Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Jared drove Tina towards the city. Noticing her mood seemed off, he gently asked, “Feeling down? Is it because of that person?” What was her name again? Miss Smith? He had forgotten.

“No,” Tina replied, looking out the window with a heavy expression. She was indeed in a bad mood, but not because of Lily. Someone like Lily couldn’t stir any emotion in her. It was the research that troubled her. Despite having found the Dragonsbreath she needed, the research had stalled. GTO had started infiltrating her circle, and if she didn’t develop the antidote faster than GTO, she feared they might do something even crazier. She didn’t care much for herself, but there were people she wanted to protect.

“You said you had something to show me?” Tina changed the topic, not wanting to discuss it further. Jared had sent her a mysterious message on their way to the research institute but hadn’t revealed anything.

“Don’t worry, it’s something that will make you happy,” Jared said with a loving smile. “Whatever’s bothering you, just let it go for now.”

Tina nodded, inexplicably feeling lighter after hearing his words. She didn’t know why, but Jared’s words always seemed to comfort her.

“Take a nap; I’ll wake you when we get there,” Jared suggested, noticing the fatigue on Tina’s face. The young woman was always so strong-willed and never spoke up about her troubles.

“Okay.” Only when she was with Jared did Tina let down her guard and close her eyes for a short rest.

Tina slept for half an hour in the car and woke up to find they had stopped at a mountaintop. “Why didn’t you wake me?” she asked, stretching and sitting up straight. Jared’s jacket was draped over her; she hadn’t noticed when he put it on her.

“You looked so peaceful; I didn’t want to wake you,” Jared replied with a smile. “Come on, let’s see the gift I prepared for you.” He opened the car door for her and held her hand as they walked to the mountaintop.

“What is it?” Tina asked just as a series of bright lights shot into the sky. Colorful fireworks lit up the night in an instant.

Tina had seen fireworks before but never such a dazzling display. The fireworks lasted twenty minutes, illuminating her heart as much as the sky.

She turned to look at Jared’s profile, still captivating even from the side. Her gaze followed his profile to his lips, and she impulsively stood on tiptoe to kiss him.

Jared hadn’t expected the kiss and froze momentarily before wrapping his arms around her and deepening it. Under the fireworks, their connection grew even more profound.

After a long while, Tina pulled away from Jared’s embrace and whispered, “Thank you.” From a young age, her heart had been as tough as steel; few things could move her emotions. But since coming down from the mountain, she found herself softening unexpectedly.

Hugo and Jennie had given her warmth; Jared had given her love… She realized that deep down inside, she needed softness too. She was only nineteen and wanted simple joys like other girls-to do what she wanted.

Jared gently touched her head with his long fingers and smiled faintly. “Tina, I can be your support. You can trust me with your back; I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

He had never been in a relationship before and didn’t know how to make a girlfriend happy-especially one as strong-willed as Tina. The idea of showing her fireworks came from seeing a picture on his phone that struck him instantly. He thought she’d like it, and he was right.

Tina looked up into his deep eyes and smiled. “Alright then, you’ll protect me.”

Jared held her close and kissed her forehead. “I will.”

After the fireworks ended, Jared drove Tina back to Whispering Pines. Once she went inside, he drove away.

Halfway through his drive, Jared narrowed his eyes and slowed down. He lit a cigarette with one hand while driving slowly along the road filled with smoke inside the car. He opened the window, stubbed out his cigarette, stopped the car, and got out.

Leaning against his car under the moonlight that stretched his tall figure into sharp relief, he glanced indifferently at a distance and spoke calmly. “You’ve been following me all this way; aren’t you going to make your move?”

As soon as he finished speaking, about ten men dressed in black emerged from the shadows surrounding him.

The leader eyed Jared warily and asked in a deep voice, “How did you notice us?”

They were top elites from an assassin organization; no one usually spotted them. But Jared had noticed them easily.

Jared smirked. “Was it hard?”

The man sneered. “Looks like whoever bought your life underestimated your danger.”

“Oh?” Jared raised an eyebrow. “How did they describe me?”

“They said you’re not as simple as you appear; you’re no fool,” answered the man straightforwardly.

Jared chuckled lightly. “They know me well!”

His eyes lifted slightly. “So you believed them?”

“Of course,” replied the man seriously. “We’re the third wave sent by our organization; all previous attempts failed.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

The man remained vigilant against Jared-a dangerous individual who could easily detect them.

“Enough talk,” said the man finally signaling his men to attack with a raised hand. “Someone paid for your life today; if we fail our mission we’ll die too.”

Just as they moved forward simultaneously Jared suddenly spoke again: “Wait!”

They halted abruptly while their leader frowned at him: “What else do you want?”

Usually when they received missions-even if discovered-they wouldn’t waste words but act immediately yet this person kept leading them along somehow…

“How much did they pay?” asked Jared lighting another cigarette leisurely.

“Three hundred million,” replied without hesitation

Jared took drag smiled faintly: “My life’s worth only three hundred million?”

The man fell silent…

Buying your life yet complaining about price?

Extinguishing cigarette calmly said: “One billion dollars-to buy your betrayal!”

The man along with his subordinates fell silent…