Magnus’s jaw tightened immediately.
The realization that Sophia didn’t even see him as an acquaintance irritated him far more than he wanted to admit.
For a moment, anger flashed in his eyes.
He shifted his cold gaze toward Sophia.
His voice came out controlled, but there was clear irritation behind it.
“I understand that Isabel may not be someone you know well,” Magnus said in a controlled tone. “But Sylvia, you should try to be a little kinder.”
His tone turned sharper.
“You’re coming across as quite rude.”
Beside him, Isabel glanced at Sophia again.
This time, there was no attempt to hide the smug expression on her face.
Seeing Magnus speak up for her boosted her confidence instantly. The humiliation she had felt moments ago faded, replaced by clear satisfaction.
A victorious smile appeared on her lips as she watched the situation unfold.
However, before Sophia could say anything, Elias spoke first.
He turned his head slightly and glanced at Sophia beside him. Then his arm moved naturally, sliding around her waist from behind as if it belonged there.
“What are you talking about, Mr. Graves?” Elias asked calmly.
His hand rested firmly on Sophia’s waist, pulling her a little closer to him as he continued.
“I’ve never met any woman as kind as Sylvia. She’s always too polite to people.”
He looked at Magnus with a faint, polite smile.
“But if she doesn’t have a personal relationship with someone, she keeps her distance and treats them all the same.”
He lifted his brows slightly.
“So how can you expect her to behave differently when she doesn’t feel that way?”
Magnus’s eyes immediately dropped to the arm wrapped around Sophia’s waist.
He watched the way Elias’s hand rested there… the subtle tightening of his fingers as he held her close, and the way Sophia shifted just slightly nearer to him as they sat together.
Something dark flashed across Magnus’s face.
His jaw hardened.
Under the table, his hands clenched tightly. The muscles in his arms tensed as if he wanted nothing more than to reach across and rip Elias’s hand away from her waist.
But he held himself back with visible effort.
Elias then shifted his gaze toward Magnus and Isabel, glancing between them with a thoughtful look.His eyes moved between them before one eyebrow lifted slightly.
“Well,” he said calmly, a faint cold smile appearing on his lips, “since we’ve already explained our relationship to you… don’t you think you should explain yours as well?”
His eyes flicked between the two of them.
