Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 772: Ella Bailey and Luke Gill Strike a Deal Ella Bailey's sharp, unrelenting punch was caught firmly by Luke Gill.

In her widened eyes, he coaxed her gently, almost tenderly: "Okay, I won't mention her. But let's talk about your biological mother. Do you really think that by accomplishing this task, Victor will hand her over to you?" Luke Gill spoke slowly, loosening the grip he had around Ella Bailey's waist. "Whether you believe it or not, in the Bailey family, I'm the only one who can help you. And, frankly, I'm the only one you can trust." "You can't find your mother on your own, Ella. You need to learn how to find allies," he added.

Ella Bailey's furrowed brows relaxed slightly. With a quick motion, she broke free from Luke Gill's hold, putting distance between them. "Why should I trust you?" she asked coldly.

"To be honest, I hate Victor as much as you do." Luke Gill brushed imaginary dust off his jacket and sat back in his seat. "What you just said wasn't a perfect match for what I had in mind, but you were about fifty to sixty percent correct." Noticing Ella Bailey's surprised look, Luke Gill chuckled sincerely and continued, "I know you hate Victor too. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, Ella. Do I really need to teach you that?" It seemed as though he genuinely wanted to teach her how to uncover her mother's whereabouts.

Ella Bailey's eyes narrowed with suspicion. She studied Luke Gill intently, searching his face for any sign of deceit.

But his gaze was clear. There was no cunning, no guilt, not even a trace of loneliness.

Perhaps... she could indeed use him? With this thought, Ella Bailey's eyes flickered. Flexing her wrists, she slowly approached Luke Gill. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell my father about this conversation?" "You could, but Victor wouldn't believe you," Luke replied confidently, fully aware of his standing in her father's eyes. "Ella, he doesn't trust you." Ella Bailey: Damn it! Half-closing her eyes, she remained silent. It was unclear if her expression conveyed irritation or disdain, but she didn't seem hurt by her father's lack of trust. She said nothing, and Luke Gill didn't rush her.

He casually picked up his teacup, taking a leisurely sip, his relaxed demeanor irritating Ella Bailey to no end. After a long silence, it was Ella who finally lost her patience. Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she balled her fingers into a fist and knocked on the table to grab Luke Gill's attention. "If you dare lie to me, you'll meet a terrible end!" Luke Gill raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting from her slender, resilient hands to her determined eyes.

She reminded him of a kitten he had once raised-guarded but endearingly naive.

Suppressing the urge to ruffle her hair, Luke placed his large hand over hers. "You'll be glad you made this choice today." At Maplewood.

Under the blazing sun, Tina stepped out of the car, holding an umbrella.

Jared stood by her side, gazing at the endless stretch of mountains before them. The green peaks extended far into the horizon.

A gentle breeze swept through, rustling the trees and revealing a village nestled within the dense forest.

At the entrance to the village, Cole was already waiting for them. As soon as he spotted Tina, he jogged over to greet her.

"Serena and her family live at the far end of the village," Cole said, nodding in greeting to both Hayden and Jared. He then led the group into the village. "The nearest house to theirs is at least a ten-minute walk away." Hayden grinned. "That makes it all the more convenient for us to act." Tina shot him a glance. "Go bring the car around, and make sure not to alarm the villagers." Cole scratched his head, hesitating before speaking up again. "Honestly, it wouldn't matter much if you did. I've been here for a few days, and I found out that the Bailey family doesn't get along with the locals at all. They've been outsiders for over a decade, and there's no love lost between them and the villagers." He paused, his expression turning odd. "When I was asking around about them, I actually ran into sof the Bailey family members. The villagers even helped cover for me. It's been days, and the Baileys still haven't noticed anything unusual." Hayden: ...

Tina: Jared: ...

None of them had expected such a situation.

As if their shock wasn't enough, Cole added, "By the way, Hayden, when you bring the car, you can take the path behind the village chief's house-that's the one with the flagpole. It's more discreet and less likely to be noticed by the Baileys. Their farmland is in front of the chief's house. Right now, they're probably still working in the fields." He pointed to a tall building that stood out conspicuously among the others. Even in the dark of night, it would have been impossible to miss.

Following his gaze, Tina spotted a man in a white shirt, black pants, and canvas shoes standing in the fields. He was holding a hoe and appeared to be working diligently.

But it didn't take long before he slung the hoe over his shoulder and walked out of the field.

The grass in the field was taller than the crops. While other fields gleamed golden with ripe grain, the Bailey family's land remained a lush green. To Tina, it didn't seem worth the effort to cultivate.

"Don't tellthe village chief gave you this information," Tina said, her tone sharp with certainty despite phrasing it as a question.

Cole froze, then nodded sheepishly. "The Baileys must've paid the village chief a lot of money back in the day. Despite hiding out here for years, their standard of living far surpasses the rest of the villagers combined."

"But for sreason, Kael Bailey still bought a plot of land from the village chief. He plants crops but he doesn't take care of them. Once the seeds are sown, he leaves the fields to grow wild. I've checked-it's just a mess of weeds and stunted corn."

The more Tina and Jared listened, the more intrigued they became.