Chapter 239
The Instant Clara ended lier tale, Alex went rigid, rooted to the floor.
+25 BONUS
He hadn’t expected her to flip the entire narrative in front of everyone and leave him hanging like a thief caught red–handed. “Did you all hear that?” Florence screeched, her voice slicing through the ballroom chatter.
“There it is–the naked truth! Let’s see you wriggle out of this one Alex!”
“Ungrateful doesn’t even begin to cover it,” she piled on.
“You twist kindness into poison and spit it back at the people who saved you. Utterly shameless.”
The Lancasters hissed and spat, recoiling as if he carried a plague.
Their eyes drilled holes in him, seething with contempt.
Tears streaked down Clara’s cheeks. “I’m sorry, everyone. I didn’t want to end up dead at Bella’s hands, so I hid the bracelet in Sophia’s bag. I did it to survive—because Bella’s real target is Alex. I’m sorry.”
Florence swooped in, wrapping an arm around Clara. “Don’t worry, dear. We understand. This all started because of Alex. Sophia will forgive you.”
The evidence felt ironclad; Alex could argue until sunrise and still drown in their verdict.
Jack stepped forward, finger stabbing the air.
“After everything you’ve pulled, don’t you think it’s time you apologized to Clara, to Sophia–hell, to everyone here?”
Alex shook his head. “I didn’t make a mistake. And if I ever do, I clean it up myself.”
Sophia let out a weary sigh.
Disappointment etched her face. She’d tossed him lifelines all night, and he kept cutting them with the same blunt
stubbornness.
It was almost as if he craved the noose.
“You clean your mess?” Jack scoffed, savoring the spectacle.
“You disgusting fraud. Charles put this whole rescue together, and you dare lie to his face in front of us all?”
“Charles, you know exactly what’s going on,” Alex snapped, then pinned Clara with a hard stare.
“And you–I still don’t understand why you’re lying.”
“Stop spewing garbage! I never lie,” Clara shrieked.
“Bella Kane went after you. Because of that, I was forced to slip the bracelet into Sophia’s bag, and Bella hit her. You struck Bella back, and now the Lancasters are in her crosshairs. If Charles Kingston hadn’t stepped in, Bella would’ve crushed your pathetic life!“.
“You should be on your knees thanking Charles for saving your sorry hide,” she continued, voice trembling with fury. “He could’ve let you rot, but he protected you. How can you be this stubborn when you’ve got nothing to be proud of?”
“Alex! Your smear campaign failed, and now you’re threatening people?” Florence roared.
“Do you really think we’re afraid of you?“,
“Yes,” the other uncle growled, voice like gravel dragging through a coffin. “You think our eyes can’t see the damn difference between good and evil? You’re rotting on the wrong side, Alex.”
Chapter 239
He stepped closer, eyes glinting with something vile, something edatory.
*+25 BONUS
It’s pathetic how hard it is for you to just admit it. You’re a fucking stain—useless, crawling filth. A lowborn insect who never should’ve stood among us.”
“Stop this madness, Alex! Quit humillating yourself!” Sophia pleaded, hoping he’d finally see the train wreck he was engineering.
Alex knew this room was never his arena. No matter what he did, ey would never grant him a sliver of goodwill. It simply wasn’t his stage.
“Since none of you will believe me, pretend I never spoke. I’m leaving.” He turned on his heel, unwilling to waste another
breath.
He’d never begged for rewards or applause, but their venom still sung.
“Hold it right there,” Charles barked, voice smug and booming.
Alex stopped in his tracks, fists clenched tight. “What now?” he muttered without turning.
Charles sauntered up beside him, smug and reeking of malice.
He leaned in, his voice a venomous whisper, “Just wanted to say thanks. Once Sophia’s mine, I’ll send you the full video–every filthy second of me fucking her.”
Alex’s gaze went glacial–cold, silent, lethal.
Charles gave a dark chuckle. “And after that? I’ll sell her. Like the bitch in heat she is. Let the world have its turn.”
That was it.
“Enough,” Alex growled, shoving him without hesitation.
Charles, ever the actor, hurled himself backward with theatrical flair, as if struck by a battering ram.
He crashed into the hospital table with a bone–snapping crunch. Glass shattered, blood streaked his arms, and screams broke through the stunned silence.
The entire room froze.
“You–actually hit him?” Florence shrieked. “In front of us?”
2
“Animal! He’s an animal!”
“Charles saved your life and you maul him? You’re lower than a dog!”
The crowd unleashed every curse they owned. Touching Charles had torn away the last curtain of civility.
“Have you lost your mind, Alex?” Sophia snapped, kneeling beside Charles. “Why are you attacking people?”
He’d turned humiliation into violence–unforgivable.
“I barely pushed him. He flew on his own,” Alex growled.
“He only spoke to you. Why repay words with fists?” Sophia’s glare could freeze steel.
“So I’ve committed humanity’s greatest sin now?” Alex sneered.
“You’re twisting this on purpose. Apologize to Charles–right now” Sophia demanded.
“What if I don’t?” Alex’s voice dropped, flat and dangerous.
“Then I’ll make you.” Sophia’s hand cracked across his cheek.
Chapter 239
+25 BONUS
The slap echoed like a gunshot.
Alex touched the burning welt, eyes dead calm.
Misunderstanding and contempt he could stomach, but his ex–wife striking him to defend another man–that cut deeper than any blade.
Gave everything for love,
She returned nothing but hate.
Did all one could to earn her trust-
but all that came was doubt.
Reached for warmth; she spat venom.
Enough is enough.
If one stays, will only bleed, 1
and she’ll only watch.
This was never a journey-
just a dead end.
Breaking to pieces,
but a man is strong.
Hide it, no matter how much it kills.
Time to move-
with whatever’s left.
