Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved novel Chapter 33

Alexei pinched Natasha’s cheek with a half–smile. “I don’t have that many marriage prospects”

‘So, it’s because I’m his chosen partner? That didn’t seem so bad, she thought. ‘Relationships built on mutual benefit and duty felt more stable than those relying on emotions.

Natasha lowered her lashes and nestled against him. She savored his warmth. Just let me be weak for a little while, she thought.

Natasha was still dazed when Alexei carried her to the bathroom. He kept holding her, one arm around her waist, the other touching her rain–soaked hair. “What? Want me to do it for you?” he

teased.

Finally, Natasha pushed him away. She just stared at him with wet hazel eyes, saying nothing.

“Fine. I owe you,” Alexei sighed. He pinched her cheek again and turned to leave. Moments later, he returned with clean clothes. His knowledge of her room came from her month–long recovery

there.

Seeing the underwear under the nightgown finally snapped Natasha back to reality. Her cheeks burned. “Why did you grab these?”

Alexei looked away, his tone deliberately flippant. “Prefer wearing nothing? I don’t mind.” He said it casually, but the blush on his ears betrayed his unease.

Natasha poked his chest, easily pushing him out. “Get out.”

Outside, Alexei’s demeanor shifted instantly. The gentle, teasing mask he wore for Natasha vanished, replaced by his usual coldness.

He made a call. “Is the Clark family pursuing the Eastside Tech Park project? Pull them. Give it to their arch–rival, Hawthorne Tech.”

A teasing voice replied, “The Clarks pissed you off? Rumor is they’re banking on this project to pivot. Thomas chased it for years”

Poor at managing the household, unworthy of any important role,” Alexei stated coldly. “Also, keep them occupied. They’re too idle Idle enough to bully the woman he cared about.

He thought, “The Natasha I handle with such care–these people keep slinging all sorts of thh at her. This time is nothing more than a small warning?

For Alexei, they were only family if Natasha acknowledged them Otlierwise, their actions deserved death a hundred times over Suppressing his fury, he headed to the kitchen to make hot cocoa,

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Chapter 33

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Lucas couldn’t find Natasha. Her phone was off. Sitting in his car in a bad mood, he got a call from Olivia.

Watching the screen flash, annoyance flared in him for the first time. Lucas didn’t want to answer, but she persisted relentlessly.

Finally, he picked up, rubbing his temples. “Olivia, what is it?”

Panicked sobs came through. “Roderick, it’s thundering. I’m scared. Where are you?”

Hearing that name, Lucas froze. A drowning sensation overwhelmed him. He finally understood Natasha’s stress all those years. A life weighed them down. Olivia was having a relapse.

Lucas met Thomas at the Clarks. Seeing no one with him, Thomas frowned. “Natasha didn’t come back with you?”

“She was gone when I arrived,” said Lucas.

Thomas was silent for a while. “She hasn’t been home for a long time. I thought she’d at least come back today,” he said.

Lucas’s face twisted with scorn. “Why? To see her boyfriend cozying up to another woman?” Thomas had no defense, his guilt evident.

Seeing his discomfort, Lucas sneered inwardly, ‘See? Everyone knows what hurts, yet they find excuses to ignore her pain. And me, I am also an accomplice.’

“Olivia’s upstairs,” Thomas finally said. “Go check on her.”

Lucas gave a cold laugh and climbed the stairs heavily. Standing outside Olivia’s door, the image of Natasha alone in the rainy cemetery filled his mind.

He suddenly had an urge to turn around right then, find Natasha, say sorry, and wish her a happy birthday, Reputation and obligation–they were all burdens.

But just as the thought crossed his mind, the door opened. Olivia rushed into his arms like a frightened puppy. “Roderick! I miss you so much.” As if bound by something, Lucas couldn’t leave.

Smiling, Olivia led him to the bedside. “Roderick, will you help me sleep?”

She touched the red marks on her neck, looking troubled. “Natasha got mad at me again. How can I make up with her? Let’s get married quickly.”

Her eyes shone. “Then I can move out. If I’m gone, Natasha will come home.” She sounded utterly sincere, all for Natasha’s sake.

Lucas couldn’t tell her Roderick was gone forever. The man who loved her died in that accident at

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Chapter 33

sea. Every thought choked him. He sighed softly. “Let me treat these marks first.”

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“Roderick, you’re so sweet. I’m not scared now that you’re here. Will you stay with me forever?” She touched his face intimately, fully believing he was her lover.

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