Chapter 445
“I learned my lesson the hard way,” Sofina said with a faint, defiant smile. “Heinrich wasn’t smart enough to see what was coming. He just kept taking the insults, pretending silence was strength p>
Alex glanced up. “From what I’ve seen, your mother and stepfather were born bullies. What happened to him p>
She shrugged, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. “He broke. Couldn’t take the pressure anymore. He begged me to help him, and we ended up out of this house for two whole years p>
“But Alex, looking at how you walked in today, I’d say there’s a sixty percent chance my mother and her husband will be the ones packing their bags this time p>
“Well, when they go low, we go high.” Alex smirked as he straightened the bed sheets. “I’m not out to kick anyone out of their own home. I just want peace. All I’m doing is sending a message: don’t push me, don’t mock me, and nothing bad will happen. But if they try-believe me-they’ll regret it p>
Sofina chuckled. “You’ve never been bullied before, have you p>
“Once,” Alex said quietly. His eyes drifted, lost in memory. “And I swore it’d never happen again. In every man sleeps a beast p>
“Alex,” Sofina called from her bed across the room. The twin beds sat three meters apart-her mother’s idea, a deliberate distance to keep them from getting too close.
“My grandmother wants me to go back to work for the Wolfsbane family business,” she said softly. “Would you come with me p>
“No,” he replied. “You’ve already got Eve to help you. As for me, this is my first real taste of freedom from Rosenheim. I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts. Find a job that’s mine, something I actually want to do p>
She smiled and hugged Eve gently. “You’re smart, Alex. You built Eve-people would pay a fortune to have you p>
He let out a dry laugh. “Life’s not that simple. I’m half Prussian-an immigrant. People judge me before I open my mouth. The high-tier jobs go to pureblood nobles p>
“The rest of us pick up the scraps. But don’t worry, I’ll manage. I’ll find something steady enough to feed us both. You won’t have to lift a finger. Just… enjoy your life p>
“Alex, I’ll try to find a noble who can grant you citizenship,” Sofina said softly. “Once you have it, you can start earning your own money p>
Alex shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. My father’s friend already offered to help. But since he’s the one who gave me the penthouse, that deal already covered his debt to my family p>
“He’s done enough. If I ask for more, it could put him at odds with the
Rosenheims, and he’s a decent man. I won’t do that to him. I’ll find my own way, Sofina. I’ll handle my own problems p>
“So independent,” she said with a half-smile. “Like a real man should be. Still, you can ask me for anything. I’ll help if I can p>
Alex turned to her suddenly. “Actually, there’s something you can do for me.” Her eyes lit up. “What is it p>
He lifted his bracelet, activating a three-dimensional screen that shimmered in the air. With a few quick taps, data flickered across the light. A moment later, Sofina’s device chimed softly.
She blinked. “You… transferred me money?” Her voice trembled in disbelief. Three years with Heinrich, and not once had she received a cent from him.
“Yes,” Alex said. “It’s not much, but it’s everything the Saint-Claire family has left. My father gave it to me years ago p>
“But since I haven’t been a full Prussian citizen, the account’s been frozen. I can’t touch it. So I moved it to you instead. You can use it freely. We’re married now- my money is your money p>
Sofina stared at the screen, stunned. “Alex… this is a million dollars p>
He nodded calmly. “It’s all that Logan managed to save when he fled during the tragedy. That money’s been sitting useless in Xia ever since p>
Sofina looked at him with wide, conflicted eyes. “You can’t just give me all your money. What if I took it and left you? What if I divorced you? You need to keep it for yourself, for when you get your citizenship back p>
Alex’s gaze unwavering. “If you ever decide to leave, then that’s your choice. But until then, I trust you completely p>
“Whatever happens, I’ll face it when it comes. I won’t doubt you, Sofina. Doubt creates problems that don’t even exist yet, and I’m not letting that happen p>
She stared at him, her voice quieter. “You’ll never regret that p>
Alex smiled faintly. “When you start a business, you go all in and let fate play its hand. Life’s a gamble-ups, downs, it’s all part of the ride. Love hard, play hard p>
Sofina let out a soft laugh. “You’re impossible. At least tell me if you want something. I’ll buy it for you p>
“Great,” Alex said with a grin. “Then I need a few things. A couple of good dresses for my wife, jewelry for that bare neck and those lonely fingers, and whatever skincare makes her glow. Anything that makes her happy-I need all of that p>
Sofina froze for a moment, her heart tightening.
