Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Tina had lost all patience for dealing with meaningless people. Without hesitation, she turned and left.

Mia stood there, stunned and speechless, unable to react. The audacity of that little girl-leaving her in such an embarrassing situation-made her face burn with humiliation. Her complexion turned pale, her chest heaving with anger. She glanced at Grandpa Pace, hoping he would step in and support her.

Grandpa Pace, seated on the sofa, fixed Mia with a stern gaze. "Mia, at your age, why are you still competing with the younger generation? You've just returned to the family; this kind of behavior will only invite ridicule if seen by outsiders." He added gravely, "Family will always be family. We must not fight amongst ourselves. United, we thrive; divided, we falter."

His words were deliberate, carrying weight. Before leaving, he turned to address the entire room. "What I've said today isn't just for Mia. It's for everyone in the Pace family. Remember it well!"

Ruud and Alina nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Boris Pace, standing to the side, shifted uneasily. A hint of guilt flashed across his face-had Grandpa Pace caught him rolling his eyes earlier? Trying to mask his discomfort, he quickly nodded along in agreement.

Tina walked out of the Pace family estate and pulled out her car keys. She had a plan to visit a shop in Ashbury that she had scoped out earlier. Her destination was the city's largest shopping center, where she intended to customize a pair of diamond rings.

But before she could get far, her stomach growled several times, a reminder of her neglected breakfast. Frustrated, she massaged her temple. She hadn't even done anything substantial yet, and her stomach was already protesting. Spotting a few tea shops at a nearby intersection, she pulled over. Just as she was about to walk over, an elderly lady pushing a small food cart called out to her with a warm smile.

"Miss, would you like a mixed-grain pancake? Or maybe a hand-held pancake? I also have fresh porridge, made from scratch," the woman offered cheerfully.

Tina approached, taking a closer look. The ingredients were fresh, and the aromas were inviting. When her eyes landed on the porridge, she noticed lotus seeds floating inside. "Do you have a chair?" she asked.

The elderly woman's smile widened. "You're such a pretty young lady. You're my first customer today. I have two chairs inside the cart-just bring one over to sit on. But I'm afraid there's no table yet; I just set up shop and haven't gotten everything ready."

Tina nodded. It didn't bother her much as long as she didn't have to eat standing. "I'll take a hand-held pancake with an egg, no scallions. And a cup of porridge, please."

After placing her order, Tina grabbed a chair and sat down. Taking out her phone, she opened her photo gallery to review a design sketch of a pair of diamond rings she had created herself. Something about the design felt off, but she hadn't pinpointed the issue yet.

The elderly lady worked skillfully, flipping the pancake on the hot griddle and layering it with sliced pork tenderloin. She added extra meat for Tina, slightly grilled the vegetables for a richer flavor, topped it with an egg, and drizzled on her special blend of salad and tomato sauces. Wrapping it all up in a warm, golden pancake, she personally brought it over to Tina.

Tina felt a bit embarrassed by the gesture. Smiling faintly, she said, "Grandma, I can get the porridge myself later. You don't need to trouble yourself."

The elderly lady laughed brightly, waving her hand dismissively. "It's no trouble at all. I saw you were busy. Are you working on ring designs?"

Tina nodded, unbothered, and handed her phone over for the lady to see.

The elderly woman studied the sketches intently. "Is the one on the left the woman's ring? And the one on the right for the man?"

"Exactly. The left one is for myself, and the right one is for my uncle," Tina replied casually, as if chatting with an old friend.

"You two must be very close," the lady remarked with a smile. "But the woman's ring-its band could use more diamonds. Ideally, the entire band should be studded with gems, leaving just a tiny gap between each. And the center diamond is too big; it would look more elegant if it were a bit smaller."

Pausing, she scrutinized the man's ring. "The man's ring is clearly better designed than the woman's. It seems you care even more about him. But the band shouldn't use the same flowing design as the woman's. A double-looped band would look more striking."

Her observations suddenly made everything click for Tina. Resting her chin on her hand, she nodded in agreement, warmth flickering in her gaze. "Grandma, are you a professional in the industry?"noveldrama

The lady smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying. "You could say that, though it's been years since I designed rings. Now I just push this cart around and sell pancakes."

"Why did you stop designing? You're clearly talented," Tina asked seriously.

The elderly woman's amber eyes grew distant for a moment. She returned to stirring the porridge, lost in thought, before finally speaking.

"When I was young, I fell in love with a man. We were together, and he treated me so well-better than anyone else in the world. The things my parents wouldn't do for me, he did without hesitation. But I didn't understand his kindness back then. I didn't cherish it."

She continued, her voice tinged with regret. "I once promised him I'd buy him a pair of rings, but I never followed through. Over time, we drifted apart. Only after we separated did I realize how much he meant to me. No matter how hard I tried to win him back, he never returned. He had lost faith in me."

"Later, I wanted to prove my sincerity. I wanted to show him I had changed and could fulfill my promises. When I finally saved enough money to buy the rings, I decided I wouldn't just buy any pair-I would design the perfect ones myself. That's how I started learning to design jewelry."

Tina nodded, feeling a mixture of admiration and melancholy.

The elderly lady smiled, but it was tinged with sorrow. "Cherish those who treat you well, young lady. Some people only come into your life once."

Tina's mind wandered to Jared's handsome face, a sweetness spreading across her expression. "He treats me very well. I won't let him go. Thank you for your advice today."

"Was he your first love?" Tina asked, curious.

The elderly woman's face froze for a second before softening. "You guessed right. But once something is lost, it's lost forever. Back then, I couldn't understand how, after all we'd been through, he could harden his heart and refuse to reconcile. chased him for years, but he never looked back."

Tina sipped her porridge and, through a mouthful of pancake, mumbled, "Did you ever get married?"

The lady chuckled softly and shook her head, her tone heavy. "I met many men afterward, all kinds of people. But none of them were the choice my heart had made."