Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

hapter 29

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On this day, the sharp–tongued Natasha became as meek as a little white rabbit, letting people mold and squeeze her without the slightest resistance.

After more than ten years of dealing with her, Olivia already knew the pattern by heart.

Sure enough, when Noel jumped in, saying he was strong enough to help, Olivia turned him down. She said, “Boys can be rough.”

Without a word, Natasha headed upstairs.

Olivia glanced back and playfully winked at her parents, as if to say, See? Nailed it.

Olivia had said early that morning she would try to find a chance to ease things with Natasha. So Andrew and Madeline naturally assumed she was making an effort to show kindness to her sister.

The two watched their daughters head upstairs with satisfaction.

Noel wanted to follow, but Thomas, seeing right through their parents‘ plan, stopped him.

***

Jpstairs, Olivia didn’t go to her own room. Instead, she stopped in front of Natasha’s bedroom loor.

That room had originally been a guest room. After Olivia moved into the Clark household, Natasha gave her original room to Olivia.

All because Olivia said Natasha’s room had a view of the tree in the garden that her own mother had planted by hand.

Back then, Natasha had been upset, but Olivia had lost her mother, so she let her have it. If it made her sister happy, then so be it.

And that one concession lasted more than a decade. Olivia’s ambitions had since grown far beyond just the bedroom.

“Sorry, Natasha, Olivia said, “my walk–in closet’s too small, and Dad had it expanded, so for now Mom said I could stay in your room. You don’t mind, right?”

With that, Olivia pushed the door open, only to find no sign of life inside.

The lighting wasn’t great here, and ever since Olivia moved downstairs next to Thomas, the room had only been used for storage.

Natasha hadn’t stayed here for years. Madeline used to have the maids clean it daily, but after Olivia took over, she never let anyone in again.

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Chapter 29

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air held faint traces of dust. Olivia waved her hand in front of her nose in distaste and walked over to

already worn, and lying on top was a portrait, about

instantly–it

woman’s features were delicate and gentle, her soft smile so lifelike it felt like she was looking right at her. Natasha’s throat tightened,

with a nostalgic warmth. Her fingertips brushed the painted cheek where

“She was beautiful, wasn’t she? Just as pretty as your mom. Natasha, after all

That was the day

Madeline’s life, which was only getting better, it was like one lived in heaven and

had kept her distance from Madeline for a long

and Madeline and Andrew helped her get divorced. Emilia moved back into her

that did Emilia occasionally visit the Clarks, though not often–too much happiness on one side only gnawed at the other

she had been much like Natasha in her

watching her. She didn’t know what that

sympathy. Holding fresh flowers from the garden, she had offered them to her sad–eyed aunt. “Auntie, if you take

naive smile stood in stark contrast to the prematurely

unusually slender aunt. Emilia was always gentle to her, and even with Olivia around, she favored

often scolded her, telling her not to

just smile. “Natasha’s blessed. She’s

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Chapter 29

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early with her daughter. The kids played together, and Natasha eagerly

had grown sweet and obedient. Her parents had even

looking, she kicked

small knife.

cousin away

running. Natasha

a fresh scratch from the cat. The red mark

believed Natasha. Olivia had always been well–behaved–she couldn’t

they thought it was

for a shot. Madeline

be wild–today it was Olivia, tomorrow it could be Natasha or the

Madeline mentioned she

was hiding behind

that if her parents found the cat, they might kill it

first. Emilia would help her

Olivia, had already run off. Natasha was worried about it, and terrified