The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus) novel Chapter 25

Before Natalia had a chance to utter a word, she heard him address her as wife, which made her body freeze in place, her eyes fixed on him. A smirk played at the corners of his mouth, as if he was aware of the terror coursing through her right now.

Magnus simply observed her, thinking, “Little one, let's see how long you can keep up this charade. If you'd just admit you're not Kendra, I might consider forgiving you. After all, I don't want my grandfather to find out about this mix-up with the Clarkson family just yet."

If he was not mistaken, his grandfather would be furious once he found out - surely blaming Lucius for his sneaky switch. But he would also insist on sending Natalia back and marrying Kendra off to him instead. But now, he didn't want Kendra anymore. He wanted Natalia, regardless of her true identity. All he knew was that she was now his woman.

No one was allowed to tarnish what was his, and he certainly didn't want his grandfather to make her life difficult. He wanted to keep her for his own amusement.

He watched as she stood there, looking helpless, and let out a soft chuckle, "Why don't you want to go home? Tell me why, and maybe we won't have to."

He looked up at her panicked expression and reached out his hand. Caught off guard, Natalia placed her hand in his, and he gently pulled her into his embrace. She looked up at his handsome face, his eyes twinkling with amusement. At what point had this man become so gentle? He wasn't as cold as he used to be.

More importantly, this man kept insisting that she sit on his lap, and each time she did, she could feel the strength of his muscular legs, even the pulse of his veins beneath her. Before long, she could feel heat radiating from his lap. If it weren't for the fact that he was often seen in a wheelchair, she might have suspected that he was faking his disability. But every time she helped him with his rehabilitation, his legs remained devoid of sensation. With his temper, would he really allow himself to be tortured like this if he wasn't really disabled?

She stared at him blankly, wondering how she could convince him not to take her back to the Clarkson family. But it was like trying to avoid the inevitable.

“Did you see everything you wanted to see?" Magnus stared deeply into the girl's pensive face. Looking at her lively appearance, he suddenly recalled a few days ago.

He had taken advantage of her several times while she was unconscious, and now he wanted to take her again. He wanted to torment her until she finally confessed the truth.

"Um... Magnus, can we not go back to the Clarkson family?" she asked, looking lost in his embrace.

"Why?" He knew she was scared to go home.

"Well, I don't really have any emotional ties to my family. Plus, my parents only sent me here to take care of you. As for going back to see them, we can wait until you can stand on your feet again." She felt like she had walked into a dead end. Her face alternated between pale and red. The statement about having no feelings for her parents was filled with flaws.

Magnus didn't want to press her further. Seeing her nervous expression, he felt an inexplicable frustration. Even when given a chance to tell the truth, she still chose to keep quiet. He reached up to touch her smooth face, his rough fingers tracing her skin. Natalia felt a jolt of electricity at his touch, his hand carrying the faint scent of tobacco and a distinctly masculine aroma.

She tried to push his hand away and stand up, but he held her down with his other hand. He held her chin and slowly leaned in. He wanted to kiss her again. Why was he so addicted to her kisses? Her lips were as sweet as honey, and once he tasted them, he couldn't stop.

As Natalia saw his handsome face getting closer, she pushed him away and ran towards the villa.

But then, "My wife!" he called after her in a husky voice.

She paused, her mind going blank. He had called her wife again. Her heart pounded in her chest as she turned to see the amusement in his eyes. He was laughing. Oh God, she had been here for so long, and this was the first time she had seen him laugh genuinely. His smile was enchanting, his lips curled slightly, and his eyes full of allure. Natalia was stunned.

"So you're just going to leave me?" he asked, feigning a hurt expression. In just a few days, he couldn't believe how interested he had become in this girl. Was it true what Chase had said, that he had been single for too long?

Natalia quickly returned to him, pushing his wheelchair back towards the villa. The sweet scent of her perfume filled his senses.

As they entered the living room, Natalia pushed him towards the couch and then headed upstairs. Magnus watched as she rushed into the elevator, a smirk playing on his lips.

After dinner, Magnus was taken away by James.

The island was eerily quiet at night, but the villa was massive, spanning several miles. The staff lived on the first floor at the back, while Linden and May lived on the first floor at the front. The second floor was Magnus and Natalia's space.

At eight in the evening, the sky was filled with thunderstorms. Natalia sat on her bed with the lamp on. She didn't dare to sleep. She was afraid of another rainy night like the one before, when a stranger had choked her unconscious and taken advantage of her. It was another stormy night, and all she could do was sit on her bed, wide awake, waiting for Magnus to return.

In that moment, she wished he would come back. After that night, she was afraid of thunderstorms. She stared out the window at the beach, knowing that any car that returned would be Magnus. As long as he returned, even if he stayed in the room next door, she would feel safe.

At eleven o'clock, the rain was still pouring. Natalia was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open. It was only then that she saw a car slowly approaching on the beach. Natalia quickly turned off the lamp. He was back, and she could finally fall asleep in peace.

She curled up under the covers and closed her eyes. The waves of sleepiness were too strong to resist. As she was drifting off to sleep, she heard the soft sound of his wheelchair in the hallway. Yes, he was back, and she finally fell asleep in peace.

Natalia slept soundly as Magnus returned to the bedroom to shower and change. He quietly pushed open the door to her bedroom. Seeing her small figure on the bed, a wave of tenderness washed over him. He gently lifted the covers and lay down next to her, pulling her into his arms. Breathing in her sweet scent, he closed his eyes.

In her sleep, Natalia felt a source of warmth. She was quite scared before sleep, so now she instinctively snuggled closer to the warmth.

Magnus' body tensed up as a surge of heat rushed to his lower abdomen. He savored her unique scent, a fragrance that stirred a lust deep within him.

He had to admit that ever since that night, he yearned for her again, a fact that gnawed at him. Perhaps as Chase had suggested, it was due to his long years of celibacy. And this time, after more than a month of getting to know her, her beauty, her purity, and her carefulness were all drawing him in. It was just that back then, he thought she was Lucius' woman.

But when he found out she wasn't with Lucius, he yearned to possess her completely. And now, he wanted her again; once wasn't enough. He wanted to take her again, wished he could have her forever, in this life and the next.