“This bitch stole my gold!” she shouted, pointing past him at Sophia. “It has nothing to do with you. Move out of my way. I’ll deal with her myself!”
She lunged again.
Magnus reacted instantly.
He stepped forward, blocking her path completely, his hand shooting out to shove her back hard enough to stop her momentum.
His face darkened, jaw tightening as his voice dropped into something colder.
“Do you have proof of what you’re accusing her of?”
The woman faltered slightly.
Magnus’s brows lifted, his tone turning cutting, almost mocking. “Or is this just the first time you’ve ever bought something from an auction house?”
Her face shifted just for a second.
Magnus didn’t miss it.
He took another step forward, his presence alone forcing her back.
“If you touch a single hair on her,” he said, his voice low and lethal, “I’ll have you thrown in jail for the rest of your life.”
The woman’s lips trembled, fury still burning, but now mixed with something else.
Fear.
“Go home and check your own house,” Magnus continued sharply. “Auction houses don’t hand over expensive items without authentication. You get legal certificates. If something was stolen, it didn’t happen there. It happened after.”
The woman’s breathing grew uneven. Her fists clenched at her sides.
“You’re lying,” she snapped, though her voice wavered. “You’re her accomplice. You're trying to steal from me!”
Her eyes darted between them, paranoia creeping in.
“I’ll kill her—”
“I’ve already called the police.”
The voice cut cleanly through the chaos.
All three of them turned.
Neymar stood a few steps away, dressed sharply in a suit, his posture calm but firm. His gaze moved from the woman to Sophia, and he gave Sophia a small, reassuring smile.
Then he looked back at the woman.
“If you’re so sure,” he said evenly, “the police can help sort it out. No need to handle it like this.”
The effect was immediate.
The woman froze.
The anger on her face flickered… then cracked.
Her bravado crumbled almost instantly.
She took a step back. Then another.
