His chest rose and fell violently. He couldn’t even get a proper breath in.
He threw the phone onto the passenger seat without waiting for another word and jammed the key into the ignition. The engine roared to life.
Within seconds, the car shot forward.
He drove like a madman.
His foot pressed hard against the accelerator as he sped down the main road. The early morning streets were mostly empty, only a few scattered vehicles in the distance. The sky was still pale, the city half asleep — but his world felt like it was collapsing.
His jaw clenched. His knuckles turned white around the steering wheel.
The car screeched as he slammed the brakes at the airport entrance. He barely shut the door before running inside, his coat flaring behind him.
His heart pounded violently in his chest as his eyes scanned the terminal.
He searched every face, every corner.
Nothing.
No sign of Sophia.
He turned in circles, searching every direction as if she might suddenly appear. His breath came fast and shallow.
He dragged a rough hand through his hair, fingers gripping the strands hard enough to hurt. His jaw flexed. His entire body felt tense, wired, like it was about to snap.
He rushed toward the inquiry counter.
“There was a 4 A.M. flight to London,” he said urgently, leaning forward, palms flat against the counter. “Did it leave already?”
“Yes, sir,” the woman replied politely. “There was a flight at 4 A.M. It departed on time.”
Magnus went completely still.
All the air seemed to leave his lungs at once.
The noise of the airport seemed to fade into nothing. A sharp ringing filled his ears as his heartbeat pounded aggressively against his ribs. He gripped the edge of the counter to steady himself, his fingers digging into the surface as if it were the only thing holding him upright.
She left.
He stood there in silence, staring blankly ahead, his mind numb.
After standing there in silence for what felt like forever, he pulled out his phone with shaking fingers and called his mother.
The line rang only twice before she answered.
“What?” Camila’s voice came sharp and clipped.
“Mom,” Magnus said, his voice low and strained. “Is Sophia gone? Did she leave?”
“Yes,” Camila replied in a cold voice. “I went to the airport to see her off myself. Her father had already left the country two days ago. He said he was expanding their business overseas. Sophia was all alone when she left.”
Magnus closed his eyes, guilt filling his chest.
Then Camila’s voice shifted — softer, but heavy with disappointment.
“I had to send her away by myself,” Camila said, her voice thick with restrained anger. “Even though she didn’t ask about you, I could see it in her eyes. She kept looking around… probably hoping you’d show up.”
Magnus’s grip on the phone tightened.
