A Loveless Marriage

Chapter 20

Natalia’s POV

To say I was shocked would be an understatement because it was not a shock. I was terribly frozen. I mean how can someone fake such a big illness? It’s not the first time it has happened. I felt it before, but at that time I didn’t know about Magnus’s illness, and when I came to know about it, I forgot everything that happened earlier.

If I forget about previous times, the most recent incidents were proof of it. That night, when Magnus slept with me in Xenia’s room, I felt his hardness. I felt it, but I thought it might be a reaction from his body and forgot about it.

Even when I was getting ready for the Christmas Party, the way Magnus looked at me and how his hands were touching gave me goosebumps. It happened but I let it pass. But when he made me feel how hard he was. How could I forget that?

He is not ill. He is not ill at all. After that incident, Magnus and I both went downstairs where Andrew met us. Seeing the tension between us, he understood that we needed time alone.

Magnus told him that we were leaving, and he came to see us. I was walking with Magnus. They were both talking about some deal, but I didn’t interrupt. I was still trying to digest what I heard from Magnus.

Once Andrew left, I sat in the car and Magnus started driving. I was looking out of the window. There were cars everywhere on the road, but my mind was still on the terrace.

I was sitting calmly when Magnus called me, “Natalia?”

I hummed in response, and he asked, “Are you angry with me?”

“No, I am not.”, I replied without looking at him.

“Would you like to have coffee?”, He asked, and I replied, looking out of the window, “Xenia is alone. I want to be with her.”

“Don’t worry. She will be us.”, He assured me and I finally said, “Okay.”

Soon we reached home and I got out of the car. I didn’t wait for Magnus and started walking inside. I was about to step on the stairs when I heard Magnus from behind, “Natalia, I am making coffee. Get changed and come down with Xenia.”

I nodded and went into my room and fell on the bed. Every moment of the party started playing in my mind. I was confused, but somewhere deep down I knew the reason for what Magnus did. But instead of making my assumptions, I thought of going to Magnus downstairs.

I quickly changed into comfy pajamas and went into Xenia’s room and found that Nanny was ready to leave.

“She is sleeping, ma’am.”, She told me and I sat beside Xenia and asked, “Was she fine?”

“Yes, she played some time with me, and then I fed her. Since then, she has been sleeping.”, She said, and I replied, “Thank you for taking care of her.”

“No problem, Ma’am. Merry Christmas.” She wished me and I did the same, “Merry Christmas.”

Once I was sure that Xenia was fine. I wrapped a shawl around me and picked a blanket for Magnus. When I came down, Magnus was near the hearth, trying to ignite the fire. I walked near to him, and he turned to me, “Fire is ready. Please have a seat.”

I sat on the mat near the fireplace covering myself and Magnus brought coffee for us. He gave me a cup of coffee and sat in front of me.

I was waiting for him to speak. I noticed how nervous he was before starting his conversation, but soon I heard him, “Natalia?”

I looked at him, and he added, “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“I understand, Magnus.”, I said, and I didn’t know why I said that, but I did it.

I still had questions, so before wasting any time I took a long breath and asked, “But why did you lie to Andrew?”

He licked his lips and I knew that he was not ready for this conversation. Still, I gave him some time, and he finally spoke, turning to the fire, “Actually, after Sophia’s demise, everyone started torturing me to move on. They would often call me to meet with other girls and date them.”

I thought about it. I had an idea that something like that must have happened. He continued, “I was not ready for that. Xenia was my responsibility and I didn’t want any random girl to come closer to her.”

I sipped my coffee and realized Magnus was such a great cook. He added, “Once, I was reading something on the internet and came to know about Genophobia. That’s when I came up with this plan.”

I nodded, and he remembered the time when he met the first girl, “I paid the girl whom Andrew planned my date with. She did what I told her and since then I am doing the same.”

I was literally amazed. I mean he took such a drastic step just to stay away from other girls. He smiled sarcastically and asked, “You must be wondering if I am crazy.”

I gave him a small smile and replied, “No, Magnus. Even after knowing everything, my respect for you has increased.”

“Really?”, He asked, getting impatient, and I nodded.

I told him, “In today’s world, where people just need an opportunity to cheat, you are faithful to your dead wife.”

I was silent for a few moments, and suddenly he took my hand in his and said with guilt, “Natalia, I might never be able to accept you as my wife.”

I placed my hand on his hand and replied with tears in my eyes, “Trust me, Magnus. After knowing everything, I really want to be your wife. But that’s fine if I don’t, at least I am a part of your family and that’s enough for me.”

He nodded, and I didn’t realize how we got so close. He palmed my face in both his hands, making me nervous, and promised, “Natalia, I promise you whether I accept you as a wife or not, but as the mother of Xenia, I will never cheat on you.”

“Thanks.”, I said, wiping his tears, and after that, we were silent sitting in front of the fireplace. Suddenly, Magnus asked me, “Have you ever thought about spending your night sitting right beside the Christmas tree having coffee?”

I smiled listening to him and replied, “No, never. However, I believe that memorable moments occur when things are not planned.”

He agreed with me. Soon, I was rubbing my eyes, which he noticed and asked, “Tired?”

“A little bit.”, I told him.

“Let’s head to the bedroom then.”, He said and we both stood, from our seats.

We were going upstairs and Magnus asked me out of the blue, “Want to sleep in Xenia’s room?”

“I was going there only.”, I said, and he replied, “I was also planning to sleep in Xenia’s room.”

We both were looking at each other since no one of us would back out to leave Xenia’s room however, Magnus solved the problem, “We will share Xenia’s room then.”

“Okay”, I said, and with that, we both retired to sleep.

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