Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Chapter 35

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After getting Olivia to sleep, the image of Natasha abandoned in the rainy cemetery plagued Lucas.

Blocked by her, Lucas braved the storm to her apartment, hoping for a chance to see her. The foul weather meant no prying neighbors; he got inside unseen.

Anxiously, Lucas banged on the door. “Natasha, I know you’re home. I just need to make sure you’re okay. Please, open the door.”

He’d noticed the curtains were open–someone was inside. He’d even called Sadie before coming. Sadie had cursed him out but confirmed Natasha wasn’t with her. After the day’s dramas, he needed

to see her.

The downpour couldn’t muffle the annoying racket of the knocking. The door swung open. Natasha stood there, clad in pale green sleepwear, an oversized jacket draped over her shoulders.

Lucas’s eyes lit up. “Natasha,” he said. Seeing her, he realized how long it’d been. Instinctively, he reached out to hug her.

“Get lost,” Natasha said. The eyes that once lit up for him now held pure disdain. Her familiar face wore a coldness he didn’t recognize. “Keep this up, and I’ll call the cops.”

Utterly stunned, Lucas protested, “Natasha, I’m your boyfriend.”

Natasha met his gaze directly. “Lucas, are you deaf, or do you just never take me seriously? We broke up the second made

you

your choice.”

Her words were icy, unforgiving. “Your pestering is bothering me. We had years together, stop right here. I don’t want this to get ugly.”

If not for old times‘ sake, Natasha would’ve made a scene when she found him with Olivia. No matter how hurtful the end, she wouldn’t deny the past.

And she wouldn’t deny the warmth and support he once gave her–those feelings had been real. But it was over.

Lucas pleaded, his voice cracked. “We’ve known each other for twenty years. How can it end? You hate Olivia? Fine,

if I want her dead?” Natasha

deserve that, Natasha, maybe

if seeing through him. “The old Lucas never asked about misunderstandings. He stood by

hand. “You came to check on me because you were

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Chapter 35

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Lucas nodded eagerly. “About today’s things,

offered cake, glancing at his watch. She asked, “The Clarks visit the cemetery at set times–you know

from the Wrights‘ place, even with a detour to the cemetery, you wouldn’t

let you skip today. Especially after our fight at the cemetery. You went

her gaze pinned him despite her height. “Your promises are empty. You were with Olivia moments before coming

with Olivia. With her around, you have to choose.

breaking of their relationship had been sealed

this cake with you?” He still wanted to make amends, unable to accept

tumbled, spilling its sugary ruin across the floor–a mirror of their relationship. “I

cut through the tension from inside.

answered her phone that day. Since he hadn’t shown up after hat, Lucas had naturally dismissed him as just someone Natasha had

she’d already made up her mind back then, she was not

answering her calls, and now turning up at her home?‘

thought.

sentence, yet somehow he picked up on the warning in it–a blatant claim of

to shut the door, Lucas jammed his hand in the gap. The heavy door slammed onto his palm. He didn’t flinch, eyes burning. “Who is

business” Natasha tried

the door open, storming in like he’d caught her cheating. They’d grown up together–he knew she’d never

‘To

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