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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he ran into Margot. Ignoring his impatience, she pulled him into the study. “Your

something to do. We can talk when I get

“What could possibly be more

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 Natasha’s birthday, how do you expect

unconsciously rising. “What about how Natasha feels? We’ve known each other for twenty years, and because of Olivia, I’ve stood her up

“In any case, you’re not going.

conflict, whose side are

up

Lucas

stared at him in

gaze, Lucas couldn’t help but think about how, lately, he’d been standing against Natasha time and time again, pushing her further and further away. His breath caught in

chest.

make up your mind, then just avoid

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

“Alright. Just wait until the right

go.

That

passed.

feet, his voice a mix of frustration and anger. “So in

slapped Olivia right in front of

get a cab out there?

Thomas felt a pang of regret

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glanced at Olivia’s closed bedroom door before rubbing his temples. “Fine, I’ll send

a chill. Have your housekeeper take care of

from the Clark

it.” Lucas hung up and

losing those two hours. Because of the weather, traffic was sparse, and the closer

there. The moment he stepped out of the car, Lucas

suit jacket draped

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

to dwell on why anyone else would choose today to visit. He quickly

was empty–only a bouquet of

odd, hollow sense of loss. It seemed he and Natasha were always missing

driver quietly raised the privacy screen the moment the engine

Alexei still hadn’t put Natasha down. Soaking wet, she sat on his lap as