“Weird.”
Sophia walked toward the room Magnus had pointed out and stepped inside. The door slid shut behind her with a soft sound, and she paused instinctively.
It was a private room. Her brows knit together as her gaze swept the space.
“There are swimsuits here? Why would his private place have women’s swimsuits?” she muttered under her breath, slowing her steps. “Does he… bring other women here?”
The thought alone made her stomach turn. Wearing someone else’s swimsuit felt instantly repulsive, her shoulders tensing as discomfort crept up her spine.
The changing room was covered in sleek black tiles. Soft lighting glowed all around, illuminating the spacious room.
Right in front of her stood racks. An entire row of women’s swimsuits, each neatly packaged in clear protective covers, arranged with meticulous care.
Her heartbeat stuttered.
She walked closer, her fingers hesitating for a brief second before she reached out and picked one up. The material was smooth beneath her touch.
Brand new.
The tags were still attached.
Her gaze dropped slowly to the size printed on the label.
Her size.
Her breath caught.
She grabbed another one. Then another, her movements growing quicker, almost restless.
Every single swimsuit—without exception—was her size. There wasn’t a single different size anywhere in the room.
Her fingers tightened around the fabric, knuckles paling as surprise and confusion surged through her chest. A strange pressure built beneath her ribs, something she couldn’t quite name.
She bit her lip, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Did he… arrange this entire room just for me?”
The realization sent a ripple through her. Surprise washed over her first—then something softer, warmer, spreading quietly through her chest, stealing her breath before she could stop it.
Shaking her head slightly, as if to clear her thoughts, she finally picked up one of the swimsuits she liked. She changed quickly, her movements absentminded, her thoughts still tangled.
Moments later, she stepped out of the room, wearing the swimsuit.
Magnus was already at the edge of the pool, dressed in nothing but a pair of dark shorts, rolling his shoulders and stretching his arms. The moment Sophia stepped out, his movements stalled.
And then he went completely still.
Not a single muscle moved. His eyes were locked on her as if the rest of the world had abruptly ceased to exist.
She was wearing a low-neck swimsuit—deep blue, patterned with broad square lines, red stripes trimming the edges. It was classic, understated, almost modest in design.
On her… it looked strikingly beautiful.
Magnus felt his heartbeat stutter, then race hard against his ribs, a sharp ache spreading through his chest. ‘It feels like I’ve never seen a woman in a swimsuit before.’
His body reacted before his mind could catch up—heat rushing through him all at once. He shifted his stance, cleared his throat, then turned slightly to the side, pretending to stretch again as if that might somehow hide his reaction.
Sophia walked over and stopped beside him, completely unaware.
