The Imposter Bride by Sallie Woods

The man’s voice was deep and filled with pain. Natalia turned and saw the man holding her. His eyes

were bloodshot, and his handsome face looked haggard, but his eyes were fervent, hopeful, and

pained. uely familiar. Natalia continued walking, not

slowing her pace.

Wife? The man couldn’t be calling her, could he? She wasn’t even married. She wasn’t anyone’s

“Wife,” so he couldn’t possibly be calling her.

Before she could take another step, the man from behind rushed over, grabbing her slender wrist. “My

wife!

Who was he? Why didn’t she recognize him? And why did her heart ache at the sight of him? His

weathered face pricked every nerve in her body.

“Sir, let go…” Natalia began in a soft voice. She didn’t know this man, and she certainly didn’t

understand why he suddenly rushed over, grabbed her, and called her “Wife.” Was he some kind of

lunatic?

Natalia tried to pull away but found she couldn’t break free Seeing the mixture of joy, and

confusion in his pain–filled eyes, she turned to Callum for help. “Callum, I…

Before she could finish, Callum threw a punch, knocking the man who had been holding her to the

ground. “Let her go!” Callum shouted.

The man on the ground quickly picked himself up, and when he saw Callum, his heart filled with even

more pain, spreading throughout his body. So, Magnus‘ wife had been rescued by this British man and

was hidden away for five years. He lunged at Callum, grappling with him.

This man was Magnus, who had just returned from a business trip to the U.S.

He looked a bit gaunt. Yes, gaunt. Natalia was sure that he hadn’t always been this size. Even his

complexion had changed. It was no longer a healthy flush, but a pallid, tired hue. Who was he? Why

was he calling her his wife? And why did she find him so familiar?

Natalia watched the two men wrestling, feeling helpless and stunned. She searched her mind for any

information about this man. Her subconscious told her that this man was the cause of her nightmares

for the past few years.

“Callum, you kidnapped my wife and hid her for five years. You deserve to die!” How could he have

thought his wife was in the UK?

Callum was hiding Natalia for five years. Magnus‘ fist slammed into him with all his might.

But Callum was no pushover. He was a duke who had undergone training in the royal army and was

unmatched in combat. The two started fighting right there in the airport lobby. Paul quickly dialed his

bodyguard’s number. For so many years, the CEO hardly spoke to anyone, let alone fought. My God,

his wife was still alive!

They didn’t bring any bodyguards. Paul was helpless and couldn’t assist Magnus in fighting the British

man.

“Magnus! Kidnapped your wife? Have you no shame? If it weren’t for you, would Buttercup have ended

up driving into the sea? If it weren’t for you, would she have been in a life–or–death situation? How

dare you call her your wife after all you’ve done? You killed her, do you know that?”

Magnus? Driving into the sea?

Natalia listened to their argument in confusion, and her forgotten memories were slowly resurfacing…

She had received a disgusting video of Magnus and Kendra, and then she had miscarried. She drove

like a madwoman, crashing through the guardrail of the bridge and plunging into the sea.

The turbulent seawater rushed into the car. The cold water was filling her mouth and

nose, but she didn’t feel any discomfort. Without her baby, she felt like a walking corpse, unable to feel

any pain.

Didn’t she die? Why was she still alive?

It was Callum who had saved her, and then taken care of her for the past five years. And what about

Magnus? What did he bring to her life besides pain?

Natalia felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. Yes, these were the memories she had intentionally

sealed away for five years. No wonder she had chosen to lock these memories away. They brought

nothing but pain and helplessness and were nothing worth remembering.

As Natalia’s thoughts raced, Magnus and Callum continued their brawl on the floor. Neither of them

yielded, throwing punches at each other with red–rimmed eyes.

Their bodyguards stood helplessly aside, watching the fight without intervening. They were struggling

so fiercely that they didn’t dare step in, fearing they would hurt their own boss.

Onlookers in the airport had stopped to watch the spectacle. These two well–dressed men seemed

important, yet they were rolling on the ground, fighting like children.

“Callum, you’ll pay for this today!” Magnus said, delivering a punch to Callum’s left eye with swift,

ruthless accuracy.

Callum cried out in pain, countering with an elbow to Magnus‘ chin. “Magnus, you murderous demon.

I’ll take you down for Buttercup today! I’ve been wanting to beat you up for a long time!”

The crowd of onlookers listened as the two burly men hurled accusations at each other. They

whispered and murmured amongst themselves, before coming to a conclusion. No wonder people said

behind every successful man, there was a woman. Because while men conquered the world, women

conquered men!

Both men were bruised and battered. Magnus‘ bodyguards were summoned to the airport in waves and

promptly apprehended Callum and his entourage.