Betrayed and Killed

Rivana felt the tears she had been desperately holding back spill down her cheeks. She stared at Viktor in disbelief, her heart aching and crushed into a million pieces. She knew he'd grown heartless toward them, but she never expected him to sink this low—especially over something as small as a slap.

"What?" Viktor asked, his tone mocking her shock. "You killed our baby too, Rivana. Isn't it fair I do the same?" His eyes were dark with anger, pain flashing across his face as he recalled Ruby's miscarriage.

"But Alan is your baby too, Viktor!" Rivana choked, her voice raw with anguish. "You are his father!" she cried out, hot tears soaking her cheeks.

Her heart clenched painfully as she thought of Alan, their fragile six-month-old son fighting for life in the hospital. Lowering her eyes, Rivana sobbed softly, "He's your son too..." 

Viktor's face hardened. "But he's sick, Rivana," he replied coldly, his words tearing fresh wounds in her heart. 

Rivana looked up at him, stunned. Viktor sighed, seemingly exasperated by her reaction. "He's not a healthy child, and the doctors can't even tell us how long he'll last. With a heart that weak, he'll never be fit to inherit the Hugon name. If it weren't for you, I'd have already—" 

"Killed him?" Rivana finished, her voice trembling. When he didn't respond, she demanded, "Tell me, Viktor. Would you have killed him?" 

"Please stop fighting because of me!" Rubina interrupted, tears tracing down her face. She reached out blindly, finding Viktor's arm and clinging to it. "It was just a slap, Viktor," she whispered, her voice shaking in guilt. "I deserved it. Please… forgive my sister."

Viktor's earlier flicker of guilt for Alan was gone, replaced with cold anger. He wrapped his arm around Rubina, pulling her protectively close. He glared at Rivana, and commanded, his irritation boiling over. "Stop trying to change the subject. Apologize to her. Now!"

Rivana's lips parted in utter disgust, tears trailing down her face. She'd been such a fool. How could she have loved someone this vile? Staring at the two of them, the bitterness in her chest nearly overwhelmed her. But for Alan's sake, she knew she had no choice.

"I… I'm sorry," Rivana finally choked out, forcing the words from her throat, each one ripping away a piece of her self-respect.

"Nah, we didn't quite hear that." A new voice echoed from the doorway. Rivana's head snapped toward it, and her stomach twisted as she saw Rafaelo Faye, casually leaning over the frame with a cruel smirk. He was Rubina's older brother and the potential heir to the Faye family.

Rivana felt her head spin, dread settling heavily in her stomach. Of course, her stepbrother would relish the chance to humiliate her further—he always had since childhood.

Rafaelo stepped forward, joining his sister. He cast a smug glance at Rivana, the step-sister he'd always loved to torment. "I think it would sound a lot more sincere if you knelt and begged for Ruby's forgiveness."

A faint smirk played on Rubina's lips before she feigned a look of worry. "Brother, please don't pick on her," she said, her voice dripping with false concern. 

Rafaelo ignored her and turned to Viktor. "Right, Viktor?"

Rivana clenched her fists, her knuckles white as she fought back her rage. She looked at Viktor, desperately hoping he would draw a line. But he merely looked back at her, expressionless, as though he approved of the idea.

"Time's ticking, Riva!" Rafaelo murmured, tapping his watch with a sneer. "Poor Alan might be waiting for you to feed him." His gaze drifted to her chest, a glint of lust in his eyes. 

Rivana's eyes darkened, her body trembling with barely contained rage. She glared at the trio in front of her, the thoughts of murdering them all crossing without a cent of fear. But fate had never been on her side. Had it? If she didn't please them, her son's battle would go in vain. 

Lowering her head, Rivana took a deep, trembling breath, her nails digging painfully into her palms. Just as she was about to shred her pride, a commotion erupted outside the room. Suddenly, muffled cries and panicked shouts filtered through the walls, followed by the sharp, echoing crack of gunshots. 

A woman stumbled through the doorway, gasping for breath. It was Viktor's mother, Melisande Hugon. She clutched the door frame, her face pale with terror. "Your... your stepbrother is attacking us!" 

"Damn it!" Rafaelo cursed, grabbing Rubina's hand and yanking her protectively to his side, ready to flee. That man was deranged to the core, hellbent on claiming the Hugon family's wealth and it was better for them to stay out of his sight. 

"Where's Dad and Grandma?" Viktor demanded, rushing to his mother, panic etched on his face. Only they could protect him now. 

Rivana's skin prickled with shock, but a surge of satisfaction flooded her chest. Watching the fear settle on their faces—especially her bastard husband's—brought her a dark sense of relief. He would always piss at just the name of his elder brother, Azrael Dynar Hugon. 

Snapping out of her thoughts, she followed the group outside. The sight awaiting them left everyone stunned. Men in all-black uniforms roamed the property, taking control as terrified guests scattered in every direction, desperate to escape. 

As they moved downstairs, Viktor glanced around and muttered, "Let's use the kitchen exit."

Rafaelo nodded, pulling Rubina along through the chaos. Rivana lingered behind, glancing around in the hopes of catching a glimpse of him. But Rafaelo grabbed her arm roughly, forcing her forward, unwilling to let her die so easily. 

Gunshots fired again, sparking more frantic screams and the group threw themselves behind cover. Suddenly, someone reached them and pulled Viktor out from behind the pillar he had been hiding. Rivana smirked as he stumbled, crying out for help. Karma was indeed a bitch!

But before she could savor it, someone pushed her and she staggered forward, tripping straight into Viktor's arms. He reached out instinctively, holding her close, mistaking she had recklessly come to save him. 

Bullet shots rushed in their way and one which was meant for Viktor pierced through Rivana's body, one after another, causing her eyes to widen while pain numbed her senses. 

The gunfire abruptly stopped, and an eerie silence fell over the hall. Rivana collapsed, the world spinning around her as Viktor held her tightly, blood pouring from her wounds. 

"You fool! Why would you try to protect me?" he grumbled, his voice thick with disbelief as he looked down at her, eyes glistening with tears. 

Protect you? Rivana wanted to spit at him, to scream that she hadn't, but the pain seared through her, radiating from her back and burrowing deep into her chest. So, this is how it ends? she thought bitterly. I leave a label behind as a saintly wife, taking a bullet for my spineless husband? 

Desperately, Rivana forced her head to the side, her blurry vision wanting to catch the person who had pushed her. There, standing just a few feet away, was her blind sister, Rubina, smirking in delight.

Even more unsettling? Rivana's fading vision caught her blind sister's eyes gleaming with a strange light. It was as if Rubina could see every bit of her suffering, savoring every bit of it in joy.

And that was the last thing Rivana saw before darkness engulfed her.