“Millions,” Magnus corrected quietly.
“Hm…” Harold leaned back, frowning, fingers tapping against his thigh as something clicked in his mind. “A ’67 Impala convertible… that dark red color…” His voice slowed, unease creeping in. “Why does it look so familiar?”
At that moment, Sophia pushed the car door open and stepped out, her heels touching the ground first. She straightened slowly, smoothing her mini skirt as the leather jacket settled neatly over her crop top, then shut the door behind her with a soft click. Unhurried, she walked toward the edge of the road, her heels crunching lightly against the gravel.
Harold craned his head out of the window again, leaning so far forward he nearly fell out of the car, desperate for a better look.
Near the ditch, Sophia stopped and leaned forward slightly, peering down at the wrecked car below. A small, unmistakably victorious smile curved at the corner of her lips.
“Oof,” Harold breathed, his eyes going wide. “Did she just… smile?” His hand flew to his chest in disbelief. “And she’s wearing heels? She drove likethatin heels?”
He collapsed back into his seat, spine hitting the leather as he clutched his chest dramatically, then snapped his head toward Magnus, words tumbling out in a breathless rush.
“She’s amazing! She looks likethat, she drives likethat—and she smiled!” His voice rose with excitement. “I think… I think I love her.”
Before Magnus could even respond, Harold lunged for the door handle, fingers already curling around it. “Just wait here. I’m going to get her number.”
The lock clicked.
In the same instant, Magnus’s eyes snapped to him. His hand shot out, fingers locking tightly around Harold’s arm and yanking him back into the seat.
“No, you won’t,” Magnus said, his voice glacial. “Sit. Down.”
Harold frowned and tried to yank his arm free. “Let go of me, Magnus. What are you doing?” His voice rose with urgency. “I might never meet her again. Don’t make me lose my chance—let go!” He struggled harder, trying to pull his arm out of Magnus’s grip.
Magnus’s head tilted slightly as he met Harold’s eyes and said flatly, “She is not suitable for you.”
“What the fuck?” Harold snapped. “Why wouldn’t she be suitable for me?” He tugged again. “Let go, Magnus!”
However, Magnus didn’t loosen his grip.
Just then, the sharp screech of tires cut through the air. All three heads in the car snapped in that direction, only to see that Sophia was already inside the car. The very next second, she pressed down on the accelerator, and the car shot forward, speeding away in a blur.
As the car disappeared from sight, Harold whipped back toward Magnus and roughly yanked his arm free from his grip, irritation written all over his face.
“Look what you did!”
He adjusted his collar roughly, then turned to stare out the window, quietly watching the faint glow of the taillights fade into the distance. Slowly, he turned back toward Magnus, his lips curling into a teasing smile as his eyes narrowed.
“Why didn’t you let me go to her?” he asked lightly. “Do you want her?” His gaze sharpened. “Don’t tell me it’s becauseyoulike her.”
The very next second, Magnus’s face twisted with annoyance. He reached across to Harold’s side and threw the door open. The door flew wide, and before Harold could react, Magnus’s foot struck him hard, knocking him straight out of the car.
Harold tumbled out of the car, landing hard on his backside with an undignified thud before rolling onto the road.
“I was just joking!” he wailed, scrambling upright, his voice echoing down the empty street. “Come on—Magnus! I wasjustjoking!”
Magnus didn’t even spare him a glance. He reached out, caught the car door, and slammed it shut with a sharp snap.
“Drive,” he barked, leaning back into his seat.
“Magnus!” Harold shouted. “I’m telling Aunt Camila if you don’t let me back in right now!”
Magnus merely turned his head a fraction, fixing him with a flat, emotionless stare—more dismissive than any insult.
The next second, Timothy hit the accelerator. The car surged forward, tires humming as it pulled away, leaving Harold sitting in the middle of the road, mouth open in pure disbelief.
An hour later, when Magnus reached home, the lights in the house were already on. Soft shuffling sounds echoed inside as he entered.
