Chapter 370
Natalia had braced herself for a confrontation. She was ready to rip off the Band-Aid and face whatever
pain awaited her. She never anticipated that Magnus would initiate their exchange in such a dramatic
fashion.
She had fortified her defenses, and was prepared to bolt at a moment''s notice, but then she witnessed
Magnus copse with a thunderous fall. Her heart lurched in shock! Without a second thought,
Natalia''s reflexes outpaced her mind as she reached out to steady Magnus. Her voice wasced with
panic. "Magnus! Magnus, what''s wrong?"
Bending down, she helped the fallen Magnus to his feet. His eyes were tightly shut, and hisplexion
was deathly pale, clearly unconscious.
"Call an ambnce! Someone call an ambnce!" Natalia cried out, her voice tinged with urgency as
she addressed James, who had just rushed onto the stage.
James immediately dialed for emergency services, then took the limp form of Magnus from Natalia''s
hands, looking into her eyes as he spoke, "Natalia, in the year and a half you''ve been gone, Magnus
has barely eaten a decent meal or had a good night''s sleep. He''s been drowning in his sorrows,
missing you every single day. His health has been in shambles!"
Tears streamed down Natalia''s cheeks as a wave of pain washed over her. She was at a loss for
words. It had been over a year since she had fled from Magnus'' life. She had assumed that after so
much time apart, Magnus would have grown ustomed to life without her, or that any feelings and
heartache would have dissipated like mist. However, the reality now told her that it wasn''t just her
struggling with letting go; it was Magnus, too, with his all-consuming obsession.
"But what about Diana? Isn''t she Magnus'' fiancée? Why didn''t she take care of him!?" Natalia blurted
out, revealing that deep down, she still cared about Diana''s presence.
James looked puzzled for a moment before saying, "Diana? Oh, you mean that girl from Rome?
Natalia, do you think we would have bothered with her if it weren''t for trying to track you down? We only
interacted with her to get information about your whereabouts. Once Magnus found out about her
antics, he had her sent straight to jail. There was never any engagement!"
With James'' exnation, Natalia realized she had misunderstood Magnus all this time. He had seen
through Diana''s facade and had never moved on.
But what did it matter now? Silent tears rolled down Natalia''s cheeks as she remembered the spiteful
vow she had been forced to make. There was also Hector''s steadfastpanionship and sacrifice; she
couldn''t betray her word.
Despite the agony tearing through her heart, Natalia steeled herself and said, "James, I know you''ve
been Magnus'' closest friend through thick and thin, and I thank you for standing by him during his
darkest days. But I''m engaged now, and I can''t ever return to Magnus'' side."
As she finished her sentence, Hector emerged from backstage. He immediately noticed James
supporting an unconscious Magnus and asked with concern, "What''s happened here?"
"Hector, it''s Magnus. He just copsed. I don''t know what to do," Natalia said, her voice trembling with
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helplessness.
Hector strode forward, intent on helping Magnus up from the stage, but James shot him a venomous
re. "Back off! We don''t need your fake concern! If it weren''t for you hiding Natalia''s whereabouts, Mr.
Magnus wouldn''t be in this state!"
"James, it''s not Hector who hid me away. It was my choice not to see Magnus again. I can''t go back on
the oath I took. It''s over between us," Natalia said before covering her face with her hands and running
away in distress.
"Natalia! Natalia!" Hector called after her, but she kept running towards the exit. With a brief apology to
James and Magnus, he followed after the emotionally charged Natalia.
Natalia stumbled forward, and her vision was blurred by tears. She couldn''t see where she was going
and was running purely on instinct.
"Natalia! Natalia!"
Hector''s voice carried from behind her, fearing she might do something rash in her agitated state,
especially with the bustling street just outside the theater doors.
Natalia ignored Hector''s calls. Her mind was a nk te, devoid of the poise she had when she had
reluctantly addressed Magnus as Mr. Andersen. Why had Magnus appeared before her now? She
thought she hade to terms with their past, but his sudden presence made her realize how
"Natalia, stop! The street is right ahead!" Hector caught up to her and pulled her back just in time, his
face showing clear frustration. "Why do you lose all control at the mere sight of him?!"
Hector caught the disheveled Natalia in his arms. Her face was streaked with tears of turmoil. She
looked up at Hector helplessly, her emotions on the verge of copse. "Hector, I..." But before she
could finish, she fainted into Hector''s arms, overwhelmed by emotion.
Holding the unconscious Natalia, Hector felt a surge of panic. Checking her breath, he was relieved to
find she had only passed out.
Looking back at the stage where Magnus stilly unconscious, Hector wondered if it was fate that both
of them had sumbed to their emotions. Were they truly meant for each other?
With that thought, Hector no longer hesitated. He carried Natalia away from the fashion show, ensuring
that she was taken far from the chaos that had unfolded. She had been burning the midnight oil for
days on end in preparation for the bigpetition, riding a roller coaster of emotions. It was a wonder
her body could keep up with the strain!
*
In a Hawaiian hospital
Why was he in a hospital? And where was his wife?
With a furrowed brow and a Herculean effort, Magnus propped himself up on the bed and croaked out
to James, "James, where''s my wife?"
It took James a moment to collect his thoughts before he moved to Magnus'' side. "Magnus, you
passed out on stage, and I rushed you here to the hospital."
"Passed out? How could I have passed out? Tell me, where is my wife?"
"Forget all that! I don''t want to hear it! Just tell me, where is my wife?!" Magnus demanded, his temper
ring in the absence of Natalia.