Chapter 434
“Heinrich, you’re incredible!” someone called out, and the crowd erupted with cruel approval. Murmurs rippled through the room, sharp and cutting.
“Smart move,” one man said under his breath.
“She’s pathetic,” another sneered. “Crying over a man who’s already done with her p>
“She’s drowning in emotions-feelings make people stupid,” a third added with a laugh.
“Look at her, humiliated in front of everyone. I’d love to meet her father… to see what kind of man could raise a daughter this foolish. Absolutely shameful p>
“Now, Sofina,” Heinrich said, straightening his suit, his tone polite as a blade. “I’m done wasting time. Leave this banquet. I don’t want you humiliating Katarina-or everyone here with your presence. You reek of poverty p>
“You never loved me, did you?” Sofina whispered. Her faith cracked-not from disbelief, but from believing too much.
“I loved you,” Heinrich said.
“But only when you were useful when you gave me your money, your body, your time. Back then, I really did love you, Sofina p>
“You made my life comfortable. You paid for my future. You carried me up.” He smiled faintly, the kind of smile that hurt more than a slap. “But now? You’re broke. You’re empty. You have nothing left worth loving p>
He tilted his head, his voice heavy with mock pity. “And now you call me cruel? Don’t pretend you’re the victim here you killed whatever we had. You stopped loving me first. You stopped giving. You stopped serving p>
“But Heinrich!” Sofina’s voice cracked as she cried out. “I have nothing left to give p>
“Then that’s your fault!” he hissed, leaning in until his breath brushed her ear. His tone was low, poisonous.
“Don’t twist this into some tragic love story. If you truly loved me, you would’ve found something-anything-to keep me. But you stopped. You ran dry. And that, Sofina He smiled cruelly. that’s your mistake, not mine p>
Sofina’s mind blurred. His words twisted everything-truth, memory, love—until none of it made sense anymore.
Only when the dream finally shattered did she notice her sleeves were soaked – not from rain, but from her own tears.
“Heinrich.” Katrina stepped forward, calm but cold. “I told you I don’t want that woman anywhere near my banquet. Handle it p>
“I already did,” Heinrich said, eyes still fixed on Sofina. “The divorce is filed. She’s legally nothing just another face in the crowd p>
He raised his foot with practiced ease. “Get out of here, dog. Your value expired the moment your wallet emptied. Be grateful you ever breathed beside the great Heinrich p>
Before the kick landed, Alex moved instinctively-stepping in front of Sofina once more, his back straight and unyielding, a living barricade between her and the man who had destroyed her.
Sofina’s body shaking with sobs. “All this time… I was such a fool,” she choked out.
“I believed in you. Every word, every promise-you made me believe it was real. But all of this Her voice broke into silence.
Heinrich laughed a cold, elegant sound that echoed with cruelty.
“Good,” he said smoothly. “Learn from it. Be grateful I taught you anything at all p>
He turned his gaze toward Katarina, expression bored. “Honey, please get your dog under control. He’s starting to annoy me p>
Katarina’s face twisted with disgust. “You loser!” she barked at Alex. “Get away from her p>
Alex took a slow breath, then stepped aside from Sofina-obedient as always. “Good dog,” Katarina said proudly, her chin lifted. For almost three years, she’d commanded Alex like a machine. He never argued. Never resisted.
“Now, dear Heinrich you can finish it. Kick your woman out p>
Heinrich smiled viciously and lifted his leg to strike Sofina. She didn’t move- heartbroken, too drained to even defend herself.
But before the blow landed, Alex rushed forward again, blocking the kick with his body. The impact echoed across the room.
Katarina’s eyes flashed with rage. “You dog! What the hell do you think you’re doing? I told you to move p>
Alex stepped back slowly, but when Heinrich lifted his foot again, Alex moved in front of Sofina once more.
The second kick hit him square in the ribs. The crowd gasped, then burst into cruel laughter.
“Looks like Katarina lost control of her pet,” one man sneered.
“Her dog’s in love with the other stray,” another chuckled.
“Perfect match-poor and pathetic,” someone else added, and the laughter grew louder.
“Poor Katarina,” a voice mocked from the back. “Her dog’s got more loyalty than her fiancé p>
Katarina’s face burned with fury. “You worthless mutt! If you want to die for her, then go ahead p>
She turned to the guards. “Security! If that woman doesn’t leave, throw her out— kick her till she’s gone p>
Two guards stepped forward immediately.
Heinrich smiled. “You heard her! Get rid of that woman! If she resists-kill her. That’ll be her problem, not mine p>
Alex spread his arms wide, standing between Sofina and the advancing guards.
He didn’t hesitate, didn’t even think—he simply moved, as if his body already knew she was worth dying for.
Their boots crashed into his back again and again, but he stayed there, unshaken, a wall of flesh and will.
Blood slipped from the corner of his mouth, tracing a thin crimson line down his chin, but his eyes never wavered. They held a strange, quiet peace-like he had found something worth all the pain.
“Please don’t cry,” Alex said, his voice low, trembling with warmth. “You’re extraordinary, Sofina. Your heart… your emotions-they’re real, beautiful, and untainted. Don’t ever think they’re a weakness p>
“You didn’t do anything wrong by loving him. You gave everything you had your trust, your soul, your faith in him. That’s not a mistake p>
“The only mistake was his. He never saw what he was holding. He never understood how rare your love was-how sacred it is to be loved by someone like you p>
His voice broke slightly as he added, “If I were him… I’d spend a lifetime just trying to deserve you p>
Sofina’s tears fell freely as she looked at him. In that moment, the chaos around them vanished.
She had always believed in her
heart-in love, in loyalty, in the quiet goodness she thought could redeem even the cruelest soul. But after everything-after the betrayal, the humiliation the shattering of every promise she once held sacred-she found herself standing at the edge of something far darker. s
She wasn’t just losing faith in him-she was losing faith in herself. The very thing that had once made her strong her love her tendernes her boundless capacity to forgive-now felt like a curse She wanted to kill that part of her heart, to silence the voice that still whispered, love is worth it. s
Her love had become agony.
And then came Alex. His warmth. His words. His eyes-seeing her not as broken,
but as something holy, radiant, and alive. He made her realize that her love had
never been wrong. It was powerful, rare, and beautiful beyond measure.
Her heart was never the mistake-only the man she gave it to.
When Alex’s dark, steady eyes met hers, something inside her broke open. His gaze reached into the
wreckage of her soulning
around her like light piercing through frost. And in that touch, in that quiet moment, she felt it-gentle, yet unstoppable- s
a pulse of life, rising from the ashes of her pain.
And as his dark eyes pierced straight into her heart-with that same fierce, unyielding love—something within her began to awaken. His presence wrapped around her like warmth and light breaking through frozen air.
She felt it-gentle, but undeniable—a pulse of life returning, love itself calling her name. It was as if her heart had finally found the soul it had been searching for across lifetimes, rising quietly from the ruins of everything broken.
In the deepest winter of her spirit, Sofina discovered within herself… an invincible
spring.
With trembling hands, she reached up and touched his cheek, her fingers brushing away the blood.
“You protected me,” she whispered, her voice breaking with emotion. “With your
life… If I asked you to marry me right now… would you say yes p>