Chapter 538
Renata walked forward despite the pain burning through her body. Each step sent a sharp ache through her hips, but she didn’t slow down. She stared straight into the eyes of the young man who had tried to rape her.
“Remember my face,” she said coldly. “Remember what you tried to do to me p>
She drove the knife into another man’s stomach.
“This is the karma you earned p>
She moved down the line, stabbing them one by one. Her voice stayed steady, flat, terrifying.
“Remember the price of touching a duke’s daughter p>
“Please—please,” one man sobbed, his voice breaking. “I don’t want to die p>
Renata’s eyes filled with tears, but her hand didn’t shake.
“Neither do I,” she said quietly. “I didn’t want to die either. But you forced your hands
on me. You chose this first. I’m only finishing it p>
Another man was stabbed. None of them could move. An invisible pressure
wrapped around their bodies, paralyzing them with pure fear-Alex’s unseen force holding every one of them completely still.
“No-please,” one of them cried. “I have a family p>
“So do I,” Renata answered. “I have a father. I have a mother p>
She plunged the knife into another stomach.
“Why can’t we live a decent life,” she whispered, “without hurting others p>
Seventeen men fell, one after another.
Only then did Renata stop.
She dropped to her knees and broke down, sobbing.
Alex released his invisible grip. The seventeen men clutching their bleeding stomachs lay helpless on the ground.
Alex stepped forward.
“All of you,” he roared. “You have ten to thirty minutes to call for help. Make it in time, and you might save your souls. Fail—” his eyes went cold, and you can report directly to the Creators for being complete trash p>
No one answered. Some of them, shaking and panicked, activated their bracelets and called for emergency medical support.
One call went through.
Within seconds, a medical drone descended, hovering over a wounded man as scanners lit up his body.
“Stab wound detected,” the drone announced calmly.
“I am accessing the patient’s bracelet records to determine the cause of injury p>
The drone linked to the man’s bracelet.
“Confirmed. You were stabbed by Renata Winter due to attempted assault against the daughter of a duke. Sanction: death p>
“No!” The man screamed.
“You are currently alive,” the drone continued evenly. “Emergency treatment will be administered. Your surviving organs will be preserved for medical redistribution to patients in need p>
The young man’s face drained of all color.
“No please—no! I’m still alive! Please, help me!” he screamed.
The drone began its work as the man sobbed in terror.
“You are a common citizen who attempted to harm a noble,” the system replied coldly. “The law is enforced by your own actions p>
Those who had already managed to call emergency services stood frozen in shock. They had been waiting for death.
Waiting for the drones to harvest their organs as payment for what they had done.
Some of the young men clutched their torn stomachs and staggered away from the
scene.
A few barely made it several steps before their legs gave out and they collapsed onto the road, bleeding and gasping.
One of the medical drones peeled away from the group and floated toward Renata.
“We will take care of you, Lady Renata,” it said in a calm, professional tone. “We will take care of you, Lady Renata. Please remain at ease p>
“Alex Renata whispered, suddenly remembering how he had shielded her.
No answer.
She turned her head sharply, pain tearing through her body.
“He was here,” she said, breath shaking. “He was right here p>
The drone paused, then replied, “No registered guardian detected p>
Renata laughed once, bitter and cracked.
“Of course he’s gone,” she murmured. “He always leaves after saving me p>
Her lips trembled despite her effort to stay composed.
“So he saved me again,” she whispered.
Then anger flared through the tears.
“And I didn’t even get to thank him p>
Then she cursed loudly as the ambulance finally glided to a stop beside her.
“Damn it!” Renata snapped. “I just walked out of the hospital, and now I’m being dragged right back in. And if Gerhard dares to show his face, I swear I’ll kill that bastard p>
With a deep stab wound on her ass and several fractured bones, she was forced to remain hospitalized for days, barely able to move, sleeping through waves of pain and medication.
The assault on Renata by a group of young men quickly became headline news across local Winchester channels. The story spread fast-violent, scandalous, impossible to ignore.
