Chapter 500
“Oh—yes, the VÖXEN Seraphine hiding under first-generation camouflage,” Alex said with a bright, almost playful smile. “I called the previous owner to clear up the mystery p>
“And Renata leaned closer.
“Turns out,” Alex said, trying not to laugh, “the man was obsessed with the VÖXEN Seraphine. Absolute dream car. But his wife hated the idea-said it was a waste of money, that he should buy her gold or jewelry instead of some overpriced machine.” “But he wanted it so badly that he bought it behind her back. He knew she’d explode if she found out how much he spent. So he activated the camouflage mode and disguised it as a first-generation VÖXEN. His wife never suspected a thing p>
“And Sofina pushed.
“One day they got into a huge fight. His wife, furious, sold the ‘first-generation VÖXEN’ for a dirt-cheap price. And I happened to be the one who bought it for eighty thousand p>
“Damn,” Renata muttered. “You’re insanely lucky p>
“Alex,” Sofina said, worried, “this VÖXEN Seraphine is worth ten million dollars. We have to return it to him p>
“I tried,” Alex replied casually. “But he told me to keep it. His wife is still angry. If she finds out he bought the real Seraphine, he might actually die. So I’m helping him by holding onto the car p>
Sofina stared at him, speechless.
Alex shrugged lightly. “Can we just say, ‘Thank you, True Source, for this blessed stroke of luck p>
“True Source?” Renata lifted a brow.
“Well-the Almighty up there, the Creator who created all of us,” Alex explained.
Renata burst into laughter. “You’re hilarious. We appeared from a random cosmic big bang. No one created us. Humans are the top species—there’s no creator watching us p>
Sofina looked at Alex, her voice soft. “You’re a romantic. I’ll ask you more about that later p>
“Oh please, stop with all that imagination,” Renata groaned. “Sofina, just keep the VÖXEN Seraphine. If you don’t want it, give it to me instead. Or sell it to me—I’ll pay eighty thousand dollars. You’ll still make a profit p>
Sofina’s eyes went wide. “No. It’s Alex’s car p>
She grabbed Renata’s arm, steering her forward. “Now come on-we’re here for the reunion p>
Alex looked at Renata, then at Sofina, and the two women walked inside.
He let out a quiet sigh.
These people didn’t believe in the True Source, the Creator, the Almighty-anything beyond themselves.
To them, faith was foolish, childish, nothing more than worshipping illusions born from human imagination.
This was Prussia: you were your own god, your own origin, your own destiny.
The world didn’t come from anyone-it “just appeared p>
Alex walked to his car, grabbed the gift box he had prepared for the reunion, and thought to himself, Maybe one day… I’ll be the first spiritual leader this place has
ever seen.
Inside the hall, several banquet tables were already arranged.
Floating 3D banners shimmered above the small stage, celebrating the class reunion.
According to tradition, everyone placed a gift on the long table-those gifts would be auctioned later, and the money used to fund the next reunion.
Renata walked up and set down her gift box.
Sofina followed, placing a small box on the table.
Then she turned to Alex.
“Thanks for preparing the gifts for the reunion p>
“What?” Alex froze.
The real gift he had prepared for reunion class was still in his hand.
“Which gift p>
“You said there was a gift in the car,” Sofina said, confused. “So I took the one on the dashboard p>
“Oh, we miscommunicated,” Alex
replied, panic, rising as he realized
she had taken the ring meant for
her. “The one on the dashboard is
ет
especially for you. The reunion gift is in the back of the car this one in my hand is the actual reunion gift p>
Sofina’s eyes widened. “Oh no-I put the wrong one on the table p>
She grabbed the box from Alex’s hand and hurried back toward the gift table to retrieve the gift she’d mistakenly put down earlier.
But before she could reach it, Belinda-one of the reunion staff and the classmate who had despised Sofina since university-stepped in.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Belinda demanded, stepping in front of her. “You can’t take back a gift once it’s on the table. It has to go through the auction p>
“It was a mistake,” Sofina said quickly. “The gift I placed here was from my husband
to me. This one is the real reunion gift. I just need to switch them p>
Belinda folded her arms, savoring the moment.
“Sorry. Once a gift is on the table, it can only be retrieved during the auction. So if you want it back, make sure you bring enough money to buy it p>
“Belinda, please,” Sofina begged quietly.
“No p>
Belinda flicked her hand dismissively and smirked.
“Make sure you participate in the auction like everyone else if you want to win your own gift back, okay p>
Then she snatched the box right out of Sofina’s hands.
“You said this was for the class reunion, so I’ll help you put it on the table myself.” “What?” Sofina stared at her, shocked, unable to believe what had just happened.
“Belinda, please. That gift wasn’t for the reunion. Give it back p>
“Oh, I knew. I heard you. It was for you. How sweet.” Belinda’s smile curdled into something sharp. “But you put it on the table. And once it was there, it belonged to all of us. Including the p>
Sofina’s cheeks burned with anger. “I didn’t think you’d ever stoop this low p>
“Really?” Belinda said, her voice dripping venom. “You, of all people, should know exactly how low I can go p>
Sofina whispered, “Belinda we’re adults now. Why are you still doing this p>
Belinda leaned in, her breath cold, her words soft as poison. “Because no matter how many years pass, it’s still fun watching you beg p>
Then she flashed a wide, satisfied smile.
The greatest demons don’t roar; they smile.
“Sofina,” Alex called gently. “Is there a problem p>
“Alex Sofina turned toward him, shaken. “She doesn’t want to return the gift p>
“Don’t worry,” Alex said, his voice low but steady. “I’ll make sure we get that gift back. At any cost p>
“Are you sure?” Belinda asked, her tone cold and mocking. “Because I’m going to make sure Ragnar knows about it—and that you never get it back. Not unless you’re ready to pay a very high price p>