Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Jared stepped out of the bathroom, towel in hand, his silk pajamas outlining his broad chest.

Even though he knew Tina couldn't see him, he still nodded and let out a short "hmm" in response. Glancing at his phone, he noticed thirty new messages-fifteen of them from Logan. A fleeting look of exasperation passed through his eyes as he opened them one by one, reading them all carefully.

Instead of annoyance, a trace of amusement flickered across his face. "The Bailey family is hosting a welcome banquet for Ella Bailey and her grandfather tomorrow," he said with a chuckle.

"Again?" Tina placed her phone down and rolled onto the bed. "Didn't they already host one last time? Didn't Luke Gill tell Victor about it?"

Jared handed his phone to her, the answer evident. "If he had, we wouldn't be seeing this situation now. The Bailey family's mess runs deeper than we thought."

Tina scrolled through Logan's messages, her eyes narrowing as she reached the end. It wasn't just Logan-Orson had also chimed in, ridiculing the shamelessness of the Bailey family. From the tone of his texts, it seemed clear he had encountered them firsthand. His words were steeped in disdain.

Tina returned the phone and pulled Jared down onto the bed beside her. "No matter how deep the water is, we're diving straight into the whirlpool. The big fish will surface eventually."

Jared followed her lead, lying back until he was almost flat on the bed. Then, with a sudden motion, he flipped over, pinning Tina beneath him in one fluid movement. Tina didn't look surprised, meeting his gaze with calm anticipation. His large, well-defined hand traced her soft cheek, moving back and forth lazily. A faint, teasing itch seeped through her skin, spreading warmth through her veins, reaching every part of her body.

Tina closed her eyes, her face flushing crimson as she instinctively nuzzled against his palm, like a cat finally letting its guard down, indulging in affection.

Jared found her reaction deeply satisfying, his dark eyes growing more intense.

Impatient, Tina suddenly opened her eyes and pulled his head down toward hers. Their lips met, the sound of rain outside blending with the muffled murmurs of intimacy, swallowing any other noise. And just like that, they shamelessly skipped out on meeting Victor.

It wasn't just them. Aside from Logan and Orson-who had accidentally stumbled upon the Bailey family's brazen behavior-not a single direct member of the Farrell family attended the event.

Ella Bailey, seated beside Logan, found herself at a long table. Across from her sat Victor's trusted aide, flanked by other Bailey family members. The atmosphere was heavy, reminiscent of two armies facing off-only Ella, supposedly part of their camp, had willingly crossed to the other side.

"Mrs. Bailey's condition has been unpredictable, and we haven't had the chance to tell you about her daughter's situation," Johnson Bailey said with an apologetic smile. His black suit and polished demeanor radiated formality, but the insincerity in his voice was obvious. "It's truly regrettable that you've been apart from your granddaughter for so long."

His words were so forced that anyone who knew the truth would have rolled their eyes.

Logan, unimpressed, shot him a sharp look. His piercing gaze made Johnson Bailey break into a cold sweat, the disdain in Logan's eyes unmistakable.

"It's been years, and I never expected the entire Bailey family to lose their voices. Quite the surprise. All those offerings I've made at the temple over the years weren't for nothing," Logan said with a dry smirk.

At first glance, the comment seemed harmless. But the people seated at the table weren't fools. Johnson Bailey, having spent years at Victor's side, wasn't without his own skills. Logan's words were a thinly veiled insult, implying that Victor himself was incapable of communication and that his subordinates weren't worth much more.

It was also a backhanded curse, as if Logan had been praying for the Bailey family's downfall all these years.

Johnson Bailey's face twitched. While it was true that Victor had acted dishonorably years ago, this was the first time he had encountered someone like Logan-someone who didn't openly confront him but instead secretly prayed for his misfortune.NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.

He opened his mouth, searching for a response, but couldn't find the words. With an awkward laugh, he redirected the conversation. "Our master has been very busy, of course. I've heard that the Farrell family heir is already engaged. Why hasn't Mr. Jared shown up today? Surely he wouldn't deny his sister Ella this small courtesy?"

Orson, busy typing furiously on his phone, suddenly snapped his head up at the mention of Jared. His posture straightened, and his sharp gaze landed on Johnson Bailey. "What gives a Bailey family lackey the right to demand face time with the Farrell family heir?"

Turning his phone screen toward Logan, Orson ignored Johnson Bailey's darkening expression. "Logan, is this how the Bailey family operates-constantly overestimating themselves?"

Logan didn't refute him. In fact, he seemed to agree, nodding approvingly. "The head is rotten, so the body follows. Victor's no good, so what do you expect from his subordinates?"

He turned to Ella with a warm smile, his tone softening. "Ella, don't take it personally. None of this has anything to do with you."

"Exactly!" Ella Bailey thought bitterly. The Bailey family's scandals had nothing to do with her, and she didn't want to admit she shared half of Victor's DNA. If Johnson Bailey weren't watching her so closely, she would have eagerly nodded in agreement.

However, she caught his gaze-full of unspoken demands-and forced a stiff smile onto her face. "Grandfather, I... I still share half of my father's genes. But it doesn't matter that my cousin didn't come today. I heard he's been busy helping Tina's friend with a legal case. It's only natural he couldn't make it."

"That case ended yesterday," Logan said, patting Ella's hand affectionately. His demeanor was warm, almost as if he were meeting her for the first time. "You don't know this, but your cousin and Tina are inseparable. They probably took the chance to enjoy some time alone now that things have settled down. Don't worry-there'll be plenty of opportunities to meet him later."

"Is that so?" Ella murmured, unsure how to continue. She glanced sideways, catching Johnson Bailey's persistent gaze, and pressed her lips together in irritation before glaring back at him. Her warning was clear, and he finally averted his eyes. She clenched her fists under the table, her frustration brewing. Johnson Bailey was nothing more than Victor's loyal dog. He had played a key role in deceiving her mother and those closest to her. Even Vivienne, who reveled in flaunting her power at home, wouldn't dare cross him.

For the sake of her plans, Ella couldn't afford to confront him openly. After a moment's deliberation, she spoke again. "It's already over? How long was the defendant sentenced? Surely there's no chance of an appeal?"

Orson, unaware of the subtle dynamics between Logan and Ella, took the opportunity to interject. He had been too busy chasing Courtney during the last family gathering to notice much, but now, seeing Ella in person, her name alone made him bristle with annoyance.

"Are you kidding me? Seriously, sister, do you live under a rock? It was all over yesterday's trending topics, and you didn't know?"

"Orson, that's enough!" Logan snapped, his tone stern. "Ella is still your elder. You shouldn't speak to her like that."