Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 956: I Want to Make a Deal with Miss Reed River choked for a moment, her face growing even more pitiful and helpless in front of Ruud. "How could this be what I wanted? You said..." Tina sneered coldly. "I never said she would die. But you? You seem to really hope he does." River's heart skipped a beat. Yet, recalling that she hadn't slipped up along the way, she maintained her composure. "What nonsense are you spouting? Poppy is my brother. No one wants him safe more than I do..." Tina's eyes flashed with mockery. "Nonsense?" "You..." River raised her hand, pointing angrily, but before she could speak, Ruud stepped in front of her, his voice cold. "If you don't want that finger, say it outright. Do you think you can point at my daughter like that?" Ruud's face darkened.

The daughter he cherished so much that he wouldn't even raise his voice at her-what did this woman think she was, daring to point at her? River bit her lip, looking as pitiful as ever. "Ruud, do you have to treatso coldly? I'm River..." A cold laugh suddenly echoed from behind.

Ruud's heart trembled, and his expression grew even more disgusted as he looked at River. "I don't care if you're River or anyone else. Stop trying to cozy up to me. Do I even know you? You're old enough-you should try keeping sdignity!" Having just been scolded by Tina, and now humiliated by Ruud, River's face twisted in anger.

At that moment, the door to the operating room opened, and the doctor and nurses stepped out.

River immediately turned, desperate to know Poppy's condition. "Doctor, how is my brother? Is he okay?" The doctor glanced at Tina, then gave River a strange look. "Why are the patient's family members only arriving now? He's out of danger and has been transferred to intensive care." Intensive care? River bit her lip, unwilling to believe Poppy had such good fortune.

She had given explicit instructions to the driver-no survivors.

How could he have such luck? The doctor, noticing River's stunned expression, reminded her before leaving, "What are you all standing around for? Go settle the medical fees. The surgery costs can't go unpaid." River turned to look at Ruud, biting her lip. She could only follow along to handle the payment.

Behind her, Alina's cold voice rang out. "You'd better pray Poppy is fine. Otherwise, you'll be the one to pay with your life." River's body stiffened.

But she quickly composed herself, pretending nothing had happened. "Miss Brookes, you must be mistaken. Poppy is my brother. No one wants him to be okay more than I do." Alina didn't respond, giving her an icy glance instead.

River felt as though that gaze pierced through her, exposing her true thoughts.

It was only after she hurried away that the feeling gradually faded.

Once River was gone, Tina noticed a shadow flicker in the distance. It seemed someone had been watching her, deliberately vanishing once they were noticed. Frowning, she said to Ruud and Alina, "Mom, you two head back first." Tina chased after the shadow, but it disappeared without a trace.

She decided to check the hospital's surveillance footage to find out who it was. Just then, her phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number. "Tomorrow at ten, second floor of Spring Teahouse." The timing was too coincidental.

Clearly, the person had cprepared.

The next day, at ten o'clock sharp, Tina arrived at Spring Teahouse.

The server asked if she had a reservation.

Tina replied, "Second floor." The server led her to the last room on the floor.

Tina pushed open the door and was greeted by the sight of an antique-style screen.

She stepped around it and saw the man sitting there.

He wore a white shirt, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. His complexion was so pale it seemed almost sickly, but his lips were strikingly red.

Bloodless skin paired with crimson lips-this was the appearance of someone who had been on long-term medication and rarely saw the sun.

Tina glanced at him briefly, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Her voice was calm. "Mr. Swanson, what do you want from me?" Kevin didn't panic at having his identity exposed. His voice was soft as he said, "I'm here today to make a deal with Miss Reed." Tina's expression remained indifferent. She laid the facts bare, unconvinced. "And what do you have to offer me? In the Swanson family's power struggle, you're not exactly in a favorable position." She had long since investigated the Swanson family.

She hadn't made a move against them yet because she was waiting-for certain people to expose themselves. But Kevin wasn't part of her plans.

Still, she found him intriguing.

Kevin Swanson had been poisoned as a child, the toxins spreading throughout his body. He had been on medication ever since and was an outsider within the Swanson family.

All the family's power was concentrated in Mark's hands.

Jon managed the company.

Even River and Kaleigh had their own companies and shares, but Kevin had nothing.

In any family, someone like him would be cast aside and bullied.

But Tina had uncovered the truth.

Kevin had been biding his time. What he wanted was the entire Swanson family.

Kevin coughed lightly. "I know I don't have much to offer Miss Reed. But there is one thing I can guarantee-only I can help you with the matter you're investigating." Tina's eyes narrowed slightly. "You know what I'm looking into?" Kevin set down his teacup, adjusting his glasses to hide the flash of sharpness in his eyes.

"The Swanson family's rapid growth in recent years-I've kept my distance from family affairs, but even I know someone has been pulling the strings behind the scenes. And that person is who you're after, isn't it?" Tina's lips pressed into a thin line.

The Swanson family did indeed have someone cooperating with Claudia.

And Tina had been waiting-for that person to reveal themselves.

"What do you want?" Kevin seemed to relax slightly. "I want Miss Reed to protect Poppy. Keep him safe." Tina's gaze sharpened. "Just Poppy?"

Kevin nodded lightly. "The Swanson family isn't as simple as it seems. I don't have the power to protect him tnow. Pcan only entrust him to right now.

someone capable." "Fine. I'll take care of it." Tina drank her tea and left.

Others might not see it, but she could.

Though Kevin's poison hadn't fully cleared, it wasn't life-threatening. Sof his frailty was clearly an act.

Poppy was someone Mark had brought back from outside, unrelated to the rest of the family, yet deeply EI favored by Mark. While his siblings wanted him dead, Kevin sought external help to protect him.

The Swanson family's waters ran deep.

At the hospital, Tina arrived to find Alina walking out of the intensive care unit.

Seeing Tina, Alina said as she approached, "Poppy's condition lis stable, but we don't know when he'll wake up. Poor child." Out of nowhere, Tina asked, "Mom, have you ever thought about having another child?" Alina froze, then, realizing Tina was serious, gave a helpless laugh. "Would you support it?" Tina's face was solemn. "I would. But I'm worried your body wouldn't handle it." Alina was speechless. She just liked the idea of children-she hadn't thought things through that far.