Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Chapter 1

Bang-

The door to the private room slammed open, hard enough to rattle the walls.

A frantic figure rushed in, shouting, “Olivia’s in trouble!”

55 vouchers

That one line sucked the air out of the room. The place, decked out with flowers and streamers for a proposal, went from warm and celebratory to dead quiet in a heartbeat.

At the center of the crowd, Lucas Wright–the guy of the hour, down on one knee with a ring in his hand–spun around, stunned. “What the hell did you just say?”

Matthew Hill, the guy with the loud blue hair, rushed forward, his voice urgent. “Mrs. Clark called. Olivia’s been in a car accident, she’s at the hospital right now.”

And just like that, chaos erupted. Everyone bolted for the door, tripping over each other to get out.

Olivia Sutton was the group’s untouchable queen. Gorgeous, sweet, crazy talented, and stuck with a fragile body that made everyone want to protect her.

Now that she was in trouble, no one cared about the proposal anymore. It was like the whole room lost interest in the whole thing.

Even the groom–to–be just turned and left.

“Lucas-“A soft, almost dreamy voice called from behind.

The room froze. Everyone suddenly realized the other star of this show–the girl Lucas was proposing to–hadn’t said a single word.

In the scramble, someone must’ve hit the light switch, because the bright room dimmed to a faint glow from some amber fairy lights.

Natasha, pushed to the corner, stood there, her face half in shadow. That stunning face of hers, always a head–turner, was weirdly calm. No emotion, no nothing.

“You didn’t even wait for my answer,” she said, voice steady,

Just minutes ago, Lucas had dropped the big question. “Will you marry me?”

His tall frame stopped dead in the doorway, like it just hit him he was about to bail on his almost- fiancée without a word.

He didn’t answer her. Instead, he softened his tone, trying to smooth things over. “Natasha, I’m

babe. I gotta get to the hospital. Just… head home, okay?”

sorry,

1/4

8:16 pm

Chapter 1

55 vouchers

if I say you can’t go?” Natasha’s voice didn’t waver, but it had a bite. “You know

Lucas.”

clearly over it. “Natasha, come on. This isn’t the time

never.” Her words

furrowed. Something about Natasha tonight felt

now, maybe tossing out some snarky jab about Olivia, like hoping she’d

Natasha? She was chill, like

reason, that made his stomach

You’ve been stuck to Lucas like glue for twenty years. You’re head over heels for the

just a proposal. You can do it another day.

You two were always gonna tie the knot. This whole

comments, but Natasha didn’t blink. Her sharp

what he always did–patting

deal outta this. Olivia could be

song and dance. Whenever she and Olivia butted heads, he’d apologize to Olivia without a second thought, then turn to Natasha–fuming like

him, her anger was cute, not serious. Her

the motions. Lucas

I’m done with this nonsense! A furious voice exploded behind Natasha. Sadie Torres, her ride–or–die bestie,

her personal EMT? Why’s it always you running to Olivia’s rescue? And how freaking convenient is it that she picks now to crash her

2/4

16 pm

Chapter 1

65 vouchers

a date, now it’s your damn proposal. What, she can’t wait five minutes before keeling

poured her heart into helping

once again, Olivia had swooped in and wrecked

move, ditching

wasn’t done. She turned on the crowd. “And you guys!

door? What’s the rush–visiting Olivia or picking out her

often she’s in the hospital, you’ve probably spent a fortune on flowers

Torres!” Lucas’s usually chill face turned stormy, his voice sharp. “Watch

breath. “You’re o quick to lose it when someone

could say anything, Natasha grabbed

final. “You walk out

room went dead silent. Lucas’s frown deepened. He glanced at Natasha, his

regret, Natasha. I’ll be back, and we’ll sort

he turned and strode

‘When I get back, I’ll make