Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Chapter 2

Three days back, Olivia tracked down Natasha.

“You heard Lucas is gearing up to propose, right?” Olivia said.

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Her gorgeous eyes sparkled with jealousy and a nasty edge. “Rumor has it the family was ready to fast–track an engagement bash, but Lucas? He’s all about the big moment. Wants to hear you say ‘yes‘ with his own ears. Man, he’s really going all out, huh?”

“What’s your point?” Natasha shot back, cool as ice.

Olivia’s lips curled into a vicious smirk. “My point? Why does a trainwreck like you get to be happy, Natasha?”

“Wanna make a bet?” she sneered. “I’m calling it–this proposal’s gonna crash and burn in three days.”

Natasha locked eyes with Olivia. Everyone saw Olivia as this sweet, classy angel, but no one caught the poison in her gaze like Natasha did.

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Sure, Olivia could’ve nixed the proposal with one word, but she was playing the long game, waiting for the perfect moment to yank the rug out from under Natasha, just like always.

The proposal was a total flop. Sadie had just bolted after a frantic call from her family, her face pale as a ghost.

She’d offered to drop Natasha off–Natasha had ridden with Lucas–but Natasha overheard it was about her mom and told Sadie to go.

Now, with the place cleared out, Natasha stood alone, staring at the drooping flowers. Thinking back on the night’s pathetic proposal, she let out a dry, bitter chuckle.

It was late, the streets dead quiet. Instead of heading home, she wandered along the river, letting the chilly breeze clear her mind.

But it didn’t take long to sense something was wrong.

Someone was tailing her.

She faked a selfie, catching a glimpse of a few guys closing in behind her. Heart racing, she picked up her pace, but they stayed right on her tail.

Her fingers slipped, accidentally hitting the emergency contact Lucas had set up a year ago.

Back then, she’d gotten into it with some sleaze hitting on a girl, snapped his arm, and landed in

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8:16 pm

Chapter 2

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nagging her the whole

himself her emergency contact, telling her to call him if she was ever in a jam–no matter when, no matter

this was the first time she’d actually needed

voice came

at the hospital. The car crash wasn’t too serious, but Olivia–born premature, always delicate—had been rattled bad. Only

the waiting room, and he’d just gotten Olivia to doze off when the

someone’s following me,” Natasha

do this tonight. Quit

thought she was pulling a fast one to drag him away

stormy with rage. “Natasha! Your sister’s in the hospital, and you can’t even bother to show up. Now you’re out stirring up trouble in the middle of the night, making up

are you gonna act your age? Nobody’s leaving Olivia to deal with your crap tonight. Get

line went

the hospital bed, spoke softly. “Mom, don’t be mad. What if Natasha’s really

the phone back to Lucas, her face heavy with disappointment. “Trouble? The only trouble she’s got is trying to steal the spotlight from you when you need us

isn’t her

one night after study hall, swearing she’d been kidnapped and begging

and the family was already freaking

she’d demanded, only to find Natasha strolling out, totally fine, not a mark on

home, Olivia had passed out

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8:16 pm

Chapter 2

it was all a nasty prank by

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flared up. By

so hard she landed in the hospital for a month. Even then,

when her once–sweet, soft little girl had turned so

about that drama, too. The Clark family

stay, they hired a

was the only one who snuck in after school, bringing her snacks and telling dumb

bail on the proposal halfway through. No shock Natasha’s totally ticked off and

her games. He’d smooth

aside and checked Olivia’s forehead. “Fever’s down. Get

blankets, peeked out with worried