Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

Ruud released his grip, clenching his fists tightly as his knuckles cracked audibly.

Alina walked over to Tina. Seeing the injuries on her daughter's face, a wave of anger surged through her. She then turned and approached Mia, her posture steady and commanding. Alina's sharp gaze bore down on Mia, her presence exuding an unspoken authority.

"Aunt," Alina said coldly, "why did you hurt my daughter?"

Mia stood up from the ground, her dark eyes fixed on Alina. "She stayed out all night yesterday," Mia retorted. "She was out with some wild man, completely disregarding her responsibilities. As your daughter, she left the wedding banquet in front of all the guests without even telling you. Shouldn't she be punished for her disgraceful behavior?"

Slap!noveldrama

A resounding slap echoed through the room as a bright red mark appeared on Mia's cheek.

Before Mia could scream like a shrew, Alina raised her hand and swiftly inserted several silver needles into Mia's body, rendering her paralyzed and unable to make a sound without permission.

Alina's voice was cold and sharp, her words cutting like a blade. "Tina left with Jared last night. Jared, her lawful husband. A legal husband taking his wife away is neither inappropriate nor disgraceful, and certainly not what you so vulgarly described as 'fooling around'!"

She continued, her tone unwavering. "You claim Tina left without informing me. But if I hadn't allowed her to leave, she wouldn't have been able to take a single step. She doesn't need to ask for my permission-my silence was my consent!" "That's the first reason you deserve to be punished," Alina declared.

With lightning speed, her hand struck Mia's left cheek again. This time, the blow left Mia's face numb, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

Alina removed the needle that had sealed Mia's voice. "Keep talking," she commanded.

Mia's anger flared, but her words were no longer as sharp. "No matter what you say," Mia spat, "leaving in front of all those guests was an insult to the Pace family's reputation!" Slap!

Another slap landed on Mia's left cheek. Her body swayed, barely able to remain upright.

Alina's voice was calm yet commanding, her words laced with disdain. "The only one disgracing the Pace family is you."

"If you hadn't hurt Tina and caused this chaos, no one would have cared about such a trivial matter. You're the one who's trampled the family's reputation into the dirt!"

"You don't focus your energy on dealing with outsiders. Instead, you nitpick and create trouble for my daughter. Do you want the Pace family to fall apart and become the laughingstock of others? What right do you have to lecture me about the family's honor?"

Slap!

Once again, Alina's palm struck Mia's left cheek with full force. Mia's face was now swollen and horrifyingly red. Her left ear buzzed incessantly, and if not for the needles immobilizing her, she would have collapsed to the ground. Alina flexed her right hand, her palm aching from the repeated blows. Her sharp gaze pierced through Mia as she spoke with an air of innate authority. "Apologize to my daughter!"

Her tone was icy, her raised hand threatening yet another strike.

Mia's face turned pale. Her heart pounded erratically, and her breaths grew labored. She was at a loss for words in the face of Alina's unrelenting dominance.

"You're too slow," Alina said, her cold voice slicing through the silence of the hall.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

The sound of relentless slapping filled the air as Alina struck Mia over and over again, alternating between her left and right cheeks. The assault was merciless, leaving Mia barely conscious. Blood trickled down, and her vision blurred as her world spun. "Apologize to my daughter," Alina demanded again, her voice like ice.

Overcome with fear, Mia broke into a cold sweat. She knew that if she didn't apologize, Alina wouldn't stop until she did. Trembling, she forced out weak words, "I... I'm sorry... Tina." Mia understood that resisting Alina was futile. She had no choice but to endure and bide her time.

Ruud watched the scene unfold, a flicker of satisfaction in his cold eyes. He walked up to Mia, who now lay on the ground like a beaten dog, and his voice carried an unmistakable warning. "If you ever hurt Tina again, you won't get off as lightly as you did today."

"Remember this: Tina doesn't need the Pace family, but we need her. As for you? You need the Pace family, but we don't need you. You're free to leave this house anytime." Warren, weary and frustrated, shook his head. His voice was stern as he said, "Mia, this must never happen again. The Pace family can't protect you, and neither will I." He called for two servants to carry Mia out of the hall. As they took her away, he sank into the sofa, rubbing his temples in exhaustion.

Alina turned back to Tina, grabbing her by the ear in mock scolding. "Now do you understand the saying 'love is a dagger'? Keep this up, and you'll end up digging your own grave!"

Tina licked her lips, her expression calm despite her mother's words. She reached out to hold Alina's hand. "Maybe Mia's skills are better than mine. How else could she have managed to injure me?"

Her tone was light and teasing, but her words carried an underlying weight. Alina and Ruud immediately understood the implications of what she was saying.

There were few people in the world capable of harming Tina. The fact that Mia had managed to do so only deepened their suspicions.

Ruud glanced at Warren, and with just a look, Warren grasped his meaning. His voice grew heavy with resolve. "Do whatever you need to do. The Pace family won't tolerate a cancer like this under my watch."

He stood slowly, his movements burdened as though carrying a great weight. His gaze fell on Tina, guilt evident in his eyes. "Tina, it's our family that has wronged you. We've allowed you to suffer such indignities. I'm sorry. Mia will never harm you again-I'll make sure of it."

Tina responded with a soft "Mm," her tone indifferent. Warren, unsure of how to discipline Mia further, sighed inwardly.

Ruud, too, felt a pang of guilt. The strained relationship between him and Tina was evident in her distant demeanor. He felt a deep sense of loss and resolved to rebuild their bond.

"Tina, you and your mother haven't had breakfast yet. I'll go make something for you!" Ruud declared, suddenly eager to make amends.

Tina was about to refuse, but Alina grabbed her hand and pulled her into a chair. Alina was determined to repair the father-daughter relationship.

"They say daughters are their father's little treasures," Alina teased. "But you've been away from him since you were little. Now that you're grown, you've turned into a leaky old coat!"