The cemetery was remote, and with the heavy rain today, no one but the rks had chosen this day to visit.


    In the vast grounds, it seemed only the sound of rain and Natasha’s breathing could be heard.


    She stood before the grave, eyes locked on the smiling face of the woman in the photo, letting the rain pound against her face–and her heart.


    Natasha murmured to herself, “Is this my punishment? But wasn’t Grandma your family too? Why? Can I just give you my life back?”


    It was freezing, yet Natasha’s body was burning. By the end, she was almost rambling incoherently.


    Natasha felt like a stray piece of driftwood floating alone in a boundless sea, only to be forgotten, rot away, and sink without a trace.


    At the very moment Natasha copsed, arge ck umbre appeared above her, and a pair of strong arms caught her.


    Then that piece of driftwood was lifted out of the water again.


    “Natasha, let’s go home.” The sharp lines of Alexei’s face had softened under the rain, his voice carrying a rare gentleness.


    Natasha let herself sink peacefully into his embrace.


    *****


    Lucas had felt uneasy since morning. After pacing the living room more than a dozen times, he finally grabbed his car keys and headed for the door.


    Even though Natasha had purposely provoked himst time–nearly getting him dragged to the police station by her neighbor–Lucas still felt he should be with her on such an important day. <fn7637> For original chapters go to find~novel</fn7637>


    Just as he was about to leave, something came to mind, and Lucas went back to his room to fetch a small box. Inside was the gift he had personally picked out for her,


    For years, because of Emilia’s death, the rk family avoided acknowledging Natasha’s birthday.


    Only Lucas insisted on quietly sneaking Natasha out every year on this day to celebrate with her.


    Thest two years, Lucas had missed her birthday. After all, it was also the day Olivia mourned


    most.


    But this year, Lucas didn’t want to miss it again.


    4:33 pm PS


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    But just as he reached the door, he ran into Margot. Ignoring his impatience, she pulled him into the study. “Your grandfather’s birthday ising up. I picked out a few gifts–help me decide.”


    “Mom, I’ve got something to do. We can talk when I get back,” Lucas replied.


    Margot’s face darkened. “What could possibly be more urgent than your grandfather?”


    Seeing his restlessness, Margot grew even more annoyed. “Their family’s going to the cemetery. What’s that got to do with you? Isn’t it inappropriate for an outsider to run around getting involved? And if you go celebrate Natasha’s birthday, how do you expect Olivia to feel?”


    Lucas’s jaw tightened, his voice unconsciously rising. “What about how Natasha feels? We’ve known each other for twenty years, and because of Olivia, I’ve stood her up two years in a row.”


    Margot let out a coldugh. “In any case, you’re not going. Tell me this–if Olivia and Natasha end


    in conflict, whose side are you on?”


    up


    “Natasha’s, of course,” Lucas replied without hesitation.


    Margot just stared at him in silence.


    Under that all–seeing gaze, Lucas couldn’t help but think about how,tely, he’d been standing against Natasha time and time again, pushing her further and further away. His breath caught in his


    chest.


    Margot patted his hand. “Fine. If you can’t make up your mind, then just avoid being anywhere they’re both present. That way, you won’t end up pleasing neither side.”


    In her eyes, the tangled mess between the two rk daughters was something Lucas shouldn’t get involved in–at most, he could marry whichever one came out on top.


    Seeing his mood sour, Margot added casually, “Alright. Just wait until the right time and way, you can be the one <i>to </ifort her.” <ol><li>go. </li></ol>


    That


    By the time Lucas finally headed out, two hours had passed. He called Thomas first to find out where Natasha was.


    “What?” Lucas shot to his feet, his voice a mix of frustration and anger. “So in this downpour, you just left her at the cemetery?”


    Thomas exined, “That’s because she pped Olivia right in front of Aunt Emilia.”


    Lucas didn’t hear a word after that. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a cab out there? She’s not scared being alone? Not long ago she ran into a creep, remember?”


    Hearing this, Thomas felt a pang of regret at that.


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    He nced at Olivia’s closed bedroom door before rubbing his temples. “Fine, I’ll send you the location. Go bring her back. She probably hasn’t left yet.”


    After a pause, Thomas added, “She might have caught a chill. Have your housekeeper take care of her for a few days. I’ll cover the cost.”


    ‘If I send someone from the rk house, she’ll never agree, Thomas thought.


    “Don’t bother. I’ll handle it.” Lucas hung up and sped toward the cemetery.


    On the way, Lucas regretted losing those two hours. Because of the weather, traffic was sparse, and the closer he got, the more deste the roads became.


    It took over an hour to get there. The moment he stepped out of the car, Lucas spotted a tall man carrying a woman down the mountain path.


    The woman wore a ck dress, her face buried in the man’s chest, a suit jacket draped over her shoulders. Only a pair of pale legs showed beneath the hem.


    The rain made it impossible to see their faces clearly, but something about them felt familiar. It wasn’t until Lucas watched them get into a ck Rolls–Royce that realization hit him.


    Lucas had no time to dwell on why anyone else would choose today to visit. He quickly snapped back to focus and ran up the mountain with his umbre.


    But the front of grave was empty–only a bouquet of liliesy soaked by the rain.


    Lucas stood in the downpour, feeling an odd, hollow sense of loss. It seemed he and Natasha were always missing each other.


    Inside the car, the driver quietly raised the privacy screen the moment the engine started.


    In the spacious backseat, Alexei still hadn’t put Natasha down. Soaking wet, she sat on hisp as he held her.


    Natasha’s voice was faint. “I’m getting your car all wet.”


    Alexei wiped the rain from her face with a towel. “Yeah, so you’ll have to be my driver next time as punishment.”


    I thought you were overseas?” Natasha asked. She remembered Arabe saying Alexei wouldn’t be back for another two weeks.


    “I was,” Alexei replied, “but I remembered today was important, so I came back early,”


    “What’s so important?” Natasha asked, resting against his chest, her tone indifferent.


    “My future wife’s birthday,” Alexei said.


    4:33 pm <b>P </b>


    En


    Es


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    Alexei had read about the significance of this date. The moment he learned, he’d rescheduled important meetings to fly home–worried that someone might give her a hard time again.


    Besides, Alexei hade straight to the cemetery from the airport, following the location Shawn had sent him. But even then, he’d beente.


    Remembering the sight of her earlier, soaked through like a stray kitten, Alexei narrowed his eyes.


    At that time, Natasha noticed therge cake sitting on the empty seat beside them.


    It looked beautiful, the kind of cake that had to taste as good as it looked.


    “Alexei.” Natasha said quietly, “don’t you know? They all say today is unlucky and not worth celebrating.”


    Alexei let out a coldugh. “Who says that? They’re out of their minds. I say any day that brought Mrs. Turner into this world is the best, most precious day there is.”


    Alexei lifted her chin, locking his eyes on hers. “Forget what they say. Tell me–does it make you happy if I celebrate your birthday?”


    His gaze was like a deep, endless pool. Natasha could only nod.


    Seeing this, Alexei smiled in satisfaction and ruffled her hair.


    “Alexei,” Natasha said, ncing at the cake box, hesitating, “are you this nice to every business partner?”


    4:34 pm <b>P </b>