Before Timothy could finish, the phone was abruptly snatched from his hand.
Harold’s excited face filled the screen.
“Magnus!” Harold nearly shouted, lifting his phone and snapping a photo. “Check your messages. I just sent you something. Look at who I ran into!”
Magnus frowned and opened the chat. The image loaded slowly. He tapped it and zoomed in.
At first glance, it looked like a random girl leaning against a bar, holding a drink.
But as he zoomed closer, his expression darkened.
It wasn’t a stranger.
It was Sophia.
She was wearing a sexy black dress—backless, short, with a sweetheart neckline that hugged her figure. A vodka shot was raised in her hand, her lips curved into a smile as she prepared to drink. She was clearly smiling at someone, though the frame was cut off, hiding whoever stood in front of her.
On the video call, Harold laughed loudly.
“I’m so lucky, Magnus! I thought I lost her on the road earlier. I never imagined we’d run into each other again like this.” His face was glowing with excitement. “Just wait and watch—I’m going to get her tonight.”
Magnus stared at the screen.
His face turned deathly dark.
Lowering the phone slowly, his head dipped forward, a dangerous flash of fury crossing his features. His jaw clenched hard, the muscles ticking as he breathed through his nose. A harsh scoff slipped from his lips as he muttered under his breath,
“You leave the house in the middle of the night to go drinking alone in a fucking bar…”
His grip tightened around the phone, knuckles whitening as his gaze lingered on the picture.
“…looking likethat?”
His teeth clenched, eyes blazing with anger.
The very next second, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the study.
Minutes later, he emerged dressed in a sharp black suit, movements rough and impatient as he buttoned his cuffs. Without even glancing at his appearance in the mirror, he grabbed his keys and stormed out.
An hour later, Magnus strode into the Luxe bar.
The music was loud, lights flashing in sharp bursts as his eyes swept across the crowd, searching for Sophia. At first, there was no sign of her, and annoyance tightened his jaw.
Then, as he neared the dance floor, he finally saw her.
She was dancing on the stage, laughing freely, her body moving to the rhythm without restraint. Another girl danced beside her, and as Magnus drew closer, he recognized her immediately.
Emma Creed.
Sophia kept dancing, carefree and unguarded—until her foot suddenly slipped.
Magnus moved instantly.
His long strides broke into a full run, instinct overriding everything else. He reached her just in time, his hands catching her from behind before she could fall.
But in the very next second—
Harold rushed in.
