Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 374: Her accomplice

Lucien’s POV

"How did you know Avelina was involved?" I continued. "Were you the one who tipped off the Orlovs?" This was the biggest mystery ever.

I was certain it was a closely guarded secret. Only Raphael and Ronan probably knew and there was no way Ronan would tell her such a secret practically giving her the knife to cut him down.

How did she know? I thought maybe it was Sylvia and her mother that told Amelia or she found out one way or the other but after interrogating the mother duo pair it was clear Sylvia’s mother had no idea..

Her exact words were, "Avelina fell sick after Nadia’s death. I don’t know why she was plagued so much by it but she started dreaming about Nadia. I was her close maid and overheard.."

She paused. "The curse had only escalated what happened. I swear I don’t know anything more. Everyone assumed it was postpartum depression because she got worse after giving birth. "

The curse only increased Avelina’s guilt and there was no way Sylvia’s mother could lie in her condition. She was barely clinging to life.

Back in the hospital Amelia had no intention of answering my question. A slow smile spread across her lips. "Find out for yourself," she said. "You are so smart, aren’t you?" she had taunted me.

Her eyes gleamed with madness. She was far gone beyond the point of return. It was truly amusing I must say.

"And you did all this because you love Raphael?" I asked and her face cracked. She understood the context. "You are truly pathetic Amelia. You don’t love anyone but yourself. "

"It’s a lie, I love Raphael. " she barked. "I truly love him. " Amelia snapped and a humourless laugh left my lips.

" You’d stop lying, it would only make things worse for you." I threatened. I knew Amelia never loved Raphael; just a cruel confession. "Just tell the truth, how did you know about Nadia and maybe things would be easier for you. You know me and I am sure you don’t want to go down on your own."

Her face stiffened for a moment. She was considering the options. Maybe she knew her end was near and she didn’t want to go down again. "I don’t trust you Lucien," she muttered, before a smile broke on her

. "Do you know what? I will tell you the secret. " she chuckled.

"Didn’t you wonder how I was able to get a drug that is on the black market? With my connections, it would be hard for me to get it." She sneered.

I gave a fake shocked expression. This was the main information I wanted. I knew from the start that Amelia was working with someone.

"Let me guess it is a Volkov. " I sneered. Then secretly reached into my pocket to start recording. It was my gut instincts

Amelia scoffed. "Yes, she is a member of the Volkov family," she admitted. "None other than Natalia Volkov. " I froze for a moment

Natalia was the one who told Amelia. It was impossible. There was no way she would tell Amelia that.

"You want me to believe Natalia would tell you a secret that could destroy her family and wealth." I pushed trying to get more information. There is a chance Amelia might be lying and just wanted to drag Natalia down but her smile didn’t even crack.

"Believe it or not." She chuckled. "Natalia told me that Avelina killed Nadia and not just that she was the one who gave me the drugs that ruined Braelyn’s chances of getting pregnant and the fake cheating scandal she was the one who helped me organise everything down to telling me about Raphael’s secret apartment and getting the aphrodisiac.." she revealed

I didn’t understand why Natalia would destroy her family. She was too selfish and cared too much about money.

"Natalia is too selfish to do that. " I said, although looking back at it. Natalia was unusually supportive of Amelia even when the Sinclairs went bankrupt. Why was she supporting Amelia to the point that she would get involved in dirty crimes?

"I don’t care if you believe but it is the truth she helped me break Raphael and Lynn apart and for who snitched to the Orlov. It wasn’t me but her.." Amelia chuckled again. Her laughter was unhinged.

"And I am certain Natalia is the one who tried to kill you. She hates your guts...." Amelia was still laughing when the door was pushed open slowly.

Her face froze. Raphael was standing there with tears running down his face. His eyes were red, his expression shattered, but there was something dangerous beneath it. He had been there from the start. "My mother helped you destroy my marriage," he whispered, unable to believe it.

Her expression changed instantly and several emotions went across her face. She was trying to figure out an escape

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, panic flooding her voice.

I grabbed his shoulders, patting them. "Our debts are now cleared," I whispered. Raphael’s hands were clenched so tightly they trembled. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

His gaze locked on Amelia. "I heard everything," he forced the words through his lips. "Is it true what you said? Did my mother help you? "

Amelia froze before scrambling off the bed, ignoring her injuries as she rushed toward him and grabbed his leg. "It’s a lie, Raphael," she cried. "I love you. Lynn betrayed you. I did this for you."

She started grovelling and piling up lies but it was useless. Raphael never liked her. She was the one who forced him into her bed. He stepped back not letting her touch him, as if she were infectious

"Raphael, please don’t do this to me." She pleaded. Raphael didn’t even let her touch his clothes. The moment she was close enough he kicked her away without hesitation.

She crashed on the floor with a dull thud. The sound echoed sharply in the room. "I knew you were wicked," he said slowly, his voice rough. "But this..."

Tears slipped down his face, but his gaze was cold. "You poisoned her," he continued. "I watched Braelyn grow weaker every day. She was sick because you were poisoning her. How could you and mum be so cruel.." he spat.

"That’s not true, it was a joke " she tried to say, crawling toward him again, but her words fell apart.

A laugh slipped out of his lips. "I had always been a fool from the start for trusting you."