Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Chapter 35

EX 20 vouchers

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.

each other for twenty years. How

want

faltered. “She doesn’t deserve that, Natasha, maybe there’s a

seeing through him. “The old Lucas never asked about

cake box in his hand. “You came to check on me because you

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4:34 pm P

Chapter 35

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20 vouchers

today’s things, I worried you’d be

She asked, “The

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

spent the last two birthdays with Olivia. She’d never let you skip today. Especially after our fight at the cemetery.

pretense. “Lucas,” her gaze pinned him despite her height. “Your promises are empty. You were with Olivia

serious. “I’ll never coexist peacefully with Olivia. With her around, you have to choose. But let me be clear:

of their relationship had been sealed from the

wrist. “I’m sorry, please. At least let me share this cake with you?” He still wanted to make

It tumbled, spilling its sugary ruin across the floor–a mirror of their relationship. “I don’t need

cut through the tension from inside.

hadn’t shown up after hat, Lucas had naturally dismissed him as just someone Natasha

was not

would be by her side, answering her calls, and now turning

thought.

It was a simple enough sentence, yet somehow he picked up on the warning in it–a blatant claim

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

of your business” Natasha tried to

storming in like he’d caught her cheating. They’d grown up together–he knew she’d never met this

‘To

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