Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 942: The Master Has a Task for You

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.

to Alina for River, okay? Alina is so kind; she won't hold a

and River, still lying on the

her face full of doubt. "Poppy, you're willing to apologize to the

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

to use this

a five-year-old? Do you even remember how angry Grandpa was last time? Do you think he'll

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

a while, the servants began urging Poppy

grandfather returned and found out Poppy had been out for

truly wanted to

"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

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

to get rid of Alina, it

"River, you're overthinking this. No matter how formidable Ruud is, he's still just a man. And what man doesn't

you two are a perfect match. That place beside him was always meant to be

half. Alina's sudden appearance not only shattered her dream of marrying Ruud but

daughter. If something were to happen to Tina, Alina would undoubtedly lose her

looked sharply at Kaleigh. "Are you suggesting I

flinched at River's sudden reaction, her eyes flickering as she quickly covered herself. "Of course, River, if you can win

River didn't immediately respond.

knew she was merely using her

Alina. She had no interest in

Besides, Tina was untouchable.

River said

before leaving, she cast a subtle glance back at River. For some

room, River received a

her heart sank, and

was the same deep, distorted

task for you,"

furrowed. "Tasks from the Master are always issued directly to me. Why is it coming through you