Chapter 470
The guards started toward Alex, but he didn’t flinch. His expression stayed cold.
“Alrun Treuburg,” Alex said, steady and firm, “I’ve never insulted you. I’ve never provoked you. So why do you keep mocking me p>
Alrun folded her arms across her chest, chin tilted high. Her tone dripped with contempt.
“You divorced Katarina-my friend-and married Sofina Scheinwald. Of course I despise you. So what?” She leaned in slightly. “Can’t handle a little dislike, you pathetic loser? And now you dare come here asking for my help? Who do you think you are p>
Her sneer sharpened.
“I heard the Wolfsbane family finally acknowledged you. I heard you’re walking around claiming your ancestors’ properties. Hate to break it to you, but this restaurant never belonged to the Saint-Claires. You walked into the wrong place p>
Then her voice snapped like a whip. “Guards. Hit him and send him to the Rosenhiem family p>
The human guards moved forward with menace-though Alex knew he could drop them all in seconds if he wished.
But before they reached him, four android guards from the restaurant shot forward, landing in front of Alex with mechanical precision.
One of them spoke in a metallic, emotionless voice.
“Warning. A critical VIP is in danger. Move away immediately or we will initiate defensive protocol p>
The human guards froze, stunned.
Alrun’s eyes widened. “Security Androids, why are you protecting him? Step away! Now p>
“Negative,” the android replied. “VIP on watch is threatened. Protection is mandatory p>
“I said stand down!” Alrun barked. “I am the manager of The Imperial Amber House. This is my command. Step back from our business p>
“Negative,” the android repeated. All four machines tightened formation around Alex, shielding him from the guards.
Confusion spread across the room. Something like this had never happened before-androids defying direct orders, siding with an outsider.
At that moment, Alex’s bracelet phone vibrated in his hand.
A small one-side holographic screen slid open-visible only to him, invisible to everyone else.
Marlene appeared on the display, breathless and tense, her voice low and urgent.
“Master Alex, we received an emergency alert from security saying you’re in danger at the Imperial Amber House. Are you alright p>
Alex glanced at the androids around him, then back at the private screen.
“How did you know? Are these four androids connected to you p>
“Master Alex, the Eden Group owns the entire Imperial Amber House chain. The Winchester branch is only one of dozens across Prussia. And you-” her tone dropped lower, more serious, “-you are registered as the number-one VIP across all Eden Group properties p>
She continued, crisp and precise:
“That includes every restaurant, every hotel, every resort, and every security android assigned to Eden facilities. If you’re threatened anywhere near our assets, all androids automatically protect you and send a distress signal straight
to headquarters. That’s why we detected danger p>
Her voice softened just slightly. “Master Alex, are you safe right now p>
Alex’s eyes tightened in shock.
Number one VIP?
Did that mean… he practically owned the Imperial Amber Houses?
He’d spent three chaotic years with Katarina, while Countess Marlene, Bella, and
the Kingswells had been quietly expanding his business.
He never realized how massive his influence had already become.
He spoke almost on instinct.
“Looks like you’re doing an excellent job, Marlene p>
Marlene laughed softly, a hint of pride slipping through.
“Of course, Master Alex. I’m dying to prove myself to you. I do everything I can so you’ll keep your eyes on me p>
Then her tone shifted, colder.
“I’ve already summoned the general manager of the Winchester Imperial Amber House to meet you. If he isn’t standing in front of you within a minute, then something dirty is going on. He will serve you well, Master p>
Alrun’s patience shattered.
Alex was taking a video call-right in the middle of the moment she was trying to humiliate him.
And worse, the android guards she thought she commanded weren’t even giving her space to lay a hand on him.
She had planned everything:
Use Alex as a stepping stone, cripple his dignity, and carry his broken body back to Katarina to win favor. She wanted him helpless. She wanted him whining, begging, easy to crush.
But instead of breaking, Alex stayed perfectly calm.
And instead of obeying her, the restaurant’s android guards stared down at her- cold, emotionless, and unyielding-like she was the one without authority, like she was the powerless one in the room.
Her rage exploded.
“You Rosenhiem dog!” she screamed. “You made the biggest mistake of your life divorcing Katarina! And then you married Sofina-that bitch p>
“She’s nothing but the Heinrichs’ whore! Everyone knows what she is! Whenever Heinrich shows up, she follows him like some starving street animal waiting for scraps to be thrown at her. She’s trash-just like you! A perfect match: two dogs crawling after their masters p>
Alex’s expression hardened, his voice turning cold and razor-sharp.
“You didn’t just insult me-you dragged my wife into your filth,” he said. “Alrun Treuburg, you’re digging your own grave. I’m going straight to your superior and asking how Imperial Amber House hires someone with a mouth as rotten as yours p>
Alrun scoffed, eyes blazing.
“You want the person in charge? Who the hell do you think you are?” she snapped. “You’re not even worthy of standing in front of me, the manager. And you dare think you can contact anyone above me? You arrogant little nothing p>
“You really need to be beaten bloody!” She snapped at her human guards. “Turn off the androids! Shut them down-now! Once they’re inactive, hit that bastard p>
Alex didn’t move. He only stared at her, “You’ll know in seconds whether I’m bluffing. You’ll know exactly who I can contact p>
Alrun burst into loud, mocking laughter.
