The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus) novel Chapter 451

Natalia sat motionless on the porch, her gaze hollow, as if deaf to the world around her. Magnus stooped down, spooning a bowl of porridge with a hint of cinnamon and applesauce toward Natalia's lips. "Honey, could you eat a bit? I've simmered it for ages, it's soft and fragrant…"

"Heh…" Natalia pushed Magnus’ hand away with a mournful smile on her lips. "Our little girl… she's already a year old. She can walk now and call out 'mommy.’" As she spoke, tears began to cascade down her cheeks.

"Darling, yes, our daughter's over a year old now. I promise, I'll bring her back…"

Before Magnus could finish, Natalia, who'd been so eerily calm, suddenly erupted, knocking the bowl of porridge from his hands. The thick oatmeal splattered across the floor, staining both Natalia and Magnus.

"She's not coming back! It's been over a year, and where is she?" Natalia's eyes, cold as ice, pierced through Magnus' heart like a sword.

Magnus looked at her with agony. He understood her torment but swallowed his pain and wrapped her in his arms, whispering, "Sweetheart, please don't do this. Don’t you know punishing yourself like this hurts me more than if you'd struck me down? I swear to you, I’ll find our daughter, no matter what!"

Natalia was like a lifeless doll in his arms, utterly unresponsive.

Holding her frail shoulders, Magnus persuaded, "Honey, please, pull yourself together. You can't fall apart. When our daughter comes home, she needs to see her mommy looking beautiful and strong. I'm begging you, darling!"

"Will she really come back? Why hasn't she returned yet? Why did that woman take our daughter. Why?!" Natalia's face was streaked with tears, her gaze terrifyingly somber.

In a frenzy, she began to topple everything on the porch, taking the delicate ornaments and hurling them to the ground with force. "Magnus, stop lying to yourself. Our daughter's not coming back! She's gone!"

As Natalia raged, smashing everything in sight with hatred in her eyes, Magnus felt as though his heart was being pierced by a thousand swords. Silently, he began to clean up the mess, and then, just as quietly, cradled Natalia's petite frame in his arms, his chin grazing the top of her head.

He vowed, he would find their daughter!

Natalia's rage subsided in his warm embrace. Her eyes softened, and eventually, she drifted into sleep.

Watching Natalia's gaunt face as she slept, Magnus' heart bled. He was convinced their child was still out there in the world. If he couldn't find their daughter in this lifetime, he'd never rest in peace.

With that thought, Magnus gently laid Natalia on the bed, then stepped out onto the porch, dialing Paul, James, and the Cliff brothers, Chase and Carter, asking them to continue the search for their missing Gabby. They had to trace any leads of their abducted daughter.

As dusk fell, Magnus sat restlessly on the porch, gazing into the distance, praying silently for his daughter's swift return.

Under Magnus' tender care and devotion, Natalia's heart gradually warmed, and she began to emerge from her depressive shell. That day, just like every other, she sat expressionless on the porch when Jonas walked in.

Jonas, seeing his mother gazing into the distance each day, moved closer to her side. Over the past year, Jonas had watched his once gentle and kind mother grow cold and indifferent. Her smile, once as refreshing as spring, had vanished since his newborn sister had been snatched away by evil hands. That was the sister he had longed for, whom he'd never even had the chance to meet.

Natalia paused, not knowing the answer. Ever since her daughter went missing, her mind had been shrouded in guilt and sorrow, and her thoughts were confined. How could she consider such a question? "Umm… I don't know," Natalia admitted, a bit embarrassed.

Jonas looked up at her. "Mommy, think harder. What's different about camels compared to other animals?"

"Different?" Since Jonas so earnestly asked, Natalia stopped her cooking and gave it some thought, "Hmm… could it be because camels have two humps?"

Jonas shook his head. "Nope, Mom, because some camels have two humps, and some have just one, so you can't say that."

Natalia gave up trying to figure it out. "Alright then, smarty-pants, tell me what the right answer is."

Jonas beckoned Natalia with a crooked finger. "Mom, lean down, I'll whisper it to you."

Natalia eyed Jonas with a mix of suspicion and curiosity, wondering what he was up to this time, but she complied and bent down to hear the answer he was about to share.

Once Natalia was leaning over, Jonas got close and whispered in her ear. "Mom, the thing that makes camels different from other animals is that they have baby camels, duh."

A lightbulb went off in Natalia's head, and she couldn't help but chuckle. That was Jonas' whole point – to make her laugh. Bless her little boy's heart. Even though he was the one who needed care and protection, he was always looking for ways to lift her spirits.