Stolen By My Billionaire Brother-In-Law-Chapter 63: A Good Actor

"What are you looking at?" Leonora, who had finished her call, walked over to Rivana. She leaned closer, her eyes widening as she took in the picture.

"Is she another mistress?" Leonora wondered aloud. They exchanged glances, both sharing the same thought.

"I don’t think so," Rivana murmured in a low voice. Seeing how Margaret was smiling so fondly at the kid and the woman beside her, it didn’t seem like it. Margaret had always been rude and unforgivable to Amerie, tolerating her only because she gave birth to one of her grandchildren.

"Maybe she was his first wife?" Leonora suggested, her concentration on the woman in the photo so intense that she didn’t pay much attention to the child in Roselia’s hands.

"Let’s ask Butler Chase," Rivana suggested, and they quickly called him over.

A few minutes later, the butler entered the study room and closed the door behind him. Walking closer, he asked, "Were you looking for me, Young Miss?"

Rivana nodded and passed him the photo. Leonora, who was skimming through Roselia’s book, also handed it over to him.

"Do you know the woman in the photo?" Rivana asked. The butler creased his brows, then shook his head. When the women stared at him suspiciously, he confidently shook his head.

"I am seeing this photo for the first time, Young Miss."

Rivana’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. "But you have been working here for decades, Uncle."

"Yes, you are right," Butler Chase nodded. "This is my 16th year in the mansion, Young Miss. I was appointed after the old butler died."

"And how did he die?" Rivana continued her interrogation. Everyone in this mansion was a suspect, and she couldn’t ignore him because he was loyal to Emmerich. Sometimes, the people you trust the most turn out to be evil and stab you when you are weak. She had firsthand experience with it—Viktor, Aldona, Amerie—they all showed her what trusting blindly would cost.

"I heard he was quite old and was battling with some illness," the butler replied sternly.

"What illness?" Rivana pressed, her tone reminding the butler of someone close to him.

"It was some lung disease. My memory has gotten worse with age. Apologies, Young Miss," Butler Chase replied, bowing his head.

Rivana hummed before taking back the photo. Gazing at Roselia, she continued, "What about the maids that were suddenly removed last year, Uncle?"

When Butler looked a little surprised, she continued, "Remember Sebastian? Nanny Cathy’s grandson?" When the butler nodded, she added, "He visited me yesterday and brought up this topic." Rivana had been too focused on Shadow and loving her boyfriend Viktor to visit the mansion regularly. She would even avoid the monthly family gatherings and have further distanced herself from the Fayes.

"That was Miss Amerie’s order, Young Miss," the butler answered, his voice firm and without any hint of fear. "We tried to plead with her since it was unfair for them, but she chased away most of them. When Master questioned, she said it was because they were showing negligence and we needed to hire young maids."

"And all the new maids were chosen by her?" Rivana asked, raising her brow. When the butler nodded, it pushed her further to suspect her so-called mother. Gianna wasn’t that desperate since she was sure Rafaelo would be crowned after Emmerich, but it wasn’t the same case for Amerie. If Rafaelo had the power, she would have been kicked out, and probably Rubina too, and she would have committed this sin.

"If there’s nothing else, can I leave, Young Miss?" the butler asked in a low voice. His request brought Rivana out of her thoughts, and she nodded, realizing he was either a good actor or was innocent in this hideous play.

"I have already asked the chef to prepare all your favorite dishes," Butler Chase said warmly. Turning to Leonora, he added, "They will be ready soon, and you can enjoy dinner with your friend."

"Please don’t bother, uncle," Rivana smiled apologetically. "I hate to eat in this place, and you know the reason well." Turning to the empty study chair, she added, "I attended only when he forced me to, and he has freed me from that torture too now."

Butler Chase could sense the sadness in the little girl’s voice, though she tried to sound cold. He didn’t force her further and nodded in response.

"Should I get the cars ready for your return?" Looking at the time, he continued, "There’s been a red warning for a thunderstorm tonight, and it’s better if you both return before dark."

Rivana smiled at his kindness and shook her head. "No, thank you. We brought our cars."

The butler nodded with a smile. Bowing to the ladies, he walked out of the room.

Once the door was shut behind him, Leonora looked at Rivana and shared her opinion: " It seems like he doesn’t have any clue."

Rivana sighed in response, her eyes focusing on Roselia again. Taking the book from the coffee table, she placed the photo into its pages and murmured, "I will ask him to dig into it."

Leonora nodded with a smile. "Should we leave then? You might get stuck since you almost live in a forest," she joked, referring to Dynar Mansion’s remote location.

Rivana smiled and nodded. She took her sling bag, held it close to her chest, and got up to walk with Leonora.

The butler observed them from upstairs, standing before a French window. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were fixed on Rivana as she hugged Leonora tightly before Ashley escorted her to their car. As the two cars drove out of the gates, he sighed and took out his phone.

All the maids were replaced by him as they were slowly trying to open their mouths, breaching the contract Margaret had signed after Rivana’s birth. Amerie was the perfect scapegoat to dump the blame and divert Rivana’s suspicion.

Searching through his contacts, he paused at a specific number, marked by a red rose emoji. Taking a deep breath, he dialed the number. After a few rings, the person on the other side picked up and hummed a greeting.

"She found out about you," Chase murmured almost hushedly. When there was dead silence on the other end, he continued, "Be careful. You can’t get caught now that everything is ending."

The person hummed again. "You know what to do to her, right?" When Chase didn’t respond, almost conflicted, he heard her speak again. "Fail in your job and I will make sure to bury you right beside your master’s grave."