Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Stephanie screamed like a wild animal, clutching her ears as if trying to block out the world. Her body writhed against the grip of the guards, her voice raw and desperate. She wasn't going to the dog yard-no one could make her. Not to be fed to the dogs. Not like that. "You can't! You can't do this to me!" she shrieked, her bloodshot eyes darting around the room. Spit flew from her lips as she spat out her words. "Yes, I drugged Uncle Asher-that was my mistake! But how can you prove he didn't sleep with me?" Her lips curled into a twisted, defiant grin, and her eyes burned with hatred.

The heavy oak door creaked open, cutting through her frenzied cries. Logan stepped in, leaning on his cane. His presence was commanding, even in his age, and the room instantly stilled. The butler trailed behind him, his face pale, having already relayed the sordid details of what had transpired.

The air grew heavier under Logan's gaze. His eyes, sharp and unforgiving, swept over Stephanie, who froze mid-scream. She immediately dropped to the floor, crawling toward him like a drowning woman reaching for a lifeline. Her fingers clawed at his pant leg as she sobbed, her tears streaking her face.

"Logan! Please, please save me!" she begged, her voice cracking with desperation. "Tina and Eric-they want to send me to the dog yard! I know I was wrong, I know I've sinned, but I was blinded by greed! Uncle Asher... Uncle Asher didn't even resist!" Her words tumbled out in a frantic rush, a chaotic mix of pleas and accusations. "It wasn't all my fault-it was Eric's idea! He forced me to do it!" she cried, her voice turning bitter as she threw her brother under the bus without hesitation. "He said he wanted to restore the Lyon family's glory! He made me hurt Uncle Asher!"

Her sobs filled the room, but the faces around her remained cold as stone.

Logan's jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening as he gripped his cane. When he finally spoke, his voice was low and thunderous, each word like a blow. "Shameless!" He struck the ground with his cane, the sharp crack echoing in the room. "You've disgraced the Farrell family! Harmed your own blood! If I threw you to the dogs a thousand times, it wouldn't be enough to make up for what you've done. How dare you show your face in front of me?" Stephanie recoiled at his words, collapsing into a heap on the floor. Her body trembled as if the fury in his voice had knocked the strength from her legs. But she wasn't done yet. Blood trickled from her lip where she'd bitten down, her voice trembling and weak as she played her final card.

"Logan," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "If... if I'm pregnant, what then? Uncle Asher and I... we were together. If I have his child, how could you abandon it? How could you let a Farrell child wander the world, unprotected?"

The room fell into a suffocating silence. Jared's face darkened instantly, his eyes sharp and emotionless, like shards of ice. Tina, on the other hand, gripped the knife in her hand, her knuckles pale. The blade glinted under the light, and for a moment, it seemed as if it might fly straight into Stephanie's throat.

But Logan's face was unreadable. The lines etched into his weathered features seemed deeper now, his age weighing on him like a shroud. He closed his eyes briefly, exhaling heavily.

"Enough," he said at last, his voice thick with resignation. "Let Stephanie stay."

Tina's jaw dropped, and Marie's breath caught in her throat. It was as if the ground had shifted beneath them.

Logan's next words came slowly, each one heavier than the last. "The Farrell family is dwindling. We've already lost so much. Vivienne, my youngest son... They're gone. I can't bear to lose anyone else." His voice broke, just slightly, before he steadied himself. "If she's pregnant, she will give birth to the child. Once the child is born, Stephanie will leave. The Farrell family will only keep the child."

Marie's face crumpled, her chest heaving as grief overtook her. Tears streamed down her face, hot and relentless. She wanted to scream, to rage, but her voice wouldn't come. Logan turned to her, his expression filled with guilt. "Marie," he said softly, his tone tinged with regret. "You are the only daughter-in-law the Farrell family will ever recognize. I know I've wronged you. I'll give you half of the family's assets to make up for all of this." Marie stared at him, disbelief and heartbreak warring in her eyes. Finally, her voice broke through, hoarse and trembling. "I don't want your money, Logan! From this day on, consider me dead to the Farrell family!" She turned and ran from the room, her sobs echoing down the hallway.

Asher, who had been silent until now, clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. His voice, low and icy, cut through the stunned silence. "Even if that vile woman is pregnant, I will never acknowledge that child." He stormed out after Marie, his steps heavy with fury.

Jared and Tina exchanged a glance, their expressions grim. Jared's lips pressed into a thin line as he grabbed Tina's hand. Without a word, they left the room as well.

As they walked through the garden, Jared's voice broke the tense silence. "Grandfather is wrong. Don't worry-this isn't over. I'll prove my father would never have done something like this." Tina tightened her grip on his hand, her voice steady and resolute. "I trust you."

Jared stopped abruptly, turning to pull her into his arms. "Thank you, Tina," he murmured, his voice rough with emotion.

She smiled faintly, leaning into him. "We've been through worse. We'll get through this too."

When they arrived at Jared's villa, Tina leaned against him, her arm wrapped around his waist. Waiting for them were Hayden, Nathan, and Courtney, who stood awkwardly near the entrance. Hayden, always the first to break the tension, muttered under his breath, "Ugh, my teeth hurt just watching them."novelbin

Nathan rolled his eyes. "Then look somewhere else."

Hayden ignored him, sidling up to Tina with a cautious look. "Uh... So, Serena?" he whispered, trying to gauge her mood.

Tina shot him a sharp glance, and Hayden immediately backed off, scurrying over to Nathan and Courtney. "Mr. Farrell's in a bad mood," he hissed. "Don't provoke him!"

Nathan gave him a flat look. "Do we look stupid to you?"

Courtney smirked. "Classic Hayden-always the genius."

Before Hayden could retort, Jared cut through the chatter with a sharp voice. "What is it?"

Hayden straightened up, his usual playfulness vanishing. "The Langdon family," he said quickly. "They've been sentenced."