Sophia’s gaze followed Camila’s finger to the table—and her eyes widened.
The entire table was covered in gift boxes of every size imaginable, stacked and piled on top of one another. There had to be more than a hundred of them.
The sight made her look back at Camila in pure shock.
Camila then picked up a box resting at the center of the table. She opened it carefully and held it out toward Sophia.
“This is for you,” Camila said warmly. “This is a special set I give to all my daughters-in-law. Now it’s your turn.”
She smiled as she placed the box in Sophia’s hands.
Sophia looked down.
Inside lay a diamond necklace embedded with emeralds, the stones catching the light and sparkling brilliantly.
Sophia’s eyes widened instantly.
“Mrs. Graves… this is too expensive—” Her voice trailed off. The rest of the sentence died in her throat. The necklace alone probably cost more than everything she owned combined.
Camila gently pushed the box back toward her when Sophia instinctively tried to return it.
“Don’t give it back,” Camila said firmly. “This is a gift. I told you—it’s for all my daughters-in-law. Now it belongs to you.”
“But—”
Before she could say more, Magnus leaned closer. He placed his hand over the jewelry box and pressed it lightly into Sophia’s hands.
“Keep it,” Magnus said calmly. “This isn’t something you return. It’ll bring bad luck.”
He lied smoothly.
Sophia hesitated for a second before lowering her hands and accepting it.
‘We’re getting divorced in three months anyway, she thought quietly. Why would I keep something this expensive?’
They spent the rest of the day with Camila. After lunch, Sophia wandered around the mansion, accompanied by a maid who showed her the house—including Magnus’s old room.
Meanwhile, Camila and Magnus sat together in the living room.
Camila studied him closely. “So,” she asked, “do you like Sophia?”
Magnus lifted his eyes from his phone, briefly meeting her gaze.
Camila kept staring at him, her expression serious. She crossed one leg over the other, her posture casual—but her gaze sharp.
Camila continued. “Before getting married, you kept saying she wasn’t someone you would ever like. So tell me—what do you think of her now? Do you still think she isn’t suitable for you?”
Magnus avoided her gaze. He turned away without answering and continued scrolling through his phone.
Camila’s expression hardened. She straightened. “Don’t pretend to be deaf in front of me. I know everything.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Don’t think I don’t know about your little three-month contract marriage stunt, you little bastard.”
Magnus’s eyes snapped up from the screen. He turned fully toward her, shock flashing across his face.
“Howthe helldo you know about that?” he asked, appalled.
Camila let out a scoff. “I’m your mother. Did you really think you could hide it from me?”
