Chapter 524
Upon arriving at Winchester Central Hospital, Renata lay on a ward bed, barely recognizable. Her body was mapped with bruises and cuts, her face pale and swollen. A thick cast wrapped her right leg, heavy and unforgiving.
She looked shattered-physically and emotionally.
Alex paused at the doorway.
This was a grown woman who had trusted the wrong man, been betrayed, had her heart crushed—and now paid for it with blood and broken bones.
The moment Renata saw him, her red, swollen eyes filled instantly. Tears spilled down her cheeks in an endless stream.
“Alex Her voice broke completely.
She collapsed into sobs.
“Sofina will arrive soon,” Alex said quietly as he moved to her bedside and sat down. He didn’t rush her. He let her cry.
When her sobs grew heavier, Alex’s expression softened. His voice dropped.
“Did you find out the truth p>
Renata nodded weakly, her chest shaking.
“After Sofina sent me your video… I felt something was wrong. I couldn’t ignore it. So I
tracked him in secret p>
Her fingers clenched the blanket. “He went to a villa in the Winchester suburbs.” Her voice cracked.
“I found him there… with another woman. In bed. Together.” Rage and pain twisted her face. “I lost control. I confronted him. I demanded answers. But-but p>
Her breathing collapsed into broken gasps.
“He ordered his security androids to attack me,” she said, her voice shaking. “They beat me. They tried to kill me p>
Terror still flickered in her eyes.
“I survived only because I fought back and ran. Some passersby helped me.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “That’s how I ended up here p>
Silence pressed down on the room.
Alex spoke carefully. “Why didn’t you call the police p>
Renata shook her head violently.
“What’s the point?” she cried. “The police would report everything to my father. He’d be furious. And in the end-this is my fault.” Her voice sank into despair. “I was stupid for believing him p>
Alex looked at her bruised face, her trembling hands, the shame etched into every word she spoke. His expression softened.
“It’s okay,” he said quietly. “He’s a bastard. He was never worth this—not from the very beginning p>
Renata swallowed hard, tears streaming again.
“We were together for three years,” she said hoarsely. “Three years. I threw away my pride, my dignity-everything for him. Everyone warned me. They said he was just a low-rank baron, someone who didn’t deserve me. But I believed in him p>
Her hands curled into fists.
“And now I realize Her voice shook with self-hatred. “I was clinging to trash. I dragged myself down for someone who wasn’t worth a damn p>
Her shoulders shook as she cried—anger, regret, and heartbreak crashing together, leaving nothing behind but pain.
“That bastard didn’t just cheat on me and walk away,” she cried, her voice hoarse and broken.
“He wanted to ruin me. I poured everything into that fake auto shop-every cent of my savings, money from my father, my grandmother, my grandfather. Tens of millions. And now he refuses to pay back even a single cent p>
“The contract says if I leave, he gets everything. Everything!” She clenched her fists. “How could I be so stupid? How could I believe him? I was blind. Completely blind. How did I ever fall for such a rotten, evil man p>
Alex leaned closer. “Renata, calm down first. You need to heal. We’ll deal with him later. We’ll find a way p>
“I want him dead,” Renata screamed. “I want him to suffer. I want him and that woman of his thrown into the sea p>
Alex fell silent.
He had never been good at comforting someone with a broken heart. He stayed by
her side, paid her medical bills, and waited for Sofina to arrive. That was all he could
do.
He listened as Renata poured out everything her loyalty, her sacrifices, her suffering for a man who never deserved any of it.
Then the door opened.
Matthias von Sturmfels walked into the hospital room, calm and arrogant, with a woman named Jess at his side.
The moment Renata saw him, she exploded.
“What are you doing here?!” she screamed. “After everything I did for you, you tried
to kill me! You bastard p>
Matthias laughed, sharp and mocking.
“Enough with the cursing. We don’t have time for this p>
He spat on the floor, his eyes cold with contempt.
“I’m here for the VÖXEN Sixth Generation. Where did you hide it? Hand it over. Now p>
Renata’s fury boiled over.
“Matthias von Sturmfels! That car belongs to Alex! Who do you think you are to take it from me p>
Matthias sneered.
“Stop pretending.” His voice turned hard. “Our contract is clear. Everything you have belongs to me. Don’t try that ‘the car isn’t mine’ excuse p>
He leaned closer, his tone threatening.
“You’ve already breached the contract. I could report you to the police right now p>
Renata never expected Matthias to sink this low.
Her body shook with rage as she glared at him.
“Matthias von Sturmfels, don’t you dare cross that line,” she snapped. “I invested thirty million dollars into that auto shop. Thirty million. And you stole everything from me p>
Matthias’s face twisted in irritation.
“Stop this bloody nonsense,” he said coldly. “We have a contract. While we were together, everything you had was mine. The auto shop-you gave it to me. Your savings you gave them to me p>
His eyes narrowed.
“And that VÖXEN Sixth Generation? That belongs to me too. If you don’t hand it over, I’ll call the police and report you for theft p>
His lips curled into a cruel smile. “Or better yet, I’ll call your father directly. Duke Winter. Let’s see what he does to his own daughter p>
Jess, standing beside him, let out a sharp, mocking laugh.
