Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

When the group photo was finished and handed over, Tina was left speechless.

Among the dozen or so people, only she and Master Tam stood out the most-dressed in bright red, they were like two festive "mascots."

To make matters worse, they were placed right in the center of the photo.

But the others, upon seeing the picture, were delighted and scrambled to save it.

Master Tam, always carefree, and Serena, who rarely participated in such things, had made this the first time Serenity Ridge had gathered so completely. Truly, this photo was their "family portrait."

Jimmy glanced at the photo, now set as his screen wallpaper, and nodded in satisfaction. "Hayden, well done. Thoughtful of you!"

"I'll have this printed and hung by my bedside," he added with a grin. "Hayden, you've really scored big this time."

Hayden beamed with pride, nodding in acknowledgment.

Noticing the faint tear streaks still visible on his face, Paula's heart softened. She handed him a tissue under the table. "Wipe it off quickly, or they'll make fun of you." Master Tam, sitting nearby, let out a hearty laugh. "What's the big deal? We're well aware of Hayden's capabilities. We've seen him handle far bigger situations."

Hayden's face flushed. "Master, could you not bring up my embarrassing moments today? Paula's right here!"

Master Tam chuckled even more loudly. "Alright, alright." After all, his disciple had grown up, and some face had to be given.

Still, there were things a master had to say. Hayden was the first among the group to get married, and as Master Tam, he couldn't let the occasion pass without some advice.

"Paula..."

Hearing her name, Paula put down what she was holding, sat up straight, and answered seriously, "Yes, Master. I'm listening."

Master Tam nodded in satisfaction. "Don't be afraid. Now that you've called me 'Master,' I promise to have your back."noveldrama

"Among all my disciples, Hayden has the simplest personality-put bluntly, he's a bit dense. If he ever upsets you, don't hold back. Scold him, hit him if you must. And if that doesn't work, come to me or Serena. I guarantee we'll teach him a lesson and make him obedient to you."

Tina nodded in agreement, showing her support.

The other brothers weren't to be outdone and quickly joined in.

"Paula, Hayden has all of our contact information. If anything happens, just let us know. If Hayden dares to say a single word against you, we'll be the first to step in." "Exactly. A man from Serenity Ridge must be able to handle both the boardroom and the kitchen-and mop the floor every day. No exceptions."

"If he ever slacks off, just give us a call. Forget Master and Serena; any one of us can handle him and leave him speechless."

Hayden listened, swallowing hard.

"Thanks a lot, guys," he muttered internally. "I'm not even married yet, and you've already assigned me all the chores."

Paula, meanwhile, was witnessing this harmonious family dynamic for the first time. She started to understand why Hayden had developed his pure and straightforward nature.

It turned out there were so many people, just like her, protecting that innocence in him.

Jared, who had been quietly serving Tina food, threw in a casual comment. "If he doesn't behave, I'll demote him."

Hayden froze.

This was too much. It wasn't like he was about to start a job at a mine!

Surrounded by warnings from every angle, he wondered if they'd forgotten that he was supposed to be the "weaker" party in this marriage.

Paula, holding back laughter, found herself using the tissue she had handed Hayden earlier.

She raised her glass of wine and addressed everyone at the table. "Thank you, Master. Thank you, Serena. Jared, and all of you brothers, for your kindness."

"I'd like to say something, too. Over the years, I'm sure you've all heard my name in passing. I'm a straightforward person, so I'll be honest: I truly love Hayden. It's true that I pursued him for twenty years."

"Because of that, I cherish his good qualities even more, and for his shortcomings, we'll work on them together in the future. I believe we'll have a very happy life after marriage."

With that, she downed her glass of high-proof liquor in one gulp.

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Hayden tried to stop her but was too late. His hand trembled in fear.

That was white liquor! How could she just drink it all at once?

Everyone at the table, except for Tina and Jared, was stunned.

Their sharp glares immediately turned to Hayden.

His wife had chased after him for twenty years and was still this considerate? Hayden must have struck gold!

The rest of them, forgotten by fate, could only channel their frustration into their drinking. Their primary target? Hayden.

After three rounds of drinks, Hayden was so drunk he could barely hold his glass.

Paula didn't stop him, though. She quietly supported him at the table and had a bowl of hangover soup brought over.

Today, he was surrounded by family, and seeing them all made him happy.

Such rare moments were worth letting him enjoy, even if it meant getting a little drunk.

The others, seeing him already so far gone, decided not to press further.

Looking around the table, they realized only Master Tam remained alert.

As for the other man-Jared-he was under Serena's protection and not someone to mess with lightly.

So, the rest simply drank among themselves.

Jared, meanwhile, had his full attention on Tina. He sampled each dish on the table, eating more of the ones he liked.

He was clearly worried something might happen again, like earlier.

When Tina finally put down her chopsticks, Jared handed her a napkin and gently asked, "How's your stomach? Feeling better?"

Tina, patting her full belly, nodded. She picked out some of his favorite dishes and offered them to him. "Uncle, you eat too."

"Alright."

Jared took a bite directly from her hand, smiling warmly. "Not bad."

Their intimacy no longer fazed anyone at the table.

As the main couple of the evening, Hayden and Paula were soon called away.

Hayden, still halfway through his hangover soup, could barely stand without Paula's support.

Master Tam, sipping his wine, suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right, I almost forgot. Those photos you sent me a few days ago-I think I've seen them somewhere before."

Tina's eyes sharpened. "Where?"

Even experts in cultural relics hadn't been able to pinpoint the specific origins of those items. They could only provide an estimated age and explain the cultural significance behind them.

But those weren't the answers she was looking for.

Master Tam put down his glass, his face slightly flushed but his eyes clear. "In one of the historical records I mentioned to you. There's a bracelet that looks identical to the one in your photos, down to the tiniest imperfections."

Tina's eyes narrowed. "So, these items are related to Claudia's true identity?"

"Exactly. These artifacts are at least two hundred years old. For Claudia to have preserved them in such perfect condition, she must either be a direct descendant of this family or have a deep connection to them."

Two centuries was not a short time. It was impossible for such treasures to have survived without incident, especially since the family had been executed in its entirety. How could such valuable items remain unscathed during that period?

The very idea seemed implausible.

Tina thought of something else. "Master, why did you say you couldn't see through Claudia before?"

Master Tam exhaled slowly and nodded. "Her bone structure is impossible to read. The shape of her bones is no longer what it once was. Over a century, not only do faces and bodies change, but the internal bone structure does too."

Tina's gaze darkened. "So, Claudia's age might be far beyond what we've imagined."