Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

After appeasing Grace, Max returned to his study to call the Lyon family. Grandma Lyon had just come out of the operating room and was not yet awake; Sonia answered the phone.

“Mr. Hancock, what’s the matter?” Sonia asked warmly.

Max’s tone was very cold, “Miss Lyon, my daughter came home crying today, and you still have the audacity to ask what’s wrong?”

Sonia was taken aback. All members of the Lyon family were at the hospital, and with the current focus on managing online public opinion, they had no time to attend to Grace’s date with Jared, let alone keep track of Tina’s whereabouts.

Hearing Max speak like this, Sonia realized there had been a serious issue.

“Mr. Hancock, I am terribly sorry. The girl Jared brought along today had a conflict with my mother. We are all at the hospital now and don’t know what happened. We haven’t been able to contact Jared either. Did that wretched Tina bully Grace again?”

Sonia repeatedly called Tina names, aiming to placate Max and shift all blame onto Tina.

“Who exactly is this Tina?” Max asked.

Despite Grace’s explanation, he still wanted to verify the facts for reassurance.

Sonia chuckled, “She’s just a country girl who knows nothing, eyeing Jared’s money. If it weren’t for her looks, Jared wouldn’t have noticed her. Don’t worry, she is not even close to matching Grace.”

Even Sonia spoke thus, allowing Max to feel reassured.

It seemed to be a case of mistaken identity.

If it were indeed that Tina, she wouldn’t be after Jared’s money.

Speaking of money, the inheritance left by his elder brother was enough for Jared for several lifetimes.

“Hmph, you can’t handle a country girl, and you expect me to trust you with my daughter?” Max complained.

Sonia quickly tried to smooth things over, “Mr. Hancock, we are all one family, don’t you trust us? Rest assured, my mother has everything arranged. Once she is discharged, we will organize an engagement party for Jared and Grace and invite all the notable people of Clearwater to celebrate. How does that sound?”

Max squinted, “Are you sure Jared will listen and agree to the engagement?”

“Of course, we have our ways, don’t worry.”

Hearing Sonia’s promise, Max did not pursue further. After all, the ultimate goal was to have the two families engaged.

As long as the objective was achieved, the means were not important.

“If you mess this up, you’ll see!” Max warned before hanging up.

Sonia listened to the dial tone with a heavy sigh.NôvelDrama.Org © 2024.

Beside her, Stephanie was worried, “Aunt Sonia, you agreed just like that, but Grandma isn’t even awake yet. Where will we hold the engagement party? And I’m sure my brother won’t agree.”

Sonia clenched her phone tightly. She had to deal with Grandma Lyon’s issues and handle public relations online all night, and now Max was causing further problems.

It was exasperating.

Marie, it’s all because of your wonderful son and daughter-in-law! You useless thing, never contacting us and always causing trouble.

If I had married into the Farrell family back then, I wouldn’t have had all these problems.

Sonia cursed her sister in her mind, but outwardly she calmly comforted Stephanie.

“Don’t worry, I have a plan. You’ll help me when the time comes, okay?”

Stephanie didn’t ask further, nodding heavily, “Of course, Aunt Sonia, just tell me what you need me to do, and I won’t let you down.”

Five days later, Jared received a call from Sonia.

“Jared, your grandmother has been discharged from the hospital. Do you want to come and see her?” Sonia asked.

Jared, who was shopping with Tina, responded coldly, “No.”

“I knew you wouldn’t come, but there’s a business banquet tonight. Your grandmother can’t attend, and the other business partners know you’re in town; they insist on meeting you. Can you attend on her behalf? Some of them are associated with your company, and it would be awkward for me to refuse them. What do you think?”

Jared curved his lips slightly and handed the necklace, the jewel of the store, to the clerk to wrap it up, “Alright, I’ll come tonight.”

“Good. Remember the thing I gave you a few days ago? Bring that, and don’t bring Tina along. It would be better if your uncles don’t see her and get upset,” Sonia advised before hanging up.

Jared pocketed his phone and the necklace, then went to find Tina who was choosing a restaurant upstairs.

Tired from shopping, Tina was very hungry. Seeing Jared finish his call, she pointed to a restaurant above, “Uncle, let’s eat fish.”

Jared nodded, “Alright, eat a lot. We won’t have dinner until late tonight.”

Tina raised an eyebrow, “Yeah, let’s eat a lot.”

Eat a lot, then play well into the night.

That evening.

The Lyon family had arranged the dinner at the largest hotel in Clearwater-Grand Metropolis.

The last time a banquet was held here was for the first birthday of Jack and Scarlett’s twin daughters.

Stephanie and Audrey stood at the entrance to greet the guests.

Audrey was reluctant, “Why do we have to stand here? It’s so annoying.”

Stephanie, who was of the same age as Audrey but older by birthday, and the sisters had never gotten along, sometimes not even maintaining a superficial relationship.

“Just stand there and stop complaining,” Stephanie scolded her with a glare.

Audrey scoffed, “You’re just Jared’s lackey. If he knew the truth about tonight, he wouldn’t speak to you ever again.”

“I don’t care. At least Jared acknowledges me as his sister, unlike you, who can’t even catch his eye.”

“You!”

Just as they were about to argue further, Sonia approached, “Both of you shut up. Do you want to embarrass us? Keep a close eye and make sure Tina doesn’t sneak in. If you mess up tonight’s engagement dinner, you’ll have me to answer to!”

Neither dared to argue further and stood silently at the door waiting.

Soon, Max and Grace arrived.

Grace was dressed in a white strapless mermaid gown, her elegant swan neck accentuated beautifully, and her delicate princess hairstyle lovely as ever.

Stephanie rushed to greet her, “Grace, you look so beautiful today. Truly, the bride-to-be is the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Grace blushed and smiled shyly, “Stephanie, you’re just teasing me.”

“Not at all, I’m really envious,” Stephanie said as they entered the banquet hall together, leaving Audrey alone outside, fuming and feeding the mosquitoes.

Audrey, gritting her teeth in irritation, regretted not recognizing Grace’s importance earlier; she wouldn’t have let Stephanie become her best friend. Truly irritating.

Sonia also entered the banquet hall with Max, no longer paying attention to Audrey.

“Hmph, go ahead with your engagement. Once my brother and Grace are irreversibly together, we’ll see how you manage your engagement!” Audrey cursed under her breath, casually instructing a passing waiter to watch the door, then sneaked off to slack elsewhere.