Chapter 490
“Great,” Sofina said. “I need to go to Eden Group in the morning anyway-to report today’s results from our side. I’ll head to the reunion straight from the Eden office p>
Renata’s eyes widened. “You are? Can I go with you? I want to see more of Eden Group. After that, we can head to Winchester Stadium together at noon-with your car p>
Sofina shot her a teasing smile.
“Well, throw that plan straight out the window. I don’t have a car. I take taxis or buses. And sometimes Alex picks me up on his bicycle. So tomorrow, we’re taking a taxi p>
“A taxi… again?” Renata groaned dramatically, like the word caused her physical pain. “Sofina, you’re a director now. Why don’t you buy a car p>
Sofina sighed. “Alex won a bet last time and gave me a luxury car, but to avoid family problems, I returned it to Nikolas p>
She rubbed her forehead tiredly.
“I just started working. I haven’t earned anything yet. And on top of that, my mother keeps asking me for money. Once I send everything to her, I barely have a thousand dollars left at the end of the month. That’s nowhere near enough for a car p>
Renata stared at Sofina like she had grown a second head.
“A thousand dollars left at the end of the month?” Renata repeated, stunned. “Sofina, you’re the head of Wolfsbane’s collaboration with Eden Group-a project worth hundreds of millions-yet you only have a thousand left? What kind of backward life is that p>
Sofina shrugged, calm but tired.
“Reality. I support my mother. I pay my own rent. And I don’t freeload off anyone. Simple p>
Renata scoffed. “I could never live like that p>
Alex finally spoke-quiet, deadpan, cutting through the air.
“That’s because you’ve never lived a real day in your life p>
Renata froze. “Excuse me p>
Alex didn’t blink.
“You think money is a privilege-something that just flows to you without effort, as natural as breathing.
But Sofina sees money as something earned with struggle, something that comes with responsibility.
That’s adulthood.
And that… is the difference between the two of you p>
Renata’s jaw tightened with offended pride.
“At least I know how to move up. Sofina is wasting her looks and title by living like a… like a poor commoner girl p>
Sofina added, softer, “Honestly… I enjoy taking the bus like commoner. It’s convenient. And riding on Alex’s bicycle on a good day? That’s perfect. I like classic things, you know p>
“Bicycle?” Renata scratched her head, staring at Sofina like she’d just confessed to living in a cave.
“That thing still exists? Oh damn. I don’t even know where to put you on my list— poor or very poor. Go buy a damn car p>
“You have a STATUS now,” Renata said, jabbing a finger at Sofina. “People notice what you drive. If you show up at Eden Group on a bicycle, everyone will think Wolfsbane Group is on life support p>
She leaned closer, voice sharp as glass.
“And then the rumors will start-‘Oh, the new director? She’s poor. She’s
unstable. She can’t even maintain her own household p>
Her tone hardened.
“Don’t go near her. Don’t do business with Wolfsbane p>
Sofina exhaled softly and looked away.
“I don’t need to impress anyone, Renata p>
Renata threw her hands up.
“That’s the problem! You don’t even TRY p>
Alex watched the exchange.
He could see it-Sofina wasn’t unaffected.
She hid it well, but her shoulders stiffened, her fingers twisted around the strap of her bag, her eyes flickered with something old. Familiar.
Shame.
Humiliation drilled into her for years.
When she married Heinrich, that jerk bled her dry. She worked multiple jobs just to have her pay stolen.
Heinrich had done that to her-broken her confidence until she believed luxury wasn’t for people like her.
Until she believed owning a car was “too much,” even while she spent her life carrying everyone else’s burden.
Now that she finally worked in her own family’s sphere again, her mother still forced her to hand over most of her salary-leaving almost nothing for herself.
Always calling.
Always begging.
Every meeting came with a story about some new debt, some new crisis, some new excuse.
Always claiming poverty while living comfortably off Sofina’s paycheck. Enough.
Alex felt something burn under his ribs.
Sofina wasn’t poor.
She was dragged down by leeches who never stopped feeding.
He stepped closer.
“Sofina, you’re my wife,” Alex said,
his voice low but firm. “You shouldn’t be worrying about whether you can buy a car. You should only be worrying about which model you like best p>
Sofina blinked in confusion. “What p>
Renata raised a brow. “Alex, don’t tell me you’re planning something dramatic p>
Alex didn’t smile.
Didn’t joke.
Didn’t soften.
He looked Sofina straight in the eyes.
“You’re not going to the class reunion in a taxi tomorrow,” Alex said. “Not a
chance p>
Sofina stiffened. “Alex, don’t p>
“You’re not arriving on a bicycle either p>
Her breath hitched, subtle but real.
Alex continued. “You’re arriving in a car that reflects your work, your position, and your worth. I’ll handle it p>
Sofina took a slow, shaky breath. “Alex… you don’t have to p>
“I’m not doing it because I have to,” he interrupted gently. “I’m doing it because I should have done it earlier p>
Renata smirked, smug again. “Finally. Someone around here knows how social hierarchy works p>
Alex looked at Sofina, his voice calm but full of conviction.
“It’s not about hierarchy. I should’ve realized something-if my wife isn’t taking care of her own life, then, as her husband, should be the one who does. If I really love you, then it’s my job to take care of you too.
Sofina’s eyes widened just a fraction-but he caught it.
A soft, startled glow.
Renata’s expression twisted with disbelief. “You’re buying her a director-level car?
For a reunion p>
Alex didn’t look at Renata.
He only looked at Sofina.
“For every meeting,” he said.
“For every place that ever made you feel small p>
“For every person who thought you didn’t deserve better p>
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
“Not anymore. I’ll put you in a car that mirrors your true worth-so the world finally sees the woman I see; the truth of the woman you truly are p>
SWE
Sofina swallowed hard.
Her eyes shimmered, but she kept her face composed.
going to make me cry p>
He reached out and touched her hand—light, barely there, respectful.
“Let me make up for the years they took from you p>
Sofina looked up at Alex, tears trembling at the edge of her lashes.
For the first time in years… her heart felt something it had long forgotten-love.
And somehow, against all odds, she found it standing right before her.
Alex made his decision in that single heartbeat.
Tomorrow morning, he would walk into a dealership.
He would buy Sofina a car worthy of her name-worthy of the woman she was.
Because nothing is ever too late p>
to show someone how deeply you care.
“My strength is as the strength of ten,
Because my heart is pure;
And where love leads me,
I shall guard without fear p>