Chapter 21

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Chapter 21

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Lucas, swayed by Olivia and Noel’s advice, decided to wait for Natasha to apologize first before forgiving her.

But as he stared at his silent phone day after day, it suddenly hit him–over half a month had passed.

They’d never gone this long without contact before.

Regret crept in. He knew Natasha was stubborn. ‘Why did I have to pick a fight with her?‘

And then… he thought of grandma’s burned–down courtyard.

Though the Clark family tried hard to hide it, fearing Olivia might get upset in her fragile state, Madeline had to come clean when Olivia brought up transferring the property.

Without the emotional weight of the courtyard, it was just a piece of remote wasteland. The so- called “lucky charm” the fortune–teller once mentioned no longer held water.

Olivia was heartbroken. “That was Grandma’s most treasured place. How could Natasha be so cruel?”

Madeline comforted her endlessly, promising to find her an equally meaningful antique.

“It’s not about me. I’m just sad that now there’s no Grandma… and no her home anymore.”

Lucas watched Olivia, wrapped in Madeline’s arms, lost in sorrow, but his mind wandered.

Having grown up with them, he knew Natasha’s bond with Grandma ran deeper than Olivia’s.

‘If Olivia was this devastated… what about Natasha? What was going through her mind when she lit the fire? How had things gotten so bad for her?‘ He suddenly regretted not being there when she needed him most.

But his calls went straight to voicemail, and no one answered the door at her place. Lucas panicked.

If Sadie hadn’t chewed him out over the phone–at least confirming Natasha was okay–he’d have called the cops.

With all worst–case scenarios ruled out, only one possibility remained: Natasha was truly done with

him.

Lucas spiraled into anxiety.

turn on at night. But Natasha

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4:29 pm PS

Chapter 21

just a few days, Lucas

mom, Margot was not happy about

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apple

into the picture, Natasha drifted apart from

defeated again, she blurted out in frustration, “Might as

her son’s terrifying

I have nothing. The only one

you always pick Olivia

brought it up because she sensed her son and husband’s true feelings–one cared more about a foster daughter than his own girlfriend, the other preferred a daughter–in–law who could

the festering wound, yet somehow ended up the

Lucas’s heart ached.

grew up

I even done?‘

returned to Natasha’s

her, to hold her, but she seemed genuinely angry, dead set on giving him the

always softest on those she cared about. I’d win her

his persistence painted a

buzzing around. Lower than a cockroach in the gutter.

Lucas. Back when he was investigating Natasha, this name popped up frequently

guy had just been

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Chapter 21

L‘

be? Oh, and let’s not forget the

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know what they say–where there’s

rushing home to feed his little rose, Alexei didn’t hesitate to choose

been in a relationship, but he’d heard the saying–a corpse of a first

or anything. But he sure as hell wasn’t gonna let his pet keep pining

letting Lucas die a quick death, peeling back his fake, hypocritical layers to expose

felt nothing but disgust every time she thought of

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