“Your dear grandfather’s dearest son Logan… I’ll make sure he’s well taken care of. After all, we’re family.”
“Enough.” Sera snapped, her frustration finally boiling over. She turned, glaring at him, her expression a mix of anger and humiliation.
“I don’t care about your jokes. Just keep your word.” She knew exactly what he was doing. Mocking her. Humiliating her.
From the moment she had stepped into that black mourning dress, this entire night had been a game to him. And yet, she was powerless to resist.
Because in this game, he held all the cards. Alex was the only one capable of delivering her so called justice, and that meant she had no choice but to endure.
“Riiiiing—Riiiiing—” The sharp trill of a phone broke the tense silence. Alex, unbothered, reached over to grab the device from the pillow beside him. Without any worry, he answered.
“Speak.” A calm, composed voice came through the speaker.
“Sir, Logan has started liquidating his assets. The stocks of Kleinberg Industries have hit rock bottom, and he’s selling his shares at only a third of their original value now.” The man on the other end was Mr. Waters, his tone steady, professional.
“However,” Waters continued, “no one in the City is buying them.” It wasn’t hard to guess why.
After what had happened at the funeral, every major player in the city understood one thing clearly: Kleinberg Industries had offended Alex.
And in his city, offending Alex was equivalent to signing a ruin warrant. So even though Logan was practically giving away his shares, no one had the courage to take them.
Mr. Waters had called for a reason, to ask if Alex himself wanted to seize the opportunity. But instead of answering immediately, Alex simply smirked.
“I see.” He wasn’t interested. Why should he pay for something that would soon be his for free?
Once Logan was completely dusted, once everyone else in the Kleinberg family was out of the picture, Kleinberg Industries would be left with only one remaining heir.
Sera Kleinberg. And when that happened, her company would belong to him anyway. So why waste money when all he had to do was wait?
Without another word, he ended the call. His eyes drifted back down to the girl in his arms. Sera was still fuming, but he simply grinned.
“Your grandfather really does have a… devoted son.” His voice was laced with amusement, as if the entire situation was nothing more than an entertaining spectacle.
Sera felt an unsettling chill creep up her spine as she noticed the change in Alex’s expression. A hint of unease flickered in her eyes as she hesitated before asking, “What’s wrong?”
Instead of answering immediately, Alex’s hand lazily trailed over her smooth skin before settling on her waist. His voice was casual, almost amused, as he finally spoke. “Logan is selling his shares in Kleinberg Industries at only thirty percent of their actual value.”
Sera’s entire body stiffened. In a flash, she pushed herself up from his embrace, her expression one of sheer disbelief. “That’s…. So cheap…!” she exclaimed, shaking her head vigorously. “He wouldn’t do that.”
Kleinberg Industries was Logan’s hard-earned prize, something he had schemed and killed for. There was no way he would willingly let it go at such a humiliating price. The mere thought of it felt absurd.
Alex, however, remained unfazed. He leaned back against the headboard, watching her reaction with mild amusement. “I didn’t expect him to act so decisively either,” he admitted, his tone carrying a trace of mockery. “Kleinberg Industries is valued at over billions, and even if he manages to sell off all his shares at this price, he won’t walk away with more than a few hundred million dollars.”
Sera’s lips parted slightly, her mind reeling. Her eyes were blank, unfocused, as she muttered under her breath, “No… That can’t be. How could he do this? Kleinberg Industries was my grandfather’s entire life’s work.”
Alex tilted his head, his gaze sharp yet indifferent. “If he doesn’t sell, he won’t get a single cent. The moment I make my move, his wealth will evaporate into thin air.” His voice was steady, calm, as if he were merely stating a fact rather than issuing a threat.
Then, with a faint smirk, he added, “Believe me, if no one takes the shares at thirty percent, he’ll drop it to ten for selling it more fast.”
For a man like Logan, money was only useful as long as he was alive to spend it. He knew exactly where his priorities lay.
Sera clenched her hands into fists, struggling to suppress the overwhelming bitterness rising in her chest.
No matter how much she wanted to deny it, she knew deep down that this was precisely the kind of thing Logan would do. When backed into a corner, he wouldn’t hesitate to sell off even his last scrap of dignity to save his own skin.
Tears of frustration welled in her eyes as she turned back to Alex, her voice softer now, almost pleading. “This is my grandfather’s legacy. I can’t let that bastard destroy it… I thought he was just going to get some money from the company and will flee but for him to trying to sell the whole company…”
Alex met her gaze without a trace of emotion, his voice cool and steady. “No one in the city will buy it. Even if he gave them away for free, no one would accept them… I mean excluding some greedy and foolish people.”
That simple statement carried an undeniable finality. Sera knew better than to doubt his words. If Alex said no one would dare, then it was maybe somewhat true.
For a long moment, she simply stared at him, her emotions a turbulent storm beneath the surface.
Then, as if reaching some unspoken decision, she slowly pulled back the blanket, her delicate fingers trembling slightly as she moved. A silent offering, a wordless exchange.
Alex’s lips curled into a knowing smirk. The moment of clarity had passed.