Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 351: Evil aunty

Braelyn’s POV

The street outside the atelier looked like something out of a winter postcard. Soft snow fell in lazy spirals, settling on Christmas decorations wrapped around lampposts and the edges of shop windows trimmed.

Strings of fairy lights blinked gently even in the afternoon haze, and every storefront carried some version of Christmas cheer and carefully arranged displays.

The atelier itself stood out, the tall glass windows displayed mannequins dressed in elegant gowns, each piece shimmering under warm lighting. Even from outside, it was easy to tell this place was expensive.

The moment I stepped out of the car, the cold brushed against my skin, I barely had time to take in my surroundings after locking my car before a blur of pink came flying at me.

"Aunty Lynn!" a small voice screamed before crashing into me. I staggered slightly as Alora collided into me, her small arms wrapping tightly around my waist.

A laugh slipped out of me as I steadied us both. "Careful," I said, hugging her back. "You are going to knock me over one day."

She giggled against me, completely unbothered. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold, her little nose slightly pink, and the gap in her smile from her missing tooth made her look even more adorable.

"Merry Christmas, Aunt Lynn. I missed you," she said brightly, pulling back just enough to look at me.

"I missed you too," I replied, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. "Where is your mum?" I asked already looking around.

Alora’s grin widened like she had been waiting for that question. She pointed down the steps dramatically. "Down there." 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

I followed her finger just in time to see Genny making her way up the hill running. It was easy to assume Elora had sprinted away. Genny was half panting. She shot Alora a glare before giving me a helpless look.

"Guess who finally decided to touch some grass," she called out the moment she got close enough, her lips curving into a teasing smile.

I laughed, shaking my head. "More like touch some snow."

She chuckled before pulling me into a quick hug. "Thanks for coming," she said, her voice softer now. She was still breathing fast. I wondered how far Alora had run.

"It is not a big deal," I replied easily, brushing it off.

Genny gave a small nod before reaching for Alora’s hand. "Come on. We have an appointment in five minutes." she urged pulling Alora forward who looked completely adorable in her pink coat and matching cap. Her hair was braided into twin pig tails.

Genny led the way inside, and the warm air hit us instantly as soon as we crossed the door, wrapping around me like a soft blanket after the cold outside.

The interior of the atelier was just as elegant as expected. Cream walls, gold accents, and soft lighting that made everything glow gently. In the middle of the lobby, a decorated Christmas tree stood.

Several dresses were displayed like art pieces, each one more intricate than the last. Subtle Christmas decorations had been added, nothing too loud, just enough to give the place a festive charm without taking away from the luxury.

" You guys should sit first," Genny said, gesturing toward the lobby area. "Let me confirm the appointment. It is meant to be in 5 minutes." she nodded at the lobby sitting area.

She headed toward the receptionist while Alora and I slipped off our coats, the warmth inside made it unnecessary to wear heavy coats. I took her small hand and guided her toward the seating area. "Come on," I said softly.

As soon as we sat, I reached into my bag and pulled out a small pack of foreign biscuits I had brought along. Her eyes lit up instantly like she spotted a treasure.

I handed it to her, and she beamed, but then hesitated. Her gaze flickered toward Genny at the counter before she leaned closer to me, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

"Mummy said I should not eat too many sweets," she whispered. "And they have not been giving me biscuits." Her voice had a bitter tone to it

I pressed a finger lightly to my lips. "This is a secret," I whispered back. "You’d better eat it before she comes back." I winked already playing the cool aunt.

Her hesitation vanished immediately. She grinned and tore the pack open like it was a treasure. Call it instinct or just perfect timing, Genny’s eyes drifted toward us from the counter as soon as the biscuit touched Alora’s mouth.

Both of us froze. Then slowly, like two guilty criminals, we turned to her and gave matching sheepish smiles.

Her eyes twitched slightly before she shook her head and looked away, clearly choosing not to fight that battle right now. There was a hint of amusement in them. That was Alora’s subtle approval.

Alora leaned closer to me again, already chewing happily. "These biscuits are better than the ones Daddy sneaks to me," she said proudly.

My brows lifted. "Daddy?" I blurted a bit surprised.

She nodded, completely casual at first, but then her expression shifted, becoming serious in that way only children could manage. "Bad Joey said he is my daddy," she said

I stilled slightly. Did Genny tell her? I wondered. A lot had been happening and I wasn’t keeping up.

A small sigh slipped out of me as I reached over and gently pulled her cheek. "Stop calling him bad Joey," I found the habit a bit annoying. This was Genny’s fault.

Her eyes immediately turned watery. "But he is a bad Joey," she whined. "The evil aunty told me he wants to take me away from mummy and granny and marry her."

My brows furrowed. "What evil aunty?" I was clearly stunned.

Alora rubbed her cheek where I had pinched her before stuffing another biscuit into her mouth. "When Daddy took me to get ice cream," she said between bites, "an evil aunty came and told me she was going to be Daddy’s future wife and my other mummy."

I stared at her, completely caught off guard. What the hell was going on in Genny’s life?! Before I could process that properly, her eyes suddenly lit up again. She turned toward the entrance, pointing excitedly. "That is the evil aunt."

I followed her gaze instinctively. The door had just opened, letting in a rush of cold air along with a woman stepping inside. She was well-dressed, polished, the kind of woman who looked like she belonged in places like this.

Her eyes swept the room briefly before landing on Genny. The smile on her face dropped instantly.

Recognition clicked in my mind almost immediately. Joey’s blind date.

And from the way she was looking at Genny now, there was nothing polite about what was about to unfold.