“She was a spitting image of you — petite and stunning. When that jerk got bored and dumped her, she came crying back to me. |


    actually forgave her, but a yearter, she was back at it, with some other guy, in our bed. | caught them red-handed. Can you


    believe that? Tell me, aren''t all women just the same?”


    He took a menacing step towards Natalia, pinching her chin. “You look just as delicate and charming. But that doesn’t mean


    you''re any good.”


    “Today, you''ll meet the same fate as her!” He snarled, tightening his grip.


    “Stop! I''m not like her. I''ve only been with my husband my entire life. Don’t take out her mistakes on all women. There are good


    people in this world!” Natalia’s heart pounded against her chest.


    “Well, I''ll have my way with you first. Then you won''t just belong to your husband, ha!”


    With a rip, her coat was torn from her shoulders, and he forcefully grabbed her wrist. Natalia gasped in shock and screamed,


    “Help!”


    He mped a hand over her mouth, tearing at her blouse. Cornered in darkness, with no one to witness the horror unfolding,


    Natalia bit down hard on his hand.


    “Ah!” He howled in pain. “You stupid bitch! How dare you bite me!”


    A heavy pnded on Natalia''s face, causing stars to explode before her eyes. Ignoring the pain, she tried to run but was


    swiftly caught. “Not so fast!”


    He throttled her, and in desperation, Natalia''s fingers found a knife at his waist. She struggled to draw it as her strength waned.


    Looking up at the night sky, she closed her eyes in despair.


    Thud! Just as Natalia was on the brink of asphyxiation, the man was suddenly struck from behind, his grip loosening. Before he


    could recover, a pair of iron-like hands grabbed and hit him square in the face, sending blood spurting from his mouth. He wiped


    away the blood and drew a dagger, lunging at his assant.


    It was Hector. He had lost sight of Natalia on their way back to her ce and had been searching frantically ever since. The sight


    of this man choking her filled him with a cold rage.


    Hector didn''t flinch as the dagger neared. In a swift move, he grabbed the attacker''s arm and countered. The de found its way


    into the man’s gut.


    With a kick, Hector sent the man flying into a pile of trash. He then rushed to Natalia, cradling her in his arms, his heart aching at


    the sight of her disheveled appearance.


    “Nat, I''m so sorry | waste,” he murmured, holding her gently.


    “Hector...” Natalia mumbled, feeling the familiarity in his embrace.


    “Yes, let''s get you home,” Hector said, carrying her away from the dark alley and the lifeless eyes of her attacker.


    Back at the vi, Hectorid Natalia on the sofa. His fists clenched in fury at the sight of her bruises. After instructing the staff to


    care for her, he stayed by her side through the night. The doctor confirmed the trauma and severe damage to her windpipe.


    “Magnus, is this how you protect her?” he seethed, holding Natalia''s hand.


    *


    Across town, Magnus was pacing in his bedroom, realizing only then that Natalia wasn''t there. A sudden pang of fear gripped


    him; it felt just like when Natalia had fallen into the sea.


    He dialed her number, his heart pounding with a mix of longing and anxiety. No answer. His concern grew as he called the vi''s


    landline, only to learn from the shaken housekeeper that Natalia had not returned home.


    Panic took hold of him. Where could she be? He called Hector, hoping she might be with him.


    “Yeah?” Hector’s voice was cold, detached.


    “Is my wife with you?” Magnus was frantic, his mind racing with worry.


    “She’s here, asleep in my bed,” Hector replied, his tone t.


    Magnus felt as if his world had


    shattered. “What did you say? You


    bastard!” The thought [Natgigpin|


    cto sped after was too


    ch to bear. His blood ran cold with


    rage. “If you''ve touched her, I''ll tear


    you apart!” He vowed, rushing to


    prepare for his immediate return.


    Please read the original content at


    .


    Hector''s mockingughter echoed through the line, adding fuel to Magnus’ fury. “You have no idea what happened tonight,”


    Hector said, his voice icy.


    “If you''ve harmed her in any way, Hector, I''ll make you wish you were dead!” Magnus was past the point of reason.


    “All you do is rant without knowing a


    damn thing,” Hector roared, the


    sound reverberating through the


    phone. “Natalia had adbresh @H


    deg{haanight Bou even realize


    that? If | hadn''t shown up in the nick


    of time, you''d be a widower now,


    Magnus. I''ve told you time and


    again—if you can''t keep her safe, I''l


    take her off your hands!" Hector''s lips


    curled into a smirk as he gazed out


    into the night. Please read the


    original content at .


    "What did you just say? She ran into a mugger? How is she now?" Magnus" heart plummeted like a rollercoaster hurtling down


    the track.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "She was nearly strangled, Magnus,


    and where were you? You can''t even


    defend your own wife-w cl You


    cpl yourself R&A? 1 Think it''s time


    you faced facts and let go. Natalia''s


    only safe when she''s with me!"


    Hector announced, ready to end the


    call. Please read the original content


    at .