Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

In a dimly lit alley filled with secret brothels, Amber struggled to stand in the cramped, damp room. Her legs were weak and trembling, barely able to shuffle along the wall for support. The people on the ship had skillfully severed her tendons in both her hands and feet, crippling her enough to make mobility a challenge, yet not entirely incapacitating her; she could still manage basic tasks like eating and looking after herself to some extent.

After being sold to this place, she was confined to this small room, endlessly receiving clients day and night. Being new, her face marked with a scar, drew considerable attention. The novelty made her popular, with an overwhelming number of clients seeking her out, leaving her only a couple of hours to rest besides meal times.

She had had enough. She could no longer bear the damp room or the foul-smelling men who used her body at their whim. She was determined not to live a life no better than that of an animal. In a desperate bid for escape, she tore the bedsheet, planning to hang herself by tying it to the iron bars that sealed the window.

However, as she was about to enact her plan, the door burst open. The guard, cursing in a language she couldn’t understand, saw what she was doing. He grabbed her hair, and amidst her screams and struggles, he dragged her to the floor, beating her mercilessly as a harsh lesson.

The fabric she intended for her suicide was now used to tie her to the bed. The people who beat her showed no mercy, not caring that she was already battered and bruised.

As the door opened to admit a short, dark man, despair filled her eyes…

Saturday, at the Ensford Opera House.

Willow’s concert tour was quite the spectacle, especially this time in Ensford, with Sutcliffe as a special guest. Sutcliffe’s massive fan base and strong draw made tickets incredibly hard to come by the moment the news broke out. Elsa had managed to secure seven tickets after much difficulty.

Being a huge fan of Willow, she had dressed up notably for the occasion. Heath Garrison joked that she was dressed not for a piano concert but as if she was going to a matchmaking event. Hugo and the others had also dressed formally, except for Tina, who stood out in her casual white T-shirt and jeans among the formally dressed crowd, waiting to enter. She had no interest in the piano concert; she was there just to keep Elsa and Hugo company.

Bored, Tina wondered why Jared hadn’t arrived yet when she noticed a middle-aged man attempting to bypass the metal detector. Frowning, she stepped forward to confront him.

Backstage at the opera house, today Willow had also invited the Reed family. Out of politeness, Annabelle and Jasper Reed, along with their family, had arrived before Tina. They were greeted backstage by Lily Ward, who was unusually dressed up in a flowing white gown with her hair elegantly done up, her usual glasses replaced by contact lenses, shedding her normally reserved demeanor for a hint of allure.

Dressed in a sapphire blue designer gown, Willow had just finished her makeup when the Reed family arrived. She greeted Annabelle with a smile, “Annabelle.” Returning the smile, Annabelle nodded.

Turning her attention to Jasper Reed, Willow asked in a somewhat playful tone, “Do I look good today, Jasper? You once said blue suits me best.”

“Did I say that?” Jasper couldn’t recall ever making such a comment.

“Yes, you did,” Willow responded, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. She hadn’t seen Jasper for two months, a rarity. She had frequently visited Whispering Pines over the years, trying to shorten the emotional distance between them. Just as she was about to make a significant move in their relationship, Jasper unexpectedly recognized a daughter, Amber. The sharp-witted girl had quickly seen through Willow’s intentions, forcing her to retreat.

Luckily, Amber was not Jasper’s biological daughter, and now with no Amber, nothing could stop her from marrying Jasper.

“Oh,” Jasper frowned slightly but politely complimented, “It looks fine.”

Willow’s smile widened as she noticed the glance exchanged between Audrey Woodwind, Esther, and Annabelle. They all knew of Willow’s intentions towards Jasper. Annabelle, as a mother, hoped for someone who could genuinely care for her son. However, she knew the depth of Jasper’s feelings for Natalie and wouldn’t force anything, despite Natalie’s death.

“Ms. Ward, there’s been a disturbance at the entrance,” a staff member reported to Willow.

“What happened?” Willow frowned, her manager not around to handle the situation. She turned to Lily, “Could you check on it, please?”

Lily nodded and followed the staff member, only to find Tina with a grim expression, standing with Hugo’s family and Heath Garrison. Observing Tina’s casual attire at the piano concert, Lily couldn’t help but scoff silently at her poor taste.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

Approaching the scene, Lily asked the middle-aged man confronting Tina, “What’s the issue?”

“I was just entering when she suddenly attacked me!” the man pointed at Tina.

Lily turned to Tina with a condescending tone, “Willow’s piano is only for those of high taste and character. Those who like to create scenes should better leave; I wouldn’t want you to dirty this place.”

Tina raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing Lily’s hostility. “Madam, you just took his word without even asking us, don’t you think that’s rather rash?”

Elsa stepped forward, protecting Tina, “My sister saw him hiding a knife, trying to sneak past security into the concert hall. That’s why she acted!”

She pointed around, “If not, check the surveillance, or ask these people!”

The crowd nodded in agreement, “Yes, she caught him and a knife fell from his pocket…”

Realizing her mistake as she noticed the knife on the ground, Lily faced the backlash.

“My sister risked herself for the safety of your concert, and you insult her,” Elsa said coldly. “Perhaps you owe her an apology.”

The crowd echoed, “Yeah, you shouldn’t accuse without knowing the facts…”

“She should totally apologize…”