Chapter 2



Chapter 2

Three days back, Olivia tracked down Natasha.

"You heard Lucas is gearing up to propose, right?" Olivia said.

55 vouchers

Her gorgeous eyes sparkled with jealousy and a nasty edge. "Rumor has it the family was ready to fast-track an engagement bash, but Lucas? He's all about the big moment. Wants to hear you say 'yes' with his own ears. Man, he's really going all out, huh?"

"What's your point?" Natasha shot back, cool as ice.

Olivia's lips curled into a vicious smirk. "My point? Why does a trainwreck like you get to be happy, Natasha?"

"Wanna make a bet?" she sneered. "I'm calling it-this proposal's gonna crash and burn in three days."

Natasha locked eyes with Olivia. Everyone saw Olivia as this sweet, classy angel, but no one caught the poison in her gaze like Natasha did.

1

Sure, Olivia could've nixed the proposal with one word, but she was playing the long game, waiting for the perfect moment to yank the rug out from under Natasha, just like always.

The proposal was a total flop. Sadie had just bolted after a frantic call from her family, her face pale as a ghost.

She'd offered to drop Natasha off-Natasha had ridden with Lucas-but Natasha overheard it was about her mom and told Sadie to go.

Now, with the place cleared out, Natasha stood alone, staring at the drooping flowers. Thinking back on the night's pathetic proposal, she let out a dry, bitter chuckle.

It was late, the streets dead quiet. Instead of heading home, she wandered along the river, letting the chilly breeze clear her mind.

But it didn't take long to sense something was wrong.

Someone was tailing her.

She faked a selfie, catching a glimpse of a few guys closing in behind her. Heart racing, she picked up her pace, but they stayed right on her tail.

Her fingers slipped, accidentally hitting the emergency contact Lucas had set up a year ago.

Back then, she'd gotten into it with some sleaze hitting on a girl, snapped his arm, and landed in

1/4

8:16 pm Chapter 2

55 vouchers

the police station. Lucas bailed her out, nagging her the whole time about being too reckless.

He'd made himself her emergency contact, telling her to call him if she was ever in a jam-no matter when, no matter where, he'd show up.

Guess this was the first time she'd actually needed it.

Lucas's exhausted voice came through. "Natasha?"

He was already at the hospital. The car crash wasn't too serious, but Olivia-born premature, always delicate-had been rattled bad. Only Lucas could calm her down.

The Clark family was camped out in the waiting room, and he'd just gotten Olivia to doze off when the phone rang, stirring her awake.

"Lucas, someone's following me," Natasha whispered.

A long silence. "Natasha, I can't do this tonight. Quit messing with me."

He thought she was pulling a fast one to drag him away from Olivia.

Madeline, Natasha's mom, overheard and grabbed the phone, her usual warm face now stormy with rage. "Natasha! Your sister's in the hospital, and you can't even bother to show up. Now you're out stirring up trouble in the middle of the night, making up lies?

"When are you gonna act your age? Nobody's leaving Olivia to deal with your crap tonight. Get a grip!"

Click. The line went dead.

Olivia, pale and fragile on the hospital bed, spoke softly. "Mom, don't be mad. What if Natasha's really in trouble?"

Madeline handed the phone back to Lucas, her face heavy with disappointment. "Trouble? The only trouble she's got is trying to steal the spotlight from you when you need us most.

"This isn't her first stunt."

Back in ninth grade, Natasha had called home one night after study hall, swearing she'd been kidnapped and begging the whole family to come save her.

That same night, Olivia had a medical crisis, and the family was already freaking out. When they heard Natasha's news, Madeline nearly collapsed from the

stress.

They rushed to a construction site near her school with the cash she'd demanded, only to find Natasha strolling out, totally fine, not a mark on her. No

kidnappers, no nothing.

Meanwhile, back home, Olivia had passed out alone on the floor.

2/4

8:16 pm

Chapter 2

Turned out, it was all a nasty prank by Natasha. The kidnapping? Totally fake.

55 vouchers

Natasha had bribed the maid to ignore Olivia, knowing she'd be helpless when her condition flared up. By the time they got Olivia to the hospital, the doctors said she'd barely made it.

Furious, Natasha's dad whipped her so hard she landed in the hospital for a month. Even then, she wouldn't apologize to Olivia.

Madeline sighed, wondering when her once-sweet, soft little girl had turned so wild and defiant.

Lucas knew about that drama, too. The Clark family had been pissed, focused

only on Olivia..

During Natasha's hospital stay, they hired a nurse and didn't visit once.

Lucas was the only one who snuck in after school, bringing her snacks and

telling dumb jokes to make her smile.

'Lucas shrugged. 'Can't blame her-I did bail on the proposal halfway through. No shock Natasha's totally ticked off and throwing a fit,' he thought.

He didn't have the energy to play her games. He'd smooth things over tomorrow when she'd cooled off.

He set his phone aside and checked Olivia's forehead. "Fever's down. Get some

sleep, alright?"

Olivia, half-hidden under the blankets, peeked out with worried eyes. "Lucas, I'm so sorry about the proposal.

"It's all my fault. If I wasn't such a mess, I wouldn't be dragging you down."

"Don't talk like that," Lucas said gently. "The crash wasn't on you. And you're

never a burden."

"Lucas..." Her voice faded.

"Sleep."

She closed her eyes, a peaceful smile spreading across her face. Tonight, she'd

drift off into sweet dreams.

The

guy on her tail wasn't in any hurry, like he was playing with a cornered stray.

Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.

Natasha sprinted, phone pressed to her ear, her boyfriend's icy tone cutting through Hexmom's rage crackled over the line, but after so

many letdowns, it didn't even sting anymore. The content is on Novelxo.org! Read the latest

chapter there!

It just left her chest hollow, like someone had carved out a chunk of her heart.

April's breeze should've been warm. But it bite like winter.

3/4

8:16 pm

Chapter 2

Those jerks were steering her toward the dark on purpose.

55 vouchers

She slid to a stop under a gnarled tree, staring blankly at a jagged rock, her face

unreadable.

Fifteen minutes later, it was chaos.

A pack of thugs lay scattered, groaning, clutching shattered arms, busted legs, or

heads split open like overripe fruit.

Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.

Drained, Natasha flopped onto her

back, away from the

Hen

Shakily dialed

blood-streaked hand 91. Then she just stared into the

empty sky, lost in a daze. The content is on Novelxo.org! Read the latest chapter there!

Since that ninth-grade disaster, she'd thrown herself into Muay Thai and self-

defense.

She'd figured out young: nobody would got her back like herself do.

Visit Novelxo.org to read full content.

One idiot with a broken hand tried to

creep up on her. Natasha caught him in the corner of ther

but bef of her eye, fists ready,

but befowner

she could move, a brutal kick sent the guy flying. The content is on Novelxo.org! Read the latest chapter there!

A stupidly gorgeous face leaned into view, the guy looming over her with a sly

grin. "Well, hell. Who's this little scrapper?"

4/4

Some content on the website is uploaded by users. If it infringes on your rights, please contact us.