“You should feel ashamed for even taking this money,” Celia snapped. “You’re not worthy of him. You and he don’t even have a real relationship. Magnus and I were together for years. He only married you because of your family connections. He doesn’t even like you.”
Sophia slowly lifted a brow.
“I’m not worthy of him?” she repeated softly.
She leaned forward slightly, folding her arms over the table.
“Since you came to see me, I’m sure you know I’m Magnus’s wife. Why do you think you can buy me?”
Celia straightened in her chair, her chin lifting with pride.
“Magnus had a crush on me when we were in college,” she said smugly. If I hadn’t gone to Greece, he wouldn’t have married you.”
She leaned back, crossing her legs.
“Did you look at the photos closely? He and I already slept together. Don’t you care? Even a little bit?”
Sophia’s smile didn’t falter.
“No,” she said calmly. “I don’t give a fuck.”
She stood up, gripping the back of her chair before pushing it back. She picked up her bag and began to walk away.
Just as she took a step—
“I’m sure you saw the marks I left on his neck,” Celia called out coldly. “I left them for you. Didn’t you like them?”
Sophia froze. Her fingers tightened around her bag strap. Her knuckles turned white. Her chest felt tight, as if something heavy was pressing against her ribs.
But her face remained perfectly composed.
Behind her stillness, anger and humiliation she had buried began rising again, burning through her veins. Her back stiffened.
Celia smiled smugly.
“You know,” Celia continued lightly, “I was the one who instructed Violet to throw you into that private room with your driver.”
Sophia froze.
Slowly, she turned around.
The color drained from her face.
Celia clasped her hands, watching Sophia as if enjoying a show.
“Magnus knew about it,” she added. “He helped me hide it from you. He told me not to reveal that I was the one who arranged everything. If he really cared about you, why would he help me cover it up?”
She tilted her head.
“Aren’t you surprised?”
Sophia’s face went completely cold.
Disbelief and rage roared through her veins so violently she felt lightheaded. Her breathing turned shallow. Her body felt rigid, like stone.
Her body felt stiff. Heavy.
For a second, she thought she might lose control.
