The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus) novel Chapter 6

Natalia closed her eyes. Hadn't Morgan claimed to adore Mr. Magnus? Yet here she was, being shipped off to Sapphire Island.

No wedding and no ceremony. But then again, she was merely a stand-in. A ceremony would be meaningless anyway.

Was she going to take care of Mr. Magnus? As if he lacked caretakers.

She opened her eyes and glanced at the man in the suit next to her. "Where are we going?"

The suited man replied respectfully, "Ma'am, we're headed to Sapphire Island. Mr. Magnus requested to skip the wedding and honeymoon, so you'll be moving directly onto the Island."

Natalia merely nodded. It wasn't her wedding to begin with. Why would she be bothered about the ceremony?

After about an hour, the car finally came to a halt. Natalia opened her eyes to see an endless beach, an island, and a three-story mansion surrounded by the sea on three sides, with a forest in the back. The only access was a single road leading to the mansion.

The suited chauffeur opened the door for her, and Natalia stepped out, inhaling the fresh, salty air. She looked up to see a lush garden, plants bursting with vibrant colors. She stared blankly at the endless blue sea, the waves lapping at the sand.

Her mind suddenly went blank. She was going to live here, in this strange place, for six months!

As she looked up, she saw a line of servants standing at the entrance of the mansion. Five men and five women, standing respectfully, all greeting in unison, "Welcome, Ma'am! We wish you and Mr. Magnus a happy marriage and a lifetime of happiness!"

This display startled Natalia. It felt like a welcoming fit for a king.

She walked in, the living room was luxuriously decorated with neat furniture. On the wall opposite the living room was a huge 'Congratulations' banner!

A servant approached her, "Ma'am, dinner is ready."

She was about to move when the elevator nearby opened. A middle-aged man pushing a wheelchair emerged.

The man immediately put on a smile, "Ma'am, you must be tired. I am Linden, the butler."

Natalia nodded politely. Then she turned her gaze to the man on the wheelchair. He had a stunning face with a hint of aloofness, his dark eyes as cold as ice. This was Mr. Magnus, the man she'd heard so much about. He was indeed confined to a wheelchair.

Natalia stared at him, thinking how unfair it was that such a handsome man was forced to use a wheelchair.

The man glanced at her, the petite girl in a pink dress with deep blue eyes as pure and beautiful as the sky. He smirked and turned away after three seconds, pushing his wheelchair towards the dining table.

He began to eat at his own pace, ignoring Natalia as if she didn't exist!

Natalia opened her mouth to say something but ultimately followed him to the dining table. She watched as he gracefully scooped soup into his bowl and began to eat.

Natalia watched him quietly, not eating. She didn't know what to do.

Soon, the man noticed that she wasn't eating. He frowned slightly but didn't look up at her. "What, the food doesn't suit your taste?"

His deep voice made Natalia flinch. Then she heard his tone of mild anger, "This is all I have. If you don't want to eat, you’ll have to stay hungry. Linden, clear the table!"

After wiping his mouth with a napkin, he left the room, moving straight into the elevator to go upstairs.

Natalia was left behind, still trying to process what had just happened. The servants began clearing the table. "Wait... I haven't finished eating yet," she murmured. She hadn't said she didn't want to eat.

She watched as the food was taken away, her stomach growling in protest. She had been busy all day and hadn't had a chance to eat.

This man was strange. At least she was his guest, no, she was his wife! He didn't even talk to her, let alone feed her.

Thinking this, she quickly got up. "I'll eat!" She might as well make the best of it. She couldn't starve to death, could she?

Under the watchful eyes of the servants and Linden, who were struggling not to laugh, she grabbed the food that hadn't been cleared away and began eating heartily.

Upstairs in his bedroom, Magnus sat on the balcony, his face expressionless. "Did she eat?" His low voice echoed in the quiet room.

"Yes, and she didn't make a fuss. Sir, I think Ma'am is quite nice. She's pretty and not picky about food. After you left, she ate a lot." Linden responded with a smile.

Magnus's dark eyes drifted towards the sea, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. She hadn't complained, and she even ate the simple meal he had prepared. He had intentionally arranged for a simple meal to see how she would react. But she didn't complain and even ate the meal. For a spoiled, arrogant heiress, this was a miracle.

He had forced her to marry a man she didn't love and restricted her freedom. She should have thrown a tantrum or gotten angry. She must be putting on a show for him, just like Lucius. She must have a vicious heart.

"Keep an eye on her movements over the next few days. See if she contacts anyone."

"Yes, sir." Linden closed the door and left Magnus's room.

Once Natalia had finished eating, she was led to her room by the servants. It was a seaside room with fresh, lavender-colored bedding.

She walked to the window, looking out at the slowly darkening sky. This was where she would live for the foreseeable future, and she didn't know what lay ahead. She had made this choice to relieve her father's distress and indecision, but she wasn't sure if it was right or wrong.

She opened the wardrobe to find neatly arranged women's clothes, including underwear and sleepwear. She picked out a nightgown and headed into the bathroom, not knowing which room Mr. Magnus occupied. Since he hadn't asked for her help, she didn't bother asking. With so many servants on the island, they surely didn't lack for help.

But then, there was a knock on her door. "Knock, knock."

Natalia slipped out of her pajamas and went to answer the door. A middle-aged woman stood there, to escort her to the Clarkson family mansion. "Ma'am," she began, "I'm May. Mr. Magnus has asked for you in the study."

The woman stood in the doorway with a gentle smile. Natalia nodded, "Alright."

May led Natalia down the hallway, finally stopping in front of the farthest door.

"The young master is inside. You can go in," May said before turning to leave.

Natalia raised her hand to knock but found no response from the other side. She gently pushed the door open.

The study was huge, resembling a conference room. Dim light illuminated a long office desk with four computer monitors on it. Two bookshelves stood nearby, packed tightly with books. There was another door near the entrance. Natalia walked over to it but didn't see Magnus. She went straight into the anteroom to take a look inside.