The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus)

Chapter 55

A sudden shout rang out from behind her, two figures converging at once to wrap her in a bone-

crushing hug. "You little hellion, do you have any idea how worried we've been?" The first voice was

choked with emotion. "We've been sick with worry, barely eating or sleeping. Look at us, we're nothing

but skin and bones now!"

"Oh, for heaven's sake, cut out the dramatics, will ya?" Natalia grumbled, struggling to breathe under

their enthusiastic grasp.

Their reunion was a riot of laughter and tears, drawing curious glances from their classmates. When

they noticed Natalia's return, they all came over to greet her.

"Spill it, where have you been hiding these last few months? I've been to your house a couple of times,

but your mom wouldn't say a word about where you were. And your sister? She avoids us like the

plague!" Sabrina complained, gripping Natalia's hand tightly.

The school bell interrupted them, signaling the start of class. Natalia glanced at her friends, sighing

deeply. "It's a long story. Let's get to class, and I'll fill you in later."

"Deal!" They agreed, entering the classroom just as the teacher made her way to the podium.

Despite her long absence, Natalia was a quick learner. With a little help from Sabrina and Lexi, she

was able to catch up on the lessons she had missed.

Once class was over, the trio made their way to a quiet corner of the school. Lexi shot Natalia a worried

look, her patience wearing thin.

"Do you have any idea how heartbroken Hector was after you left? He barely comes to school, and

when he does, he's hardly present."

"We once saw him drowning his sorrows at the local bar. He's been a wreck without you, Natalia. We

all know how deeply he cares about you."

Natalia felt a pang of guilt at their words. "How is he doing now?"

"Well, he's barely holding it together. His dad is planning on sending him to the States earlier than

planned." Lexi finished, studying Natalia's expression closely.

Natalia felt a wave of despair wash over her. Even if she wanted to, there was no way she could

continue where she and Hector left off. Her current situation was complicated, to say the least. She

didn't feel worthy of him anymore. Everything seemed to be slipping away.

"Natalia, where the hell have you been these past few months? You nearly scared us to death!"

Sabrina exploded, unable to hold her frustration in any longer.

Natalia studied her friends' worried expressions, deciding to confide in them. After all, they were her

only confidantes.

"I..." She began, faltering for a moment before gritting her teeth and blurting out, "I got married. I

married Mr. Magnus Andersen."

Sabrina and Lexi's jaws dropped in shock. "You're married to Magnus, the new CEO of Andersen

Corporation - the wheelchair heartthrob?!"

"What?!" Natalia choked on her laughter, finding her friends' reaction amusing.

"Oh my God, Natalia! You're married to the wheelchair heartthrob. The guy who's been making all the

girls swoon despite being on a wheelchair. He's the talk of the town, a real celebrity in Melfort."

"OMG! Natalia, how did you end up marrying him? You've broken so many hearts! We heard he's been

hiding on a secluded island for nine years before he came back to take the helm of Andersen

Corporation."

Natalia stared at her friends in disbelief. Were they actually envious of her situation?

"Spill the details, how's it like being with the wheelchair heartthrob? We heard he's not into women.

Now that you're his wife, have you... you know?"

"Considering his condition, how does it work? Are you always on top?"

"And he always seems so aloof. Is he passionate with you?" Their barrage of questions had Natalia

retreating.

She couldn't believe her friends were more interested in the intimate details of her relationship than the

fact that she got married at such a young age.

At six in the evening, Natalia walked out of the school gates, planning to catch dinner with Sabrina and

Lexi. There was so much to talk about since they had just reunited.

Linden's car was parked at the school gates. He spotted Natalia and immediately stepped out of the Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

vehicle. "Madam, Mr. Magnus has sent me to pick you up from school."

"Wow! Natalia, you lucky girl! The wheelchair heartthrob sent someone to pick you up!"

Natalia felt her cheeks heating up in embarrassment. Why did Magnus have to send someone to pick

her up? Now, all her classmates knew about it. They had agreed not to make their marriage public to

avoid disrupting her school life.

Only Sabrina and Lexi knew the truth. The rest of her classmates assumed she had been absent for a

few months due to some family issue. As she waved goodbye to her friends, Natalia resolved to tell

Magnus not to send Linden to pick her up from school again.

As the car pulled away, Sabrina and Lexi were still rooted to the spot in shock. "Did we just dream all of

that? Is Natalia really back, and is she married to the wheelchair heartthrob?" Lexi asked in disbelief.

Sabrina gave her a playful smack on the head. "Wake up, Lexi. Natalia is indeed married!"

As they parted ways, Sabrina couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy. In some ways, her life was

quite similar to Natalia's. Though not from a prominent family, her father and grandfather were both

military men. Her grandfather had once saved a fellow soldier's life, and the two families had been

close ever since.

A few years ago, her grandfather had arranged for Sabrina's sister, Melinda, to marry the son of his old

comrade. But Melinda died in a car accident in the States a few months later. Heartbroken, her

grandfather arranged for Sabrina to marry her sister's intended instead, in order to honor the promise

he made to his old friend. Sabrina was left with no choice but to agree to her grieving grandfather and

parents' wishes following her sister's demise. She'd agreed to marry a stranger once she graduated.

Just one more year and she'd be wed to a man she didn't even know. Life was far from fair to her. She

was denied the freedom to choose her own husband. Despite her cheerful demeanor, she was nursing

a deep-seated anguish that she kept to herself.

When Natalia returned to Maplewood Manor, May had already cooked dinner. The moment she

stepped inside, she noticed Magnus lounging on the sofa, engrossed in some documents.

"Back already? How was your first day at school?" Magnus asked without looking up, his deep voice

resonating through the living room.

Natalia placed her backpack down and turned to face Magnus, who was lying on the sofa.

Magnus had already looked up to observe her. She was in a simple blue dress and flat shoes, the

epitome of a student. He patted the seat next to him. "Come here."

Natalia walked over, gazing into his deep eyes. "Magnus..."

"Shush!" He silenced her just as she was about to speak.