Chapter 13 Choose Me #2
Neymar, on the other hand, slid his hands casually into his pockets. A faint, smug smile tugged at his lips—but he hid it just as quickly, softening his expression as he looked at Sophia.
“I was actually coming to meet you,” he said, tilting his head slightly. “I was hoping I’d find you today. Looks like I got lucky—we ran into each other instead.”
He let out a soft chuckle, then added gently, “If it’s okay with you… I’d like to take you out to dinner.”
He tilted his head slightly, watching her closely, his eyes almost silently asking her to say yes.
At once, Magnus moved, stepping in front of Sophia and thrusting his arm out between them, his hand braced firmly as if drawing a line no one could cross. His jaw tightened, and when he spoke, his voice came out low, edged with a warning growl. “She is not hungry.”
Sophia exhaled slowly, her patience snapping. She lifted her hand and placed it on his arm, her fingers pressing down. Then she pushed it aside, forcing his arm to drop. Her eyes didn’t linger on him. Instead, she turned to Neymar, her expression calm but distant.
“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.
Sophia’s patience snapped. ‘Fine. If he wants to watch, then I will give him something to watch!’
Her expression shifted instantly, softening into a sweet smile as she turned fully toward Neymar. She leaned slightly forward, lifting her hand and placing it gently over his.
“Thank you so much for today,” she said warmly. “It was really nice meeting you again after such a long time.”
For a split second, her eyes flicked toward Magnus.
Just enough.
She saw it immediately—
His back had gone rigid. His posture snapped upright, all laziness gone. His eyes locked onto their hands, completely still, unblinking.
Then she turned back to Neymar, her smile deepening.
Neymar caught on at once.
His eyes flicked briefly toward Magnus before returning to Sophia, a knowing glint passing through them. More than willing to play along, he turned his hand, covering hers with both of his.
Sophia stilled for a second at the contact.
Then Neymar smiled, his voice warm, almost indulgent. “I’m more than happy to treat you anytime. You’re such a delight to have at the table.”
His fingers tightened slightly around her hand.
“If you want,” he added smoothly, “we can have dinner every weekend… or every night.”
The meaning in his tone was obvious.
The smile on his lips made it even clearer.
And that was it.
The last thread snapped.
Across the room, Magnus shot to his feet so abruptly that the chair scraped harshly against the floor.
In the next second, he was already moving.
He strode over in long, furious steps, his expression dark and storming. Before Sophia could react, his hand shot out, grabbing her wrist and yanking her hand out of Neymar’s grasp.
“Magnus—!”
He didn’t stop.
He pulled her up to her feet, turning her sharply toward him.
“Aren’t you getting too friendly with strangers?” he snapped, his voice low but burning with anger.
Sophia frowned instantly, her brows drawing together as she jerked her arm, trying to pull free.
“You need to stop interfering in my business,” she shot back, her voice cold. “What does it have to do with you who I spend time with?”
With a sharp tug, she freed her arm from his grip.
Then she turned away from him completely, as if he wasn’t worth another second, and looked at Neymar.
“I think we’re getting too disturbed here,” she said calmly. “How about we go to my place for a more peaceful dinner?”
Neymar rose immediately, not missing a beat.
“Of course,” he said with an easy smile.
She stepped away from the table, completely ignoring Magnus, and started walking toward the exit.
As Neymar passed Magnus, he paused just slightly.
Then he turned his head, flashing him a bright, almost mocking smile.
“Thanks for making my night,” he said, and winked.
His gaze flicked toward Sophia, then back to Magnus, the meaning unmistakable.
“I guess I’m going to have a very good night tonight with Sylvia.”
And then, without waiting for a response, he walked away.
Magnus’s face fell instantly.
The moment Neymar turned and walked away with Sophia, something dark flashed across his eyes. He stood there for a second too long, his hands clenching at his sides, his jaw tightening so hard it looked like it might crack.
His gaze locked onto Neymar’s retreating back—sharp, burning, murderous.
As if he could set him on fire just by looking.
Then they disappeared.
And something in him snapped.
He turned abruptly and strode toward the bar. Reaching it, he grabbed a glass of whiskey without asking, tossing it back in one go. The burn hit his throat, but he didn’t care.
He slammed the glass down.
“Sir—” the bartender started cautiously, eyeing him. “You might—”
Magnus ignored him.
He grabbed another.
And another.
Each one went down faster than the last, the alcohol spreading through his veins, but instead of dulling anything—it made everything worse.
His anger surged, uncontrollable now.
With a sudden movement, he pushed away from the bar and stormed out of the restaurant.
Outside, he yanked his car door open and slid in, slamming it shut behind him. The engine roared to life, and within seconds, he sped off.
Straight to Sophia’s house.
The drive was reckless.
Fast.
By the time he reached, he didn’t even bother parking properly. The car came to a screeching halt right in front of her house, stopping so abruptly it nearly hit the tree nearby.
The engine cut off.
Silence.
Then—
The door flew open.
Magnus stepped out, slamming it behind him before striding straight to her door. His fist came down hard against it.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Relentless.
The door finally swung open.
Sophia stood there.
The moment his eyes landed on her, they burned.
Without a word, he pushed past her, brushing her shoulder aside as he walked straight into the house like he owned it.
“Magnus—what are you—”
He didn’t answer.
Didn’t stop.
He moved through the house like a storm, yanking doors open one after another, checking every room. His movements were aggressive as he searched for Neymar.
But there was no one.
Every room was empty.
The house was silent.
Magnus walked back into the living room, his chest rising and falling heavily. The alcohol hadn’t calmed him.
If anything, it had made him worse.
Sophia followed him in, her brows drawn together. “What the hell are you doing, Magnus?”
His head snapped toward her, his eyes blazing. “Where is he?” he demanded harshly. “Where the hell did he go? Did he leave?”
Sophia’s expression hardened instantly.
“What does it have to do with you?” she shot back. “Leave my house. I didn’t invite you in.”
His face darkened further.