Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

The Clark family squirmed, the air thick with awkward silence.

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Natasha was a porcupine in a fight–sharp and unyielding. Every argument ended in a blowout. This time, they’d sat down to talk, but an apology? Yeah, that wasn’t on their radar.

Still, she was right. They’d jumped to conclusions, and it made sense she felt screwed.

A quick “sorry” could smooth things over. No shame in that.

“I’m sorry,” Olivia blurted, jumping in first. “Natasha, I’m sorry for all of us. This mess started ‘cause I got hurt, and everyone flipped out. It’s not Mom or Dad’s fault. Hate me if you want.”

“This isn’t on you. It’s that snake Alice stirring crap up,” Madeline snapped.

The family broke into a loud mess of voices, all coddling Olivia, forgetting Natasha existed.

Natasha didn’t blink. She was used to being ignored. Her eyes pinned Andrew, the one running the show.

Andrew cleared his throat. “Alright, I messed up. I got you wrong. Tell me what you want, and it’s yours.”

“Shares…” Natasha let it hang, smirking as their faces soured.

Then she scoffed. “Chill, you’d never hand them over.”

Truth was, every Clark kid got 5% of the company at eighteen. Natasha’s share? Already gifted to Olivia, no questions asked.

Because they thought Natasha supposedly owed Olivia for something bigger than cash.

To them, five percent? Nothing compared to Olivia’s mom’s life.

Andrew saw the contempt in her eyes, and it hit him like a punch.

“If you’re really sorry, give me Grandma’s house. Today.” Natasha went straight for the jugular.

The house wasn’t worth much, but its sentimental value? Priceless.

ask, but Andrew and Madeline shared a

her stare. “We’ll talk about the house after

engagement.” Her voice was ice. “You said I could name anything,

rage. He slammed

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8:18 pm

Chapter 9

a game. No wedding,

to me. Why do you get

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dad. And it’s in your mom’s name now!” he barked. “You think you can ditch the engagement? You know how much business

business isn’t my problem.” She’d never taken a cent of their

had nothing left, so he exploded. “If you won’t marry, maybe your sister

shot up and flipped the dining table with a furious shove. Plates, glasses,

Screams filled the room.

the drenched Clarks, snarling, “Give it to her? She doesn’t deserve

table went flying, but the soup still splashed Olivia’s

to sob. “Natasha, I get that you hate me, but she was my

that?”

out food, grumbling, “Ignore her. She’s

in front of us?

and panic, while Thomas was busy checking if

barking. They couldn’t tell if now was

on the line. “You want that house? Then play ball with the engagement. Get in line for this month’s shindig, or

Natasha. Twenty years as

trade that out.

distance, but her grandma was her Achilles‘ heel. Andrew was sure she’d

at the man claiming to be her dad, but he felt like

swearing only the best guy could have his princess. Anyone who hurt her? He’d vowed to

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