Chapter 6 Characterless
Sophia lifted the glass of milk, taking a slow sip as Emma’s voice carried through the phone on the table, set on loudspeaker.
“Why don’t you come out and meet me today?” Emma whined. “Let’s go out and have fun the whole night. It’s been so long since we spent a full day together!”
“I have work today. I really can’t,” Sophia said, reaching for the diced fruit.
Emma let out a disappointed sigh, then switched to a teasing tone. “How’s married life? Are you at least enjoying your new husband when you’re not buried in work?”
Sophia froze mid-sip. “Emma!” she hissed.
“What?” Emma laughed. “I’m pretty sure by now you’ve had a good taste of his body. Everyone knows Magnus is unreal. Have you seen him? That man is gorgeous even with clothes on! You’re living under the same roof—don’t tell me you haven’t tried yet. What a waste of such an exotic delicacy."
Sophia rolled her eyes, set the glass down, and leaned back in the dining chair. “Did you forget I’m with him for just three months?”
“Exactly!” Emma shot back immediately. “You only have three months to enjoy that kind of body. Once you leave, what then? This is the best time. Take advantage while you can.”
“So this is what you talk about when I’m not around?”
The deep voice startled Sophia, making her jerk so hard she nearly fell from the chair.
Her head snapped around.
Magnus stood behind her, dressed in a dark, perfectly tailored suit. The jacket sat neatly on his broad frame, his white shirt crisp beneath it. His hair was combed back, sharp and tidy, matching the intense, penetrating look in his eyes as he stared down at her.
Sophia’s face flushed crimson in an instant. ‘He heard everything?!’
Panicking, she fumbled for her phone, snatched it off the table, and stabbed at the red button. The screen went blank as the call ended, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
“It’s just a misunderstanding,” she laughed nervously, jumping to her feet as the chair scraped harshly against the floor. Her hands fluttered as she spoke. “It was just Emma. I was talking about someone else. It really is a misunderstanding.”
Ignoring her rambling explanation entirely, he took a seat at the dining table. Calm. Unhurried. He poured coffee for himself, the liquid filling the cup with a soft sound before he brought it to his lips.
“Miss King,” he said casually, “you broke our contract.”
He took the first sip, eyes lowered, posture relaxed. A smug thought surfaced immediately. ‘She keeps saying she’ll leave after three months, yet she’s already telling people she’s my wife.’
Magnus set the cup down slowly, the porcelain clicking softly against the table.
His gaze lifted, sharp and unreadable as it settled on her flushed face.
‘And she expects me to believe she’ll actually walk away?
Is that how it works—telling everyone she belongs to me while pretending she plans to leave? ’
He leaned back slightly, fingers tapping once against the cup, certainty settling deep in his chest.
‘I was right. She never intended to break this marriage. It was all a facade just to marry me. Of course—how could she ever even think of leaving one of the richest families in the entire country?’
Sophia slowly sat back down, forcing a smile onto her face as she spoke, her voice softer now, hesitant. “I really didn’t tell anyone else about our contract. It’s just Emma. She’s my best friend, that’s why she knows.”
Her fingers clenched in her lap as despair washed over her.
‘I should’ve thought this through before signing that damn contract. I was in such a rush to get married that I didn’t even negotiate the terms. Now it’s coming back to bite me. How am I supposed to pay a hundred million dollars just for breaking one rule?’
Magnus lifted his eyes to her and spoke in a casually disdainful, taunting tone. “Nowadays, even luxury auctioneers don’t seem to understand the importance of discretion.”
A frown immediately appeared on Sophia’s face. She straightened, offense flashing in her eyes.
“Mr. Graves, why are you attacking my profession?” she snapped. “My work relies on confidentiality. Don’t insult it.” Her face darkened, clearly displeased.
Magnus set his coffee cup down with a soft clink and finally looked at her.
“Oh? You still remember that your profession requires confidentiality?”
His lips curved faintly—not a smile, but something colder. His eyes lingered on her flushed face before he continued, voice unhurried and certain.
“I thought you were already planning to quit your job and let the Graves name handle things for you.”
Sophia’s already annoyed expression turned even darker. Anger flared openly now.
“Magnus Graves!” she shouted.
Magnus flinched, startled by the sudden outburst. The cup rattled in his hand, coffee rippling dangerously as his fingers stiffened.
She didn’t stop. “Fine. You want a hundred million?” Her voice shook with fury. “I’ll get it. Even if I have to go into debt, I’ll pay you every cent!”
