Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 319: Dominic Voss 2

Braelyn’s POV

The car was silent as it continued down the road. We had taken an outlet from the highway now.

"They kept everything for themselves," Margaret said. My fingers tightened slightly. A strange rage filled my chest

"They gave her just enough to survive while she was still in school. When she asked about university, they claimed there was no money left for it." The anger continued bubbling quietly in my chest.

"But there was money," I said.

Margaret nodded. "Of course there was. Avelina eventually realised the truth. The inheritance had been stolen and as a young orphan she had no power to fight them."

She continued calmly. "Instead of giving up, she applied for scholarships and worked part-time jobs to support herself. Eventually, she managed to get into university."

I could almost picture it. My mother is struggling alone, fighting for every opportunity. It was hard to imagine the fragile Avelina who was falling apart in her diary to have been that strong.

Margaret glanced at me. "That was the woman Dominic fell in love with," she said softly. I could taste the hidden bitterness in her tone. She leaned back slightly her hand wrapped around her cane.

"Avelina was nothing like an heiress. She had no powerful family, no social standing and no connections. But she was strong, intelligent and determined and a free spirit. A breath of fresh air from the world of schemes he grew up in."

Her voice lowered slightly. "I accidentally discovered their relationship one day, I had paid him a surprise visit to his school only to find him entangled with her..."

My heart beat faster. "What did you do?"

Margaret let out a quiet breath. "I did what any woman would do. I was heartbroken and wanted to beat the home wrecker but Dominic didn’t let me touch her, "This was ridiculous. The thought that my mother was once the other woman. Was I facing karma now? I understood exactly how she must have felt then.

Dad and her was exactly like Raphael and me. They even seemed closer since I didn’t really know Raphael until I got into university.

" He protected her. He didn’t even let me touch. I cried and he just pulled me away." A tear rolled down her eyes she cleaned. " I confronted Dominic. I asked him if it was really worth it."

Her eyes held a distant look. She tried to fight the tears. "I asked him if it was worth throwing away his inheritance, his family and his future for love. For a girl with no background and no future in our world."

I said nothing.

"His parents refused to cancel our engagement," she continued. " Love or not it had to happen, our families were tied through major business agreements. To them, Avelina was simply a manipulative girl who had distracted their son."

She paused briefly. "Dominic had actually met Avelina through Gregor. She was best friends with Gregor’s girlfriend Francesca. Gregor and Francesca had always been childhood sweethearts."

I slowly nodded as everything began falling into place. "So what happened then?"

Margaret’s voice remained calm. "Dominic eventually seemed to accept reality. At least that was what we all believed."

My chest tightened. "The wedding day arrived." I felt an uncomfortable knot forming in my stomach.

"Dominic showed up at the venue that morning," she said. "Everything appeared normal." Her eyes darkened slightly.

"But when the ceremony time came, he was nowhere to be found."

I leaned forward slightly. "What do you mean?" I gasped. Dad really didn’t abandon her, did he?

"Hours passed," she replied quietly. "There was still no sign of him. Eventually, his family sent people to search for him."Her gaze shifted toward me.

"That was when we discovered he had fled the country." My heart skipped. "With Avelina of course." she cursed.

Silence filled the car for a moment. "He left me a note," Margaret continued calmly. "Avelina was pregnant and he refused to abandon her."

My throat suddenly felt dry. "Everyone was shocked. I was humiliated in front of hundreds of guests and both of our families."

Her voice remained steady. "I nearly lost my mind that day. Why did he destroy everything for love, for her? He knew the kind of background he came from."

She paused briefly before continuing."That was when Dominic’s younger brother Douglas stepped forward."

I frowned slightly. "Douglas?" I whispered the name unable to place it anywhere. Dad had never mentioned his brother.

"He offered to marry me that same day," Margaret said. I stared at her in disbelief.

"Our families could not cancel the marriage because of the business alliance. So the groom was simply... replaced," she revealed the clue that made everything make sense. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

My eyes widened. "You married his brother?" I asked her

Margaret nodded. "Yes," she answered

I sat there stunned. My father had abandoned his own wedding and fled the country with my pregnant mother.

A shaky breath escaped my lips. "What happened to the baby?" I asked quietly. I was an only child. Margaret’s expression softened slightly.

"Avelina lost the child about a month later." My chest tightened painfully. "Maybe it was karma," she said quietly. "But they lost the baby that destroyed everything."

She continued with a dry laugh.

"When Dominic’s parents learned about the miscarriage, they were ready to forgive him. They were willing to restore his position as the heir." I blinked in surprise.

"Really?" I asked in disbelief. Dad had another chance.

Margaret nodded. "All he had to do was leave Avelina and return home."

My hands tightened slightly. "And did he?" I asked a question I already knew the answer to.

Margaret let out a quiet laugh. "Dominic was as stubborn as a bull."

She looked at me. "Instead he sent them a wedding invitation." My eyes widened. My father was really something. " He married Avelina, your mother." She drew in a deep breath like the words were heavy in her mouth.

"His mother nearly had a heart attack. That was the moment Dominic officially cut ties with the Voss family. In rebellion, he even took Avelina’s surname."