Lost and Found

~ Vanessa Wedding Ground ~

"So, how much longer are you willing to shed tears for him?" Benedict asked as he took a seat beside Peony.

"Then what do you want me to do? To laugh and party when my trust is broken? I'm neither strong nor your regular soap opera happy-go-lucky heroine, so kindly leave me alone," Peony retorted, wiping her eyes.

Benedict chuckled lightly. "Well, you're correct. You aren't the heroine."

"Yeah, I'm one of those tragic roles who are disposed of once their role is over," Peony responded, rubbing her eyes.

Benedict, ever the pragmatist, decided to show her a harsh truth. He opened the front camera of his iPhone and handed it to her.

" Miss Drama Queen look at yourself."

She gazed at her reflection, her once-immaculate appearance now disheveled. Black mascara streaked her face, her eyes puffy and red from crying. Her lipstick had faded, revealing chapped lips. She looked nothing like the blooming bride she was supposed to be.

" Is this me? I looked like this all along...Sigh, I shouldn't have fallen in love. "

Benedict swiftly pocketed his phone upon hearing the word "love" – a word that held complex emotions for both of them.

Clearing his throat, he changed the subject. "Did you check on Mrs. Hart? I heard the doctor diagnosed her, and her blood pressure went up."

"What, Mom? I totally forgot about her. I should meet her right now," Peony exclaimed, getting up a bit unsteadily after sitting for so long.

"Wait, let me help," Benedict offered, standing up and catching her hand.

" Allow me to help you reach the restroom. " Benedict suggested

"No, I will manage. Thank you for gifting me this mess and this handkerchief. I will return it tomorrow," she replied, leaning on the wall for support as she walked away.

" Mention not. Keep the handkerchief with you and meet you at Lá Cafe, Miss Peony. "

" Same here, Mr. Drama King. ", She smiled slightly at him and went forward without looking back.

"Beautiful tragic heroine..." he mumbled softly to himself as he watched her leave.

"Boss, why are you still here and whom did you call beautiful? You should go home now.", Benedict's secretary comes to pick him up.

" Did you handle everything I requested? ", He didn't answer whom he called beautiful. He was surprised at himself thinking her to be beautiful in her ghastly appearance.

" Yes, I handled each and everything. Nothing will be leaked outside. "

" And what about my family? "

" They know nothing as well. ", The secretary nodded.

" Well then, you did a great job dear Secretary. I will give you a bonus this month. "

"Thank you sir. I will do whatever you ask of me.", The secretary felt happy.

" Now take me home , I need to catch up on the recent episodes of "Broken". "

~~ Rest Room ~~

"Mom, Mom!" Peony rushed to her mother's side as soon as she entered the room.

Weak, teary-eyed, Mrs. Hart looked at her daughter and said, "My da..ughter a..are y..you okay? I... I'm sorry. So sorry.",

"No, mom. It's not your fault. Why are you blaming yourself? See I'm all fine. ", Peony reassured her, trying to smile.

"I know you're crying inside. I regret, really regret making you meet. Only if I had never let you meet. ", Mrs. Hart sobbed again.

~~~~~~

Mrs. Hart remembered the day Garret had saved her from an accident. She liked how he respected his elders and had wanted her daughter to meet him. Unbeknownst to them, they were both freshmen at the same university but in different departments.

When they met and became friends, Mrs. Hart had asked her daughter if she had feelings for him. Peony had responded, "He is a good friend of mine."

Mrs. Hart had said in response, "I wish he were my son-in-law. Such a kind man."

A year later, when they started dating, Mrs. Hart had been elated. She had prayed for her daughter to marry him, believing that her chance encounter with him had brought happiness into her daughter's life.

Now she felt guilty for ever wishing that. She cursed herself for her misguided wishes, feeling responsible for her daughter's heartbreak.

Now that she is officially married to him, poor Mrs. Hart blames herself for everything. He could have been her benefactor and she could have just thanked him for saving her. Why did she think him being the son-in-law would be best for her daughter?

Her husband died from cancer when Peony was only 5 years old. Peony never complained about not having a father. So, she felt very happy when Peony confessed that she and Garret were official. She felt her encounter with that man led to her daughter's happiness. But the future had other plans for her.

