Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 929: The Heart Removed Alive Tina nodded.

Hayden had handled this matter fairly well.

"Is Jennie's cooking really that good?" Jared suddenly asked, jealousy written all over his face.

Tina deliberately nodded, looking at him with feigned innocence, though her eyes carried a hint of grievance. "Uncle's cooking is also great. It's just that you don't have tto cook foranymore. I can only rely on Jennie. Otherwise, I'd starve to death." "Who said I don't have time?" Jared pulled out a strawberry cake from the car. "I made this this morning. Do you want to eat it now or later?" "Right now!" The moment Tina saw the strawberry cake, her eyes lit up. She immediately took a piece and popped it into her mouth.

The rich cream mixed with the sweet fragrance of strawberries melted on her tongue, instantly dissolving her brief annoyance. Still, she maintained a pretense of indifference on her face.

Jared, of course, saw through her act. He leaned closer and coaxed in a low voice, "It's not that I don't want you to cto me. I'm just afraid that if I take you away again, your father really might storm into the Farrell family with a knife." Tina raised an eyebrow, not stopping as she ate her cake. "Didn't you say that as long as I'm with you, you're not afraid of him?" Jared let out a bitter laugh. "Afraid? No. I just don't want to create unnecessary obstacles on the road to marrying you. I've already spoken to my grandfather about the wedding. As long as your parents agree, we can have it anytwe want." Tina finally paused for a moment. "Really?" Jared pulled her into a tight hug, his low, restrained voice filled with tenderness. "Tina, when it comes to this, I'm more impatient than you." Tina's face flushed red.

She turned her head slightly, holding out the spoon with a piece of cake to Jared. "For being so honest, I'll reward you with one bite. Just one bite. Any more, and it's a no." Jared couldn't help but laugh as he took the bite of cake, complete with a whole strawberry, from her hand. The rest was Tina's to enjoy alone.

Jared, always attentive, noticed something. "Did you skip breakfast?" Tina's expression twitched. "I ate, but I'd rather I hadn't." Jared instantly understood. Apart from strawberry cake, it seemed he'd have to start preparing extra portions for breakfast to bring along. After all, he wasn't in a position to critique or question her father's "culinary efforts." The car stopped by a river behind a construction site in the southern district.

Tina and Jared got out and headed toward the location of the body.

Fortunately, Jared's people had discovered it first, preventing any public panic.

The body, bloated from soaking overnight, had turned pale, with the wounds appearing even more pronounced.

Tina crouched down, studying the wound on the victim's chest. The method used was identical to previous cases, though it was clear the perpetrator had rushed this time, removing the hearts of two victims in quick succession without properly cleaning up the scene.

She had already reviewed the victims' information on the way there.

Both were young women who worked night shifts at a nearby factory. They had been attacked while walking hto their rented apartments. The river was just a street away from their usual route.

If her guess was correct, the killer must have been in desperate need of those two hearts, resorting to an impulsive and reckless selection of victims.

But what crhad these women committed to deserve such a fate? Each of them was in the prof their youth, their lives cruelly stolen. The agony of having their hearts removed alive was unimaginable. Hayden arrived late. At the sight of the bloated corpse, his face turned pale, and he nearly vomited the breakfast he had just eaten.

Jared shot him a sharp glare, forcing him to hold it back.

Tina removed her gloves and gestured for the team behind her to take the body away and handle it properly. Jared approached, noticing Tina's somber expression. He asked softly, "What's wrong?" Tina turned her head slightly, her voice quiet as though speaking to Jared, or perhaps to herself.

"Uncle, hearts removed alive can't be used for medical purposes. Viruses can't be studied this way either. But if it's just stwisted hobby, how could the perpetrator tolerate any 'flaws' in their work? Unless..." Jared's eyes darkened. "Tina, what are you thinking?" Just as Tina was about to reply, her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen before answering, "Jayden, what did you find?" "Young Master, we discovered an experimental lab, but everything inside has been cleared out. Not even a shred of information was left behind." Tina's gaze grew colder. "Keep searching. They couldn't have vanished overnight." Anyone who would deploy a room full of snipers wouldn't leave such a critical location so easily. There must be something they hadn't managed to take with them.

As Jared finished giving instructions to his team, he realized Tina had already disappeared.

A pale-faced Hayden, standing nearby, weakly pointed ahead before rushing off to find a place to throw up.

Jared found Tina crouched on the ground at the primary crscene, her expression identical to before. His chest tightened inexplicably. "Tina?" She didn't look back, carefully observing the traces on the ground.

The distance from the street to the river spanned several hundred meters.

The victims' suffering during that stretch didn't need much imagination.

Tina spoke softly, her tone calm as if recounting a story. "Uncle, have you that these victims were all about my age? Twenty. Such a beautiful age." "Tell me, once we catch this killer, what kind of punishment could possibly bring justice for them?" Her voice was gentle, but Jared could feel how deeply she mourned for these victims.

His heart clenched painfully. He strode over and pulled her up from the ground, holding her tightly as though trying to dispel his own fear.

"Tina, death would be too easy for someone like this. They deserve a fate worse than death." "You're right, Uncle. People like this should be handed over to Wraith to bectest subjects... hmm?" Tina tilted her head and noticed the tension and moisture in Jared's eyes for the first time.

She paused, warmth spreading through her chest. "Uncle, were you worried aboutjust now?" Jared nodded without hesitation.

He knew how strong Tina was, but her earlier words had truly shaken him.

Tina's lips curled into a smile. She reached up, hooking her arms around his neck, her eyes shining, with m amusement. "Did you forget who I am? Tina, the daughter of Ruud and Alina. If they want to hurt me, they'll need more than just a next life." Jared nodded again, but the unease in his heart refused to subside.

Her earlier words-"Uncle, have you noticed that these victims were all about my age?"-lingered in his mind like a haunting melody.

He tightened his hold around her waist, his voice hoarse. "You forgot one thing-me. I'll always be by your side."

Tina's gaze softened. "How could I I forget you? I still have to marry you, spend every day with you, and... have a child with you." Jared chuckled, leaning in to kiss her. "One won't be enough."