Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

The cemetery was remote, and with the heavy rain today, no one but the Clarks had chosen this day to visit.

In the vast grounds, it seemed only the sound of rain and Natasha’s breathing could be heard.

She stood before the grave, eyes locked on the smiling face of the woman in the photo, letting the rain pound against her face–and her heart.

Natasha murmured to herself, “Is this my punishment? But wasn’t Grandma your family too? Why? Can I just give you my life back?”

It was freezing, yet Natasha’s body was burning. By the end, she was almost rambling incoherently.

Natasha felt like a stray piece of driftwood floating alone in a boundless sea, only to be forgotten, rot away, and sink without a trace.

At the very moment Natasha collapsed, a large black umbrella appeared above her, and a pair of strong arms caught her.

Then that piece of driftwood was lifted out of the water again.

“Natasha, let’s go home.” The sharp lines of Alexei’s face had softened under the rain, his voice carrying a rare gentleness.

Natasha let herself sink peacefully into his embrace.

*****

Lucas had felt uneasy since morning. After pacing the living room more than a dozen times, he finally grabbed his car keys and headed for the door.

Even though Natasha had purposely provoked him last time–nearly getting him dragged to the police station by her neighbor–Lucas still felt he should be with her on such an important day.

Just as he was about to leave, something came to mind, and Lucas went back to his room to fetch a small box. Inside was the gift he had personally picked out for her,

For years, because of Emilia’s death, the Clark family avoided acknowledging Natasha’s birthday.

Only Lucas insisted on quietly sneaking Natasha out every year on this day to celebrate with her.

The last two years, Lucas had missed her birthday. After all, it was also the day Olivia mourned

most.

But this year, Lucas didn’t want to miss it again.

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him into

can talk when I get back,” Lucas

face darkened. “What could possibly be

“Their family’s going to the cemetery. What’s that got to do with you? Isn’t it inappropriate for an outsider to run around getting

feels? We’ve known each other for twenty years, and because

any case, you’re not going. Tell me this–if Olivia and

conflict, whose side

up

course,” Lucas

just stared at

Lucas couldn’t help but think about how, lately, he’d been standing against Natasha time and time again,

chest.

hand. “Fine. If you can’t make up your mind, then just avoid being anywhere

something Lucas shouldn’t get involved in–at most, he could marry whichever one

the right time and way, you can be the

go.

That

two hours had passed. He called Thomas first to find out where

his voice a mix of frustration and anger. “So in this downpour, you

“That’s because she slapped Olivia right in front of

idea how hard it is to get a cab out there? She’s not scared being alone? Not long ago she

a pang of

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“Fine, I’ll send you the location. Go bring her back. She probably

Thomas added, “She might have caught a chill. Have your housekeeper take care of her for a few days. I’ll cover

Clark

I’ll handle it.” Lucas hung up and sped toward the

of the weather, traffic was sparse, and the closer

stepped out of the car, Lucas spotted

wore a black dress, her face buried in the man’s chest, a suit jacket draped over her

clearly, but something about them felt familiar. It wasn’t until Lucas watched them get into a

dwell on why anyone else would choose today to visit. He quickly snapped back to focus and ran up the mountain

of grave was empty–only a bouquet of lilies lay soaked

downpour, feeling an odd, hollow sense of loss. It seemed

car, the driver quietly raised the

spacious backseat, Alexei still hadn’t put Natasha down. Soaking wet,