The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus)
Chapter 454

Once upon a time, she thought she had stumbled upon a down-on-his-luck prince, forgetting she was no princess herself. Now, the elaborate dream she had woven was torn apart by the hands of the one she loved. Gabby's heart shattered, beyond repair.

From that day on, Lucius was almost never home, and Gabby's heart had turned to stone. Day after day, she waited at the doorstep, hope brimming in her eyes for a glimpse of Lucius, only to be met with the cold night air.

When loneliness crept in, she'd clutch Anna and weep bitterly. Little Anna, wise beyond her years, would pat Gabby's back gently and whisper, "Mommy, don't cry. If Daddy doesn't want us, you still have me. I'll always be here."

Gabby, tears streaming even more fiercely, would pull Anna into a tight embrace, filled with guilt. For a fleeting moment, she even considered returning Anna to Natalia and turning herself in. Jail didn't scare her, but the thought of Lucius behind bars did. Despite his coldness, she couldn't harden her heart against him.

Her love was meager and pitiful, yet she relished it.

In Hawaii.

With encouragement from Magnus and Jonas, Natalia Clarkson was slowly emerging from the depths of her depression. She began to paint again, setting up her easel in front of the vast ocean. Each day, she captured the beauty of sunrises and sunsets, pouring her soul into the canvases. At the bottom of each painting, she'd include the figure of a little girl. Always with her back turned, the girl was like a star in the night sky, illuminating Natalia's every day.

Gazing at the silhouette in her painting, tears would glisten in Natalia's eyes as she gently traced the image of the girl. It was like feeling the tender hand of her missing daughter.

"My darling, wherever you are, Mommy loves you always," Natalia would murmur, taking a deep breath to dispel the sadness that threatened to engulf her again.

On a particularly fine day, Natalia set up her easel by the sea. The fresh ocean breeze cleared her mind, and she smiled softly, her brush dancing over the canvas, capturing the frothy waves.

Hector happened to drive by and caught sight of the familiar figure by the shore. Without a second thought, he stopped the car and walked toward Natalia. She was engrossed in her painting, oblivious to Hector's approach. Her bodyguards, recognizing Hector, exchanged glances and retreated discreetly, knowing he meant no harm.

As Hector drew closer, he watched Natalia's careful strokes and patiently waited for her to finish. He noticed the small girl in the corner of the canvas and said softly, "Natalia, your art is beautiful. Could you spare one for me?"

Surprised, Natalia turned and, with a faint smile, pointed to the little girl in the painting, "Hector, that's my lost daughter. I'm sure she's out there somewhere, living a good life."

The breeze began to lift the corners of her previous paintings, revealing similar figures in each one. Though the girl's face was never shown, each painting depicted her in different clothes, and in various poses Touched, Hector nodded. "Yes, she must be beautiful, with blue eyes like yours, an angel."

Natalia's laughter soon turned to tears. "Hector, my daughter, she'll come back one day, won't she?"

"Yes, she's the most beautiful angel and will replace her way back to you," Hector assured, wiping away Natalia's tears and pulling her into an embrace. "You need to stay strong, Natalia. So you can welcome her back with open arms."

Overwhelmed, Natalia cried in Hector's arms, releasing the pent-up sorrow. After a moment, she managed a grateful smile. "Thank you, Hector."

"Don't mention it," Hector said, wiping another tear from her cheek and guiding her away from the beach. "It's getting late. Shall I take you home?"

With a nod, they headed toward Natalia's seaside villa.

A few steps in, Magnus and Bianca appeared, silently watching the scene unfold. Without a word, Magnus approached Natalia, took her hand gently, and said, "Darling, let me take you home." He then scooped her into his arms and carried her toward the villa.

Natalia waved goodbye to Hector from Magnus' embrace. Hector returned the wave, sighed, and got into the car with Bianca, driving home.

In the car, Hector remained silent, his face stern. For over a year now, ever since Natalia's daughter went missing, Hector's mood had taken a nosedive. His face was clouded with gloom almost every day. He had tried to help Natalia replace her lost girl, but all efforts had led to dead ends and silence.

In such a heavy atmosphere, Bianca tiptoed around the house, careful not to make a sound. She diligently managed Hector's home, terrified of stirring his discontent.

Hector returned to his house in a sullen haze, parking his car silently into its usual spot before he trudged upstairs.

He had posted online about Natalia's missing child, offering a substantial reward for any eyewitnesses who might have been near the hospital at that fateful time. So, every day, immediately upon returning, he would bolt to the upper floor to check for any new leads or messages.

As Hector hurried upstairs, Bianca quickly made her way to the kitchen. She knew that a warm, comforting meal might just lift the heavy veil of Hector's mood, even if just for a moment. She started prepping his favorite dish - meatloaf with a side of creamy mashed potatoes and green beans - hoping the familiar tastes of home could provide some solace.