Sophia’s eyes widened in shock as she instinctively stepped back, giving way without even realizing it.
By the time she reacted—
He was already inside.
The door left open behind him.
Silence wrapped around the space.
Magnus’s gaze moved immediately—sharp, searching. His eyes swept across the walls, the shelves, every corner, looking for something… anything. A photograph. A trace. Proof that another man existed in her life.
A trace that someone else lived here.
But there was nothing.
No sign. No presence.
The tight knot in his chest loosened just a little.
He stilled, drawing in a slow breath, trying to calm the restless storm inside him. Then he turned, only to come face-to-face with Sophia.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Magnus stepped closer and held the box out to her. “This is for you.”
He placed it into her hands without waiting for permission, his fingers brushing hers briefly before pulling away.
Sophia blinked, caught off guard, instinctively taking it.
“These are more comfortable,” he continued, his tone lower now. “You’re on your feet all day at auctions. Your feet must hurt.”
As he spoke, he lifted the lid of the box.
Inside was a pair of white pumps.
Elegant. Soft. Expensive.
Sophia’s eyes widened slightly as she looked at them. Her fingers brushed the edge of the box, then paused when she saw the brand.
One of the most exclusive labels in the world.
Of course it was.
For a man like him, this was nothing. Something ordered in minutes, delivered without effort, chosen without a second thought.
She looked at him, startled, her brows lifting before her gaze flickered away and then back to his face.
Before she could ask anything, he spoke first—his voice low, certain. “I know now why you’re hesitant to accept me.”
He took a slow step closer, eyes fixed on her. “Is it because of your divorce?”
Sophia froze.
Her fingers tightened slightly at her sides, her breath catching in her throat as her chest rose and fell unevenly. Her eyes searched his face quickly—sharp, anxious, almost panicked.
‘Did he figure it out? Did he get his memories back?’
She swallowed, then looked up at him again. “What…?” she asked, her voice unsteady despite her effort to control it. “How did you know?”
