Chapter 464
Annabella’s eyes blazed. “Who the hell do you think you are talking like that to a Baroness?” she shouted.
Countess Marlena didn’t reply. She just flicked her gaze toward one of her men. The executive understood instantly.
He stepped forward, towering over Annabella, raised his hand, and struck her across the face with brutal force.
The crack echoed. Annabella hit the marble floor hard, blood spraying from her mouth, two of her teeth skittering away like pearls.
“And who the hell are you,” the man growled, “to scream in front of a Countess? Learn your place p>
Alex turned his eyes toward Baroness Wolfsbane. His tone dripped with venom. “If you’re not going to kneel, then get out of our way p>
He grabbed Sofina’s hand and pulled her past the Baroness. As they walked away, he leaned close and whispered, “Enjoy watching Wolfsbane burn p>
The Baroness-always so regal, always towering above others-suddenly broke. She seized Countess Marlena’s hand, desperation flooding her voice.
“Please,” she pleaded, trembling, “tell me what I’ve done wrong. Why are you canceling our collaboration p>
Marlena stared at the Baroness’s hand like it was something filthy. Her lip curled.
“I told you before,” she said sharply. “This partnership existed because of our respect for Miss Sofina Scheinwald. Then you decided to shove some foolish woman into her place and humiliate Sofina in the process? How absurd. We won’t tolerate such nonsense. Now take your dirty hand off me, Baroness p>
With a sharp smack, Marlena tore her hand free from the Baroness’s grip. Without another word, she turned and strode toward the exit, her entourage gliding behind her in perfect, disciplined silence.
Baroness Wolfsbane sank to her knees, pale as death. Her mind raced, horror clawing through her chest
She had destroyed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with her own arrogance. If she’d known it would all collapse like this, she would’ve kept her word to Sofina- never replacing her with Beatrix, not for power, not for pride, not for anything.
Beatrix stood frozen, confusion written all over her face. “What just happened?” she murmured.
She walked to his grandmother side. “Grandma, the deputy’s appointment has already been announced. You’re not… you’re not going to take it back, are you p>
Baroness Wolfsbane staggered to her feet, fury twisting her face. She slapped Beatrix across the cheek with a crack that echoed through the hall.
“You fool!” she shouted, her voice trembling with rage. “You’re still thinking about positions at a time like this? Get up! We’re going to find Sofina Scheinwald right now—and if it takes kneeling to her, then we’ll do it! I’ll do it myself if I have to p>
Annabella wiped the blood from her mouth, and came to Baroness Wolfsbane. “Grandma, no! You can’t! They’ve humiliated us. You can’t kneel to them— especially not to Sofina. Never p>
Baroness Wolfsbane spun toward her, eyes burning. “Do you think pride will save us? Do you want to watch this family crumble in my lifetime?” she roared.
“When the Eden Group blacklists us, we are finished. Even the mighty Kruger family was destroyed-half their empire gone overnight! If they blacklist us, we won’t last a day p>
She turned sharply. “Felicia! She’s your daughter. Go and stop her! I’ll kneel before her myself if that’s what it takes p>
Felicia stood frozen, her face drained of color. None of it made sense-how had everything fallen apart so fast? Her thoughts spun in chaos. Sofina’s father was the king, but everyone knew the rule: until Sofina herself declared her royal blood, he would offer her no protection.
Then realization struck her cold. Unless… the king had broken his own rule- unless he truly favored his daughter enough to defy his own decree.
But Felicia could still hear the king’s words as clearly as the day he’d spoken them:
“If Sofina marries outside of nobility, I will never acknowledge her as my daughter. Even if she declares her bloodline, I’ll strip her of every title and make her a commoner p>
That was why Felicia had tried so desperately to push Sofina toward a noble husband-not a half-slave like Alex.
“This is madness,” Felicia whispered, shaking her head. “Pure madness p>
Before she could say more, Baroness Wolfbane grabbed her arm and dragged her outside.
Meanwhile, Sofina walked out beside Countess Marlena, her expression calm but her heart pounding. She couldn’t believe what had just unfolded behind her.
The grand hall that once buzzed with chatter and ambition now emptied in silence. The entire Eden Group and every noble ally walked out with her leaving Baroness Wolfsbane’s empire in ruins.
It felt like Sofina had somehow lit a fuse and set the entire world on fire. Everything-the power, the fortune, the alliances-was suddenly turning in her favor. Yet her voice trembled as she asked, “Countess von Adler… did my father send you here p>
Marlena looked puzzled. Her eyes flicked toward Alex before she replied. “I came under direct orders from the owner of Eden Group” she said calmly. “And I’m quite certain he’s not your father p>
Sofina bit her lip hard, confusion written across her face. “Then… you mean the Eden Group really wants to collaborate with me-not the Wolfsbane family p>
“Of course,” Marlena said, her tone firm. “Why would we joke about something this serious? So tell me what’s your plan? If you want to start your own company, Eden Group will back you. We’ll give you every resource you need. What do you say p>
Sofina just stood there, dazed. Her mind couldn’t catch up. A part of her still believed she was worthless-a foolish woman who fell for the wrong man and ruined everything she touched.
Alex squeezed her hand, grounding her.
“Sofina, being deputy of the Wolfsbane family was never your limit. You’re better than that. Why not build something of your own? Become the chairwoman-hell, the founder-of your own company. Eden Group clearly believes in you. Let them p>
“Stop, Sofina! You can’t do this p>
The shout came from behind. Baroness Wolfsbane burst through the hall doors, Felicia right on her heels.
The Baroness was out of breath, gasping, her once-dignified posture now broken. A swarm of onlookers followed, eager for more spectacle.
Before Alex could even open his mouth to demand she kneel, Baroness Wolfsbane dropped to her knees right there on the marble floor-before Sofina.
“Sofina, please Baroness Wolfsbane’s voice cracked as she knelt, her hands trembling.
“I’m your grandmother. I’ve loved you since the day you were born-more than Beatrix, more than Annabella. You’ve always been my pride, my brightest child. Please p>
Felicia stepped forward. “Sofina,
your grandmother is kneeling before
you. Don’t you think that’s too much
for
an old woman who raised you
with her own hands y de matriarch
of our family, on her knees? Don’t let this go on. Are you really going to humiliate her like this in front of everyone p>
Sofina stood frozen, her mind spinning. None of this made sense-she hadn’t
wanted this, hadn’t planned it.
Then Beatrix burst through the crowd, fury burning in her eyes.
“Stop pretending, Sofina!” she
shouted, her voice sharp with
e2
venom. “You’re the one who told Countess von Adler to humiliate me, aren’t you? You couldn’t stand seeing me as deputy! You’re jealous-always have been! Don’t think anyone in the Wolfsbane family wants you back. Get out p>
For Baroness Wolfsbane, kneeling was nothing if it meant saving the family’s
future.
But for Beatrix-young, proud, and reckless-dignity mattered more than survival. Pride was her crown, and no one was going to take it from her.
The Baroness’s restraint finally snapped. She slapped Beatrix hard across the face. “How dare you speak to Sofina like that, you ungrateful brat!” she roared. “She’s the deputy now-the next Baroness of Wolfsbane Group!” Beatrix clutched her cheek, tears of rage in her eyes. “Grandma!” she shouted. “You promised me! You said I’d be the next Baroness! Now you take it back like some senile old woman? What’s the point of living so long if you can’t even keep your word p>
The Baroness’s voice trembled with
fury. “If it weren’t for your manipulation, I never would’ve changed my mind in the first place! You filled my head with lies! If you still want to talk to me like this, then get out. You’re no longer part of the Wolfsbane family p>