Chapter 35 EX 20 vouchers 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 ? " 1/3 4:34 pm P Chapter 35 : ། 20 vouchers 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 2/3 get this close so fast , this guy must have ulterior motives , ' he thought . 4:34 pm PAA Chapter 35 : t 20 vouchers The apartment was compact . His gaze swept over the dining table : cream soup , dishes , and a large cake adorned with flickering candles . The flickering flames stung his eyes . Lucas finally got it - she didn't need his cake because he was too late . Lucas's gaze shifted to the man who'd prepared all this . He had a sharp , angular face with deep - set eyes ; the side profile revealed a prominent brow ridge , a strong , straight nose , and a chiseled jawline . Dressed in black casuals , he sat at the dining table with unflappable composure , his slender fingers idly twirling the cake . Not even a flicker of emotion when Lucas burst in . There was an aura of quiet authority about him - the poise of someone who held all the strings , calm and in command . Recognition hit Lucas like a jolt ; his eyes narrowed sharply . ' It's him ? The mysterious heir to the Turner family ? ' he mused . Lucas had only caught a distant glimpse of him once at a party . But his striking good looks and formidable presence had stuck in his memory . More than his well - known traits of wielding immense power and having a ruthless temper , what troubled Lucas was the man's shadowy underworld connections and the blood that stained his hands . " What's someone this dangerous doing in Natasha's home ? ' Lucas mused . With thoughts racing , Lucas instinctively stepped protectively in front of Natasha . The two men locked eyes across the room , the air hanging still for a beat . Alexei's expression remained impassive - until his gaze landed on Natasha , shielded behind Lucas . A flicker of displeasure tightened the corner of his eye . 田 AD Comment