Chapter 1718
Skyler couldnât quite grasp the full extent of the situation, so she wisely chose to hold her tongue.
Hudson continued, âYouâve seen how things have been these past few days. Everyone seems to have it out for Zavier.â Sensitive topics were a minefield, and Skyler dared not tread any further. She opted to listen silently as Hudson spoke.
The old man chuckled, âIâm not dead yet, but there are plenty who wish I were, eager to carve up my estate. Sometimes, I envy those average families, with loving fathers and dutiful children.â
Skyler envied them too, but fate had dealt her a different hand, placing her in the family she was born into.
Hudson looked at her and asked, âChild, you understand what Iâm talking about, right?â
Skyler nodded, âGrandpa, Zavier isnât as bad as everyone makes him out to be.âe2
Hudson laughed, âLook at you, already defending your fiancé. And he wonât even let you live with him, yet you speak on his behalf.â Skyler clarified, âGrandpa, Iâm not defending him. Iâm just telling you what Iâve seen. And itâs not that he wonât let me live with him. I chose to stay at the dorms.â
Hudson sighed, âI know what my grandchildren are like.â
Skyler wasnât sure if Hudson truly knew, but she wanted to believe him when he said so.
The conversation took a sudden turn when Hudson asked, âDo you know why I chose you to be Zavierâs fiancée?â
Skyler, ever so straightforward, blurted out, âIsnât it because of the Blue family?â
âIndeed, itâs because of the Blue family,â Hudson confirmed. âYour family isnât powerful enough to be a pillar for Zavier.â
Skyler thought she understood. Perhaps Hudson had given up on Zavier, and that was why he arranged such a match. However the next words from Hudson took her by surprise, shattering her assumptions spectacularly.
Hudson looked out the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing into the distance, âZavierâs brother had a girl he liked, from the Capitalâs Duran family. Youâve heard of the Duran family, havenât you?â
Skyler nodded.
The Duran family was well-known.
Hudson continued, âOnce Brodie marries the girl from the Duran family, all of the Durans would back Brodie. Then thereâd be nothing stopping Brodie from taking over Rivera Inc. But alasâ¦â
At this point, Hudsonâs voice cracked, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Skyler, worried that Hudson was revisiting painful memories, quickly comforted him, âGrandpa, you donât have to talk about it. Your health is more important.â
âIf I donât speak now, I might never get another chance,â Hudson said, blinking back tears. âThe tragedy struck just when the Rivera and Duran families were about to settle the kidsâ marriage â Brodie had an accident.â
Listening to Hudsonâs words, Skyler recalled what Zavier had mentioned before. If Brodie and Samuelâs deaths were orchestrated, who could be responsible?
Every member of the Rivera family was a suspect.
Chills ran down Skylerâs spine as she pondered these thoughts.
âBrodie had an accident, and so did his father.â Hudson refocused on Skyler, âZavier is too young, not yet powerful enough. Giving him an equal match would only doom him.â
Skyler suddenly understood. Hudson was using this approach to protect Zavier.
Hudson added, âNow, Zavier stands at a crossroads. One path is to stick to his gaming, live an honest life without harbouring any illusions about Rivera Inc. having anything to do with him. As for the other pathâ¦