The next morning, Sofina woke early and got ready for work.


    Alex was already in the kitchen. Breakfast had been carefully packed into a food box, prepared for her to take to the office. He wiped his hands, walked over, ced the food box against her palm—and then set the car key gently on top of it.


    "Drive to the office today," he said calmly. "And from now on. Always."


    Sofina hesitated. She looked down at the key, then back at him. "It''s your car. Are you sure I can use it?"


    "I didn''t buy it for me," Alex said. "If you''re not driving it, the car loses its meaning."


    Sofina paused, then nodded. She took the key, leaned forward, and kissed him softly on the lips. Her eyes lingered on his face, warm and romantic. "Thank you." Pauline, still eating breakfast, squinted at the car keys in Sofina''s hand.


    "So let me get this straight," she said. "You wake up, make breakfast, hand over a car like it''s candy, and act mysterious about it?"


    Alex nodded calmly. "That''s correct."


    Pauline crossed her arms. "Are you some kind of secret billionaire?"


    "No."


    "A criminal mastermind?"


    "No."


    "A cult leader with really good manners?"


    Alex paused. "Still no."


    Pauline scoffed. "Then what are you?"


    Alex met her gaze. "Someone who hates walking."


    Pauline stared at him for two full seconds, then turned to Sofina.


    "Cool. So if he ever hands you a spaceship, we''re moving."


    "Maybe," Sofinaughed.


    "Sis," Pauline added casually, "can you drive me to school?"


    “Sure,” Sofina replied casually. “It''s on the way.”


    Pauline turned and walked off. Just before closing the door, she nced back at Alex.


    Their eyes met for half a second. His face-calm, handsome, unreadable-caught herpletely off guard. Heat rushed to her cheeks.


    "You''re ugly!" she snapped, flustered, and mmed the door shut.


    "Whatever,” Alex said tly. "I wasn''t born to make you happy."


    Another door opened.


    Felicia stepped out of her bedroom, hands on her hips. "Alex Saint-ire," she said, narrowing her eyes, "you didn''t forget about buying me a car today, did you?"


    "Of course not!" Alex answered instantly. "I''ll go right now. Just wait at home. I''II drive it back myself."


    Felicia''s face lit up. She grinned from ear to ear. “Good. A V?XEN, sixth generation. You promised it yourself. Don''te back with the wrong car."


    Alexughed, amused. "I still remember the V?XEN second generation. If you want the sixth, you''ll need me to save for another ten years."


    Felicia''s smile vanished.


    She mmed the door.


    Alex didn''t react. He walked downstairs, pulled out his bicycle, and rode toward thergest auto shop in all of Winchester.


    The moment he arrived and parked his bike, heads snapped in his direction.


    Inside the Arcturus showroom, the sales staff recognized him instantly.


    "Holy shit," one of them whispered. "That''s the bicycle guy. The one who bought the V?XEN Seraphine."


    "Damn it," another hissed through clenched teeth. "I heardst time he was about to buy the top-spec Arcturus A8. This time, I''m not letting him walk away."


    "Move!"


    In a sh, a crowd of Arcturus salesmen rushed out-but they were a step toote. Other car salespeople had already surrounded Alex, afraid of losing their shot.


    Alex stood there, calm and silent, as the entire showroom fought to im him.


    “Sir! Please take a look at our newest top-spec Arcturus A8!"


    "Sir! Ourtest model justunched-stronger engine, better performance than the A8!"


    Alex raised an eyebrow, mildly amused. "Really? Is it that good?"


    Before anyone else could answer, the V?XEN sales team burst out from their booth like a pack released from a leash.


    "They''re all lying!" one of them shouted. "None of the cars here canpare to V?XEN!"


    They rushed to Alex''s side and bowed deeply. "Sir, they''re deceiving you. V?XEN is the finest car in all of Prussia."


    Several V?XEN salespeople instantly formed a human wall, physically blocking the other sales teams. Their manager snapped coldly, eyes sharp with hostility.


    "All of you—especially you Arcturus losers-what do you think you''re doing?" he barked.


    "Trying to steal our customer? Can''t you see he doesn''t even want to hear you talk? Get out of his way. Now. If any of you block him again, I''ll call the security."


    The Arcturus salespeople clenched their jaws. So did the others. But none dared argue. One by one, they sighed in frustration and walked away, shoulders slumped, hope crushed.


    The moment the area cleared, the V?XEN showroom manager stepped forward personally.


    "Good morning, Mr. Saint-ire. Please, sir-this way. We''ll provide our highest level of service."


    The manager gestured respectfully toward his office.


    Once inside, he closed the door and asked professionally, “Are you here to purchase another vehicle today?"


    Alex nodded. “Do you have V?XEN Seraphine?"


    The manager froze. His eyes widened. "You... just bought one."


    "Yes," Alex said calmly. "But my wife fell in love with it. And honestly, so did I— especially the camouge mode."


    His lips curved slightly. "That feature alone is worth admiring."


