And somehow, that only made him more attracted to her.
Sophia blinked when she saw Magnus, clearly startled. Her gaze shifted to Brent, who stood behind him holding the white gift box, then back to Magnus again.
For a split second, confusion flickered across her face—as if she thought she might be dreaming.
But when realization set in, her peaceful expression hardened. Her brows pulled together. Her eyes sharpened.
“What are you doing at my home, Mr. Graves?” she demanded, gripping the edge of the door tightly. “Haven’t I already made it clear? Stop appearing wherever I am. I’ve refused your project. There’s nothing I can do for you.”
She began to close the door.
Magnus reacted instantly, placing his hand against it before it could slam shut. His palm pressed firmly against the wood, preventing her from pushing it further.
“It’s not about the project,” he said.
Her gaze dropped to his hand on the door, then lifted to his face again. “We have nothing else to talk about except your project.”
He inhaled sharply.
“I know why you hate me.”
Confusion flickered across her face.
“Isn’t it because of my ex-wife?” he continued, his voice lowering.
Sophia didn’t answer.
She just stared at him.
Her silence stretched thin between them.
Magnus misread her silence as confirmation.
“I knew it,” he continued, conviction hardening his tone. “Someone as greedy and vile as her would never say anything good.”
Sophia flinched at the certainty in his voice.
For a second, she was too stunned to react. Then the shock burned into anger.
“Your ex-wife is greedy and vile?” she repeated, her voice rising slightly as she looked him straight in the eyes. “And you’re the perfect husband, Mr. Graves?”
Her chin lifted, brows arched in disbelief.
Magnus didn’t look away.
“No,” he admitted. His voice dropped, rougher now. “I wasn’t a perfect husband. Not even a good one.” His jaw tightened. “And I already paid her a hefty amount in exchange for that.”
Sophia went completely still.
For a moment, she was speechless.
He was talking abouther—and he didn’t even realize it.
The irony burned inside her chest. It made her furious.
For a moment, she couldn’t feel her fingers. Anger rose in her chest so fast it almost choked her. How could he reduce their marriage to money? To a transaction? As if everything between them could be settled with a check.
And yet… she forced herself to stay quiet.
