Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

The scars on River's arm, remnants of brutal whiplashes, were clearly visible to Kaleigh. Yet, she acted as though she hadn't noticed. After all, those wounds were inflicted by their grandfather himself-a punishment so severe it was meant to skin her alive if it didn't kill her. Hearing Kaleigh's words, River's face fell into a daze.

Yes, she was the heir to the Swanson family. Even for the sake of the family name, Ruud should not have treated her like this.

It had to be Alina. That woman must have been behind it.

"River?"

Kaleigh's voice snapped River from her thoughts. Kaleigh's gaze flickered with a trace of disdain, though she quickly masked it.

At that moment, Poppy came running over, accompanied by a servant. His small face was filled with genuine concern, and when he saw the wounds on River's arm, he almost screamed in fright. "River, what happened to you?" Poppy asked, his voice trembling.

River frowned and pulled her arm back.

The last thing she wanted right now was to see Poppy.

If it weren't for him, their grandfather wouldn't have punished her so harshly.

Kaleigh saw it all clearly, hiding the mockery in her eyes as she spoke to Poppy. "Poppy, can't you see? River was bullied."

"Bulled?" Poppy's small brows furrowed as he looked at Kaleigh in confusion. "Who bullied River, Kaleigh?"

Kaleigh's face darkened. "Who else could it be? In the Pace family, only Alina and her daughter Tina have the power to act so wantonly."

Poppy quickly pieced it together. Shaking his head, he spoke with clarity, "I trust Alina. She wouldn't bully anyone. Did River not apologize to Alina? Grandfather said River made a mistake and should take responsibility for it." Kaleigh raised her eyebrows but didn't respond.

River's face turned black.

She knew exactly what she had done wrong, but she hadn't fallen so far as to let a five-year-old lecture her.

Just as she was about to send him away, Poppy's soft, childlike voice chimed in again.

"Then I'll apologize to Alina for River, okay? Alina is so kind; she won't hold a grudge against River."

Both Kaleigh and River, still lying on the bed, froze at Poppy's words.

River looked at him, her face full of doubt. "Poppy, you're willing to apologize to the Pace family for me?"

Poppy nodded firmly. "I told Grandpa I don't blame River. It's my fault for being too weak. It has nothing to do with her."

River's mind raced, considering how to use this opportunity to gain entry into the Pace family.

But Kaleigh suddenly spoke up, "River, have you lost your mind? How can you trust the words of a five-year-old? Do you even remember how angry Grandpa was last time? Do you think he'll let you take Poppy out again?" River realized Kaleigh was right.

Whether or not Poppy could even get into the Pace family was one thing. But if their grandfather found out she had taken Poppy there, the fallout would undoubtedly be catastrophic.

After a while, the servants began urging Poppy to leave.

If their grandfather returned and found out Poppy had been out for too long, they would all bear the consequences.

Reluctantly, Poppy left. He truly wanted to see Alina.noveldrama

Once he was gone, Kaleigh offered a suggestion. "If you ask me, instead of begging for Alina's forgiveness, why not appeal to Ruud? As long as he's on your side, why bother with that mother and daughter pair?" River thought for a moment. "But Ruud has already lost patience with me. He won't even agree to see me..."

When she had fainted at the Pace family's home last time, Ruud hadn't even shown his face. It was clear how deeply Alina had influenced him.

If she could find a way to get rid of Alina, it would finally lift the weight from her chest.

Kaleigh smiled. "River, you're overthinking this. No matter how formidable Ruud is, he's still just a man. And what man doesn't melt under a woman's unwavering devotion?"

"Besides, you've waited for him in Ashbury for over ten years. Everyone there knows you two are a perfect match. That place beside him was always meant to be yours. Alina stole it from you. Taking back what's yours isn't wrong." River silently agreed.

For years, she had considered herself Ruud's other half. Alina's sudden appearance not only shattered her dream of marrying Ruud but also made her decade-long wait a cruel joke.

Seeing that the time was right, Kaleigh revealed her true intentions. "Alina cares deeply about her daughter. If something were to happen to Tina, Alina would undoubtedly lose her composure and be too distracted to focus on Ruud. That would be your chance, River."

River's gaze darkened, and she looked sharply at Kaleigh. "Are you suggesting I target Tina?"

Kaleigh flinched at River's sudden reaction, her eyes flickering as she quickly covered herself. "Of course, River, if you can win Ruud over on your own, there's no need for such measures. It's up to you."

River didn't immediately respond.

Kaleigh's suggestion seemed helpful on the surface, but River knew she was merely using her to deal with Tina.

Her target had always been Alina. She had no interest in anyone else.

Besides, Tina was untouchable.

"I'm tired. You should leave," River said coldly, turning to lie on her side.

Kaleigh stood up, but before leaving, she cast a subtle glance back at River. For some reason, this time, she felt there was something about River she couldn't quite figure out.

Left alone in the room, River received a secret phone call.

Seeing the number displayed, her heart sank, and she quickly answered.

On the other end was the same deep, distorted voice she had heard many times before.

"The Master has a task for you," the man said.

River's brows furrowed. "Tasks from the Master are always issued directly to me. Why is it coming through you this time?"

The man let out a mocking laugh, the derision clear even through the phone. "After the damage caused to the experimental base, the Master no longer trusts you. Especially since you disappeared for several days afterward. Do you really think the Master still has faith in you?"

River's heart skipped a beat. She hurried to explain. "I didn't betray the Master. I was just-"

"Enough," the man cut her off. "The Master doesn't care about excuses. Results are all that matter."

River bit her lip, knowing this was a test of her loyalty. "What does the Master want me to do?"

"When the time comes, eliminate Jared."

Jared?

River recalled that Jared was Tina's fiancé.

But the Master had explicitly ordered her not to lay a finger on Tina before.

She couldn't understand the reasoning behind this new command. "Are you sure the Master wants me to target Jared?"

The man sneered coldly. "Are you questioning the Master?"

River didn't dare. She could only comply.

The following morning, River knelt once again outside the gates of the Pace family.

This time, she wasn't left kneeling for long. After only ten minutes, she was invited inside.

Facing a dignified woman seated high above her, River hesitated. "May I ask who you are?"

The woman, exuding an air of arrogance, replied, "I am Mia, Ruud's aunt."

Hearing this, River's legs gave out, and she fell to her knees. "Aunt Mia, I know I was wrong. I hope the Pace family will give me a chance to apologize. I will change."

Mia regarded River coldly, her voice suddenly sharp. "You want to eliminate Alina and marry into the Pace family."

River trembled, biting her lip. She neither admitted nor denied the accusation. "I'm just... my feelings for Ruud run too deep. I lost my senses for a moment and made a mistake. I beg Aunt Mia to speak kindly of me to Ruud. I never truly intended to harm the Pace family."