The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus) novel Chapter 61

When they arrived at Melfort, it was already dawn. The man in the wolf mask strode off the boat, carrying the feverish girl in his arms. He didn't exchange a word with Hector.

Hector was left feeling quite superfluous with a lump in his throat.

Linden, on the shore, swiftly came forward to take the unconscious Natalia from him. He looked up at the masked man.

"She has a fever, get her to the hospital! She needs clothes and also inform May!"

Linden nodded promptly. "Yes! Thank you for saving Ms. Natalia!"

"It's my duty as a bodyguard!" The masked man turned on his heel and strode away.

Hector watched him for a moment before joining Linden in taking Natalia to the hospital.

When Natalia woke up again, it was already the next day. Opening her eyes to the sterile white surroundings, she knew she was in a hospital. She had been saved from drowning by a man in a mask, but who was he?

Just then, the hospital room door opened, and May walked in carrying a thermos. Upon seeing Natalia awake, she smiled and approached. "Ms. Natalia, you're awake. I knew you would be. I made some soup for you. Eat it while it's hot. You had a fever after the bodyguard brought you back last night. We were so scared! If Mr. Magnus knew you were kidnapped, he'd be frantic. Thank God you're okay."

Natalia slowly sat up, feeling weak. She took the soup from May and slowly ate a few spoonfuls.

"May, was it my... classmate Hector who brought me to the hospital?"

"No, it was Mr. Magnus’ bodyguard who saved you. Linden brought you here. Hector was also there." May said with a smile.

The bodyguard, was it the man in the mask? She remembered Hector was there to save her too. Frowning, she wondered how Hector knew she had been kidnapped.

"May, do you know who kidnapped me?"

May thought for a moment, "We're still investigating. Mr. Magnus already knows about it, and he's very worried. You're safe, and that's what matters. From now on, let Linden pick you up and drop you off from school. If something were to happen to you while Mr. Magnus was away, what would we do!"

Natalia lowered her head. "It's okay, I'll be more careful from now on." She had a good idea of who would want to kidnap her. She had just had a clash with her sister, and then she was kidnapped. Who else could it be?

She stayed in the hospital for two days, preparing to be discharged.

That afternoon, Hector came to the hospital. As he walked in and saw Natalia sitting on the bed, he immediately approached. "Natalia, are you feeling better?"

Natalia gave a small smile. "I am, thank you, Hector."

"Who was that man in the mask? Why did he suddenly appear on the boat where you were being kidnapped?" Hector felt a strong aura from that man.

"He's a bodyguard hired by Magnus," Natalia answered nonchalantly.

Hector sat down beside her, lightly holding her hand. "Natalia, leave Magnus. You're not his wife; keeping you by his side is against the law. Come with me to the States."

She watched Hector's retreating figure, his lonely, desolate silhouette, as he left the hospital room. He was once her dream, back when he would gently protect her, and hold her in the palm of his hand. If she hadn’t been a replacement bride, she was sure she would have had a peaceful life with Hector.

But now, everything had changed.

This time, although her kidnapping was a close call, she suddenly felt her life would never be peaceful again. She felt like she was trapped in a net, and her freedom was taken away.

In the midst of all the chaos, she was just a pawn. Was all this because of Magnus? If only he could stand up, that would be great!

Even if she left, she would have waited for him to stand up. But it seemed impossible now.

Given all this, she should keep herself away from Hector, who was a gem of a man. He should’ve been spared from all these dramas and lived a peaceful life.

At six in the afternoon, Hector had directly arranged for Natalia's discharge from the hospital. He helped her into his car, intending to take her to his apartment. But Natalia was adamantly against it.

Having no other choice, Hector drove her straight to Maplewood Manor, as that was the only place she could stay for the moment.

Hector's car eased to a halt in the yard of the Maplewood Manor mansion. He opened the car door, and Natalia stepped out, walking into the courtyard. The two of them walked side by side into the mansion.

The mansion was eerily quiet. Natalia pushed open the front door and looked up. Magnus was sitting quietly in a wheelchair, coldly observing the two who had just entered.