Chapter 9

She flicked on the light and walked in, towel in hand. Approaching the bedside table, she gazed at the Immaculate furniture, unsure where to start cleaning This man was peculiar. His bedroom was so spotless, it seemed as if it had never been lived in. What was there to clean?

She gingerly opened the wardrobe, revealing an array of dark shirts, black trousers, and suits. This man was cold and eccentric, even his clothing reflected a chilling aura, but she still arranged his belongings neatly and tidied up.

When she finished and descended the stairs, Linden greeted her with a smile “What would you like for lunch, Ma’am? I’ll have May prepare it.” Natalia nodded. “I’m not picky, whatever Mr. Magnus is having will be fine.”

“Mr. Magnus has stepped out and may not return until the evening,” Linden informed her, still smiling “He’s out? How did he leave? Who’s taking care of him?” Natalia questioned, worried. At the very least, someone should have been accompanying him. If Linden was here, how did he manage to leave alone?

“It’s alright. Mr Magnus can manage on his own Mr James came to pick him up.” Linden looked at Natalia’s concerned eyes and nodded silently Natalia wasn’t as cold–hearted as the rumors suggested.

She seemed to genuinely care about their master. If she wasn’t involved with Mr Lucius, she could have been a good match for their master.

Upon hearing that he’d left with a friend, Natalia nodded. “Alright then, I’ll have whatever is convenient.”

Linden immediately went to the kitchen to relay her request. Natalia sat on the couch and wondered if she should inform her friends Lexi and Sabrina about her situation. Would they turn the world upside down looking for her if she disappeared without a trace?

She ascended the stairs and picked up her phone. Dozens of missed calls and messages flooded her screen. All were from Lexi, Sabrina, and Hector [Natalia, why didn’t you come to school?]

[Natalia, please respond. I’ve applied to study abroad in the U.S., and we’ll be leaving in a year.]

[Natalia, please don’t ignore me. I can’t find you…]

Hector’s messages piled up.

Sabrina. [Get your ass out here, girl!]

Lexi [Nat, where are you? Someone’s going crazy‘]

Sabrina. If you don’t come back, I’m going to come to your house and bang on the door!]

Natalia, reading these messages, felt tears streaming down her face. This was the path she chose. For her father, she’d given up everything. It was her way of repaying him for giving her a home when she was five.

Finally, she saw a message from her father [Nat, I’m sorry]

Her tears rushed down uncontrollably. She covered her mouth, trying to suppress her sobs, but the sound of her crying reached the ears of the housemaid outside her room.

The maid quietly descended the stairs and informed Linden about Natalia’s crying. Frowning, Linden commanded, “Get back to work, and mind your own business!”

The maid quickly retreated.

After Natalia finished crying, she dried her eyes. She texted Sabrina and Lexi. [I’m going somewhere distant for a while to do something. Don’t look for me Don’t ask about me. I’ll be back after a year.

Please wait for me.]

She sent Hector a message [Hector, sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to just to survive.

I’m a lonely wanderer. Thank you for taking care of me these past six months. Forget about me Don’t ask why]

[Go to America. Maybe we’ll meet again one day. But for now, please let me disappear in peace.]

After sending these messages, she turned off her phone. A knock on the door broke her reverie.

“Ma’am, lunch is ready,” Linden announced, gazing at the desolate girl.

Natalia managed a small smile. “Alright, I’ll be right there.”

She had a quick lunch and returned to her room, staying there for the rest of the day.

The Golden Groove was the biggest entertainment venue in Melfort. Chase, the general manager, oversaw everything here, but he wasn’t the owner. The real boss behind the scenes was a mystery.

Some speculated that the owner was a rich man from Lille, France Two men were seated in a VIP room on the top floor. The red wine on the table shimmered enticingly under the lights. The door swung open, and Magnus strode in “Damn, Magnus, how could you just waltz in here like that?” One of the men on the couch jumped up in surprise. His handsome face looked taken aback.

The man following Magnus shrugged, indicating he was helpless.

Magnus sat on the couch, picked up a wine glass from the table, and drained it in one gulp.

The three men were Chase, Carter, and James. Magnus‘ closest friends. Carter was the CEO of a powerful corporation in France. Chase, his younger brother, was the general manager of Golden Groove in Melfort and also the CEO of a subsidiary of Cliff International James was the founder of the notorious Silent King, a criminal organization in Europe However, no one knew that the man behind all three companies and organizations was Magnus From the age of eighteen, Magnus had vowed to stand tall, refusing to surrender what was rightfully his. And he had succeeded. He had finally risen!

But no one knew that his legs had fully recovered Forty percent of the shares of Andersen Corporation amounted to an astronomical sum that no one could fathom. All they knew was that Magnus current assets had already exceeded Andersen Corporation by several folds!

“Magnus, it’s a sensitive period right now Don’t expose yourself prematurely, Carter advised, his gaze serious “From what I’ve heard, Lucius has already united all the shareholders and is set to officially take over as CEO in June. Your grandfather can’t control him anymore”

James added. “Theard he’s recruited a Mexican gang and is preparing something!”

Magnus lips formed a straight line, and his icy demeanor was breaking into a mocking smile. Let him strut around. Only when the time comes can he fall from a great height!”

“That would indeed be quite a thrill, wouldn’t it? But Magnus, what’s the fun in stealing his woman?”

Chase chuckled.

The three men turned their attention to Magnus‘ still–dark face. Chase changed his tone. “Hey, tell us, how’s married life? Is she giving you trouble?”

At his question, three pairs of eyes focused intently on Magnus.

“Hard to tell, she’s quite the actress!” Magnus thought about the woman’s innocent, doe–eyed gaze. A wave of heat surged through him.

Chase let out a snicker Magnus, it’s been years since you’ve been with a woman. You wouldn’t be thinking of making a move, would you? It’s not like it’d be wrong. You’re both single. Plus, it might just drive Lucius mad!”

Chase’s words were met with a chilling stare from Magnus, which quickly shut him up.

James, a man whose stern features could easily intimidate anyone, found joy in teasing Magnus just like Chase. He let out a hearty laugh “Did you guys see that? He’s clearly sexually frustrated. But Magnus, are you really planning to spend the rest of your life with this woman? As far as I know, she lost her virginity to Lucius when she was just seventeen. She’s always been a wild one, brash and domineering. And quite the flirt!”