Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 244: Confrontation 3

Braelyn’s POV

They were all dumbfounded. Raphael’s jaw clenched and unclenched. Even he knew that fact. One of the many reasons Gregory arranged my marriage with Raphael was the power my shares held.

Although currently I didn’t have control of those shares until the inheritance conditions were met or there was a gruesome battle in court, they knew what it would cost them if I walked away with that power.

Ronan was the first to regain his composure. Natalia was pretty much stunned, and Amelia’s gaze turned sharper.

Ronan stepped forward, trying to mediate. "We are family. There is no need to be rash," he said calmly.

I smirked. I wondered if they knew how all this started, and honestly, I was too exhausted to explain to people who wouldn’t care.

"Family..." I repeated. A slow smile hung on my lips. "I don’t think we are truly that. Dear Natalia thinks I am ruining her son’s life because I can’t have children..." I drawled, trying my best to remain calm as I spoke.

"But if my memory serves me right, she was more than happy when Raphael and I got married, knowing my family history..." I said, and Natalia’s face turned uglier, but I wasn’t done.

"You wanted the power the shares in my trust held, but not me, because you planned from the start to bring in a mistress..." I laughed softly. "That’s really low, Mrs Volkov."

"That’s enough, Braelyn," Ronan said through gritted teeth.

I tilted my head, then glanced at Raphael before turning back to his hypocritical family.

"Is the truth too harsh?" I asked.

Ronan’s gaze changed. He was a man who was always controlled and calculating. I thought that would have been enough to shut them up. Not that I expected them to be repentant, but I underestimated them.

Natalia burst out, her face completely distorted. "So what?" she barked. "What if that is the case? If you love Raphael, you would want him to inherit the family heir position."

"You can’t have a child. You don’t have to use your selfishness to destroy him," she burst out, but to me it felt like nothing more than barking.

I remained calm and said in a cold voice, "What if I am selfish? It’s my marriage, isn’t it?" I hissed at her before giving them a final look.

"Raphael is an adult who can handle himself. He doesn’t need his mother fixing his mess," I said as a final note. I wasn’t saying it out of concern for Raphael. I said it because of me.

With that said, I turned on my heel and left.

Raphael didn’t follow me immediately, but I heard his words. "I understand your concern, Mum, but this is my marriage. I would appreciate it if you didn’t interfere," he said.

In the past, that would have made me glad, but I didn’t feel what I was meant to feel. Natalia screamed at Raphael, but he didn’t answer her. He shut the door and jogged up to me near the entrance.

He grabbed my hand, stopping me in my tracks. I stared at him with furrowed brows. His gaze lingered on me until a small smirk curled on his lips. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"You were great in there," he praised.

I scoffed at him, yanking my hand away. "I had to learn to defend myself while you stood there and did nothing," I sneered.

Something flickered across his face, remembering previous incidents.

"I am sorry, Lynn," he said sincerely. "That wasn’t me. I was..." He trailed off.

Staring at his face made it harder to endure. The painful fact was that Raphael was once an excellent husband. His only flaw was the childhood friend he never considered a threat until it was too late.

"Influenced by Amelia," I completed his sentence.

I faced him head-on. "You couldn’t forgive my claimed betrayal, Raphael. How do you expect me to forgive you so easily?" I said, then turned and walked away.

I heard him rush after me. "Braelyn..." he called out before hugging me from behind.

The familiar comfort and scent I knew too well hit me, and if I were any weaker, I might have broken down right there. But I steeled my heart.

"I am sorry," he whispered. "And I am ready to use the rest of my life to prove it," he said genuinely.

"What makes you think I will wait for you?" I asked, and he stiffened. "Six years is what’s left for the ten years to be complete so I can leave this marriage with my inheritance. And besides Lucien, there’s no saying I can’t walk away from everything."

A silent beat passed between us and his hold tightened.

"I know you will wait," he said slowly, unsure of his own words. "Back there, you didn’t deny you still love me. Even if it’s just a flicker of that emotion, I will hold on," he swore.

His cedar cologne wrapped around me. I couldn’t catch a hint of tobacco on him. He hadn’t smoked.

The car was waiting for us, and staying in his hold like this was crumbling the walls I had built.

"You will be chasing a ghost, Raphael," I whispered. "The more I loved you, the harder it is to forgive you," I admitted. I loved him, yes, but that love was poisoned and had turned into something twisted.

He let go of me. I felt him trembling slightly, but his resolve was still strong.

"As long as there is hope, Lynn, I don’t care if it takes a lifetime," he swore.

I stared at him with complex feelings before glancing behind me. My gaze fell on Amelia, who was watching the scene with equally complex emotions.

I smiled, not at Raphael, but at Amelia. I wondered if she really believed he loved her.

"Good luck trying. But before you speak of pursuing me, handle your misplaced priorities first," I said, nodding toward Amelia.

He glanced over, and his expression didn’t even falter.

"It’s been a long day. Let’s head back," he said flatly, with no intention of talking to Amelia.

I watched her proud expression crack as we walked away.

Then I realised something. Amelia’s feelings might be twisted, but they were genuine. She wasn’t going to stop easily.

As for me, I had to figure out her connection with the Orlov family.