The Almighty Dominance

An hour had crept by, and Alex was scribbling patient records in the fading amber glow, preparing to shutter the clinic doors when the sudden thundering of heavy boots announced trouble.

Florence and Jack stormed back inside, their pack of thugs swaggering arrogantly behind.

"You bastard!" Florence shrieked venomously, brandishing a fist in his direction. "How dare you cheat us with fake goods?"

Alex released a weary sigh, his gaze fixed indifferently upon the paperwork.

"That was genuine ginseng. Why would I bother deceiving small-timers like you?"

"Who cares about your worthless ginseng?" Jack roared furiously.

"We want the main ingredient for the Emerald Elixir!"

"That ginseng," Alex drawled slowly, his tone dripping mockery, "is indeed part of

the Emerald Elixir. Didn't anyone teach you morons anything?"

"You lying snake!" Florence snapped viciously, her eyes blazing with fury.

"The Emerald Elixir contains about fifty herbs," Alex sneered contemptuously, finally lifting his cold, piercing gaze to meet hers.

"Why don't you enlighten me exactly which herb your greedy, pea-sized brains are desperate for?"

Jack exchanged a dumbstruck glance with his mother, their ignorance painfully evident.

Then a distant memory sparked clarity in Jack's dim eyes. "Mother, remember the rare herb Clara wanted to buy-the one we lost all our cash fighting over?"

Florence's eyes widened sharply, her voice thick with bitter resentment.

"The Verdantheart Root. How could I forget losing my fortune to that damned plant?"

"Exactly! The Emerald Verdantheart Root! That's what Alex is hiding!"

Alex merely shook his head, chuckling darkly. "Even idiots strike gold occasionally, huh?"

Florence lunged forward, finger jabbing imperiously at Alex.

Verdantheart Root, you thief! We helped

Alex's voice hardened instantly, authority

herb belongs to the Kingston

belongs to!" Florence shouted fiercely, her voice shaking with

it over,

"Exactly! If the Kingstons have it, then

it over, Alex, and maybe we'll forgive

his voice cold as forged

you're here

menacingly. "If you don't give it to us willingly, don't blame us for doing things the

stepped forward, flanked by six hulking thugs he had paid handsomely to

him like a wall of muscle, each one broad-shouldered and menacing, their

stepped forward, trembling yet resolute,

Leave now, or I

at Josephine, admiration softening his

always ready to risk

spat venomously, his words dripping poison. "Who's this meddling bitch? Move,

Josephine, but she swiftly dodged his clumsy assault, her foot sharply striking between Jack's

instantly, howling in agony as

my son!"

have grandchildren because of this, huh?

lunged like

straight at Josephine's face with the full

her movements sharp and

ring.

a swift, brutal counterstrike, her fist

crunch, sending blood spurting

worthless idiots waiting for? Destroy her!"

advanced menacingly, their

out of this, little girl. Kneel now, and

darkened dangerously, fury simmering just beneath his calm

have three seconds to get out form this place-or suffer the

smug contempt, swaggering forward like he owned