Alexander snapped upright on the couch, eyes widening in pure shock. “Are you serious?” he demanded, slamming his glass down on the table before letting out a stunned, disbelieving laugh. “What the hell?”
And then—
Magnus returned.
He walked back to the table calmly and dropped into the couch opposite them. Casually, he picked up the glass he’d left behind and took another sip, as if nothing unusual had happened.
Alexander and Sebastian stared at him, then at each other, and then back at him—completely stunned.
“What the fuck was that?” Sebastian questioned. “Mom just called and said you agreed to marry Sophia. Is that true?”
Magnus shrugged lazily, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Yes.”
Alexander stared at him in disbelief. “Didn’t you say you’d never get married? What the hell happened?”
Magnus took another slow swallow of his drink before finally meeting their eyes.
“I changed my mind. I’m getting married tomorrow,” he said calmly. “At the courthouse.”
They both froze.
“No gifts,” he added casually.
He placed the glass back on the table, stood up without another word, and walked out.
Alexander and Sebastian sat there in stunned silence, staring at his disappearing back—shock written clearly across their faces.
***
“Please look here in the camera, Mr. Graves. Would you like to wrap your arm around the lady’s shoulders?”
The photographer smiled at them, lifting his head from behind the camera to look expectantly in their direction.
Magnus glanced at Sophia for a brief second before lifting his arm and placing it around her shoulder.
They sat side by side in front of the camera, the photographer snapping shots as flashes went off.
Sophia wore an elegant white dress that stopped above her knees. Pearls adorned her ears, and a delicate necklace rested against her collarbone, the kind that likely cost a small fortune. Her posture was composed, hands folded neatly in her lap, phone resting between her fingers.
Yet her calm was a façade.
Her fingers shifted restlessly, again and again. She glanced down at her phone repeatedly, impatience flickering in her eyes every time she looked back up at the camera.
Magnus, seated beside her, wore a dark coat tailored perfectly to his frame. His face was as charming as ever, expression unreadable, composed.
Sophia finally looked at the photographer and asked, her tone polite but edged with urgency, “How long do you think this will take? To officially register the marriage?”
Magnus’s gaze snapped to her.
His eyes darkened, distaste flashing through them.
‘Is she really this desperate to marry into a rich family?’ he thought coldly.
The photographer chuckled as he adjusted the lens. “Not long, Mrs. Graves. Just a few more minutes.”
Sophia stiffened slightly at the title.
She glanced toward Magnus and caught the look on his face. Instantly, she let out an awkward laugh, waving it off. “I’m just bored of this place already,” she said lightly. “Let’s get this over with and leave. Aren’t you bored too?”
