Craved by the Wrong Volkov

Braelyn’s POV

When I signed the divorce agreement, my hand did not tremble. That surprised me more than anything else.

I expected something sharp to rise in my chest, anger or relief or even sadness, something with edges that I could recognise and hold onto. Instead, there was nothing like that. Just a quiet emptiness, as if I had been looking at something already finished for a long time and only now putting a name to it.

It felt less like ending a marriage and more like confirming something that had stopped existing ages ago.

Lucien did not rush me. Raphael did not speak. The room stayed still until it was over. My gaze fell on the last page both of our signatures were there together.

When I finally set the pen down, I realised my life had not changed in that moment. It had already changed long before, and this was only paperwork catching up. Even now watching Raphael giving me a long over dued apology. I was calm inside. Too calm for the situation.

I never anticipate him giving the white flag and letting go. It didn’t feel like him. Earlier today when he did that back flip I knew something had changed in him yet there wasn’t any trembling seeing his apology. From his eyes I knew it was sincere but it didn’t change anything.

It was too late and meant nothing. It couldn’t erase the past or the pain. "I am sorry, Lynn," he said again. His voice was low, almost careful. "I am sorry for everything I caused."

For a moment I just looked at him. I didn’t stand and all I could say was, "Thank you," because he owed me that apology. Lucien’s gaze shifted slightly at my words, but he stayed quiet.

Raphael did not move. He looked like he was waiting for something heavier than what I was willing to give. I stood up. The silence stretched until it felt unnecessary to break it. He looked nothing like the man I knew.

"It is pointless, Raphael," I said calmly. "A sorry will not change anything. It will not bring my baby back." His fingers tightened against his own palm, but he did not interrupt.

I kept my voice steady. "Even if it was not entirely your fault, what happened is still in the past. And I want the past to stay there." That was when he finally looked at me properly.

There was something in his eyes I could not fully name but it stirred something in me. Sympathy. The look he had was something closer to a man who had already lost too much and was only now learning the shape of it.

For a second, I felt a faint ache I did not expect. It passed quickly. " Just stand up, Raphael," I said. "it’s better you leave. Maybe one day I will forgive you but not."

His lips parted, then closed again. He seemed to search for words that were no longer there. I gulped and forced the finally words. "You are a past I rather forget than face." My words struck something. After a moment, finally he stood up. He did not argue. He did not plead again. He simply turned away knowing it was pointless

Lucien finally spoke. "I will go over the documents and send the signed copy by tomorrow. " he said. "Good luck Raphael. I mean it." It felt like a final goodbye and a Chapter coming to an end.

Raphael paused at the stood for a moment. He grabbed his coat and gloves. His gaze locked on the door before he looked over his shoulder once. That look lingered too long, as if it carried everything he could not say. He clearly had a lot he wanted to say but was better left unsaid

Then he left. The door closed behind him, letting some of the air blow insides. The chill wrapped around me, only then did I realise how still I had been standing.

I felt Lucien stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me from behind. His warmth enveloped me. I could feel his steady heart beat against my back.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly.

I hesitated for a moment trying to figure out a right response "I do not know," I admitted. A beat of silence passed between us before I asked quietly, "Was I too harsh on him?". Raphael was technically a victim in all these. Maybe I should I tried to see things from his own point of view.

Lucien placed his chin on my head. His arms tightened around me "Raphael was manipulated too," he said at last. "But that does not erase what he did to you."

I lowered my gaze. "You do not have to forgive him," he added. "And you do not have to force yourself to feel anything for him." Something inside me loosened at that. It was the exact words I wanted to hear.

I turned in his arms and buried my face against his chest. His clean cologne shrouded me. It was warmth and felt like home. A feeling that made my heart relac For a moment I just stayed there breathing in the comfort.

Before I knew it my shoulders started to tremble. Lucien held me without speaking as my shoulders trembled and I finally let it out. I just let go everything I had been carrying without realising how heavy it was.

My sobs were broke sounds. He didn’t stop me from crying. My hand clutched his clothes and the tears soaked through.

******

A week passed.

The day of the handover arrived without ceremony. It should have felt like victory or closure, but it felt like neither. Raphael handled everything. The board was informed and as soon as the hand over was complete today Lucien would also succeed the will. It felt like a grand epilogue to everything.

Lucien and I drove into the company building together. He parked in the underground car park but a good 5 minutes passed and I showed no intentions of stepping out.

Lucien sensed something was off with me since this morning. He quietly let me process everything. "We have to eventually go." He whispered slowly turning towards me. He reached for my hand and squeezed gently

"Everything will go as planned," he tried to assure me sensing my uncertainty. I nodded, though my stomach tightened anyway.

"But what if something bad happens. Everything is going too smoothly I can’t relax.." I voiced out my fears. "It feels like a calm before a storm."

Lucien reached for my chin and made me look at him. "Nothing bad will happen. The venue is secured and Amelia is still in custody," he added. "If Natalia appears, security will handle it. There is nothing to be scared of." he tried to calm my paranoia

"Alright," I replied despite the tight knot still tangled in my stomach. We stepped out together and walked toward the elevator. Our footsteps echoed in the walls. Lucien pressed the elevator button and the door slid open

He held my hand as we stepped in. The doors closed and a strange silence settled. Still the feeling remained in my guts like something was going to go very wrong today and I had no idea.