Chapter 536
The young man staggered back, his vision spinning. The bottle smash had rattled his skull. Blood poured down his face, blurring his sight.
He stumbled like a drunk, crashing into nearby tables. Wine glasses shattered. Bottles tipped and rolled. Plates clattered to the floor. Then his legs gave out, and he collapsed hard onto the tiles.
Gasps rippled through the restaurant.
Gerhard stepped forward and glared down at him. Blood soaked the young man’s hair, dripping onto the floor. Gerhard’s lips curled into a vicious sneer.
“Get lost,” he growled coldly, “or you’ll die right here p>
The young man groaned and forced himself up, swaying as he pressed a trembling hand against his bleeding head. His eyes burned with rage as he locked onto Gerhard.
“Alright, tough guy,” he spat through clenched teeth. “Just wait. Let’s see if you can survive tonight p>
With unsteady steps, he turned and staggered toward the exit, leaving a trail of red behind him.
“Fucking loser,” Gerhard scoffed. “Who does he think he is, threatening me? I’m Gerhard Wolfsbane, you bastard p>
He straightened his jacket and turned to Renata with a smug grin, clearly pleased with himself.
“There are always annoying bugs crawling around,” he said casually. “Don’t let trash like that ruin our night. Come on, let’s enjoy our dinner. The night is still young p>
Inside, he felt invincible. Victorious. Like he had just proven something important.
Renata felt none of it.
Any trace of celebration inside her was gone, crushed by the ugliness of what had just happened.
Out of basic courtesy, she nodded without saying a word. But her mind was already searching for a way to leave.
Gerhard might think he looked heroic, throwing bottles and barking threats. To her, he was nothing more than reckless and small-minded. A man who mistook violence for strength.
Alex was nothing like this.
Alex handled everything with calm elegance, never loud, never crude. Just controlled. Precise. Powerful in silence.
She missed him deeply.
Renata looked at Gerhard again and felt absolute certainty settle in her chest. Even
if he were the last man alive on earth, he would never be on her list.
Never again.
Gerhard, meanwhile, completely misunderstood the situation. He believed his “macho” display would impress her, that crushing a nobody in front of her would make her swoon.
Blind to her mood, Gerhard kept talking. He bragged nonstop, spinning stories about schoolyard brawls and past fights, exaggerating every punch, every victory. Tales only he believed.
Instead, Renata looked at him with growing discomfort—almost disgust.
The meal dragged on.
When the plates were finally cleared, Gerhard leaned back with a confident smile.
“How about we go somewhere else?” he suggested. “Get to know each other better p>
Renata frowned slightly and shook her head.
“It’s getting late,” she said evenly. “I should head back now. Thank you for dinner p>
A shadow slipped beneath Gerhard’s eyes—a brief flash of disappointment he couldn’t fully suppress.
“Then let me take you to your hotel,” he said at once, forcing warmth into his voice. He tried to sound charming.
Renata shook her head without hesitation.
“It’s fine,” she replied. “My car is waiting in the parking lot. It will take me home automatically p>
Her tone left no room for misunderstanding. A clear line had been drawn, and Gerhard was standing on the wrong side of it.
The turn of events left Gerhard seething inside. This night was supposed to be perfect. A romantic dinner. A confession. Maybe more much more-ending in her bed.
Instead, that damn bugger had ruined everything. Worse, Renata now looked at him differently. Colder. Distant. Disgusted.
Nothing had gone his way.
“If I see that fucking dog again, I’ll kill him,” Gerhard muttered through clenched teeth.
They had just stepped out of the restaurant and were walking toward the parking lot when shadows peeled themselves away from the darkness.
A group of young men burst forward, charging straight at them.
“That’s the man!” someone shouted.
“Kill him p>
The young men wore black masks. Steel pipes gleamed in their hands as they sprinted closer, their footsteps pounding like war drums. Revenge was written all over them.
“Damn it!” Gerhard cried out, his voice shaking as terror seized him.
He knew instantly this was because of the young man. And from the looks of it, this wasn’t a warning. This was an execution.
As if to confirm it, the young man himself stepped into the light. A bloody bandage wrapped around his head. His eyes burned with hatred.
“Let’s see if you can survive tonight!” he roared.
Panic swallowed Gerhard whole. His mind went blank. Men rushed toward him, iron batons raised high. The steel pipes cut through the air as they swung forward.
As one pipe came down toward him, Gerhard froze in sheer terror. His legs shook violently. He nearly pissed himself.
Then instinct took over.
