Chapter 300: Cold war

Braelyn’s POV

Raphael’s guard was up. It was as if he could read my mind or something else. One thing was for sure, he was suspicious.

My leave was approved earlier than planned. I have been stuck with Raphael in here with what seemed like a cold war. I didn’t mention the word divorce again. It felt like a taboo.

The dining room was quiet. It’s rare for us to have lunch together with our schedules, but this week, with both of us trapped within the walls of this mansion, silent lunches like this have become normal.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go out. I would rather not. No matter how the Volkov family was controlling the news, rumours of Amelia’s pregnancy were now silent gossip among our circle. Although no one said it out loud, they knew based on what Genny told me.

Mrs Sinclair is probably pretty smug at the possibility of her dearest Amelia being the next Mrs Volkov. At this point, I would gladly give her the title, but I was more than certain Raphael would make her life hell.

“Isn’t it to your taste?” Raphael’s voice snapped me from my thoughts. I glanced away from the soup I had been stirring forever.

I shook my head, then brought a sip to my lips. “It is fine,” I muttered with a weak smile. A small smile crossed his lips and he just stared at me. I knew he had a lot to say, but he would rather not.

He was avoiding me bringing up the divorce. His solution was to avoid discussion. The meal continued until I could barely put anything in my mouth. Everything tasted bland.

I pushed my seat back. Raphael glanced up, distracted by the sound. “Are you done?” he asked, concern filling his eyes. “You should eat more,” he suggested. I just gave him a smile.

“I am fine. I can’t take a single bite more,” I answered.

He nodded. I knew he had more to say and, as expected, he spoke again. “Maybe we should travel somewhere for the holidays. It’s been ages since we went on a trip,” he suggested, leaving me dumbfounded. He was suggesting a trip now of all times.

I didn’t shut him down immediately despite having no plans whatsoever to go on a trip with him. “I will think about it.” His eyes lit up, pleasantly surprised I didn’t turn it down immediately.

“Although I am not certain, a trip seems like a good idea,” I added, my gaze lingering a bit on his face that still held hope. That look made my heart ache, knowing it was pointless.

I walked out of the dining room towards my bedroom. The maids gave me their greetings on my way down the corridor. My eyes darted around and a helpless smile hung on my lips.

He changed everything. Raphael changed the interior to exactly what it was before Amelia came in, down to the smallest detail. The walls now looked like the house I had decorated with hope and love, but this doesn’t reverse time.

His efforts only made it more suffocating. My fists clenched. This wasn’t the time for me to waver. I stepped into my room and the door shut behind me. I slouched against the door, just staring at the ceiling.

My eyes closed. “5..4…3..2..1..” I took in slow breaths to gather my thoughts as I counted. Everything went silent for a moment and the ache faded.

That was before my phone buzzed with a text notification, snapping me out of it. I immediately opened my eyes and glanced at the phone screen. A simple message stared back at me.

Genny: The plan is in motion. 6 pm today.

It was 2 pm. My heart squeezed. It was finally time.

My fingers rapidly typed back a reply.

Braelyn: Alright then.

I switched off the screen. One week. It has been exactly one week of silent planning and pretending everything was fine. Genny actually delivered and by the time Raphael would find out it would probably be too late.

It wasn’t time to celebrate yet. The problem was whether we could pull this off.

*******

3 pm. The sky was a bit cloudy, as if it might rain, which didn’t matter. It was three hours to the planned time. I changed into a simple outfit: high waist jeans, a crop top, and a bomber jacket paired with sneakers.

It was a casual outfit giving I want to grab coffee vibes. My hair was pulled up into a bun and a backpack hung on my shoulders.

I stepped out of the main entrance to the driveway. I had informed the butler earlier to prepare a car for me.

“Is the car ready?” I asked Joshua, the butler who was walking me out.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. His gaze hesitantly darted around before settling back on me. He had cold sweat on his forehead. Joshua’s voice came out a bit weak.

“Madam, when will you be returning?” he asked. There wasn’t the slightest crack in my expression.

“I will be back for dinner. I just want to grab coffee and a little shopping spree,” I chimed, finally stepping outside. Despite it being noon, the weather was a bit chilly with that autumn cold.

The car was waiting in the driveway, but my face fell immediately. I fixed my expression anyway and walked down the steps.

A driver was holding up the door for me already and he wasn’t the only one. Another guy was seated inside. I recognised them faintly. They weren’t drivers or casual escorts.

They were part of security, ex military soldiers that guarded the house. Raphael, that sly snake. I almost hissed.

“Good afternoon ma’am, I am Jeremy. Part of your private security.” He didn’t bother hiding it. “And he is Zayne.”

I stared at Jeremy. He was built like a bull, almost 200 cm, standing before me and I could not help but laugh. “Is this necessary?” I asked.

“I am going for coffee and not war. There is no need to accompany me,” I hissed.

Jeremy didn’t budge. “I apologise, but my orders were to guard you as long as you are leaving these premises.”

My fist clenched. “And who gave those orders?!” I barked at him.

My answer came immediately.

“I did.”

Raphael’s voice answered. My head snapped to the lean figure standing at the door.

“It is for your good, Lynn. With the Sinclair family growing desperate, I can’t take that risk.”

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