Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 235: Confused

Braelyn’s POV

I didn’t know what to say. As painful as it seemed, I didn’t think I would have doubted him too. That’s how cruel it was, but I don’t think I would have gone down the same road...

I don’t even know what to believe anymore. I searched his eyes, looking for a sign he might be lying, but the look I saw in those hazel eyes said it all. My heart squeezed.

"Despite everything, I had my doubts and I was constantly searching for an answer, but I found none..." he said slowly. "Every piece of evidence pointed to you and if maybe, by a slim chance, this was all planned, it only speaks of how dangerous Amelia is..."

I was stunned. If this was all planned, it raised alarms.

"Amelia took care of Richard because he probably knew the truth and wanted to leave me in the dark..."

A silence passed between us.

"A scary thought came through my mind... maybe she was working with the Orlovs and in the middle of this twisted mess you just had to choose the most dangerous man, Lucien Orlov..." he gulped, his eyes turning bloodshot.

"I don’t know what games Lucien is playing but that bastard is too smart for his own good... I needed time to figure everything out but I guess it is too late now..."

I clenched my fists. I was more confused now. Things were too complicated. My lips parted and I finally spoke. "I would have told you. Whether you believed it or not depended on you, but you never considered telling me..." I said slowly.

The rain had drenched me completely. "I will tell you the truth. I loved you, Raphael, and maybe a part of me still does, but I don’t think I can just forgive you for how you hurt and humiliated me..."

"I don’t think things can ever be the same again. I don’t think this changes anything..." I said resolutely and Raphael went pale.

He immediately went on his knees, holding my waist. His voice choked like he was crying, but I couldn’t tell in the rain. "Please, I am begging. I will try to make things right..." he begged.

"I love you, Lynn. Every torturous moment I was with Amelia made me realise that..." he pleaded, his voice becoming more raw with each word.

"Please, I am begging... if I lose you, I would lose myself. I can’t lose you..." I told myself I was done shedding tears for this man, but I lied. The tears rolled down uncontrollably.

"You have already lost yourself, Raphael..." I muttered.

"You have. I don’t even know you anymore..." He froze. I swallowed a hard lump, prying his hand from my waist.

"How can you protect me when you could not protect yourself?" I asked him, stepping back as he knelt on the wet concrete just staring at me.

"Amelia always loved you and you were blind to it. You trusted her more than me." The words felt wrong in my mouth but I still said them anyway.

"Braelyn, please..." that was all he could say, but I shook my head, then turned on my heels, running for the elevator. Before I even pressed the button, it slid open and I saw Lucien there.

He stood in the lift staring at me and before I could even say a word, I was yanked into the elevator and he closed the doors.

His arms wrapped around me, a dark, suppressive aura closing in. "I don’t care what he told you but it doesn’t change a fucking thing..." he swore, holding me tight.

I stayed frozen in Lucien’s arms, everything Raphael said spinning in my head. My greatest fear of them emerged in the shadows of my mind.

What if Lucien is playing all along?

"Lucien..." I called quietly. He bent over to stare at me, his hazel eyes stormy and his jaw clenched. I could never read him most times.

I wanted to ask if he was hiding anything from me, but that would be foolish, wouldn’t it? He would never admit it.

He stared at me, seeing I was hesitant to speak, and broke the silence. "What is it, Viper?" he asked softly.

My throat choked. I didn’t know what to say. He was staring intently at me, just waiting for me to speak. "I don’t know, Lucien..." I cried.

"But I think I still need space..." I said and he froze. His arms tightened around me. I was soaked, the water drenching him too, but he held me closer.

"I have already given you enough space, Viper..." he hissed. His jaw rolled. "The more space I give you, the more chance he gets to twist reality..." his hold tightened like he wanted to merge our bodies together.

"Like hell if you think that I am going to leave like this again. I am not leaving..." he barked. The look he had in his eyes completely terrified me.

The alarm bells all went off at once. For the first time since I knew Lucien, my gut told me to get the hell away from him.

The elevator dinged open and I did what my instincts told me. Using every bit of strength I could gather, I stomped on his foot and broke free of his hold. Lucien hissed in pain as his grip loosened, giving me the chance to escape.

I sprinted out of the elevator like my life depended on it. "VIPER!!" I heard him roar before he ran after me.

My heart was hammering. I didn’t know why. Maybe it was a panic attack, but everything in me screamed that I should run. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

What if Raphael’s suspicions were right? Lucien is a snake who has been planning for long. I was just one girl stuck in the middle of a revenge game.

"Watch out!!!" I heard Lucien scream. I glanced at him, seeing he was catching up to me, just about to grab me. I was close to the exit.

I used every bit of strength in me to lurch forward, evading his grasp. Lucien didn’t grab me and by the time I realised the danger, it was too late.

Loud car horns rang in my ears. I glanced at the exit. I was running straight into an oncoming car. None of us could stop in time. Everything became blindingly bright before the pain struck and everything went black.