Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 924: Seek Advice from Hugo Ruud watched Tina's retreating figure as she returned to her room. With a heavy sigh, he picked up a fork and tried to eat the food on the table, but it was so tough he couldn't even bite through it. Frustrated, he turned to Alina with a grimace. "I failed again..." The memory of Tina's rejection flashed vividly in his mind-back when Alina had been unconscious in the hospital, and he had tried to recite poetry to Tina, only to be met with utter failure. Now, like a dejected dog, he looked at Alina with helplessness.

Alina couldn't bear to see him like this. She reached out to pat his head. "There are a hundred ways to win a daughter's heart. So far, you've only tried two, and they've already made sprogress. Think of other methods. Tina will eventually accept you from the bottom of her heart!" Ruud lowered his head, deep in thought. He needed a strategy that would work-a surefire way to make significant progress, preferably with guidance from someone more experienced.

After pondering for a while, he admitted to Alina, "I've searched online for advice on improving relationships with daughters, but none of them fit our situation." Alina's eyes lit up, an idea forming in her mind. "Why don't you seek advice from Hugo? He holds a significant place in Tina's heart, and she sees him as a father figure. If you ask him for tips, he might help you find a way to open Tina's heart." Ruud slapped his thigh in excitement. "Why didn't I think of that? I'll contact him right away!" He embraced Alina tightly, his eyes brimming with joy.

Swanson Family Kaleigh stood outside a door with an immaculate white surface. She knocked lightly, her face a mix of emotions- anger, excitement, and anticipation.

A man's elegant voice cfrom inside. "Cin." The last tKaleigh had barged into Kevin's room in a fit of rage over Tina's actions, Kevin hadn't held it against her. However, he had issued a mild warning. On a normal day, Kevin might not have been so lenient.

Carefully, she stepped inside. Kevin was still holding the sbook she had seen him with last time. He removed his gold-rimmed glasses with a cultured air and placed them on the desk beside him. Rubbing his temples, he looked visibly fatigued.

Kaleigh hesitated before speaking, her voice cautious. "Brother, do you know what happened to River? Ever since she was brought back yesterday, I haven't seen her." Her tone betrayed her excitement and schadenfreude as she reached the end of her sentence.

Kevin's expression showed a trace of confusion. "She was brought back? She's disgraced the Swanson family yet again. I doubt she'll have an easy tof it." "Brother, you're only finding out now? She was brought back last night! You shouldn't stay cooped up in the study all the time. Didn't you once tellthat information is crucial and that we can't afford to have blind spots?" Kaleigh pouted, shaking Kevin's arm in dissatisfaction.

"If you want to know what's happening with River, our eldest brother should know best. But I'd advise you to steer clear of him. He's in a foul mood," Kevin warned.

Kaleigh had no intention of provoking their eldest brother. She sneered, "Even though River has fallen, the support our brother had through her will weaken. But that wretch Tina still hasn't been punished!" This was something she couldn't tolerate.

River had already failed her twice.

Not only that, but River had nearly killed Poppy, the grandchild their grandfather treasured most. How could she have been so foolish? Their grandfather would never let her off the hook for that. Kaleigh could already imagine River's miserable fate.

She wondered if their grandfather would strip River of her status entirely. If that happened, Kaleigh's position in the Swanson family would undoubtedly rise.

Kevin saw through her thoughts. "As long as I'm here, River won't face a fate worse than death. You still have opportunities." The flicker of malice in Kaleigh's eyes quickly disappeared, replaced by a subtle smirk. "I understand." After this incident, the Pace and Brookes families would certainly place even greater importance on Alina and her daughter. If Kaleigh wanted to make a move, now was not the time.

She knew better than to fight two powerful families head-on.

This kind of matter required using others as pawns. She wouldn't be foolish enough to confront them alone. Kevin's pale, sickly face revealed no emotion. Rising, he returned the book to its place on the shelf. "Stay away from our eldest brother. Don't causeany trouble." "Don't worry," Kaleigh replied.

She understood her brother's temper well. When he was in a good mood, he'd indulge her whims and even back her up. But when he turned cold, he could be just as ruthless as their grandfather, if not more so. Once outside, Kaleigh headed straight for the lowest level of the castle.

In her mind, this was the coldest and most terrifying part of the Swanson family's estate.

River had crossed their grandfather's bottom line this time, dragging the entire Swanson family's reputation down with her.

Their grandfather was a man who valued face above all else. Without breaking one of her legs, he wouldn't be able to provide a satisfactory explanation to the Pace and Brookes families.

As Kaleigh approached, she thought of the large wolf-dog she'd seen last time. A shiver ran through her, and she didn't even dare knock loudly. She could only call out softly.

"River, are you okay? I heard about what happened. This isn't your fault-it's all because of that wretch Tina. If she hadn't schemed against you, no one would've caught any dirt on you." "River?" There was no response.

Frowning, Kaleigh placed her hand cautiously on the doorknob. "Could she be dead?" "Who are you saying is dead?" A cold voice rang out behind her, freezing her in place.

Kaleigh turned stiffly, her face draining of color when she saw who it was. "Jon!" Of all the people she didn't want to see, it had to be him.

Why was he here?

Jon's gaze swept past her to the door, then slowly returned to her The om pressure emanating from him was NO suffocating, like a mountain bearing down on her. "Who told you to chere?"

Kaleigh tried to maintain her composure, though her heart was m racing. Putting on a a concerned expression, she said, "Jon, I was worried about River. You know how close we are. After everything she's been through, of course I'd want to check on her." "Worried about her?" A flicker of icy disdain crossed Jon's eyes.

Kaleigh noticed it but knew better than to provoke him.

"Of course! River and I may not share the smother, but we're both part of the Swanson family. After what she's been through, it's only natural forto take her side." "Did you miss Grandfather's orders?" Jon asked coldly.

Kaleigh froze. "What orders?" "No one is to interfere in River's matter. Anyone who does will face the spunishment," Jon said, his tone sharp.

Kaleigh's expression shifted. "Jon, what do you mean? I was just-"

"River's feelings for Ruud have festered for years, leading to her downfall. Someone took advantage of her weakness and used her. As her brother, I won't let that go unpunished," Jon declared, his piercing gaze silencing any argument Kaleigh might have had. She opened her mouth, but facing Jon's unrelenting eyes, she couldn't utter a word. Defeated, she slinked away.

Once she was gone, Jon turned and walked deeper into the castle.

The Swanson family knew this area was forbidden, but none of them knew what lay beneath the ancient castle's foundations.