The Imposter Bride by Sallie Woods

Chapter 23

On the third day, Magnus couldn’t restrain his curiosity any longer. He just had to find out what this young woman was up to. Since she had agreed to be his bride, she had to understand the consequences.

Especially if she was going to make such a fuss over a simple one night stand

The sharp knock at the door interrupted Natalia’s thoughts She rose from her chair and opened the door to find one of the housekeepers standing there

“Ma’am,” the housekeeper said, looking at her with a hint of surprise. “Mr. Magnus requests your presence in his study”

Natalie nodded, “Alright, I’m on my way”

After taking a quick shower and getting dressed, Natalia headed towards the study As she pushed the door open, she saw Magnus sitting in his wheelchair by the floor–to–ceiling windows, gazing out at the ocean, deep in thought.

Natalia walked in quietly. He turned his wheelchair around as soon as he felt her presence. As their eyes met, a wave of emotion passed over his face before quickly settling back into a stoic expression. She had got quite thinner

Without another word, Magnus directed his wheelchair towards her. His gazes were as deep as the ocean, but his body radiated an inexplicable exhaustion Natalia’s heart clenched as she remembered the night before. Was it him that night? Why did he do that to her?

she could finish, Magnus cut her off

chair out of the

any other people on this island besides Linden and you? Well, I mean, other men?” Natalia had so much resentment

the elevator button. It was indeed ‘no,

work,” he said in a matter–of–fact tone with no warmth, like giving orders to a subordinate

swallowed back her words.

their dinner in silence, Magnus elegantly eating his sandwich while Natalia, still feeling uneasy, could only eat a little. “I’ll get things ready, wait for me

pang of sympathy hit Magnus. Leaving his dinner untouched, he wheeled himself swiftly to

her bedroom to retrieve her physiotherapy mat and a wooden hammer, the door gently opened behind her. Startled, she pivoted to face him. “Didn’t I ask you to wait

close, dark eyes gazing intently at her. “If you’re not feeling up to it, we can always postpone

stared at him, taken aback Wasn’t it him who insisted they start? Why the sudden change of heart? “I’m fine, let’s just get started,” she replied, pushing his wheelchair toward the study. All the while, a nagging thought persisted Even though she wasn’t truly his wife, she had, in all appearance, married him. If that

the expansive study with its grand balcony, Natalia began laying out the mat. As she went

puzzled Why the sudden

grown accustomed to Reluctantly, she set down the massage tools and approached him. With a gentle tug, he pulled her into an embrace, her face buried against his firm chest. Frozen, she felt her heartbeat skyrocket, his familiar, pleasant

her slender waist. He felt her thinness and lightly touched her forehead, memories of that fateful night flooding back. Gazing at her quivering lashes, he leaned in without a second

grazing her cheek. “What are you. She began,

he asked, his dark eyes

felt that night. She was worried that Magnus would only hurt her again. More importantly,