The Imposter Bride by Sallie Woods

Chapter 40

Magnus‘ phone buzzed; it was a message from Dr. Frankie. He glanced at it, revealing a wry smile.

[Congrats, Magnus, Mrs. Andersen is quite a catch,] the text read.

Natalia, meanwhile, was still basking in the good news, pushing the wheelchair in a state of

bliss. Linden followed behind them as they walked out.

As they reached the hospital entrance, Linden prepared to start the car, while Natalia stood with Magnus at the hospital’s entrance. Suddenly Magnus felt a gun aimed at him from behind the hospital shade, “BAM BAM!” With the sound of the gunshot, the bullet was already flying towards Magnus‘ head.

Natalia was standing directly in their path. Magnus instinctively grabbed her, sending the

wheelchair careening away.

The shadowy figure fired again, and Magnus‘ wheelchair veered towards the flower beds by

the entrance.

“Are you okay, darling?” Magnus checked Natalia for injuries, his heart pounding in his chest.

“Who’s trying to kill us?” Natalia stuttered, her heart ready to leap out of her chest.

Magnus did his best to comfort her, “Stay calm. Don’t move.”

Another burst of gunfire echoed through the air, bullets shattering the concrete of the flower beds. One grazed Magnus‘ arm, drawing blood.

Natalia screamed, “Magnus, you’re hurt!”

The gunfight raged on, with Linden now exchanging fire with their assailants. Magnus held Natalia close, “Stay in my arms. Don’t look up.”

Magnus grunt in pain. Lifting her head, she saw a fresh stream

could run, but Magnus was in a wheelchair and had to protect her How

her pleas, Magnus wheeled towards the car, tossing Natalia inside “Stay inside. darling

Then he pulled a gun from his waist “Boom boom!” A couple shots and two black men

the car door, “Sir get

door as it slammed shut. They sped away

Chapter 40

hospital, leaving chaos in

was bleeding profusely. Linden looked at him anxiously, “Sir, we need

Magnus insisted, knowing that they would

seeing the blood soaking through Magnus‘ shirt, began to cry. She took off her coat, pressing it against his wound. “There’s a bullet inside. We need to get you to a hospital.”

Linden can take care of it. It’s too dangerous to go

staining her coat as Magnus‘

finally arrived

but Linden stopped her, “Ms. Natalia, I need to

an intense pain in her chest, a feeling of helplessness she had

condition. Dr. Frankie reassured Natalia, “It’s okay, I’ll take care of him.” He and Carter disappeared into the study, leaving Natalia

took a shower, changing into a clean set of clothes and fetching

study; she’d never been so helpless as she was now. Magnus had shielded her from being shot earlier in the gunfire, and if it hadn’t been for her, he wouldn’t have been shot as the wheelchair slid slowly with an extra person

it

for Hector, had ever cared about

felt like an eternity, the study door finally opened. Natalia rushed over, “How is he?”

out and looked at the anxious girl with a slight smile. He s okay, we got the bullet out. Nat, can you

a small bed, his face pale but his eyes alert. He

“You’re not fine You’ve lost so much blood.”

Andersen, Magnus is a tough one He’ll

realized that she truly cared for him Despite the danger and fear,