    The manager took a careful breath before replying. “Sir, the V?XEN Seraphine is a limited edition. Only ten units were ever produced. The one you purchased was thest."


    Alex let out a quiet sigh. "That''s unfortunate."


    "But," the manager said, lowering his voice, leaning closer, "there is another car. A truly extreme limited edition. Only one has ever been created in all of Prussia."


    Alex looked at him. "Go on."


    The manager whispered, reverent. "It wasmissioned for thete King of Prussia himself. Ten years were spent creating that single masterpiece. But before it could be delivered, the King died suddenly. The new king has no interest in cars. So it has remained with


    us-untouched."


    Alex''s eyes narrowed. "Is it good?"


    The manager gave a faint, confident smile. "It''s the finest piece of Prussian technology ever built. Designed to royal specifications—at least ten times superior to the V?XEN Seraphine."


    His voice lowered, calm and precise. "The Seraphine was never meant to be the peak. It was developed by copying this car-simplified, limited, and made for the public. What stands here is the original."


    "It''s more advanced than anything on the market," the manager said


    evenly Nang level self-repair


    systems. A miniature nuclear power source Reinforcement far beyond standard limits. In practical terms-unbreakable."


    An unbreakable car.


    Alex didn''t hesitate. "I want it. That car suits me perfectly."


    The manager''s heart nearly leapt out of his chest.


    He was ecstatic.


    Headquarters had ordered the car sold long ago, but its terrifying price had driven everyone away. No one dared even ask.


    No one-until Alex Saint-ire walked in on a bicycle and said he wanted it.


    The manager swallowed hard. "Sire... the price was three hundred million dors."


    Alex waved a hand. "I made the payment."


    Just like that.


    The manager''s hands trembled. “Immediately?"


    Alex nced up, mildly bored. "Was there a reason to wait?"


    He spoke like the number meant nothing-because it didn''t. At this moment, Alex


    Saint-ire was the richest man in all of Prussia.


    The manager forced a breath. "Most men hesitate. Even kings."


    Alex''s voice stayed t. "Kings worry about legacy. I worry about efficiency."


    "Thank you very much, sir. This car truly found its owner." The manager was almost


    trembling with joy. Yesterday, a V?XEN Seraphine.


    Today, a one-of-a-kind royal masterpiece. In his entire career, he had never met a customer this decisive-or this generous.


    "Sir," the manager continued professionally, "delivery will take some time. This vehicle is usually transported inplete secrecy and hidden from public view due to its privilege. Would you like yourname announced publicly, or kept confidential?"


    “No,” Alex said tly. "Keep it secret.”


    The manager smiled, deeply satisfied.


    "Oh-right," Alex added casually. "I almost forgot. Do you still have a V?XEN


    second generation? Second-hand is fine. I just want to give it to someone. It''s not important."


    "A V?XEN second generation?" The manager''s face split into a wide grin. "Sir, I''ll give it to you for free—as a bonus for purchasing the special car."


    Alexughed. "That''s generous. No one refuses a free car."


    The manager nodded eagerly. "Please wait a few minutes, sir. The second


    generation model is outdated, so it''s kept in storage. My staff will retrieve it immediately."


    Alex sat in the manager''s office. The ss walls were one-way-he could see out,


    but no one outside could see in.


    That was when he noticed someone familiar.


    Matthias von Sturmfels.


    Renata''s boyfriend.


    The same Matthias, Sofina once described as conservative and loyal.


    Alex''s eyes narrowed.


    A barely dressed woman—so exposed it made you wonder why she bothered


    wearing clothes at all-clung to Matthias''s arm, pressing close. Her voice was soft and intimate.


    Too intimate. Sheughed lightly, fingers brushing his sleeve, calling him "dear" as if


    it came naturally.


    Alex frowned.


    Is this bastard cheating on Renata?


    Renata had given everything to that man. Her trust. Her future. Even her savings.


    Sofina had said they were working hard together, trying to build something real- something worthy of Renata''s father''s approval.


    But what Alex saw now didn''t look like hard work.


    It looked like betrayal.


    The woman tilted her head, lips curved in a teasing smile, eyes full of desire. "I


    heard your little money-printing girl drives a V?XEN sixth generation,” she purred. “I want one too."


    Matthiasughed easily, without shame. "Don''t worry," he said. "She left more than


    enough money. You can buy a new car."


    Alex''s gaze turned cold.


    So this was the man Renata trusted.


    The manager returned, cheerful. “Sir, the second-generation car will be—”


    Alex raised a hand. "Wait."


    The manager froze.


    Alex''s gaze stayed locked on Matthias. "Do you know that man?"


    The manager followed his eyes. "Ah... Mr. von Sturmfels. Respectable background.


    Devoted, they say."


    Alex''s jaw tightened. "They always say that."


    The womanughed again, fingers sliding along Matthias''s sleeve.


    Alex''s voice dropped, cold and precise. “He just spent a woman''s future like pocket


    change."


    The manager stiffened. "Sir...?"


    Alex stood. "Some cars are indestructible," he said calmly. "Some people aren''t."