hapter 175
<b>Chapter </b>175
“I’m sorry,” said Lucas.
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Natasha listened to Lucas, opposite her, apologized, her face betraying no
emotion.
It was ironic. This was the only one that felt truly sincere, of all the times Lucas had apologized to her. The reason was that he himself had finally experienced what it felt like to have his position usurped.
“Natasha!” Lucas grabbed Natasha’s wrist as she turned to leave, his eyes filled with pain. “If… if I had realized my mistake sooner, would we not be in this situation today?”
Natasha pulled her hand free, her expression calm. “No. Our ending would only ever be a breakup.”
She looked at Lucas, who was surprised. “Our problem wasn’t whether you understood my situation at that time. It was that your needs always came before mine. You wanted a good reputation, to be a perfectly good person, to maintain dignity, and to conform to societal norms. Every single one of those things was more important than loving me.”
She smiled, thinking of the scene she had just witnessed. “Don’t act as if you can’t live without me. Lucas, is it so hard to admit your greed?”
While iming <i>to </i>love her, he kept going on blind dates to solidify his status. First, there was Esther, and today, another youngdy from an unknown family.
He was smarter this time. He didn’t put on such airs as he did with Esther.
A man’s regret is worth nothing.
“No, I just…” said Lucas,
He couldn’t articte it. Was he supposed to say he just wanted to climb higher so he could take Natasha back when they broke up?
Natasha shrugged. “I’ll ask you this: If we were still together today, but Wyatt appeared, and I still cut ties with the rk family, and your father asked you to
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choose between the family business and me, who would you choose? Or would you marry someone they chose while still stringing me along and refusing to let go?”
Lucas fell silent.
Lucas, as a teenager, would have directly chosen Natasha, but could an adult Lucas, as an adult, still give the same answer with a clear conscience?
Natasha shook her head.
‘See?‘ thought Natasha. ‘That’s the difference between Lucas and Alexei.
‘If Alexei were standing before me now, he would definitely say he wants both without hesitation.’
Only with power and status could Natasha live a better life and avoid being bullied. With rightful standing, she could stand tall and proud in front of others.
It wasn’t a choice, because Alexei would never weigh her against anything.
Ultimately, Lucas could notpletely separate himself from the Wright family. He depended on his father and must live by his father’s approval.
Lucas wants it all. He would subconsciouslypromise Natasha’s interests first, so he couldn’t speak candidly.
Alexei wants it all. He would fight for it himself, smooth the path, ovee all difficulties, and then proudly let Natashafortably enjoy the fruits of hisbor.
She and Lucas were truly ipatible.
No matter how the path of destiny unfolds, the fundamental nature of their personalities would cause them to drift further and further apart.
Realizing what she left unsaid, Lucas’s shoulders slumped in defeat.
Then, someone passed behind them and identally bumped into Natasha.
She stumbled and lurched forward.
Lucas instinctively reached out to steady her, but Natasha swiftly pulled away.
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He suppressed his emotions and said disappointedly, “Even if we’re not a couple, we’ve known each other for so many years. Can’t we still be friends?”
Natasha’s eyes widened, her expression saying, “Listen to what you’re saying. Is that even reasonable?”
Natasha thought, ‘He wouldn’t think one apology would resolve everything, would
he?
‘Being friends with his ex? It’s sickening that he could even suggest that.’
‘I should have known better than waiting for Alexei here. I’m unlucky!’
Lucas opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but remembering Alexei’s previous warning, he ultimately stepped back.
He should be content with a chance encounter and a brief conversation.
“They seemed to be having a pleasant chat. I heard first loves are the hardest to forget. Mr. Turner, do you think Natasha can truly forget Lucas, who was both her brother figure and her lover?” said Olivia.
At the deck entrance, Olivia appeared beside Alexei, looking at Lucas and Natasha, who seemed intimately close, from that angle.
Alexei lowered his head and looked at Olivia, who was stirring up trouble while unable to conceal her jealousy.
