Chapter 283
“Goddammit, Alex! What kind of monster have you become?” Sophia’s voice trembled violently, each word cracking like lightning through a storm.
“Ever since Jasmine slithered into your life, you’ve turned into someone I don’t even recognize p>
“Was it really worth it-denying them even a sliver of that damned root? Would it have cost you an arm or a leg p>
“Tell me, what’s your price? A million bucks? Two million? Just name it! I’ll sell my soul if I have to—-but stop hurting my mother and brother p>
Her rage boiled hotter with every word, her fists shaking uncontrollably, knuckles white and eyes blazing.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Alex?!” she exploded, tears of fury beginning to well in her eyes.
“Have you completely lost your goddamned heart p>
Alex stood unmoved, his face cold and detached as stone. “You really think this is about money? Let me spell it out for you, Sophia-the root isn’t mine to give p>
Sophia felt her chest clench painfully, fury slicing deeper at his indifferent tone. “Oh, of course. Did you give it all to Jasmine? Is that it p>
“So now your loyalty to her runs so deep that you’d rather watch my family suffer and die than take even a scrap from your precious Jasmine? You absolute bastard p>
“Could you calm down for one damn second?” Alex’s jaw clenched, frustration seeping through his carefully maintained composure.
“Can’t we just talk rationally p>
“Rationally?” Sophia scoffed bitterly, a mocking laugh ripping from her throat.
“Am I the irrational one? Or are you just a heartless coward who’s bored of his old toy and eager to impress the shiny new one p>
“Am I really worth so little to you? Not even worth a single piece of some damned herb p>
Her voice cracked, and she gasped as if a knife twisted deeper into her heart. Jasmine’s name burned in her mouth, acid and betrayal mingling in every syllable. Alex rubbed his temples, taking a sharp breath.
“Look, Sophia, if this is why you dragged me here—to fight about the same tired accusations—then we have nothing left to discuss p>
Sophia’s eyes flared dangerously. “Fine! Forget the root-let’s talk about Clara. Did you frame her for that arrest p>
“I warned Clara,” Alex said evenly, eyes narrowing.
“I begged her to back off, but she insisted on digging her own grave. Would you honestly believe me if I said I had nothing to do with it p>
Sophia’s voice rose to a furious roar.
“Believe you? Charles saw everything. He said you pinned false charges on her- used your goddamn badge to lock her away p>
“How could you be so vindictive, so utterly cruel, over something so small? She’s family, Alex—my aunt! Do you have any idea how twisted and sick you sound p>
Alex felt his own anger rise, his voice now edged with biting sarcasm. “And you’d rather trust Charles? Really? Am I just some petty, narrow-minded monster in your eyes p>
Sophia spat the words venomously. “Why wouldn’t I believe him? He’s never stabbed me in the back, unlike you p>
Alex laughed bitterly, the sound harsh and jagged. “What if I told you Charles set Clara up himself? Would you even listen p>
“More lies!” she screamed, cutting him off savagely.
“Every word from your mouth is poison! You’ve lied, betrayed, and hurt everyone around you-why the hell should I believe anything you say p>
Silence fell heavily, each of her words echoing cruelly between them.
Alex’s gaze darkened with a profound weariness, a self-mocking smile curving bitterly on his lips.
He no longer had the strength-or even the desire to argue.
The seeds of distrust she’d sown had taken root, spreading through their hearts like a merciless poison.
He had tried so damned hard, fighting to bridge the chasm of mistrust between them.
But every attempt seemed to drag them deeper into pain and resentment. He should have known better.
Hoping for reconciliation was torture-pointless agony.
No matter what he did, no matter how deeply he bared his soul, she’d always see
him as the villain, never believing, never forgiving.
Every minor disagreement ignited into a blazing inferno.
That endless cycle had broken them both.
He had fought enough. It was time to surrender to let go. There was nothing left
to salvage, and the realization twisted sharply inside him.
