Chapter 10 Violet #3
Everyone in the house knew the truth. Magnus and Sophia’s marriage had started as a contract. Even though Magnus tried to keep it discreet, his family had known from the beginning. Camila herself had never bothered to hide it.
Emily, Alexander, Mia, and Sebastian leaned closer to one another, shoulders brushing as they lowered their voices.
“Is it just me,” Emily murmured, her gaze flicking toward Magnus before darting away again, “or is Magnus actually defending Sophia?”
Mia slowly shook her head, lips parting slightly in disbelief. “That man wouldn’t even blink if someone crashed straight into his car while he was still sitting inside, He wouldn’t even bother getting out.”
Emily nodded, resting her chin lightly on her hand. “The only expressions I’ve ever seen on his face are annoyance or pure irritation,” she said thoughtfully. “He doesn’t care about anything unless it’s worth a billion dollars.”
Her brows drew together slowly, confusion creeping into her eyes. “And now he’s humiliating Violet… just to protect her?”
Mia leaned in even closer, her voice dropping further. “Exactly. What is going on?”
Both women glanced toward Alexander and Sebastian, who were seated on either side of them. Emily leaned closer to Sebastian, lowering her voice to a whisper. “What changed?” she asked quietly. “Does he protect every woman like this, or is this the first time?”
Sebastian let out a dry snort, barely turning his head. “He wouldn’t even protect me if someone tried to kill me right in front of him,” he muttered. “He thinks wasting time on people with lower IQs is a form of charity—one he’s absolutely not interested in giving.”
Alexander huffed, leaning back and crossing his arms. “Yeah. He doesn’t bother with anyone’s bullshit unless money’s involved.” His gaze flicked toward Magnus, eyes narrowing. “I’m starting to think someone shape-shifted into Magnus’s body and took over.”
Sebastian nodded slowly, face dead serious, as if diagnosing a terminal illness. “We might need to call a doctor. This is definitely not normal.”
Suddenly, Magnus’s head turned.
His gaze sliced toward them. His jaw clenched, the muscle jumping visibly as his eyes locked onto the group.
The four of them straightened instantly, pulling apart like kids caught whispering in class. A couple of muffled snickers slipped out before they pressed their lips together and sat properly, faces schooled, eyes snapping back to the scene unfolding in front of them.
Silence settled over the room.
Violet’s humiliation hung thick in the air. She stood rigid, shoulders tight, lips pressed together—clearly not daring to speak again.
That was when Camila spoke.
“Sophia,” she said calmly, folding her hands in her lap, her tone even and composed, “is Violet close family? Do they live near your house?”
Sophia lifted her gaze to Camila. Then her eyes shifted to Violet—
—and the softness in them vanished, replaced by open irritation.
“No,” Sophia said coolly. “She’s just my uncle’s daughter. They don’t live nearby.”
Camila frowned slightly, her fingers pausing where they rested on the arm of the chair. “Then where do they live?”
“Inside our house,” Sophia replied. “Grandma Mila’s house.”
Camila’s brows lifted. “In your house?”
Sophia’s lips curved.
“Yeah. I have no relationship with her,” she said flatly. “She’s the daughter of a man who—along with his brother—came to my grandma’s house pretending to help my dad with business and never left.” Her eyes flicked briefly to Violet. “Shameless squatters.”
Violet stiffened.
Heat rushed to her face, her skin flushing with a mix of embarrassment and fury. She shot to her feet so abruptly her chair scraped loudly against the floor.
“Sophia—!” she snapped, pointing accusingly. “I know you don’t like me, but I’m still your cousin. Family is family. You shouldn’t talk like that about us!”
Sophia didn’t flinch.
Her expression didn’t change. She didn’t raise her voice. She simply looked at Violet, calm and unbothered.
“Why shouldn’t I say it?” she replied coolly. “You dare to do it, but you don’t dare to accept it?” Her gaze sharpened. “If your actions are shameful, maybe fix them instead of whining about how being exposed hurts your feelings.”
Violet’s face twisted with rage, her lips trembling as she struggled for words.
Sophia merely gave her a small, smug smile before turning away as if Violet were no longer worth her attention.
Violet stood there trembling, fists clenched so tightly her knuckles whitened. Her eyes darted around the room, silently begging for someone—anyone—to speak up and defend her.
No one did.
That only deepened the humiliation burning in her chest.
With a sharp inhale, Violet spun on her heel and stormed toward the exit.
No one stopped her.
That was when Hannah spoke.
“Sophia,” she said evenly, “why don’t you escort Violet out? It wouldn’t be nice for a guest to leave on her own.”
Sophia didn’t want to. But meeting Hannah for the first time, she didn’t want to appear rude.
She lifted her gaze, met Hannah’s eyes, and forced a polite smile before rising from her seat.
She then followed Violet out.
Violet walked ahead, stiff and furious, her steps sharp and fast. Sophia wasn’t escorting her—she was clearly throwing her out.
They reached the door. Violet stepped outside.
As Sophia reached for the handle to close it, Violet suddenly turned, stepping back into her space. Her voice dropped to a hiss.
“Sophia,” she said coldly. “My dad is hosting a party next week. You know that, right? One of the biggest business parties of the year.”
Sophia looked at her with clear disinterest.
“And?” she asked flatly. “What does that have to do with me?”
The indifference in her tone only twisted Violet’s anger further.
Her lips curled into a cruel smile, her eyes glittering with malice.
“If you don’t come,” Violet said softly, venom dripping from every word, “I’ll throw away everything your mother left behind in the house.”
She leaned in slightly. “I’ll dump it all in the trash.”
Sophia’s gaze instantly sharpened, fury flashing in her eyes the moment the threat landed.
But before she could react, Violet stepped back.
Her expression shifted smoothly, slipping into a sickly-sweet smile.
“So, Sophia,” Violet said lightly, her voice syrupy, “if you don’t come, you already know the consequences. Make sure you attend the party, okay?”
Sophia’s chest burned with fury. Every instinct screamed to lash out.
But she didn’t.
Instead, her face went calm—cold, detached. She looked at Violet as if she were nothing. As if she didn’t matter at all.
“Alright,” Sophia answered. “You’re going to regret inviting me,”
She slammed the door in Violet’s face and turned away, walking back into the house without looking back.
On the other side, Violet remained rooted to the spot, fists clenched, seething with anger.