Chapter 330: Yes I do

Braelyn’s POV

Yes…

The words slipped out before I could stop them. There was no going back now. I drew in a deep breath to steady my voice. “Yes, I love Lucien. Even when I told myself not to,” I admitted quietly and tried to pull my hand away. His hold tightened.

“Then why didn’t you come to me, Viper?” he whispered in a low voice. “Why did you run?” His voice sounded wrong in a way that felt like he was accusing me of something heinous.

I could not meet his eyes. “I left because love was never part of the plan,” I started. Suppressed emotions began to bubble up again, choking me in my throat.

“I was not meant to love you, but my guarded heart foolishly went ahead. It was a mistake, and besides, my mother…” The rest of the words caught in my throat. His gaze turned intense.

“All that matters is that you love me and I love you too,” he said firmly. “That is all I want to hear, and even if you do not, I was never the type to take no for an answer.” Chills ran down my spine as an unsettling smile crept onto his lips.

He did not look like the mischievous menace I knew. No, the man before me was a terrifying tyrant, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He had played the fool for so long while secretly destroying my family.

“Your mother’s debt can simply be paid by your loyalty. That night I told you there was no going back, and I meant it.”

My heart started racing at his words, a strange heat rushing through me.

“If you want to pay your mother’s debt, be mine forever.”

My breath hitched as I stared straight into those calculating hazel eyes. “Are you proposing?” I joked, and he chuckled.

“Not yet. You still have a husband. I want you to be completely mine in the open.” My already racing heart roared so loudly I could hear it.

I averted my gaze, trying to hide the blush creeping up my cheeks. This was not how I had planned this date to play out. I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“Please, can we have this conversation somewhere else?” I blurted out, slowly lifting my gaze towards him. Something flashed in his eyes, but he understood anyway.

He gave me a subtle nod before beckoning to the waiter. The waiter quickly arrived and he settled the bill. Soon, we were walking out of the restaurant.

The cold night air greeted us, causing me to shudder. It was mid December. Snow was meant to start falling soon, but the temperature had already dropped drastically.

Lucien’s car pulled over. It was a blue Aston Martin, and a small smirk curled onto my lips at the sight of the brand. He had always been fond of it. The valet stepped out of the car and handed Lucien the keys.

His hand settled on my waist. “Shall we?” he urged, guiding me towards the passenger seat. I was about to step in when my eyes caught something across the street, or more precisely, someone.

I did not think twice. My face had already gone pale. I broke away from Lucien’s hold. His brows pulled together in confusion, but my mind could not process anything properly.

“Is something wrong?” I vaguely heard him ask as he stared at me. My ears were already ringing from the roar of my pulse. I stepped back.

No way…

No way, I repeated in my head.

“Viper… Viper…” Lucien reached to grab me, but he caught nothing but air because I had already bolted.

I ran as though my life depended on it, crossing the road without hesitation. My eyes were locked on a figure who had yet to notice me. He was talking to someone, completely unaware that I was approaching.

As soon as I crossed the road, I ran straight towards him and grabbed his hand. My grip was tight, like a vice. Both he and the person he had been speaking to were caught off guard.

His face twisted as his head snapped towards me. He was about to lash out. “What the hell…” The rest of his words died in his throat the moment he saw my face.

“Braelyn…” he blurted before he could stop himself.

“Aren’t you meant to be dead?” I shot back immediately. The irritation on his face shifted to disbelief, then to something closer to fear. He pulled his hand away from mine, his eyes wide.

“You have the wrong person,” he said before suddenly bolting, running down the block.

He barely made it a few steps before crashing into someone.

More accurately, Lucien stepped into his path and caught him.

He did not need an explanation. He acted purely on instinct. The man tried to shout, but Lucien said something low that immediately shut him up.

I drew in a shaky breath and hurried towards them, my heart still racing.

I stopped in front of him and studied his face carefully.

“Richard… it is really you,” I said, my voice filled with disbelief. The horror in his expression had not faded.

How was he alive? He had died two years ago. Amelia had killed him to hide the truth about the night I was accused of cheating on Raphael. Yet here he was, standing right in front of me.

“Braelyn, it has been a while,” he finally said, letting out a nervous laugh. “I was not expecting you to suddenly jump at me.”

His attempt at humour fell flat. My expression remained cold, completely devoid of amusement.

“Cut the act, Richard,” I snapped. “I am not here for games. How are you alive, and more importantly, who did you kiss that night? Because it certainly was not me.”

I went straight to the point.

His face hardened instantly. He let out a small, mocking scoff.

“This is another country, not Volkov territory. You cannot do anything to me or force me to talk,” he sneered.

This time, it was Lucien who spoke, still gripping his arm.

“If I were you, I would start talking.”

Richard scoffed again. The earlier fear in his eyes had faded, replaced with arrogance. He clearly believed we could not touch him.

“I am not scared of you, pretty boy. Who the hell do you think you are?” he snapped.

Lucien laughed softly, clearly amused. His voice lowered as he spoke.

“My surname is Orlov.”

Richard froze instantly.

He knew that name.

The Orlovs were one of the most powerful families in the country, and this city was firmly under their influence. No one would dare challenge them.

Lucien tilted his head slightly, a smirk forming.

“Cat got your tongue now?” he asked coldly.

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