The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus) novel Chapter 373

At the office, Natalia knew that Magnus had come looking for her. Her heart tangled in knots, uncertain of how to face him. Then, Hector volunteered to go downstairs to meet Magnus, and Natalia, in a flurry of panic, dashed to the surveillance room to spy on their encounter from behind the screens.

Though she couldn't hear their words, Natalia watched clear as day as Magnus’ fist swung out, knocking Hector to the ground.

Witnessing Magnus’ loss of control, Natalia felt her heart wrench painfully. For a fleeting moment, she saw the Magnus from six years ago, who was just as violent and prone to throwing punches at Cal whenever he lost his temper. Now, this scene was repeating itself with Hector as the target.

Natalia's anxiety spiked at the sight of Magnus, her heart filling with boundless disappointment. This time, she knew there was no going back to him. Whether it was because of the vow she'd been forced to make or for Hector's sake, she had to choose a complete separation from Magnus.

She had no other choice.

“Magnus, even the deepest of affections can't withstand what we have experienced. You and I, we're destined to become strangers.”

As these thoughts coursed through her mind, Natalia suddenly felt a chill. She wrapped her arms around herself, knowing the cold stemmed from her profound disappointment in Magnus.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The urgent pounding at the door broke through Natalia's reverie. She shook off her daze, leaped from the sofa, and walked toward the door. Slowly, she opened it, "Who's there?"

But when Natalia saw Magnus standing outside, the casual smile on her face froze. "You?"

"Natalia."

There was Magnus, appearing so abruptly, his face sickly pale with an air of endless solitude and desolation. His reddened eyes were brimming with sorrowful tears. He stared at Natalia as if trying to etch her entire being into his memory, to take her with him.

A pang of heartache shot through Natalia. During the fashion show earlier, she had fled in haste, without a chance to truly see him. Now, looking at him, so gaunt and barely human, it seemed he could collapse at any moment. Indeed, he had passed out before her escape. It seemed he hadn't been taking care of himself over the past year.

Natalia silently observed the marked aging in Magnus’ features, a flicker of pity crossing her heart. She recalled the times he'd been poisoned, and all that he'd been through, feeling like waves crashing inside her.

Why would he torment himself like this? Without her, he could have started a new life!

Why couldn't he let things be and insist on confronting her, causing her such pain?

Facing the emaciated Magnus and his dark eyes filled with longing for her, Natalia suppressed the turmoil in her heart and said coldly, "Mr. Andersen, what are you doing here?"

"I..." Magnus struggled to speak, overwhelmed by Natalia's distant tone. He took a deep breath, mustering all his strength to resist the urge to pull her into his embrace. "Wifey..."