Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved novel Chapter 39

hapter 39

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When Natasha first moved out at eighteen, Madeline had secretly visited her place. To save money, Natasha shared an apartment near the university with a friend.

It was crowded and noisy–right by a commercial street. But Madeline was angry at Natasha’s defiance, hoping hardship would force her home. Though it hurt, she stayed out of it.

Natasha, stubborn as ever, never asked for help. By the time Madeline reconsidered, Olivia said Natasha had moved.

Madeline assumed she’d accepted their money for a better place. Subsequent meetings were either at the Clark mansion or elsewhere.

This was Madeline’s first visit to Natasha’s new home in years. Her first impression upon arriving at Natasha’s place was how tiny the house was.

Accustomed to sprawling estates, the compact space felt stifling for Madeline. Margot’s accusation of favoritism echoed uncomfortably. The smallest property gifted to Olivia dwarfed this

apartment.

Alexei was out. Natasha let Madeline in and poured her a cup of water. The quiet tension between them was thick.

Madeline took a breath. “This place is too cramped. Thomas will arrange a new apartment for you.”

“No need for that. I can’t accept it.” Natasha’s refusal was flat.

Madeline fumed. “Why not? You’re our daughter. A house is nothing—we’d look bad if we shortchanged you.”

Natasha scoffed. “I’m afraid you’ll demand it back someday.”

When she’d left the Clarks, they’d claimed everything she took was theirs. They cut her money and had maids search her bags, banning valuables. They treated her as if she were their enemy.

It had been a gloomy afternoon. Standing before the grand gates, a single suitcase beside her, she’d endured the humiliation of maids meticulously inspecting her belongings.

Her family, united in outrage, had accused her of ingratitude and spite. Andrew, usually composed, had trembled with rage.

Andrew snapped, “We’ve cleaned up your messes for 18 years. What more do you want? Ungrateful! You won’t rest until you’ve torn this family apart, will you?

“Fine, just go. And never come back. But if you have any spine, repay every cent we spent raising you.”

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Chapter 39

EX 20 vouchers

At 18, with nothing, debt would’ve chained Natasha to them. Clutching her suitcase, nails bleeding into her palm, she stayed calm.

Natasha said flatly, “Let me remind you, I didn’t beg to be born. And the law obligates you to support me until adulthood.

“Since middle school, Thomas, Noel, and Olivia got $170k-$300k monthly. I got $300. If you’re fine with people laughing at how little you spent on your daughter, let’s tally it publicly.”

Andrew had been incredulous. “We restricted you because you wasted money. And we gave extras- must you nitpick?”

‘I never got them,” Natasha’s voice stayed steady.

Andrew didn’t believe her. “Fine. Have it your way. Step out that gate, and not a single Clark cent Couches you again.”

They wouldn’t risk the scandal of demanding her repayment, and Andrew hadn’t truly wanted the money. The Clarks dropped it.

Rest assured,” Natasha had said, turning away, “if claiming my basic rights is this hard, I won’t covet a single thing that isn’t mine.”

Natasha drew a clear line. The support she’d received was her legal due, far less than the Clark standard. She owed them nothing. If necessary, she’d repay equivalent elder care someday.

The Clarks‘ wealth was theirs to give; she expected nothing. Getting less before eighteen meant aking more later would only deepen the debt they’d hold over her.

Natasha walked out clean. From that point on, she never once turned to the Clarks for help.

Natasha never regretted it. At first, she scraped by on part–time wages, stretching one bread for two meals and crying through illness in lonely nights–it had been brutal.

But she’d endured. This tiny apartment Madeline scorned was hers, earned by her bare hands. No one could reclaim it, point fingers at her, or claim she owed them.

The memories made Madeline shift uncomfortably, and she touched her nose. “Must you hold onto grudges?”

Madeline thought, ‘Weren’t those just angry words? Like we’d hound an 18–year–old for pocket change as child support?‘

Yet she remembered–Natasha’s 5% Clark Group shares, given to Olivia. They’d wronged her. Madeline hesitated. “After you marry Lucas, we’ll give you that 5%.”

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