Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

At the Brookes family residence, Ian walked in carrying a box of strawberry cake. Kiki and Mimi, with their eyes gleaming, dashed towards Ian. Meanwhile, Scarlett was watching a video to learn how to make strawberry cake. “Dad, weren’t you supposed to be playing chess with Logan? How come you’re back so early?” Scarlett asked as she set aside the unevenly spread cream to greet him. Ian opened the cake box and handed slices to the eagerly watching Kiki and Mimi, then waved his hand, chuckling, “That old man heard that Tina and his grandson jumped off a cliff, so he rushed back home.”

Scarlett gasped, shocked, “Jumped off a cliff? What happened?” She had been busy all day with the cake and hadn’t caught the news. “It’s nothing serious, just went to save someone. Tina and Jared are quite capable,” Ian explained with a smile. He had known about Tina and Jared’s cliff-jumping rescue at the racetrack since last night and had already asked Jack to look into it. Even the engineer’s lead was discreetly passed to Hayden by Jack.

Thus, Ian had moved past his initial worry. Relieved, Scarlett exclaimed, “That’s terrifying! Next time I see Tina, I need to tell her not to do such dangerous things. How scary.” Ian glanced at the messy cream and eggs in the yard, even on Kiki and Mimi, sighed, and said, “Scarlett, maybe you should do fewer dangerous things yourself.” Scarlett rubbed her nose, “It’s okay, what I’m doing isn’t dangerous. The oven hasn’t exploded yet.”

Ian didn’t try to stop her anymore; his daughter-in-law was always impulsive. Last time, she was obsessed with braiding Kiki and Mimi’s hair and almost ended up shaving their heads. He wondered how long she would stick with making strawberry cake. Just then, Jack returned home, also carrying strawberry cake, and began cleaning off the eggshells from their daughters. “Scarlett, let Mrs. Smith wash them up, look at their little faces,” he said.

Putting down what she was holding, Scarlett knew Jack had business to discuss with Ian. She quickly ate the small cakes in the kids’ hands and took them for a bath. In the yard, Ian turned off the oven Scarlett had forgotten about and asked, “How’s the investigation going?”

“CK’s people have indeed appeared in Ashbury, but it’s not confirmed if they’re the old Five Poisons. I’m also checking on that engineer, aside from that CK account, there’s not much,” Jack reported, helping Ian to a wicker chair. “There’s something else. Jared and his assistant have been suspended, and Hayden has been sent to the periphery, not involved in internal work. Apparently, Vivienne submitted a statement implicating them in some secrets, but there’s little evidence.”

Ian nodded, “Go handle it, we can’t let others succeed.”

“Yes, I understand,” Jack replied, about to leave, but Ian stopped him with his cane. Pointing at the messy front yard, he said, “Clean this up, can’t you make a nice baking spot for your wife?” Jack sighed silently, “Scarlett baking? She’d be lucky to separate the yolks from the whites properly.” Watching a bowl of unsuccessfully separated eggs, Jack anticipated that they would be eating a variety of egg dishes for the next few days. In the Brookes family, nothing went to waste!

After returning from the Farrell family, Tina and Courtney, who had just finished school, were in the living room; Courtney was watching Zackary do his homework. Her coaching style was completely different from Velma’s-utterly indifferent, yet doubly efficient, unlike Velma, who would often stop tutoring to play with Zackary.

“Miss Reed, you’re back,” Courtney said, ruffling Zackary’s head and handing him the PSP. “Time to play.”

“Thank you,” Zackary replied, finishing his last stroke and happily taking the PSP to his room to play advanced Sudoku.

The two entered Tina’s bedroom, and Courtney closed the door tightly. “Miss Reed, I’m not sure about the headquarters, but Jason sent me a secret message advising me not to return for check-ins recently. I don’t know what’s happening.”

Tina nodded, “Okay, got it.”

“I always feel like the headquarters is intentionally sidelining our captain. Husky has been sent to the outskirts for dispersal, Captain Lehman is suspended, Jason is on standby without knowing the mission details, and the members of the third squad have been dispersed everywhere. Jason has very few people left now.”

Courtney looked worriedly at Tina. “You don’t think something bad will happen, do you?”

Tina lazily lay on the bed, “How’s Lysander?”

“I make sure to wait until Hawk personally comes to pick him up before I leave. Those tails sent by Vulture have been taken care of.”

“It’s almost time to wrap things up. Just a few more days as a bodyguard and it’ll be over,” Tina stretched languidly, feeling sleepy from the heavy dinner.

Courtney looked somewhat embarrassed at Tina. “Miss Reed, how many days until it ends?”

Tina paused, then lay on her side facing Courtney, propping her head up with one hand, “What’s up?”

Courtney bit her lip, her expression troubled, “It’s just… Orson, he’s a bit annoying.”

Oh?

Tina perked up.

Unexpected gossip?

Seeing Tina eager for the gossip, Courtney’s mouth twitched, “Well, it’s nothing much, just that Orson keeps running to Kongham University, always hanging around us, making it difficult to do anything. And he also…”

“What else?” Tina sat up, clutching a pillow, eyes wide on Courtney.

Courtney sighed deeply, “He also brings a bunch of roses every day, drawing too much attention. It’s so annoying.”

Courtney had always been able to hide her identity, initially even Tina hadn’t noticed her.

Whether previously in Ensford or now at Kongham University, she was inconspicuous. Even when she proactively joined the popular Lysander’s team, not many noticed.

Now, however, Orson was flamboyantly following them around with roses.

Everyone at Kongham University knew Courtney was being pursued by the new esports sensation Orson.

Rumors of a love triangle between Orson, Courtney, and Lysander had spread, with people even writing fan fiction on campus forums like “The Esports Champion Who Loved Me” and “Caught in the Pursuit of a Popular King.”

She was fed up!

Orson was also Jared’s brother, she couldn’t just get rid of him!

Moreover, with Vulture’s spies still around, though Vulture was no longer a problem, the public eye made things difficult. Courtney had to tolerate Orson, unable to act freely.

After hearing this, Tina paused for a few seconds, then couldn’t help but laugh.

Reaching out, she playfully hooked Courtney’s chin with her finger, her expression mischievous, “Girl, your spring has come.”

Courtney’s face turned so red it could have dripped blood, “Don’t talk nonsense! I’m not interested in Orson!”

Tina smiled, “Sort it out yourselves. As for the mission, it’ll be over soon.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

It really would be soon.

All the necessary clean-ups were about to be done.

Just then, Tina’s phone rang. It was Jared.

Courtney didn’t interrupt their conversation and turned to leave.

Tina answered the call, “Uncle!”

“Vivienne left home half an hour ago and was rushed to the hospital. She’s in critical condition, doctors say it’s rapid organ failure.”