Chapter 7 Crossing Boundaries
That was the last straw.
Sophia’s patience shattered.
She lunged forward and shoved him hard.
Magnus’s arms went slack under the sudden force, his body rocking back half a step. Before he could steady himself, Sophia grabbed the front of his collar and yanked him toward her with surprising strength.
Her fingers twisted tightly into the fabric as she dragged him closer. Her heels struck the floor with sharp, aggressive clicks as she stepped forward again, forcing him to give ground.
“If it wasn’t your choice,” she snapped, her voice rising with every word, “then why didn’t you refuse that damn marriage?”
Her grip tightened on his collar as she glared up at him.
“Why did you live with her for three months?”
Her chest rose and fell quickly as she advanced another step, leaving almost no space between them. Her gaze burned into him, fierce and accusing.
“And then you got divorced?” she continued harshly. “Don’t you think you should be sorry to your ex-wife instead of badmouthing her like this?”
Magnus stumbled slightly as she pushed closer, caught off guard by the force of her anger. His chest heaved as he steadied himself.
“It wasn’t love!” he said quickly, his voice rising with agitation.
He took a step forward despite her grip, closing the remaining space between them, his eyes locked onto hers.
“We were both trapped in that marriage for our own selfish reasons,” he continued, frustration threading through his voice. “We had nothing to do with each other!”
His brows drew together, and he dragged a hand through his hair before looking back at her.
“But if you still think I wronged her—if you think I failed her in any way…” His voice lowered slightly, though the intensity remained. “Then I am ready to make it right.”
His gaze remained steady on hers.
“I can give her money. Apologize again. Do whatever is necessary.” He inhaled sharply before finishing firmly, “But I cannot control who I fall in love with.”
Before Sophia could respond, Magnus suddenly pulled her closer.
His hands slid around her waist, his fingers pressing firmly into her sides as he drew her against him.
The movement was quick and decisive, leaving barely any space between them.
One of his hands slowly moved upward, cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing lightly along her jaw as he tilted her face toward him.
His forehead gently brushed against hers.
For a brief moment, Magnus closed his eyes, as if steadying himself. Then he leaned forward slightly, stopping just inches from her lips. His breath mingled with hers, warm and uneven, their proximity thick with tension.
“You are the one I fell in love with,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, heavy with emotion.
His fingers tightened slightly against her cheek as he searched her face.
“Tell me…” he continued softly, his voice trembling with raw intensity. “What must I do to make you believe that you are the only woman I’ve ever loved, Sylvia?”
Sophia froze.
Her body went rigid against his, her back instinctively stiffening in his arms. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as his lips hovered just a breath away from hers. Every inch of him pressed against her like a living memory she had tried so hard to bury.
Memories of him, of moments she had long forced herself to forget.
A faint shiver ran through her body, and she jolted slightly against him before she could stop herself.
Magnus immediately noticed.
He pulled back just a little, barely an inch, just enough to look directly into her eyes. His hand still rested against her cheek, his thumb unconsciously brushing her skin.
His gaze was intense. Desperate.
“You still don’t believe me?” he asked quietly.
Before she could answer, he continued.
“Then I will call her right now. In front of you.” His tone turned firm with determination. “I will show you that we have nothing to do with each other. You can hear it yourself.”
Without breaking eye contact, his fingers slipped into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
Sophia’s heart skipped the moment she realized what he was about to do.
Magnus held the phone in one hand while the other remained firmly around her waist, keeping her close. His thumb moved across the screen as he began dialing, his eyes never leaving her face.
Sophia froze for half a second.
Then panic shot through her.
“No—no, Mr. Graves, you don’t have to do this,” she said quickly, her voice laced with sudden urgency. “I don’t want to listen to it.”
She reached toward his phone, trying to snatch it from his hand.
But Magnus didn’t budge.
His arm remained wrapped tightly around her waist, anchoring her against him, while his other hand lifted the phone slightly out of her reach, his fingers continuing to dial with calm precision.
“No, wait—just a moment,” she urged sharply, reaching for him as he ignored her pleas and pressed the number anyway.
Within seconds, a ringtone cut through the room.
Sophia froze.
