The Imposter Bride by Sallie Woods

Chapter 9

She flicked on the light and walked in, towel in hand. Approaching the bedside table, she gazed at the Immaculate furniture, unsure where to start cleaning

This man was peculiar. His bedroom was so spotless, it seemed as if it had never been lived in. What was there to clean?

She gingerly opened the wardrobe, revealing an array of dark shirts, black trousers, and suits. This man was cold and eccentric, even his clothing reflected a chilling aura, but she still arranged his belongings neatly and tidied up.

When she finished and descended the stairs, Linden greeted her with a smile “What would you like for lunch, Ma’am? I’ll have May prepare it.” Natalia nodded. “I’m not picky, whatever Mr. Magnus is having will be fine.”

“Mr. Magnus has stepped out and may not return until the evening,” Linden informed her, still smiling

“He’s out? How did he leave? Who’s taking care of him?” Natalia questioned, worried. At the very least, someone should have been accompanying him. If Linden was here, how did he manage to leave alone?

“It’s alright. Mr Magnus can manage on his own Mr James came to pick him up.” Linden looked at Natalia’s concerned eyes and nodded silently Natalia wasn’t as cold–hearted as the rumors suggested. She seemed to genuinely care about their master. If she wasn’t involved with Mr Lucius, she could have been a good match for their master.

Upon hearing that he’d left with a friend, Natalia nodded. “Alright then, I’ll have whatever is convenient.”

Linden immediately went to the kitchen to relay her request. Natalia sat on the couch and wondered if she should inform her friends Lexi and Sabrina about her situation. Would they turn the world upside down looking for her if she disappeared without a trace?

She ascended the stairs and picked up her phone. Dozens of missed calls and messages flooded her screen. All were from Lexi, Sabrina, and Hector

[Natalia, why didn’t you come to school?]

[Natalia, please respond. I’ve applied to study abroad in the U.S., and we’ll be leaving in a year.]

me. I can’t find

messages piled

ass out here, girl!]

[Nat, where are you? Someone’s

to come to your house and

she’d given up everything. It was her way of

a message from her father [Nat, I’m sorry]

down uncontrollably. She covered her mouth, trying to suppress her sobs, but the sound of her crying reached

maid quietly descended the stairs and informed Linden about Natalia’s crying. Frowning, Linden commanded, “Get back to work, and mind your own

quickly

somewhere distant for a while to do something. Don’t

a message [Hector, sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to just to survive. I’m a lonely wanderer. Thank you for taking care of me these past six months. Forget about me

Maybe we’ll meet again one day. But for now, please let me disappear in peace.]

broke

managed a small smile. “Alright, I’ll be right there.”

had a quick lunch and returned to her room, staying there for the rest of

the biggest entertainment venue in Melfort. Chase, the general manager, oversaw everything here, but he wasn’t the owner. The real boss behind the scenes

floor. The red wine on

of the men on

Magnus shrugged,

sat on the couch, picked up a wine glass from the table, and drained

and James. Magnus‘ closest friends. Carter was the CEO of a powerful corporation in France. Chase, his younger brother, was the general manager of Golden Groove in Melfort and also the CEO of a subsidiary of Cliff International James was the founder of the

knew that the man behind all

had vowed to stand tall, refusing to surrender what was rightfully his. And he had succeeded. He