He grabbed Renata and shoved her forward, screaming, “You can have this woman p>
Before she could react, he turned and bolted.
Gerhard sprinted to his car, yanked the door open, jumped inside, and floored it. The engine roared. In seconds, he vanished into the night without a single glance back.
Renata screamed as she stumbled forward into the path of the masked men. Rage exploded inside her when she saw Gerhard fleeing like a coward.
Damn him.
Gerhard Wolfsbane was nothing but a spineless wuss.
After causing all of this, he had the nerve-the absolute nerve to shove a woman forward as his shield and save himself. In a moment where lives were at stake, he chose to run.
Alone.
He was the lowest kind of filth.
The young man screamed in rage as he watched Gerhard disappear into the night.
“Damn it! That fucking bastard!” he roared. “He dumped the woman and ran! What a pathetic piece of shit p>
He turned slowly toward Renata, his eyes cold and vicious.
“Beauty,” he snarled, “call that coward back. If you don’t, you won’t survive the night p>
The men around him stared at Renata with open hunger.
“You’re right,” one of them chuckled darkly. “She’s even prettier than you said. We’ll
all take turns. She won’t sleep tonight p>
“I agree,” another added with a grin.
Renata’s breath hitched. Panic surged through her chest.
“He and I have nothing to do with each other,” she said quickly. “Please don’t drag
me into your business p>
The young man jabbed a finger at the bloody bandage on his head.
“Look at this!” he growled. “I got this. because you too. I won’t be
satisfiof
until I get my revenge if
that astard doesn’t come back
you you’ll pay with your boo
Renata’s fingers snapped to her bracelet. With a sharp pulse of light, the three- dimensional crest of the Winter family appeared in the air.
“I am Renata Winter,” she said clearly. “Daughter of Duke Winter. If you dare touch
me, you noblescum will learn exactly what happens when you offend the Winter
family p>
The young man froze. Shock flashed across his face as he stumbled back a step.
“I—I’m sorry,” he stammered.
But another man stepped forward, sneering.
“Who cares about nobles p>
“Yeah,” another scoffed.
Renata saw it clearly now. They were young. Stupid. Blind to the danger they were courting. Too ignorant to understand the weight of what they were threatening. “Just take her back to our place,” one of them said casually. “Whatever comes later, we’ll deal with it. A duke from nowhere doesn’t scare us. We only know Duke Silberkreuz p>
The other laughed. “She might even like us after tonight p>
“Yeah,” another added. “We could even ask for ransom p>
“You can’t do this!” Renata screamed, terror ripping through her voice.” If you touch
me, every one of you will die! Dare lay a hand on a noble, and you will be erased p>
“Illegal?” The man laughed harshly, his voice thick with menace. “You think you can lecture me about the law? am the law. When I’m done with you, you’ll learn what real law** feels like p>
A freezing chill slammed into Renata’s chest.
“I—I’ll call him,” she stammered. “I’ll call that bastard right now p>
Her hands trembled violently as she touched her bracelet and dialed Gerhard’s number.
Gerhard was gripping the steering wheel, driving like a man fleeing a nightmare. He wanted distance-miles of it-before those men could even think of chasing him. When Renata’s name flashed across the floating screen of his bracelet, his heart
slammed hard against his ribs.
Damn it.
Earlier, all he cared about was running. Saving himself. Leaving Renata behind without a second thought. She must hate him now. No-despise him.
What rotten luck.
This night was supposed to be his breakthrough. Get close to her. Win her over. Become the Duke Winter’s son-in-law-and use that connection toit his entire bloodline to higher level.
Instead, he had burned everything to the ground.
He had offended Renata down to her soul.
How could he possibly answer that call?
The reason was obvious. She wanted him to come back. Anyone with half a brain
could see that.
But if he went back, would he even survive?
Those men were feral. Armed with steel pipes. Even if they didn’t beat him to death,
they would cripple him for life.
Compared to romance, survival mattered more.
So Gerhard made his choice.
He ignored the call and slammed harder on the accelerator.
Renata stared at her bracelet in disbelief as the call went unanswered Panic clawed
up her throat.
The phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Silence.
The man tilted his head. “Still ringing p>
Renata stared at the dead screen.
The man smiled slowly. “Guess your hero already clocked out p>
She turned desperately to the young man and pleaded. “I can give you money. As
much as you want. Please, let me go. This has nothing to do with me p>
The young man’s grin widened, slow and vile.
“I don’t want your money,” he said coldly. He grabbed Renata’s chin and forced her
face up. “I want you and your money. I want everything you have p>