Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Victor stood frozen, listening to the busy tone on the phone. After a few frustrated attempts to speak, he finally slammed the phone down and spat angrily.

"He really thinks he's something, doesn't he? Hah! If the Bailey family weren't in decline, do you think I'd even bother with him?" Vivienne, noticing his foul mood, sashayed over, gently running her hand across his chest. "Alright, alright, don't let someone like that upset you. Langdon might be domineering, but he's been helpful to us over the years, hasn't he? By the way, what did he want us to do this time?" Since the death of Ella Bailey's grandfather, most of the families that had once sworn allegiance to the Bailey family defected to the Langdon family.

It was this shift that allowed the Langdon family-once a middling power among the five great clans-to ascend to the top in just over a decade.

Victor, lacking real talent, had survived by clinging to powerful allies. As he thought of all the benefits he had reaped from the Langdon family over the years, his expression softened slightly.

"What else could it be?" he muttered resentfully. "He callsin the middle of the night to accuseof incompetence! Does he think the Bailey family exists just to serve the Langdon family? Go find Ella and send her to the police station!" Victor slid on his jacket with Vivienne's help and stormed toward the main hall.

As he walked, he grumbled, "That useless girl! If she'd gotten the Dyer family's formula ages ago, I wouldn't have to endure that old man's scolding! If she fails again this time, we're all doomed!" Vivienne followed quietly, a sly smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She felt a twisted sense of satisfaction hearing Victor curse Ella Bailey.

Quickening her pace, she caught up with him and suggested, "Victor, it's so late-Ella and Luke are probably already asleep. How about this? Since those two old fools from the Dyer family have already been arrested, asking a few questions shouldn't be too difficult. Kelly can handle it. She's a night owl and is definitely still awake. This could be a good opportunity to give her sexperience. What do you think?" Victor paused mid- step at her words.

Ella Bailey was known to have a bad temper, and if he tried to wake her now, there was no guarantee she'd cooperate. Luke Gill had even advised him recently to ease up on Ella, warning that too much pressure could backfire and jeopardize their plans.

But could Kelly really handle this? In the dim moonlight, Vivienne noticed his hesitation. Sensing an opportunity, she pressed on.

"Ella's been working on this for so long, and what has she accomplished? Maybe she's just going about it the wrong way. Her fiery temper always leads to arguments, and Elsa clearly isn't the type to back down. If the two keep butting heads, how could there ever be progress? "Kelly, on the other hand, is the complete opposite of her sister. Why not try a different approach? A softer touch might be more effective. The formula might be in Tina's hands now, but what's given can always be taken back. If Kelly builds a good relationship with Elsa, getting what we want will be a breeze, don't you think?" Victor's interest was piqued.

After all, with the Langdon family backing them this time, even if Kelly didn't achieve much, the two old Dyer family members would ensure the formula was within reach.

Nodding subtly, Victor made up his mind. He turned on his heel, motioning for Vivienne to follow him to Kelly's courtyard. "Fine, we'll do it your way." Meanwhile, Tina had rushed to the Dyer family's villa after receiving Elsa's call.

Despite the late hour, the lights in the Dyer family's hwere still on, the only ones illuminated in the entire neighborhood.

When Tina and Jared pushed open the door, they found Elsa and Austin sitting on the sofa, looking lost and defeated. Sally, exhausted from crying, had fallen asleep in Elsa's arms, her small face still streaked with tears.

The sound of the door startled the couple. They instinctively tensed, fearing the return of the men who had taken Elsa's in-laws. When they saw Tina, Elsa's shoulders slumped in relief. She quickly got up and rushed to Tina's side, gripping her arm tightly.

"Tina, you're finally here. I... I don't know what to do anymore! My in-laws are so old, and it's all my fault. If I'd handed over the formula back then, none of this would've happened!" Tears streamed down Elsa's face as she covered it with her hands, her sobs shaking her entire body.

Austin, leaning heavily on his crutch, hobbled over and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"This isn't your fault," he said, his voice filled with pain. "Blthose thieves! They're the ones who are truly shameless!" Tina's sharp eyes scanned the room, taking in the disarray.

She patted Elsa's shoulder and handed her a handkerchief. "Elsa, don't worry. I'll take you to the station right now. We'll get them out." Jared chimed in without missing a beat. "Your husband's leg isn't fully healed. He should stay here and look after the child." Austin nodded, understanding the practicality of the suggestion.

Elsa wiped away her tears, exchanged a few hurried words with her husband, and followed Tina out the door.

Twas of the essence, and it was already the middle of the night.

Jared floored the accelerator, the car speeding through the empty streets.

In the backseat, Tina kept her hand on Elsa's shoulder, her voice steady. "Elsa, telleverything. What exactly is this 'unresolved matter they're claiming to investigate, and how has it resurfaced after all these years?" Tina had looked into Elsa's in-laws when she first learned that Elsa was the benefactor who had helped her and her mother. She had even considered overturning their unjust case. But with so many other pressing matters and the time-consuming nature of the investigation, she hadn't mentioned it to Elsa.

Now, before she could make any progress, things had spiraled out of control.

Elsa's reddened eyes brimmed with tears again as memories flooded back. She couldn't stop the tears from falling as she began to speak.

"Years ago, the hidden families, led by the Bailey family, wanted our om formula. After I got married, they la.

N I began targeting my in-laws and my husband, creating endless trouble for them." Elsa had already been blacklisted by all companies in Ashbury and was forced to work as a hotel cleaner.

Her in-laws, both highly respected teachers, had decent salaries, and combined with Austin's income, they managed to scrape by.

But the hidden families were ruthless in their pursuit of the formula.

One day, while delivering lunch to her in-laws at school, Elsa saw a group of people surrounding her father-in-law, shouting accusations. The commotion was loud, with words like "bribery" and "embezzlement" being flung around. Sensing something was wrong, Elsa rushed forward and chased the group away. When she confronted her father-in-law at home, he reluctantly explained the situation.

It all started with a student in his class-an unremarkable child with no special talents and no wealthy background. The boy clearly didn't belong at an elite school.

As the school's principal, Elsa's father-in-law had been kind to the boy, but for sreason, rumors began to spread, accusing him of wrongdoing.

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