Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

hapter 29

20 vouchers

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.

1/4

Chapter 29

20 vouchers

of dust. Olivia waved her hand in front of her nose

but already worn, and lying on top

it instantly–it was Olivia’s mother,

lifelike it felt like she was

gaze softened with a nostalgic warmth. Her fingertips brushed the painted cheek where the woman’s

pretty as your mom. Natasha, after all these years, do you even remember what she

course Natasha remembered. That was the day that changed her

wrong man. Compared to Madeline’s life, which was only getting better, it

her distance

and Andrew helped her get divorced. Emilia moved back into her parents‘

not often–too much happiness on one side only gnawed at

than Natasha, and as a child, she had been much like Natasha in her teenage years–quiet, gloomy, always

Emilia and Olivia secretly watching her. She didn’t know what that look

and kindhearted, a child full of sympathy. Holding fresh flowers from the garden, she had offered them to her sad–eyed aunt. “Auntie, if you take these flowers, you’ll

stood in stark contrast to the prematurely mature

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

telling

blessed. She’s here to enjoy

2/4

Chapter 29

20 vouchers

sixth birthday, Emilia arrived early with her daughter. The kids played together, and Natasha eagerly took Olivia

had found it as a stray, tamed it with patience, and it had grown sweet and obedient. Her parents

didn’t like it. When Natasha wasn’t looking, she kicked it hard, then tried to stab

small knife.

her cousin away to

loudly, and the adults came running. Natasha immediately told

her hand, revealing a fresh scratch from the

Natasha. Olivia had always been well–behaved–she

they thought it was

Olivia to the nearby hospital for a shot. Madeline was angry

was Olivia, tomorrow it

with Emilia, Madeline mentioned she might

hiding

down in front of Natasha and whispered that if her parents found

protect it, she had to hide it first. Emilia would

off. Natasha was worried about it,