Camila looked up, then gave him a slightly guilty smile. Her eyes flickered toward Thomas, who immediately turned away, pretending not to see anything.
Magnus followed her gaze.
Then looked back at her.
Realization hit.
“You lied to me?” Magnus snapped, dragging a hand through his hair as he paced in front of Camila. His chest rose and fell sharply. “Mom, what the hell is wrong with you? Do you even know how worried I was?”
Camila didn’t back down. She stepped closer, her voice quick, almost defensive. “I just wanted you to meet Sophia! You liked her so much. It’s impossible you wouldn’t fall for her.”
Magnus let out a harsh laugh, shaking his head. He turned away, jaw tight, then faced her again. “Mom, you need to stop doing this to me.”
He was too caught up in his anger to notice the movement at the entrance.
The doors opened quietly.
Sophia walked straight in.
Since Thomas had told her Magnus wouldn’t be there, she had been relaxed, her guard down. She didn’t pay much attention—until she stepped fully inside.
And froze.
Her eyes landed directly on Camila.
Then shifted—
To Magnus.
Her breath caught.
Panic flashed across her face. She immediately turned around, her heels scraping lightly against the floor as she tried to leave. She barely made it a step toward the exit—
“Wait.”
Magnus’s voice came from behind, loud and sharp.
He had already turned, his brows pulling together as he stared at her back. Something about her felt… familiar.
“Sylvia?” he murmured, confused.
At the same moment, Camila gasped, her face lighting up. “Sophia? You’re here?”
Magnus stilled.
“Sophia…?” he muttered, confusion deepening as his gaze fixed on her.
She was wearing a dress. The way she stood, the curve of her side profile—
She looked like Sylvia.
He took a step toward her. Then another.
“Turn around,” he said, his voice commanding.
Sophia lifted a hand to her face, squeezing her eyes shut as if she could block everything out. Her breathing grew uneven.
She didn’t move.
