The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus)
Chapter 565

Anna tugged Johanson back from his daydreaming with a determined yank. "Let's go, Johanson, help me replace another good school. I'm done with sharing a campus with Cindy."

Seeing Anna's resolve, Johanson had no choice but to agree. They weren't strong enough to take on Cindy yet. Johanson swallowed his rage, stifling the urge to explode, and sulkily returned home with Anna. Back at home, Johanson promptly set out to secure a spot for Anna at another prestigious institution. Although it wasn't an elite private academy, it was one of the top-tier schools in Canada. The faculty there had long heard of Anna, a rare prodigy in mathematics, and had been eager to recruit her.

When Anna reached out to them, they were more than willing to welcome her with open arms. Without hesitation, they enrolled her in the mental arithmetic program under the science department. Without Cindy's constant badgering, Anna's academic life flourished at her new school. She devoted herself to her studies, voraciously absorbing knowledge. In no time, she had the highest grades and represented her new school in Canada's national mental arithmetic competition.

This competition was the most prestigious in the country. The winning student received a substantial scholarship, and the teacher who coached the winning student also got a hefty bonus. Every year, the event attracted the most renowned schools across Canada, with teachers keen to see their students come out on top. There was only one champion, so the competition was fierce every year.

After several rounds of intense competitions, Anna emerged as the clear victor, easily outpacing all other contestants and seizing the championship crown.

Standing on the victory podium, gracefully accepting her trophy, down in the audience was none other than Ms. Taylor, the teacher who had once expelled Anna. Ms. Taylor had brought her star student to the competition, only to be soundly defeated, with Anna outscoring her by a wide margin.

Ms. Taylor was mortified as she saw Anna, the student she had dismissed, standing triumphant on the podium. She could hardly stop herself from slapping her own face in frustration.

If only she had withstood the board's pressure back then, and not blindly sided with Cindy, things might have unfolded differently. She could have been the teacher standing behind the champion.

But it was too late for regrets now. No amount of second-guessing could change the past, and even less so could a mere teacher like her challenge the clout of the Rodriguez family! As Anna accepted her trophy, the enthusiastic host asked, "Tell us, how did you achieve such success?"

Fourteen-year-old Anna, spotting Ms. Taylor in the crowd, raised her trophy slightly towards her and said with profound meaning, "Those who couldn't utterly defeat me only made me stronger!" The audience erupted into applause while Ms. Taylor flushed with shame and slunk away from the hall.

Hawaii.

Magnus and Natalia were living the idyllic life, seemingly never getting enough of each other's company. They were inseparable, acting like a pair of newlyweds, completely attached at the hip. And Jonas, their son, was thriving like a sapling, having already outgrown Natalia and Magnus in height. He spent most of his time in the States, only occasionally returning to visit his parents. Natalia beamed with joy each time Jonas came home, but Magnus felt a pang of jealousy; his beloved wife would instantly forget all about him, doting on their son instead.

Now, with Jonas away and just the two of them, the house felt harmonious. It was almost a disservice not to make the most of the splendid evening.

After dinner, they lay in deck chairs on the beach, basking in the sea breeze and listening to the waves.

Looking over at Natalia, who lay with her eyes closed like a contented cat, Magnus couldn't resist coming over to her with a mischievous grin. "Honey, there's something we need to talk about." Natalia opened her eyes to gaze at his handsome face, her voice lazy. "What's up?"

Magnus leaned in, his hands encircling her slender waist, and his head nuzzling into the crook of her neck. "Babe, how about we try for another kid?"

A shadow crossed Natalia's eyes as she remembered the daughter Gabby had snatched away at birth. With a heavy sigh, she murmured, "Sigh... I wonder how our daughter is doing now. Honey, my heart aches whenever I think about her, still missing without a trace."

Holding her tighter, Magnus offered silent support. "Darling, don't blame yourself. What happened back then wasn't your fault. I should have been more careful not to let Gabby take advantage of us. I've searched the globe for her, to no avail. Unless... she's no longer with us..."

"No," Natalia shook her head fervently. "I'd rather hope she's living well. That way, our daughter can have a good life with her. With no regrets, I'd gladly give years of my life for her happiness and safety." Magnus covered her mouth gently. "Shh, love, don't talk like that. Believe me, our daughter will be fine. One day, she'll come back to us!"

Natalia nodded softly. "Yes, I believe our daughter will return."

Magnus said nothing more and just held Natalia close as they lay together by the sea, both silently longing for the return of their missing daughter.

The day drifted by in a haze of affectionate exchanges, and with Magnus showering Natalia with endless adoration, there was little room left in her heart to pine for her daughter.

Days slipped into weeks, and one evening, after a cozy dinner, Magnus playfully dragged Natalia to the beach, insisting on a barefoot stroll along the shoreline. The nocturnal seascape was breathtaking. The canopy of stars glittered like scattered diamonds, enchanting and mesmerizing, while the rhythmic lapping of the waves against the shore was soothing, liberating the mind and uplifting the spirit. Magnus clasped Natalia's hand, their fingers interlocking as they meandered along the sandy beach. Behind them, a trail of crooked footprints wove a tale of deep affection and sweet intimacy. Entranced by the beauty of the night, Magnus revisited the topic that had been on his mind. His voice was tinged with a hopeful note. "Honey, what do you say we try for another kid, hmm?"