Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved novel Chapter 9

The Clark family squirmed, the air thick with awkward silence.

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Natasha was a porcupine in a fight–sharp and unyielding. Every argument ended in a blowout. This time, they’d sat down to talk, but an apology? Yeah, that wasn’t on their radar.

Still, she was right. They’d jumped to conclusions, and it made sense she felt screwed.

A quick “sorry” could smooth things over. No shame in that.

“I’m sorry,” Olivia blurted, jumping in first. “Natasha, I’m sorry for all of us. This mess started ‘cause I got hurt, and everyone flipped out. It’s not Mom or Dad’s fault. Hate me if you want.”

“This isn’t on you. It’s that snake Alice stirring crap up,” Madeline snapped.

The family broke into a loud mess of voices, all coddling Olivia, forgetting Natasha existed.

Natasha didn’t blink. She was used to being ignored. Her eyes pinned Andrew, the one running the show.

Andrew cleared his throat. “Alright, I messed up. I got you wrong. Tell me what you want, and it’s yours.”

“Shares…” Natasha let it hang, smirking as their faces soured.

Then she scoffed. “Chill, you’d never hand them over.”

Truth was, every Clark kid got 5% of the company at eighteen. Natasha’s share? Already gifted to Olivia, no questions asked.

Because they thought Natasha supposedly owed Olivia for something bigger than cash.

To them, five percent? Nothing compared to Olivia’s mom’s life.

Andrew saw the contempt in her eyes, and it hit him like a punch.

“If you’re really sorry, give me Grandma’s house. Today.” Natasha went straight for the jugular.

The house wasn’t worth much, but its sentimental value? Priceless.

It wasn’t a big ask, but Andrew and Madeline shared a weird look.

Andrew dodged her stare. “We’ll talk about the house after you’re engaged.”

“I told you, I’m done with Lucas. No engagement.” Her voice was ice. “You said I could name anything, but you can’t even do this? That’s your apology?”

Andrew’s face reddened, shame turning to rage. He slammed the table, “You’re too damn

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8:18 pm

Chapter 9

impulsive! An engagement’s not a game. No wedding, no house.”

“That house was Grandma’s gift to me. Why do you get to hold it over my head?”

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“Because I’m your dad. And it’s in your mom’s name now!” he barked. “You think you can ditch the engagement? You know how much business we’ve got with the Wrights?”

“So? Your business isn’t my problem.” She’d never taken a cent of their profits.

Andrew had nothing left, so he exploded. “If you won’t marry, maybe your sister will. We’ll give her the house. Grandma didn’t say it was yours.”

That lit the fuse. Natasha shot up and flipped the dining table with a furious shove. Plates, glasses, and hot soup flew, soaking everyone.

Screams filled the room.

Eyes blazing, Natasha glared at the drenched Clarks, snarling, “Give it to her? She doesn’t deserve it.”

Natasha always kept the family at a distance, but her grandma was her Achilles‘ heel. Andrew was sure she’d buckle.

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