Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

His voice carried a rare fragility. Tina hesitated for a moment before walking over to him, allowing him to wrap his right arm around her and rest her head on his shoulder. Within moments, Jared Farrell fell asleep. Carefully, Tina moved his arm away and called Cole Lyon.

“Serena, I couldn’t find the medicine you wanted on the black market,” Cole Lyon said over the phone.

“Keep looking,” Tina paused before adding, “Spread the word that Spectre owes a favor to anyone who can provide these two drugs.”

Her favors were valuable, sometimes bringing people back from the brink of death. She was confident that her request would bring people to her doorstep.

“Serena, it seems you still care a lot about your fiance,” Cole Lyon sighed after a moment of silence.

Tina neither confirmed nor denied, simply hanging up the phone. She glanced at Jared Farrell, who was sleeping on the couch. Did she care? Perhaps, as he had always been incredibly good to her.

“Jared Farrell,” she murmured, gently tapping his face. There was no response; he was feverish from the poison and his face felt unusually warm.

“Jared,” she called softly again. Barely opening his eyes, he looked at her, and she helped him up, “Let’s go back to your room.”

At nearly six-foot-three, Jared leaned heavily on Tina as they ascended to his bedroom, his weight a burden on her. Once in the room, he quickly fell back asleep. Tina hesitated before fetching a basin of warm water and a towel to wipe the sweat from his face and body, then placed a cool, damp cloth on his forehead to help lower his fever.

As she was about to leave, Jared suddenly grasped her hand, murmuring in a half-asleep state, “Tina, don’t go.”

With a sigh, Tina lay down beside him, letting him hold her hand throughout the night. Later, Jared’s fever spiked, and Tina administered fever-reducing medication. He remained unconscious, clinging to her, forcing Tina to stay awake all night.

At dawn, Cole Lyon called again.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

“Serena, I’ve located Sevenfold Peril and Empyrean Bloom.”

“Is the supplier willing to part with them?” Tina asked, hopeful.

“They are, but…” Cole hesitated.

“Speak plainly,” Tina urged, frowning impatiently.

“Empyrean Bloom is with a madman called Wraith. Ever since you beat him once, he’s been obsessed with challenging you again. Win, and the drug is yours; lose, and he wants to turn you into a ‘specimen.'”

Recalling how Wraith once used nearly a hundred prisoners for his experiments, resulting in a scene reminiscent of a biohazard crisis, Tina shuddered. The authorities had long sought Wraith, who had proven elusive. Now, he had surfaced again.

“I accept his challenge,” Tina declared coldly. “The authorities want him captured, right? Set it up, and after the match, take him.”

“I understand,” Cole paused before adding, “As for Sevenfold Peril, it’s in the hands of Rook from GTO.”

“What are his terms?” Tina asked sharply.

“He didn’t specify-just said to remember the favor for when he needs it.” Cole knew how much Tina detested owing anything to GTO due to her mother’s history.

“I agree,” Tina replied after a pause, a decision made swiftly.

“You have to be careful. Wraith is a lunatic,” Cole warned.

“It’s Wraith who should be worried,” Tina replied calmly.

Two hours later, Sevenfold Peril was delivered. Tina inspected it thoroughly to ensure it was untampered with before notifying Cole Lyon. Surprisingly quick-could Rook be in Ensford?

The venue for her showdown with Wraith was set-the Southridge Psychiatric Facility. Ironically, that was where Wraith had been hiding.

As the time to confront Wraith approached, Tina entrusted Hayden Cohen with caring for Jared. “I’m going to retrieve some medicine from someone-a maniac,” she explained to a concerned Hayden.

“A bit dangerous?” he asked.

“Just a bit,” Tina replied, undaunted. She was not one to fear a defeated foe.