The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus) novel Chapter 19

Natalia wheeled Magnus onto the spacious balcony of the second-floor study, squatting down to gently massage his legs. After a while, she turned to fetch a little wooden hammer. She tapped Magnus's leg nerves earnestly, over and over again. The man watched her silently as she performed a series of actions. Occasionally, she seemed very professional. He could hardly believe that this pampered daughter of the Clarksons had read an entire book and devised a rehabilitation plan just to help with his recovery.

If she was pretending, why went to all this trouble? He watched her pale hands kneading his leg. Her long hair was pulled up into a bun, a few strands falling onto her small face. Her neck looked even more delicate in the sunlight.

Her long eyelashes quivered slightly, stirring up a feather-light sensation in Magnus' heart. He was reminded of the other night when he had helped her change clothes, the image of her immaculate, full-bodied figure burned into his mind.

He felt a heat spreading throughout his body, gazing at her pink lips; he suddenly grabbed her wrist.

Natalia blinked slightly, looking up into the man's intense eyes. Just as she tried to stand, he pulled her abruptly into his arms. He loosened his hold on her, raising a hand to touch her smooth face. His eyes devoid of any anger, his other hand gently encircling her waist.

Natalia's heart pounded. Before she could react, Magnus' handsome face was only a few inches away, his warm breath fanning her face. She sat on his lap, separated by the fabric, yet she could feel the warmth of his legs. The scent of his fresh, masculine cologne filled her nostrils. Her face flushed deeply.

She had dated Hector for six months without ever being this close. Their intimacy limited to holding hands and chaste kisses on the forehead. She had never felt this nervous before. She tried to stand, but Magnus gently pushed her back down, his warm voice whispering, "Rest a bit before you continue. Okay?"

His husky voice echoed in her ear, his hot breath tickling her earlobe. Natalia's face turned even redder. She tried to lift his hands from her waist.

"But... but I should sit on the chair. Your legs... they can't hold weight," she protested, albeit weakly. She couldn't just sit on his lap while she took a break, could she? What if the servants or Linden saw them?

"It's fine. Just stay here," he murmured, his voice low and raspy. His gazes, burning like a flame, were locked onto her flushed face. A thousand ifs raced through his mind, eventually boiling down to one: if only she wasn't Lucius' woman, how wonderful it would be.

Natalia didn't dare to look up or say anything. She sat on his lap, her body stiff, feeling as if her face was about to melt from the heat.

Magnus held her still, his gaze intense as if trying to determine whether her shyness was real or feigned. Just then, there was a knock at the study door. Before Natalia could stand, the door was pushed open.

"Sir, ma’am, dinner is ready..."

May, had entered. To her surprise, she found Natalia sitting on Magnus' lap on the balcony. She immediately regretted interrupting. Quickly turning to leave, she closed the door with a flustered smile, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't see anything."

Natalia pushed him away, trying to stand, her face as red as a tomato, "You..."

Before she could finish, Magnus pulled her back into his arms, his handsome face inches from hers. Gazing at her soft pink lips, he was tempted to taste them. He had felt the urge several times before.

Unable to resist, he leaned in. Just as he was about to kiss her, Natalia turned her head slightly, his lips grazing her cheek instead. A jolt of electricity coursed through her, leaving her mind blank. She struggled to stand, but he held her down firmly.

"Stay still." His voice, low and rough, seemed to come from deep within his throat. Natalia turned to look at him, his eyes fixed on her face. He held her waist, making her feel uneasy yet immobilized.

"May said we should go eat," Natalia's voice was shaky, her heart pounding in her chest.

Magnus slowly lifted his hand and gently pinched her pointed chin. He pulled her head towards him, lowering his own to press his lips against hers.

Natalia held her breath, feeling his breath getting closer. She closed her blue eyes in fear, her hands clenched into fists. He hated her, didn't he? Was he going to kiss her now? But she dared not move, fearing his temper.

Magnus stopped just a couple of inches away, studying her trembling eyelashes. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. This girl was willing to betray Lucius; her lack of resistance said it all.

"What? Do you really want me to kiss you that badly?" He smiled like a demon, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Natalia's eyes snapped open to see his smirking eyes, and that look of loathing tinged with disgust. She felt utterly humiliated. She had closed her eyes, thinking he was going to kiss her. Actually she had just been scared of his anger. She was still terrified of the time he had almost strangled her.

A thousand curses ran through Natalia's mind. She was about to retort when he suddenly pushed her off his lap, and wheeling himself out of the study.

Natalia was thrown onto the desk, her knee slamming against it. She let out a cry, her eyes filling with tears. She rose slowly, her knee throbbing. Remembering the humiliation, she clenched her fists in anger.

She didn't go downstairs for dinner. Instead, she went to her room, closing the door behind her. She leaned against the door, holding back her tears. She had learned to endure in her family, suffering many humiliations, but this time she felt that he truly despised her, that he had humiliated her.

After a while, May knocked on the door, bringing in dinner, "You didn't come down for dinner. Mr. Magnus asked me to bring it up for you. Please eat something, or you'll be hungry later."

Natalia didn't look up. He had deliberately humiliated her, and now he was having someone bring her dinner. She didn't say anything, nor did she eat.

After May left, she took a shower and lay on the bed.

At 9 p.m., May came in to find the food untouched. She sighed and took the dishes away. As she was leaving, she saw Magnus coming out of the elevator.

"Mr. Magnus, she didn't eat dinner," May said, standing at the staircase.

The man furrowed his brows, his lips pressed into a thin line, "Where is she?"

"She's already asleep."

Without a word, the man rolled his wheelchair, pushing the door open, "Go make her something fresh and warm."

"Yes, Sir."

Magnus wheeled himself to the girl's bedside, noting the lump beneath the covers. Under the soft glow of the lamp, he saw her seaweed-like hair scattered across the pillow, her small face hidden under the blanket.

"Time to get up and eat," the man's deep voice echoed in the quiet bedroom.