Estelle's throat constricted. The words she meant to say felt stuck somewhere between her chest and her lips.
She opened her mouth, but Magnus had already turned away. Just like that. As if she were nothing more than an afterthought, as if she had already been replaced.
The air felt thinner in the room.
Then a sharp ringing sliced through the silence. It was Vance's phone. He reached into his pocket, glancing at the screen. A slow smile curved his lips as he read the name and then he lifted his head, looking at Magnus.
"Her replacement has arrived," he said casually, like Estelle wasn't even there. "Miss Torres is here."
The words landed in Estelle's chest harder than they should have.
