Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 980: Claudia's Trail At lunchtime, Warren and Jared exchanged pleasantries about their families. Jared listened attentively, responding to each point in turn.

Tina and Alina sat together, chatting while occasionally feeding Poppy, who was seated between them. Meanwhile, Ruud, stuck in the middle with no one addressing him, looked visibly upset and couldn't find an opportunity to join the conversation.

Tina noticed his forlorn expression and, feeling slightly uncomfortable, decided to speak up. "Uncle and I are doing fine. You don't need to worry," she said casually.

Ruud froze for a moment, his look of disappointment instantly replaced by joy. "If he ever dares to treat you badly, letknow. Your dad won't let him off lightly!" Jared choked on his drink. Wasn't he ever going to catch a break, even after getting married? Tina was speechless. She was trying to reassure him, not provoke him into criticizing Uncle Jared! Warren, equally exasperated by his son's tics, intervened. "Alright, tone it down. Let the young couple live their lives. You're the father-just focus on spoiling your future grandchildren and leave the rest alone." Ruud blinked in surprise and turned to Tina with a look of shock. "You're pregnant, sweetheart?" Tina sighed deeply. At this moment, she was convinced her intelligence must have csolely from her mother-it had nothing to do with this man.

Alina gently tugged on Ruud's arm and whispered, "They've only just gotten married. Why are you in such a rush? Tina and Jared have such a good relationship; do you really think you won't beca grandfather soon enough?" Tina took a deep breath, silently scolding herself for expecting any better. How could two people who shared the sbed turn out so differently in personality? After the meal, Jared stayed behind to talk with Warren while Tina and Alina took Poppy to the backyard.

In the garden, Tina discreetly checked Poppy's pulse. Considering Poppy and Kevin were siblings, there was a possibility that Poppy might also carry traces of the toxic backlash in their bloodline. To her relief, Poppy showed no signs of it. This particular toxin wasn't something she could confidently cure, so it was a blessing that Poppy's body was unaffected.

Noticing Tina's expression, Poppy tilted his small face upward and asked hesitantly, "Tina, am I sick?" Tina gently patted his head. "No, Poppy. You're very healthy, and you'll stay that way." Hearing this, Poppy's face lit up with a smile.

Alina pointed to a nearby flowerbed and said to Poppy, "Didn't you want to pick a flower for Alina to put in a vase? Alina loves pink ones." Poppy nodded enthusiastically and dashed toward the flowerbed.

Once he was out of earshot, Alina turned to Tina, her expression serious. "What's wrong?" Tina shook her head. "It's too early to say. Someone from the Swanson family has been practicing forbidden techniques. Poppy is part of their bloodline." Alina glanced at the cheerful boy in the distance, her gaze darkening. "Using human lives as stepping stones... utterly despicable." Tina pressed her lips together. "Desire knows no bounds. Selfish people will always find excuses to justify their actions." Alina took a deep breath, then changed the subject. "Any progress on Claudia's situation?" Tina sat down on a bench. "Almost. Uncle gravely injured her-she won't last much longer." Alina nodded. "For someone to hide within the Pace family for so long, Claudia's identity must be more than it appears. And I sense she's specifically targeting you." Tina raised an eyebrow. "Does Dad know about this?" Alina shook her head. "Grandfather and I have kept it from him. He spent years on the frontlines. While he may not have much affection for that aunt, if someone has been impersonating her for so many years, he won't let it slide." Tina agreed. Ruud's strong sense of family loyalty was evident in how he treated her.

Before leaving, Tina asked Alina what they planned to do about Poppy and Kevin if the Swanson family was eliminated.

Alina smiled. "The Pace family can certainly afford to raise a couple of children." Besides, both she and Ruud felt a special connection to the boy. If it ever cto that, they'd be more than willing to take him in.

On the way back, Tina received a phone call from Jayden. "Young Master, there's been a murder case on the west side of town involving a female victim." Tina hung up after acknowledging him, then turned to Jared with a faint smile. "Uncle, what's meant to happen will always happen." Jared turned the car around and headed west. "As long as there's a trail, there's always a weakness." By the riverbank on the west side of town, Jayden had already cordoned off the area, leaving only a small team to secure the primary crscene.

When Tina arrived, Jayden stepped forward to report. "Young Master, the victim has been identified. She was a 29-year-old woman who lived alone. She was killed during her night run, her heart removed, and her body dumped in the river. The tof death has been narrowed down to about a day ago." Tina nodded, putting on gloves as she moved closer to examine the body.

The incision around the heart was clean and precise, likely done with a blade. Dumping the body in the river was likely an attempt to obscure the exact tof death. Based on the injuries Claudia had sustained, it was probable she had been hiding out in this area.

Jared glanced at the nearby surroundings. "Have the surveillance cameras in the area been checked?" Jayden nodded. "We've already gone through them." Tina straightened and instructed him, "Keep investigating. Women who live alone tend to be more cautious. The perpetrator must have planned this in advance.

"Also, don't limit the suspect pool to young women. Anyone who has been acting suspiciously lately, regardless of gender or age, should be considered a suspect." Claudia's skill in disguise was so flawless that even Tina couldn't find any flaws. For Claudia, changing her face was as easy as drinking water.

Jayden nodded and went to relay her orders.

Tina stared at the distance from the jogging path to the riverbank, calculating how long Claudia must have waited before seizing the perfect opportunity to strike.

Someone with such immense patience would never allow a E long-planned target to slip through her fingers. No matter what identity she assumed, Claudia was bound to reappear. Following Tina's instructions, the Mountain Veil Order quickly identified a suspicious newcomer who had recently appeared in the area.

Upon investigating further, they discovered the person's records were Jayderysent two teams nonexistent.

to conduct a thorough investigation and handed the initial findings to Tina. "Young Master, we've identified a suspect." The photo showed a man in his thirties. Tina glanced at it and said, "Find out where he's staying." Jayden made a call, and within minutes, a precise location was sent to his phone.

Tina and Jared drove to the location, while Jayden handled coordination with the police.

They eventually stopped at a small rental property.

The damp and dim basement contained only a simple folding bed piled with men's clothing and a table holding various knives.

Tina's gaze landed on a smear of blood and fragments of a heart that hadn't been cleaned from the table. Her eyes grew cold.

Perhaps her master wasn't exaggerating when he told his stories.

Speople truly had no limits when it cto their depravity.

Jared ordered the items to be collected and sent for DNA comparison with the victim.

The body had been dumped a day V ago, and Claudia had undoubtedly anticipated they'd find the place! Leaving clues behind was her way of taunting them, asserting that they couldn't catch her or do anything to stop her. But people often fell victim to their own arrogance.