Stolen By My Billionaire Brother-In-Law-Chapter 55: It Belonged To You

"I will miss you, Dad," Rubina cried out loud. She finally decided to show up at the end of the ceremony. Tears streamed down her face as she clung to the casket, her sobs echoing in the somber atmosphere. She spent a few more minutes beside the casket, whispering her farewells, before being pulled up by Amerie to stand up.

Emmerich was then buried, and the father followed with a song. The funeral process took its usual course—words were spoken, prayers were offered, and everyone silently reflected on the life that had passed.

Everyone left one by one, but Rivana stayed behind until the tombstone was fixed on his grave. It was made of cement, just like Jessica Faye’s, his mother’s, with his picture, name, and date written over it. She watched as the workers carefully placed the tombstone, ensuring everything was perfectly aligned.

Rivana thought about her past. Her nanny would sometimes tell her that Emmerich really cared about her when she was little, sneaking in to play with her and taking care of her. But everything changed once Rubina was born a year later. Rivana never had a fond memory of him except for one time that stood out.

That was when her baby, Alan, was born. Everyone had told her to give up—Aldona, her jerk husband, and everyone whom she thought were her people. Emmerich had come to visit her.

"Don’t give up on him," Emmerich murmured, looking at the baby in the intensive care unit through the glass barrier between them. Turning to Rivana, who was in a hospital gown, he added, "He will fight his best, after all, he has your blood running in him."

Rivana looked at him in surprise, never expecting him to cheer her up. And out of all people, it turned out to be this man who hadn’t spoken to her since her marriage day. She broke down, tears trickling down her cheeks, unable to contain her emotions.

Emmerich hesitantly moved closer. Raising his hand, he rubbed her back, trying to calm her down. His touch, though unfamiliar, provided a strange sense of comfort.

After that, he frequently visited her in the hospital, where she stayed for almost a month after giving birth. He would just sit beside her or peel an apple or orange. And when it was time to visit Alan, he would escort her to him, holding her hand and offering silent support.

The memory was faint, but he had been there in her toughest times. She had no clue what happened that he went back to his cold self again once she was discharged. She had tried to call him, but he never responded, giving the same cold treatment again. It was as if a switch had been flipped, and the warmth he had shown disappeared as quickly as it came.

Rivana heaved a shaky breath. She closed her eyes and held back those tears. Azrael wrapped an arm around her shoulder and tried to comfort her.

"Let’s go," Rivana murmured, knowing staying longer would only break her. And it might also haunt him, bringing back memories he wasn’t ready to confront.

"We have prepared the car already. Let’s leave," Ezekiel suggested once everything was done and completed smoothly. He placed a reassuring hand on Rivana’s shoulder, offering her a small, comforting smile.

Rivana nodded, and they all walked out of the garden. Mathew hadn’t left yet and was waiting for her by his car. As she approached him, he took out a letter from the inner pocket of his jacket and passed it to her.

"He wrote it for you. Make sure to read it before coming to the company," he said with a smile.

Rivana blinked in confusion before accepting it. She stared at the letter, her fingers tracing her name written on the edge of the envelope. It was his handwriting, she could guess easily. The realization brought a mix of emotions—curiosity, apprehension, and a faint hope for answers.

Bowing to Mathew, she thanked him, "Thank you for your help, Uncle."

Mathew nodded with a small smile. Patting her shoulder, he added, "Call me whenever you need help." At Rivana’s nod, he got into his car, and his driver drove away, leaving Rivana with the letter that held the potential to change everything.

Azrael held Rivana’s hand and murmured, "Let’s go."

Rivana nodded with a small sigh. She turned to Leonora and asked Callum, "Can you drop her off at her condo first?"

Callum wanted to argue, but at both Ezekiel and Azrael’s stares, he reluctantly nodded with a huff. He walked toward his car, and though Leonora hated it, she decided to take his help.

Hugging Rivana tightly, she said, "I will visit you in the evening." At Rivana’s nod, she ran behind Callum before he could leave and drove away.

Azrael opened the door, and Rivana entered inside. Ezekiel took the shotgun seat, and Azrael sat beside Rivana. Their chauffeur drove away, and the complete journey was filled with silence.

---

After arriving at the mansion, everyone went to their rooms. Rivana took a shower and walked out of the bathroom, feeling slightly refreshed but still heavy-hearted. She sat on the bed, looking at the nightstand where the letter lay. The envelope seemed to call out to her, holding secrets she wasn’t sure she was ready to uncover.

Just then, Azrael entered the room. He went to sit beside her as Rivana slowly picked up the letter.

"Do you want me to read it?" Azrael asked, but Rivana shook her head, wishing to read it herself. The anticipation and dread made her fingers tremble slightly.

Hesitantly, she opened it, her fingers slightly trembling at what bigger blow might be inside. The weight of the letter felt immense, carrying the potential to unravel long-held mysteries.

The first line read:

[If you are reading this letter, that means I am no longer with you, looking and observing you from the shadows. You must be cursing me right now for burdening you with such a huge responsibility. But trust me, you will do well. It all belonged to only you anyway.]

Rivana frowned at the last words. She looked at Azrael, who also had the same expression. Belonged to only her? What did he mean?