“Sure,” she said, brushing past Magnus without hesitation. “Since you’re already here, let’s go.”
She stepped forward, her shoulder almost grazing Magnus as she passed. For just a second, her eyes flicked toward him—a cold, fleeting glance—before she looked away again and continued walking, as if he didn’t exist.
Magnus’s face hardened instantly, his lips pressing into a thin, sharp line. Anger flashed across his eyes, but Sophia didn’t stop.
Beside her, Neymar matched her pace with ease. When they reached the car, he stepped ahead, pulling the door open smoothly. Sophia slid inside without a word, adjusting her dress as she settled into the seat.
As he shut the door, Neymar lifted his gaze and shot Magnus a brief, smug glance before circling around the car and sliding into the driver’s seat.
The engine started, and the car pulled away.
Neymar drove them to a nearby restaurant. When the car came to a stop, he stepped out first, walking around to open her door again.
Sophia stepped out, smoothing her hair back as she fell into step beside him. Their shoulders nearly brushed as they walked toward the entrance together, quiet and in sync.
Through the glass doors, warm golden light spilled from the five-star restaurant inside the hotel, wrapping the space in a soft glow. The low murmur of voices and the faint clink of glass drifted out as they pushed the doors open and stepped inside.
The moment they crossed the threshold, a waiter hurried over, stopping in front of them with a polite bow.
“Good evening, sir. Miss.”
He gestured politely, leading them toward a table in the middle of the restaurant. Neymar nodded once and followed, and Sophia walked beside him, her heels clicking softly against the floor.
They reached the table and took their seats, the waiter pulling the chair out for Sophia before stepping away.
Sophia had barely settled when her eyes flickered to the side.
A familiar figure strode in.
Her gaze followed him instantly.
“Magnus?” she whispered, shocked.
He walked in with long, hard steps. Without sparing them a glance—at least not openly—he passed right by their table and headed straight for the one across from them.
Then he dropped into the seat facing her.
His body hit the couch with more force than necessary. He leaned back, throwing his arm over the backrest, one leg crossing over the other in a careless sprawl. But there was nothing relaxed about him.
His eyes were locked on her.
Dark. Narrow. Burning.
His face was set, tight with restrained anger, and jealousy flickered across his expression without any attempt to hide it.
Sophia’s fingers tightened slightly on her lap.
Her lips pressed together faintly.
‘I accepted Neymar’s dinner invitation so he would leave me alone… and he still followed me here? What’s gotten into him?’
The waiter returned, placing drinks on the table before setting down their meals. Sophia barely noticed. The entire time, she could feel Magnus’s gaze on them.
It pressed against her like heat.
She tried to ignore him. But it was impossible.
Across from her, Magnus didn’t even touch the Americano placed in front of him. He just sat there, eyes fixed on her, his expression dark and visibly pissed off.
