Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Tina didn't respond. Without a word, she attacked "Nancy," this time not with her signature silver needles, but with her powers.

She had stationed people to protect the Reed family, and to avoid panic, she had only informed Hayden and Hugo. If something went wrong, they were to take Jennie and leave immediately. The reason she had sent Uncle over earlier was to ensure Zackary remained safe in trusted hands.

But Claudia had targeted Jennie instead.

Hugo had always been protective of Jennie. If anything happened to her, he would undoubtedly follow.

As Tina unleashed her powers, "Nancy" evaded smoothly, her body lifting effortlessly above the energy's impact. A smug grin spread across her face. "You're no match for me. Using your powers is nothing but a death wish."

Tina's cold eyes locked onto her opponent, their icy glare cutting through "Nancy" like a blade. "What if I add Jade Armour to the equation?"

"Nancy's" expression shifted, her gaze snapping up to Tina in disbelief. "You've learned to use the Jade Armour?"

As Tina struck again, her eyes glinted with a frosty intensity. "You've tried everything to leak this information. Isn't this the moment you've been waiting for?"

If she wanted to die, then Tina would grant her wish.

"Nancy" raised her hand, enclosing herself in a shield of light. Even so, the pressure of Tina's energy forced her to take two steps back.

Fortunately for "Nancy," she had learned the art of instant teleportation from the Swanson family. In a flash, she teleported several meters away.

When she steadied herself, "Nancy" shot Tina a calculating glance, her lips curling into a pleased smile. The stronger Tina's abilities became, the more satisfied she seemed.

"Impressive. It seems you've figured out how to use it," she said.

"The Langdon family spent centuries guarding the Jade Armour without understanding its true purpose," she continued, her tone disdainful. "Now that it's in your hands, you've saved me a lot of trouble. Once I capture you and Jared shows himself, I'll kill him before your eyes. That'll be the first step of my grand plan."

A cold, contemptuous smile tugged at Tina's lips. In this world, no one existed who could threaten Uncle's life-not now, not ever.

And she certainly wouldn't allow such a person to exist.

Tina's patience had worn thin. She no longer cared to see Claudia wear a face so similar to Jennie's. With one strike, she shattered the mask, revealing Claudia's true appearance.

"Claudia," Tina said, her voice sharp and cutting, "do you really think the Langdon family didn't know the Jade Armour's true purpose? You think they were ignorant, but in reality, you're the one who's been played."

Claudia, who prided herself on her appearance, narrowly avoided the blow. But Tina's words made her freeze.

Her face twisted in disbelief, and for the first time, she revealed her real self. "What did you just say?"

Tina looked at her, her gaze as indifferent as when she had first looked upon Dorothy's face. Beauty, after all, was only skin deep. Who could say what lay beneath the surface?

Tina had never placed much trust in superficial disguises.

Just like the hidden lineages of the Langdon family, Claudia believed others followed her because they believed in her lies. In truth, they feared her power and the ambition she wielded to fulfill their desires.

"The Jade Armour has been passed down through the Langdon family for centuries. Do you really think they wouldn't understand its true purpose?" Tina's voice was steady, her words piercing. "They refused to hand it over for one reason: they didn't believe in your so-called grand plan. In fact, they feared you'd drag their family into a pit of sin they could never escape."

Hearing this, Claudia no longer hid her contempt. Instead, she burst into wild laughter, her voice mocking. "Fools! My grand plan is beyond the comprehension of those simpletons. They're not even worthy."

Tina stared at her, her expression unreadable. Quietly, she pressed the hidden tracker Uncle had given her before she came.

Uncle had been clear: unless absolutely necessary, don't act. Wait for him to arrive.

Her current condition was unique. If she had to use her powers, she might be fine, but the child inside her might not.

This was what she couldn't risk.

Claudia had to die, but Tina and Uncle's unborn child had to survive.

To buy time for Uncle, Tina provoked Claudia further.

"Claudia," she said, her tone sharp, "your so-called grand plan is nothing more than a desperate grab for power. Do you even realize how ridiculous it sounds? Has anyone in history ever overthrown an entire era by themselves? You want to rule the world, but have you ever considered whether the world would let you?"

Claudia sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "What could you possibly understand?"

She scoffed. "The patterns of history are clear. Everything I'm doing is simply following destiny. Once I reshape everything, these people will thank me. They'll kneel at my feet and worship me. Because only I-only I-am worthy of ruling this world."

Tina's lips curled into a mocking smile. "The world belongs to everyone. It has never been yours and never will be. It will never fall into your hands."

"Claudia," Tina said, her tone final, "this ends here."

Claudia's gaze turned sharp. Her voice was sultry but laced with bloodlust. "Tina, no matter what happens today, you're destined to become my sacrifice. This is what you owe me!"

"If it weren't for you," Claudia continued, her voice rising, "my plan would have been implemented twenty years ago. Your mother is useless to me now, but this time, no one will stop me from taking your heart."

Tina's eyes darkened. "You tried to harm my mother?"

Claudia raised an eyebrow. "Of course. Do you think I've been idle all these years?"

"If I hadn't slipped up back then, you wouldn't even exist. But this works out better. Your heart is perfect-young, strong, and exactly what I need."

Tina's voice was calm, but her gaze turned probing. "Are you saying my mother's pregnancy with me is the only reason you couldn't harm her?"

Claudia waved her hand dismissively, clearly uninterested in continuing the conversation. "There's no need to explain anything to you. All you need to know is that today, you're going to die."

Tina's eyes grew colder. "Who dies is yet to be decided."noveldrama

Claudia laughed abruptly, the sound laced with mockery. "You've been stalling all this time, and you still haven't realized no one is coming to save you?"

Tina glanced up at her but said nothing.

Claudia smirked. "I've already set a barrier around this place. They'd have to burn through all their energy to break through it. Even if they managed to get in, they'd be powerless against me."

"And you," Claudia sneered, "will watch them die in front of you before becoming the perfect sacrifice for my grand plan."

Tina's gaze sharpened.

So that's why Uncle hadn't responded.

With the situation taking a turn, Tina realized she had to act.

If her pregnancy was exposed, it could lead to even greater complications. She

wouldn't give Claudia the chance to harm her child.

A flash of determination crossed Tina's eyes. With a flick of her hand, silver needles infused with her powers flew toward Claudia's vital points.

Sensing the killing intent radiating from Tina, Claudia's excitement grew. Her voice was laced with twisted pleasure. "Tina, you should feel honored to become the stepping stone for my grand plan."

Throughout their exchanges, Claudia only defended, never attacked. She was deliberately toying with Tina, like a cat playing with a mouse, waiting for the right moment to strike.

But Tina had calculated the perfect timing. As Claudia let her guard down, Tina gathered all her power into her palm for a decisive strike.

Before she could release it, the barrier around the room cracked.

In the next moment, a figure clad in black broke through.