The Almighty Dominance

Charles flashed Alex a smug, venomous grin, his eyes glittering with sinister amusement.

With an arrogant snap of his fingers, a small drone whirred to life, circling menacingly above their heads.

"Recognize this toy, Alex?" Charles mocked, his voice dripping with condescension.

Alex barely glanced at the drone, unimpressed.

"Doesn't matter," he growled, and with a single icy glare, the drone sputtered and crashed onto the cold concrete.

But before Alex could savor his small victory, three more drones surged from the shadows, buzzing around them like mechanical hornets.

Charles let out a wicked laugh, eyes blazing triumphantly.

"You see, Alex, when my dear father cut me off, I knew vultures like you would circle. So, I hired men to keep a constant watch, recording every second of my life."

He leaned forward, relishing the moment. "You grasp what that means, don't you? Or is your mind too small to comprehend?"

Charles paused dramatically, relishing Alex's silence, before continuing with sadistic glee, "It means that whoever dares spill my blood will be caught on camera, and the footage will reach my father and mother in seconds."

"I don't know if my family has disowned me or not. But I believe my father and mother still love me—and if I'm killed, they'll avenge me. Then the entire Kingston empire will hunt you down and tear you apart."

Alex clenched his jaw, begrudgingly acknowledging Charles's twisted brilliance.

Killing this man now was tempting-almost intoxicating-but the ramifications would poison relationships he still valued: Alfred Kingston, Kelly, Jasmine.

Their connections were far too precious to burn over a reckless feud born of wounded pride and a woman's heart.

A true man, Alex reminded himself bitterly, must discern between personal vendettas and the greater good.

He spun sharply on his heels, dismissing Charles with cold contempt.

But Charles couldn't resist one final taunt.

day Sophia will be mine! I'll rise above you and crush

overcoming him. Without turning around, he spoke clearly and deliberately, his voice a blade in

to wield your power for something noble, something greater than your petty desires. If you'd chosen the light, the world itself would

barked a defiant laugh, his voice cracking with

of my destiny. With ambition,

steel. "You'll never find peace if the cosmos

the shadows, leaving Charles alone, shouting furiously into the void, the echo of his own

quietly until it finally boiled over with a

buzzed angrily, jolting him

Dune's strained voice crackled through. "Alex,

to get down here

What kind?" Alex

in demanding a cut of Emerald Elixir. They're here, right now, pushing

"Isn't Jasmine handling

Can't reach her at thirty thousand feet," Dune

explicit instructions-you're in

be there soon."

traffic

feeling the hostility like a

rigidly along one side

Charles Kingston and a distinguished, steely-eyed stranger whose

Dune rose hastily, ushering him toward an empty chair. Alex noted the frosty stares aimed his

about?" Alex said, eyes sharp and

pierced him instantly. "Tell me, Alex-is it true Jasmine gifted you half the

replied evenly, leaning back cautiously, "though I never

"Then give them

would I do that?" Alex's voice sharpened

fraction of it," Jessica spat

it, sold it. You've done nothing. You don't have a right to half

bitterly. "Then buy them back. Or maybe I'll take the formula elsewhere, let someone else do the heavy lifting, and