“Have someone cripple her legs,” Alexei said coldly.


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    If Natasha couldn’t dance, then Alexei would make Olivia forget about ever performing on stage for the rest of her life.


    The rk family always prided themselves on Olivia’s dancing career. Alexei wanted to see what kind of faces they’d make when they saw Olivia crippled.


    He wondered if they would be just as heartbroken as they were when Natasha was injured.


    But Natasha shook her head. “Not yet.”


    “You have a n?” Alexei asked.


    Natasha said, “Yeah. If she retires because of an injury, she’ll always be the untouchable goddess in everyone’s eyes.


    “But I want to tear off her mask, crush her pride, and make her so disgraced that no one would even pity her.”


    Natasha wanted to make everything she obtained through scheming slip through her fingers, right before her eyes, with no way to get it back.


    “Destroy her from the inside, cut her down with a dull de. That’s what you taught me,” Natasha said, winking mischievously.


    Alexei smiled and ruffled her hair. “It’s your move now.”


    After a pause, he added, “Shawn’s at your disposal.”


    “Alexei,” Natasha said while throwing herself at him and wrapping her arms around him.


    She rested her chin on his arm and looked up at him. “Do you want to see me dance?”


    Maybe it was just the feeling of having someone believe in herpletely that made Natasha suddenly feel a spark of excitement.


    Back then, when she felt utterly hopeless, she’d even thought about never dancing again.


    But as she slowly started down a new path, she learned to heal herself, bit by bit, over the


    years.


    No one cared about her. If she hadn’t found a way to pull herself out, she would’ve drowned in that pain for good.


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    The peace


    she felt now was only because she’d already survived the worst of it.


    She realized that there was always more than one road in life.


    Alexei looked at her little head resting on his arm and smiled.


    He knew that she was fragile, but also tough.


    “After we get back?” he asked.


    Natasha thought for a moment and shook her head. “Maybe in a few days. I’m not ready yet.”


    Her family didn’t have a dance studio, and she hadn’t brought any of her practice clothes or gear to the vi<i>. </i>


    She felt a sudden surge of motivation. If she was going to dance in front of Alexei, she had to give it her best.


    She couldn’t keep up with the grueling training of a pro anymore, so these days, dance was ust a hobby for her.


    Still, plenty of teachers had praised her choreography skills.


    Alexei chuckled. “Whatever you say, I’ll be waiting.”


    As they switched topics, the tension from earlier in the car faded away.


    The driver sneaked a look at Alexei in the rearview mirror, surprised by the gentle look on


    his face.


    He thought, ‘Mr. Turner has been smiling a lot moretely, and he seems so much easier to handle these days.


    ‘Of course, nobody ever dared to handle him before.


    The driver couldn’t help butugh at his wild thoughts.


    Ever since he moved into the vi he bought for Natasha, Alexei had been spending more time there than at his own ce.


    Today, as usual, he found himself back at Natasha’s turf.


    Before they left, Daron was already sulking. He couldn’t believe Alexei and Natasha were heading out to have fun and leaving him behind.


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    When Natasha said goodbye, he only showed her his grumpy back as he sat stubbornly at the front door, refusing to even look at them.


    Since they were both in such a good mood today, they took a detour to the mall on their way home and grabbed a few toys for Daron.


    Alexei was ying with the little ball in his hand. “You’re really good to him.”


    Hearing the mock–serious tone in his voice, Natasha’s mind shed and she replied earnestly, “Of course!


    “It’s because his owner treats me so well. You treat me kindly, so I’ll return the favor.”


    Alexei gave her a half–smile. “You’ve got a silver tongue.”


    Natasha just smiled with a clueless look, pretending she didn’t get it.


    They dawdled all the way home, and by the time they finally walked through the door, it was already prettyte.


    But tonight, Daron wasn’t waiting at the door. Instead, a familiar girl was squatting there.


    When the headlights swept over, Michelle, whose legs had gone numb from squatting so long, suddenly brightened up.


    ‘Alexei!” she called out.


    Then, spotting Natasha, she quickly lowered her head and greeted obediently, “Hi.”


    As soon as she spoke, Natasha was stunned by how Michelle’s attitude did a total 180.


    And Alexei, who had been frowning at the way she’d so casually called him Alexei, slowly let his frown fade.


