Everyone stared at him, stunned. No one had expected him to step in so fiercely, so openly for Sophia.
For a wife he had married only weeks ago.
Everyone in the house knew the truth. Magnus and Sophia’s marriage had started as a contract. Even though Magnus tried to keep it discreet, his family had known from the beginning. Camila herself had never bothered to hide it.
Emily, Alexander, Mia, and Sebastian leaned closer to one another, shoulders brushing as they lowered their voices.
“Is it just me,” Emily murmured, her gaze flicking toward Magnus before darting away again, “or is Magnus actually defending Sophia?”
Mia slowly shook her head, lips parting slightly in disbelief. “That man wouldn’t even blink if someone crashed straight into his car while he was still sitting inside, He wouldn’t even bother getting out.”
Emily nodded, resting her chin lightly on her hand. “The only expressions I’ve ever seen on his face are annoyance or pure irritation,” she said thoughtfully. “He doesn’t care about anything unless it’s worth a billion dollars.”
Her brows drew together slowly, confusion creeping into her eyes. “And now he’s humiliating Violet… just to protecther?”
Mia leaned in even closer, her voice dropping further. “Exactly. What is going on?”
Both women glanced toward Alexander and Sebastian, who were seated on either side of them. Emily leaned closer to Sebastian, lowering her voice to a whisper. “What changed?” she asked quietly. “Does he protect every woman like this, or is this the first time?”
Sebastian let out a dry snort, barely turning his head. “He wouldn’t even protectmeif someone tried to kill me right in front of him,” he muttered. “He thinks wasting time on people with lower IQs is a form of charity—one he’s absolutely not interested in giving.”
Alexander huffed, leaning back and crossing his arms. “Yeah. He doesn’t bother with anyone’s bullshit unless money’s involved.” His gaze flicked toward Magnus, eyes narrowing. “I’m starting to think someone shape-shifted into Magnus’s body and took over.”
Sebastian nodded slowly, face dead serious, as if diagnosing a terminal illness. “We might need to call a doctor. This is definitely not normal.”
Suddenly, Magnus’s head turned.
His gaze sliced toward them. His jaw clenched, the muscle jumping visibly as his eyes locked onto the group.
The four of them straightened instantly, pulling apart like kids caught whispering in class. A couple of muffled snickers slipped out before they pressed their lips together and sat properly, faces schooled, eyes snapping back to the scene unfolding in front of them.
Silence settled over the room.
Violet’s humiliation hung thick in the air. She stood rigid, shoulders tight, lips pressed together—clearly not daring to speak again.
That was when Camila spoke.
“Sophia,” she said calmly, folding her hands in her lap, her tone even and composed, “is Violet close family? Do they live near your house?”
Sophia lifted her gaze to Camila. Then her eyes shifted to Violet—
—and the softness in them vanished, replaced by open irritation.
“No,” Sophia said coolly. “She’s just my uncle’s daughter. They don’t live nearby.”
Camila frowned slightly, her fingers pausing where they rested on the arm of the chair. “Then where do they live?”
“Inside our house,” Sophia replied. “Grandma Mila’s house.”
Camila’s brows lifted. “In your house?”
Sophia’s lips curved.
“Yeah. I have no relationship with her,” she said flatly. “She’s the daughter of a man who—along with his brother—came to my grandma’s house pretending to help my dad with business and never left.” Her eyes flicked briefly to Violet. “Shameless squatters.”
Violet stiffened.
Heat rushed to her face, her skin flushing with a mix of embarrassment and fury. She shot to her feet so abruptly her chair scraped loudly against the floor.
