CHAPTER 18: USE ME

Braelyn’s POV

Raphael’s face turned ugly immediately. A gasp of whispers filled the room. "Gregor was a good man from what we all heard, and he raised his children well." his tone lingered....

"But I guess his precious training didn’t go to the next generation. A mistress who thinks she is the wife and a husband who has no shame." I was stunned, his tone was unfiltered.

The cathedral went silent. They didn’t expect this from Lucien. "Miss Amelia Sinclair, if you don’t know how to respect the dead, we don’t want your presence ruining the already sombre atmosphere..."

A sharp cry erupted, Amelia shot up from her seat, his words were simple but more humiliating than what she said to me. She has blatantly disrespected Gregor.

She glanced at Raphael waiting for him to say something. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t after what Lucien said. Her eyes turned red, and she ran out of the cathedral. Her cries echoed through the wall with the whispers.

Lucien’s expression remained stoic, his gaze locked with Raphael’s, whose jaw was clenched. Seeing things were getting out of hand Ronan stepped in

He signalled the priest to move to the next part of the service. Lucien sat back on his seat, a hymn was being sung in the background.

Raphael couldn’t sit still for long, he found an excuse to leave and go after his lover. Unable to withstand the whispers, Lucien had defended me and shifted the spotlight but the wound left from Amelia’s words stuck.

I could not stay long either, so I quietly slipped away. No one probably noticed. Close to the exit light sobs drifted to my ears. "I hate him, Raphael. This is all their fault." Amelia cried, she was wrapped in Raphael’s arms as he tried to soothe her tears

They noticed me right away Raphael’s eyes turned cold. "What do you want now?" She cried out, clinging to him. I smiled at her although it didn’t reach my eyes.

"Nothing much, just enjoying the show," I said. His eyes narrowed, but I avoided them, staring straight at Amelia.

"You were always praised for being the talented Sinclair’s daughter. The smart investor but yet you cling to a married man." I let the words linger...

"If you were so perfect, you would not have to go through all this stress, Amelia, but then again, without Raphael, you are nothing but an ill-bred daughter of the Sinclair family who can’t act right on formal occasions." The word struck on the spot, I enjoyed every slight change on her face.

"It’s all your fault. If your parents hadn’t forced the marriage on Raphael, he would have been mine from the start." She snapped back, and I wasn’t fazed by her outburst

A chuckle slipped past my lips. "If he didn’t want to marry me he could have refused..."

"Amelia if you are as precious as he claims, Raphael wouldn’t have asked for an open marriage but a divorce." Amelia stepped back from Raphael, a slow realisation hitting her.

"Why? It’s all because you will always be the mistress and nothing more." Raphael’s teeth were grinding so hard that they could crack.

"You are only saying this to rile me. You love him, but you have lost him," she tried to fight back, this time, real tears hung in her eyes.

"Let’s all pretend to be blind." I chimed. She struck me where it hurt the most. My mother, the pain she felt now was nothing.

Amelia completely broke down, "I hate you!!" She screamed before bolting away, face covered in tears.

"Amelia?" Raphael grabbed her hand to stop her but she yanked away.

"Don’t touch me. " Her soft persona cracked leaving him stunned. Raphael’s head whipped to my side, his veins throbbed with rage.

"That’s enough Braelyn." His voice thundered. He raised his hand but stopped halfway, realising what he was about to do.

I didn’t shake. "What do you want to hit me now because of your mistress?" I stepped forward, squared up to me

"Hit me, Raphael. What is stopping you?" I taunted, he hissed then stepped back.

"Don’t push me Braelyn?" He threatened. I stepped forward closing the distance.

"Or what Raphael. Haven’t you hurt and humiliated me enough?" My words seemed to have struck a nerve. He wasn’t the type to be challenged.

My body was pushed against the wall, his grip locked on my neck. I could feel the air leaving my lungs, but I didn’t fight back, just stared. I managed to say the words. "So this is what you have become. You will kill me for her." I taunted..

He tightened his grip, "You really have no fear again. Did you forget the person you married?"

My face was turning red, I didn’t fight him, just stared back with a weird calmness. "I was married to a stranger I know nothing about." Raphael was taken aback, before he could react.

The door was pushed open, and a cold voice followed. "What do you think you are doing?" Lucien snapped as his fist located Raphael’s jaw.

Raphael let go as he was pushed a few feet away. My leg gave up and I collapsed on the ground.

"Braelyn." Lucien rushed to my side, to help me up. "What kind of monster would do this?" He spat looking at the purple mark on my neck.

Raphael stood up then spat a mouthful of blood. "This isn’t over." He swore.

"I bet you know that." Lucien retorted with a fiercer look that startled Raphael. His gaze drifted to me with complex emotions before he left in the direction Amelia had left.

Lucien reached out for the bruise on my neck but I backed away. His gaze flickered, then brushed his hands through his hair. "You said I should stay away but I can’t," Lucien said before he swept me off the ground.

I was startled by the swift movement. He didn’t give me the chance to react. He marched out of the venue through the back entrance to his car waiting for us. The chauffeur opened the door and he stepped in.

"Drive." He instructed before pulling me into a protective hug. My whole body was trembling in his warm embrace. The tears poured out long before I realised.

"It’s fine to cry but he doesn’t deserve your tears." He said cupping my cheeks, forcing me to look into those familiar hazel eyes.

"I don’t want to cry," I replied, the tears had a will of their own.

"Then make sure they never let you cry Braelyn..." He said with a burning determination.

"You said you don’t want to be like them. You don’t have to Braelyn..." I stared back at him dumbfounded.

"I am no saint, Braelyn, and I know one thing, you being righteous doesn’t help anyone. Make them feel pain, make them feel worse, and I don’t mind if you use me."

"In this game, there can only be one winner, and I want to be used by you."