Chapter 20
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After Ntasha finished the call, she stepped out of the bedroom, finding the living room empty.
Alexei was nowhere to be found again.
His physique was strong, and by now, he was pretty much recovered. But who knew what he was scheming? He hadn’t made a public appearance yet, though he was spending more and more time outside.
He didn’t go out of his way to hide his identity, so Natasha naturally figured out which family he was from.
Back in the day, the young heir of the Turner family rarely showed up in the media. Natasha thought it was just him being low–key, but now it seemed more like avoiding enemies.
Natasha seriously suspected that, aside from his legitimate businesses, Alexei definitely had some shady dealings under the table.
And the Turner family was even more complicated than hers. Even though Natasha stayed on the fringes of their circle, she’d heard how intense the infighting in the Turner family had been lately- kidnappings, car accidents, tax evasion reports…
With Alexei’s disappearance, the one who’d kept all the factions in check, the ambitions lurking in the shadows had sprouted like weeds. Alexei’s grandpa had been so furious he’d ended up in the ER multiple times.
As a result, his children were now fighting tooth and nail over the potential inheritance.
But none of that had anything to do with a small fry like her.
After submitting her illustrations to her editor, she plopped onto the couch and texted Alexei. [Coming home for dinner tonight?]
In some blood–stained basement, the most aggressively ambitious Melvin lay in a mess of blood and piss, limbs limp like a corpse. Several feet away, his only son, Nathan, blindfolded and wailing like a banshee, was equally terrified.
Under the dim light, a tall, sharp–browed man lounged comfortably in a chair. The shadows highlighted his striking features as his long, pale fingers toyed idly with a small knife.
“Uncle Melvin, I heard you’ve been recruiting a lot of old hands lately and even secured big foreign funding. Guess all that lying low was just prep for this grand comeback, huh? You still it.”
got
Melvin was already a sobbing mess. He had thought that Charles, that ruthless mafia boss, would never fail. But to his shock, Alexei was so damn lucky, escaping even when surrounded by dozens
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Chapter 20
of top–ranked assassins.
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Now Charles’s hideout had been wiped out, and all the pawns Melvin had planted in the Turner Group over decades were uprooted. His recent arrogance felt like a sick joke.
Alexei’s methods were far more terrifying than he’d imagined. This nephew of his, who shared his blood, seemed like a demon straight from hell.
“Alexei, no matter what, I’m still your uncle. If you kill me, your grandfather won’t let you off,” Melvin warned.
“Kill you? What are you thinking, Uncle Melvin? Of course, I won’t kill you. But people have to face the consequences of their actions. I’m just inviting you to watch a little show today.” Alexei sneered.
Melvin’s horrified gaze shifted to his bound son on the other side. “What are you up to?”
“While you were busy playing the big shot, cousin here was having his own fun. A month ago, he slept with someone’s fiancée and got the groom–to–be beating down his door. Then, just over two weeks ago,
he and his trashy friends assaulted an underage girl.
“Even after all that, you still bailed him out in the name of the Turner family. Such rotten genes—I don’t think they should be passed on. What do you say, Uncle Melvin?” Alexei asked.
Melvin’s eyes widened in desperation. “No! Please! Let Nathan go!” The man spent his life spreading his seed everywhere–yet only got one son out of the deal. No matter how many vile things he’d done, his love for Nathan was genuine.
Alexei waved his hand, and on the other side, masked men with medical tools approached Nathan, who was tied to a chair.
“Stay the hell away! What are you doing?!” Nathan thrashed in terror.
Then, a sickening snap echoed through the room, followed by a scream that shook the walls. “Ah! Alexei, I’ll kill you!”
With that, Nathan passed out from the pain. And Melvin’s eyes were bloodshot with rage.
It was over. Everything was over.
He glared at Alexei with a vicious, almost cannibalistic gaze. “Alexei, you little bastard. You’re just getting back at me, aren’t you? You know what?
“Your mom was a slut, a tramp, and you’re the little freak she birthed. You’re both freaks. No wonder everyone fears you! Hates you! No one will ever truly love you in this lifetime!”
“Tsk.” Alexei picked at his ear, unfazed. “Such foul words–cut out his tongue.”
“Yes, sir,” a guard replied.
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“Alexei, how dare you! Ah!” With that, both father and son neatly passed out.
They wouldn’t die, but they’d wish they could.
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The room reeked of blood, the atmosphere suffocating, yet the perpetrator seemed long accustomed to such scenes. Even facing his own blood, he showed not a flicker of emotion.
His towering figure melded seamlessly with the dark, oppressive gloom of the basement.
Just then, his phone, placed to the side, suddenly lit up.
The subordinates, who’d been silently and efficiently cleaning up the scene, noticed the man- who’d just coldly severed a man’s c without blinking, like Satan himself–suddenly break into a radiant smile after reading the message.
He quickly typed a few words on his phone and then tossed the black gloves to someone nearby. “Wrap this up. I’m leaving.”
“Huh? Mr. Turner, there’s an international meeting with East Skeivania later,” Shawn hurriedly reminded.
Alexei didn’t even pause. “Reschedule.”
Shawn was left speechless, murmuring inwardly, ‘Fine. Lately, Mr. Turner has been slacking off more and more.‘
Dylan, who’d just walked in from outside, watched Alexei rush off and turned to Shawn in surprise. “Where’s he off to in such a hurry? Didn’t he have something else scheduled?”
Shawn thought of Alexei’s response and made a face. “He said he’s going home to water his little.
rose.”
Hearing this, Dylan narrowed his eyes in confusion.
‘Pigs were flying. The Grim Reaper had taken up gardening?‘ he thought to himself.
Ever since Alexei said he was coming back for dinner, his phone hasn’t stopped buzzing.
Messages from Natasha kept pouring in one after another.
(Hurry up, I’m starving 1
[What’s for dinner tonight? How about some Fried Catfish?
[We’re out of onions at home. If you’re buying fish, grab some on your way back.)
[I want strawberries and yogurt, pretty please…]
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[Mr. Turner, snack emergency.]
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Anyone who didn’t know better would think she was the one paying three million for room and
board.
But after spending nearly a month together day in and day out, neither of them found anything odd about it.
If Shawn and Dylan saw her bossing around “Satan” like this, their jaws would probably hit the floor.
Luckily, they still weren’t allowed anywhere near Natasha’s little apartment.
Despite the constant stream of complaints and nagging, Alexei was in a great mood.
He approved the menu but vetoed the snacks with a firm “no.”
After leaving the supermarket, he even detoured to a nearby private bakery, stood in line, and bought a small cake.
Melvin cursed him, saying no one would ever love him. But little did Melvin know–Alexei didn’t care. He didn’t need something as weak as love. What he wanted, he’d grab and hold onto tightly
himself.
Of course, calling it “love” or even “like” for Natasha right now would be a stretch. But because of his slight interest, she’d already been marked as part of his territory.
A delicate little rose–he didn’t mind pampering her a bit.
But the flower–keeper’s good mood took a nosedive the moment he spotted that clingy, disgusting figure lurking outside the apartment.
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AD
