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.”

arms, the gunfire and screams echoing around them. Suddenly, she heard Magnus grunt in pain.

Magnus was in a wheelchair and had to protect her How was that

car, tossing Natalia inside

about you?” She saw Magnus‘ wheelchair slide to the right. Then he pulled a gun from his waist “Boom boom!” A

car door, “Sir get

into the car, bullets hitting the door as it slammed shut. They sped away

Chapter 40

leaving chaos in their

profusely. Linden looked at him anxiously, “Sir, we

hospitals,” Magnus insisted, knowing that they would be walking into

blood soaking through Magnus‘ shirt, began to cry. She took off her coat, pressing it against

care of it. It’s too dangerous to

coat as Magnus‘ blood seeped into the

finally arrived at

behind them. Natalia tried to follow, but Linden stopped her, “Ms. Natalia, I need to remove the bullet. It would

with Magnus‘ blood. She felt an intense pain in her chest, a feeling of helplessness she had never experienced before.

pulled up outside. Carter and Dr. Frankie rushed inside, Natalia quickly informed them of Magnus‘ condition. Dr. Frankie reassured

a clean set of clothes and fetching

door to the 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 in

it

for Hector, had ever cared

the study door

s okay, we

pale but his eyes alert. He smiled weakly at Natalia,

“You’re not

Frankie laughed, “Mrs. Andersen, Magnus is a tough one

Dr Frankie, relief washing over her. As she helped Magnus clean up, she realized that she truly cared for him Despite the danger