Chapter 373


    At the office, Natalia knew that Magnus hade looking for her. Her heart tangled in knots, uncertain


    of how to face him. Then, Hector volunteered to go downstairs to meet Magnus, and Natalia, in a flurry


    of panic, dashed to the surveince room to spy on their encounter from behind the screens.


    Though she couldn''t hear their words, Natalia watched clear as day as Magnus’ fist swung out,


    knocking Hector to the ground.


    Witnessing Magnus’ loss of control, Natalia felt her heart wrench painfully. For a fleeting moment, she


    saw the Magnus from six years ago, who was just as violent and prone to throwing punches at Cal


    whenever he lost his temper. Now, this scene was repeating itself with Hector as the target.


    Natalia''s anxiety spiked at the sight of Magnus, her heart filling with boundless disappointment. This


    time, she knew there was no going back to him. Whether it was because of the vow she''d been forced


    to make or for Hector''s sake, she had to choose aplete separation from Magnus.


    She had no other choice.


    “Magnus, even the deepest of affections can''t withstand what we have experienced. You and I, we''re


    destined to be strangers.”


    As these thoughts coursed through her mind, Natalia suddenly felt a chill. She wrapped her arms


    around herself, knowing the cold stemmed from her profound disappointment in Magnus.


    "Knock, knock, knock!"


    The urgent pounding at the door broke through Natalia''s reverie. She shook off her daze, leaped from


    the sofa, and walked toward the door. Slowly, she opened it, "Who''s there?"


    But when Natalia saw Magnus standing outside, the casual smile on her face froze. "You?"


    "Natalia."


    There was Magnus, appearing so abruptly, his face sickly pale with an air of endless solitude and


    destion. His reddened eyes were brimming with sorrowful tears. He stared at Natalia as if trying to


    etch her entire being into his memory, to take her with him.


    A pang of heartache shot through Natalia. During the fashion show earlier, she had fled in haste,


    without a chance to truly see him. Now, looking at him, so gaunt and barely human, it seemed he could


    copse at any moment. Indeed, he had passed out before her escape. It seemed he hadn''t been


    taking care of himself over the past year.


    Natalia silently observed the marked aging in Magnus’ features, a flicker of pity crossing her heart. She


    recalled the times he''d been poisoned, and all that he''d been through, feeling like waves crashing


    inside her.


    Why would he torment himself like this? Without her, he could have started a new life!


    Why couldn''t he let things be and insist on confronting her, causing her such pain?


    Facing the emaciated Magnus and his dark eyes filled with longing for her, Natalia suppressed the


    turmoil in her heart and said coldly, "Mr. Andersen, what are you doing here?"


    "I..." Magnus struggled to speak, overwhelmed by Natalia''s distant tone. He took a deep breath,


    mustering all his strength to resist the urge to pull her into his embrace. "Wifey..."


    Before Magnus could continue, Natalia cut him off with a cold reminder, "Mr. Andersen, please don''t


    call me that. I''m not your wife, and I would appreciate it if you didn''t make that mistake again."


    Magnus'' frame shook visibly. He was clearly stung by Natalia''s aloofness, but to prevent her from


    walking away, he quickly corrected himself, "Nat, I''vee to take you home."


    "Home? Mr. Andersen, this is my home," Natalia said, closing her eyes. If she continued to lock gazes


    with Magnus, she wasn''t sure she could trust herself to remain resolute.


    "But Nat, Melfort is your home. I''ve been searching for you, hoping you''de back with me. And


    Jonas, he..." Magnus pleaded humbly.


    He had hoped to sway Natalia with talk of Jonas, but before he could finish, Hector appeared in his


    bathrobe, freshly out of the shower. His hair was still damp. He greeted Magnus with a smile, "Ah, Mr.


    Andersen, what a rare visit in the dead of night. Won''t youe in for a bit?"


    Hector was there, and especially just out of the bathroom; Magnus felt as if he''d been struck. "Why are


    you here?"


    They had indeed tracked down Natalia''s address but had no idea that this apartment was where


    Natalia and Hector had lived together.


    Hector knew Magnus had misunderstood but was toozy to rify the situation. Instead, he casually


    draped his arm over Natalia''s shoulder. "What''s wrong? Can''t I live here?"


    With that, Hector pulled Natalia closer, mimicking an embrace. "Magnus, not everyone is as


    unappreciative as you. I love Natalia, and I cherish every moment I spend with her."


    Though Natalia felt a bit awkward being pulled in by Hector, she decided to y along to send Magnus


    away and didn''t push Hector off.


    When he''d heard Hector was her fiancé, Magnus hadn''t quite believed it. But seeing them living


    together was suffocatingly painful. This wasn''t what he wanted to see.


    As Magnus’ face turned a ghastly white, a twinge of sympathy crossed Natalia''s heart. Thinking about


    how Magnus was still so darn stubborn, Natalia shook her head with conviction, "Mr. Andersen, we''re


    over. Who I''m with now is my choice, and it''s got nothing to do with you."ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Her words struck Magnus like a knife to the heart, leaving him riddled with wounds, and bleeding


    inwardly without end.


    It was rare for Natalia to see Magnus in such a state of sorrow, and she knew his heart must’ve been


    breaking.


    But still... It felt like someone had ripped a piece out of Natalia''s heart, and the pain was nearly bringing


    her to her knees. It was all toote. They could never go back.