Her eyes widened in shock as the sound continued ringing—from her.
Panic flashed across her face. Her hands flew toward her bag as she fumbled frantically to silence it, nearly knocking the zipper open in her rush.
Magnus’s brows slowly knitted together. His gaze dropped toward the sound, confusion creeping into his expression.
“Your phone…” he muttered under his breath.
Sophia’s fingers trembled as she dug into her bag and pulled out her personal phone. She had always carried two phones—one for work and business contacts, and another strictly for private matters.
And the one ringing right now… was her private phone.
Her heart pounded violently in her chest.
She didn’t even know he still had her old number.
Without hesitation, she slammed her thumb onto the hang-up button.
The ringtone died instantly, plunging the room into thick silence.
“It’s nothing,” she said quickly, forcing her voice to sound casual even as her chest rose and fell unevenly. She shoved the phone back into her bag a little too quickly. “Just a sales call.”
Magnus studied her for a moment before relaxing slightly, giving a small nod.
But the next second, his eyes dropped back to his own phone.
A faint crease appeared between his brows.
“She’s not picking up,” he said, a hint of frustration slipping into his voice. He glanced at the screen again. “I don’t know why.”
His thumb moved again.
“I’ll try again.”
Before he could press the call button, Sophia suddenly lunged forward.
She yanked the phone straight out of his hand and hurled it to the floor.
It struck the ground with a sharp, sickening crack.
Magnus’s eyes widened in shock.
Sophia stood in front of him, chest heaving violently, strands of hair falling loose around her face.
“Magnus!” she snapped, her voice shaking with anger. “I already told you—I have no interest!”
She took a step back, putting distance between them.
“Don’t you understand?” she continued, her voice rising. “I don’t want to be with you!”
She forcefully pulled herself free from the warmth of his grasp and turned away, running a hand through her hair as she struggled to steady her breathing. Anger and frustration churned violently inside her chest.
Her fists clenched at her sides.
But after a moment, she forced herself to swallow those feelings down, burying them deep.
Without looking at him again, she strode toward the door.
“It’s quiet outside…” she muttered, gripping the handle. “I guess they’ve already left. We should go.”
She yanked the handle.
The door didn’t move.
Sophia frowned.
She tried again, twisting the handle harder this time, her thumb scraping against the cold metal as she pushed the door.
It didn’t budge.
Her irritation flared instantly.
She tugged again, harder this time, throwing her weight into it.
Still nothing.
Her brows knitted together as confusion crept onto her face. She turned halfway toward Magnus, frustration flashing in her eyes.
Then she grabbed the handle again and pulled with even more force.
The door remained firmly shut.
“What…?” she muttered under her breath.
Her patience snapped.
She lifted her fists and banged sharply against the door.
Still nothing.
Her brow furrowed deeper as she turned back toward Magnus, confusion and irritation swirling across her face.
“Why… why won’t this door open?” she demanded, her voice tight with frustration.
Her hand slammed against the handle again.
“What the hell is going on?”
Magnus watched her struggle with the door, a faint, amused smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
He took a slow step forward, then another, closing the distance between them without a sound. Leaning casually against the wall beside the door, he folded one arm loosely across his chest and watched her efforts with quiet interest.
Sophia remained focused on the stubborn handle, tugging and pushing with growing frustration.
She didn’t notice him moving closer until he was suddenly right there.
Suddenly, one of his hands lifted and came to rest lightly against the door beside her head, effectively boxing her in. His tall frame loomed behind her as he looked down at her with that infuriatingly calm intensity.
“Looks like we won’t be getting out of here today,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing.
His breath brushed lightly past her ear as he leaned a little closer.
“I guess we’ll have to spend the night together in this dark room.”
Sophia’s eyes narrowed instantly.
She shot him a glare so sharp it could have burned through steel.
“Don’t talk like that,” she hissed, her voice tight with irritation.
Magnus didn’t move back.
Instead, he leaned even closer, completely unbothered by the fury in her eyes.
“Why are you in such a hurry to get out?” he murmured, his tone dropping into a low, husky note. His gaze slid slowly over her face, studying every reaction.
“You’re afraid of losing control over yourself?”