~~~~~~

"Don't blame yourself, Mom. We were kept in the dark. We believed him. He broke our trust, Mother; he is at fault," Peony insisted, hugging her mother and weeping silently.

" No, dear daughter. Every woman's dream moment is marriage and to receive such humiliation...I never thought I would face this day." She strokes her back as she cries.

" Since your daughter is here, shall we leave? See, we are all aware of the situation and what has happened but we can't stay here forever. It's really sad what has happened to her. As much as it is a humiliation for you, it's a humiliation for us as well. Being her relative doesn't lessen the fact about how we are going to face the world tomorrow. Everyone will talk about you and your daughter and her being married to that man. And everyone will ask what had happened. ", Aunt Lina, Mrs. Hart's sister-in-law spoke up.

Mrs. Hart, already feeling unwell, grew even more distressed hearing Aunt Lina's words. She fainted once again.

"Wow! Auntie, great motivational speeches to give to a patient who is clearly not well. Bravo!" Benedict entered the room, his presence instantly noticed.

Aunt Lina felt threatened and spoke rudely, "And who might you be? Are you from the groom's side?"

" Ouch! Auntie, it hurts! Don't you know me? I will give you a hint, the Drama name : ' Autumn Leaf '. ", Benedict teased with a smirk.

Peony remained silent and she rubbed her mother's forehead gently focusing on her.

"I don't have time for jokes, or did you come here to mock us? Wait, but you do look familiar... Are you, by any chance, Benedict Auguste?" Aunt Lina inquired.

"Auntie, you get 100 points! Your sharp brain deserves an award," Benedict quipped.

"So, you're actually Benedict Auguste? Oh my gosh! Did you come here for my daughter? My daughter is incredibly beautiful. You must have come here for her," Aunt Lina gushed.

"Sorry, Auntie, I have a very bad habit. I have a weird taste when it comes to beauty. To me, you're very beautiful," Benedict complimented her with a smirk.

" Wh..what! Really! B.. but I'm married. I'm not available. ", She acts coy.

Everyone was staring at what was going on except Peony whose concern was her mother's health.

" Oh that's really bad. Well I came here to ask everyone of you to keep quiet about today's matter. You all are smart and beautiful ladies, so if you keep quiet I will cast all of you in my next drama project along with good remuneration. I have a business deal with the groom's side but if this matter is exposed many people will suffer along with my business. So as the CEO of Magnificent Entertainment, to save my business and to keep producing more dramas, I'm asking everyone of you to keep this matter a secret. "

The relatives were intrigued by Benedict's presence and the prospect of being cast in a drama from Magnificent Entertainment. Their previous distress had momentarily faded, and they were eager to accept his offer .But why is he giving away so much in this deal. Only Benedict knows.

"We will keep this a secret. It's a business deal," Aunt Lina declared enthusiastically.

"Thank you beautiful ladies.", He winked at them.

" Aww you flirt!", Aunt Lina smiled at him.

With the relatives convinced to keep the matter secret, Benedict turned his attention back to Peony.

When all of them left, Peony demanded, " Why are you doing all this? Who gave you the right to interfere in my family matters? " her anger palpable.

" Well, I'm a business person. I keep business above anything else. Well, I happened to listen to their conversation. I came here for another purpose. Here, you left this. ", He extends his hand to give her the earring which she had dropped on the stage.

" Oh, but I won't give you my thanks. You have interfered enough today. ", Peony retorted, her anger still simmering.

"Just a minute. My secretary is calling me." , Benedict interrupted, taking out his phone.

"Boss, why did you leave again? Come back or you will miss your show.", His secretary calls and nags him.

" I can miss a show or two. I'm returning soon.", he ended the call.

Benedict turned to her and said, "Well, I didn't come here to gain thanks. I thought it was important, and I came here to return it to you," he said with a smirk.

Peony looked at him and replied, "Yes, it is indeed important to me." Her expression left a lasting impression on him throughout the day.