Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 156: Twisted fate

Braelyn’s POV

Gregor’s wife killed his mother, and Gregor covered the incident to protect the family’s image. I was conflicted, what they did was wrong but a part of me, when I thought of the story from another point of view, made me seem like a hypocrite.

If I were Katerina, and Amelia were Nadia, would I kill her and torment her son’s life? I wondered as the thought struck me. Was it really worth it?

Katerina probably couldn’t divorce because of the Volkov name; she could not walk away from the fortune and the pain of watching the man she loved for years having an affair with someone her daughter’s age turned her into someone she didn’t recognise.

"So Nadia’s death is the cause of the feud between families," I asked carefully. His expression remained calm, something cracked in my chest, wondering what he had truly gone through that made it so easy to mask his emotions.

It felt like this was the first time I was seeing Lucien for real and not the grin and mask he always wears. It felt like that version of him was all for show.

He shook his head; his coffee was getting cold already, and he hadn’t taken a sip. "Before she died there was an old feud. I didn’t know the details, but whatever my mother had with Gregor had always been forbidden, and I was made to pay the price."

My brows furrowed, the Orlov and the Volkov family belong in different circles. Although the Orlov family business was a bit legitimate, they were one of the biggest private weapons manufacturers and shipping companies in the world; everyone knew about their deep roots in the underworld.

It made me wonder if it wasn’t Nadia’s death, what else could have started the feud? "Everything seems complicated " I admitted a slow smirk curled up his lips

"Unfortunately you can’t turn back now." He taunted and the corner of my lips quirked up.

"But then why did your mother, from such a background, decide to have an affair with Gregor?" I finally voiced out.

I was expecting him to be offended by my question. He smiled. "I guess we can’t get the answers now because both parties are dead. The same question puzzles me every day."

Lucien finally reached out for the coffee to take a sip. His every manner carried this soft elegance that made him alluring despite the subtle rebellion in his approach.

"She had a lot of promising suitors, but turns out she had a weird taste for the forbidden, and that ended up being her ruin." he paused for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. His gaze settled on me, a knowing smile etched on his face.

"I guess I inherited the same taste from her too. Craving what I shouldn’t." My heart skipped a beat and I glanced away.

"Maybe she just loved the thrill as much as I do." My throat suddenly went parched under his intense gaze. It made me shift uncomfortably, and my grip subtly tightened on the cup.

He was looking at me like I was the same ruin his mother sought after. A shaky breath escaped my lips as I tried to get myself together

"So you were able to build New Horizon with the Orlov family’s help. " I tried to stir the conversation from the dark past. Talking about it left this feeling I couldn’t brush past.

"They did support me at one point and let me use their surname to navigate the business world but everything was my careful strategy. Honestly, even before I knew about the past, I already had a couple of plans." He grinned

"Gregor just gave me a justification. Until I snatch everything from them, I wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly.... Raphael just ended up being stuck in this fucked up situation."

His jaw clenched and something dark flickered in those eyes. The eyes of a man who probably lived his entire life thinking of revenge. "Although he isn’t a saint either." He added then his gaze flickered towards me

"Do you have any other questions?" My breath stalled, and I gazed away from him, trying to find the right words.

My lips parted, "Was it all an act just to get me on your side?" He froze for a moment and something shifted. It was subtle, but I noticed anyway.

Lucien smiled, the familiar smirk gracing his lips. "Do you think it is an act? Does the obsession you feel seem like an act to you?"

I could not answer that question. "You weren’t part of the plan but life is never certain." He leaned back on the seat looking every bit like a man who had spent days plotting someone’s downfall.

"Maybe we can call it fate that we ended up on the same path," I said slowly...who knew my biggest ally to bring down Volkov Apex would be a member of the very same family.

Silence bloomed between us. Lucien didn’t say a word until the corners of his eyes wrinkled and he burst into laughter probably finding my words absurd. I just sat quietly listening to him laugh.

"Fate.." he laughed. "That means we have one hell of a twisted fate," Lucien admitted and I smiled. We did have one hell of a twisted fate. I was seeking out my twisted revenge with the son of the woman who did the same thing Amelia did to me.

But then again no one forced Raphael to make the choice he did. He has to face the repercussions.

Lucien’s laugh was interrupted by the ringing sound of his phone. He frowned and pulled out his phone. His expression changed from surprise to amusement before he glanced at me.

"Are you in the mood to piss someone off?" He asked, changing the topic completely.

"Huh!" I blurted confused about where that was coming from.

His expression softened. "I just got invited to a friend’s surprise party but he hates parties. It will be fun to piss him off." He added, his demeanour carried that very similar menace I knew

"It doesn’t sound like a bad idea, I guess.". I agreed out of curiosity.