Lucas was drowning in pain. Everyone pressured him, and guilt over Roderick haunted him relentlessly.


    Eventually, he caved in–with one condition: Natasha must never know. He understood her emotional boundaries, especially with Olivia involved. Even a pretense felt like betrayal.


    Everyone tacitly approved his condition. With Lucas by her side, Olivia’s emotions steadily calmed down. Her suicidal urges ceased, and rpses grew rare. Everyone colluded to cover for them.


    Natasha noticed Lucas favoring Olivia but swallowed her fury–for Roderick’s sake. Her love for Lucas withered daily under this torment.


    It was half a month before Lucas nned to propose. Having grown up together, marriage for them seemed a natural progression.


    Yet Lucas insisted Natash? deserved a proposal like others‘. He’d designed it meticulously<i>, </i>even securing the ring.


    Due to all these preparations, Lucas had been acting furtively those days. Sensing something amiss, Natasha decided to follow him to uncover what he was hiding from her.


    Backstage at a chaotic theater, Natasha saw him. He held Olivia, tenderly kissing her forehead.


    Before this, an obsessive fan had triggered Olivia’s rpse during the curtain call. Lucas had rushed over with flowers for Natasha.


    In the dressing room, only the blooming flowers and the affectionate couple remained. Olivia pouted at Lucas’s ringing phone.


    “Why does Natasha call you so much? You’ve been so attentive to hertely. Tell me, what is she to you?” Her tone was mock–fierce, her eyes trusting.


    Through the half–open door, Natasha met Lucas’s gaze–softness still in his eyes. He paled, froze, and yet hugged Olivia back. Staring at Natasha, he said, “Just a friend.”


    “Just a friend.” The words felt like the universe’s cruel joke for Natasha. The man she believed would always choose her reduced their bond to that.


    There had been warning signs all along. They existed in the special ringtone, the hidden messages, the birthdays he missed, and his growing pity for Olivia.


    Time had finally let Olivia snatch away Natasha’sst treasure: Lucas’s exclusive love, Natasha had broken up with him that very day,


    Lucas refused. Eyes red, he begged, “It’s all an act. Hugs are what Roderick would do. I’ve never loved her. She’s sick–she thinks I’m him. That’s all. Mr. rk and Mrs. rk can vouch for that.”


    4:34 pm PARA.


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    “So you all knew,” Natasha said. Her family and lover had woven a massive lie centered around Olivia for her.


    “I was terrified to tell you,” Lucas admitted desperately. Staring into her eyes, he continued, “If I’d told you about Olivia’s illness then, you’d have broken up with me right away.”


    Lucas knew her so well. Natasha had an instinctive aversion to anything or anyone associated with Olivia. She would never have allowed him to get close to Olivia.


    Natasha didn’t deny it, but lies were even more repulsive. “If she never recovers, will you abandon me every time she calls?” she questioned.


    “Her condition is stabilizing. She’ll be well soon,” Lucas replied.


    You can’t answer my question directly because you know you will, right?” she retorted.


    ‘Roderick died saving me. He loved Olivia, and she’s your sister, too,” Lucas said.


    ‘She’s not!” Natasha eximed.


    Lucas gripped her hands. “Natasha, please. Don’t leave me. We can figure this out.”


    Natasha regarded him frostily. Even if it wasn’t his intention, for Olivia’s sake, he would keep hurting her, just like today. She thought, ‘This time it’s a hug. What’s next? Would they kiss or sleep together?


    And what I’m left with are missed movies, solitary dinners, and forgotten anniversaries. Would I always have to step aside for Olivia?‘ <fn24a9> Readplete version only at FindN()vel</fn24a9>


    Their romantic rtionship had given him the chance to hurt her. From that day forward, their rtionship plunged to an all–time low.


    Knowing the truth, Lucas stopped hiding his visits to Olivia. He would always ask Natasha’s permission first.


    Natasha wondered, ‘If I said no, would he stay away?‘ But seeing his anxious nces at his phone while awaiting her reply, she knew the answer.


    Many thought the proposal was their breaking point. It wasn’t. Natasha had merely given Lucas one final chance. And he had made his choice.


    “If being with me means bearing scorn and others guilting you into choices, would you leave me?” Natasha asked curiously, watching Alexei bustling about in the kitchen.


    Natasha sat on the couch wrapped in a white nket, her loose hair tucked beneath it, leaving only her wless face exposed–like a soft snowball.


    4:34 pm P


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    Alexei ced cream soup on the dining table, removed oven mitts, and scooped Natasha up effortlessly. Seating her at the table, he calmly set the cutlery.


    He responded, “Putting you on a scale means your worth is quantifiable to him. And not choosing you, no matter how many excuses he offers, only proves that in his eyes, you’re less valuable than what’s on the other side.


    “If he wants to be a grateful, upright hero, he’s bound to sacrifice you. As for me, Miss rk, have you forgotten our second meeting? Ingratitude and betrayal are trifling charges to me.”


    ‘Indeed, a man unafraid of bloodshed couldn’t have very high moral scruples,‘ she thought. Natasha should have feared him, yet his darknessforted her strangely.


    Alexei suddenly leaned closer, almost cheek to cheek. “But what truly matters to me, I’d never put it on a scale to bepared with anything. Miss rk, if you wish it off, Miss rk–try a bit harder.”


    ‘Harder? So am I still someone he can weigh the pros and cons of in his heart? Was he expecting me to try harder to win him over and be someone he’d cherish above all else?‘ she mused.


    Natashacked such confidence. She couldn’t imagine anyone making Alexei reckless. Still, she yed along. “How should I try?”


    They were so close that her breath nearly brushed his lips as she spoke. Her freshly bathed skin carried a faint scent of rose, the same as his.


    Natasha’s wless face had barely visible pores, with only her ck eyebrows and red lips adding


    color.


    Natasha was deliberately goading him, yet she didn’t realize that with such a pretty face, no matter how harsh her words were, to him, it was nothing but flirting. And she’d asked how to please him. Alexei’s eyes darkened abruptly.


    They were too close, Just as Natasha tried to pull back, she could hear Alexei’s increasingly heavy breathing. Just as their lips were about to meet, the doorbell rang sharply.


    “Natasha. Open up!” someone shouted.