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!”

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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,

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Chapter 1

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Natasha’s voice didn’t waver, but it had a bite. “You

Lucas.”

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

now or never.” Her words were cool, almost

brow furrowed. Something about Natasha tonight felt

snarky jab about Olivia, like hoping

this Natasha? She was chill, like she’d seen this whole mess

that made his stomach

like glue for twenty years. You’re head over heels for the guy. You were probably

just a proposal. You can

were always gonna tie the knot.

Her sharp eyes stayed locked

what

said. “Don’t make a big deal outta this. Olivia could be in

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

her anger was cute, not serious. Her

through the motions. Lucas never

furious voice exploded behind Natasha. Sadie Torres, her ride–or–die bestie, had been holding it together since Matthew crashed the

was over it. “Lucas, what are you, her personal EMT? Why’s it always you running to Olivia’s rescue?

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

her heart into helping plan

Olivia had swooped in and

Lucas? Total jerk move, ditching Natasha for Olivia

“And you guys!

out the door? What’s the rush–visiting Olivia

hospital, you’ve probably spent a fortune on flowers by

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

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

face darkened, but before he could say anything, Natasha grabbed

voice was calm, final. “You walk

room went dead silent. Lucas’s frown deepened. He glanced

Natasha. I’ll be back, and we’ll

he turned

hurt?‘ he wondered. ‘When I get back,