the decisions for the Reed family. My granddaughter is marrying your grandson, and right now, the Reeds urgently need some funds. Could you please help us out of this emergency? Moreover, you’ve previously promised to invest in the Farrell family.”

“Insatiable greed!” Marie blurted out before Logan could speak, her face cold.

She had never looked favorably upon the Reed family, but since her father-in-law insisted her son marry Tina, she had reluctantly accepted it. Now, with Elizabeth publicly demanding fifty million dollars, Marie was incensed. Fifty million dollars wasn’t that the Farrells couldn’t afford it; she simply despised the Reed family’s blatant avarice.

“Mrs. Farrell, that’s not how you should speak,” Elizabeth replied, unoffended. “It was the Farrell family who approached us to honor the marriage agreement. Initially, I opposed the union, but since both Mr. Farrells and Tina agreed, I didn’t object. However, as in-laws, it’s only right that the Farrell family help the Reeds in their time of need.”

Elizabeth cared about face, but compared to the family’s honor, what was face worth? She didn’t care how the Farrells viewed her, as long as she got the money.

Marie, her face ashen with anger, said, “Just asking for fifty million dollars like that, if there’s a first time, there will be a second! Elizabeth, the Reeds have some standing in Ensford too. How can you shamelessly stoop so low?”

“I don’t care what you think or do! To allow Tina and Jared to marry, the Farrell family must give us fifty million dollars!”

Before Marie could reply, Elizabeth continued, “Compared to face, the Reed family doesn’t have the same standing as the Farrells. If the marriage doesn’t go through, the Reeds will indeed lose face, but the Farrells won’t look good either.”

Marie, red with anger, had never seen such shamelessness.

Hugo too was shocked by Elizabeth’s brazenness. He couldn’t believe that Elizabeth, who always valued reputation, could behave like a hooligan. He had spoken nicely, he had spoken harshly, but it was to no avail; they simply wouldn’t listen.

Hugo sighed and said to Tina, “Tina, perhaps we should call off this marriage? You see, I’m out of options.”

“Why call it off?” Tina’s chin lifted slightly, her expression impassive as she looked at Elizabeth. “Apart from my mother, no one else decides for me.”

She stepped forward toward Elizabeth, her eyes flashing coldly, “I have fifty million dollars, but do you dare to take it?”