Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Pippa Ogden spoke in a calm tone, as if recounting a story rather than her own experiences. "I had been staying in Ensford all along. Half a month ago, she suddenly decided to bring me back. I don't know what she was thinking, but she even deliberately cut a wound on my wrist."

She slowly extended her arm.

On the pale skin of her arm, exposed by her sleeveless dress, numerous scars had healed into faint white marks.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Even so, the sight was shocking.

One could only imagine the kind of life Pippa Ogden had endured over the years.

Though her voice was steady, those familiar with psychology could see the subtle trembling of her body. It was like an invisible pain, as though her past wounds had been reopened, and it manifested in the slight quivering that she couldn't suppress.

No one doubted the truth of her words.

Her scars alone bore evidence that everything she said was real.

Some in the courtroom cast sympathetic glances toward her, unable to look away.

Pippa noticed the pity in their eyes but chose to ignore it. She laid her right arm flat, the five-centimeter-long scar on her wrist drawing everyone's attention.

The camera zoomed in on her arm, ensuring that even the online viewers could see the condition of her wrist more clearly.

Anyone with medical knowledge would immediately recognize how severe the injury must have been at the time.

Mrs. Ogden had clearly shown no regard for Pippa's life.

"This scar," Pippa continued, her voice steady yet chilling, "put me in the hospital for two hours of emergency surgery. If I hadn't been lucky, I wouldn't be standing here today, speaking to all of you."

Her icy gaze shifted to Mrs. Ogden. "Judge, wouldn't this count as attempted murder?"

"You're lying! I didn't do it! Judge, I didn't do any of this! She did it to herself-it has nothing to do with me!"

Mrs. Ogden's voice rose in panic.

How could she possibly admit to this? A confession would mean prison! She couldn't afford to end up like Phil Walker, suffering behind bars.

She still had a son-she couldn't let anything happen to herself!

Pippa, as if predicting her reaction, calmly pulled out her phone. "You don't get to deny it. I have video evidence. I have recordings. Mrs. Ogden, do you still think I'm the same child you could manipulate at will?" Her words landed with a sharp finality that made Mrs. Ogden's heart skip a beat.

For the first time, Mrs. Ogden truly looked at her daughter. The young woman before her, though gaunt, still had strikingly beautiful features.

Pippa had always been exceptional. Whether it was her grades or other achievements, she had outshone the other children in the neighborhood. But so what? She was just a girl, destined to marry and leave the family one day. In the end, only Timmy had stayed by her side.

Mrs. Ogden regretted not being harsher back then. If she had gone further and killed Pippa outright, none of this would be happening today.

Tina, tired of the spectacle, nudged Jared with her elbow.

The man immediately understood and sent a quick message.

Outside the courtroom, Nathan received the signal. He put down his tablet, stepped out of the car, and dragged Adriana Smith from the vehicle. Meanwhile, inside, Tina shifted her focus to the hysterical, red-eyed Mrs. Ogden.

"I have another charge to bring against Mrs. Ogden," Tina announced, her voice cutting through the room. "She incited others to commit intentional harm, destroyed property totaling $1.5 million, abused children and disabled individuals, and inflicted severe injuries."

The crowd gasped again.

Even the judge, who had seen his fair share of human depravity, hadn't expected the case to take such a turn.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but remembering that they were still in court, he closed it again. "Plaintiff, please refrain from discussing matters unrelated to this case."

Tina shook her head. "No, this is very much related to the case. Mrs. Ogden bribed her friends to create chaos for the Dyer family, attempting to force a confession through coercion. If we hadn't intervened in time, the Dyer family would have been wrongfully convicted."

"This..."

The judge was at a loss for words.

After a moment of hesitation, he gestured for Tina to continue.

Standing silently nearby, Kylie Lambert and the others hadn't spoken for a long time.

Mr. Lee, perhaps, was still unclear about the situation, but Kylie felt a growing sense of unease.

Today's events seemed like a carefully orchestrated plan. Tina had clearly intended to use this opportunity to expose all the hidden truths from the past.

But why?

If her goal was to clear the Dyer family's name, there were better ways to achieve it. Why wait until today?

Kylie couldn't understand.

Phil Walker, who was already pinned to the ground by police, was even more confused. He felt as though he were trapped in a massive chess game, a mere pawn being pushed forward. And now, the tide had turned against him.

There was no way out. Unless someone came to his aid, he was certain to face imprisonment.

Unbeknownst to Phil Walker, countless people were watching the live broadcast of the trial.

In the Bailey family's residence, Victor sat stiffly in the living room, his expression dark and tense as he watched Tina methodically present pieces of evidence.

It was like watching a predator toy with its prey, delivering one precise blow after another, not killing outright but torturing slowly.

Vivienne and Kelly sat on either side of him.

The younger girl's eyes kept darting toward Jared, who sat in a corner of the video feed.

Vivienne, however, was focused on her brother, who appeared utterly defeated on screen.

Clutching her handkerchief tightly, she tugged at Victor's sleeve. "Victor, isn't there anything we can do? Please, help Phil. He's done so much for us over the years. If he ends up in prison, I'm afraid he might..." "He wouldn't dare!" Victor snapped, his voice like a whip.

Vivienne flinched but held her ground. "You're sure? He's your brother, but if he-"

Victor interrupted her with a cold sneer. "Don't worry. Your brother knows better than to betray us. We still have his wife and children in our hands. He won't risk their safety."

Hearing this, Vivienne's face went pale. Her trembling fingers gripped the handkerchief even tighter, and any words of persuasion caught in her throat.

"But still... letting Tina win like this... Victor, are you really okay with that?"

Kelly, who had been watching the live stream, finally chimed in. "Yes, Dad. Tina's being so arrogant! She's openly challenging the Bailey family!"

She leaned her head against Victor's shoulder, her voice sweet and coaxing. "She knows Phil Walker is one of ours. She knows what we're trying to do. And yet, she's deliberately opposing us. Isn't that a slap in the face to the Bailey family?" Victor shrugged her off impatiently. "When has the Bailey family ever had face?"

"This entire mess is because of Phil Walker's incompetence! If he had done his job properly, we wouldn't be in this situation. They should have killed everyone who knew the truth back then!"

He spoke the words casually, as if they meant nothing. "Now, everything that's happening is his own fault."

"But those things he did back then..." Vivienne whispered, her voice trembling. "You were the one who ordered him to do them."

The truth about Joseph Dyer's case had far-reaching implications.

If they had silenced everyone involved, the matter would never have dragged on this long. It would have been exposed years ago.