Chapter 191: It isn’t her fault

Raphael’s POV

My night was already shitty. What I didn’t ask for was a worse morning. This entire week I have not been at ease knowing Braelyn and Lucien were on a business trip, but it felt more like a lovers’ getaway.

I didn’t want to think about it but the scene from last night burned my eyes.

I didn’t know why Braelyn was so stubborn. She could toy around with anyone but that scheming bastard.

Lucien didn’t have room for any other person in his heart aside from Alessia. It’s been years, but no one who witnessed how Alessia’s death impacted him couldn’t forget what he did.

He had lost his bloody mind then, and the Volkov family, of course, were the ones left to clean up his mess. Everyone he dated after Alessia was one tragedy after another

And when Lucien messes up, I was the one left to clean up his mess. I didn’t want Braelyn to be another victim, but who was I to talk about her not being hurt when I had done the worst?

“Let’s have this conversation later.” I groaned trying to escape Amelia’s clutches. My hand was already filled with the recent crisis. That annoying company, new horizon was seriously starting to get on my nerves. I just didn’t have the bloody time to handle Amelia’s problems right now.

I was already at the top of the stairs, adjusting my knotted tie, briefcase in hand, ready to drag myself through another day of trying not to commit murder.

Amelia was right behind me, voice already sharp before we’d even hit the landing. She decided to start the day with an argument. Could I have a fucking break?

“You can’t seriously expect me to just accept this,” she hissed, heels clicking fast like she was trying to catch up to her own anger. “The project was solid. Everything was in place until…”

“Until it wasn’t.” My voice came out flat and just tired like I was. I didn’t bother looking back. ” The contract was snatched because you couldn’t deliver. I gave you the bloody resources you need. The rest was on you amelia, you can’t blame anyone.” I swapped back

I already pulled some strings to help her, but there was just so much I could do for her. I was still a businessman and my goal was to make profits.

She sensed my hesitation and panicked. She couldn’t handle the fallout on her own. She grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop halfway down. Her eyes were wild with panic. Her cheeks flushed. ” You can’t leave me to handle this, Raphael. ” You gave it to me! ” she argued, leaving me completely baffled. Was she trying to push this on me?

I stared, completely dumbfounded by her guts and audacity “What do you mean?” I muttered trying to understand what she was trying to say.

Amelia’s face turned serious with righteous indignation. “You said I could handle it. And now what? You’re going to let them blame me?” She argued like I was the one who begged me to give her the project. Like she didn’t read the contract’s clause before signing it. It was all hers and no one else.

She couldn’t bear the consequences of her actions.

I pulled free of her grip. “I’m not blaming you. But I can’t cover for you this time. I am too swamped this time.”

Her face turned ugly. She parted her lips, then closed them, trying to find the words to say. Her voice came out shaky. ” Sinclair Group’s already bleeding. One more hit like this…” she trailed off. I knew what she was about to say

Bankruptcy. The word hung there unspoken and ugly but it was real. The Sinclair group was on the brink of bankruptcy. Mr Sinclair made a couple of bad investments putting them in a precarious situation. Amelia had begged for the project in an attempt to rival them, but things didn’t go as planned.

“I am sorry, but I can’t do much. Volkov Apex has its own share of damages and problems to handle.” The words caught in my throat.

She lost it. Reality dawned on her. Amelia’s laugh was bitter. “Of course you can’t help.” She said like the world had turned its back on her.

By now, we were already halfway down the stairs, heading for the dining room. She gritted her teeth, jaws clenched so hard it looked like it might snap at any moment.

“This is all her fault,” she said, and I froze for a moment before giving her a cold look. “Pardon me,”

She wasn’t bothered by the cold aura leaking out of me and met my gaze head-on. “I said this is all bloody Braelyn’s fault. If she had handled it as planned, none of this would have happened, but she just wanted to destroy me…”

The absurdity of her words almost left me baffled. She was pushing the blame to everyone but herself. My jaw clenched although I didn’t want to admit it. If Braelyn was involved, things wouldn’t have gotten this bad, but the milk was already spilt, and there was nothing we could do about it.

“Stop.” The word came out sharper than I meant. I rubbed my temple, headache already pounding. “This isn’t about her.”

“Isn’t it?” She stepped closer, voice dropping low and venomous. “New Horizon comes out of nowhere, sabotages everything I touch. Don’t you think that’s convenient? She’s probably feeding them inside info just to watch us burn.”

I opened my mouth to shut it down, but nothing came. The doubt flickered, just for a second and she saw it.

The dining door was open.

Her face twisted. “You really think she could…” before Amelia could finish her sentence. A soft hum drifted up from the dining room. Light and carefree like nothing in this house was falling apart.

I froze and Amelia did too.

We both turned toward the sound.

Braelyn sat at the table, sunlight spilling over her as the room belonged to her. Phone in hand, lips curved in a real smile, one I hadn’t seen in months. She was humming some stupid tune under her breath, giggling at whatever was on the screen. She genuinely looked happy.

The sight hit me like a punch to the chest.

She glanced up, sensed us standing there like idiots, and her smile didn’t even falter. “Morning,” she said brightly, all sincere and warm. “Trouble in paradise?” She chimed. Her eyes were darting between us with a lazy gaze.

That was it. Amelia was about to explode while I stared blankly at her stunned by how bright her smile was. Why did she look so happy? Was she chatting with Lucien? The thought of that made my chest burn

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