“Oh, I can’t wait,” she said. “When the guards rip that lying mouth off your face, maybe you’ll finally learn your place, you little prick! This is hilarious p>
Her guards activated the shutdown command.
The androids’ eyes dimmed instantly, collapsing into inert silence.
The human guards stepped forward, menace heavy in their steps.
“Get him,” Alrun barked. “We’ll deliver him to Katarina like a gift p>
The four guards closed in on Alex-
—and then a roar cut through the air.
A flying car, moving at terrifying speed, slammed straight into all four guards.
The impact hurled them five meters across the pavement, bodies flipping through
the air before crashing down in a heap.
The vehicle skidded to a stop, metal hissing with heat.
Alrun screamed, “WHAT THE HELL IS THIS p>
But the moment the door opened and she saw who stepped out-
her voice died in her throat.
Silence swallowed her whole.
The guards, who had been ready to burst out in fury, froze as well.
They couldn’t speak.
They didn’t even breathe.
Because the man who stepped out of the car was someone none of them dared
to defy.
Mr. Ernest, their General Manager.
She froze like she’d been struck by
lightning. Her eyes went wide, beet
caught, and every word she
on
I to throw c died on her tongue! sŵnovels
Ernest himself went pale.
“Mr. Alex Saint-Claire His voice trembled with fear and disbelief.
He had already seen the picture Countess Marlene sent him-along with the
message:
If anything happens to this man, you and your entire family are finished.
The moment recognition hit him, Ernest rushed forward in a near panic and bowed so deeply his forehead almost touched the ground.
“Sir Founder p>
Alrun’s mind shattered.
She stood frozen-staring, shaking, unable to accept what she was seeing.
Alex Saint-Claire… the man she called a loser… a dog of the Rosenheim p>
was someone Mr. Ernest-the Chairman of the Imperial Amber House-bowed to
like a peasant?
Who the hell was he?
Her stomach twisted with dread. Would he take revenge? Would he remember every insult she threw at him?
Alex stepped in quickly, “Mr. Ernest, certain titles shouldn’t be spoken in public p>
The reminder hit Ernest like a slap. He shook violently.
“Oh-oh my God… I’m such a fool,” he muttered in terror.
‘The founder’s identity is confidential… Lalmost exposed him.
If offend the founder of the Eden.
Group, I’m finished… my whate
family is finished p>
He scrambled to correct himself, bowing again.
“Mr. Saint-Claire… welcome to the Imperial Amber House. Please, allow me to escort you to enter this place p>
Alex sneered, “But I heard I can’t enter without a membership. And your staff wanted hit me for trying to reserve a table p>
“What?” Ernest froze, then slowly turned to Alrun—staring at her like she’d just grown a second head.
His disbelief was raw, almost violent.
Alrun panicked.
She forced a smile so stiff it barely moved, then rushed to Alex’s side like a
desperate sycophant clinging to the last branch on a cliff.
“Ah-Alex… welcome to the Imperial Amber House,” Alrun said, voice suddenly soft and sugary, trembling as she forced the smile. “It’s an honor to have you here. And since we were friends before. Its truly my pleasure. Please, come inside p>
“Are you sure?” Alex asked calmly.
She nodded so fast it looked painful. “Of course! I’m your old friend p>
Alex raised an eyebrow. “Alrun, the last time you called me ‘friend,’ the next words
out of your mouth were ‘get out p>
Her smile twitched, strained and brittle. “Alex… darling… you know I never meant
those… things p>
Alex tilted his head. “Which things p>
She swallowed. “All of them p>
“The part where I’m a dog? A loser? Trash p>
Mr. Ernest’s face turned red with fury as he glared at Alrun.
Her voice shrank to a whimper. Friendly banter p>
Alex blinked slowly. “If that was friendly, I’d hate to see what you call customer
service p>
Alrun stepped closer with a trembling smile. “Alex… for real… I’m so glad you’re
here p>
“Glad?” Alex echoed. “You mean glad like when you called your guards on me p>
She froze, then forced a laugh. “Yes! I was just… uh… testing the loyalty of my
staff p>
“Testing?” Alex said, voice steady. “By ordering them to beat me p>
“What?” Mr. Ernest said, stunned.
She panicked. “T-Training exercise p>
Alex nodded thoughtfully. “Impressive. They failed the test faster than you failed
basic common sense p>
Alrun let out a nervous laugh-thin, strained, almost choking.
“Alex, you know me. I’m always joking p>
“That was a joke?” Alex stared.
“Absolutely! Every word p>
Alex nodded slowly. “Good to know. Because if that was your serious side, I’d
have to report you for brain damage p>
Inside, Alrun was praying-begging that Alex wouldn’t say any words anymore.
He had to keep quiet.
In her mind, Alex was still the Rosenheim dog-easy to control, easy to bend,
easy to manipulate.
She leaned in, hiding her lips behind her smile, and whispered sharply into his
ear:
“Shut up! If you say anything that makes me look bad in front of my boss… you’re dead. Remember that p>