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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just as he reached the door, he ran into Margot. Ignoring his impatience, she pulled him

I’ve got something to do. We can

face darkened. “What could possibly be

restlessness, Margot grew even more annoyed. “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 involved? And if you go celebrate

each other for twenty years,

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

whose side are

up

course,” Lucas

stared at him in

about how, lately, he’d been standing against Natasha time and time again, pushing

chest.

then just avoid being anywhere they’re

eyes, the tangled mess between the two Clark daughters was something Lucas shouldn’t get involved in–at most, he could marry

the right time and

go.

That

time Lucas finally headed out, two hours had passed. He called Thomas first to find out

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

Olivia right

hear a word after that. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a cab out there? She’s not scared being alone? Not long ago

this, Thomas felt a pang of regret at

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at Olivia’s closed bedroom door before rubbing his temples. “Fine, I’ll send you the location. Go bring her back. She probably hasn’t

chill. Have your housekeeper take care

send someone from the Clark house, she’ll

hung up and

weather, traffic was sparse, and the closer he got, the more desolate the

over an hour to get there. The moment he stepped out of the car, Lucas spotted a tall man carrying a

buried in the man’s chest, a suit jacket draped over her shoulders. Only a pair of pale legs showed beneath

their faces clearly, but something about them felt familiar. It wasn’t until Lucas watched them get into a black Rolls–Royce

choose today to visit. He quickly snapped back to focus and ran up the mountain

was empty–only a bouquet of

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

car, the driver quietly raised the privacy screen the moment

down. Soaking