Maybe it was time he finally gave up.
“Is that it, Alex? Is that all you’ve got to say?” Sophia’s voice trembled with raw betrayal, her words cutting through the air like shards of glass.
“I knew you were lying! God, why did you turn into such a mess? Do you enjoy tearing this family apart piece by pièce? Do you thrive on driving us to hate each other p>
Alex’s voice came back low and bitter, the sound of someone too tired to fight yet
too proud to yield.
“I haven’t changed, Sophia. You’ve just never trusted me-not then, not now.
What’s the point in talking if my words mean nothing to you p>
He paused, the silence between them thick with old wounds.
“Let’s stop pretending there’s anything left to salvage between us. I’ll find a way to repay you… for what you did for Josephine. I owe you that much p>
Then came the sharp click of disconnection – a clean break, cold and final.
Sophia stared at the phone in her trembling hand, her knuckles white with pressure.
Could they ever go back to who they were before?
No.
Alex had already given her the answer.
It was impossible.
The truth tore through her chest like a wild animal. Irreversible. Unforgiving.
“Alex! Alex, are you ending it like this? Are we just strangers now? Say something -damn you, say anything p>
But there was no voice on the other end. Only the hollow, mechanical hum of a call that would never be returned.
Sophia’s knees buckled, her heart aching with unbearable sharpness.
Why couldn’t they ever find peace? Why did every exchange have to leave deep, bleeding wounds?
“I told you,” Jack sneered venomously, seizing the moment with relish. “Alex isn’t even human. Now you’ve finally seen that monster’s true colors p>
“Sophia, stop groveling,” Florence spat bitterly from her bed. “He’s a lost cause. Karma’s coming for him, mark my words p>
“Enough, Mom,” Sophia snapped, overwhelmed. “Just focus on healing, okay? I’ll figure something out for Clara p>
Florence’s eyes sharpened abruptly. “Charles can help Clara, Sophia. But he needs that root from Alex p>
Sophia’s suspicion flared, eyes narrowing dangerously. “Wait-so this was never about you? You’re after the root for Clara p>
Florence nodded weakly. “Exactly p>
“What does Charles want with it?” Sophia demanded sharply, suspicion thick in
her voice.
Jack winced, gently rubbing the bruise on his cheek.
“I’ve got no idea what it is — some pharmaceutical secret from Kingston. But can
you help me get the root? Charles is offering a few million for it p>
He sighed, frustration creeping into his voice.
“I really need that money. Those bastards wrecked my car and beat me half to
death. I’ve got nothing left p>
Sophia’s expression darkened.
‘Thugs? Wait-thugs did this? Didn’t Jack accuse Alex p>
Their tense silence shattered abruptly as flashing lights painted the mansion
windows.
A police cruiser halted aggressively outside, its sudden arrival cutting like lightning through the gloom.
Clara sprang from the backseat, her voice lively and victorious as she bounded
inside.
“I’m back!” she shouted triumphantly, her presence jolting through the somber room like a live wire.
“Clara!” Florence gasped, eyes wide with shock. “You’re alright p>
“You’re free already?” Jack blurted out incredulously.
“Just half a day in lockup,” Clara shrugged, brushing back her hair with a carefree
gesture.
“They dragged me in over some Kingston manager’s bogus claims about
substandard products-total nonsense p>
Florence’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“Charles Kingston. He must’ve used his influence. Without his intervention, you’d
be rotting in a cell right now p>
Clara nodded, her relief palpable. “I’ll thank him personally p>
Jack slammed his fist onto the
boiling.
in frustration, bitterness inside him. “Great. Just great. beaten half to death by the thugs for
nothing. What a damn joke.
Sophia turned on him coldly, her voice dangerously quiet. “Funny how quickly
your story changes, Jack. Didn’t you swear Alex did this to you p>
Jack’s face twisted into a mask of panic, sweat trickling down his bruised temple
as he hurriedly looked away.