Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Chapter 37

On Natasha’s last two steps, both Lucas and Alexei held their breath. Lucas saw hope of reconciliation, while Alexei’s eyes darkened, plotting something unknown.

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Then, Natasha suddenly stopped and turned a corner. Under Lucas’s disbelieving gaze, she squatted down. She picked up a wooden gnome from beside the cabinet and dusted it off.

“Good thing it’s wood,” she snapped, glaring at a momentarily stunned Alexei. “If it were porcelain, you’d be in trouble.”

‘So she’s mad at me just because I knocked over her wooden gnome when I kicked Lucas,’ he thought. Alexei’s expression instantly brightened.

“I’ll buy you a hundred,” Alexei offered, grinning as if murderous rage hadn’t gripped him moments

ago.

However, Lucas’s face turned ashen. His lips moved soundlessly. He was unable to believe that in Natasha’s heart, he mattered less than a wooden gnome.

‘She saw Alexei’s violence, so how can she still talk to him so calmly, almost playfully? This isn’t right,’ he thought, his heart gnawed by anxiety.

“Natasha,” Lucas tried again, desperate to shatter their harmony. “I’m hurt.”

Natasha used to rush to him when he was injured. In college, after a dirty foul left him injured, she’d nearly fought the offenders herself.

‘She should be furious and concerned–not this detached calm,‘ he thought. ‘I can’t accept it.’

gnome back. Her gaze, when it met Lucas, was flat.

his heart shattered. Alexei strode over, dragging the devastated Lucas out

Natasha still needs her soup, No more hospitality.” His tone was gentle, nothing like

intervened. The light in Lucas’s eyes died. Pain, physical

Sitting in the dark

man have genuine feelings? Let go? No

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4:35 pm PS

Chapter 37

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rain still poured. Alexei never left the apartment. Lucas didn’t go to the hospital. He stared at Natasha’s window and dialed. “Mr. Clark? Yeah, I met Natasha. She’s

heard about the birthday party in three days. I’d like to announce our engagement then.” Lucas would use any means

Alexei murmured,

with thorns–elegant, striking, and perfect for daily wear. Natasha

before

against her neck, satisfied. He’d chosen it

“Not just for

the cemetery. Whatever Lucas said about his being dangerous, Alexei had shown more kindness to

disarmed by small kindnesses,

turned her chair to face him, closing the

she stole a glance at his smiling eyes.

an illusion. “This is enough. Sex would be too much.

quickly turned back to the table. “That’s enough. Soup is