Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 1028: Thaliana

At the same time, Courtney followed the figure into an isolated area on the outskirts of town. Cornering the black-clad individual with no escape route left, her eyes narrowed, and she struck with a powerful, precise palm attack aimed at their back.

The attack carried the force of the wind, but the black-clad individual sidestepped effortlessly, neutralizing her move in an instant. Then, with a swift counterstrike, they pushed Courtney several meters back.

Though the person had retaliated, it was clear they had no intention of hurting Courtney. After all, if they did, they wouldn't have spent so much time merely evading her attacks.

Courtney frowned deeply, but her eyes held a curious glint. The techniques this person used mirrored her own, and their energy was stronger than hers. She couldn't believe there was someone in this world so similar to herself.

She had to know who this person was.

Launching another attack, this time Courtney put all her strength into it. But just as the black-clad individual countered with equal force, Courtney abruptly withdrew, catching them off guard. Their own palm strike, already unleashed, couldn't be retracted in time. The force missed hitting Courtney's chest directly, redirected at the last moment. Nonetheless, the near miss left her face pale, clearly shaken.

The black-clad individual froze, stunned that their attack had injured her.

Courtney, clutching her chest, looked up with a trembling voice. "Is it really you?"

The figure didn't respond, only casting a long, intense look at her before stepping back, preparing to flee.

"Mom!" Courtney's hoarse cry stopped them in their tracks.

Her eyes reddened, her chest tightening with pain. "Back then, you left me in Ensford. Are you going to abandon me again?"

The black-clad figure paused, then sighed heavily. Slowly, they removed their hat, revealing a delicate face that bore a striking resemblance to Courtney's-seven or eight parts alike.

It was her. The woman believed to have died years ago: Thaliana.

Her mother.

Thaliana's eyes softened with pain as she approached her daughter, helping her to her feet. "It's me, Connie."

Courtney could no longer hold back her tears. That name-Connie-was her childhood nickname, one her mother used to call her. Even as she grew older, whenever someone called her that, her heart would instinctively turn, hoping it was her mother.

threw her arms around Thaliana, sobbing uncontrollably. "Mom, I've

had been gambling, betting that this was the person she had longed for all these

And she had won.

as she helped Courtney to her feet. "Are you hurt? I couldn't hold back that

head quickly. Right now, she didn't feel any

like this, Thaliana let out a bitter laugh. "How did you recognize

smile appeared. "I saw the mole on your hand at

wouldn't have followed her all

her hand, Thaliana saw the small, unobtrusive black mole on the back of it. It was

on her mother as though afraid

a faint smile on her lips. "I

nodded, her heart swelling with

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appeared, a small hope had taken root in her heart. Even though she had erected a tombstone for her mother, she couldn't help but wonder: What if, like Natalie, her mother had faked her death to escape those

hope had become

Courtney wiped her tears with the back of her hand and shifted the topic. "Mom, what happened all these years? Why are you only showing up

that now. You're injured. Let

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asking her to meet at a private hospital. The message seemed urgent, and

carefully. Why would Courtney suddenly end up

first instinct was to oppose Tina going

her head. She trusted Courtney. If she had asked to meet alone, it must have been

it's really an ambush," she added, "then I have more reason to go. I can't

on driving her there. He and Hayden waited outside the hospital

recent engagement, opened the car window with an

in."

and got out of the

grin faltered. "Jared, did