The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus) novel Chapter 569

Jonas furrowed his brow, shutting his eyes to the world as the vivid image of her radiant face and the gaze that had etched itself into his very marrow haunted him. "Jonas, please, no. I can't forget you! Don't make me forget. Don't erase our child from my memory!"

Those were days filled with the sweetest bliss and the sharpest of pains, where love had seeped into their bones, and heartache had taken residence in their souls.

Duty had called, a mission from his superiors that he could not refuse, and he was forced to wipe her memory clean. He only wanted to temporarily erase her recollections of their life together, promising himself he'd return for her soon. But when he set foot on that familiar land once again, her presence was nowhere to be found.

Three years had vanished, and he had raised their child alone; she had disappeared as if wiped from existence, never to be seen again. If he had known that erasing her memory would result in her vanishing, he would have sacrificed everything to prevent it, rather than enduring a world of pain without her.

Tomorrow, he was to be engaged to Madeline, an inescapable reality.

Cradling the soft bundle in his arms, breathing in the scent that was so achingly hers, Jonas rested his chin on the small shoulder and inhaled deeply. "Max, remember, starting tomorrow, Madeline will be your mom. She's going to love you!" For the first time, he spoke these words carefully to his son.

Max, with a look that mirrored the depth of his father's eyes, coldly shrugged off Jonas' hand and hopped down from his lap. "I’ll never call her mom!"

Max marched upstairs with a glance that could curdle milk and his hands defiantly in his pockets.

Watching the retreating figure, Jonas called out, his voice laden with sorrow, "Max!"

The boy turned, his gaze icy. "Hmph!" The sound of the door slamming echoed through the house like a thunderclap.

Jonas, frowning at the strength of his son's spirit, climbed the stairs with a heavy heart.

In the dead of night, Jonas lay restless in his bed, sleep a stranger to him.

Tomorrow was the day he'd bind himself to Madeline, though his heart rebelled against it. Over the years, Madeline had attempted to end her own life several times, despairing over his reluctance to marry her. His mentor, who had been like a second father to him, had begged Jonas to give his daughter a chance to live in this world.

Three years prior, Jonas had embarked on a classified mission, a year that turned his life upside down. That year, he met Elisea, a woman who would become the cornerstone of his existence.

On the night she was betrayed and injected with a potent drug meant to leave her helpless in the hands of a ruthless man, Jonas caught her pleading eyes. Her silent plea was deafening: Save me!

Without a second thought, Jonas had fought them off and brought her to safety in his room. Although he could have taken her to a hospital, he lost control and used his body as the antidote... resulting in her pregnancy with Max.

Those were the happiest days of his life. She'd waddle around with her pregnant belly, preparing meals for him to come home to.

She'd wrap her arms around him, saying, "Jonas, I love you so much. Meeting you has been the joy of my life."

She'd iron his shirts and pants, ensuring they were crisp, saying, "Jonas, a man's got to be healthy and comfortable."