Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Thomas, closest to the chaos, grabbed Natasha’s arm and yanked her back hard to keep her from going full psycho.

Her waist slammed into the cabinet, right on yesterday’s bruise. She let out a sharp hiss, but it got swallowed by everyone’s gasps. Nobody gave a damn.

All eyes were glued to Olivia’s face. Noel, her brother, shot Natasha a look that could kill before bolting for the first–aid kit.

Lucas and Madeline hovered around Olivia, fussing over her like she was fragile porcelain.

Olivia, still reeling from the slap, thought, ‘That little punk actually hit me!‘

Natasha had always been all talk, never throwing hands. In their family spats, Olivia always came out on top, cool and smug..

She’d never taken a hit like this.

‘What is Natasha’s deal today?‘ she wondered.

Fuming inside, Olivia played the wounded card. “Natasha, I know you can’t stand me, but what’d I

do this time?”

Andrew’s eyes nearly bugged out. “Why the hell’d you smack your sister?”

Natasha smirked. “Why’d you smack me?

“Swing first, then point fingers. Didn’t I learn that from you guys?”

Andrew flashed back to the slap he’d landed earlier but was still livid. “I hit you ‘cause you paid some goon to ram your sister’s car! You gonna play innocent? Is this what I raised you for? Hurting family, breaking laws, and not even sorry?”

“Paid someone?” Natasha’s mind jumped to Olivia’s crash last night. She let out a sharp laugh. “Where’s the proof?”

Andrew jabbed a finger at her. “Proof? The driver who hit Olivia already spilled–you paid him. If Olivia wasn’t so forgiving, you’d be in cuffs right now, you hear me?”

“So, just the driver’s word. No real evidence.” Natasha’s voice cut like a knife.

in, voice soft but calculated. “Natasha, I didn’t know you hated me this much. If I’m the problem, I’ll leave the Clark family, ditch town, vanish for good. Just stop messing up because of me.

“Real cute. If you wanted to bounce, you’d already be

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Chapter 4

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to mean?” Andrew roared, practically shaking. “Olivia’s only here because of you.

wanted to spit stayed stuck in her throat. Because,

her for years, stealing her parents, her

it’s you, Natasha. Having a sister this toxic is straight–up embarrassing. You were always shady, but now you’re out here

frowning, added, “Natasha, apologize

“I’m not

swing

to Madeline and Lucas, who’d been silent. “You think I did

She gave a

“If I’m guilty, let the cops figure it out, not

family froze, jaws on the floor. She

like he’d just run a marathon. Olivia,

to let it

added, “If they nail you, we are not

think they’d wronged her. They just figured she was cocky, calling the cops because she thought

a piece

they couldn’t straighten Natasha out, maybe the police

wrist. “Say sorry to Olivia. If she drops it,

piled on. “Yeah, you just slapped her for no reason. Apologize

other was for her sending thugs after me yesterday. I’ve got my reasons, clear as day.

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Chapter 4

grovel?”