Their Villain, The Mogul's Beloved

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

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Natasha's expression was ashen. “I've told you. Lucas and | are over. | won't marry him.”

Madeline fumed. “Your tantrum won’t change anything-we’ve sent the invitations.”

“Then let your beloved Olivia take my place.” Natasha shot back.

“Stop this nonsense. Olivia and Lucas are close only because of her treatment. And her boyfriend, Roderick, died

saving Lucas. Without him, do you think you two could have dated all these years?”

“Perfect. Then Lucas is her compensation.”

“How heartless. | don’t care-you will be at the party tomorrow.”

“No. I'm busy.” Natasha's refusal was flat. It wasn’t an excuse. Alexei had proposed a way to repay that kiss last

night-accompanying him to a Turner family lunch tomorrow.

Madeline's face darkened. “If you don’t show, what happens to the birthday and engagement party? You'll

disgrace the Clarks.”

“What does the Clark nmean to me? You even planned this party without my input. We're long settled.”

Natasha sneered.

“Settled?” Madeline snapped. “Lettell you this-it’s never settled. We gave you life. Can you repay that?”

The cruel words flew out. Seeing Natasha's instantly changed expression, Madeline faltered, with a twinge of

regret. She knew how much Natasha hated this “debt of life.”

Watching Natasha's rigid posture and bloodless face, Madeline turned her head away and spoke sharply, “Your

grandmother lefta pair of heirloom emerald bracelets.

“She said one was for Olivia, and the other for you. You don’t even want your grandmother's keepsakes

anymore?”

Madeline knew exactly how to trap Natasha. A bitter smile touched Natasha's lips. “Last tit was Grandma's

house, now it's the Suttons’ bracelets. When those are gone, Mrs. Clark, what will you threatenwith next?”

Ignoring a pang of unease, Madeline stood her ground. “You are my daughter. That bond

cannot be broken.”

Though Natasha gave no clear answer, Madeline left confidently. She knew Natasha so well.

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Chapter 40

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With Josephine’s house just burned, Natasha would never let the last emerald bracelet be destroyed.

Lucas, informed that Natasha would come, breathed a sigh of relief. Their misunderstanding can be resolved

over time, but the fact that they're a couple must be made official.

Alexei returned late from a business dinner. Shawn was about to drive him to his nearest property when Alexei

redirected him to Natasha's

apartment.

Shawn thought wryly, ‘Mr. Turner's gotten used to being kept, huh? Choosing this tiny girl's place over a

mansion-shameless.*

But he obeyed instantly and headed to Natasha's apartment. ‘Since Mr. Turner met Miss Clark, his temper’s

softened. A blessing for everyone. Only a fool would let a potential Mrs. Turner slip away,’ he mused.

Sure enough, once downstairs, Shawn was dismissed. As Alexei walked upstairs alone, Shawn silently prayed for

Natasha. He knew the drunken Alexei was no picnic.

But upstairs was opposite his expectation. Alexei unlocked the door with his fingerprint. The apartment was dark,

lit only by streetlight. A small figure was curled on the couch.

Alexei had drunk heavily but wasn’t incapacitated. Alcohol, however, stripped away restraint. Normally, he'd turn

on the lights and ask what was wrong.

Tonight, he shut the door and walked straight to the couch. He gathered the soft form into his arms, settling her

sideways on his lap-an intimacy far beyond their defined relationship.

Natasha had been sitting on the couch, lost in thought, when she'd drifted off to sleep. She jolted awake as

someone lifted her. Her body suddenly pressed against a warm, broad chest.

Her fist flew out, caught in a powerful grip. A body thick with masculine energy pinned her gently but firmly in

place.

If she hadn't recognized the voice, she would've thought sbold intruder had snuck in. “Stop it,” Alexei said.

“What are you doing? Letgo.” Natasha struggled. Alexei held tighter, stroking her hair, pinching her soft

arm-like petting a cat.

Alexei’s head felt fuzzy. Subconsciously, he’d marked her as “safe“-no cloying perfume, no malicious intent. He

felt an overwhelming sense of comfort. His touches grew bolder.

Alexei’s build was already brimming with raw strength, and when drunk, he became

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5:04 pm 50

Chapter 40

positively bullish.

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Exhausted from struggling, Natasha wrinkled her nose at the man nuzzling against her neck. With a flick of her

hand to wave away the smell, she asked, “You're drunk?”

“A bit,” Alexei murmured. “Had a visitor? Got bullied in your home?”

“How do you know?” Natasha was startled.

Alexei smiled, not answering. The disturbed shoes, the misplaced water glass, and the lingering unpleasant

scent-details in darkness screamed at him. Years in danger had honed

his senses.

And he'd noticed Natasha only slept curled on the couch when upset. The confined space gave her security.

Letting her know he’d observed her habits would only make her more audacious.

“Tellabout it?” He rested his head against her neck, his thumb stroking her cheek.

“It was my mom.” Perhaps needing to ease the gloom weighing on her heart, she didn’t hide her embarrassment

from her only listener.

Hearing about the birthday party and the planned engagement announcement, Alexei’s eyes flew open in the

dark. Drunkenness gone, replaced by lethal sharpness.

A silent, cold laugh formed. Alexei knew the Clarks’ hypocrisy—always patching things too late. And Lucas? This

was his formal declaration of war.

Once announced, society would

accept it. That perception would,

disadvagtage pieiha oleic. He

sHsiecit ucas would cement it

,

tomorrow regardless of Natasha's

presence. The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Fingers idly twisting the lock of her hair, Alexei chuckled. “Since they're so eager to invite us,

we must go.”

“Us?” Natasha asked.

“Yeah, I'll go with you.”

“But the Turners’ lunch is tomorrow?”

“No matter. We'll catch the first half at noon, the second in the evening. We'll satisfy all eager spectators.”

Arrogance dripped from Alexei’s perfect features. Natasha heard no reluctance-only eager, almost mad

anticipation.

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Chapter 40

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“What? Don’t wantthere?” He nuzzled her cheek, his gaze intense, thumb brushing her lip.

Natasha leaned back, evading his tease. “Want it? Of course | do.”

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In the darkness, Natasha's brow lifted

slightly, a silent smile curving eee

There was a cpERdEeelen alluring

oF ABodthar, ike a hunter relishing

the moment her fallen right into her

trap. The content is on

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chapter there!

prey had

op,

Natasha thought, ‘I've never been one

to put on airs. To Ryepreeanes

B Co

sn grEponices it? That'd be

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Chapter 41

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