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.”

gunfire and screams echoing around them. Suddenly, she heard Magnus

was in a wheelchair and had to protect her How was

car, tossing Natalia inside “Stay inside. darling

gun from his waist “Boom boom!” A

the car door, “Sir

door as it slammed shut. They sped

Chapter 40

leaving chaos in their wake.

at him anxiously, “Sir, we need to

hospitals,” Magnus insisted, knowing that they

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

reassured her, “It’s okay. Linden can take care of it. It’s too dangerous to go to

staining her coat as Magnus‘ blood seeped into

finally

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

clothes stained with Magnus‘ blood. She felt an intense pain

Magnus‘ condition. Dr. Frankie reassured Natalia, “It’s okay, I’ll take care of him.”

a clean set of clothes and fetching a fresh shirt

the 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,

it

one, except for Hector, had ever cared about her like

study door finally opened. Natalia rushed over,

at the anxious girl with a slight smile. He s okay, we got the bullet out.

study Magnus laid on a small bed, his face pale but his eyes alert. He smiled weakly at Natalia, “Don’t worry, darling, I’m fine

in Natalia’s eyes again, “You’re not fine You’ve lost so much

is a tough one

her. As she helped Magnus clean up, she realized that she truly cared for him Despite the danger and fear, she was glad to be then