The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus)
Chapter 540

As Magnus stormed out of the house, Alice made no move to stop him. If he needed some space to cool off, so be it. Deep down, she knew he wouldn't harm her, not with Natalia being his Achilles' heel. A sinister grin crept across Alice's face. Poor, pitiful Natalia, once the belle of the ball, was now reduced to a shadow of her former self, clinging to life on some godforsaken rock in the middle of nowhere. Alice's smile was cruel and bloodthirsty as she reveled in the thought of Natalia, left to starve on that deserted isle. The sheer satisfaction sent a thrill through Alice's veins.

Meanwhile, the Hawaiian night settled quietly around Magnus as he drove away from home, his mind racing, scouring the island for any sign of Natalia. The heavy blanket of night enveloped the islands as Magnus, with his headlights piercing the darkness, hunted for any trace of Natalia along the streets and alleys.

With no leads to go on, his search became a desperate meandering through the twilight, which turned up nothing even as midnight approached.

"Damn it!" Magnus slammed his fist on the steering wheel, his frustration boiling over into rage. "That evil Alice," he thought, "she would one day learn what it meant to cross me."

Setting aside his fury for the moment, Magnus knew his priority was to replace Natalia, unharmed. He dialed Paul again, instructing him to dig up whatever dirt he could on Alice's backers and possible hideouts for Natalia. Paul went to work through the night, combing through every scrap of information related to Alice.

Far out at sea, on a nameless island, Natalia lay on the ground, tirelessly scraping at her bindings with a sharp rock. Though the stones were jagged, they were far from proper tools, and with her strength waning, progress was agonizingly slow. She couldn't remember how long she had been grinding away,.

Dehydration and hunger had caused her to faint multiple times, only to be awakened by the searing sun and then, at night, by the chilling breeze.

Under the starlit sky that illuminated the desolate island, Natalia would have admired the view if she weren't bound and determined to escape.

Alice was too good at impersonating her. Natalia feared the imposter had settled into her own home, mimicking her every mannerism with those same blue eyes. The thought of Alice receiving Magnus' affection and possibly being entwined with him in their bed was torture worse than death.

No, she had to get off this cursed island.

With renewed determination, Natalia hurried her efforts on the ropes, praying for them to snap. And then, a faint snapping sound brought her a rush of hope. The rope had finally given way!

Fumbling with the remains, Natalia stood up as quickly as her weakened body would allow, eager to flee the island. However, whether from being bound too long or her own failing health, as soon as she rose, the world spun, and she collapsed once more.

When she came to the next day, the sun was already high. She was parched, her lips cracked, and her limbs refused to move. Barely opening her eyes, she prayed silently to the heavens, begging for the strength to return to her husband and children.

The desire to survive, to see her loved ones again, gave her the will to endure. For a long while, Natalia prayed tirelessly, not knowing when dizziness would claim her again. She clung to hope, pleading for divine intervention.

Then, there was a "thud" beside her.

Startled, Natalia turned to see a ripe coconut split open upon impact, its sweet water spilling out. Summoning every ounce of strength left, she crawled toward the coconut and drank eagerly. The liquid revived her, filling her with relief and a touch of strength.

Resting briefly, she gathered herself and stood, still dizzy but alive. When she took tentative steps, she didn't falter this time.

With her immediate survival secured, Natalia's next task was to gather enough food to sustain her. Only then could she plot her escape from this barren isle.

Scanning the island, she noticed not just coconut trees but also a cluster of banana trees not too far away. This was her chance, and she wouldn't waste it. Natalia set her sights on survival, on life, and on a desperate hope for rescue.

Natalia quickened her pace toward the grove of banana trees; a renewed sense of hope for escape from the deserted island blossomed in her heart.

She had been moving at a leisurely pace, taking in the unique landscape of the small isle. The terrain was truly remarkable, with its craggy boulders and soft, sandy beaches, all complemented by the lush coconut palms and the banana grove that painted a serene picture.

After some time, she finally managed to snack on a few bananas, which, along with the coconut water she had stumbled upon earlier, helped to restore her strength substantially.