Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Stephanie finally came to, only to find herself still lying on the ground, a look of embarrassment crossing her face. Tina, having just finished checking Natalie's pupils, tossed a cellphone towards her upon hearing Stephanie rise. "You haven't forgotten what we discussed last night, have you?"

Silently standing up, Stephanie asked, "After I help you, will you let bygones be bygones?" Tina laughed softly while continuing her examination of Natalie, "You should realize that you're helping yourself." Stephanie froze, understanding the warning in Tina's words. She suddenly knelt down, pleading, "Tina, please, I'm begging you, save my brother. I'll do anything for you, I was forced into this!"

Tina straightened the blanket on Natalie's bed and sat down beside her, smiling at Stephanie, "What could you possibly do for me?" Stephanie pursed her lips, unable to say a word, feeling utterly powerless compared to Tina. Seeing Stephanie's hesitant demeanor, Tina grew reluctant to speak further, "I'm not interested in your brother. Just keep to yourself from now on, and I promise you'll survive your face treatment." Stephanie bit her lip, tears streaming down her face, "They've left my brother in a sanatorium-it's actually a mental hospital, Tina. For the sake of him never wronging you, please save him! He's the only family I have left in this world!" Tina could only laugh inwardly. How was it her concern? Should she really waste her resources saving someone just because he had never wronged her? It was laughable. Disinterested, Tina's voice turned icy, "Do as I say, or you won't survive either!" With that, she stood and left.

Stephanie sat collapsed on the floor, her eyes filled with despair. If Grace ever found out she had betrayed them, they would surely kill Eric to silence him. If she didn't comply, she wouldn't survive either. Either way, she was trapped. Angela watched coldly from the side, not understanding Stephanie's hesitation. In such a situation, shouldn't one prioritize saving one's own life? Angela thought if it were her, she wouldn't hesitate, even if it meant choosing between herself and Alina.

Meanwhile, Grace was at home waiting for a phone call. With Joshua missing, the master unreachable, and having been expelled from the X Bureau by Linden, she feared becoming expendable. This was unacceptable, as she had not yet avenged herself nor made Jared grovel at her feet. She had endured too much to gain her current status to be discarded midway.

Just then, her phone rang. Grace quickly answered, hoping it was about Joshua.

"It's Stephanie."

Her heart sank.

"Why are you calling?"

"I... I killed someone."

"What?" Grace scoffed, "You killed someone? You must be joking. If you were capable of that, you wouldn't be in such a mess."

Stephanie's voice was tearful, "I really did! It was Tina's mother, Natalie, the master ordered it. What do I do now? I've framed Lysander, but Tina will find out it was me soon. Please, contact the master to help me!"

Listening to Stephanie's frantic voice, Grace was uncertain, "Did you really kill someone?"

"Why would I lie to you? If Tina comes after me, I'll expose you first! Hurry up and think of something!" Stephanie then hung up.

Grace didn't waste a moment and dialed the Five Poisons' number.

"Master, I know I shouldn't disturb you, but Stephanie killed Tina's mother..."

A deep male voice interrupted, "Stephanie killed Natalie?" Grace nearly gasped aloud. She double-checked the number she had dialed-it was correct. But why was a man answering?

Confused, Grace asked, "Who are you? Where's the master?"

"Don't worry about who I am, Grace. As of now, your mission is over."

Then, the line went dead. Staring at her phone, Grace was still processing what had happened when her phone exploded suddenly. She jumped back as the phone's remnants fell to the floor, sparking and crackling before falling silent. Grace sat on the floor, sweating, bewildered. Was she being discarded? How had it come to this? She paced her home, unsure of what to do next. She couldn't be discarded again. She had to prove her worth. With that thought, Grace left her house in her car.

Unseen, Jayden called Tina, "Master, Grace has left her house, and we've lost her phone signal, unable to trace her calls."

As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "Where did she go?" Jayden glanced at his tablet, "According to the navigation, she's headed to the Pace family."

The Pace family? Tina slightly curved her lips. If Grace hadn't gone there, she might have forgotten about the Pace family altogether. It was Boris who had originally sent Grace to the X Bureau. But Grace turning to Boris now indicated that she too had been abandoned by the Five Poisons. This lead was now cold.

Elsewhere in Ashbury, Five Poisons removed Grace's face mask, replacing it with a youthful one, barely seventeen or eighteen years old, fresh out of high school. Quite adorable indeed. She was very pleased, combing her hair carefully, "What happened? Such a good pawn, how could we just throw her away?"

"She's no longer useful," the man replied.

Five Poisons turned to him, "Let's hear it."

"If I'm not wrong, Tina has discovered that Stephanie and she has turned against us. That call was likely to draw you out, so it's safer to discard a risky pawn."

"And how are you so sure Stephanie has turned?"Exclusive content from NôvelDrama.Org.

"If Natalie is truly dead, Tina wouldn't be so composed. She's not the little girl she was a decade ago."