Rivan took Irlana back, she was quiet on the way. Although Rivan still didn’t trust her a hundred percent, he sympathized with her.

"Are you doing alright?" he inquired in that calm voice of his, observing her.

"I am, just dreading going back. I know he is going to call one of these days for me to return. He won’t let me live here with brother Xiran," Irlana answered with a deep sigh.

"He brought you two together for a reason and he almost made it the way that we might end up hurting you. That would have left Xiran with a lot of remorse. Evil ways of your father have no bounds," Rivan shook his head with contempt.

"He is the personification of evil, I don’t know how brother survived him," Irlana’s heart was heavy, thinking about all the atrocities her father had inflicted on her and her mother. From being tortured to being sent to powerful men who r*ped her.

"He survived just like you did, by staying strong," Rivan added, observing how agitated Irlana seemed.

"I am more broken than you can imagine, Rivan. I have survived because of my optimism that one day I will be able to live as a free person and not used as a means to gain favours by my own father," Rivan’s heart jolted at her words and he wanted to punch something so hard.

"I am sorry for everything he has put you through and I do hope you will be free someday to live your life on your terms," his eyes had softened to Irlana and so had his words. Irlana glanced at him and their eyes momentarily met and held each other before she lowered them and whispered:

"Thank you. And please forgive me for betraying your trust, I have been trained my whole life to lie without faltering. To keep a permanent smile on my face, to change my expressions and truths according to the situation. It feels like I have forgotten who I am."

"Figure it out, I don’t know how long you will be able to stay with me, but take that time and figure it out. Be yourself in front of me, your true self. Give yourself time to heal. Plus my secretary is not back yet, so I kind of need you," Rivan offered her a warm smile and she smiled back.

"And talking about trust, I don’t give it easily. I still don’t trust you fully, Irlana. But you are Xiran’s sister so I will take care of you, so make sure you earn my trust."

"Alright, I will earn it back. Thank you for giving me a chance," Irlana had a determined look on her face and he gently nodded.

They had arrived at Rivan’s house. It had a high brick wall all around it that hid the inside from the outside. The steel door was built like a fort; high and strong. A guard stood outside who instantly opened the door, seeing their car approach.

They entered and the car stopped on the driveway. Chauffeur got down and opened the doors of the car for Rivan and Irlana to step outside.

It was a luxury mansion in ocean blue and silver mist shades, with its perfect slanting roofs and arches. Vast gardens with a massive fountain adorned its front and right side, with flower beds displaying winter flowers and yellow grass covering the entirety of them. A vast swimming pool lay at the back.

Rivan led Irlana in, she has been living here for the last two days. The ground floor had four rooms, including Rivan and Rumail’s room. One guest room and one belonging to his sister.

They had a sister who was not on talking terms with them, so she never visited but Rivan had reserved one room for her. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Rivan’s mother died after a few months of giving birth to her daughter. She had been depressed and committed suicide. Rivan was seven years old and that trauma caused him to become distrustful of people. He had never imagined his mother would leave him like that.

Rivan’s father was a human but he was famous and rich, he loved his wife and children wholeheartedly. He made every effort possible to save his wife but he couldn’t. That broke his heart but he kept surviving for his kids.

Rivan’s few months older sister was sent away to live with their maternal aunt because they had no clue how to take care of an infant. Their father already had his hands full with Rumail who was just two at that time.

Rivan’s sister adjusted well to her aunt’s family and always felt as if her original family had abandoned her. So growing up she developed this animosity toward them. His father tried to bring her back once she grew up a bit but she refused to come.

They occasionally met at family gatherings but she remained aloof from her brothers and father. His father missed his daughter and Rivan often pleaded with her to return for his father’s sake, but she never did.

Rivan’s father later passed away from old age leaving all his property and money to his three children. His sister didn’t take her share, she wanted to prove to them that she could stand on her feet. Rivan had kept all her money in a separate bank account in hopes she would accept it one day along with them.

Rivan was close to his father; he was everything Xiran’s father was not. Loving, kind and gentle, he adored his kids. Showered them with gifts and taught them with love.

Xiran’s mother was like a mother to Rivan, she always took care of them like her own and Rivan always wished that she deserved a man like his father. But all his wishes died with her death, leaving him heartbroken. He felt he had lost two mothers in his lifetime.

It had been years since he had seen his estranged sister. She also lived in another city of Druhias. Growing up she had become a successful businesswoman just like him. She ran her brand of cosmetics.

Rivan had built this house for his ex. He wanted to get married to her and live in this house together. But she wasn’t interested in getting married and settling down so Rivan has been kind of living alone here. He had tried to arrange it as best as he could but knew it needed a female’s touch.

Rumail occasionally visited but he liked staying in the apartment he owned near his nightclub. It was feasible for him to get to work from there. Both brothers had always been close to each other. Rivan had always cared for him, being the eldest and without a mother, he felt it was his duty to fulfill the role of his mother in his brother’s life.

Exactly the reason he became protective of Xiran as well. Both of them had been born in the same year, Xiran was only a few months younger than him, and both of them stopped aging at the same time as well. If their appearances hadn’t been so different they could be considered twins.

Rumail and Xifin on the other hand never saw eye to eye. Xifin was always a quiet child and the horrors he saw shaped him differently from others. He grew up and became dark too soon. Xifin didn’t like playing with them, instead, he spent his time alone or torturing animals. He made others uneasy. He never smiled and always had a grim expression.

Xiran’s father had tainted them all to some extent and he was still doing it and now they had another fresh victim of his atrocities. Thinking back Rivan thought maybe it was for the better that their sister lived away from them so Phantom was never able to harm her as he did his daughter, who currently stood with him.

"If you want something to eat or need anything just let the butler know, and he will arrange it for you. If you need me, I will be in my room," he calmly told her.

"Thank you," she offered him a smile and made her way to the room Rivan had provided her. He watched her go and then finally made his way to his. His room had pastel blue shades for furniture as well as walls.

Taking a hot shower, he changed into a comfy trouser shirt for the night and settled down in his blue leather bed to read a book and relax.

There was a soft knock on his door. "Yes, come in," he ordered casually. The door handle dipped and

Irlana entered wearing a baby pink night dress, with her long hair open. She looked exquisite, and Rivan didn’t want to look away.

"I can’t sleep, fancy a walk?" she asked with a slight smile.

"Sure, but it’s cold outside, you have not dressed appropriately for a walk," he got up from the bed and went to his cupboard. Extracting one of his long coats from it he approached her and handed over the coat.

She quietly took it and put it on.

"Now, let’s go for that walk."