After Amber left, Hugo slammed his cup onto the table with fury, "How despicable!"
Jennie poured him a glass of water, trying to calm him, "Alright, don't be angry. That child's heart hasn't been with us for a long time, what's the use of getting angry?"
Amber was a child they had adopted eight years ago.
Back then, Hugo was preoccupied with searching for Tina, and after a long search with no leads, he stumbled upon Amber.
She bore a slight resemblance to Tina in her brows and eyes, and Hugo, missing Tina and pitying Amber, decided to adopt her.
Amber was clever, understanding, and sweet-talking, always able to cheer people up.
Elizabeth was completely charmed by Amber.
Two years after they adopted Amber, Elizabeth insisted on raising her personally. In just a few short years, she had become the center of attention in Ensford, stirring the envy of many.
But ever since Amber left with Elizabeth, she looked down on them. Although she didn't show it overtly, her words always had a sting.
Over time, Hugo and Jennie were no fools and came to understand what Amber really meant.
Thus, naturally, their interactions with Amber became less frequent.
"It's all my fault, I never should have adopted her!" Hugo lamented with a heavy heart.
"You had good intentions at the time," Jennie said, glancing at Tina, "The problem now is how to cancel the engagement! It seems mother is determined to have Tina marry into that family, and if we don't agree, she will not let it go easily."
"This marriage I will call off, even if it means letting mother take back the house. I refuse to believe that I, a grown man, can't support my wife and child."
Jennie sighed deeply.
She feared that in Ensford, Elizabeth wouldn't allow them a place to stay.
Tina, head bowed, was looking at the content on her phone.
The phone's screen displayed Jared's information.
As a prominent figure of the Farrell family, Jared's profile was quite impressive.
It had everything except a photo, even a phone number.
"Mr. Reed, don't trouble yourself, I can cancel the engagement myself," said Tina, lifting her head, her delicate porcelain cheeks showing a smile, "Don't worry about having nowhere to live, I'll buy a house for you."
Considering the decent treatment she received from Hugo, she considered the house as fulfilling her filial duty.
"Tina..."
Hugo wanted to say something, but Tina stood up, took her phone, and dialed a number.
"Mr. Farrell? I'm Miss Reed." Once the call connected, Tina cut straight to the chase.
On the other end, Jared's fingers stilled, and his eyebrows lifted slightly, "What is it?"
"I want to cancel the engagement," Tina's voice was crystal clear.
Jared paused, taken aback, then his lips curved up slightly, "I agree!"
Tina stared at the phone that had just disconnected, momentarily stunned.
He agreed? Just like that?
At a high-end club in Ensford.
Jared sat on the sofa, legs crossed, long fingers holding a phone, his gaze fixed on the call log on the screen, a cool smile on his lips.
"Really, Miss Reed?" Hayden, holding a glass of wine, was somewhat incredulous.
"She claimed to be," Jared's low, charming voice had a light tone.
"Tsck!" Hayden clicked his tongue twice, "This Miss Reed really has character, I'm starting to see her in a new light."
Jared had a bad reputation, but he came from a wealthy background.
There were no shortage of girls who wanted to marry him, but his grandfather had already chosen Miss Reed.
He had thought the Reed family wouldn't call off the engagement.
He had investigated; their company had been declining in recent years, and they were in serious need of funds. The marriage to the Farrell family would bring an investment, a condition of the engagement offered by his grandfather.
So it was unthinkable that they would agree to a divorce.
Unexpectedly, it was Miss Reed herself who called off the engagement.
She truly was no ordinary person; the integrity she possessed was something many girls could not match.
Jared was in a good mood, his eyes narrowing, his fingers swiftly moving on the phone.
Hayden leaned over to see and was surprised, "Mr. Farrell, why did you save the recording of the call with Miss Reed?"
Jared's eyes lifted slightly, his fingers still working, "Such good news, how could I not let my grandfather know and have him share in the joy?"
"Wouldn't your grandfather get so angry he'd have a heart attack?" Hayden couldn't imagine his grandfather's reaction to the news.
"He won't have a heart attack, but he might act stubborn," Logan was known for such tactics.
To get Jared to marry Miss Reed, he would use any means necessary, which was a headache for Jared.
Now that Miss Reed had taken the initiative to cancel the engagement, he might finally settle down.
He took a sip of his wine, turned his head to look at Jared with some confusion, "But tell me, why don't you want to marry Miss Reed? That Amber Reed is beautiful, rumored to have some minor achievements in many fields, and given her academic performance, it's almost certain she could attend any university she chooses. A daughter-in-law like that is hard to come by."
Jared set down his phone, picked up his wine glass, and gave it a slight swirl, "If she's so outstanding, then I, a cripple, shouldn't stand in her way."
Hayden's gaze fell on Jared's long, flawless legs and silently withdrew his gaze.
Harborview Heights.
As soon as Tina entered the bedroom, her phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID, her expression tensing, then got up and walked to the window to answer the call.
"I've found out some things," a deep male voice came from the other end, "On the day your mother died, members of four families appeared in the area where you lived."
Tina's eyes darkened, "Four families?"
"Yes!" The person on the line continued, "The Hancock family, the Ward family, the Woodham family, and... the Farrell family."
Tina was startled, "The Farrell family? Jared's family?"
"Yes." There was a pause, "The capital has four major families: the Farrell family, the Cohen family, the Reed family, and the Pratt family. The Farrell family is the foremost among the capital's elite, the true top-tier nobility. Of those who visited your house, aside from the Farrell family, the other three are middle-ranking families."
The person fell silent for a moment, then added, "The three families came looking for something at your place, what exactly it was, I haven't discovered. The person the Farrell family sent was Jared..."
Tina's cool gaze lifted, her pretty brows furrowed tightly, "Jared? What was his purpose?"
"It seems he was looking for someone!"
Tina didn't respond, leaning against the bedpost, her pale, slender fingers tapping slowly on the windowsill. After a while, she spoke slowly, "Keep investigating, find out what those three families were searching for! You don't have to worry about the Farrell family, I'll look into it myself."
"Understood."