The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus) novel Chapter 421

Magnus' roar yanked Hector back to reality, his voice a tempest of fury. "You bastard! What the hell are you good for? You’re with her every day, and you let some thug snatch her away and nearly strangle her! Do you think you can give Nat happiness? Dream on! If I had been in Hawaii, none of this would have ever happened!"

With those final, biting words, Magnus hung up, leaving Hector standing in the same spot, phone in hand, and stunned into silence.

Without wasting another moment, Magnus ordered a helicopter to fly him back to Hawaii overnight. By the time Magnus' plane touched down in Hawaii, it was the following morning. He rushed to Hector's villa like a man possessed, sprinted up the stairs, and burst through the bedroom door to see Natalia lying in bed with an IV dripping into her veins.

"Darling!" he cried out, his voice cracking with the weight of a night's worth of worry and travel. Only now, seeing her safe, did his heart feel like it belonged to him again.

He approached softly, and his heart shattered at the sight of her swollen face and the dark bruises around her neck. Gently, he cradled her in his arms. "Darling, I'm so sorry, this is all my fault," he whispered, tears glistening in his eyes, grateful to the heavens above that she was alive.

If anything had happened to her, he would never have forgiven himself.

"Don't touch her. She's on an IV. Her windpipe is damaged. It could get infected if it's not treated properly," Hector warned, stepping into the room.

Magnus reluctantly set Natalia down and took her hand, sitting by her bedside. She remained asleep, unaware of the world around her.

"Why isn't she at the hospital?" he asked, his tone softening despite the urgency of the situation. He wasn't thrilled about her being in Hector's bed, but that was the least of his worries now.

Natalia's eyes fluttered open at that moment, and a weak smile spread across her lips when she saw Magnus' anxious face. She tried to speak, "I'm okay, don't worry…" but her voice was a mere whisper, the pain in her throat stifling her words.

"Don't talk, Nat. Your vocal cords are bruised. You need to stay silent for a few days to avoid inflammation," Hector instructed.

Magnus felt an overwhelming wave of sorrow. "Darling, you don’t have to say anything. It's all my fault. I will never leave for Melfort again, I'm so sorry."

Natalia managed a pained smile and shook her head while Hector let out a snort and left the room.

Once Natalia had finished her IV treatment, Magnus carried her back to his place, determined to care for her himself. Hector started to protest, but seeing Natalia cling tightly to Magnus' neck, he held his tongue and let them go.

Magnus took leave from his company, dedicating his days to Natalia's care. When the doctor finally gave her the all-clear to speak, she rejoiced in the simple pleasure of conversation.

"It's good to talk again. Being mute would have been so awful," Natalia said with a laugh.

Holding her close, Magnus replied, "Even mute, you'd still be my darling. You scared me half to death!"

Natalia noticed how worn he looked, his beard untrimmed and hair disheveled from days of worry and care. She nestled into his embrace. "Honey, if it weren't for Hector, I might not be here. That maniac wanted to kill all women!"

Magnus' heart sank further at her words. He'd failed to protect her when she needed him most, and it was Hector who had been there instead.

"Darling, I'm sorry. I've failed to protect you." He brushed her shoulder gently, gazing at her tenderly. He kissed her eyelashes softly, a silent apology.

Natalia closed her eyes. "It's not your fault. How could you have known?"