Chapter 539
The moment Renata vowed to destroy the Wolfsbane family, the room froze.
Every member of the Wolfsbane household stood stunned, their minds blank.
Baroness Wolfsbane felt the blood drain from her face. She had come here to force Gerhard into becoming Duke Winter’s son-in-law-not to invite Duke Winter’s wrath and wipe her family off the map.
Her voice trembled as she spoke, trying to salvage what little control she had left.
“Renata, please don’t be like this. You are Sofina’s best friend. You should be kind to Gerhard p>
Renata’s eyes turned icy.
“Kind?” she snapped, spitting straight into Gerhard’s face. “Kind to the man who nearly got me killed p>
Her voice dropped, sharp and venomous. “I don’t want to be kind. I want to destroy the entire Wolfsbane family. Because of him. So what are you going to do about it p>
“Renata!” Baron Wolfsbane growled, rage surging through him. How dare this woman threaten the Wolfsbane name so openly?
But Renata no longer paid him any attention.
She lifted her wrist and tapped her bracelet. A call request flashed and connected.
“Who are you calling?” Baroness Wolfsbane asked, her chest tightening with dread.
“None of your business,” Renata replied coldly.
The air shifted.
A three-dimensional screen unfolded in front of them. Duke Winter’s face appeared, stern and imposing, his presence alone enough to crush the room into silence.
“Daughter,” Duke Winter said. “Why are you calling p>
“Father Renata’s voice broke. Tears streamed down her face as the composure she had been forcing finally shattered. “I went to Winchester. And the Wolfsbane family dare to bully me p>
She told him everything.
Every accusation. Every humiliation. Every threat. Every lie.
As Renata spoke, the color drained from the Wolfsbane family’s faces. Pale didn’t begin to describe it. They looked like people already standing at the edge of execution.
“Father,” Renata said, “I want you to send people to destroy the entire Wolfsbane family. How dare they come here and blame everything on me p>
Baroness Wolfsbane’s legs began to shake uncontrollably.
If Duke Winter truly wanted to erase a small baronial family like hers, it wouldn’t take days or even hours.
Minutes would be enough.
Panic took over.
Without hesitation, Baroness Wolfsbane turned and slapped Gerhard hard across the face, the sound echoing through the hall.
“Grandma?!” Gerhard cried out, stunned.
“Don’t call me that!” Baroness Wolfsbane screamed. She yanked her cane free and brought it down on him again and again. Each strike landed with vicious force.
“You damned bastard!” she shrieked as she beat him. “How dare you hurt Renata! How dare you lie to me? How dare you drag the Wolfsbane family into this mess p>
Gerhard collapsed to the floor, blood running down his face.
“It was you,” she spat, striking him again. “You were the one who harmed Renata p>
“Grandma,” Gerhard tried to protest.
His words never finished.
His uncle lunged forward first. Then his own father joined in. Fists came down hard, knocking Gerhard off his feet. He hit the floor, and they didn’t stop. Boots followed— kicking him over and over as he curled in on himself.
“Why don’t you just die?” one of them shouted. “You dared to lie to all of us! Just go die p>
An older man stepped in and struck Gerhard again, his blow heavy and merciless. Baroness Wolfsbane rushed forward and dropped into a deep bow before Renata. “We are truly sorry for what Gerhard did to you,” she said urgently. “We didn’t know he was such a damned bastard. You can kill him—we won’t say a word. But please,
let the rest of us go. We truly didn’t know what this bastard was doing p>
On the screen, Duke Winter’s eyes narrowed. He understood this tactic well.
Cut off the tail to save the lizard.
He spoke calmly, his voice carrying quiet authority.
“Daughter, what do you think p>
Renata looked at Gerhard.
His face was swollen and blood-soaked. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he begged silently for mercy.
But when the Wolfsbane family saw that Renata’s expression remained cold and furious, they hit him even harder.
A sharp crack echoed through the room.
Two of Gerhard’s teeth flew out. His nose bent sideways with a sickening snap.
“Miss Renata,” Baroness Wolfsbane said desperately. “If this still isn’t enough, I will kill this bastard myself—right here in front of you. Just please, let our family go. For Sofina’s sake p>
Duke Winter spoke again.
“Daughter, I believe this small baronial family will never dare to cross you again. How about letting them go for Sofina. She is from the Wolfsbane family too. If you punish them too harshly, you may damage your relationship with Sofina p>
Renata inhaled slowly.
