Chapter 433
Heinrich kicked Alex back with a sneer. “Great. A bastard and a desperate woman. You two really make this place reek p>
Sofina’s eyes filled with tears. “Heinrich, I’ve been with you for three years. I did everything for you. I cooked, worked, sacrificed everything so you could succeed p>
Heinrich tilted his head, feigning confusion.
“Did I ever ask you to?” Heinrich’s voice cut through the air, sharp and mocking.
“No, Sofina. You did all of that on your own. You pushed yourself to serve me, hoping it would make you feel needed. Let’s be honest-you weren’t helping me, you were chasing your own little sense of happiness. I was already generous enough to let someone like you stay by my side p>
A ripple of laughter spread through the room.
“Unbelievable,” one man muttered. “Heinrich actually spent three years with her. She should be grateful for that p>
Another woman smirked. “Yeah, he gave her three years, and now she still wants to hold onto him? What a greedy fool p>
“She’s delusional,” someone else said. “Does she even realize who she’s talking to? Heinrich is one of Winchester’s rising stars—every elite family’s after him. She’s nothing compared to that p>
Heinrich smoothed his suit, the smug grin never leaving his face. “You hear that, Sofina? Everyone wants me. They’re fighting to have me as their husband p>
He stepped closer, lowering his voice until it was almost a whisper-cold, deliberate. “Now tell me… have you ever looked at yourself and wondered what you really are compared to them p>
Sofina’s voice cracked. “Three years, Heinrich. When you are still nothing! I sold my parents’ house so you could study at that prestigious university. I worked full- time to fund your equipment p>
“I sold my jewelry so you could buy that ridiculous flying car. I even worked nights just to keep food on the table.” Her voice trembled. “Because you promised me— through rich or poor, we’d face everything together p>
Heinrich smirked, pretending to think. “Oh yeah, I remember that. ‘Through rich or poor… until the divorce papers are signed.’ That’s how it goes, right p>
Sofina froze, disbelief flooding her face.
Everything every promise-turned out to be fragile. Like glass. And once it shattered, nothing could ever be made whole again. It was just… gone.
“You… you’re a monster, Heinrich. I will not accept this divorce p>
“Whatever, Sofina,” Heinrich said coldly.
“You know the law in this city-a man can file for divorce whenever he wants. Whether the woman accepts it or not, it still stands. But a woman like you He paused, lips curling into a smirk. “You can’t divorce me unless I permit it p>
He stepped closer, his voice dripping with superiority. “I’ve already been generous enough to give you three years of my life. And now, I’m doing you a favor by letting you go. So take it and get out p>
“No,” Sofina cried, her voice breaking. “No, you can’t do this to me p>
“Oh, I can,” Heinrich said, his eyes darkening. He raised his leg, ready to kick her
—but Alex moved first, stepping in front of Sofina, taking the blow square in the back.
“This bastard again,” Heinrich snarled, driving another kick into Alex’s back. But Alex didn’t move.
He stood firm, absorbing every strike without a word, his body a shield between Sofina and the man trying to destroy her.
“Why are you protecting me?” Sofina sobbed.
“Because that’s what a man should do,” Alex said simply. “Protect a woman from harm p>
Sofina’s eyes filled with pain. “Even a man I just met is willing to stand up for me… but you-” she turned to Heinrich, her voice shaking with fury- gave you three years of my lifeli supported you, fed youchétped you rise! And now you try to kick me down and destroy me? Are you even human?” s
Heinrich’s smile turned cruel. “That’s exactly why I’m doing this, Sofina. Because tam smart. I’m not going to waste my life with someone like you. I’m heading to the top where t belong. It’s survival of the fittest. If you truly loved me, you’d let me go. You can’t give me the future I want.” s
Sofina stared at him, stunned.
He laughed bitterly. “Do you actually think you’re special? You’re nothing, Sofina. You’re pathetic. No man in this city would marry you. I was kind enough to take you in for three years. Everything you gave me was just payment for my time.” s
“I gave you everything!” Sofina screamed. “Because I believed in you p>
Heinrich laughed harder, a hollow, cutting sound. “Exactly. I believed in you too- believed you’d give me everything. But now?” He leaned closer, voice dropping to a cold whisper.
“You’re bankrupt. You have nothing left. Nothing to offer me anymore p>
Sofina trembled, tears streaking down her face. Slowly, she raised her wrist-her bracelet projecting a small hologram of her remaining balance.
Her voice cracked like glass, begging love to breathe once more. “I just got this month’s paycheck… Will you at least stay with me—just for tonight p>
Heinrich’s eyes gleamed when he saw the hologram—five hundred dollars spinning in cold blue light. He laughed, low and cruel.
“You know what a single night with me costs now?” he said slowly, savoring every word. “It’s more than you could earn in your entire lifetime. But for old times’ sake He smiled faintly. “I’ll be generous p>
He reached out and snatched the holographic money. The blue light flickered,
then dissolved as the transfer completed-crediting his account instantly.
“This five hundred,” Heinrich said, his voice flat and merciless, “buys you one last second with me p>
“Time’s up. Thanks for the payment p>
Sofina stared at him, dumbstruck. He’d taken the last of her money-her
paycheck, the life she’d scraped together.
He didn’t steal her money—he purchased her heartbreak and called it fair trade.
To love deeply is to suffer deeply.