Magnus ignored her, lifting the cup again as if she didn’t exist.
She continued, voice hard. “But the moment I hand you that money, we’re burning that contract.”
His eyes darkened sharply. ‘Burn the contract? So she can stay my wife forever? She really thinks she’s very clever.’
“Don’t even think about it,” he said coldly.
But she didn’t let him finish.
She grabbed her phone from the table, her fingers moving quickly as she scrolled. “We can do it immediately,” she said, voice icy. “In fact, let’s get a divorce right now. I’ll pay you for breaking the contract.”
The instant the word divorce left her lips, his expression turned lethal.
The coffee cup slipped from his hand and hit the table with a dull thud.
“You want to divorce me?” he asked, disbelief burning in his eyes.
She met his gaze head-on, her expression frighteningly calm. “I don’t like being framed by people. Before you twist this into something uglier, it’s better to end this marriage.”
Her tone was cold and disinterested, yet every word cut sharp—angry, determined. “I can take care of my own life—even if I have to do it alone. Even if I have to go into debt to repay you.” Her eyes burned with quiet anger. “That’s still better than being accused and insulted by you.”
Magnus’s fingers tightened around the cup. His jaw hardened as he stared ahead, displeasure flashing across his face.
“You should think carefully,” he said, even as his grip on the cup tightened further. “This deal was made because your grandmother asked you to marry me. Are you really going to dishonor your grandmother’s last wish?”
“Don’t worry about my grandma’s wishes, Mr. Graves,” she replied in the same detached tone as she rose to her feet. “I won’t accept disrespect from anyone.”
She picked up her phone from the table and turned away from him, already moving toward the door.
“You can think it over,” she added without looking back. “The moment you agree, let me know. I’ll meet you at the courthouse to get a divorce.”
Then she walked away, storming out of the house, leaving him behind at the table.
Magnus remained frozen in his seat, stunned.
‘She really wants a divorce?’ His face was filled with disbelief as he stared at her retreating back until she disappeared from view. ‘Does she really not like me?’
***
“A hundred million?”
Emma stared at Sophia in disbelief, her eyes wide. She blinked, then repeated it slowly. “One hundred million?”
Sophia shrugged lightly and nodded. “Yeah. He asked for it. And I told him I’d pay.”
She leaned back in her chair as she spoke.
The restaurant around them buzzed quietly with low conversation and clinking cutlery.
Despite its fame, the place was calm, refined.
The décor was European—old, elegant, inspired by eighteenth-century design, with ornate decorations and sophisticated seating scattered throughout.
“That’s a massive amount, Sophia!” Emma said, placing her coffee cup down on the table. She leaned forward, staring at Sophia from across the table. “Why did you even sign something like that?”
Sophia muttered nonchalantly, “I don’t know. I just signed it.” She exhaled softly. “At the time, I was worried about Grandma. She wanted me to marry him because things were getting worse with my uncles. There was no guarantee they’d even leave me alive once Grandma is gone.”
Her voice darkened. “Didn’t you see how they already tried to kill me? Sending goons after me? I never thought they’d go that far—but they did.” Her fingers curled slightly. “I think Grandma understood them better than I ever did.”
“Bastards,” Emma muttered, her jaw tightening. “It wasn’t even their right. They stole everything your grandma built—everything she left to your mom—and quietly pocketed it all. And your dad is still blind to the way they’re playing him.”
Sophia’s voice stayed calm, almost distant. “I don’t care anymore. It’s been years. If Dad refuses to see the truth, I’m not going to keep forcing it on him.”
Emma frowned, worry surfacing as her brows knit together. “But… do you even have a hundred million dollars?”
Sophia sighed heavily. “I don’t. I guess I'll just sell the shares Grandma left for me. That should cover some of it.”
Emma’s anger flared. Fire burned in her eyes as she slammed her hand on the table.
“What an asshole,” she snapped. “Magnus fucking Graves designed that contract to benefit only himself—no matter the outcome. A real businessman through and through, isn’t he?” She scoffed. “No wonder everyone calls him a greedy tyrant.”
Emma leaned forward, eyes locked on Sophia’s with fierce determination. “And who even cares about being his wife?”
Her voice hardened. “Don’t worry. I’ll help you. If it comes to it, I’ll use shares from our family business. We’ll pay him back—every cent—and get you out of that hellhole of a contract.”
Sophia flashed her a smile.
Emma let out a long breath and leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as she shook her head.