Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

At that moment, the door to their room was flung open by Victor from the outside.

The loud noise startled the middle-aged man, who instinctively turned toward the source of the sound. Luke Gill, blood staining the corner of his mouth, stood with slightly reddened eyes, his expression causing the man's face to darken. Vivienne let out a scream, snapping Victor out of his shock. He hurriedly instructed someone to help Luke Gill up. "Ella Bailey, have you completely lost your mind?! Are you trying to murder your own husband?!" Ella Bailey stared blankly at her own hand, her pupils dilated in disbelief. That shouldn't have happened.

From her observations of Luke Gill in recent times, this man's frail and weak demeanor was clearly faked.

Sure, she might have been a little impulsive earlier, and her movements were heavier than usual, but there was no way it could have caused him to spit blood.

She opened her mouth, her gaze drifting over Luke Gill, who looked pitiful yet possessed a certain ethereal beauty. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly. "Who knew he was so fragile? I was just messing around with him."

The girl's lips curved into a light smile, her carefree attitude stoking Victor's anger even further. Raising his hand, he prepared to strike her. Behind him, Kelly's eyes lit up at the sight, a glimmer of schadenfreude flashing uncontrollably in her gaze.

Only Vivienne reacted differently. Her pupils contracted as she suddenly lifted her leg and stepped forward.

Smack!

The familiar sting of pain didn't explode on Ella Bailey's face as expected.

Surprised, she opened her eyes to discover that someone-slender and frail-had stepped in front of her, intercepting Victor's blow. Ella Bailey arched an eyebrow, her gaze sweeping over Luke Gill, who was being supported, and Kelly, who stood smugly by the door. Finally, her eyes landed on the visibly shocked Victor.

Then, she glanced at the person shielding her. Though reluctant to admit it, she came to a conclusion about their identity. Vivienne. Not bad at all.

She couldn't help but wonder-what scheme was Vivienne planning this time? "Mom!"

The room fell silent for a full two minutes after the slap.

The oppressive stillness was finally broken by Kelly's panicked scream. "Mom, what are you doing?!"

Victor also snapped out of his daze. He shoved his daughter aside and pulled Vivienne, her face tear-streaked, into his arms. "I was disciplining the child. Why did you suddenly charge in? Let me see-why are you so reckless?" Vivienne's lips were split, her face twisted in pain. Yet she gritted her teeth and maintained a pitiful demeanor. "I'm fine. As long as Ella's okay, that's all that matters. Victor, you were too impulsive."

"Even if Ella made a mistake, she's already an adult. You can't hit her. If Logan finds out, he'll definitely come after us again."

At her words, Luke Gill lowered his gaze, a subtle glint flashing in his eyes.

The corner of his lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile. Without drawing attention to himself, he exchanged a look with Ella Bailey.

The meaning in his eyes was clear: See? Even if you don't agree with me, Victor will force you to acknowledge the Farrell family. In the end, everything will go according to his plan.

Ella Bailey's response was equally unmistakable: Whether or not things go his way remains to be seen.

She stayed silent, but Victor immediately caught on to the hidden implications in Vivienne's words.

With a wave of his hand, he instructed the servants to take Luke Gill away for first aid. Then he turned and shut the door.

In the spacious 100-square-meter room, only the four of them remained-a family tangled in complex relationships.

Victor's gaze briefly flicked to the laptop on the floor, which was still streaming a live court trial. His pupils shifted slightly. "What do you think about this trial?"

No one responded.

Ella Bailey sat casually on the bed, showing no intention of getting up. Her indifferent gaze met Victor's, then darted around the room before she pointed at herself in mock surprise. "You're asking me?" Victor inhaled sharply. "Who else would I be asking?"

Sensing his rising impatience, Ella Bailey shrugged nonchalantly. "What's there to say? Phil Walker is finished, that much is certain. Dad, if you ask me, you'd better sever ties with their family quickly before others find out you're connected to him."

Kelly stomped her foot and pointed at Ella Bailey. "Ella! How can you say that? He's still my uncle! My mom just helped you, and you don't even know how to be grateful?"

"You're hilarious." Ella Bailey stared at Kelly with a look that suggested she was observing an idiot. "Your mom helped me. What does that have to do with your uncle? Besides, did I ask for her help?" "Ella! Dad, look at her!"

Kelly's face alternated between red and white, her frustration evident as she yanked on Victor's sleeve to complain. "Our family and the Walker family are one and the same now. How can we split apart so easily? She's clearly unwilling to help!" Hearing this, Victor's expression darkened, his cold gaze cutting toward Ella Bailey.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

Ella rubbed her temples and spoke in a detached tone. "All it takes is shutting down the bank account where the payments were received. No matter how capable those people are, they won't be able to trace it back to us."

She shifted slightly, her voice sounding as if she was offering genuine advice. "Dad, why go through all the trouble and risk alerting others just to save Phil Walker?"

"If you really want to make money, wouldn't it be easier to open a new bank account and find a new contact?"

Victor dismissed her suggestion without hesitation. "Nonsense! Do you think it's that simple to rebuild the network we've worked so hard to establish?"

"When the trial ends, I'll arrange for you to meet Logan."

Victor didn't bother listening to Ella Bailey any further. With a wave of his hand, he left no room for argument. "When the time comes, seize the opportunity to plead with Logan. Convince the old man to put pressure on Tina and her people to release Phil Walker."

"At the very least, we can't let them trace Phil Walker's financial records back to us."

Ella Bailey almost laughed in exasperation. "Dad, do you even hear yourself? Phil Walker is the brother of that vile woman. Do you really think Logan would let him go just for the sake of a niece he's never met?"

"And Tina? What ability does she even have to investigate this? Only the government can trace Phil Walker's bank transactions."

"It doesn't matter what she can or can't do. Today, Phil Walker must not go to prison!"

Victor's voice turned icy, carrying an unmistakable authority that was impossible to defy.

Under normal circumstances, Ella Bailey might have reluctantly agreed by now.

But instead, her gaze flickered briefly to the tablet displaying Phil Walker's desperate struggle to defend himself. Deciding to bide her time and wait for Tina's signal, she responded coolly, "Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Once the verdict is handed down, there won't even be a need for me to plead. Phil Walker is going to prison, no matter what."

She tapped the laptop on the bed, pointing directly at Phil Walker on the screen. Her words were deliberate and biting. "Just the charges of colluding with underground forces and assaulting underage girls are enough to keep him locked up for ten or twenty years. You couldn't get him out even if you tried. And you expect me to? Dad, you must be joking."