Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

It wasn’t too bad, honestly. The thugs got the worst of it.

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If not for the guy who showed up–some shady dude with a slick lawyer–Natasha and her rescuer might’ve been the ones facing assault charges from those creeps.

The cop, a grizzled vet, still shivered thinking about those punks‘ battered state. Whoever did it was a total badass.

Everyone just assumed it was Alexei.

In their eyes, Natasha was just a quiet, gorgeous girl. No way she could be that vicious. Even Alexei played along, taking the credit.

But the cop smelled family drama and leaned in, twisting the knife. “Oh, it was rough.

“She was a mess when we got her–blood everywhere, head busted, arm jacked up. Barely said a word. Imagine being cornered at night by a bunch of tatted–up dirtbags hitting on you. Who wouldn’t be scared shitless?

“All alone, no family to call, just curled up in a corner, only talking when we pushed her. Broke my heart.

“She tried calling a few times, but no one answered. Said she’s on her own. That guy’s lawyer bailed her out. We thought she was an orphan–didn’t wanna pry. Turns out she’s got family. So, where were you all last night?”

The question hit like a jab, and the Clarks flushed red with shame.

They’d figured Natasha was just throwing a fit over her ruined engagement. With Olivia’s health crisis eating at them, they had no patience for her drama, so they all–without a word–turned off their phones.

Lucas’s mind flashed to last night’s call. Natasha’s voice, shaky, saying she was being followed, begging for help.

And he’d just told her to quit screwing around.

How scared and alone she must’ve been.

He remembered their promise: always answer, never go dark. He’d failed her.

like it was caving in, guilt

cleared his throat. “Let’s have Natasha over

this wasn’t just Natasha’s

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8:17 pm

Chapter 7

nab those creeps, right?”

nodded.

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stone–cold. “We want those punks hit hard. And the guy who helped my sister- got his number?

decided to send a fat check. The guy stepped up when they

family nodded, on

*****

as the Clarks grilled the cop, Alexei, the “good Samaritan,” was flipping through

the pages,

life split into three clear

six, she was the Clarks‘ princess, spoiled

Olivia came along, Natasha faded into a shadow, barely seen. Now, Olivia was the Clark family star, not

through hoops for Olivia and the family, like

targeting Olivia with every trick in the book. It trashed her family ties, and after college, she ditched the Clarks

loyal assistant, sighed dramatically. “The Clark sisters are like night and day. The older one’s a sweetheart, talented, a real star. The younger? A

in the sleek office chair, his sharp face cool as ice, let out a low, “Tch.

shading? No

his mouth shut–eyes

Turners ran this city. Period. And Alexei, the heir apparent? The guy could snap his fingers and the whole city would tremble. He could trash–talk anyone,

to take it.

girl? No way the ice–prince actually gives a damn. Ha. Yeah right. The thought

himself took an interest in you? Game over. That

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