Chapter 225: A sinner’s confession part 2

Raphael’s POV

It was cold… I liked the cold. It distracted me from my conflicted thoughts.

My hoodie hung in my arms as I perched on the edge of the rooftop. The wind tugged at my T-shirt and made my legs swing lazily over the low wall. Thick clouds rolled across the horizon, blotting out the city lights. It was going to rain soon.

The storm was coming and I knew she hated storms.

Braelyn’s sharp gaze remained on me, so heated it felt like she wanted to see through me. It made something flicker inside me, something I didn’t entirely want to name. The tension between us was almost physical, humming in the air like electricity. .

We had to leave the rooftop soon before it rains, yet I was still hesitant. I spent the entire day agonising about telling her. This conversation had replayed in my mind a thousand times and yet it felt like I wasn’t ready.

My thoughts couldn’t help but stray to that night at the old family manor, about the storm that raged then. I remembered how Braelyn threw herself into another man’s arms, her moans mingling with the thunder outside. Lucien. That night had left its mark on me, though not the kind she thought, rage, desire, shame. All wrapped into one. I hadn’t forgotten. And I never would.

Only God knew how badly I wanted to rip them apart, but I didn’t. I couldn’t.

I swung my legs slightly, letting the wind catch them. My hoodie brushed against my arm as I leaned back on my hands, feeling the height, feeling the city below. “I imagine you’re wondering why I brought you here,” I finally said, my voice was low but carrying that edge that always made her uncomfortable.

I heard her breathe sharply behind me. I didn’t turn. I didn’t need to. She was watching. That was enough.

“I am sorry”, I said, softer now, almost intimate, ” I know I have said it before, and I know it wouldn’t be enough.” I drawled. Braelyn took a sharp intake of air.

“Please, Raphael, just get to the point,” she pleaded with a shaky voice that made my heart squeeze.

The memory of that stormy night gnawed at me. I had seen her with Lucien, and it had stirred something I couldn’t put into words. And yet, even in that, I couldn’t deny the pull she had on me. She always did and I was a fool. “Fine, I will tell you the truth. You might not believe it, but it is the truth you deserve to know.”

“Suddenlyvyou realise I needed to know the truth.” Her voice floated behind me. His tone was sarcastic. “So why now,”

My breath stalled in my throat. A small smile curled up my throat “Because I can’t undo the past. I can’t erase the damage. But maybe… maybe I can explain why I let it happen. Why did I do everything I did, even when it seemed cruel? Even when it seems… unforgivable.”

The first rumbles of thunder rolled through the clouds above. I felt her stiffen. I also heard the subtle hitch in her breath. She hated storms, and thunder always troubled her. Yet this storm tonight and tension… was nothing compared to what I saw in her eyes.

I drew a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “I’ve been holding back,” I admitted, almost to myself. “Holding back everything that should have spilt years ago. I wanted to protect you… in my own way. I was told to protect you. It was my duty.”

” But instead of protecting you I ruined you…”

The wind whipped my hair, and I looked out at the city below. Neon lights flickered through the coming rain. I wondered if I could make her understand the darkness I carried and the twisted truth she would either accept or despise.

I felt her walk beside me. She squatted and sat on the floor. The cold wind whipped through her pitch-black hair. “I am the one who decides in the end. I will listen because of our past. Tell me everything..” she said. Something sharp flickered in her eyes.

I glanced back at the night. My voice grew steady.” It all started with one mistake a year ago or less.” My mind drifted back to old memories

******

The biggest issue in our marriage had always been fertility issues, and honestly, I knew before long. The night before I married Braelyn, Dominic had warned me she might suffer the same fate as her mother but I didn’t care…

I loved her and thought that’s all that mattered, but life wasn’t so easy. “Make sure to protect her no matter what..” Dominic made me swear.

“I will..” I agreed without batting an eye, but before I knew it, 2 years had passed after marriage, and we didn’t have a child…

Braelyn grew anxious and started to withdraw from the public due to pressure. I had let her retreat to her shell thinking it was the best but without knowing distance had started to grow between us

Around the 3rd year of our marriage, I grew foolish. That’s the only thing I would believe because why did I believe them even if we couldn’t have children?

It was pathetic but I believe their words. Whenever I had invited her to any public gathering, she was always too busy and made up excuses not to go. She would always say, “Why don’t you just go with Amelia. I can’t stand those parties.” Each time she had turned me down and pushed me to Amelia something twisted in me.

Maybe I was being too sensitive and she really couldn’t stand those parties. I remembered the nasty gossip they whispered behind her back then because of our childlessness.

Braelyn had practically stopped attending most public appearances except for the ones where her presence couldn’t be negotiated.

I had assured her it didn’t matter, and we were both young, but the public opinion still pressed her down.

“It’s been a long time since we attended one together. I miss having my wife with me on these occasions..” I said gently, trying to convince her. She didn’t even glance at me, but I noticed the way her hand gripped the pen.

“I don’t know Raphael. I hate the rumours, and I will be working overtime,” she had whispered in a soft voice. I walked over to the other side of her desk.

I held her hand. “I know, but at this rate, some people might start thinking Amelia is my wife.” I joked and her face turned ugly.

Her grip tightened on my arm. “Come on. We will just take a few pictures, then stay a bit before leaving early.” I had bargained

She fell into deep thoughts before reluctantly agreeing. “Fine, I will go,” I remembered how wide my smile was then..

I had no idea what that night held, and if I did, I would have stayed at home disregarding the implications.

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