He ran into all sorts of strange characters today.
“Miss Sutton, if you can’t hook up with Lucas again, everyone will look down on you,” said Alexei.
He didn’t answer Olivia, but retorted with sarcasm.
Alexei thought, ‘What’s wrong with a first love? Only ipetent cowards dwell on the past.
‘Natasha has said her rtionship with Lucas, thanks to Miss Sutton, became less intimate as a couple than when they were just friends.
‘Speaking of which, Olivia is my benefactor.
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‘Do I look foolish? To get jealous and argue with Natasha over a few cynical remarks from outsiders<b>?</b>‘
Alexei looked at Olivia as if she were trash.
Olivia assumed no man, especially a sessful one, would be alright with his partner having exes. Yet, even after seeing them being close, Alexei’s reaction greatly exceeded her expectations
‘Has Natasha clouded Alexei’s judgment?‘ thought Olivia. ‘Isn’t he afraid their old me will reignite? Won’t he think Natasha is indecisive and that it will create a rift
between them?‘
However, Alexei’s attitude said it all.
With a bitter expression, she looked toward Lucas, who had moved away, but his gaze remained fixed on Natasha.
‘Natasha is always luckier than me. First, he was with Lucas, then with Alexei. Why is Natasha always the favored one?‘ thought Olivia again.
Alexei’s patience ran out, and he walked straight over and called out, “Natasha.”
Natasha turned around, saw him, and broke into a smile.
“You’re finally here,” she pouted, mutteringints at him. “You took forever.”
Alexei obediently took the scolding, reaching out to put her coat on her. “Sorry, baby, I was wrong.”
After she put on the coat, he kissed her lips. “Are you cold?”
Natasha touched his face with her cold hands.
Alexei frowned and frustratedly grasped her hand. “Why are you so cold? Let’s go back. I’ll have them make you a cup of hot cocoa.”
He regretted wasting that time.
Natasha snuggled into his arms, grinning. “No, thanks,” she said. “I’ll be fine once I warm up.”
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She was being yful and stayed out in the wind too long. Hot cocoa wasn’t necessary, and she didn’t like it anyway.
Alexei held her hand and kissed it. After waiting a moment and seeing her warm up, he finally sighed in relief.
After confirming she was fine, Alexei began to act pitifully. “Baby, Olivia mocked me when you were talking to Lucas. She said you’d never forget your first love and that I’d always be second. You once loved someone else more than me. Is that true?”
He wore an expression that screamed, “I’m hurt, but I won’t say it. I’m trying not to be jealous, but I do care.”
Natasha’s eyes widened.
She thought, ‘Olivia actually spread such rumors about me and fabricated lies to make Alexei so upset?
‘Does Lucas deserve me? Those damned lunatics!‘
Ramona had just finished dealing with Chloe, who suffered a ‘sudden recurrence of an old ailment‘ in the hallway. She had furiously given numerous instructions for more staff to manage security for tonight’s ballroom dance. As Ramona was about to head to the deck to cool off, she saw Natasha, enraged, pass by, with Alexei, who was inexplicably pleased with himself and secretly enjoying something.
Ramona’s lips moved as she stretched out her hand dramatically.
However, no one saw her.
Ryan, who arrived a momentter, nudged Ramona’s shoulder from behind. “Ramona, what are you doing standing here frozen?”
Ramona gazed in the direction the two people who had passed her went. Over by the sea, Olivia and Lucas were intensely arguing about something.
Ramona suddenly asked, “What time is it?” <fn6b89> Checktest chapters at ?ovelFind</fn6b89>
Ryan nced at his watch nkly. “It’s four in the afternoon. Why?”
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Ramona closed her eyes resignedly.
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‘Great, it’s a two–day, one–night trip, and not even one day has passed yet. I’m going to kill the person responsible for the invitation!‘ thought Ramona.
“Now! Immediately! Right now! Get someone to the deck!” Ramona roared furiously.
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