Chapter 40 Chapter 40 20 vouchers Natasha's expression was ashen. " I've told you . Lucas and I are over . I 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 . I 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 name mean to me ? You even planned this party without my input . We're long settled . " Natasha sneered . " Settled ? " Madeline snapped . " Let me tell 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 left me a 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 time it was Grandma's house , now it's the Suttons ' bracelets . When those are gone , Mrs. Clark , what will you threaten me with 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 . 1/4 5:04 pm D Chapter 40 20 vouchers 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 some bold intruder had snuck in . " Stop it ," Alexei said . " What are you doing ? Let me go . " 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 2/4 5:04 pm 50 Chapter 40 positively bullish . 20 vouchers 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 . " Tell me about 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 disadvantage Alexei , the outsider . He suspected Lucas would cement it tomorrow regardless of Natasha's presence . 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 . 3/4 5:04 pm 3D Chapter 40 EX 20 vouchers " What ? Don't want me there ? " He nuzzled her cheek , his gaze intense , thumb brushing her lip . Natasha leaned back , evading his tease . " Want it ? Of course I do . " In the darkness , Natasha's brow lifted slightly , a silent smile curving her lips . There was a composed , even alluring air about her , like a hunter relishing the moment her fallen right into her trap . prey had Natasha thought , ' I've never been one to put on airs . To have someone to lean on and not use it ? That'd be dumb . ' AD Comment Send gift No Ads 5:04 pm 2D Chapter 41