Chapter 452
“You’re Alex the Dunce! You can say all that crap because you’re an idiot-half a brain short of being human!” Conrad shouted, his voice cracking with rage. “If you had even a sliver of sense, you’d know how foolish you sound p>
Conrad truly believed that only a complete fool like Alex could think the Wolfsbane family had any chance of working with the Eden Group.
Alex’s grin widened. “Baroness Wolfsbane,” he called. “Conrad here just called you an idiot with half a brain for daring to ask for collaboration. Thought you should know p>
Conrad’s face went pale, then burned red. He spun toward the Baroness. “I—I didn’t mean that p>
Baroness Wolfsbane’s hands trembled on the table. Her face darkened with fury and humiliation. Her own kin had mocked her-Beatrix and his husband, Conrad and then Annabella, her so-called pride, had done nothing but disappoint her.
And now, of all people, it was Alex-the outcast, the family fool-who stood up for her.
Her gaze shifted to Sofina. She’d never liked the girl. But seeing Sofina step forward with quiet resolve, something in the old woman’s heart shifted.
At least this one had courage.
“All of you!” she thundered. “You’re cowards! Every last one of you! From this moment on, Sofina will handle the Eden Group negotiations p>
The room fell silent.
Sofina stood. “Don’t worry, Grandma,” she said. “I’ll do my best p>
Alex crossed his arms, flashing Beatrix a smug grin that made her blood boil.
Beatrix exhaled sharply through her nose, lips curling into a sneer. “Go on, Sofina -try all you want. When you fail-and you will-you’ll drag the rest of us down into disgrace p>
Alex’s eyes hardened. “Beatrix, Sofina’s worth a thousand of you. She’s fighting to lift this family up, while you bury it in arrogance and shame. You’re nothing but a disgrace p>
“Me? A disgrace?” Beatrix’s face turned crimson. “You’re the half-slave here, Alex -the real embarrassment of this family! You think Sofina’s some kind of miracle worker? That she’s going to save us p>
“No,” Alex said. “I think the Wolfsbane family is great enough that even the Eden Group will want that collaboration. I believe in the Baroness’s dream—and I believe in my wife’s intelligence and strength p>
“But you he turned toward Beatrix, eyes narrowing, “you just sit here sneering. Tell me, Beatrix-what’s your real problem? Do you not believe in your grandmother, or are you just like your husband-thinking your own grandmother’s got half a brain? That she’s an idiot p>
Beatrix flinched and waved her hands fast. “No! That’s not what I meant! I just think it’s impossible for Sofina to make that deal, that’s all! I’m being realistic p>
Alex’s smile curved slow and dangerous. “No, you’re not being realistic-you’re being a coward. You’ve already surrendered before the fight even started. That’s not realism, Beatrix-that’s disappointment dressed up as wisdom. And you know what they say: hell’s full of the envious p>
Beatrix’s eyes flashed. “Me? Envious?” she snapped. “You’re a fool if you think any of this will work p>
Alex chuckled—a deep, mocking sound that filled the room. “Then let’s make this interesting. What if she does succeed? Want to make a bet p>
Beatrix crossed her arms. “Fine. You think I’m scared? Name your terms, Alex the Dunce p>
Alex’s eyes gleamed. “I heard the Baroness gave you that manor outside the main estate. If Sofina pulls this off, that place is ours foever. You move into our home, and we take yours p>
Beatrix’s grin twitched, “Deal,” she said through clenched teeth. “But if Sofina fails, I want both of you out of the Wolfsbane family-for good p>
“Deal,” Alex said, leaning back with a half-smile. “Then let’s see who ends up laughing p>
Annabella suddenly chimed in, “Count me in too! If I win, I want Nikolaus’s car back p>
Alex turned his gaze on her, raising a brow. “Alright. But what happens if you lose p>
Annabella crossed her arms, chin lifted. “I won’t lose. But fine-I’ll play along. What do you want p>
Alex’s grin widened. “Since you love calling me a half-slave, how about this—if you lose, you kneel ten times and admit you’re lower than that ‘half-slave p>
Annabella burst out laughing. “Ha! You’re really digging your own grave, loser! Fine-I’ll take that bet p>
“Count me in too,” Felicia said. “If you lose, I want you to divorce Sofina p>
Alex didn’t flinch. “Fine,” he said calmly. “But if I win, you’ll accept our marriage- no more insults, no more interference p>
Felicia laughed, a cruel sound. “You really think you can win this? I’ve already recorded the bet and sent the document to the government registry. It’s official now. You’ll have to honor it p>
Alex smirked. “Perfect,” he said. “I like it when everyone plays fair p>
Baroness Wolfsbane didn’t even glance at them. She couldn’t care less about their childish betting.
What mattered to her was one thing-whether the Wolfsbane family could actually secure that collaboration with the Eden Group.
