“Look at you,” Marlene said coldly. “So arrogant, so blind to your place in this world. Now, you haven’t just offended the important people. You’ve offended me too.”“So what!” Nikolaus snapped. “You have to return every contract with the Krugers, or we’ll sue.”“What if I don’t?” Marlene asked, calm and dangerous.“Then you’ll watch the Eden Group get torn apart by the Krugers.” Nikolaus’s pride flared; he refused to look small in front of Annabella.Marlene smiled like a razor. “Fine. You go your way. I’ll go mine. Let’s see which one of us ends up destroyed today.”Annabella exploded. “Who do you think you are, bitch? The Krugers built Eden up—do you forget that? You want to kick them out now? Let’s see who falls because of that. Nikolaus, sue her. Make them pay for breaching the contract. Let them go bankrupt!”Nikolaus pressed his bracelet, voice cold. “You’d better change your mind before it’s too late.”“I’ll warn you the same,” Marlene said, fingers on her own bracelet. “If yo

“All of you!” Baroness Wolfsbane’s voice cracked through the hall like a whip.Her face flamed red with fury. “So now I’m the idiot? The only one still trying to hold this family together? Have you all completely lost your damn minds?”“Grandma,” Beatrix said carefully. “We’re talking about the Eden Company. Even Kruger got thrown out. What chance do we possibly have?”The room fell silent. Everyone avoided her eyes.Beatrix went on, sharper now, “None. Let’s be smart for once and chase something that actually makes sense. Not this.”Baroness Wolfsbane’s eyes flashed like steel. “Do none of you have the guts—or the confidence—to take Kruger’s place at Eden?”No one moved. No one spoke. The air was thick with tension.Alex started to raise his hand with that trademark smirk of his, but Sofina caught his wrist and shook her head—subtle, firm.Don’t.The Baroness’s patience snapped. She slammed her cane against the marble floor, voice rising.“Listen to me, all of you! Whoever secures th

“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.”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.”Conrad’s face went pale, then burned red. He spun toward the Baroness. “I—I didn’t mean that!”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 t

Heinrich’s face was red as a boil. “You hit me, bitch—” He spat the word like a curse.“What in God’s name do you think you’re doing, bitch!” Dietrich hollered.“How dare you strike Mister Heinrich inside Eden Group! Security robot — fetch her, give her twenty lashes, then throw her out.”Dietrich hustled Heinrich upright, supporting him with a hand at the small of his back.“Don’t worry, Mister Heinrich. I’ve called security. Twenty lashes. She won’t be standing after that — her flesh will tell the tale.”“Do it,” Heinrich said, every syllable a command. “Give her what she deserves.”Alex stepped forward until he stood toe-to-toe with Dietrich. “You’d better cancel that order,” he said. “Someone’s going to get hurt if you don’t.”Dietrich sneered. “The one who’ll get hurt is you.”He jabbed his communication bracelet. “Security — attend. Punish this woman.”Alex tilted his head. “I warned you.”The crowd began to close in.“How dare she hit Heinrich,” someone muttered.“Don’t you kno

Sofina still felt lightheaded when she stepped out of Marlena’s office.The world looked unreal—like she was walking through someone else’s dream. In her hand, she held a check worth one hundred million dollars—the down payment for the Wolfsbane Group’s collaboration with the Eden Group.Her heart raced. She could barely believe it.As Sofina crossed the Eden building’s garden, sunlight danced across the glass walls and the sound of water filled the air.She spotted Alex by the fountain, sleeves rolled up, focused on his work.Her heart leapt. She waved both hands, shouting, “Alex! Alex!” Her voice rang out—bright, breathless, full of joy that couldn’t be contained.Alex looked up instantly. The moment he saw her face, he dropped his tools and rushed over. “How did it go?” he asked.“Alex, I did it! I really did it!” Sofina threw her arms around him, laughing through her breathless excitement.Alex smiled, though a shadow crossed his eyes. He knew the truth— every happiness is built o