Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

In the Farrell household, Marie had just picked up Sophia from school and was preparing to enjoy some afternoon snacks and anime together. However, the incessant ringing of the doorbell interrupted their plans. "Mrs. Brown, who is it?" Marie called out.

Mrs. Brown stammered, "Madam, perhaps you should come and see for yourself, this..."

Hearing Mrs. Brown's hesitation, Marie hesitated for a moment before setting down the snacks and rising from the sofa.

As she approached the door, she asked, "Who is it really? Why all the secrecy?" But as she reached the door, her steps halted and her expression froze, words caught in her throat, unsure of what to say. The reason was the shocking sight before her, leaving her at a loss for words.

Sophia rushed over. "Mom, what's wrong? Hey, is this person a beggar?"

Sophia looked at the disheveled figure standing at the door, with hair as messy as a lion's mane, a face grimy and indistinct, and clothes emitting a foul odor-it was indeed the appearance of a beggar. More terrifying was the fierce and fearsome scar across the person's face.

Hearing Sophia's words, the person at the door suddenly knelt down, crying out, "Auntie, I finally see you!"

Startled, Sophia instinctively clung tightly to Marie.

Marie quickly regained her composure, handed Sophia over to Mrs. Brown, and approached the beggar. She knelt down and gently brushed the person's hair, "Stephanie, how did you end up like this?" The beggar was none other than Stephanie, the daughter of the Lyon family, Marie's niece!

Stephanie sobbed breathlessly, tears streaking down her face, making her look somewhat comical.

"Auntie, I finally found you, I finally found you!" Stephanie repeated, nearly collapsing to the ground in despair.

Marie didn't ask further questions and quickly asked Mrs. Brown to prepare a bath and fresh clothes.

After cleaning up, Stephanie's original appearance became discernible. However, the scar on her face, untreated and still raw, was turned outwards at the edges, both black and red. Even now, cleaned up as she was, Sophia was still frightened.

Not just Sophia-Marie too found it hard to accept.

Stephanie's eyes were still red, but she had stopped crying.

Mrs. Brown brought over a bowl of hot noodle soup. "Miss Lyon, eat something."

Stephanie nodded, clearly famished, and began to devour the food voraciously, almost choking herself.

Marie handed her a glass of fresh juice, gently patting her back. "Eat slowly, there's no need to rush."

Stunned, Stephanie's tears began to fall again. "Auntie, I thought I'd never see you again."

Overwhelmed with emotion, she couldn't continue eating.

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Marie had been disappointed with the Lyon family, especially Stephanie, whom she had thought was different-not as cold-hearted and detestable as the others.

Yet, it seemed she had been mistaken.

Now, seeing Stephanie in such a pitiable state, Marie couldn't help but feel sympathy-they shared the same blood, after all. She was Stephanie's aunt, and that fact was unchangeable. "Stephanie, weren't you supposed to go abroad with your mother? What happened to you?"

After a crisis, the Lyon family's daughters-in-law had left with their children and the family's wealth. The Lyon family had substantial assets; even divided, they should have provided a luxurious life for them.

Marie thought she would never see anyone from the Lyon family again in her life. Yet, she never expected Stephanie to appear in such a way. Wiping away her tears, Stephanie choked up, "We really did go abroad, and my brother and I found universities to start over, but I never expected..." She paused, "I never expected that my mom would fall for a con artist. He freeloaded off us, almost... almost raped me!"

Marie, taken aback, asked, "What about your mother?"

"My mom was completely charmed by that scammer, she wouldn't believe he was plotting against me. She even told me that no man would like me the way I look now, saying that if any man did want to sleep with me, it would just be because I was being cheap!"

Marie was shocked. Leah had never been like this; how could she say such things to her own daughter? In Marie's memory, Leah had always favored her children. How could she have changed so much...

Stephanie wiped her tears and continued, "Eventually, I couldn't stand it anymore and moved into the university dorms. I never went back home. But then one day, I got a call from Eric. He said the con artist had swindled all our money and had vanished after beating up my mom."

Marie sighed, "That's karma. Then what happened?"

"Then, since we couldn't pay our tuition, Eric and I were expelled. We thought about selling our house abroad to get some cash to come back to our country, at least to have some security. But it turned out, the house had already been mortgaged by that gambler. It was only then we realized he was a gambling addict, always taking my mom out to gamble."

"Later, debt collectors took over the house, and my mom ended up in jail abroad for gambling. Eric and I used the last of our money to buy plane tickets back home, but during a layover, I got separated from Eric. All our luggage was with him, and my phone got stolen. I... I had to beg all the way here, surviving only because of the kindness of strangers. I'm just glad I could see you, Aunt Marie!"

Marie was astounded by how Stephanie's life had turned out. She tenderly touched Stephanie's hair, "Poor child, you rest here for now. I'll have a doctor come and check on you, okay?"

Stephanie nodded, "Yes, thank you, Aunt Marie, thank you for taking me in. It was all my fault before, I was foolish. It was all my doing."

"We'll talk about that later, just settle down for now," Marie sighed.

She could feel sympathy for Stephanie because of their blood ties, but as for Jared and Tina...

Marie knew the mistakes Stephanie had made before were numerous, and getting Jared and Tina to accept her would be impossible.

The family doctor arrived quickly, examining Stephanie thoroughly. Aside from malnutrition and some gastrointestinal damage, she was otherwise fine.

After the check-up, Stephanie rested in the guest room and soon fell into a deep sleep. Seeing her sleep so soundly, Marie could imagine how rough her journey had been.

A young girl, from a wealthy heiress to a beggar, surely could not sleep well.

After settling Stephanie, Marie took out her phone and called Jared.

"Jared, come over with Tina. Mom needs to discuss something with you."

Jared had never heard Marie use such a tone and was somewhat surprised, but he did not ask further and brought Tina back to the Farrell family.

As soon as they entered, Sophia eagerly told Tina, "Stephanie is here."