Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

The scorching sun blazed down relentlessly, but Ian seemed unfazed. Not a trace of discomfort showed on his face as he quietly observed the unfolding chaos.

It wasn't until Carl spoke again that Ian tapped Gavin lightly with his cane and said, "Don't stoop to his level. My son has always been clumsy in handling things, but he simply cannot bear to see me insulted."

The old man's cold gaze swept over Colin Nash, who lay unconscious on the ground. His expression was one of disdain, as if he were looking at trash. "But your subordinate has quite the sharp tongue. I'm at least of the same generation as your father, yet here's a mere servant daring to play the hero in front of me. It's been years since we last met, but it seems the Langdon family's manners have deteriorated significantly."Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

Carl, irritated by the heat, snapped impatiently, "Forget about him for now, old man. I don't have the time to waste today. Where's Tina?!"

"How would I know where Tina is?" Ian shrugged, feigning innocence. He gave Emily, standing behind him, a subtle glance. Moments later, a chair was brought to him, and he sat down with a sigh. "I'm old now. Whenever I see promising young people, I can't help wishing they were part of my family. That's why I made the girl my god-granddaughter. But in the end, she's not truly ours. She doesn't report her whereabouts to me. Why? Do you need something from her?" Carl's expression darkened under Ian's scrutinizing gaze. He was about to respond when Evan, one of his bodyguards, interjected, "She injured our young master. Our master has ordered that we bring her back!" "Pfft."

A scoff broke the tense silence, rippling through the crowd.

Carl's face turned red, then white, then an ugly shade of green. He shot Evan a glare sharp enough to cut. "Shut up! If you can't keep your mouth shut, get out of my sight!"

The bodyguard, realizing his blunder, paled and retreated into the crowd, wishing he could disappear entirely. His heart pounded as he prayed silently, Please, let the Brookes family not mock our young master over this. If they do, I'm done for. But Scarlett wasn't one to let such an opportunity slide. Fearless as always, she smirked and said, "What's the big deal? The great Langdon family's young master got beaten up by a girl? Carl, if I were you, I'd be too embarrassed to show my face, let alone come here demanding an explanation. How pathetic can you be?"

"You don't understand," Brandon chimed in, grinning mischievously. "Shamelessness runs in their family. Did you know that Grandpa Langdon once-"

Carl's patience snapped before Brandon could finish. With a sharp motion, he sent a fierce palm strike toward Brandon's face. "Brandon, you've gone too far!"

"Whoa!" Brandon cursed under his breath as he dodged swiftly. "Carl, sneaky tricks must be your family's specialty, huh?"

"Enough talking-just fight him!" Gavin, quick to react, summoned a massive stone seemingly out of nowhere. It hurtled toward Carl's head with alarming speed. "Master!" Evan shouted in panic. If Carl suffered another injury, he and Colin Nash might not survive the fallout.

Carl froze, paralyzed with fear. For years, the hidden families had been locked in a delicate balance-both alliances and rivalries. Even among the top five families, their secret techniques remained shrouded in mystery. The Langdon family had long kept tabs on the Brookes family, but their information suggested that Brandon was the most formidable among them.

So who was this Gavin? And where had that boulder come from? If it struck him, there was no doubt-he'd be finished.

Carl's nerves were stretched to the breaking point. He wanted to flee, but his legs refused to move as the massive stone loomed closer.

Brandon had already leaped to Gavin's side. Watching Carl's terrified expression, the brothers exchanged a knowing smile. This was their plan all along. They had anticipated Carl's temper and deliberately provoked him, forcing him to strike first. Now, even if the Langdon family's patriarch got involved, they would have the upper hand.

Trying to take their precious niece? Carl should have known better.

"Move!" Evan charged forward with all his might, shoving Carl out of the boulder's path. With a deafening crash, the stone struck Evan instead, sending him flying like a ragdoll.

Carl fell to the ground, watching helplessly as Evan's body soared through the air, reaching its peak before plummeting back down. The Langdon family's subordinates remained motionless, awaiting Carl's orders. Not one of them stepped forward as Evan hit the ground with a sickening thud, raising a cloud of dust.

At that moment, Grandpa Langdon arrived, his entourage trailing behind. His sharp gaze landed on the scene before him-Evan's broken body lying in a pool of blood, the crimson staining his pristine white shoes. "Ian," Grandpa Langdon drawled, his voice laced with menace, "you've grown bolder over the years." His words, infused with inner energy, reverberated in everyone's ears like a thunderclap.

The Brookes family members, except for Ian, were forced to take a step back. Brandon and Gavin, standing closest to the epicenter, bore the brunt of the impact. Sharp pain tore through their ears as warm, sticky blood trickled down. Ian's eyes narrowed. Acting quickly, he struck the ground with his cane. The crisp sound seemed almost magical, summoning a swirling cloud of sand and dust that rushed toward Grandpa Langdon and his entourage, blinding them. Seizing the moment, Jack pushed through the chaos, dragging the battered brothers to safety. When the sandstorm cleared, the Brookes family had retreated to a safe distance-far enough to ensure Grandpa Langdon couldn't harm them directly.

At this range, even the Langdon patriarch couldn't touch Ian.

"Father!" Carl called out from the ground, his voice trembling with desperation. Never before had he clung to that word so tightly.

Grandpa Langdon turned and stepped forward, his feet crunching over Evan's lifeless body without a second glance. Blood seeped into the cracks of the floor, staining his path as he approached Carl.

Carl struggled to his feet, his legs still weak from the earlier scare. Staggering toward his father, he blurted, "Father, I've uncovered the truth. The one who stole from our family-Tina-is Ian's granddaughter. She-" "Silence, you fool!" Grandpa Langdon roared.