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.”

heard Magnus grunt in pain. Lifting her head, she saw a fresh stream of blood trickling down his

and

the car, tossing Natalia inside “Stay inside.

a gun from his waist “Boom boom!” A

the car door,

car, bullets hitting the door as it slammed shut.

Chapter 40

chaos in their wake.

the car, Magnus‘ shoulder was bleeding profusely. Linden looked at him anxiously, “Sir, we need to get

hospitals,” Magnus insisted, knowing that they would be

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

take care of

as Magnus‘ blood seeped into the fabric.

minutes later, thet finally

into a study, locking the door behind them. Natalia tried to follow, but Linden stopped her, “Ms. Natalia, I

her clothes stained with Magnus‘ blood. She felt an intense pain in her chest,

of Magnus‘ condition. Dr. Frankie reassured Natalia, “It’s okay,

changing into a clean set of clothes

on the couch looking at 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, and if it hadn’t been for her, he wouldn’t have been shot as the wheelchair slid slowly with an

it

except for Hector, had ever cared about

study door

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

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

Natalia’s eyes again, “You’re not

is a tough

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