The Almighty Dominance

"I learned my lesson the hard way," Sofina said with a faint, defiant smile. "Heinrich wasn't smart enough to see what was coming. He just kept taking the insults, pretending silence was strength."

Alex glanced up. "From what I've seen, your mother and stepfather were born bullies. What happened to him?"

She shrugged, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "He broke. Couldn't take the pressure anymore. He begged me to help him, and we ended up out of this house for two whole years."

"But Alex, looking at how you walked in today, I'd say there's a sixty percent chance my mother and her husband will be the ones packing their bags this time.”

"Well, when they go low, we go high." Alex smirked as he straightened the bed sheets. "I'm not out to kick anyone out of their own home. I just want peace. All I'm doing is sending a message: don't push me, don't mock me, and nothing bad will happen. But if they try-believe me-they'll regret it."

Sofina chuckled. "You've never been bullied before, have you?"

"Once," Alex said quietly. His eyes drifted, lost in memory. "And I swore it'd never happen again. In every man sleeps a beast."

"Alex," Sofina called from her bed across the room. The twin beds sat three meters apart-her mother's idea, a deliberate distance to keep them from getting too close.

"My grandmother wants me to go back to work for the Wolfsbane family business," she said softly. "Would you come with me?"

"No," he replied. "You've already got Eve to help you. As for me, this is my first real taste of freedom from Rosenheim. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. Find a job that's mine, something I actually want to do."

She smiled and hugged Eve gently. "You're smart, Alex. You built Eve-people would pay a fortune to have you."

He let out a dry laugh. "Life's not that simple. I'm half Prussian-an immigrant. People judge me before I open my mouth. The high-tier jobs go to pureblood nobles."

“The rest of us pick up the scraps. But don't worry, I'll manage. I'll find something steady enough to feed us both. You won't have to lift a finger. Just... enjoy your life."

"Alex, I'll try to find a noble who can grant you citizenship," Sofina said softly. "Once you have it, you can start earning your own money."

Alex shook his head. "Don't worry about that. My father's friend already offered to help. But since he's the one who gave me the penthouse, that deal already covered his debt to my family."

"He's done enough. If I ask for more, it could put him at odds with the

Rosenheims, and he's a decent man. I won't do that to him. I'll find my own way, Sofina. I'll handle my own problems."

"So independent," she said with a half-smile. “Like a real man should be. Still, you can ask me for anything. I'll help if I can."

Alex turned to her suddenly. "Actually, there's something you can do for me." Her eyes lit up. "What is it?"

He lifted his bracelet, activating a three-dimensional screen that shimmered in the air. With a few quick taps, data flickered across the light. A moment later, Sofina's device chimed softly.

Three years with Heinrich, and not once

but it's everything the Saint-Claire family has left. My father gave

I moved it to you instead. You can use it freely. We're married

stunned. "Alex...

to save when he fled during the tragedy. That money's been sitting useless

with wide, conflicted eyes. "You can't just give me all your money. What if I took it and left you? What if I divorced you? You need to

to leave, then that's your choice. But until then,

comes. I won't doubt you, Sofina. Doubt creates problems that don't even exist yet, and I'm not

stared at him, her voice

faintly. "When you start a business, you go all in and let fate play its hand. Life's a gamble-ups,

let out a soft laugh. "You're impossible. At least tell me if you want something. I'll buy it

for that bare neck

froze for a moment, her

of her bed, walked over, and wrapped her arms around him from behind. Her cheeks flushed red as she whispered,

close, his voice low

as my wife...

room. Sofina's eyes

long, hollow years where she gave everything, loved with all she had, and got nothing in return. But with Alex, was different. She didn't have to chase or beg for love. It was simply there, steady and real.

life felt easy. Peaceful.

sound so

fools and gamblers,"

which one are you?"

who bets like

smiled faintly. "You really think love's

Alex said, calm and sure. "It's only stupid

if you do?" she asked

grin.

laughed under her breath. "You're impossible." She leaned in and wrapped her

His breathing slowed, warmth settling between

him, loving someone meant giving everything, no

was like a sickness-it killed love before betrayal ever could. And even if

dawn and set about making breakfast

quiet purpose, flipping eggs and warming

the kitchen, hands on her hips. "What

answered, without looking