Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved novel Chapter 35

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.

“Natasha,” Lucas pleaded, his voice cracked. “We’ve known each other for twenty years. How can it end? You hate Olivia? Fine, I’ll avoid her, I promise.”

“And if I want her dead?” Natasha questioned.

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

Natasha laughed, as if seeing through him. “The old Lucas never asked about misunderstandings. He stood by me, no questions asked.”

She eyed the cake box in his hand. “You came to check on me because you were worried?”

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4:34 pm P

Chapter 35

:།

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Seeing a possible opening. Lucas nodded eagerly. “About today’s things, I worried you’d be sad. And it’s your birthday.”

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

“But from the Wrights‘ place, even with a detour to the cemetery, you wouldn’t be this late. Where else did you go?”

Lucas remained silent. Natasha pressed on. “You spent the last two birthdays with Olivia. She’d never let you skip today. Especially after our fight at the cemetery. You went to the Clarks first?”

He tried to smooth things over, but she shattered his pretense. “Lucas,” her gaze pinned him despite her height. “Your promises are empty. You were with Olivia moments before coming to apologize.”

Her tone turned serious. “I’ll never coexist peacefully with Olivia. With her around, you have to choose. But let me be clear: no matter what, we are finished.”

The breaking of their relationship had been sealed from the moment he turned away.

Natasha.” Desperate, he grabbed her wrist. “I’m sorry, please. At least let me share this cake with you?” He still wanted to make amends, unable to accept her words that it was all over.

‘No.” Natasha wrenched her arm free, accidentally knocking the cake box. It tumbled, spilling its sugary ruin across the floor–a mirror of their relationship. “I don’t need it.”

A lazy male voice cut through the tension from inside. “Natasha. Come blow out the candles.”

Lucas recognized it–the voice that answered her phone that day. Since he hadn’t shown up after hat, Lucas had naturally dismissed him as just someone Natasha had rounded up to make him ealous.

But if she’d already made up her mind back then, she was not just trying to rile me up. Then what kind of

person would be by her side, answering her calls, and now turning up at her home?‘ Lucas

thought.

Lucas clenched his fists. It was a simple enough sentence, yet somehow he picked up on the warning in it–a blatant claim of possession.

As Natasha moved 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 he? Why is he here?”

“None of your business” Natasha tried to force the door closed.

But Lucas shoved the door open, storming in like he’d caught her cheating. They’d grown up together–he knew she’d never met this voice’s owner before.

‘To

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get this close so fast, this guy must have ulterior motives,‘ he thought.

4:34 pm PAA

Chapter 35

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