Chapter 374


    Natalia''s face was as pale as a ghost, but to get rid of Magnus, she steeled herself and, ying along


    with Hector, said, "Yes, Mr. Anderson, it''s getting quitete. You should head home. I''ve long since


    ended things with you. Now, I''m engaged to Hector, and soon, we''ll have our wedding bells ringing."


    "No! That can''t be!" Magnus staggered back, nearly falling if not for the steadying hand of James.


    James was known for his hot temper. Supporting a swaying Magnus, he pointed an using finger at


    Natalia, his voice raised in anger. "Natalia, how could you do this? Do you have any idea how much


    Magnus has been through this past year trying to find you? How can you just rece him like that?"


    Natalia hung her head silently, quickly hiding the tears welling up in her eyes.


    Magnus shook his head at James. His breath was unsteady from the pain in his heart. "Don''t, don''t


    speak to my wife like that, I won''t allow it."


    "But Magnus, they…" James tried to protest, but Magnus cut him off, "James, this is a private matter


    between the three of us. Stay out of it."


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    Since Magnus had put it that way, James backed off. After all, it was their tangled mess to sort out.


    Magnus stopped James'' interrogation, and his gaze was now burning into Natalia. His voice was filled


    with deep emotion. "Nat, whether you admit it or not, you''re my wife for life. We parted over a


    misunderstanding, but now that I''ve found you, I won''t let you slip away again."


    Natalia''s eyes brimmed with tears at Magnus'' fervent words, but she couldn''t just go back with him. Not


    just because of the harsh vow she had once been forced to make, but also for Hector''s selfless


    devotion over the years. She couldn''t just abandon Hector after epting his proposal. She couldn''t be


    that selfish.


    So, Natalia coldly rebuffed him, "There''s been no misunderstanding. The past is in the past. Mr.


    Anderson, we''re adults capable of owning our actions. Since we''ve parted ways, please stop pursuing


    this any further."


    Magnus reeled as if he''d been struck, unable to believe that Natalia saw his relentless search as mere


    pestering.


    "Nat, do you really see me as a nuisance now?" Magnus'' voice was a raspy whisper, heavy with loss


    and heartache. "But my wife, I can''t let you go, not in this lifetime. Don''t even think about marrying


    someone else."


    Magnus'' impassioned plea sent Natalia into an endless ache, which spread through her heart. With


    misty eyes, she looked at Magnus and shook her head gently. "Mr. Anderson, there''s no going back.


    It''ste, I''m tired, and I need to rest. Goodbye."


    With that, Natalia gathered all her strength to steady her emotions and walked toward her room.


    Magnus moved to follow her but was blocked by Hector. "Magnus, it''ste, and we''re all turning in.


    Wouldn''t it be inappropriate for you toe any further?" Hector deliberately left his words ambiguous,


    hoping to mislead Magnus into giving up.


    Magnus took the bait. Agitated, he grabbed Hector''s bathrobe and said icily, "Hector, I warn you, if you


    darey a finger on her, I''ll make you regret ever being born!"


    Hector met Magnus'' gaze unflinchingly. "Magnus, are you sure you still have that right? Natalia has


    nothing to do with you anymore."


    "Try me!" Magnus spat out before storming off without looking back.


    Hector closed the door and nced towards Natalia''s vanishing figure at the stair corner, knowing she


    was in for another sleepless night.


    Sighing deeply, Hector resigned himself to theplexities of the heart and walked to his own room. It


    was time for Natalia to have some space to cool down and collect her thoughts.


    Upstairs, Natalia sat slumped by the window seat, her energy drained by the day''s events. Seeing


    Magnus in such pain dragged her back to the past, reminded her of the times he had been ravaged by


    addiction, and made her heart constrict with anguish.


    She knew she had to push Magnus away, but why did it hurt so much to see him wounded? What was


    she supposed to do?


    Meanwhile, just outside their apartment building, Magnus stood gazing up at the light in Natalia''s room,


    his eyes filled with longing and heartache.


    James, scratching his nose behind Magnus, felt utterly frustrated. Facing Hector''s smug demeanor, he


    was itching to knock some sense into the arrogant interloper. But since Magnus had asked him not to


    interfere, all he could do was stand there, helplessly watching.


    James nodded, understanding Magnus was nning to y the family card. It made sense. A mother''s


    bond with her child was unbreakable, and James couldn''t imagine Natalia resistinging back to


    Magnus once Jonas was mentioned.


    "Alright, I''m on it," James said as he started to walk away, then paused, turning back to ask Magnus,


    "And what about you?"


    But right now, the means weren''t his concern. He was willing to employ any tactic necessary if it would


    bring his wife back home.


    That night was marked by sorrow for everyone involved, whether it was Natalia and Hector upstairs or


    Magnus standing alone under the streetmp''s glow. Sleep was elusive and marred by pain.


    The stars twinkled chaotically in the sky, mirroring their tangled, troubled emotions—a maze of


    confusion and despair.


    Torn by her own conflict, Natalia barely slept a wink until the first light of dawn brought a drowsy


    awareness back to her.