“Enough of this nonsense.” She roared. “Sofina, you have three days to negotiate and close the deal. That’s all. Meeting dismissed p>
On the way home, Sofina frowned, glancing out the window. “You really think Grandma trusts me with the Eden deal p>
Alex smirked. “Trust? No. Desperation? Absolutely p>
Sofina shot him a look. “That’s supposed to make me feel better p>
He chuckled. “If you want comfort, talk to someone who hasn’t met this family.” Sofina rolled her eyes.
Alex grinned. “Hey, at least I bet on your victory. Isn’t that comforting p>
Sofina arched a brow. “You really think this bet will prove anything p>
“Of course,” Alex said. “It’ll show who’s got guts and who’s got excuses p>
Sofina crossed her arms. “And what if you lose p>
Alex chuckled. “Then I’ll finally fit right in with this family-bad decisions and all p>
The next morning, Sofina sat in the passenger seat, clutching a thick file of proposals she’d spent the entire night refining. Her eyes were tired, but her mind was sharp. Today would decide everything.
Beside her, Alex drove the sleek black luxury car they’d won from Nikolaus-a machine so rare in Winchester that it turned heads wherever it passed.
“Alex,” Sofina said uneasily, watching the reflections glide across the car’s polished hood, “we should return this car. It’s too extravagant for us. Everyone’s going to notice p>
Alex chuckled, one hand casually resting on the wheel. “Maybe it’s too fancy for a gardener like me,” he said.
“But for you the future deputy of the Wolfsbane Group-it’s perfect. Your grandmother and mother wouldn’t dare buy you one, so let’s enjoy it while we
can p>
Sofina frowned, glancing at him. “You really think this is okay p>
He smiled without looking away from the road. “More than okay. It’s a sign, Sofina. We’re on our way up. And when this is over, maybe we’ll have a new mansion to park it in p>
Sofina shook her head, half anxious, half amused. “I wish I had your confidence p>
“You don’t need it,” Alex said, his grin widening. “You’ve got me. That’s enough. Come on, Sofina. Shoot for the moon; even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars p>
Alex’s smile softened as the car descended toward the Eden Group’s towering headquarters, its glass walls gleaming in the morning light.
“Wish me luck,” Sofina whispered as the car touched down.
Alex stepped out and walked around to open her door. “With me here, your luck’s already doubled,” he said lightly “Remember I’m the gardener of the Eden Group. That means you’ve got an insideron your side.” s
QUMS
Sofina couldn’t help but laugh. For a moment, her nerves eased. She wished she could carry that same unshakable optimism he always had.
Sofina stood under the shadow of the two-hundred-story tower and felt something empty out inside her-like a room with the furniture hauled away.
Eden Group’s glass façade rose into the sky like a polished god. The idea that the Wolfsbane family—old, fractured, scandal-scarred—could sit at that table felt absurd.
Asking Eden to partner with them was like a beggar asking a banker to lend him the vault.
Still, she’d promised her grandmother. She’d accepted the challenge in front of the whole house. There was no turning back.
At the entrance, Sofina slowed her pace. The lobby felt like a courtroom-every seat occupied by nobles from Winchester: barons, viscounts, and counts, all dressed in tailored suits and guarded pride.
They huddled in quiet conversations, their voices low but tense, each waiting for their turn to be judged by
Eden. Group. The sight said it
all every one
of them was hono
chasing the same thing: a coffaboration with power. s
“Sofina! What on earth are you doing here?” a voice snapped.
She turned and found Heinrich standing with Katarina Rosenheim, both watching
her like hawks. Katarina’s lips tightened the way a judge’s did before passing
sentence.
“See?” Katarina said with a clipped laugh. “I told you a thousand times-get this sort of woman away from my sight. How could you let her walk in here?” Heinrich bowed his head like a man forced to swallow bile. “I’m sorry, Katarina. I tried. I truly did. I don’t understand how she keeps turning up. I’ll make her leave.” He pushed forward and grabbed Sofina’s wrist in a rough. “You’re here to attract attention,” he hissed. “I told you I won’t give you any. Leave this place.” “Heinrich,” she said calmly. “I’m not here for you. I’m here for the Wolfsbane- for the Eden Group collaboration p>
“Heh-collaboration?” Heinrich barked, his tone thick with mockery. “You? Who the hell are you trying to fool? Even your grandmother couldn’t get a deal with Eden Group. You’re not worthy-none of you are p>
“Stop acting like this is about business. We both know why you’re here. You came chasing my attention, and I’ve got none left for
you. Now get out of Katarina’s sight you’re fucking pathetic and irritating.” s
Heinrich dragged her toward the entrance like a man hauling out a scandal. “Don’t
you dare try to step foot in here again. I’m done with you-whatever we had is
over p>
He shoved her hard through the glass doors. Sofina hit the ground, landing on her backside as the folder burst open, papers scattering across the marble steps. Heinrich glared down at her, disgust twisting his face. “You’re fucking disgraceful,” he spat, then turned on his heel and walked back inside without another glance.