Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 254: She changed

Braelyn’s POV

I blinked the cold night breeze carrying a whiff of sea salt waffled through my hair as the firecracker sparks lit between us burning slowly

"Why?" I blurted confused why he did it? Selfishness he called it

Lucien laughed, a smile curled up his lips but it didn’t reach his eyes. His firecracker burnt out. He grinned at me and reached for another one, he lit again...

"Because I am selfish Braelyn..." he repeated, "and I want to hurt him." He revealed, something flickered across his gaze and I instantly knew this wasn’t just our petty revenge it was something deeper and personal.

"Just imagine the look on his face when he realised that his wife went to play on the beach with another man on their anniversary..." he drawled. Something squeezed in the chest.

"We both know that’s not why you brought me here.." I said smoothly. Lucien sighed brushing his hand through his hair. His gaze settled on the fire crackers...

"Lynn.." he called softly, his voice sounded tired. For an unknown reason, I felt nervous hearing his tone. "What happened that night on the rooftop?" He asked, my heart skipped a beat but I tried my best to keep a straight face.

I didn’t say anything at first. My grip tightened on the firecracker as the last spark burnt out. I could sense the shift in mood. Lucien bent over and gave me another lit one. Our fingers brushed as I accepted it.

He grabbed my wrist, his gaze darkened. My breath caught. "Lucien..." I blurted. His jaw tightened but his gaze remained sharp.

"What did Raphael say?" He asked, his jaw tightened. My lips parted but no words left my lips. How could I tell him that Amelia was blackmailing Raphael with the truth about his mother’s death

It made me wonder how much he knew. "Why aren’t you saying anything?" He asked but it felt like a plea. Like my silence was tormenting him.

He shifted, and a raspy breath slipped through his lips. "Please just tell me." He muttered. "You ran away that day. The look in your eyes was as if you were facing some sort of monster..." his voice cracked.

"Did I do anything to hurt you? That look scared the hell out of me ." He started rambling on. The knot in my stomach tightened. I glanced up to meet his pure orbs. The only thing in there was me.

He took in a shaky breath. "I couldn’t bear it..." his voice broke. "I just couldn’t. It made me scared to visit you in the hospital. I didn’t want you to go hysterical." He revealed and that touched something in me.

I was right the reason he didn’t visit was because of my reaction that day. But my guts told me it wasn’t that simple. "You didn’t do anything Lucien.." I said with a heavy breath unable to continue listening.

That was a half-truth. At least I don’t know if he had done anything wrong but if Raphael’s suspicions were right Lucien was more dangerous than I thought. A master of manipulation yet something told me he was being genuine.

Did Lucien know the truth about his mother’s death?

What was his reason for approaching me?

My chest tightened at those questions. Was it possible he was playing the long game?

"Then what happened?" he asked quietly.

The softness in his voice hurt more than his anger ever could. A silent beat fell between us. The silence stretched with the sound of the waves becoming deafening to my ears.

"Amelia tricked Raphael.." I revealed and Lucien frown, emotions flickered across his eyes. His lips parted then closed.

"How??" That’s all he could force out. He let go of my hand. I turned around facing the water. My chest burned just thinking about it.

"It’s complicated but he didn’t willingly destroy our marriage.." I gave a vague answer not revealing many details. "He thought I cheated and fell into her trap. It sounds like he is also a victim."

Lucien’s gaze remained on my back.

My toes curled on the wet sand, and the water splashed against my feet. "I didn’t mean to hurt you but I was confused that night. That’s why I ran..."

He went silent. His silence was eating me up.

One

Two

Three

Four agonising seconds before a dark chuckle rang behind me. He laughed. I glanced over my shoulder confused why he was laughing. The firecracker in his hand was already burnt out. Moon shone over him as his hair was lightly tossed by the sea breeze..

He continued laughing. My fingers curled into fists watching him laugh. After laughing his heart out, his laughter dried up. Lucien tilted my chin with his fingers. A Smile curled up his lips but his eyes were dead.

"Don’t tell me you forgave your precious husband Viper.." he teased but there was no amusement in his voice. If anything his voice made me shudder.

"Lucien..." he shushed me stopping me from speaking.

"No more excuses Viper.." he snickered. "Just an explanation and your heart already faltered." He accused his tone turned sharper.

"You aren’t even sure if he is telling the truth.." I didn’t argue but something in my guts told me Raphael wasn’t lying but Lucien was telling the truth. I still held resentment against Raphael but my resolve to wreck him faltered

He looked like he was already a wreck.

"You want to forget everything you suffered. I thought you were stronger than this.." Lucien hissed

"Amelia tricked him. Then why did he wait so long to tell you?" he questioned me. His teeth gritted so hard I thought it was going to crack.

"He didn’t say anything because he enjoyed seeing you break. He is completely pathetic Lynn. When will you wake up to the truth?" My hand clenched so hard it trembled

"It isn’t like that. I haven’t forgiven Raphael..." I hissed.

Tsk, he clicked his tongue. "But you are thinking about forgiving him. About throwing away this..." he pointed between us

"I am not throwing anything Lucien.." I said calmly. "Stop making assumptions and besides, you knew from the start I was to use you to get back at Raphael.."

"So what are you saying?" I questioned. Stepping into my space. "Are you calling this off?" His question bombarded me

I searched for words. In the end, I could only manage.."That’s not it.."

He chuckled. A dry short laugh. "How original of you Mrs Volkov," he said bitterly. His voice settled, his Hazel eyes stared straight into my green ones. "What happened to the Vengeful Viper who was wrecked?"

That question twisted something in me.