Callum turned to his boss, utterly baffled. Was Azrael being serious? Did Rivana really take a bullet for that idiot Viktor?
"Wh-what do you mean, Mr. Dynar?" Rivana asked, her heartbeat thudding in her throat. Until now, it seemed no one remembered anything from the future, so how did...
Azrael pinched the bridge of his nose, cursing himself for letting his frustration slip. He turned toward her, her horrified gaze making him grit his teeth.
"You almost took a bullet for him during your graduation ceremony, didn't you?" Azrael asked, sounding as if he was talking about the past.
Rivana's face shifted with realization, her mind racing as the memories clicked into place. Yes, he was right! Someone had come to attack Viktor in the past too, and she'd jumped in front of him without a second thought. Officers had stopped the gunman before he could pull the trigger. Viktor finally acknowledged her devotion the next day by asking her out.
"He wasn't worth it," Azrael uttered, his voice a low, bitter growl.
Callum's gaze darted to Rivana, his look of surprise making her regret her past choices even more. Embarrassment prickled her skin, and shame burned across her cheeks. Yes, she had been a fool, and they need not keep reminding her of it.
Azrael noticed her discomfort and shot Callum a sharp look. "Drive," he barked.
Callum flinched and quickly started the car, heading for the Dynar mansion here in Valencia. He'd already informed the staff to prepare for their unexpected arrival, bracing for whatever storm Azrael was about to stir up. It didn't seem like they were returning to Draxton, his uncle's territory any time soon.
The car ride was quiet, Rivana lost in her chaotic thoughts. As they pulled up to the mansion, the staff rushed outside, hastily assembling on the grand staircase to welcome their young master. Azrael rarely visited Valencia, and they were even more surprised to see him bring a woman in a wedding gown.
George, the head butler, was the first to recover from his shock. "Welcome back, Master," he greeted with a bow, then nodded politely to Rivana. "Welcome, Ms. Faye."
The other staff murmured their greetings, bowing with wide eyes. Whispers rippled among them; wasn't this unwanted daughter of Faye family supposed to be getting married today? No way! Did their master kidnap her from the wedding hall?
"This way, Ma'am," Callum said, guiding Rivana towards the study as they walked into the house. She followed behind Azrael, her head heavy with questions.
Once seated on the couch, Callum opened the file he had been holding close as if it were his dear life. Taking out a set of papers, he placed them on the table.
Rivana's gaze drifted from Callum to Azrael in confusion, who sat opposite her. She then looked at the papers, her eyes widening at the bold title of the document: Marriage Contract.
"Read it," Azrael commanded, his gaze never leaving her face.
Hesitantly, Rivana picked up the papers and began reading. As she read through it, line by line, her questions and doubts about this absurd marriage started to melt away.
"So, you're marrying me… to compete for the Hugon family's throne?" she asked, quoting the first reason on the page.
"Aldona adores you, and no one else fits her expectations better," Azrael replied smoothly, his tone calm but cold.
Callum couldn't help but smirk, marveling at Azrael's ability to lie so convincingly. If he didn't know the real reason, he might have believed him too.
Rivana nodded slowly. It made sense. Aldona Hugon, the family matriarch, had set a condition: whichever of her grandkids married first would have a high chance of becoming her successor. She'd always liked Rivana, so much that Santino and his wife had readily let their son marry her, despite her scandalous status.
"Is that why you married me?" Rivana asked quietly, looking up at Azrael. A fear seeped into her heart, afraid of going through the same past again. She seemed to be just a pawn to him too, someone he would throw away once she was no longer useful.
Azrael raised an eyebrow, his gaze icy. "Isn't it obvious?" His words were blunt, sharp, and ruthless.
But at least he was direct, unlike Viktor's deceit. Rivana thought, sighing softly.
Callum clenched his jaw, holding back the words that threatened to spill out. He glanced at Azrael, wondering why he wasn't revealing the real reason, but bit his tongue, trusting his friend to have a good reason. It must be for Rivana's sake.
"We now have the same enemy, Rivana," Azrael spoke again, his voice low, menacing, but laced with a sly hint of amusement. "Join my side and watch me tear him down."
A strange thrill ran through Rivana as if she were falling prey to a devil's spell. He was right. If they married, Azrael would have an entry point back into the Hugon family to bring Viktor down. She still couldn't understand why Azrael hadn't come sooner—why he hadn't shown up in her first life during the wedding. But maybe, just maybe, this was gift sent by heavens? To help her get her revenge!
"Alright," Rivana replied, a small, determined smile gracing her face. "I'll sign it."
Azrael's lips curved into a slow, satisfied smirk and he leaned back into the couch. "Read those clauses carefully, baby girl," he said, his voice dripping with mischief. "You'll need to fulfill all marital duties."
A jolt of warmth surged through Rivana, her heart skipping a beat at the way he addressed her. How long had it been since he'd called her that? A decade, maybe more.
"Y-yes, I understand," Rivana replied, her eyes falling back to the contract. Contracts marriages meant they would be pretending to be a real couple, so in love in front of the world and she didn't mind as long as it helped her ruin Viktor.
And there was only one main clause much to her relief: Both parties were required to fulfill all their duties, just like in a real marriage.
Whoever made the contract had no clue what to put here and Callum was the culprit. Azrael had signed since they didn't have time to correct it and watch Rivana marry that idiot again.
"Go ahead," Azrael replied with a smirk.
Rivana took the pen and signed, causing Callum to finally exhale in relief. Everything had gone according to the devil's wish, if not hell would have broken loose on Valencia today.
Azrael stood, the mischievous glint in his eyes never fading. "I'll see you tonight," he said with a smirk.
Rivana nodded with a faint smile, failing to realize the trap she had walked into. Callum collected the contract and smiling at Rivana, he hurried behind Azrael, they still had business to handle.
George returned and greeted Rivana warmly. "Shall I arrange more comfortable clothes for you, Ms. Faye?"
"Yes, please," Rivana replied with a soft smile. George escorted her to the dining room, offering some tea before leaving to make the arrangements.
Nostalgia washed over her as Rivana took in the mansion, memories of her childhood surfacing. She sipped the sweet tea, silently celebrating her rebirth, and also her unexpected alliance with Azrael.
But her happiness shattered within minutes as someone stormed in, fury etched on their face.
"Where is that bitch?" the woman's enraged voice demanded, her eyes darting around before fixing on Rivana in the dining hall.
Rivana rose in confusion, but before she could react, the woman stormed up, grabbed a glass of water, and flung it at her face.
"What the—" Rivana gasped, drenched and utterly shocked.
"You whore!" the woman spat, her grip on the glass tightening. "How dare you seduce my man?"