Chapter 471
Natalia couldn''t believe her ears and leaped from the couch with her phone in hand, pacing toward the door. “No way, are you
pulling my leg?”
“Why would | joke about this? Open the door and see for yourself.”
Lexi’s voice rang clear from the porch, and as Natalia swung the front door open, she was greeted by Lexi’s radiant smile,
blooming like a vibrant rose.
“My dear Natalia, I''ve missed you to bits. You heartless thing, you never once thought toe to see me,” Lexi chided, throwing
herself into Natalia’s arms for a tight embrace.
Natalia was nearly breathless from Lexi''s enthusiastic hug. She managed to hug her back, then craned her neck to peer around
her, “Where''s Cal? Why didn’t hee? Howe it’s just you? And the kids?”
Lexi, arm in arm with Natalia, strolled back inside. “Isn''t it better they didn’te? | get to enjoy some singledy freedom.”
What Lexi left unsaid was that it was Magnus who had called her. Magnus had reached out to Lexi, exining that Natalia had
been taking the disappearance of her child hard and hoped Lexi could spare a couple of days to fly over and provide some
comfort.
On receiving Magnus’ SOS, Lexi had not hesitated, promptly booking a flight to Hawaii. She had always been suspicious of
Gabby, with her unsettling gaze and less-than-trustworthy vibe. Lexi had even warned Natalia to be cautious, but to no avail;
Gabby had still managed to pull a fast one on them.
Over the past two years, Lexi had even enlisted the help of Callum to search for Natalia''s missing daughter, but to no avail. It
was only yesterday that Magnus shared the jaw-dropping news: Gabby was actually Lucius’ pawn all along.
As for Lucius, that conniving weasel, Lexi would have loved to give him a piece of her mind, but from what Magnus said, Lucius
was likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Served him right! What goes aroundes around! It’s not a question of if, but when. And when the time came, karma would
strike!
Lexi’s visit was especially for Natalia’s sake. To avoid stirring up painful memories, she left her children back home under
Callum’s care. Natalia had lost her daughter, so Lexi thought it best not to bring her kids along and risk upsetting her friend.
Now, sitting on the couch, Lexi squeezed Natalia’s hand gently, her voice full of concern. “Natalia, look at what’s be of you.
You''re practically skin and bones. If you can’t take care of yourself, how are you going to have the strength to find Anna?”
At Lexi’s words, Natalia’s eyes brimmed with tears. She nced down at her frail, bony hands, her voiceden with yearning for
Anna. “Lexi... |... | just miss my daughter so much. | didn’t even get to hold her before she disappeared. Whenever | close my
eyes, | see her using me, asking why | haven''t brought her home yet.”
The tears Natalia had been holding back began to flow as she wept silently, shaking with emotion.
As a mother herself, Lexi could deeply empathize with Natalia’s pain and sorrow at losing a child. She moved closer, wrapping
an arm around Natalia and gently patting her back. “Let it out, Natalia. Cry if you need to. Don’t keep it bottled up inside. It’s too
hard that way.”
Unable to restrain the longing in her heart for Anna, Natalia broke into heart-wrenching sobs. For over a year since her
daughter''s disappearance, she had been slowly recovering from her grief. But when Magnus showed her those photos of Anna,
all the guilt and remorse she felt for her daughter came flooding back.
They had searched in vain, country after country, not knowing that her daughter was living with Gabby and Lucius in Dubai. Now,
with Lucius locked up on murder charges, and Gabby having vanished with her daughter once again, Natalia was overwhelmed
with heartache.
Sitting patiently by Natalia''s side, Lexi listened to her friend''s cries, her heart aching in sympathy. Natalia had always been so
kind-hearted and gentle, yet fate seemed to cruelly shatter her happiness time and again.
Eventually, Natalia cried herself out, releasing the pent-up sorrow that had weighed on her heart.
Seeing Natalia with her swollen, red eyes, Lexi knew her friend had found some sce. In a soft voice, Lexi encouraged, “Now
that we have Anna’s photo, I’m sure we''ll find her soon. You need to stay strong. When Annaes back, she should see a
radiant mom, not someone who''s down and out. Okay?”
Natalia nodded, understanding Lexi was right. When Anna returned, she wanted to show her the best version of herself, full of
motherly love.
“Enough with the long face, I’ve managed to escape the chaos of my home and those two little rascals just to be here with you.
Aren''t you going to y host and show me around? Let’s have some fun!” Lexi’s words were light, trying to lift Natalia’s spirits.
Grateful for Lexi’s thoughtfulness, Natalia rose from the couch. “Alright, let’s take a walk by the ocean.”
Whenever she felt cooped up at home, Natalia would find sce by the sea, letting the ocean breeze clear her mind.
Together, Lexi and Natalia strolled along the beach. Their bare feet sank into the soft sand, as they shared intimate
conversations that eased their spirits, reminiscent of their carefree college days.
After spending a few days with Natalia in Hawaii, Lexi was summoned back home by Callum’s incessant calls.
Finding herself alone again, Natalia felt the weight of solitude. She would stand on the balcony, gazing out at the sea, her heart
heavy.
As the evening sky zed with the
glow of the setting sun, Magnus
stepped into the room with a
of fresh fruit i qd. cutignus foticed
Nawalia’S shttits were as deted as a
punctured balloon as she leaned
against the balcony railing. He set
down his te of apple slices and
cheese. Slipping up behind her, he
wrapped his arms around her waist.
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.
"What''s up? You seem down in the dumps," Magnus murmured, resting his chin on Natalia''s shoulder, his voice a soft melody in
her ear.
Natalia held her breath for a moment,
soaking in theforting scent of
Magnus that surroun el
dyhren BarldS Over his where they
rested at her side, her voice tinted
with a wisp of sadness. "Magnus, |
can''t help it. | miss her, what should
we do?" Please read the original
content at .
Magnus fell silent, his voice lost in
the sea of his thoughts for a
moment. Just days ago, he hag
intention lyinyiteshtheir Friend Lexi
oval, Fd ing she could spend some
time with Natalia and lift her spirits.
But as luck would have it, after only a
couple of days, Lexi had to rush back
home at the behest of her husband,
Callum. Please read the original
content at .Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.
Magnus nuzzled his face into the nape of Natalia''s neck, taking a deep breath as if to draw strength from the closeness. Finally,
he lifted his gaze, and his voice carried a tender proposal. "Darling, why don''t we go and visit Jonas?"