Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 263: Watch him burn 2

Braelyn’s POV

Watching Raphael break from the inside was rather suffocating and hollow in a way I couldn’t explain.

We were having dinner together. The room was quiet, a type of silence which has become normal nowadays. Raphael barely spoke at most meals, I knew his mind was elsewhere, yet he still came...

Honestly at first having this strange peace between us was awkward but with time I got used to it.

"Lynn.." he called out, my hand froze as my fingers curled around my cutlery a bit tighter than before.

"Yes.." I replied without looking up. I knew he wasn’t looking at me either, the clicking sound of his plate still echoed.

"You know, I never got to apologise for that night.." he said quietly. I remained calm while still taking bites of my food.

"You already cried and apologised. I am the one who hasn’t forgiven you yet." I said coolly, silence fell between us. I felt his piercing gaze and glanced up immediately meeting his Hazel eyes.

He gulped, "I know but this is different. " he explained, leaving stunned. He took another bite of his food and chewed softly even the way he chewed was a sight to behold. Raphael’s etiquette was always top-notch

"I am apologising for that night you had an allergic reaction," he said and I froze. "I had known you for 9 years and had no idea of your allergies. I was blinded by my jealousy and foolishness. I believed Amelia when she said you were faking it for attention to go to Lucien..." Memories from that resurfaced like a wound which was torn open all over again.

My grip tightened. I didn’t say anything and Raphael continued. "If Lucien hadn’t burst in that night you might have died."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked him looking up.

"It keeps me awake knowing how my foolishness has hurt you. I just hope maybe one day we will find some type of peace.." My chest squeezed making it impossible to breathe.

"Peace.." I repeated, finding it funny. He continued in a gentle voice gentle

"Yeah, maybe after this problem with the company is over we can schedule an appointment with a renowned fertility doctor. I know how you always loved children." I dropped my cutlery and just stared at him.

"The day the doctor told me of your condition he said your case was different and strange in a way they couldn’t understand the true cause of your hormone fluctuation but with a specialist, there are better chances..." he explained and just stared at me

"I know Raphael but the chances are low..." I mattered.

"But it isn’t impossible. You don’t have to give up." He chirped in. "Even if it fails we can adopt but if you want to go child-free I will accept too.."

I almost laughed. "What makes you certain I want a child with you?" I sneered at him.

"There is still time Lynn. After all, we are still young.. " he said with a smile that made me realise something. Raphael was never going to give up without a fight.

"Don’t you want children?" I asked him, confused , why he was clinging to me. He needed a son if he wanted to succeed the company he was bleeding for.

"I do..." he answered. "But if we can’t have children it’s fine if Lucien succeeds the company. He is smarter than he acts..." he admitted leaving me dumbfounded.

"You come first even if it makes me a fool." He quietly added.

My jaw tightened, "You will really give it all up. " He didn’t say it out loud and just nodded a confirmation.

"You are hopeless.." I sighed and went back to my meal. We didn’t speak again until the meal was over.

After dinner, unable to breathe inside those walls, I went out for a walk around the estate. The night air was cool, the garden lights casting long shadows across the lawn. I told myself I just needed space.

I walked down the road to a quiet area of the property large enough to jog filled with trees. I walked down the path until I saw a shape on the grass.

My heart stopped, eyes narrowed on the shape.. "Raphael!" I screamed rushing towards him before my head could process anything. My entire body trembled.

He was lying on his side, one hand curled weakly against his chest, his breathing shallow. For a second, my mind refused to understand what I was seeing. Then panic slammed into me so hard my hands started shaking.

I called for help, my voice breaking as I dialled emergency services. Everything after that moved in a blur of sirens, headlights, and shouted instructions.

At the hospital, the diagnosis was simple. Overexertion, extreme stress, severe exhaustion. However, you called it. The doctor said with a firm expression.

He had pushed his body past its limits.

When he woke up, I was sitting beside his bed, arms folded tightly across my chest as if I could hold myself together that way. I didn’t know if I stayed out of pity or duty.

"Lynn.." he was flustered to see himself in a hospital and me waiting for me. He actually smiled.

"Why were you jogging?" I demanded the moment he opened his eyes, he blinked baffled at my anger.."You can barely sleep, you don’t eat properly, and you thought running was a good idea?"

I drew in a deep breath. "The doctor said you collapsed from extreme levels of stress. "

He gave a faint, tired smile. "I needed air to think," he said hoarsely.

I stared at him, at the same face I had loved for years, now pale under the hospital lights. Even drained and worn down, he was still... him. Still Raphael. This insufferable stubborn man.

The doctor came in not long after they knew he was awake. "You should cut down on your stress levels," the doctor said sternly. "Or next time it wouldn’t be just a collapse. You might develop an early stroke or worse die from a sudden heart attack. There is so little your body can handle, don’t push it."

Raphael clutched the sheets but said nothing. "Convince your husband to rest his blood pressure is alarming ." The doctor tiredly said on a final note.

I had to assure the doctor and see him out of the door before I shot him a glare.

"What’s that about?" I snapped at him but he didn’t reply and just stared at me. I sighed helplessly.

"You should take a break," I said. My voice sounded distant to my own ears. "Better yet... step back from the company. At this rate, you might die."

He looked at me then, really looked at me, and something warm flickered in his tired eyes. A small tired smile curled up his lips.

"I’m glad you care about my life," he said softly. "But I can’t leave now. If I step away... everything I love will really collapse. I can’t watch it all burn."

The words hit harder than I expected. He would rather let himself burn than what he loved.