The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus)
Chapter 5

How could he let her be married off to the Andersens? Whether it was Mr. Magnus or Mr. Lucius, the one meant to get married was Kendra. Natalia watched her father's weary gaze shift. "What's the reason, Dad? Wasn't Kendra supposed to marry Mr. Lucius? Why has it changed to Mr. Magnus?"

Kyler turned back to his daughter, letting out a sigh. "Originally, it was Mr. Lucius who was supposed to unite with your sister, but the Andersens have surprisingly chosen Mr. Magnus to marry Kendra. Your sister isn't willing, and only after she threatened your mother with her life did your mother agree to have you marry instead. Don't worry, I won't let you marry him. Just focus on school." Kyler stood up, heading upstairs.

Natalia watched her father's sorrowful and lonely figure. She felt a pang in her heart. In this world, if anyone loved her the most, apart from Hector, whom she had met six months ago, it would be her father. She could let anyone down in this life, but she could never disappoint her father. She quietly sat on the couch, hearing the loud arguments from her parents' room half an hour later. The sound of objects being thrown around in the room grew louder. Natalia sat on the living room couch, her eyes fixed on the upstairs door.

Soon, Kyler emerged from the room, slamming the door behind him as he headed downstairs. Upon seeing Natalia on the couch, he paused before approaching her. "Nat, why aren't you sleeping?" He quietly sat down across from Natalia, holding his head in his hands, a weary look on his face.

Natalia hesitated, then stood up. "Okay, I'll go to sleep now."

That night, her father never returned upstairs.

A few days later, Natalia was awoken from her sleep by a frantic Addison. "Natalia, I'm begging you, please get married in place of your sister. She has run away, and the Andersen family will be here soon to pick up the bride. If they replace out that she's gone, they will destroy our family. Natalia, you don't want to see your father's lifetime work ruined, do you? Only by marrying Magnus can you save the Clarkson family. I'm begging you. Consider it repayment for all the years I've raised you." Addison sat on Natalia's bed, her face wet with tears.

Natalia lowered her head. "But Mom, they want to marry Kendra. If they replace out that we deceived them, it will only provoke the Andersens more."

Addison tightly held Natalia's hand. "Mr. Magnus hasn't been seen in over a decade. He is disabled. After you marry him, you will only need to take care of his daily needs. After half a year, with no consummation of the marriage, you can leave. Natalia, only you can save your father and the Clarkson family. Can you bear to see your father live out his old age in unrest?"

Natalia watched the sunrise. The sun was about to rise. What should she do? If what her mother said was true, that she could leave after half a year, then for her father's sake, she could replace Kendra in taking care of the disabled man.

But what about Hector? She still had school to attend. After her marriage, it would be impossible for her to continue her studies. Her identity would be that of Kendra.

Seeing Natalia remain silent, Addison broke down in tears again. "Natalia, if you don't want to do it, then forget it. Your father and I are old. In the end, the Clarkson family will rely on you and Kendra. It doesn't matter if we end up on the streets. We just want you two to be happy."

With that, she wiped her tears and prepared to leave the room. Natalia thought back to when she was five years old when her father brought her into this family. He held her in his arms and said, "Nat, this is Mom, and that's Kendra, your sister. From now on, we are a family."

Perhaps she didn't have the right to choose her own future, but she couldn't let her father bear any more grief. In this world, her father was the only person she wanted to protect.

"Okay, I agree," she quietly said to Addison, who was about to leave the room.

Addison turned around in shock. "Natalia, you're really willing?"

"Mm." If what Addison said was true, that the hidden Mr. Magnus on Sapphire Island was a disabled man, and that her marriage to him was only to take care of his daily life, then it wasn't so bad. This way, her father would no longer be sad, and the Clarkson family wouldn't be ostracized.

"Good girl, I knew you were my good daughter. You're the lucky star of the Clarkson family." She tightly held Natalia's hand, her smile causing tears to fall. She quickly got up, left the room, and was ready to break the news to Kendra.

Upon hearing that Natalia was willing to marry on her behalf, Kendra, who was at a KTV surrounded by her girlfriends, scoffed. "She's lucky. After all, she's going to be the young mistress of the Andersen family. She should be thankful to me."

A triumphant smile appeared in her eyes. After hanging up the phone, she raised her glass of wine and cheered, "Ladies, I no longer have to marry that cripple. Cheers!"

"Wow, Kendra, that's great. Does this mean you can still be with your lover?" one of the girls asked excitedly.

"Mm." Kendra took a gulp of her wine, and her eyes filled with a cold light.

Three days passed quickly. On the day the Andersens came to pick up the bride, a stretched Lincoln was parked at the front of the Clarkson house.

Seeing the car from the balcony, Kendra's eyes flashed coldly. This was the wedding of a cripple, just picking up the bride and heading to Sapphire Island. But then again, the cripple couldn't even stand, so how could he possibly attend a wedding? It'd be embarrassing for the Andersen family.

A mocking smile appeared on Kendra's face as she turned around to head inside. Pushing open the door to Natalia's room, she saw the girl, frozen by the window. Natalia was dressed in a soft pink dress, her hair casually pinned up, and no makeup on her delicate, expressionless face. Today was the day she was to be married.

Kendra gently approached and stood by her side.

"Natalia, the car's here. You're doing this for me, and I appreciate it," she said, hands tucked in the pockets of her coat, a teasing smile on her face.

Natalia didn't turn around and just kept her gaze fixed on the world outside the window.

With a furrowed brow, Kendra tried again. "What are you scared of? Mr. Magnus is disabled, and rumor has it, he's impotent. You could be back here within six months."

Slowly, Natalia turned to face Kendra, her deep blue eyes steady. "If you know all about Mr. Magnus, why don't you marry him yourself? You could be back in six months, too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Taken aback, Kendra stared at her. "What are you implying? Are you having second thoughts? Don't forget what you promised Mom."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Natalia moved towards Kendra. "Remember, I agreed to this for Dad, not for you. From this day forward, I owe you nothing. Fifteen years of gratitude will be repaid the moment I step out that door."

She took steady steps towards the door and opened it. A middle-aged woman outside immediately lowered her head. "Ms. Natalia, your ride is waiting." Natalia walked out and descended the stairs. The bodyguard by the Lincoln pulled open the car door. She glanced back up at the window one last time. "Goodbye, Dad. Take care of yourself. It's the least you can do for everything I'm about to sacrifice."

She stooped into the car, and the stretched Lincoln slowly pulled away from the Clarkson family's estate.