The Imposter Bride (Natalia and Magnus)

Chapter 536

She let out a wistful sigh, her gaze forlorn as she turned to face Rebecca. "Rebecca, | have no idea what kind of storm you've weathered to become who you are today. But it's only now that | realize how unpredictable this life is. So often, you can't even guess when calamity will strike, leaving you defenseless, with no choice but to grit your teeth and endure."

Rebecca's eyes remained fixed on Natalia, unblinking as if she didn't quite grasp the weight of her words.

With a melancholy smile, Natalia continued, "You know, before | went to the hospital, | was just your average happy woman, with a loving husband and son, living a blissful life. But it's all been undone by illness. The doctors say | have ALS, like Stephen Hawking had. Soon, | won't be able to take care of myself. I'll be fully aware of my own suffering but utterly powerless to stop it. If there's such a thing as torture in this world, this must be the cruelest kind."NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.

Rebecca remained silent, her expression unreadable.

Natalia sighed deeply once more. "What am | to do, Rebecca? | don't want Magnus to see me in such a pitiful state. But | can't bear the thought of leaving him, knowing how heartbroken he'd be. I've weathered many storms before, but this time, | just don't know how I'll get through."

"Don't try to get through it then. All this is just karma for your past deeds." Rebecca's voice, suddenly raspy and raw, took Natalia by surprise. "Rebecca, how can you suddenly speak?"

Rebecca threw back her head and laughed. "Natalia, who would've thought you'd see the day? This is your comeuppance!"

Natalia was startled. She couldn't fathom how the Rebecca she knew could have changed so drastically. "Who are you, really?" Natalia demanded, her voice steady as she scrutinized Rebecca's impassive face. But her vision began to blur, her eyelids felt heavy as lead, and her body slumped to the ground, her consciousness slipping away...

When Natalia awoke, she found herself trapped on a decrepit cruise ship. She looked around frantically and spotted Rebecca standing not far off, looking down at her with disdain. "Oh, Natalia, to think you'd see such a day. Isn't karma delightful? After all the wrongs you've done, it's only fitting you face this trial!"

Natalia quickly regained her composure. "You're not Rebecca. Who are you?"

"Ah, Natalia, maybe you're not as foolish as | thought. Too bad you realized too late!" With that, Rebecca peeled off a lifelike silicone mask, revealing her true identity.

"Alice!?" Natalia was aghast, unable to believe that Rebecca was actually Alice.

Alice's eyes were filled with venom as she glared at Natalia. "Who else did you expect? I'm sure you've wronged so many people that you can't even keep track. Right?"

Natalia shook her head in disbelief. "Alice, what are you doing? Why have you brought me here? Release me at once."

“Natalia, perhaps you think too highly of yourself." Alice's gaze hardened. "If it weren't for you, would Henry have thrown me out? Would | have ended up like this if | hadn't been cast out? From a pampered princess, born with a silver spoon, to a whore that’s treated lower than dirt?"

Natalia was shocked, unable to believe Alice's claims.

She didn't have a profound impression of Alice, merely that Alice was a spoilt, arrogant, and typically superficial heiress. Alice's actions that led to her father Rowell's downfall were, in fact, under Lydia's manipulations, which eventually led to Alice being ousted by Henry.

Natalia had assumed Alice's unfortunate predicament would cause her to change, to reform, and to dial back her arrogance and ignorance. But now, it seemed, Alice was spiraling further out of control.

"Oh, thanks to you, | was cast out, treated like a rag doll by those vile creatures! Surviving on mouldy food and begging just to keep breathing!"

Alice glared coldly at Natalia, "And you? What were you doing then? Living the high life in a grand mansion, sharing a bed with a man who worshipped you, while doting on a son who could do no wrong! Natalia, by what right do you have all the world’s fortune?! Why is that?!"

Indeed, Alice's appalling accusations caused Natalia to feel a tinge of remorse. She had i tiallypeerandry forBer'pSr in her father Rowell's demise, but she hadn't anticipated Alice to fall into such a distasteful predicament. Please read the original content at .

"Save me your sanctimonious pity. | don't need it!" Alice scoffed. "Those who hurt and humiliated me have been dealt with by my hand. Now, it's just you left, Natalia. How should | repay you for your ‘great kindness?”

“Alice, stop this madness. Why were you thrown out of the manor? Don't you realize you were in the wrong?"

"Shut up! SHUT UP!" Alice shouted, pushing Natalia hard and watching her fall to the cabin floor. "You're no martyr, Natalia! Haven't you figured it out yet? Your illness is nothing but karma for all the evils you've committed!"

Natalia looked at Alice with pity, convinced that she had lost her mind. Natalia herself had been foolish enough to be deceived by Alice's masquerade as Rebecca.

"Natalia, the whole time | was locked away, | swore a silent oath — it's you and me, to the bitter end! First,

stole my man, enyen\charié my dayyaad Finally, you turned my own brother against me, who kicked me out of the house! Even if it means going to hell, I'll drag you down with mel!" Alice's glare at Natalia was as fierce as a thunderstorm. Please read the original content at .

Awry smile twisted Natalia’s lips. "| didn't steal anything from you. You just never knew how to appreciate what you had! And for your information, I'm already living in my own personal hell."

"Ha, right, exactly!" Alice laughed maniacally. "| was gonna knock you out and dump you in the shops dive bar, let you find ea wha to be not ing bytavlay Ke S a eard you got ALS, and | changed my game plan. Natalia, I'm gonna maroon you on a deserted island, make you feel the full weight of despair and helplessness, and watch you slowly become one of those people trapped in their own failing bodies, with no escape from ALS!" Please read the original content at .