Then she slipped out of her bed, walked over, and wrapped her arms around him from behind. Her cheeks flushed red as she whispered, “Thank you, Alex p>
He turned and pulled her close, his voice low and sincere. “No, thank you. Having
a woman like you as my wife… that’s not luck—it’s a blessing p>
Silence filled the room. Sofina’s eyes stung, tears threatening to spill.
She remembered Heinrich-those long, hollow years where she gave everything, loved with all she had, and got nothing in return. But with Alex, was different. She didn’t have to chase or beg for love. It was simply there, steady and real. s
For the first time, life felt easy. Peaceful. Meaningful.
“Alex,” she murmured, “you sound so certain about us p>
“Certainty’s for fools and gamblers,” he said, eyes half-open.
“So, which one are you?” she whispered.
“The fool who bets like a gambler p>
Sofina smiled faintly. “You really think love’s worth gambling everything on p>
“Of course,” Alex said, calm and sure. “It’s only stupid if you lose p>
“And if you do?” she asked softly.
“Simple,” Alex replied with a tired grin. “Then I’ll bluff my way into Heaven p>
Sofina laughed under her breath. “You’re impossible.” She leaned in and wrapped her arms around him.
Alex closed his eyes, still holding her close. His breathing slowed, warmth settling between them as sleep finally took him.
To him, loving someone meant giving everything, no fear, no hesitation.
Doubt was like a sickness-it killed love before betrayal ever could. And even if betrayal came, a man still had to smile.
The next morning Alex woke before dawn and set about making breakfast for Sofina.
He moved with quiet purpose, flipping eggs and warming bread, the little domestic ritual steadying him.
Felicia marched into the kitchen, hands on her hips. “What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“Preparing breakfast,” Alex answered, without looking up.
“Are you trying to poison us? Get out of my kitchen,” Felicia snapped.
A knife slipped from Alex’s grip. It
spun once in the air and cut a breath from the room as it sailed past
Felicia’s face-missing by
inches—and slammed into the
plaster with a hollow clang
belongs to s
“I’m sorry,” Alex said, heart pounding. “I lost my grip. I didn’t hear you. I’m p>
“You jerk!” Felicia’s voice broke with rage. Her legs shook. “Get out of this house p>
Alex straightened. “Fine. I’ll bring Sofina out-if you give me permission.” Felicia’s face went beet-red. She couldn’t figure a way to force him, not without making a scene she’d lose.
Albert stepped forward. “How dare you touch our kitchen set p>
The knife whipped past Albert’s face, missing by just a few inches. He stumbled
back, eyes wide, as if the steel itself had bitten him.
“You asked us to stay,” Alex said, voice hard. “So here we are. If you want us gone, say it. Don’t make us guess I can’t live like this walking on eggshells every hour Tell me do you want us to stay or not?” s
Felicia and Albert’s faces burned with fury and embarrassment. The house had
never felt this small.
They had wanted a show of authority; instead it looked like they’d backed themselves into a corner.
“You bastard,” Felicia spat. “If I don’t remind you who owns this house, you’ll start
acting like you do p>
“Security robot-now!” she bellowed.
The android slid into the kitchen, chrome joints whispering. “Yes, Mistress,” it intoned, flat and obedient.
“Grab him,” Felicia snapped. “Drag him into the garden and whip him ten times- make him howl p>
“Yes, Mistress.” The robot’s arm snapped out. A low hum crawled along the coils as blue light flared-taser aimed at target, silent and ready to strike.