Meanwhile, at the Wolfsbane family mansion, the household gathered under Baroness Wolfsbane’s urgent summons. The atmosphere was tense as they discussed their response to the news.
“We must visit Renata at the hospital,” one of them said firmly. “This is the perfect chance to grow closer to the Winter family p>
Several heads nodded immediately in agreement.
Baroness Wolfsbane’s eyes
gleamed. This was an opportunity. A rare opening. If played correctly, they
could tum this, tragedy into a heroic
stage for Gerhard-reshape the
narrative, push him closer to
Renata’s heart.
She stood decisively.
“Hurry,” she ordered. “We’re going to the hospital. Before another family uses this
chance to get close to her first p>
Gerhard said nothing.
He didn’t dare.
He was walking on thin ice, his guilt pressing down on his chest like a blade. He could only swallow it all, clench his teeth, and follow his
family to the hospital nos et
full
Well that he was the true cause of everything that had happened.
On the way to the hospital, Gerhard rehearsed his lies again and again.
Ten reasons for why he shoved Renata forward and ran.
Another ten for why he ignored her call.
Twenty excuses in total. Every one of them sounded reasonable to him.
He just didn’t know if Renata would accept a single word.
Baroness Wolfsbane studied Gerhard. “You seem pale p>
“I’m fine,” he lied.
Inside, his chest felt split open.
The Baroness spoke lightly, “Be charming. Be supportive p>
Gerhard followed, heart pounding.
Because no one there knew the truth-
That every step he took toward the hospital felt like walking back to the crime he
caused.
The moment he entered the hospital room and saw Renata lying on the bed, pale and wounded, Gerhard acted fast.
Before she could speak-before she could accuse him he rushed forward, his face twisted into practiced shock.
“Renata, are you alright?” he said urgently. “I was just about to call my family and bring a team to rescue you p>
“Rescue me?” Renata’s lips curled into a cold, bitter smile. “You almost got me
killed p>
Gerhard panicked. “Please don’t misunderstand me,” he said quickly. “I was trying to
draw them away. They were after me, not you. I thought they wouldn’t hurt you.
You’re a high noble! Duke’s daughter p>
Renata blinked. “That was your plan p>
“Yes p>
She nodded slowly. “So your strategy was p>
leave me alone with criminals and trust their manners p>
Gerhard opened his mouth. “What else was I supposed to do p>
She smiled faintly. “Stay p>
The room went quiet.
Gerhard swallowed. “That… wasn’t an option p>
Renata nodded. “Of course it wasn’t. Running is much safer-especially when
someone else is slower p>
“Thank you—for understanding,” Gerhard said.
“Come closer,” Renata replied.
Gerhard’s heart relaxed. He thought he had succeeded. Thought he had been
forgiven.
He stepped to her bedside.
Renata’s fist shot out.
Crack.
Her punch smashed straight into his nose. Blood burst out instantly as Gerhard screamed and stumbled back.
“Gerhard!” Baroness Wolfsbane cried out in shock. “Renata-what did you do to
Gerhard p>
“Why don’t you ask this bastard
what he did? Renata shouted, her
voice sharp with fury. “He’s the reason I’m lying here! If Sofina wereits my best friend twould se already called my father and wiped
out the entire Wolfsbane family p>
The room froze.
Baroness Wolfsbane turned slowly toward Gerhard, her eyes hard.
“Explain,” she demanded. “What did you do to Renata p>
“I didn’t do anything!” Gerhard yelled defensively.
“I took her to dinner. Some men harassed her, so I stepped in to protect her. But
they came back there were twenty of them, and I was alone! I ran to get help!” Baroness Wolfsbane turned back to Renata, her tone firm and condescending.
“Renata, my grandson was trying to help you. You shouldn’t have hit him. You should be thanking him. Rewarding him p>
Renata laughed a sharp, dangerous sound.
“Wonderful,” she said coldly. “The great Wolfsbane family. You cause me suffering, then come here to accuse me p>
Her eyes burned as she stared them down.
“If I don’t see the Wolfsbane family destroyed by the Winter family,” she said slowly, “then my name is not Renata Winter p>