Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

At the same time, Courtney followed the figure into an isolated area on the outskirts of town. Cornering the black-clad individual with no escape route left, her eyes narrowed, and she struck with a powerful, precise palm attack aimed at their back.

The attack carried the force of the wind, but the black-clad individual sidestepped effortlessly, neutralizing her move in an instant. Then, with a swift counterstrike, they pushed Courtney several meters back.

Though the person had retaliated, it was clear they had no intention of hurting Courtney. After all, if they did, they wouldn't have spent so much time merely evading her attacks.

Courtney frowned deeply, but her eyes held a curious glint. The techniques this person used mirrored her own, and their energy was stronger than hers. She couldn't believe there was someone in this world so similar to herself.

She had to know who this person was.

Launching another attack, this time Courtney put all her strength into it. But just as the black-clad individual countered with equal force, Courtney abruptly withdrew, catching them off guard. Their own palm strike, already unleashed, couldn't be retracted in time. The force missed hitting Courtney's chest directly, redirected at the last moment. Nonetheless, the near miss left her face pale, clearly shaken.

The black-clad individual froze, stunned that their attack had injured her.

Courtney, clutching her chest, looked up with a trembling voice. "Is it really you?"

The figure didn't respond, only casting a long, intense look at her before stepping back, preparing to flee.

"Mom!" Courtney's hoarse cry stopped them in their tracks.

Her eyes reddened, her chest tightening with pain. "Back then, you left me in Ensford. Are you going to abandon me again?"

The black-clad figure paused, then sighed heavily. Slowly, they removed their hat, revealing a delicate face that bore a striking resemblance to Courtney's-seven or eight parts alike.

It was her. The woman believed to have died years ago: Thaliana.

Her mother.

Thaliana's eyes softened with pain as she approached her daughter, helping her to her feet. "It's me, Connie."

Courtney could no longer hold back her tears. That name-Connie-was her childhood nickname, one her mother used to call her. Even as she grew older, whenever someone called her that, her heart would instinctively turn, hoping it was her mother.noveldrama

She threw her arms around Thaliana, sobbing uncontrollably. "Mom, I've missed you so much."

Courtney had been gambling, betting that this was the person she had longed for all these years.

And she had won.

Thaliana's eyes glistened with emotion as she helped Courtney to her feet. "Are you hurt? I couldn't hold back that strike earlier."

Courtney shook her head quickly. Right now, she didn't feel any pain at all.

Seeing her like this, Thaliana let out a bitter laugh. "How did you recognize me?"

Courtney's eyes were still red, but a small smile appeared. "I saw the mole on your hand at the mall."

If not for that, she wouldn't have followed her all the way here.

Looking down at her hand, Thaliana saw the small, unobtrusive black mole on the back of it. It was so faint that no one would notice unless they examined closely.

Courtney took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on her mother as though afraid she might vanish if she looked away for even a moment.

Thaliana sighed, a faint smile on her lips. "I won't leave."

Courtney nodded, her heart swelling with joy.

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Ever since Natalie appeared, a small hope had taken root in her heart. Even though she had erected a tombstone for her mother, she couldn't help but wonder: What if, like Natalie, her mother had faked her death to escape those who hunted her?

Now, that hope had become reality.

Not wanting their reunion to remain so sorrowful, Courtney wiped her tears with the back of her hand and shifted the topic. "Mom, what happened all these years? Why are you only showing up now?"

Thaliana gently caressed her daughter's face. "Let's not talk about that now. You're injured. Let me take you to the hospital."

---

The next morning, Tina received a message from Courtney, asking her to meet at a private hospital. The message seemed urgent, and Courtney had specifically requested to meet her alone.

Frowning, Tina read the message carefully. Why would Courtney suddenly end up in a hospital?

When Jared saw the message, his first instinct was to oppose Tina going alone. "I'll go with you," he insisted.

Tina shook her head. She trusted Courtney. If she had asked to meet alone, it must have been for something important.

"If it's really an ambush," she added, "then I have more reason to go. I can't let anything happen to Courtney."

Still uneasy, Jared insisted on driving her there. He and Hayden waited outside the hospital while Tina went in.

Hayden, still riding high from his recent engagement, opened the car window with an exaggerated grin. "Serena, everything's ready. Just give the word, and we'll storm right

in."

Tina ignored him and got out of the car, her expression calm.

Hayden's grin faltered. "Jared, did Serena just glare at me?"

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Jared, indifferent, closed his laptop and glanced at Hayden. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Hayden swallowed nervously. "I was just hoping you could put in a good word for me. Serena's mad at me, and I'm terrified."

Jared smirked coldly. "Hayden, aside from being your boss, I'm also Tina's husband. What made you think I'd help you?"

Hayden deflated instantly. "... Right."

On the third floor, Tina knocked on the hospital room door. Finding it ajar, she pushed

it open to see Courtney sitting on the bed in a hospital gown.

"Tina, you're here," Courtney greeted with a smile.

"What happened?" Tina asked, her brows furrowed at Courtney's pale complexion.

"I'm fine," Courtney replied, sitting up with effort.

A gentle voice came from the bathroom. "Why are you moving around?"

Courtney's smile widened as she turned to introduce her mother. "Mom, come here.

This is Tina, Natalie's daughter."

Turning back to Tina, she added, "Tina, my mom is back."

Tina looked toward the figure emerging from the bathroom.

Her mind instantly recalled a photo she'd once seen at the X Bureau. In it, two women

stood side by side in uniform, an X Bureau flag waving behind them.

One of them was unmistakably the woman standing before her now: Thaliana, the former deputy captain of the X Bureau.