Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Tina and Jared returned to their residence.

An hour later, Cole Lyon called. "Serena, the men in black were gone by the time we arrived, but we've confirmed the bodies. All of them are missing their hearts."

"There are fifteen in total, all underage girls. None of them appear in any database." This didn't surprise Tina.

The body she'd come across with Nancy last time was likely from the same source.

Given Claudia's methods, commanding her death warriors to capture these individuals for healing was hardly a challenge.

The reason Claudia hadn't acted before was her fear of exposing her ultimate trump card too soon.

But now, taking the hearts of more than a dozen girls in one go revealed her determination.

Claudia wanted a decisive, final showdown.

The next day, Tina brought a box to Master Tam.noveldrama

When it came to rare and mysterious artifacts, no one knew more than him.

Master Tam glanced at the box briefly before nodding. "I can open this, but I'll need two days."

Tina nodded and was about to leave when Master Tam stopped her. "No rush. Look at this first. I just discovered it."

He handed her an old book with yellowed pages.

Tina glanced at the cover. It was a historical record of a local region, at least a century old.

The location was in the southern area. But as her gaze fell on a certain line of text, her brows furrowed sharply.

She decided to read the entire story.

After finishing, she placed the book down, a realization forming in her mind like

threads connecting into a single line. A faint smile curved her lips. "So, my guess was right."

Master Tam remained silent for a moment, then nodded. "If all of this matches up, it resolves our previous doubts."

Tina's voice was cold and steady. "Her intentions aren't hard to guess. Once someone gains extraordinary abilities, their desires grow exponentially-especially someone consumed by familial and national hatred."

Master Tam, uninterested in such topics, shook his head. "What worries me is that when someone's long-laid plans crumble, they may descend into madness."

A smile tugged at Tina's lips. Her master's insight was as sharp as ever.

"Indeed. Even her death warriors, hidden for years, are now exposed. She must believe everything is in place."

At the mention of death warriors, Master Tam's expression shifted. "That makes it even worse. Stay with me instead. I'll protect you. If that's not enough, we'll go to your grandfather's house. The hidden family still has its foundation-no one would dare touch you."

Tina raised a brow in amusement. Since when was the old man so protective of her?

"Master, didn't you teach me that to solve a problem, one must face it head-on? Running away is the mark of a coward."

Master Tam choked on his words. "You little rascal! This isn't the time for bravado. Claudia doesn't just want to deal with you-she's targeting the entire world. Her methods will be deadly. I'm worried about your current condition."

Tina's gaze lowered, her tone turning cold. "She won't get her way."

Master Tam wanted to persuade her further, but Tina shifted the topic with a single sentence. "If I can figure out what's inside this box, I'll likely deduce what her ultimate 'weapon' is."

"If you want to help me, Master, focus on opening this box. That's how we'll gain the upper hand."

Seeing her resolve, Master Tam could only relent. "Fine. I'll try to have an answer by tomorrow. Until then, prioritize your safety and avoid acting alone."

Tina nodded in agreement. As she left, she turned and added, "And don't tell my grandfather about this!"

Master Tam waved her off helplessly. How could he even begin to explain this to Ian? If he did, the old man would summon all four of his sons and turn the capital upside down.

On the way back, Tina rested her eyes in the car's backseat.

Midway through the drive, Courtney received a low-voiced phone call. Though her

tone was quiet, hesitation was evident.

Tina slowly opened her eyes. "What's wrong?"

Courtney froze for a moment, glancing at Tina through the rearview mirror. Embarrassment flashed across her face.

"Tina, my mom wants to invite you to dinner to thank you properly. Do you have time today?"

Tina's clear, cold eyes lifted. "I have time."

Courtney hadn't expected Tina to agree so quickly. Her voice brightened as she spoke

into the phone. "Mom, Tina said yes! Book the place, and we'll head over soon."

After hanging up, Courtney apologized to Tina on behalf of her mother.

"I didn't know she'd suddenly come up with this idea. Otherwise, I would've prepared better."

As she spoke, her face flushed slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Tina was momentarily taken aback.

If not for Thaliana's sudden reappearance, she might have forgotten that Courtney was still just a girl who had barely reached adulthood.

The years spent carrying the burden of revenge had forced her to mature too quickly.

Now, Thaliana's return seemed to be filling the void of those lost years.

The restaurant was in the city center, just a short drive away.

Before getting out of the car, Tina sent Jared a message, letting him know not to wait for her at home.

Inside the private dining room, Thaliana was already waiting. She beamed with joy when Tina arrived.

"Tina, you're here! Come, have a seat."

Courtney followed behind, softly calling out, "Mom."

Thaliana returned her smile warmly.

Tina sat down, her tone calm. "How's your health?"

Thaliana waved it off lightly. "These symptoms have been with me for years. They've become a part of me. As long as I don't dwell on them, I'm fine."

Tina nodded. "If you don't mind, I have some medicine that can help ease the pain. You can keep it with you."

Thaliana was taken aback and quickly refused. "Tina, I really can't accept this."

Tina placed the small bottle into her hand. "It's just a bottle of medicine. Don't refuse.

If my mom finds out, she'll scold me for not being thoughtful."

Courtney chimed in, "Mom, Tina's medicine is priceless. You can't buy it, no matter how much you're willing to pay."

Hearing this, Thaliana didn't protest further. She swiftly tucked the bottle into her pocket.

"Then I'll make sure to take good care of it."

As they chatted, the dishes were brought out.

Thaliana asked warmly, "Do you like the dishes I ordered? If not, I can have them

change it."

The table was filled with dishes Tina often mentioned during meals.

Her lips curved faintly. "You seem to know my preferences well."

Thaliana smiled sheepishly. "To be honest, I asked Connie about it yesterday. She's the

one who told me."