Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 848: Dream On! You Want to Marry My Daughter? Get Lost! As lan finished speaking, Brandon and his brothers rubbed their ears and leaned closer, making sure they hadn't misheard. They needed to hear this clearly.

The next moment, Ruud clasped his hands together in a respectful gesture and spoke earnestly. "Yes, I am Tina's father, Natalie's husband. But I never abandoned her. Back then, I had an urgent mission and had to return to the battlefield immediately. Before leaving, I searched for Natalie, but I couldn't find her. With trunning out, I had no choice but to leave without saying goodbye." Ruud continued, "When the war ended, I returned to look for her, but no matter where I searched, I couldn't find her. Over the years, I never stopped looking. What I didn't know was that she had given birth to a daughter. It wasn't until today, during the trial, when I saw Tina, that I suspected the truth. Later, a doctor from Tina's lab conducted a paternity test, which confirmed that I am her biological father." Ruud bowed again. "Dad, I owe Natalie and Tina far too much. I know that even if I spend the rest of my life trying to make up for it, I'll never fully succeed. But I want to do everything I can to try. First, I want to give Natalie the wedding she deserves, and then-" Before he could finish, lan spat on the ground. "Pah! You scumbag! You still want to marry my daughter? Dream on! Even if my daughter were to die a lonely old woman, the Brookes family would take care of her. Who do you think you are? Marry her? You're not even worthy!" lan's fury boiled over. Just moments ago, he'd been questioning whether he'd lost his mind for not recognizing Ruud as his son. But now, he was certain-he'd truly gone mad to even consider it. This man, who had caused his daughter so much suffering, dared to strut into his hand act as if he belonged? Did Ruud really think lan was too old to pick up a knife? As lan's voice fell, Brandon and his brothers exploded in rage.

Brandon shouted, "To hell with you, you dog! You abandoned my sister for all these years, and now you dare to cup with excuses? And you even dream of marrying her? Who do you think you are? Alina is the treasure of our family, cherished and protected. You think you can just waltz in and claim her? Lettell you-there's no way! Get out of here before I break your legs!" Jack added, "You shameless bastard! Not only do you have zero self-respect, but now you cto the Brookes family to throw your weight around? My sister raised her daughter all on her own, and now you want to swoop in and claim them? Are you delusional? Lettell you, even if my sister weren't in a coma, she would never marry someone like you!" Isaac sneered, "General Praevion? More like the Grim Reaper! If you chose to play dead all these years, then stay dead! Don't show up in front of my sister again! Without you, they've been doing just fine. The Brookes family is their support, and they don't need you to 'make up' for anything!" Scarlett chimed in, "Exactly! Alina is extraordinary on her own. Who knows how much wealth she has accumulated in her private vaults? And Tina? She's not just a Spectre, but also a hacker and a designer working for the government. Do you think she needs you? Just because you're General Praevion, you think everyone should bow down to you? The Brookes family won't!" Tina silently watched as everyone unleashed their fury at Ruud. A faint smile played on her lips, as if mocking them. Were these not the speople who, just moments ago, couldn't stop talking about accepting Ruud as a son? Brandon and his brothers: "No, no, we didn't say that!" lan: "I was just blind!" Ruud, on the other hand, was stunned by their sudden change in attitude. This wasn't what they had said earlier! How could they turn on him so quickly? Still, he had anticipated resistance and wasn't entirely surprised. He knew he would need to show twice the sincerity to win them over.

Taking a deep breath, Ruud said, "I'm sorry for what happened in the past, and I won't make excuses. I was wrong-completely wrong. I failed them. If you want to hitor curse me, I deserve it. But please, givea chance. Tina is my daughter. She's already missed out on more than twenty years of a father's love. I don't want her to miss out any longer." lan, still fuming, glanced toward Tina. Their outrage had been on Natalie's behalf, but deep down, it was Tina they were most worried about. From a young age, this girl had lived without a father. At nine, she had to endure the trauma of her mother's staged death right before her eyes. Since then, she had been on her own, facing the world alone. Over the years, she had endured countless hardships and judgmental glances. Were it not for her extraordinary abilities and resilient spirit, she might have crumbled long ago.

As much as they hated Ruud, they couldn't deny the importance of a father's role in a child's life. They couldn't make the decision to reject Ruud on Tina's behalf.

"I already told you-you're not my father." Tina's cold, emotionless gaze fixed on Ruud.

Her words pierced him like a knife. Before he could respond, Brandon stepped forward, glaring at Ruud. "Did you hear her? Tina said you're not her father! What's wrong with you? You disappeared for years-why not just stay gone? Why cback now? Can't you see that your presence only makes her miserable?" "You're a high-ranking general, yet you insist on disrupting other people's lives. Are you that desperate for attention?" Ruud opened his mouth to explain. "I-" Before he could finish, lan grabbed a knife hanging from the wall and swung it at Ruud. "I told you to get out! If you make my granddaughter upset because of your nonsense, I'll kill you and turn you into soup!" Ruud dodged the blade in panic. "Dad, let's talk about this! We're family, after all!" "Family? My ass!" lan bellowed, swinging the knife again. "From now on, if anyone from your family dares to set foot in my home, I'll chop them to pieces and pay with my own life if I have to!" Ruud was speechless. Ian was terrifyingly fierce.

"You can deny it all you want, but we're still family! Your daughter gavea daughter, and that's a bond that F can't be broken!" Ruud pleaded as he dodged another swing of the blade.

lan's eyes burned with anger. "Still talking nonsense? Are you leaving or not?" He brought the knife down on a chair, splitting it cleanly in two. "If you don't get out, you won't have to leave at all-you'll stay here permanently!" Ruud's eyes lit up. "Dad, is that what you're saying? I don't have to leave?" "Someone drag him out and feed him to the dogs!" lan roared.

Ruud leapt clear of lan's swing. "Dad, that's not fair! I'm your son-in-law-I'll be the one to take care of you in your old age!"

"You dare curseto die?" lan's beard quivered with rage. "I knew you were up to no good. The moment you stepped into my house, you started scheming! Fine, before I die, I'll make sure you're the one who goes first!"