Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Tina glanced meaningfully toward the door. Jared Farrell smirked, “Merely breaking his hands and feet, that’s too lenient.” Mack had lunged at Tina, but refrained from striking because he saw the silver needle in Tina’s hand pierce into his body. He was no doctor and couldn’t tell which part of Mack’s body the needle had hit, but the fact that it drove a man insane spoke volumes about the girl’s medical skills.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

Jasper publicly decided to hand Mack over to the police. To outsiders, he appeared supremely just, preferring to turn against his own sister and brother-in-law for the sake of his biological daughter, embodying the image of a good father. However, Jasper’s real intention to save Mack was clear. Only by handing him over to the authorities could Mack’s life be spared. Tina had realized this and thus had decided to take matters into her own hands. Having been with Tina for so long, he understood that she disliked bloodshed, hence her decision to cripple Mack. But that punishment was far too mild.

Tina looked up, locking eyes with him for a moment before suddenly smiling, “You only noticed the broken limbs, did you see the poison I personally developed that he ingested?” Jared was taken aback; he hadn’t noticed. Tina simply smiled without a word. When she had struck Mack, she had fed him her specially concocted poison, “Lonely Night Fragrance,” a blend derived from a hundred toxic herbs, colorless and tasteless. It wouldn’t immediately claim a life but would slowly torment like countless insects gnawing away inside the body, eventually impairing the mind and reducing the victim to insanity, all undetectable by any medical means.

At that moment, Jared Farrell handed her a piece of strawberry cake. She took it leisurely, “What’s so difficult about death?” The real challenge was wanting to die and not being able to. Meanwhile, a lively piano tune began to play onstage. Willow had chosen a light-hearted piece, perhaps to lighten the mood after the recent events. Her piano skills were commendable, though lacking in depth compared to Sutcliffe’s, but the untrained ear wouldn’t notice the imperfections.

“Willow plays the piano beautifully, a true talent and quite the beauty,” someone commented. “Did you know, since divorcing Ethan Ward, she hasn’t remarried? Lately, she seems closest to Jasper; maybe she likes him?” “Isn’t it obvious? Her affection for Jasper is known, though he’s never responded.” “Since Jasper is still unmarried and Willow is so enamored, why not just marry her? Especially when she’s so talented and beautiful, many would dream of marrying her, and she even spoke up to save the Reed family’s face, acting every bit the lady of the house.”

“Doesn’t that mean Miss Reed just got herself a new mom?” The crowd buzzed with speculation. Onstage, Willow, hearing these comments, couldn’t help but smirk, even missing a few notes unknowingly. Meanwhile, Lily Ward, standing aside, looked defiantly towards Tina.

How about Mr. Daryl’s fiancee? What of being a Reed family daughter? If her mother married Jasper, she would be the lady of the house, and Tina would have to defer to her. Stepmothers have it hard, but stepdaughters even harder. The murmurs reached Tina’s ears. She raised her cool gaze to the confident Willow on stage, her eyes narrowing slightly. Thinking of becoming her mother? She’d have to earn that right. Apart from her biological mother, only Wen Shuqing could rightfully call her “mom.” Willow? Hardly worth consideration.

Tina set down her cake and walked up to the stage, pulling up a chair next to Willow. Willow, mid-performance, was startled by Tina’s approach and almost stopped playing. She frowned, “What are you trying to do, Miss Reed? Join in?” In her village, could she even play the piano? Did she understand music at all, or was she here to ruin the performance? With these thoughts, Willow abruptly stopped and glared at Tina, “Miss Reed, while you are Jasper’s daughter, you must still respect the setting. The Reed family just faced a scandal, and I was saving your family’s face. Why create a scene now?”

Lily Ward’s expression darkened in agreement, “Miss Reed, playing the piano isn’t so simple, nor is it something you can just pick up. Please step down and don’t disturb my mother!” Tina’s gaze swept coldly over Willow and Lily Ward, unwilling to waste words. Her fingers gracefully began the melody on the piano keys, continuing the piece Willow hadn’t finished. Her tone and rhythm were superior to Willow’s, her playing even quicker and more spirited, bringing a clear and uplifting mood to the hall.

Willow and Lily Ward were stunned. How could this rural girl play the piano? Tina turned to Willow, who was lost in thought, and spoke indifferently, “Aren’t you playing, Ms. Ward?” Realizing Tina’s superior performance, Willow panicked. Everyone was watching; not playing would diminish her reputation as a pianist. With a forced composure, she continued to play alongside Tina. But her first note was a mistake, glaringly obvious against Tina’s harmonious playing.