The Imposter Bride by Sallie Woods

Chapter 6

Natalia closed her eyes. Hadn’t Morgan claimed to adore Mr. Magnus? Yet here she was, being shipped off to Sapphire Island

No wedding and no ceremony. But then again, she was merely a stand–in, A ceremony would be meaningless anyway.

Was she going to take care of Mr. Magnus? As if he lacked caretakers.

She opened her eyes and glanced at the man in the sult next to her. “Where are we going?”

The suited man replied respectfully. “Ma’am, we’re headed to Sapphire Island. Mr. Magnus requested to skip the wedding and honeymoon, so you’ll be moving directly onto the island.*

Natalia merely nodded. It wasn’t her wedding to begin with Why would she be bothered about the ceremony?

After about an hour, the car finally came to a halt. Natalia opened her eyes to see an endless beach, an island, and a three story mansion surrounded by the sea on three sides, with a forest in the back. The only access was a single road leading to the mansion

The suited chauffeur opened the door for her, and Natalia stepped out, inhaling the fresh, salty air. She looked up to see a lush garden, plants bursting with vibrant colors. She stared blankly at the endless blue sea, the waves lapping at the sand

Her mind suddenly went blank. She was going to live here, in this strange place, for six months!

As she looked up, she saw a line of servants standing at the entrance of the mansion. Five men and five women, standing respectfully, all greeting in unison, “Welcome, Ma’am! We wish you and Mr. Magnus a happy marriage and a lifetime of happiness!”

This display startled Natalia. It felt like a welcoming fit for a king.

room was luxuriously decorated with neat furniture On the wall opposite the living room was

banner!

her, “Ma’am, dinner is

to move when the elevator nearby opened. A middle–aged man

you must be

aloofness, his dark eyes as cold as ice. This was Mr. Magnus, the man she’d heard so much about. He

was that such

deep blue eyes as pure and beautiful

his own pace, ignoring Natalia as if she

to say something but ultimately followed him to the dining table. She watched as he gracefully scooped soup

She didn’t know

that she wasn’t eating. He frowned slightly but didn’t look up at her. “What, the food doesn’t

deep voice made Natalia flinch. Then she heard his tone of mild anger, “This is all I have. If you don’t want to eat, you’ll have to stay hungry.

mouth with a napkin, he left the room, moving straight into

clearing the table. “Wait… I haven’t finished eating yet,”

her stomach growling in protest She had been busy all day and hadn’t had a

was his guest, no, she was his wife! He didn’t even

well make the best of it. She couldn’t starve to death,

struggling not to laugh, she grabbed the food that hadn’t been cleared

on the balcony, his face expressionless. “Did she eat?”

pretty and not picky about food. After you left, she ate a

ate the simple meal he had prepared. He had intentionally arranged for a

had forced her to marry a man she didn’t love and restricted her freedom. She should have thrown a tantrum or gotten angry. She must be putting on a