"Babe!" Leonora, who had rushed behind Rivana, called out, her arms wide and ready to squeeze her into another hug.
Rivana smiled and hugged Leonora back. Yes, she had always been clingy, and as much as it was annoying, Rivana had missed it dearly.
"You were so damn cool!" the infamous model praised with a grin.
Tears couldn't stop spilling from Rivana's eyes, the memories of her death in the future filling her thoughts.
"Hey, are you crying?" Leonora murmured, feeling her sniffles.
Rivana shook her head, but the tears wouldn't stop. Leonora had suffered from depression and ended her life way too quickly at just 25. The worst part was that Rivana hadn't been there for her during her tough times. The guilt had eaten away at her, taking a toll on her pregnancy and making things even harder after Alan's birth.
"Anna, what's wrong?" Leonora worriedly asked, feeling Rivana hugging her very tightly. "If it was because of the fight, I'm sorry I was at fault. I will never leave you alone like that, I promise!"
Rivana nodded, sobbing softly. Yes, fate had given her a chance. All these scandals had brought them together again, and Rivana would make sure to help her out, to stop her from taking such a cruel end.
Then, Leonora realized something even more shocking and turned to Rivana. "And holy hell! Why did you marry his half-brother out of the blue?!" she grumbled, having rushed over because of this surprise. "I mean, he is powerful, but equally dangerous, Anna."
Rivana sighed out loud. But before she could reply, Leonora's assistant, who had almost lost her, ran in their direction. The poor woman panted heavily, adding, "Ma'am, we must hurry back! The flight is in an hour!"
"Lily, is the show more important than my friend's life?" Leonora scowled.
"It is, silly." Rivana chided with a smile. "Go, wrap up the show. I will tell you everything once you are back," she added, aware of how much it mattered to her.
Leonora looked reluctant but agreed with a sigh. "Okay!" Pulling in another hug, she added, "Let's catch up a week later."
Rivana waved as Leonora and her assistant drove away. Once they were gone, she walked across the road and hopped into her white mini SUV before driving away.
Strangely, the first thought that crossed her mind was to see Azrael. She wanted to share her progress with him, express how she had trampled on Viktor, leaving him with no way out but to surrender to her commands.
The sky had turned bright orange with the sun prepping to set, and the view brought a smile to her face. Taking a U-turn, she drove toward his mansion, wondering if he was already home.
Her thoughts were interrupted by loud honks behind her, and Rivana made way for the cars. But as she did, she noticed a black sedan tailing closely behind her. With a frown, she gave way for it too, but it didn't move, staying close behind her.
Panic surged through her veins, and Rivana stepped on the gas, racing through the buzzing traffic. But the car zoomed in, relentlessly chasing right behind her.
She clutched onto the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white as she sped to escape them. Her tires screeched against the asphalt, the sound echoing her racing heart. She swerved, narrowly avoiding rear collisions with the cars.
'Why were they chasing her? Who would have sent them?' Rivana wondered, her mind racing faster than the car. A whirlwind of thoughts made her dizzy, each more frantic than the last.
Rivana broke all the traffic rules, driving like a maniac to save her life. As she reached a busy street, much to her horror, another car joined the chase from one of the junctions. Her heart sank as she glanced at the rearview mirror, seeing two sedans chasing her, sweat covering her body.
Rivana tried to reach for her phone, her hands trembling as she desperately needed help. But before she could dial, the loud car honks pierced through her ears, making her look in the mirror. She frowned, realizing the new car was trying to veer the car that had been following her.
'Were they helping her?' she wondered, her mind a jumble of confusion and hope. Could they be Azrael's men trying to protect her?
A sigh of relief escaped her lips as the two cars fought among themselves, giving her a precious moment to escape. The hope revived her strength, and she pressed harder on the pedal, speeding away. But not a minute later, a faint smell caught her nose.
Gasoline?
Rivana's eyes widened in horror. Her heart dropped, her breath catching as she leaned closer to sniff the air. It wasn't faint anymore; the smell was strong and suffocating, wafting through the cabin. Was the engine leaking? No, it seemed more like someone had poured fuel all over the car intending to set it on fire.
"N… No…" Rivana's lips quivered, her heart rummaging against her chest. Was she going to die again?
Her fingers trembled as she reached for her phone again, but the car bucked suddenly, and she nearly dropped it. The smell was everywhere now, invading her lungs and clinging to her skin. Her mind screamed at her to stop, but where? The busy streets offered no save spot, and the sedans were still in pursuit.
The onlookers on the busy pavement watched in confusion as the two cars relentlessly chased the white SUV. Many frowned when the white car started slowing down, taking a narrow turn at the end of the market street, and driving erratically before coming to a screeching halt.
"Are they shooting some movie scene?" one of them commented. But before anyone could grasp the situation, a blazing fire ignited in the engine compartment of the white car.
Boom!
The next second, the car erupted in an explosion. The blast sent a thunderous boom through the area, with red-hot fragments flying in all directions.
As the fiery flames roared to life, consuming the vehicle completely, the onlookers gasped and screamed, the scene far worse than a nightmare. The two sedans screeched to a halt, their occupants staring in shock at the inferno.
The car had blasted like a nuclear bomb, and it was impossible for anyone to survive inside it.