The room froze at Azrael's rage, silence following his command. Blood trickled from Viktor's nose, his knees buckled as Azrael's grip on his collar tightened. The once-proud man was now trembling, his body too weak to fight against the dragon holding him.
Melisande rushed forward, her hand outstretched. "Leave him!" But Azrael's glare sent her retreating, trembling in fear.
"Lying might save you from your nanny's wrath, Viktor," Azrael warned, his voice low and venomous, "but not mine."
His warning cut through the tension like a sharp sword. Viktor looked at his grandmother as everyone else hurled back, not ready to sacrifice their lives for him.
"Let him go, Azrael!" Aldona's voice cracked like thunder, but it could barely mask her fear. She tightened her grip on her cane, her knuckles pale. This was precisely why she had always tried to push Azrael away—his temper, his love for violence. Their family had seen enough bloodshed, and she couldn't bear to see it pass to another generation.
But Azrael ignored her. He effortlessly lifted Viktor slightly off the ground, urging him to speak the truth. Viktor trembled weekly under his hold, crying internally for someone to save him. His eyes fixed in Rivana's direction, silently pleading for help but she didn't budge, her eyes carrying the same coldness as Azrael.
"So, you prefer dying…" Azrael drawled, his right hand clenched into a fist for another blow.
Rivana's heart pounded in her chest at his threat. As much as she would love to see Viktor suffer, she didn't wish Azrael to bloody his hands. Quickly reaching out, she stopped him, "Let him go. Please!"
Azrael turned to her, his blazing eyes locking onto hers. Her words puzzled him, fueling his frustration. Why would she plead for the man who had caused her so much pain? For the jerk who had destroyed and left her to die?
When he didn't respond, Rivana dared to place her hands on his fist. "Please!" she whispered, her voice shaking under his murderous gaze.
Luckily, the butler had wisely rushed to Callum outside. He burst into the room and held Azrael from hitting Viktor's already punctured nose.
"Stop it! He doesn't deserve an easy death," Callum shouted, grabbing his friend's arm and straining to pull him back. It seemed like Azrael was releasing all the years of pent-up frustration as if he would only stop after killing Viktor.
"Please…" Rivana uttered again, pleading with her eyes.
Azrael's shoulders tensed at her pleading. Slowly, he exhaled a ragged breath and released Viktor. The man crumpled to the floor, coughing and groaning, while Melisande and Lilith scrambled to his side.
"Greeta! Call the doctor!" Melisande shouted, her voice shrill with panic.
"Let's get out of here," Callum said firmly.
Rivana nodded, and hesitantly, she slipped her hand into Azrael's to guide him out. He followed her without resistance, his anger simmering but contained because of her.
As they stepped outside, into the quiet night, Callum's phone buzzed in his pocket. He frowned at the unfamiliar number but answered anyway.
"Hello?" His expression shifted as the voice on the other end spoke.
"Understood. I'll let her know," Callum ended the call. He turned to the couple looking confused and said, "Your father wants you at the Faye mansion now."
Azrael's scowl deepened. "What does that bastard want now?" He grumbled, causing Callum to shoot him a warning glance.
But Rivana didn't mind how he addressed him. "Please drive to Faye Mansion," she declared, her voice firm. She needed answers to her questions and, most of all, needed to punch that sweet sister at least once.
Callum hesitated, knowing it wasn't the best idea, but Azrael simply nodded, like a loyal soldier obeying his queen. With a resigned sigh, Callum gestured for the driver to pull up.
———
[Faye Mansion]
The living room reeked of tension as Rivana stepped inside. Her family was seated in the center, their faces a mix of fury and fear. What stung her most was Amerie beside Rubina, stroking her head as though comforting a victim. While Gianna, Rubina's mother, sat stoically next to Emmerich Faye, her expression cold and detached.
"Oh, she's here," Amerie sneered, rising to her feet. "Before you say anything, let me make this clear—it was all fabricated to save your sister's name." She added, standing in front of Rivana.
The words struck Rivana like a whip though she had guessed for this outcome. They had always done this! Use her to cover Rubina's mistakes. But what hurt her was it was always her mother who came up with such brilliant ideas.
Rivana's gaze shifted to Rubina, tears streaming down her face. "So you knew she was cheating with my fiancé?" she asked.
"Oh come on!" Amerie rolled her eyes. "They were both drunk and slept only once. Stop making a big deal out of it."
Rivana scoffed in disbelief. Well, what better words could she expect from a whore who had tried to hug her rich client's thigh. And the fact that she was the baby Amerie had used to enter his family crawled her skin even more.
"It's your fault, anyway." Amerie pressed on, her voice laced with venom. "You told your new husband to embarrass us all at the wedding, trash poor Ruby and now we are paying it back to you. Simple."
"My fault? What should I have done? Forgive them and marry him?" Rivana asked her emotions barely in check. She knew it didn't marry anyone here even if she had married Viktor. But even her own mother didn't seem to care that it wounded her heart.
"Enough of your bullshit." Emmerich declared, his voice echoing in the hall.
"But honey, she-" Amerie shut her mouth as Emmerich rose.
He walked over and stood in front of Rivana. Facing his daughter, he continued, "I will arrange a press meet, just accept it's true and ask for forgiveness. The rumors will die down if you act quickly."
"And what if I don't?" Rivana challenged, shocking everyone. Even Rubina looked up, her mouth slightly open. Did she just talk back to their father?
Emmerich's eyes subtly widened in surprise. Yes, Rivana had always been arrogant, challenging, and going against his commands, but there was something different in her now. It felt as though a phoenix had finally risen again from its ashes.
"Then you won't be a part of Faye's family anymore. You will be removed from the family tree and I will stop supporting your start-up." Emmerich threatened, knowing it always worked on her.
But much to everyone's surprise, Rivana let out a bitter snicker.
"Go ahead! I don't give a fuck about it!" she replied, even raising her middle finger at Emmerich.
Even Gianna, who usually never showed any reaction, whistled in amusement. Emmerich's expression darkened as Rivana coldly stared at him, while Amerie fumed furiously.
"This ungrateful brat-" Stepping forward, she raised her hand to slap but Rivana caught it.
"Didn't you hear your honey?" Rivana mocked, glaring at her mother. "I am no longer your daughter, mother. You don't have any right to touch me." With that, she shoved back Amerie, causing her to stumble behind.
Rivana ignored the shocked couple, her eyes fixed on her innocent sister before she turned around to leave. Emmerich clenched his jaw, glaring at her back.
"Release it." He ordered, his voice thick with frustration.
Amerie's lips curled into a sly smile. She nodded and took out her phone to give another surprise to her sweet daughter. Even Rivana's new husband was not going to believe her and she would crawl back to them, begging to save her.