Chapter 17


    When Natalia found herself cornered, with her back against a massive oak tree, she froze. Before she


    could even react, a wolf lunged menacingly at her. Natalia mustered all her remaining strength to


    dodge the beast, using the tree as a shield. She could feel her legs trembling, drained of all energy. But


    the wolf missed, turned around, and lunged again. Its sharp ws grazed Natalia''s shoulder. A chunk


    of Natalia''s clothes was torn away instantly, and bright red blood oozed from the wound.


    Natalia, gritting her teeth against the intense pain, instinctively backed away, tripping over a rope in the


    process.


    The smell of blood excited the wolf even more, and it lunged at Natalia time after time. Each time,


    Natalia barely managed to evade its attacks, using up all her remaining strength. After a few attempts,


    the wolf continued its relentless pursuit.


    Natalia was now injured, terrified, and utterly exhausted. Her entire body felt as if it was on fire from the


    ces where the wolf had scratched her. She slumped against the tree root, helplessly. As the wolf


    lunged yet again, Natalia closed her eyes, resigned to her fate. She didn''t have the strength to fight


    against a ferocious wolf any longer. If death could end it all, she was ready.


    "Perth!" A sudden roar echoed.


    The wolf, poised to attack Natalia, turned its head sharply at the sound. A man dressed in ck


    appeared from the shadows. The wolf immediately went over to him, rubbing against his legs. "Go


    back. Stop scaring her!"


    Natalia struggled to open her eyes, seeing only a dark figure slowly approaching her. He bent over,


    picked her up, and she sank into unconsciousness, her head lolling to the side.


    Minutes ago, the rm in the basement of the vi had sounded. Linden had rushed to check, only to


    find Natalia had run off into the forest where Perth was kept.


    Stunned, he quickly informed Magnus.


    Before Linden could even finish his sentence, Magnus had disappeared from his wheelchair. Linden


    hurriedly grabbed a mask and followed.


    Magnus was swift and soon reached the spot where Natalia and Perth were engaged in their deadly


    dance. If he had been even a momentter, Natalia would have been Perth''s dinner!


    He couldn''t believe that she had dared to venture here, and if not for his precautionary ropes, who


    would have thought this girl would run off to such a ce!


    He carried Natalia, bloodied, and injured, back to the vi and immediately called for the family doctor.


    Natalia''s clothes were torn and shredded by the wolf, revealing her wounded skin. Her blood dripped


    onto the sheets, draining the color from her face. Only one of her shoes remained.


    For a moment, Magnus unexpectedly felt a pang of sympathy. He scoffed at himself, reminding himself


    that this girl was Lucius'' woman. Why should he care for her? Had he lost his mind?


    But as he watched the sheets turn red with her blood, his face darkened. "Stop the bleeding, now!"


    The doctor, frightened by his tone, quickly tended to her wounds. After a while, the doctor reported,


    "Sir, Ma''am has suffered superficial wounds. She fainted due to shock. I''ve treated her wounds and


    given her an antidote. Perth, after all, is a wild beast."


    "Alright." Magnus silently watched Natalia on the bed, and his brow furrowed in concern. After the


    doctor left, he sat in his wheelchair and left the room.


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    Natalia, under the stress of shock and injury, developed a high fever in the middle of the night. Magnus


    ordered May to help Natalia change her clothes.


    In the middle of the night, he stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, smoking, and looking out at the dark


    night, feeling uneasy. He turned and walked into Natalia''s room. Under the faint light, Natalia''s flushed


    cheeks were even more pronounced. He noticed the trembling under the covers and saw that Natalia


    was shivering terribly.


    Why was she cold? It was April, not exactly a freezing month.


    He approached and touched her forehead. It was scorching hot. She had a fever.


    At that moment, Natalia felt as if she were submerged in ice-cold water. She vaguely sensed someone


    near her, but her body ached terribly. "So cold...so painful...Daddy," Natalia murmured, feeling utterly


    miserable. Magnus instantly lifted the covers and was about to carry her to the hospital.


    But he froze. Why was he so concerned about her?


    He was about to cover her back up and call for the family doctor when a smaller, feverishly hot hand


    seized his hand.


    "Cold..." Natalia grabbed onto a hand, subconsciously believing her father had arrived. After all,


    whenever she fell sick in this world, it was always her father by her side. She clung tightly to Magnus''


    arm, pressing her hot body against him for warmth.


    Magnus, who had left his wheelchair, was leaning by the bed. As Natalia rolled into his arms, he


    instinctively held her delicate body.


    In her fresh sleepwear, her body was hot against his chest. Magnus stiffened, and his mind was going


    nk for a moment.


    "Daddy...so cold, so painful," Natalia mumbled, clutching at his clothes.


    Magnus held her, putting her back into the covers and turning on the heat. But she clung to him like a


    ko, still crying out about the cold.


    He had no choice but to lie down with her, holding her in his arms. Her body was scorching hot, but she


    keptining about the cold.


    Magnus set his jaw, instinctively pulling Natalia closer into his arms, careful not to touch her wounds.


    His movements were unexpectedly gentle as he covered them with the nket. He furrowed his brow,


    wondering what was happening to him.


    His mind kept reminding him that she was Lucius'' woman, but he found himself wanting to protect her


    uncontrobly. Every time he looked into her innocent eyes, they were so pure that it was


    unforgettable.


    He could hardly believe that this girl was the pampered and spoilt Kendra!


    Daddy? She was calling him daddy. Was he that old?


    The girl in his arms, now warm, drifted off to sleep. Magnus looked down at Natalia''s small face,


    flushed and dainty under the light, with fine fuzz on her forehead. Her faint fragrance wafted into his


    nostrils, pleasingly aromatic.


    Soon, Natalia began to sweat. Her body was damp. Instinctively, he let go of her, nning to have May


    brows, he quietly got out of bed. He went to the wardrobe and picked out a fresh set of sleepwear. He


    lifted the covers and began to peel off Natalia''s damp clothes.


    He told himself that even though she was Lucius'' woman, she was sick. And at present, she was his


    wife. Changing her clothes shouldn''t be an issue. As he peeled off the girl''s nightgown, her immacte


    skin was suddenly exposed to his gaze. Her body was beautiful, with subtle hints of red where Perth


    had grasped her. Against her baster skin, those spots looked like carefully ced red roses. It was


    breathtakingly beautiful.


    Magnus swallowed hard, and his Adam''s apple was bobbing. It wasn''t that he hadn''t seen women


    before, but bare-skinned girls like this, he hadn''t encountered many.


    James and the others had arranged women for him many times before, but he had neverid a finger


    on any of them. Once, a woman stood naked before him, but he had no reaction whatsoever. He felt as


    if viewing those women''s bodies was akin to looking at a piece of meat. Nothing more.