    ‘Michelle?” he asked.


    His tone was sure, but his eyes showed no recognition at all.


    Michelle, who had finally talked herself into moving on, felt like she’d just taken another arrow straight to the heart.


    ‘Damn, he really doesn’t remember me at all,‘ she thought.


    She nodded, lookingpletely deted. “Yeah, Alexei, it’s me. I am Rhea’s niece.”


    “What are you doing here?” Alexei asked.


    5:23 pm ￡


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    Michelle scuffed her toe against the ground, her head hanging so low it was almost touching


    her chest.


    She snuck a nce at Natasha, who lookedpletely indifferent to her mumbled, “I came to apologize to sis.”


    presence,


    and


    Once the words were out, she closed her eyes and suddenly gave a deep, formal bow.


    She said, “I’m sorry, Natasha. There was never any engagement between me and Alexei. That was just my wishful thinking.


    “I shouldn’t have barged in, spected about you, or spoken to you <i>so </i>harshly. I’m really sorry!”


    Her apology was so sincere and loud that Natasha almost thought she could hear it echoing in the hallway.


    She nced at Alexei.


    Right then, Alexei finally started to piece together who Michelle was.


    Back when he was a kid, Rhea had looked after him. As he got older, he’d sometimes visit her, though not all that often.


    Since Rhea loved Michelle a lot, Michelle would oftene over to keep herpany.


    It was only natural they’d bump into each other now and then.


    Michelle had a crush on Alexei since he was a cool and aloof older boy when she was young.


    Even during the years Alexei was overseas, she still secretly followed any news about him.


    But back then, Alexei’s world was filled with nothing but survival and vengeance. He could not possibly notice a little girl he’d only run into a couple of times.


    In his mind, Michelle’s name and face were just a vague blur. All he really remembered was that she was Rhea’s rtive.


    Seeing both of them stay silent, Michelle put on a pitiful face. “I’m sorry, I really don’t dare to mess up again.”


    After gettingpletely shot down by Natasha that day, she went straight to Rhea, hoping


    for somefort.


    But instead offorting her, Rhea just chewed her out.


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    The so–called engagement was just a joke Rhea and Natasha’s mom made when they were young. They only mentioned it once. But Michelle already had a crush on Alexei, so she took it seriously.


    In fact, Michelle and Alexei were not even born when that joke was made.


    Besides, even though Rhea wouldn’t say she really understood Alexei, she could still tell what kind of person he was.


    He wasn’t someone who’d be swayed by morals or old favors.


    She never thought about asking him for anything because of the past, especially since she didn’t think she’d ever really helped him much.


    All she hoped was that she could help Unity raise her son.


    Michelle was Rhea’s brother’s only daughter, and the whole family spoiled her. She had a few bad habits, but nothing too serious.


    Rhea had no clue what was really going on in Michelle’s head.


    She didn’t expect that, after getting egged on by someone, Michelle would actually go and recklessly pick a fight with Alexei’s girlfriend.


    Rhea was furious and embarrassed at the same time.


    No matter what kind of rtionship Natasha had with Alexei, it was the first time he’d ever stood up for someone like that in public.


    As an elder, Rhea knew she had to treat it seriously.


    She would’ve never thought the problem woulde from her family.


    She chewed out Michelle, telling her that the whole engagement thing was nonsense, and ordered her to apologize to Natasha.


    She also made it clear that if Alexei got angry and came after her, she wouldn’t stop him.


    Michelle was left reeling by the scolding.


    It was the first time Rhea had ever been so harsh with her.


    But she wasn’t the type to ignore advice.


    Her secret crush on Alexei was just her issue. The way he spoke to her on the phone made everything crystal clear. She just couldn’t swallow her pride.


    5:23 pm


    Chapter 72 <fnf4f5> Th?s chapter is updated by fin?novel</fnf4f5>


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    But before she could even catch her breath, more setbacks came crashing down on her.


    Michelle was nearly in tears. “Natasha, Alexei and I really aren’t close at all. I just secretly watched him a couple of times when I went to my aunt’s ce for dance lessons.


    <b>“</b>As long as you forgive me, I’ll do anything you want.”


    Natasha’s eyes lit up. “You study dance?”


    The way Natasha stared at her made Michelle’s skin crawl. She mumbled, “Yeah.”