Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Vivienne's hand, which had been massaging her temples, suddenly froze. She abruptly looked up, her gaze locking onto Kelly, who was walking toward her.

Kelly, having just returned from the hospital, had regained her radiant complexion-fair with a healthy flush, an appearance so stunning it captivated anyone who saw her. It was no surprise; after all, she had inherited Vivienne's beauty and charm.

In the hidden circles of their family, there were countless men who had fallen for Kelly's allure. However, none of them ever met Vivienne's standards. She always believed her daughter deserved to be paired with the most outstanding man in the world.

Before, it had been Carl..Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Now, she considered shifting her sights to Jared. That didn't seem like a bad idea.

"Mom, what are you thinking about?" Kelly plopped into the seat Victor had just vacated, her face filled with dissatisfaction. "If only I could get close to Jared. That b Tina is glued to him all day. I have no way to make a move!" "That's because you're not clever enough!" Vivienne's sharp eyes flickered as she glanced at her daughter but said nothing more. "Don't worry. This time, with my help, Jared will definitely fall for you." Kelly pouted, unconvinced at first, but when she heard Vivienne promise to help her, her eyes lit up. "Really, Mom?! You better not be lying to me. If I succeed, I'll take care of Uncle's problem for you!"

Vivienne had been waiting for those very words. A satisfied smile stretched across her face, though it quickly faded into a more motherly expression. She lovingly ruffled Kelly's hair. "I'm your mother-how could I lie to you? Besides, do you really think you'll need to say anything to Jared on my behalf? Once you're with him and have the Farrell family's support, that country bumpkin Tina will be nothing. The Bailey family can crush her with ease."

At a teahouse.

Tina stepped into a private room, glanced at the person sitting across from her, and pulled out a chair to sit down. "Mr. Bailey, shouldn't you be busy restoring your mother's gravestone? How do you have the time to meet with me?" Victor's expression darkened. At the mention of his mother's grave, the air in the room instantly grew heavy, almost suffocating.

He clenched his teeth, forcing the words out. "Miss Reed, I'd advise you not to be too arrogant. No matter how skilled you are, two fists can't fight four hands. Everyone here is a trained member of the Bailey family. Do you really think you can take us all on?"

Victor's disdainful sneer made Tina's brows arch slightly. Her bright, almond-shaped eyes scanned the room. Most of the faces were unfamiliar to her.

Except for one.

Woods, who was mixed in among the Bailey family's fighters, subtly gestured for Tina to stay calm.

Tina's expression softened into a faint, amused smile as she looked back at Victor. "Mr. Bailey, it seems you came prepared. What is it you want from me this time?"

Her tone was light, as though she were speaking to a child who didn't know any better. It made Victor's frown tighten further. "Tina, don't play dumb. I want Phil Walker's letter of pardon. You have three days to deliver it to me." Tina blinked, her confusion quickly giving way to open mockery. She couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, the sound dripping with derision. Victor's face twitched with barely concealed rage.

He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. In a tone that feigned generosity, he said, "Of course, the Bailey family will repay you for your efforts. If you hand over the letter, I'll forgive all the trouble you've caused us in the past. Additionally, you'll be allowed to choose any of our family's martial arts techniques to learn."

Victor's smug expression, as though he were bestowing a grand favor, made Tina laugh outright. "Mr. Bailey, you're only fifty, right? How is it that your brain's already gone bad? What makes you think I care about your so-called forgiveness?" She leaned forward slightly, her voice laced with mockery. "And as for your family's martial arts-are you talking about the techniques that I easily countered in three seconds? I wouldn't dare learn them. What if I end up getting killed the next time I go out and try to use them?"

Her smile widened, becoming almost too bright.

Victor's fists clenched tightly. He was on the verge of losing his temper but stopped himself, remembering the Langdon family's warning from the previous night. Taking another deep breath, he suppressed his anger. "Tina, don't push your luck. It's true you're the future wife of the Farrell family's heir, but do you think your background alone is enough to hold onto Jared? Offending the Bailey family now won't do you any favors."

Tina glanced past Victor, her gaze fixed on the rustling leaves outside the large floor-to-ceiling windows behind him. Her smile grew even more radiant, almost unnervingly so. For a moment, Woods wondered if she'd lost her mind. If Mr. Bailey had truly frightened her, the Farrell family would surely retaliate by dismantling the Bailey family brick by brick.

Victor's expression darkened further as he watched her. Hatred, disdain, and a hint of fear flickered in his eyes. "What are you laughing at?!"

Tina's smile vanished abruptly, replaced by a frosty expression. Her striking features, once bright with amusement, now carried a chilling edge. "I'm laughing at your stupidity. Laughing at how dense you are. Laughing at how you're missing a few brain cells."

"You-!" Victor's face turned ashen.

Tina leaned back in her chair, her cold gaze fixed on him. "You and your daughter have suffered how many losses at my hands, yet you still haven't figured out one crucial thing." Victor frowned, confused. "What haven't I figured out?"

He prided himself on knowing everything there was to know about her. He'd done his research long ago.

Tina's lips curled into a faint smirk. "I've never needed to cling to anyone. I am the big shot. Others cling to me."

The implication was clear: she had no need to rely on Jared or anyone else.

Victor was speechless. He had never encountered someone so brazenly self-assured.

After a brief pause, Victor cleared his throat, trying to mask his discomfort. He pressed on, "Regardless, you're Jared's fiancée. Helping your husband's cousin is only natural."

Tina's laugh was cold this time. "I can't understand how your father ever thought you were fit to lead the Bailey family. Have you forgotten what you've done to the Farrell family?"

Not giving Victor a chance to respond, Tina rested lazily against her chair, her tone indifferent but sharp. "My uncle's aunt disappeared because of you. How dare you think the Bailey family has any standing with the Farrell family?"

A hint of amusement flickered in her eyes as she picked up a strand of her hair, twisting it around her finger. "I'm smarter than you, Mr. Bailey. Otherwise, how could I have snuck into your family's cemetery in the dead of night and stolen your mother's urn?"

Her words were casual, but the chill they carried was palpable. Woods, standing to the side, broke into a cold sweat. His earlier warnings had clearly fallen on deaf ears.

Victor, on the other hand, was trembling with rage, his face contorted in fury. But before he could speak, Tina stood and prepared to leave. Pausing at the door, she didn't look back but spoke clearly, "Mr. Bailey, instead of wasting time trying to save Phil Walker, you should focus on saving yourself. Who knows? The Bailey family might not be around much longer."