Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 548: Linden Hosts a Banquet, Invites Tina and Jared

Jared reached out, scraped scream with his finger, and popped it into his mouth. A second later, his face

contorted in agony, an expression of pain like none had ever graced his features before. Tina, alarmed, asked,

"Could it be poisoned?" Jared waved his hand dismissively, leaning on Tina's leg, "It's just very bitter." Tina was

speechless. "Is it really that bitter?" she questioned, tasting it herself, nearly allowing her fondness for

strawberry cake to plummet. It was supposed to be cream, yet how could it be so bitter! Suddenly, Tina

remarked, "It's like something my mother would make." As the words left her mouth, both she and Jared paused

abruptly. They slowly lifted their eyes, their gazes meeting. The cake, indeed, bore an uncanny resemblance to

Natalie's handiwork. They sat in silence, each hardly believing their own thoughts, though all signs of late

seemed to point in one direction.

After a while, Tina shook her head, "I've never tasted a strawberry cake this awful." Jared unwrapped a piece of

strawberry cake he had brought along and fed it to Tina, "Eat this one, it's sweet." Tina chuckled, her eyes

glancing unintentionally at the bitterly disappointing cake. After finishing the sweet cake, Tina leaned back on

the sofa, patting her stomach, "Uncle, didn't you say you needed to seeabout something?"

Jared produced two invitations and laid them before Tina, "Take a look." Tina picked them up, flipping through

them with a smile, "The director wants to meet me, could have just said so, why all the fuss?" Although Linden

was hosting the banquet under the guise of the Reed family's nand had invited both Tina and Jared, they

were no fools to Linden's true intentions. The banquet was clearly orchestrated for Linden to meet Tina.

"So, are we going?" Jared asked, observing Tina's expression which already hinted at her thoughts. Tina laughed,

"Of course, we'll go. If we didn't, think of all the we'd miss." That evening, Tina and Jared dressed up and

attended the event. Esther, with Audrey, greeted the guests at the door, their faces brightening upon seeing

Tina. "Tina, you finally made it, I've missed you. Tried calling but couldn't get through," Esther approached

warmly, taking Tina's hand. Esther seemed particularly cheerful, her husband's return evidently uplifting her

spirits, her smile deeper than before. "I was off to Clearwater recently, had my phone off," Tina explained with a

smile, then turned to Audrey, "Have you fully recovered?" After the accident, Tina had saved the person and

hadn't followed up, since there was no longer any danger to their life. Audrey nodded, "Yes, I'm completely

healed, but my cousin..."

"What happened to Griffin?" Tina inquired.

Audrey's eyes welled with tears, feeling guilty about Griffin's condition. If she hadn't been so reckless as to throw

away her helmet, and had not been shielded by Griffin, he might have been alright. Esther sighed, "Griffin had

woken up, but his condition worsened suddenly that night. After emergency treatment, his life was saved, but

the doctors say he suffered brain damage and might remain vegetative." Tina was momentarily stunned, having

performed the surgery herself, she was confident there had been no errors.

What on earth was going on?

"Why didn't you inform me? Where is Griffin now?" Tina demanded in a deep voice.

The person she had saved was having a relapse?

And the Reed family, why hadn't they informed her immediately? Otherwise, Griffin would never have ended up

in a vegetative state. Esther tried to soothe Tina, "We did want to inform you, but... we couldn't keep bothering

you, you have so much on your plate."

"Are we not family? Is that also a bother?"

Hearing this, Tina grew even more infuriated, yet felt somewhat helpless.

After all, her relationship with the Reed family could never be as open and straightforward as it was with Hugo.

The Reed family felt the same, each harboring feelings of guilt.

"Tina, we all know your heart, but we just couldn't face coming to you again," Esther said, wiping away tears, the

guilt weighing heavily on her again.

Tina softened her tone, no longer reproaching, "Alright, Aunt, where is Griffin now?"

"Griffin has been sent abroad for treatment by Damian. They say it's a good place for recovery for vegetative

patients."

Hearing that Griffin had been sent away, Tina sighed deeply. With so much going on in Ashbury, she couldn't

possibly go after him; she'd have to let Griffin rest a while longer. "Let's go inside. I'll introduce you to your

uncle," Esther said, drying her tears and leading Tina inside.

Linden was adeptly conversing with various individuals, managing his social connections effortlessly.

From a distance, upon seeing Jared and Tina approach, he walked over with a glass in hand.

"So, you're Tina. I've heard so much about you from your aunt, and truly, the reputation is well-deserved. You

look like a fairy," Linden greeted her with a smile. With such a polite introduction, Tina couldn't very well respond

coldly.

"Mr. Shaw, I've long admired your reputation, and I'm glad to finally meet you," Tina said with a smile, her face

gentle, yet her eyes concealed layers of coldness. Linden seemed not to notice, pretending ignorance, "And this

must be Mr. Farrell. Pleased to meet you."

Linden extended his hand in a gesture of politeness, as if meeting Jared for the first time.

Jared, reciprocating the gesture as if it were their first meeting, shook his hand, "Just callJared, Uncle."

After a round of polite exchanges, the party officially began.

There wasn't much to do except eat and chat.

Tina and Jared, not fond of bustling scenes, soon settled into a corner sofa.

Soon after, Linden cover with a fruit platter, setting it on the table.

"Since when did the Director also start moonlighting as a waiter?" Tina joked, her gaze fixed on Linden, like a

dangerous poppy flower.

Linden sat down casually, "Over the years, I've had my share of part-tjobs - waiter, courier, food delivery,

meter reader, collecting electricity bills; I've been through quite a bit." Tina actually enjoyed Linden's humor, the

danger in her expression lessening as she laughed heartily.

Jared picked a strawberry from the fruit platter and held it to Tina's lips, "Strawberries are rare this season."

"They're still available; my niece likes them, so | always make sure to find some," Linden pushed the fruit platter

slightly towards Tina.

Just a remark revealed how well Linden understood Tina, his expression seemingly revealing more than one

might expect.