The Almighty Dominance

Chapter 116

For the first time in her life, Sophia felt a weight in her chest she couldn't quite

name.

She stood there, rooted to the spot, staring at a woman who had been born into wealth-someone who'd likely never experienced a single day of real hardship.

And that woman was standing by Sophia's ex-husband's side.

It hit her like a slow, aching punch.

The man who had once been hers now belonged to someone else.

She didn't think she loved Alex anymore-did she?-yet watching him move on so quickly still stung, a harsh reminder of just how easily she'd been cast aside.

Sophia tried to steady herself, but her eyes slid toward the woman beside him.

Jasmine.

The sight of her sparked an awkward, throbbing ache in Sophia's chest.

It wasn't exactly jealousy, but it was close. She caught the assessing look in Jasmine's gaze-a flicker of cool curiosity that made Sophia feel dissected.

Then Jasmine's posture shifted, her shoulders squaring, as if silently declaring her territory.

"Alex, who is this woman?" Jasmine asked, her voice as smooth as silk but laced with something sharper. (1)

Sophia's brow knit. They had met before-at Jasmine's own celebration banquet, of all places.

If Jasmine forgot-or pretended to-it could only mean one thing: Sophia hadn't meant enough to be remembered.

"She's my ex-wife," Alex said flatly.

"Really?" Jasmine's lips curved into a deliberately sweet smile. "Hi, I'm Jasmine. Nice to meet you."

She extended her hand, the gesture seemingly polite, but the atmosphere around her was anything but warm.

Sophia shook it, feeling a faint tremor in her own fingers.

If Jasmine wanted to pretend they'd never met, then maybe it was best to go

along with the charade-no matter how maddening.

pride

kind of woman who could turn

Sophia refused to let herself

didn't know you and Miss Jasmine were so close," she said,

"Did you ever care about me

caught Sophia off guard, stinging like an

the chasm between them had

intimately now felt like a stranger hidden

1/3

Chapter 116

began, forcing down the knot in her throat, "can I speak to you

eyes stayed cold. "About

glanced around, looking for a quieter spot. "It's private. Can we

move. A muscle in his jaw

to say,

really have to do this in

She wanted to make amends-or at least find some closure-but Alex refused

mouth like barbed wire, each one scratching

brother? Or

"You want to sue me? Go ahead. I'll

inside of

she used to

but still good -kind,

Now he wore arrogan

armor, something she could barely

a

a prestigious family, and I'm just a nobody-a broke man with no job. People will assume I'm

let's be

fists clenched at his dismissive

any of

asking me that? Wasn't

faltered, her mind spinning with half-formed

it had been her own choice and how much had

despise me. But I don't think I've done anything wrong. Besides, who do you

was ice-cold, her pride getting the better

blame me? From the day we met, all

'the problem.' Fine. Let's say I'm

slowly, forcing her heart to

least have enough respect not to shout at