Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee by KIKI

Chapter 909: Setting the Trap The butler supported Warren, urging him to calm down and focus on his health.

"Is there no way to prove Alina's innocence?" Warren asked heavily, his voice filled with frustration.

Alina kept her head low, forcing herself to remain composed. "The voice in the recording isn't Al-generated. It's a manipulation of my pre-recorded voice. No matter how it's investigated, it will always sound like me." Warren narrowed his eyes. "Alina, you said they pre-recorded your voice. How did they manage to record it in the first place?" After Warren listened to the full account from Alina and Ruud, he cursed under his breath. "The Swanson family is a mess, and River is no better! A woman like that-our family wouldn't take her even if she were offered for free! And she dares to dream of marrying Ruud!" "No matter what, this incident has already hurt the reputation of the Pace family. In my opinion, we should go to Mark and demand that River personally prove the recording is fake," suggested Mia, her face dark and grim.

Her sharp gaze landed on Alina. "You were too careless! You let them exploit this and brought disgrace to the Pace family!" Ruud stepped in front of Alina, his tone cold. "If you have nothing useful to say, then keep quiet. Do you think Alina wanted this? She's been framed. If you can't help, then stay out of it." Mia let out a cold snort, her expression dark.

Tina leaned back in her chair, sipping her milk casually. Her voice was soft yet steady. "Grand Aunt, there's no need to get so angry. This hasn't escalated to the point where Grandfather needs to lower himself and beg Mark for help." Warren's eyes lit up slightly as he looked at Tina.

Deep down, he wasn't unwilling to ask Mark for a favor. But the fact that Alina had been put in this position was undoubtedly orchestrated by Mark's granddaughter, River. How could he stomach the idea of asking for help from someone who had caused this mess? Tina spoke slowly and deliberately. "I just reviewed the surveillance footage. Before River entered the Pace family estate, the guards found nothing unusual. But once she was inside, a portion of the footage was deleted. Whoever did it was careful, thinking their work flawless." "This means someone inside the Pace family secretly helped River, providing her with the equipment to make the recordings." Warren's eyes widened in fury. "How dare they? There's a traitor in our house!" "I'll find out who's bold enough to betrayand harm Alina while helping River! And when I do, I'll make them pay." Mia's expression darkened as she glanced at Tina but said nothing. In situations like this, the more someone spoke, the more suspicious they became.

Silence fell over the room. Only Warren's angry gaze swept over everyone at the table. The tension was thick, and no one dared make a sound.

Tina, however, remained calm. She elegantly cut her food, her every move exuding confidence. Her smile was faint, her tone pleasant. "Grandfather, don't be angry. By the tyou finish your nap this afternoon, I'll have restored the deleted footage. This time, the methods used were more advanced than usual. Whoever did it must've spent a lot of money. But I've already found a weak spot." "When the results are out, I'll inform everyone. After all, I won't let a single person who hurt my mother get away with it." Her voice turned sharp at the end, sending a chill through the room, even to the servants standing nearby.

"Tina," Warren said firmly, his voice resolute, "I'll say it here and now: I won't let anyone who harms you or your mother go unpunished. Anyone who dares to hurt you is an enemy of the Pace family." After breakfast, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.

Alina and Tina exchanged a smile before heading to their rooms.

Ruud wrapped his arm around Alina as they walked. Once inside their room, Alina hummed a carefree tune, seemingly unbothered by the rumors and attacks online. Ruud's handsface leaned close to hers. "I did well, didn't I? Played along with your performance perfectly! You and our daughter didn't even givea heads-up." Alina laughed, teasing him gently. "Your quick thinking is what I admire most. Why would I need to warn you? Giving you a heads-up would be like insulting your abilities." Ruud, seemingly appeased by her words, let it slide with a lighthearted smile.

Alina's tone turned contemplative. "I wonder... will we catch a small fish or a big one this time?" Ruud smiled faintly, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Big or small, as long as it clears your name, it's worth it. Tomorrow, marry me." By noon, after finishing lunch, Warren and Mia were helped upstairs by the servants to rest. Age had taken its toll, and they needed their midday naps.

Tina escorted Warren to his room before returning to her own. She lay down on her bed, appearing to rest as well.

Ruud and Alina followed the sroutine.

Meanwhile, faint footsteps could be heard outside their rooms.

A pair of eyes peered through the crack of a door, watching the sleeping figures inside.

Then, a small device was slipped through the door crack. Wisps of smoke began to fill the room, making the occupants fall into an even deeper sleep.

The person outside waited a moment, ensuring there were no signs of movement, then walked away with a more confident stride.

Tina, lying on her side, suddenly opened her eyes, her long lashes fluttering slightly. A sly smile curved her lips.

She quietly opened her door, finding Ruud and Alina waiting outside.

Alina playfully tapped Tina's forehead. "If you'd stayed in there any longer, I'd have thought you were actually asleep!" Tina raised an eyebrow, her tone amused. "A good performance needs to be convincing." The three of them followed the intruder's trail, tracking the person to the estate's surveillance room.

Tina wasn't surprised by what they found, though there was a hint of disappointment. A small fish would always be a small fish.

The man, wearing a mask, had already incapacitated the guards in the surveillance room. He moved cautiously, searching for the footage from the day of the incident.

He muttered under his breath, his tone frustrated. "I paid so much to have this footage deleted, to and yet Tina still managed to recover it! Those idiots promisedit'd be impossible for her to restore it!" "Useless fools. Now I have to clean up their mess myself." The man scrolled quickly through the footage, stopping at the relevant time.

What he saw on the screen made him panic. He turned to leave in an hurry but froze when he saw Tina standing at the door, watching him with interest. "Uncle Boris," she said with a smile, her voice dripping with amusement. "What are you doing here?"