“Listen carefully, bitch,” she said, her voice dripping with contempt. “You should cooperate. You’re a duke’s daughter, right? I have your private photos with Matthias p>
She leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming.
“Imagine how furious your father will be. Imagine the media tearing you apart. Your
life ruined. Your inheritance as a duchess-gone. You don’t want that, do you p>
Her smile turned vicious.
“Pay us at least a hundred thousand every month,” she said coldly, “and we’ll keep our mouths shut—and those private photos will stay in our hands.” Renata’s tears poured down like rain. Her voice broke as she stared at Matthias.
“I was good to you,” she cried. “For years. I gave you everything I had. Everything p>
Her chest heaved.
“It’s fine if you never loved me,” she sobbed. “But why do this to me? Why be this cruel? What did I ever do wrong to deserve this p>
Matthias laughed a short, cold sound without warmth.
“Love you?” he sneered. “You’re just a duke’s daughter sitting on a pile of money p>
He stepped closer.
“You were my ATM. When I wanted cash, you paid. That’s all you ever were to me. I never loved you p>
t forgot,” Jess smiled
“Oh, I almost
with sharp, mocking delight. “You
were hoping for some holy
nonsense, right? Virgin love. Married-only sex. One man, one Woman, forever. She laughed God, you’re boring. So conservative. Such a nerd p>
She hooked her arm around Matthias.
“Matthias and I have sex at least three times a day p>
Matthias flushed, putting on a fake, shy act.
“Hey, Jess, why are you saying that?” he said with a grin. “You’re embarrassing me p>
“Embarrassed?” Jess laughed. Her
eyes slid toward Renata. “Why don’t
we close the door and show this
useless piece of trash how it’s really done? Show her how you usually satisfy me p>
“Jess, darling, no,” Matthias said, laughing openly now. “That would be so
embarrassing p>
It was pure mockery.
Renata couldn’t take it anymore.
She grabbed a glass and hurled it at them, screaming, “You maniacs! Get out! Get
out of my room p>
Matthias caught the glass midair with ease. His smile vanished.
“I’ll warn you once,” he said coldly. “Hand over the car. Or I’ll break your bones p>
Jess crossed her arms, sneering.
“And don’t forget-one hundred thousand a month. Miss a payment, and we call your father p>
Renata’s eyes went wide. Her heart shattered completely.
How could I have been so stupid… to fall in love with this bastard?
Alex, who had been silent the entire time, finally moved. He reached out and gently
held Renata’s trembling hand.
“Can I hit their faces now?” he asked calmly. “I’ve been holding myself back long enough p>
Jess turned sharply and stared at him.
“And who the hell are you?” she snapped. “Don’t stick your nose into trouble you
don’t understand. Want to end up like this woman p>
“Me?” Alex smiled faintly. “I’m Alex Saint-Claire p>
His eyes locked onto Matthias.
“I’m the owner of the VÖXEN Sixth Generation p>
He glanced at Renata. “She borrowed it from me p>
Matthias stared at Alex with icy contempt.
“So you want to play this kind of
game?” he said coldly. “You think you can steal that car from me by pretending to be the owner of the VÖXEN? You think that way Renata won’t have to hand it over
His voice dropped, sharp with threat.
“I’ll give you three seconds to get out of my sight. I’ll pretend you were never here.
Leave now, and I won’t touch you p>
Alex broke into a wide smile.
“Renata,” he said calmly, “I won’t ask for your permission anymore. This bastard has
already crossed my line p>
Matthias clenched his jaw, fury flashing in his eyes.
“Are you trying to challenge me?” he snarled. “Do you know who I am? I graduated
from military training p>
Alex Saint-Claire’s voice turned ice-cold.
“I don’t care who you are. I don’t care where you graduated from.” He stepped
forward slightly. “You pissed me off today p>
He continued, slow and deliberate.
“I’ll give you one chance. Apologize to Renata. Now. Then let her break your bones
fair payment for the injuries you caused. After that, return every cent you stole
from her p>
His eyes hardened.
“If you refuse, you’ll die. And it won’t be quick p>
Jess burst into wild laughter, her face twisting into something ugly.
“What the hell did you just say, punk?” she snapped. “You want Matthias-my
boyfriend to apologize to her p>
She sneered.
“Are you suicidal p>
Alex didn’t even look at her.
“Shut your mouth, bitch p>
Jess froze. Then her face burned red with rage.
“You—!” She spun toward Matthias. “Darling, did you hear that? He called me a
bitch! Call your people. You’ve got mafia friends. Have them tear this bastard apart p>
Matthias clenched his teeth again, voice shaking with fury.
“Just wait. I’ll have someone kill you right now p>
Alex Saint-Claire smiled—cold, sharp, merciless.
“Go ahead,” he said. “But remember this p>
His gaze locked onto them both.
“If you fail to kill me, you and this bitch will pay a price you’ll never be able to afford p>