Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 963: Gifts from the Families The next day, members of the Brooks family arrived with wedding gifts.

It almost seemed like a silent competition. Uncle Isaac brought two chests of jewelry, but Uncle Gavin doubled that with four. Uncle Brandon, not to be outdone, delivered an entire set of gold ornaments, all crafted from pure gold, packed into six large chests.

When the chests were opened, the blinding shine nearly overwhelmed everyone in the room. The sheer weight of the gold alone made it seem heavy just to look at. Tina couldn't help but feel her neck stiffen at the sight. If she were to wear all of those at once, she joked inwardly, her neck might actually collapse under the weight.

Isaac and Gavin exchanged awkward glances, their lips twitching.

Thankfully, Brandon's extravagant display made their gifts seem less garish by comparison. After all, gifting gold- though valuable-was undeniably tacky.

Jack, however, couldn't hold back his laughter. "Brandon, this is way too lazy. It's Tina's wedding, for heaven's sake! Giving something like this makes it look like the Brooks family has nothing better to offer." Brandon's face darkened in embarrassment. "Jack, stop laughing and show us what you brought. Let's see if you're any better." Jack raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. "Alright, but be prepared, Brandon. You might want to find a hole to crawl into after this." When Jack opened his gift, it was a jade pendant carved from a rare piece of jadeite, a true masterpiece by a renowned artisan. Its craftsmanship was exquisite, and its value was immeasurable.

The room fell silent. Even compared to the famous tea set Jack gifted at Alina's wedding, this was far superior. Brandon was stunned. "You... You toldyou just grabbed something random from the warehouse. Where did this cfrom?" Jack shrugged casually. "If I told you the truth, would you have believed me?" Brandon's eyes widened. "Jack! You tricked me!" The others, thoroughly enjoying the scene, made no effort to intervene.

In the end, Brandon admitted defeat and turned to Tina for comfort.

"Tina, tellhonestly, is my gift really that bad?" Tina, ever diplomatic, smiled and said, "Uncle Brandon, out of all the gifts my uncles gave, yours is actually my favorite. Think about it-if I ever need money, gold is solid and reliable. It's practical." Hearing this, Brandon's mood brightened instantly. He raised his eyebrows triumphantly, glancing at the others, especially Jack.

"Did you hear that? Tina said she likes my gift best. You're all just jealous!" Jack sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Brandon, your logic is so juvenile it belongs in kindergarten. What Tina meant was that you could've just given her cash directly instead of making her go through the trouble of exchanging the gold for money." "Ha!" The others burst into laughter, showing no mercy for Brandon.

Brandon squinted at them, let out a cold snort, and ignored their teasing. Instead, he pulled out a small, delicate box from his pocket and handed it to Tina with a sense of pride.

"This is something your Aunt Angela made for you herself-a hand-embroidered piece wishing you and Jared a long and happy marriage." Tina opened the box to find an intricately stitched piece of embroidery, every thread meticulously placed to form elegant characters. Her heart warmed at the sight.

"Uncle Brandon, please thank Aunt Angela for me. I love it." Brandon, having redeemed himself with Angela's gift, was finally satisfied.

Not wanting to be outdone, the other uncles began presenting gifts prepared by their wives.

Each item was a treasure worthy of being passed down through generations.

Tina accepted each gift graciously, expressing her heartfelt thanks.

As the room settled, Warren and lan entered, accompanied by Ruud and Alina.

"Grandpa, Grandpa lan." Tina greeted them with a respectful nod, then turned to Ruud and Alina. "Dad, Mom." "Hmm, our Tina is about to be married," lan remarked, his gaze filled with pride and reluctance.

He admired his granddaughter deeply. She was intelligent, capable, and independent-so similar to Alina in her youth.

Tina noticed the emotion in lan's eyes, reminiscent of how her parents had looked on their wedding day.

She stepped forward with a bright smile. "Even after I marry, I will always be your granddaughter. That will never change." lan smiled with pride. "That's right. You will always be the Brooks family's precious jewel." "I don't have much to give you," lan continued, "but what I promised your mother back then, I now promise to you as well. And I want you to have this." From his pocket, lan produced an antique jade pendant. Its simplicity and aged beauty spoke volumes. He placed it gently in Tina's hand.

"This was something I kept from the day your grandmother and I were married. It carries good fortune." "Father?" Alina's voice broke the silence as she called out softly from behind.

The other uncles noticed the pendant too but wisely kept quiet.

lan's decisions were final, and as the patriarch, he didn't need anyone's permission or approval. Besides, it was his to give, and no one had the right to interfere.

Warren shot Ruud a warning glance as the latter instinctively moved forward.

What are you doing? Warren's silent gesture asked. This is a blessing for your daughter-why would you try to stop it? "Grandpa," Tina said hesitantly.

"It's alright. Take it," lan said, patting her hand gently. "This is just a token of my identity outside the family. With this, I can rest at ease." Isaac stepped forward to offer reassurance. "Tina, accept it. This pendant represents your grandfather's protection and the Brooks family's promise to you." With Isaac's words, Tina no longer hesitated. She accepted the pendant with a smile.

"Thank you, Grandpa. Thank you, Uncle Isaac." "Alright," lan said, breaking the mood, "we've occupied their tlong enough. The gifts are delivered, and it's tfor us to leave." Warren, ever the gracious host, escorted them to the door with a smile.

That evening, Tina sat under the moonlight in the courtyard, holding the jade pendant. Alina, seated nearby, noticed her and gestured for her to sit beside her on the wicker chair. Tina obeyed, settling next to her mother.

After a moment of silence, Alina spoke. "Strictly speaking, this pendant doesn't have much to do with the Brooks family. It belonged to your grandmother." "My grandmother?" Tina echoed, surprised.

It wasn't surprising, though. After all, she had only reconnected with her family at twenty. If not for her mother, she might've spent her entire life believing she was an orphan.

Alina nodded. "Your grandfather, however, has carried it with him for er years. Over time, outsiders naturally began associating it with the Brooks family. Most people who see it today acknowledge it as a symbol of the family." Tina mulled over the implications.

Alina smiled, noticing her thoughtful expression. "Don't worry. These days, even the hidden families don't adhere entirely to old traditions. Things are changing."

"Besides, you've seen what your om Uncle Isaac is capable of. Even without your grandfather's presence, people respect him. And your grandfather has already handed over the family's authority..." "This pendant," Alina continued, "is simply a way for people to show your grandfather srespect. It's all upside for you, no downside."