Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Thaliana's eyes glimmered with a trace of pain. "At the time, those people were determined to hunt me down. For Courtney's safety, I had no choice but to take a fake- death pill to deceive them."

Alina pressed her lips together, sighing softly. "Where have you been all these years? Why didn't you contact us? Even the X Bureau couldn't track you down."

"We all thought you were..." Alina trailed off, exhaling deeply. The news had been impossible to accept when she first heard it.

Thaliana answered truthfully, "Over the years, my memory has been fragmented- sometimes clear, sometimes completely gone. But I never gave up searching for Connie or you, Captain. Who would have thought that pill would..."

"Ahh!"

Before Thaliana could finish her sentence, she clutched her head with both hands and leaned against the bed in agony, her face contorted in pain.

"Mom, is it your head again?" Courtney asked anxiously. "Don't think about it anymore."

Alina watched Thaliana's sudden torment, unsure whether it was genuine or an act.

Courtney explained, "Natalie, this is a side effect of the fake-death pill my mom took back then. Whenever she tries to recall the past, she gets these headaches and can't remember anything."

Before leaving, Thaliana pulled out a token from her belongings and handed it to Alina. "Take this," she said firmly.

Alina glanced at the token, its surface worn with age, and nodded. She tucked it into her pocket.

Courtney then approached Tina to request leave. "Tina, I might not be able to stay by your side for the next few days. I won't be in the lab, either."

Tina understood Courtney's situation and patted her shoulder. "It's fine. The items we retrieved from the Swanson family have already been sent to the lab. With Wraith there, you don't need to worry."

Reassured, Courtney nodded. With Jared and Hayden protecting Tina, she felt at ease.

In the Corridor

Alina held the token tightly, her expression tense. "This was Thaliana's first honor earned at the X Bureau. It's a symbol of her identity."

Tina raised an eyebrow. "It's authentic?"

Alina nodded. "This kind of thing... it's been with us for half our lives. It can't be faked." Even Alina was beginning to waver. Was that really Thaliana?

In the Hospital Room

Courtney sat back down by the bed, tucking the blanket snugly around Thaliana before settling into a nearby chair. It was clear she had no intention of leaving.

Thaliana leaned against the bed and gently advised, "Connie, my injury isn't serious. You don't need to delay your work just to take care of me. There are caregivers here-go do what you need to do."

"No way, Mom. I wouldn't trust anyone else to take care of you," Courtney replied firmly. She had made up her mind. There was no way she would let what happened that day repeat itself. She would personally ensure her mother's safety.

"I've already spoken to Tina about the lab. I won't be going back for now," she added.

Thaliana smiled faintly and teased, "These past few days, you've been following Tina so closely, I thought you'd given up on the lab altogether."

Courtney picked up an apple from the fruit basket, angling the blade inward to carve a smooth arc. "The two aren't mutually exclusive. If Tina needs me, I'll always be there. But when I'm not busy, I'll still return to the lab. After all, there's a lot I want to learn there."

She handed a neatly sliced piece of apple to Thaliana, who accepted it with a warm smile. "You've loved following me around for research since you were little. I never thought you'd actually pursue this path."

Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you're on Ne5s.com to catch every twist and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now! Courtney nodded. "When I joined the lab, my goal was to continue what you taught me."

Thaliana took a small bite of the apple and casually asked, "By the way, I overheard Tina mention that the lab received some new items. What are they?"

Courtney had just finished peeling the rest of the apple into a single, unbroken strip. Remembering the doctor's instructions, she placed the remaining apple back on the table. "Just work-related things," she said softly. "Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand."

Thaliana feigned anger. "Is it that I wouldn't understand? Or are you underestimating your mother?"

"Don't forget, I'm your mentor. Everything you know, I taught you. How can you assume I wouldn't get it?"

Courtney didn't expect her casual remark to upset Thaliana and hastily explained, "Mom, it's not that I don't want to say. I actually don't know what's in there myself."

"Oh? That mysterious?" Thaliana narrowed her eyes and stared intently at Courtney, determined to get an answer.

Courtney sighed in defeat. "Tina speculated that the items might be related to the people who tried to assassinate us yesterday. The box was sealed when it arrived, though, so Tina probably had someone open it."

"Is that so?" Thaliana murmured, her eyes narrowing further. After a moment of thought, she added, "By the way, while searching for you, I heard some rumors. They said Tina has something very important. Anyone who finds it will receive a bounty of one hundred million dollars."

Courtney had heard such rumors but dismissed them. "Mom, those people can't touch Tina."

The so-called professional assassins wouldn't even qualify to catch her attention, let alone harm someone with Tina's abilities.

Thaliana's expression grew serious. "I know Tina is skilled, but we still can't be careless. Have you forgotten how they ambushed us yesterday?"

Courtney froze. Indeed, what had happened was entirely unexpected.

Seeing her hesitation, Thaliana reached out and patted her hand. "Make sure you remind Tina to keep that thing hidden. If anyone discovers it, things could get dangerous."

Lost in the world of this story? Make sure you're on Ne5s.com to catch every twist

and turn. The next chapter awaits, exclusively on our site. Dive in now!

Courtney lowered her eyes and nodded. "I'll talk to Tina."

The Next Day

Tina and Jared arrived at the lab. As soon as they entered, they heard a series of explosions echoing from inside.noveldrama

Tina frowned and turned to the nearby staff. "What's going on in there?"

A researcher looked up, startled to see Tina, then quickly bowed respectfully. "It's Wraith. He's been tinkering with something for the past two days. Smoke keeps pouring out, and it's been like this nonstop."

Tina waved the staff member away and was preparing to enter with Jared when a voice called out from behind.

"Tina, Jared!"

Tina turned to see Courtney approaching. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the hospital?"

Courtney sighed, exasperated. "My mom doesn't like anyone hovering over her. She said it felt like prison and told me to go back to work."

Tina glanced at the chaotic lab and then back at Courtney. "In that case, come with me."

"Yes, Tina!" Courtney replied, her face lighting up with excitement.

Anything Tina was personally involved with had to be something important.