Chapter 499
Alex smiled at Ragnar. “I have to admit. You’re really working hard to piss me off. Congratulations. The price just went up-three million for your arm. And your heart p>
He shrugged. “Five million. If you want to bargain, complain, or throw a tantrum, go ahead. I’ll keep raising the price until I walk away with your real arm and your real heart p>
“Alex,” Sofina called. “What are you even going to do with the money and the car if Ragnar pays p>
“Well,” Alex said, eyes softening when they met hers, “I’ll give them to you, of course p>
She bit her lip, worry tightening her voice. “If you’re really okay with that… Ragnar’s my classmate, my friend. I’m not taking anything from him p>
“Sure,” Alex said with a small smile. He already knew what she would do. Sofina couldn’t hurt anyone-not if she could avoid it.
She’d return the money and the car the moment she had the chance. That was just who she was. And for Alex, the amount itself was nothing-pocket change.
He didn’t need Ragnar’s money. He never did.
Finally, Alex turned back to Ragnar. “My wife says you two are friends. So if you’re really that broke so broke you can’t scrape together eight million-I, a gentlemen and very rich man, am willing to look down on you with pity p>
“Admit you’re poor, and I’ll erase the entire bet. No payment. No debt. And you get to keep your car p>
Ragnar exhaled in pure relief. That was it—his arm, his heart, his money, his precious car-all saved.
Eight million dollars wasn’t just a lot of money-it was his entire savings.
If all he had to do was admit he was poor to save everything he owned, then hell yes, he’d do it.
Easy. Effortless. No hesitation.
His father might die of shame, might bankrupt the whole family for the sake of honor, but Ragnar?
Ragnar wasn’t built like that.
He bent with the wind.
But the crowd wasn’t quiet.
Whispers surged around him.
“Damn… Alex is such a gentleman. A rich guy refusing all that money? That’s class p>
“Meanwhile Ragnar—what a jerk. A broke coward. Alex tried to flex with the cash, but turns out Ragnar doesn’t even have any p>
“Yes! Alex is backing off because Ragnar’s a poor loser p>
Ragnar froze as the words hit him like slapped echoes, each one louder than the last.
The crowd’s vicious comments struck Ragnar like stones. Faces twisted with disgust.
People were looking down on him—laughing, booing, calling him a fraud. The entire stadium roared with humiliation.
Then his bracelet buzzed.
His father.
Ragnar’s stomach dropped. He didn’t even need to answer. He already knew the message: Pay. Or face something far worse.
Ragnar clenched his teeth so hard it hurt. He straightened his back, forced his voice to rise above the crowd.
“Who the hell says I’m a poor loser?” he snarled. “Eight million dollars is pocket change for me. And my car? I can buy the newest model tomorrow. I have twenty cars sitting in my garage. I’ll honor my bet-right here, right now-in front of all of you p>
A faint, knowing smirk tugged at the corner of Alex’s lips.
Ragnar was spiraling now, pride shredding the last pieces of his sanity. “Alex, take out your connection. I’ll transfer it p>
“Oh, come on,” Alex said, still smiling, infuriatingly calm. “If you don’t have money, don’t force it. My wife already said no to pitying poor people p>
“You bastard,” Ragnar snapped. “I’m a very rich man! Do you think paying you this little will make me poor? It won’t even make a dent in my money p>
Inside, Ragnar was dying.
That money was everything he had.
His entire savings.
But pride came first. Pride always came first.
He bit down on his lip until it bled, pulled up the payment screen with trembling fingers, and transferr the full amount-money and the digital key of his VÖXEN-straight into Alex’s bracelet.
A sharp beep confirmed the transaction.
The stadium fell silent for a split second.
Then Alex clapped once, casually, like announcing a circus act. “Wonderful. Ragnar Eisenwall truly a gentleman A man who dares to bet and dares to pay. Let’s give him applause p>
He clapped alone.
Then Renata joined him-slow, deliberate, a small mocking smile curling at her lips.
A few others followed, offering thin, hollow claps that landed like blades.
And soon the entire stadium was clapping for Ragnar.
Ragnar’s face burned bright red. He knew exactly what kind of applause this was.
Not respect.
Not admiration.
Mockery.
But the damage was done.
And Ragnar could feel it—like the whole stadium had already carved the word fool onto his forehead.
Still, he forced himself to act unfazed. He cleared his throat, trying to steady his shaking voice.
“That’s just a small thing,” he said stiffly. “A bet is a bet. I’m honoring it. Eisenwalls keep their promises. We take responsibility p>
The guys who had encouraged him earlier rushed to salvage the moment.
“Yeah! You all better stop looking down on Ragnar! He’s loaded! Eight million dollars
is nothing! A VÖXEN is nothing to him p>
“Yes! For him, VÖXEN Gen 6 is just a casual cheap car!” one shouted. “He can buy ten of those without
blinking You’re tooking at thereal young master here p>
“Yes, yes,” another agreed-then all of them went silent at the same time.
They knew Ragnar’s personality too well. Push him a little too far and he’d explode
again.
So they stopped talking, dropped the topic completely, and urged everyone to head into the rented reunion room.
Meanwhile, Sofina and Renata stopped Alex in the hallway.
Sofina spoke first, her eyes sharp. “Care to explain what just happened? That first- generation VÖXEN suddenly turned out to be a VÖXEN Seraphine p>
She folded her arms, voice tightening. “What secret are you hiding from us p>