Chapter 360: The loosing end

Raphael’s POV

I hesitated for a heartbeat before opening the envelope. My lips twitched at Lucien’s pettiness. I drew in a deep breath before I started reading, trying my best to keep my expression calm.

My eyes skimmed through the contents, and a laugh escaped me. There were divorce papers. Lucien sent me divorce papers on behalf of Braelyn. My gaze dropped to the smaller envelope tucked inside. I pulled it out and opened it.

It was unmistakably Lucien’s handwriting. It was the one he used back in the days in secondary school, giving absolutely no shit. It was barely legible. It was obvious this was a note he had quickly scribbled without a second thought.

I leaned back slightly as I read. By the time I finished, the room felt colder.

********

Dear nephew…

By now, you probably know the truth. I am Killian. I took your advice when you told me all those years ago to stop being a joke.

Inside this parcel are the divorce agreements. Let go of Lynn, and this fight ends. There is no way you can beat the Voss and Orlov support. I haven’t used them yet because I want to give you a chance to keep your dignity.

Lynn doesn’t love you. Out of consideration, you did this under Amelia’s manipulation. If you agree to the divorce, you can keep every dime you have and all company shares. Even if you stop working, it is enough to last you a lifetime.

Keep your assets and disappear from Lynn’s life. Your call, or lose everything in bankruptcy. If you refuse, don’t blame me for being heartless.

Lucien

*********

A faint smile tugged at my lips, but there was nothing warm about it. “Killian,” I muttered under my breath.

So that was it. He had stopped playing. He was about to bring out the big guns. I crumpled the letter in my hand, then downed my whisky before standing up with the stack of legal papers.

I strode across the room to the small shredder I had. I watched the divorce papers get shredded slowly until they were completely destroyed. After I was done, I took an image of the final state and sent it to Lucien.

Raphael: You don’t fool me. You are never the type to show mercy, Lucien.

I sent the text along with the image. Complex emotions weighed me down. The smart choice would have been to take the offer and disappear, but I knew Lucien. He wanted everything, my success, my wife, and my dignity.

He wouldn’t give me an easy way out and definitely wouldn’t leave out a threat. Lucien knew that with my dividends and savings, I could start another business that might come back for him. This was probably a trap or a way to lure me out before he took me down.

It would not be far-fetched if he planned on killing me. After all, I was the scumbag husband of his obsession.

I stared at the shredded papers for a while before walking back to the counter to pour myself another glass. Volkov Apex was already on the losing end. If Lucien involved the Voss and Orlov fully, this battle would be over.

Yet the thought of it made me laugh. The laugh was hollow as I downed my glass. I wondered how Amelia would react after finding out the empire she schemed for was going to crumble.

Speaking of the devil, my phone started ringing with Amelia’s number. I ignored it and placed my phone on Do Not Disturb. The last thing I needed was her drama.

Everything I fought to keep was crumbling, my company and my marriage.

*********

I don’t remember how I got from the study to my bedroom. Last night, I tried to drown it all out, but the hollow ache remained.

The next morning, I was woken by a sharp headache that felt like it would split my skull. A groan escaped my lips as my eyes slowly opened. My gaze locked on the ceiling, staring blankly.

I was still in part of my clothes from last night, my shirt and trousers. A tired sigh left my lips. I didn’t feel like going anywhere, but I couldn’t give up completely.

I dragged my body from the bed, ignoring the pain, and headed to the bathroom. Staring back at me in the mirror was a complete wreck.

Sigh.

I quickly brushed my teeth before reaching for some painkillers to handle the hangover. After taking the pills, I stripped off my clothes and stepped under the shower.

The warm water cascaded over my hair and down my back, releasing the tension in my muscles. I glanced up and let it wash over my face as my fingers wove through my hair. For a moment, I thought about that night she resisted me under the shower, even while being drunk.

She hated my guts that much.

“Lynn..” I called out her name hoarsely, like a forbidden word. A chuckle followed. My Adam’s apple bobbed as my laughter filled the bathroom, mixing with the patter of the shower.

A few minutes later, the bathroom door creaked open, and I stepped out with nothing but a towel hanging loosely on my waist. Water dripped down my body. Out of habit, I grabbed my phone to remove it from Do Not Disturb and switched on the internet connection.

As soon as the internet came on, several messages flooded my phone. That wasn’t all. There were also several missed call notifications, all from my family members. The corner of my lips curved into a smirk.

Did Lucien destroy the company overnight? I wondered, but that was ridiculous. Still, my curiosity got the better of me. Had the world come to an end?

I immediately started going through the messages. They all said the same thing. I should come to the hospital. It was an emergency.

My first thought was that someone was dead. But who? Even with the feeling of impending doom, the only thing I felt was bone-deep exhaustion.

One particular message stood out. It was from Dad.

Dad: What have you been up to all night? Just drag yourself to the hospital. Your mother’s cries are giving me a fucking headache because you are not here.

He didn’t say what happened, but from his irritation, I could tell it was something serious. My lips twitched.

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