The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus) novel Chapter 536

She let out a wistful sigh, her gaze forlorn as she turned to face Rebecca. "Rebecca, I have no idea what kind of storm you've weathered to become who you are today. But it's only now that I realize how unpredictable this life is. So often, you can't even guess when calamity will strike, leaving you defenseless, with no choice but to grit your teeth and endure."

Rebecca's eyes remained fixed on Natalia, unblinking as if she didn't quite grasp the weight of her words.

With a melancholy smile, Natalia continued, "You know, before I went to the hospital, I was just your average happy woman, with a loving husband and son, living a blissful life. But it's all been undone by illness. The doctors say I have ALS, like Stephen Hawking had. Soon, I won't be able to take care of myself. I’ll be fully aware of my own suffering but utterly powerless to stop it. If there's such a thing as torture in this world, this must be the cruelest kind."

Rebecca remained silent, her expression unreadable.

Natalia sighed deeply once more. "What am I to do, Rebecca? I don't want Magnus to see me in such a pitiful state. But I can't bear the thought of leaving him, knowing how heartbroken he'd be. I've weathered many storms before, but this time, I just don't know how I'll get through."

"Don't try to get through it then. All this is just karma for your past deeds." Rebecca's voice, suddenly raspy and raw, took Natalia by surprise. "Rebecca, how can you suddenly speak?"

Rebecca threw back her head and laughed. "Natalia, who would've thought you'd see the day? This is your comeuppance!"

Natalia was startled. She couldn't fathom how the Rebecca she knew could have changed so drastically. "Who are you, really?" Natalia demanded, her voice steady as she scrutinized Rebecca's impassive face. But her vision began to blur, her eyelids felt heavy as lead, and her body slumped to the ground, her consciousness slipping away...

When Natalia awoke, she found herself trapped on a decrepit cruise ship. She looked around frantically and spotted Rebecca standing not far off, looking down at her with disdain. "Oh, Natalia, to think you'd see such a day. Isn't karma delightful? After all the wrongs you've done, it's only fitting you face this trial!"

Natalia quickly regained her composure. "You're not Rebecca. Who are you?"

"Ah, Natalia, maybe you're not as foolish as I thought. Too bad you realized too late!" With that, Rebecca peeled off a lifelike silicone mask, revealing her true identity.

"Alice!?" Natalia was aghast, unable to believe that Rebecca was actually Alice.

Alice's eyes were filled with venom as she glared at Natalia. "Who else did you expect? I'm sure you've wronged so many people that you can't even keep track. Right?"

Natalia shook her head in disbelief. "Alice, what are you doing? Why have you brought me here? Release me at once."