Stolen By My Billionaire Brother-In-Law-Chapter 45: My Husband

Meanwhile, inside the hall, Rivana sighed softly as she finally got to sit. The heels were too much, and she hated Leonora for forcing her to wear them. Sitting on the chair, she relaxed while Ezekiel and Azrael cared for the other guests.

"Anna!" Leonora walked over, carrying a glass of juice for her friend. Rivana’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t very great, and the party was going to last a few more hours so they couldn’t afford any drama.

"These heels are killing me, Nora!" Rivana grumbled, slightly massaging her toe.

Leonora sat beside her. Glancing down at the black heels, she smiled cheekily, "Why don’t you ask your husband to carry you around then? I am sure he would love it."

Rivana rolled her eyes but hid her smile by sipping the drink.

Leonora chuckled at her expression, her eyes falling on Azrael talking with some businessmen. For the last two days, Leonora had keenly observed his behavior toward her friend, and it had been great so far. It seemed as though he had a crush on Rivana, and she wanted to help him out.

"Look at him," Leonora murmured, eyeing Azrael’s direction. "Considering his height and persona, you needed to match his level, and Frankie chose everything keeping that in mind," she explained, as her apparel was thoroughly thought out by her team.

Rivana glanced at Azrael and couldn’t help but agree with her friend. Taking another sip, she admired his side profile. He was standing tall, his hand inside his pocket, his jaw sharp and defined. She moved her gaze to his lips. He looked even more captivating when he was serious, making her bite the inside of her cheek subconsciously.

As she continued to observe him, Rivana couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. There was a warmth in her chest that she hadn’t felt in a long time, a sense of security that Azrael seemed to effortlessly provide. His presence was commanding, yet there was a gentleness in the way he interacted with others, a contrast that made him even more intriguing.

"Rivana," a familiar voice brought her out of her thoughts. Even Leonora turned around and saw the old woman, Aldona, smiling at them. Though she was very nice to Rivana, Leonora could never like her for some reason.

"Can we have a little chat? It’s been a while," the old woman suggested, her hand firmly clutching the cane. She glanced over at Leonora, hoping she would give them some privacy.

"Call me if you need anything," Leonora whispered to Rivana. At her nod, she offered a fake smile at the old woman and walked away, muttering a few curses under her breath.

"Would you like to drink something?" Rivana asked, looking around for a waitress, but Aldona shook her head.

"No, it’s fine. My old body cannot handle drinks anyway," Aldona joked, chuckling softly. Rivana nodded with a smile, waiting for her to get to the topic she wanted to discuss.

Aldona looked around and saw Viktor had already left. Melisande looked disinterested and only waited for Santino to finish his business talks so they could get out. Then she looked at Azrael, the root cause of the problems going on in her family right now.

With a sigh, she murmured, "Yes, Viktor did make a terrible mistake, but you should have at least given him a chance, dear." Looking at Rivana, she added in a sad tone, "He loves you very much and would have done everything to make up for his sin."

Rivana held back a sneer, disbelief evident on her face. She now understood why Aldona adored her so much. It was because she was a sympathizer for Viktor, just like how the old woman had been for her husband. That old man had cheated on her quite a few times, but she forgave him, creating whatever her son Santino was today.

"Yeah. Just like how my sister gave your son a chance, and look where we are now," Ezekiel’s voice broke the silence, and the women turned around to see him standing behind them.

"But Viktor isn’t like his father," Aldona tried to defend, her face twisted in frustration.

Ezekiel scoffed and replied, "It’s funny how you keep repeating that line, Mrs. Hugon." Glaring at her, he added, "That was exactly what you told my sister. Your son Santino wasn’t like his father and that he would do better when he brought his first mistress."

Rivana felt the tension rising between the two elders, but the pain in Ezekiel’s voice ached her heart. Sussanah wanted to divorce Santino the day he brought Melisande along with the 7-year-old Viktor. Melisande was six months pregnant with Lilith at that time and didn’t want to live in secret anymore. Aldona had begged and convinced Sussanah to stay behind, at least for Azrael’s sake, who would be the next heir. But after her death, Aldona forgot her promise to make him her successor, sending the young Azrael away with Ezekiel.

Aldona went awfully silent at the name of Sussanah. Ezekiel held back his anger and added, "You kept forgiving your husband to take over the Hugons, making everyone pity you. But trust me, Rivana won’t be as foolish as my sister and fall for your words."

"You are trying to—"

"Please stop talking about your grandson in front of me," Rivana cut Aldona short, her words shocking the old woman. When Aldona turned to her, she added, "And also stop seeing your young self in me. I am no saint like you and would never forgive Viktor for what all he has done to me."

"But—" Aldona stopped as Rivana got up from her seat.

"I will never divorce my husband if that’s what you want to convince me," Rivana added, her voice loud and clear. Even the guests around turned, whispering among themselves, making Aldona feel uncomfortable at the stares.

"And I also hope you will fulfill your promise." When Aldona looked at her in confusion, Rivana added, "You promised to announce my husband as your successor a week ago. Please don’t go back on your words this time."

With a bow, Rivana walked away, leaving Aldona both embarrassed and angry. Gritting her teeth, the older woman clutched her cane and walked out of the hall, having been ashamed enough. Santino and Melisande, not far away, followed her.

"Azrael has turned her like him," Aldona muttered under her breath. The sweet and kind Anna was nowhere, and she had no idea what changed Rivana this much. The hatred for Viktor didn’t seem like it was just because of the cheating, but more as though he had hurt her many times. And she hated to see Rivana slipping away from her control.

Ezekiel watched as the trio walked out, his eyes gleaming with a kind of satisfaction. A smile lit up his face as he reached out to Rivana and patted her back.

"Thank you, Anna," he murmured to Rivana.

"I did what I needed to. No need to thank me, Uncle," Rivana replied with a smile.

Ezekiel nodded, his eyes slightly moistened in gratitude. She had reassured him today that Azrael wouldn’t be alone here in this city and would have her support in claiming the industries that were built over Sussanah’s legacy.

Leonora, who was beside Rivana, decided to cheer up the old man. "And yeah, don’t mind that old Hypocrite, Mr. Dynar."

"Hypocrite?" Ezekiel blinked in confusion.

"Yes, Hypocrite short for hypocritical behavior," Leonora replied innocently. "I even have her number saved as Old Hypocrite."

Ezekiel laughed out loud. "I will do the same," he murmured. Walking closer, he patted Leonora’s head and smiled, "Thank you, Nora."

Leonora felt a familiar warmth in the way he called her, something she had never experienced before. She nodded, hiding her emotions behind a smile.

Rivana smiled, hearing as the two exchanged a few more jokes. "I will be back in a minute," she murmured, excusing herself to the restroom. She glanced around to find Ashley, who would never miss accompanying her everywhere she went. Believing she was busy somewhere else, she decided to go alone.

As Rivana started walking out, Amerie wondered aloud, "Where is she going now?"

Rubina, who was beside her, glanced in the direction Amerie was looking and quickly excused herself, saying she needed to use the restroom. "I will be fine, don’t worry," she added, shaking her head when Amerie offered to accompany her.

With that, Rubina took out her stick and walked in the direction Rivana had left, her hands reaching into her pocket to find the small but sharp weapon she always carried, given by her grandmother. One push in the neck and the person would be dead.

Smiling at the guests on her way, Rivana walked out of the hall, looking for the restroom. She felt someone following her, and when she turned around, there was no one. Shaking away those thoughts, she walked through a narrow corridor with the way for restroom sign on the wall, empty and a little dark. Just as she was about to cross, somebody grabbed her hand and pulled her inside a room, locking the door shut behind them.