Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

The roar, infused with inner strength, sent a chill down Phil Walker's spine. His scalp tingled, and his entire right side trembled uncontrollably. If not for the doorframe he clung to, he might have fallen to his knees right there. His mind buzzed, a fog clouding his thoughts as he nodded absentmindedly and backed out. He had barely taken another step when the door slammed shut behind him with a loud bang! The force was so strong it nearly hit the back of his head.

Time seemed to drag on endlessly. The glass of water brought to him by the housemaid had long been emptied, and Phil Walker had paced the living room countless times before Victor finally emerged. Dressed impeccably, Victor's frosty gaze landed on Phil, his expression stormy and unapproachable.

Victor didn't bother to look at him directly. Instead, he turned sharply and sank into the master chair. "Why are you so flustered?" he asked in a cold tone. "What's happened now?"

Phil Walker's hands trembled as he stepped forward. "It's a disaster! Someone got hold of my bank records and exposed them online!"

Victor's brows furrowed slightly. "Bank records? Exposed? What's so-" He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing sharply. Suddenly, he bolted upright from his chair. "Which account are you talking about?!"

"The one I use to transfer money to you," Phil stammered, his voice quivering. His hands twisted together nervously, his panic written all over his face. "Victor, what do we do now? People are accusing me of taking bribes! Even the courts are starting to investigate the slander, and our department head has already called for an inquiry into me! I'm finished!"

The grown man, standing over six feet tall, was on the verge of tears. His desperation filled the room.

Vivienne entered at that moment, throwing on a coat as she walked. She didn't even bother to greet Phil. Instead, she rushed to Victor's side with quick, determined steps. "Victor, you have to help Phil. He's my only brother. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have survived my parents back then."

Phil Walker's eyes lit up with hope. He dropped to his knees with a loud thud, crawling towards Victor. "Please, Victor! For Vivienne's sake, I'm begging you!"

Victor glanced at Vivienne, whose delicate features were clouded with worry. For the first time, his expression remained unreadable. With a slight wave of his hand, he gestured to the butler, who had served him loyally for decades. The butler immediately understood.

Several maids stepped forward and gently surrounded Vivienne. "Madam, it's cold. You should return to your room," one of them said softly.

Vivienne resisted, pushing the maids aside and attempting to approach Victor. But before she could get close, Victor's sharp, warning glare pinned her in place.

Her heart ached at his coldness, and in that moment, she understood-Victor didn't want her involved. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her heart sinking like a stone into an abyss. Her feet felt glued to the ground, unable to move forward.

Though she was already in her forties, her youthful eyes still held a softness reminiscent of her younger years. She stared at Victor intently, hoping for a sign of compassion. But Victor ignored her gaze entirely. Annoyed by her persistence, he sighed and said in a clipped tone, "Go back to your room. I'll join you after I've handled this."

"...Alright."

Vivienne bit her lip lightly, her hope fading as she realized Victor wouldn't relent. Though she and her daughter relied on Victor for their livelihood, she didn't dare push him further for Phil's sake. Lowering her head, she forced herself to utter a single word of compliance. Step by step, surrounded by maids, she left the room. Despite Phil's desperate pleas behind her, she ignored him, knowing she could do nothing more.

Victor waited until Vivienne's figure disappeared before turning his attention back to Phil Walker. His scrutiny made Phil's nerves fray even further.

"Victor, what do we do now?" Phil asked, his voice trembling.novelbin

Victor tapped his fingers lightly on his thigh, his expression unreadable. "Your position in the education department is gone. There's no saving it now. The only solution is to let the heat die down on its own."

"What?!" Phil's voice rose in disbelief. "You're just going to leave it alone? But there's still the court case! My reputation is in shambles, and I'm looking at jail time!"

His voice cracked with panic, and beneath the surface, there was a faint hint of threat-if he went down, he wouldn't go down alone. He'd drag Victor with him.

Victor, however, remained unfazed. He didn't even blink at the veiled warning. Instead, his gaze rested lazily on a speck on the table, his tone calm and dismissive. "Don't worry. You're Vivienne's brother. Given how much you've done for her over the years, I won't let you go to prison. I've already arranged everything. You'll be detained for a few days, but that's it. Someone will get you out afterward." Phil's heart raced with a mixture of relief and fear. He opened his mouth to speak, but Victor cut him off.

"However," Victor continued, his voice turning colder, "you can't stay in Ashbury anymore. Your name is compromised. You'll need to move to the countryside for a few years. Once this blows over, I'll arrange a new identity for you."

As Victor spoke, Luke Gill entered the estate. The butler had informed him earlier that Phil Walker was here. Stepping into the living room, Luke overheard the tail end of Victor's words. His brows arched slightly, and he glanced at Ella Bailey, who was walking in behind him. For once, the two, usually at odds, seemed to share the same thought.

Victor's promises were all the same-a master at spinning empty assurances.

Ella Bailey didn't even bother to hide her disdain, but she held her tongue. After all, the last person who bought into Victor's words was still lying in Tina's villa, their fate sealed.

Victor, noticing their arrival, waved dismissively at Phil. "That's settled. Go home, pack your things. I'll have the money for your living expenses transferred to your account. Now leave-I have other matters to discuss."

Phil hesitated, unwilling to leave. But two guards stepped forward, efficiently escorting him out of the Bailey estate. He struggled and protested, but it was pointless.

Ella Bailey kept her gaze neutral as she watched Phil being dragged away. Once he disappeared, she turned her attention back to the room, only to meet Luke's piercing stare. She froze for a moment, then gave a faint, polite smile. Luke's expression darkened, and he quickly looked away. He redirected his focus to Victor, who was waiting for them to speak first.

"Dad," Luke began, his voice steady, "you called us here. Does it have to do with news from Maplewood?"

Victor shook his head. "Not yet. But it's related. You both know the truth about the poison from back then-it wasn't real. That bottle was a bluff. I need you to return to the old Dyer family laboratory. Since their downfall, we've had control of it. The original samples are still there. See if you can create a similar substance, but this time, make it lethal."

Luke's heart sank. He hadn't set foot in a lab in years. This wasn't just a request-it was Victor laying the groundwork to shift blame if things went awry.

"Time is tight," Luke said cautiously. "The trial is about to begin. I'm not sure if we'll have enough time."

Victor's cold gaze bore into him, leaving no room for argument.