"You know what, you''re right-I do belong here," Alex said, locking eyes with Florence." Anything else you need?"
Florence''s lips twisted into a sneer. “In case that thick skull of yours hasn''t figured it out, I''m insulting you, you worthless drifter."
"It''s a free country, ma''am. You''re wee to say whatever you like." Alex shrugged lightly. " Doesn''t mean I have to take offense."
"You pitiful excuse for a man," she spat. "Do you really think ignoring me keeps your dignity intact?"
"In my view, you''re poorer than I am. Why should I feel insulted by someone who''s not worth my time?"
"You''re shameless," Florence hissed. "I wish you''d just disappear!"
His smile turned icy. "And I wish you a long life-to savor your bitterness even longer."
Florence''s face flushed crimson.
Rising abruptly, she called out across the restaurant, "Owner! Is this how you treat paying customers? This man is insulting me!"
From the kitchen, Josephine mmed down a pan and marched over, her anger. She positioned herself beside Alex. "What''s going on here?"
Alex looked genuinely puzzled. "What did I do?"
let
your staff
eyes shing with
Florence smirked, thinking she''d gained the upper hand. "He''s been nothing but disrespectful. I demand you handle this!"
Josephine sighed, a sly grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Oh, Alex, you''re supposed to deal with this like so."
She grabbed a te of fried rice and, without hesitation, dumped it onto Florence''s expensive dress.
Florence gasped and stood, outrage twisting her features. "How dare you!"
Unfazed, Josephine grabbed a ss of water from a table and sshed it in Florence''s face.
"Consider yourself warned. Now get out."
Florence stood there, sputtering with rage. "This is outrageous!"
+25 BONOS
Josephine''s eyes narrowed as she grabbed an empty bottle from a table. "Leave now, or you''ll find out just how serious I am."
Alex watched the scene unfold with a mix of astonishment and amusement.
Gently, he ced a hand on Josephine''s arm. "Easy there, Jo."
She nced at him, her expression fierce. "How can you let her talk to you like that?"
At that moment, Justin hurried over. "Alex, is this how you treat your mother-in-w?"
Josephine froze, her eyes widening as she looked between Alex and Florence.
"Mother-inw?"
"Ex-mother-inw, to be exact," Alex rified.
"You ungrateful wretch!" Florence screeched. "I''ll call the authorities and have this ce shut down!"
Without missing a beat, Josephine hurled the empty bottle, letting it crash onto the wall between Florence and Justin. "Get. Out."
Pale and humiliated, Florence and Justin stumbled backward before scurrying out of the
restaurant.
Sophia stood alone, a dull ache pulsing behind her eyes.
The moment she''d mentioned seeing Alex, her parents had unleashed a storm ofints.
She''d lost her position as CEO, been cut off from her family, and now faced an uncertain future.
Her life was unraveling-all because she''d never chosen for herself.
Maybe she should have gone along with her grandfather''s ns for Alex from the start, without protest.
She''d broken his trust, and now her grandmother Amelia had betrayed her.
It felt like fate''s cruel joke.
Maybe this was her karma.
Regret flooded her as she pictured the life she could have had if she''d trusted Abraham.
''Is it toote to fix this?''
+25 BONOS
Just then, she turned and met Alex''s eyes.
"Alex, I know things are messy, but... please, read the message I sent you."
Alex didn''t intend to read anything from her, convinced they had nothing left to
say.
Josephine nced over, watching Sophia leave. "Who was that beautiful woman?"
"My ex-wife."
Her eyebrows shot up. "She divorced you?"
"Thought I was too poor."
Josephine gave him a sympathetic look. "Ouch. Rough break. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I''m avable-for a f*e."
"Please don''t," Alex replied. "You''ve had it tougher than me. I''ll get you a pillow stuffed with cash so you can cry in style."
Sheughed, giving him a light punch on the arm. "Touché."
"Now, get this ce tidied up," she said, her tone mock-stern as she headed back behind the
bar.
"Us poor
folks gotta stick together. Ain''t nobody gonna mess with one of our own."
Alex shook his head with a smile, grabbing a cloth to wipe down the table.
Once he finished, he slipped into the back and pulled out his phone, hesitating for
a moment before opening Sophia''s message.
Hourster, the soft hum of hospital machinery filled the quiet room as Alex stepped inside.
Sophia sat by her grandfather Abraham''s bedside, her eyes red from tears.
“Alex, thank you foring,” she whispered, not meeting his gaze.
He approached the bed, gently cing a hand over Abraham''s.
The old man''s face was pale, his eyes closed as if in deep sleep.
"Grandfather Sophia began, her voice trembling, "I''ve made so many mistakes. But I want you to know choose Alex. Completely and wholeheartedly. You''ve always wanted what''s best for me, and I see that now."
She swallowed hard, tears spilling down her cheeks.
+25 BONOS
"Grandmother took everything-the
mansion, my position at the
back to
back to the family unless I divorce Alex and marry someone wealthy, someone she approves of
Her shoulders trembled as she went
on. "But won''t betray you again.
Even if it costs me everythine?
won''t leave Alex. Even if we have to live with nothing. Please, forgive me."
Ovee with emotion, Sophia stood abruptly and hurried out of the room, her quiet sobs echoing down the hallway.
Alex watched her leave before turning back to Abraham.
Gently, he released the old man''s hand.
"You can stop pretending now," he said softly. "How did things get to this point?”
Slowly, Abraham''s eyes opened, a weary sadness reflected in them. "I got hit, but the physical pain was nothingpared to the hurt of my wife betrayal." "Alex," he continued, his voice weak but earnest, "please help Sophia. She''s lost and needs someone to guide her. Yes, she''s made poor choices, but her heart is good."