The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus)
Chapter 587

She was quietly worried, but considering she was in the little boy's house, where his safety should be guaranteed, she closed the door and waited patiently for the return of her little muffin. As Max descended the stairs, he caught sight of Brendan entering the living room with his crew. His eyes crinkled with a smile, "Hey there, Uncle Tiger!"

"Good boy!" Brendan scooped up the little muffin, gently running his hand through his soft, downy hair. "Max, there's been a break-in. It's not safe here now. I'm going to take you away." Max crossed his arms, looking up at Brendan with serious eyes, "Uncle Tiger, was it a lady? She's already scaled the roof and escaped next door. I saw it with my own eyes."

"Is that so? Alright, I'll go after her now. You stay put, Max. Don't wander around, and if anything happens, yell for help, okay?"

Still somewhat anxious, Brendan gave a few more words of caution before he left with his men to chase Elisea. "Let's go!"

As Brendan and his team quickly vanished, Max covered his mouth, suppressing a giggle, then trotted up the stairs. He soon reached his room and, pushing the door open, saw Elisea still inside. With a grin, he said, "Pretty lady, all clear. I sent them packing for you."

"Really?" Elisea hadn't expected such a smooth turn of events. She quickly crouched down to eye level with the little muffin. "Thank you for saving me, kiddo. What's your name?"

Max's eyes shone. "I'm Max. Don't mention it. Anyone would want to save someone as beautiful and kind-hearted as you."

Elisea felt a wave of dizziness at Max's innocent smile. She stood up quickly, waving as if to say goodbye. "Max, thank you for earlier. But I must go now, so long."

Max promptly blocked her path. "Will you come back? When I'm grown up, I want to marry you."

Elisea couldn't help but laugh at his childish words, tilting her head. "Why?"

"Because you're so agile, just like a Spider-Woman. I saw you scaling that wall. Yep, it was quite impressive, just as good as my dad's moves. I really like that."

Listening to Max's earnest babble, Elisea chuckled. She crouched down again, her voice soft. "Max, you're too young. When you're older, you'll meet plenty of amazing women. I've got things to do, and I won't be coming back."

Hearing she wouldn't return, Max's face fell, his disappointment clear.

"Alright, I really have to go now. Bye, Max." Elisea waved and moved to open the door.

Max again stopped her, removing a golden key from around his neck, promising earnestly, "Please, take this as a token of my affection. Keep it safe. No matter how many years, I'll wait for you to come back, and I believe you will."

Moved by the little boy's sincerity, Elisea involuntarily accepted the key, warm from Max's touch, and placed it carefully in her pocket. She couldn't shake the feeling that she knew Max from somewhere, and fel a dull ache in her heart. She pulled out a delicate curved knife and handed it to him. "Max, keep this as a memento. Maybe, just maybe, our paths will cross again."

"Of course!" Max jumped with joy, cherishing the knife. He examined the knife with care, noticing an engraved "Elisea" on the handle.

"Is your name Elisea?" Max looked up, only to replace that Elisea had already vanished.

A deep sense of loss flashed in Max's eyes as he dashed out of his room, shouting towards the empty rooftop, "Remember to come back for me!"

His voice carried far, and Elisea, leaping across rooftops, paused, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. For some reason, this adorable little boy, whom she had just met, stirred a desire to embrace him, and she found it hard to leave.

Elisea shook her head, dismissing the sentiment. She was a heartless assassin with no future, caring for no one in this world but her mother.

Yes, they were all but passersby in

her life. Once she settled things with her mother and turned herself in, she'd have to face the apologies she owed to Jonas. She hoped that down below, he might forgive her desperation. And maybe, just maybe, she could see his sunny smile once more.

With a deep breath, Elisea continued her escape across the high rooftops, soon disappearing from sight.

Brendan, tasked with replaceing Elisea, heard Max's childish call and couldn't help but turn red with frustration. "That little rascal played us!"

Then Brendan chuckled to himself. Even Jonas wouldn't have guessed Max would meet Elisea in such a way. Blood indeed proved thicker than water!

After leaving the villa, Elisea headed straight for the docks. It was late afternoon, and the docks were quiet, with only a few fishing boats moored. She hadn't reached her destination when she saw Landon, always in his wide-brimmed hat and black trench coat, waiting on a small boat.

A flicker of disgust crossed Elisea's eyes as she approached Landon and leaped aboard the docked boat.

The boat rocked slightly, and Elisea, thrown off-balance, was steadied by Landon's grasp, "Be careful."

Elisea shook off his hand, her voice cold and detached. "I'm fine."

Landon watched Elisea, concern in his eyes. "Have you done it? Is Jonas dead?"

Elisea nodded silently, her gaze lost on the horizon, feeling as if she'd lost the most important thing in her life.

Landon cast a profound glance at

the forlorn Elisea and signaled to set sail, guiding the boat across the gentle wave's with Elisea aboard.

The small craft made a leisurely net

journey toward the shores of Country C, rocking ever so slightly with the rhythm of the sea, yet its pace remained steady, unwavering in its forward motion.

Since boarding the vessel, Elisea had turned to Landon with an icy face and disclosed that she had killed Jonas. After her confession, she hadn't spared Landon another look. She despised Landon, but even more so, she loathed the

a bureven

bloodstained person she had

become, mirroring the very man she

detested.

Landon, for his part, surprisingly deviated from his usual behavior of pestering Elisea. He didn't press for more details; instead, he piloted the boat in silence, carrying Elisea away from the shores of the States.