Chapter 23
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."
Natalia nodded, "Alright, I'm on my way."
After taking a quick shower and getting dressed, Natalia headed towards the study. As she pushed the This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.
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?
"Magnus," Natalia started, "I haven't been well these past few days. I apologize for not helping with
your physical therapy."
Before she could finish, Magnus cut her off. "I had a bad night. If you're feeling better, we can start the
therapy."
He passed by her and wheeled his chair out of the study. Natalia followed him, pushing his wheelchair.
"Magnus, are there any other people on this island besides Linden and you? Well, I mean, other men?"
Natalia had so much resentment in her heart, and she had to find out who the man was that violated
her that night.
"No," the man said expressionlessly as he pressed the elevator button. It was indeed 'no,' because on
this island, apart from Magnus and Linden, there were only female maids.
"Let's go downstairs for dinner, and then you can start your work," he said in a matter-of-fact tone with
no warmth, like giving orders to a subordinate.
Natalia swallowed back her words.
They had 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 in the study," she remarked, her brow
furrowing as she headed to the elevator.
Watching her retreating, somewhat downcast figure, a pang of sympathy hit Magnus. Leaving his
dinner untouched, he wheeled himself swiftly to follow her.
No sooner had Natalia entered 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 in the
study? Or you could’ve headed to the gym."
He wheeled up close, dark eyes gazing intently at her. "If you're not feeling up to it, we can always
postpone this session. No rush."
She 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 stranger from the other night wasn't Magnus, then what would happen if this man
discovered another had been with her in his own home? Despite her just being a 'wife' in name, she
knew his temper all too well.
Once in the expansive study with its grand balcony, Natalia began laying out the mat. As she went to
fetch the massage equipment, Magnus beckoned her over. "Come here. We'll skip today."
She looked at him, puzzled. Why the sudden change?
Magnus seemed different today. Gone was the cold demeanor she'd 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 scent filling her senses. In their previous sessions, he'd occasionally draw her onto his lap.
Now, she simply let him hold her close.
His hands moved gracefully, tightening around 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 thought.
Caught off guard, Natalia turned her head, his lips grazing her cheek. "What are you..." She began,
thoughts of that recent evening rushing back, prompting her to push him away.
"What's wrong? Don't you want to?" he asked, his dark eyes full of questions.
Natalia was hesitant, remembering the humiliation she had felt that night. She was worried that Magnus
would only hurt her again. More importantly, she still had no idea who that mystery man was.
"People are gonna see this." Natalia said, trying to stand up. But Magnus held onto her, refusing to let
go.
"We're husband and wife, Natalia. Starting today, let's work on building our relationship, living our lives
together as best we can. For now, just sit with me."
Natalia was stunned. Was this the same man who had shown her nothing but contempt before? What
would happen if he found out about her deception? The thought filled her with dread. "Magnus, I..."
Natalia began, but before she could finish, Magnus pulled her closer, silencing her with a kiss.
For a moment, Natalia was lost. He was really kissing her. She stared wide-eyed at his handsome face,
a mix of fear, confusion, and shyness in her gaze.
Without warning, he gently captured her lips with his, memories of that night rushing back. Lifting a
hand to her chin while the other tightened around her waist, he began to fervently kiss the lips he had
yearned for over the past few days. As he prepared to deepen the kiss further, he noticed her eyes
remained open, fixed intently on his. "Close your eyes," he murmured, the command evident in his
voice.
Obediently, Natalia closed her eyes, and he kissed her once more, drinking in her sweetness as he had
that night. Holding her close, Magnus tangled his tongue with hers, the passion of the kiss escalating to
a point where it felt as if he wanted to consume her entirely. It was only when he felt her go limp in his
arms, almost gasping for breath, that he gently pulled away.
Catching her breath, Natalia took in lungfuls of air, akin to a fish finding water. Giving her a moment to
recover, he leaned in once again. This time, the kiss was gentle yet firm, a testament to his possessive
tenderness. Her sweetness and her alluring scent drew him in, making the moment addictive and
irresistible.