“You’re right, Father p>
She lifted her gaze to Baroness Wolfsbane, her voice sharp and absolute.
“I want all of you out of my room. Now p>
“Yes yes!” Baroness Wolfsbane answered immediately.
She turned and fled. The others followed in panic, dragging Gerhard’s broken body
across the floor as they rushed out.
The next morning, the moment Sofina woke up, her braclet rang.
It was her grandmother-Baroness Wolfsbane.
“Sofina Scheinwald,” the old woman said, “go to Count Lorenz Stahl immediately. He is calling about our five-million-dollar debt. He’s already trying to cut off our supply lines. If this continues it will seriously damage our connection with the Eden Group p>
Sofina spoke quickly, “Grandma, we still have some money from the Eden Group.
Why don’t we just pay off the debt p>
Baroness Wolfsbane let out a long, weary sigh before answering.
“Sofina Scheinwald, the family is trapped between internal chaos and external pressure. We need liquid. cash for emergencies. This debt has existed for more than twenty years. It’s a business debt-it flows in and out. Don’t worry about it. What we need now is time. Please go and speak with Count Lorenz Stahl p>
Sofina hesitated, her brows knitting together. After a moment, she nodded
reluctantly.
“Alright, Grandma. I’ll try to see him p>
“Very good,” Baroness Wolfsbane said, relief clear in her voice. “I knew you could
do it p>
The call ended. Sofina stared at the wall, her mood sinking.
Alex noticed immediately.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Sofina briefly explained her grandmother’s request.
Alex frowned.
“If you have the money, why not just pay him p>
Sofina sighed and rubbed her temple, exhaustion flashing across her face.
“Once that cash goes into Grandma’s hands, it’ll never come back out. She’s too stingy. Now even our mineral supply is at risk.” Her voice hardened. “I’ll go talk to Count Lorenz Stahl myself p>
“I’ll go with you,” Alex said without hesitation.
“No, you won’t,” Sofina replied firmly. “Who brings their husband to a business
meeting? It looks unprofessional p>
She paused, then added lightly,
“Just stay home. If you’re bored, go out. There’s nothing much to do around here
anyway p>
Seeing her resolve, Alex fell silent.
He knew his wife well. Sofina had always been independent, proud, and fiercely committed to building her own achievements. She wanted her success to come from her own hands.
There was no harm in letting her try.
If things went wrong, he would be there-quietly, from the shadows.
After breakfast, Sofina scheduled an appointment with Count Lorenz Stahl. She stepped into her VÖXEN Seraphine and flew to his residence alone.
Count Lorenz Stahl’s territory lay on the outskirts of Winchester City. A massive factory and an enormousz mine spread across thousands of acres dominating the landscape.. The fund radiated power industrial cold, and oppressive.
Sofina’s VÖXEN Seraphine glided through the air with perfect control, then
descended smoothly and came to a precise stop before the doors of Count Lorenz Stahl’s mansion.
The moment Count Lorenz saw her, his face lit up with an exaggerated, enthusiastic smile. He strode forward, reached out, and clasped her hand.
“Miss Sofina, welcome!” he said warmly. “I should have sent a car to pick you up.
I’m terribly sorry for the oversight p>
Sofina returned the handshake politely.
“Count Stahl,” she replied calmly.
She tried to pull her hand back.
He didn’t let go.
Instead, his grip tightened-slowly, deliberately.
Sofina had to use force to free herself. She stepped back at once, her eyes sharp
and guarded.
“Count Stahl, you p>
He laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his head, putting on a sheepish
expression.
“I’m truly sorry,” he said. “I’ve heard countless rumors about how stunning Miss
Wolfsbane is. Meeting you in person… I was completely captivated. Please forgive me if I frightened you p>
His bluntness, paired with the immediate apology, eased Sofina’s tension—just a
little.
Count Lorenz gestured toward the mansion.
“Miss Wolfsbane, please. Let’s talk in my study p>
He escorted her inside. The heavy door closed behind them with a dull thud.
The moment it did, something dark flickered in Count Lorenz’s eyes.
He quietly locked the door.
Then he motioned for Sofina to sit on the sofa, his smile never leaving his face.
Keeping his expression calm and composed, Count Lorenz subtly tapped his device
and sent a message:
“I have Marquis Alex Saint-Claire’s wife. Just as you command, I’ll ruin his woman
and make her pay for what Alex Saint-Claire did to you p>