Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Woods stood behind him, scratching his itchy face. "Miss, maybe we should go back," he suggested. Tina was a smart woman, that was clear to see.

Even if she hadn't noticed something was amiss, Jared surely would have sensed something was off.

He didn't understand what she was thinking.

She had only dropped Elsa off at the suburban mall and then went off to suffer in this place by herself.

Who would actually come looking for them?

Woods looked down, cursing in his mind, yet he dared not speak the truth aloud.

Ella Bailey was growing impatient.

It was nearly four or five in the afternoon and still no one had come. Frustrated, she shouted, "Looks like we have to use that method. Let's not wait any longer! We're leaving, and we'll deal with Tina later!" A day later, at the Pace family home.

Ruud had been busy with affairs at the X Bureau and rarely came home.

His father was taking a nap in his room, and he let him be.

He went upstairs alone, opened his father's bedroom door, and saw the old man lying on a rocking chair, eyes closed, resting.

Boris, sitting beside the old man, turned around when he heard the noise.

Seeing it was Ruud, he quickly masked his irritation, stood up, and approached him, "Brother..."

Ruud raised his hand to stop him mid-sentence, "Father is sleeping, keep your voice down."

Boris paused, his gaze flickering with impatience, but outwardly he nodded respectfully, tiptoeing back to the old man's side.

His hands were nervously clasped behind him.

The moment Ruud's gaze fell on his father's face, his expression darkened.

"Didn't you say over the phone that Dad was recovering well? He doesn't look it to me."

In the sunlight.

Leo's complexion was so pale it was nearly translucent.

His lips were chapped, and the cheeks that once had some flesh had now sunken in.

He looked even weaker than when he had just woken up from surgery.

It seemed he might leave this world at any moment; if not for Ruud still feeling the old man's faint breathing, he might have exploded with anger right then! Boris was both jealous and fearful of his brother.

Facing his brother's questioning, Boris broke into a cold sweat, "Bro, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hide it from you. It's all because of father, he didn't want to disturb your and Edwin's work, so he told me not to tell you."

He looked helplessly down, "If you ask me, father trusts Jared too much. He thinks Jared wouldn't harm him, but who can know what that kid really thinks? Especially his wife, it took the Reed family a long time to find out she was their daughter, and not long after, the Reed family fell into ruin. I heard it had something to do with her. If Jared could marry such a woman, what does that say about him?"

Boris looked up, trying to read whether Ruud was angry or pleased, and continued, "It was the supplements that Jared brought that poisoned him initially. Now, seeing the toxins still in his system, his health declines day by day. I think, only Spectre might be able to save his life now."

"Spectre?"

Boris saw Ruud picking up on his lead, barely hiding a smile, "Yes, but that person is elusive, not easily found by just anyone. I'm just afraid that Dad might not last long enough to find him."

Tina was the Spectre, a fact known only to a select few of the Pace family, all of whom had been sworn to secrecy. Ruud, the General Praevion of Sinoria, had ways to approach her. Knowing Tina as he did, Ruud understood that using his authority to pressure her would likely fail to persuade her. It was an ideal scenario for a showdown between the two, from which he could benefit as the onlooker.

"I think we still need to capture Jared. He administered the poison, so he must have the antidote!"

Boris rambled on.

A fleeting, inscrutable gleam crossed Ruud's eyes, "I'll send someone to track down Spectre. A professional nurse will be arriving in a few days to care for our father, giving you a chance to rest as well." "What?"

Boris, aware that Ruud was difficult to deceive, was shocked to find that upon his return, even his own position was being displaced.

"Don't you trust me? Everyone outside says I'm useless. Among all the siblings, I'm the only failure, yet I've stayed by our father's side for so many years. No one knows his health better than I do. Introducing a stranger suddenly, I fear father won't accept it."

Their lengthy conversation woke Leo, who even in deep sleep had been disturbed by their voices. Groggily opening his eyes and casting an ambiguous glance at Boris, he muttered, "I agree with your brother. You're tired; go and rest." "Dad!"

Ruud spoke in a low tone, "Step outside. I have more to discuss with dad. You can come back in later."

In her apartment, Tina finally had a moment to rest.

Jared had gone out early to deal with business at the company with Logan. She had hoped for a good sleep today. Just as Tina closed her eyes, the doorbell rang abruptly. Annoyed, she got up, rubbed her messy hair, and went to open the door with a face full of sleep irritation.

Courtney, startled by Tina's disgruntled appearance, hesitated, "Tina, is this a bad time?"

Lysander, sharp-eyed, noticed a hickey under Tina's dark hair and blinked, an understanding passing through his eyes.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

"Tina, you were asleep, weren't you?"

He pushed Courtney ahead and squeezed through the door.

"Not to say anything, but you should talk to Jared. He really needs to show some restraint. Look at those dark circles under your eyes; it breaks my heart. Doesn't it break his?"

Tina was in no mood for their chatter, "What do you two want, exactly?"

She flopped down on the sofa, reclining without any pretense. Lysander immediately stepped back to offer her tea and fruits, attending to her as if she were royalty.

Courtney grimaced, thinking to herself that Lysander was clearly aiming to steal Mr. Farrell's favored spot. But that was none of her concern. She quietly observed and secretly sent a message to Jared hinting at Lysander's visit.

As Tina finally looked better under Lysander's attentive care, Courtney revealed her purpose, "Tina, I came to ask about Jason's injury. When will it fully heal?"

Facing Tina's suddenly curious gaze, Courtney's cheeks flushed, "Why are you looking at me like that?"