The Almighty Dominance

Alex's lips twisted into a mocking grin as the security guards closed in, circling like vultures eyeing fresh meat. "So that's it, huh? You've decided to settle this with fists instead of brains?"

Charles sneered, stepping forward with a smug confidence.

"You might be ex-military, Alex, but these men aren't rookies-they're elite-trained killers. You're outmatched. Hand over those shares quietly, or we'll beat them out of you until you're puking your guts up alongside your precious stake."

Alex chuckled coldly, eyes flashing with defiance. Maybe, just maybe, he would've reconsidered had they approached him respectfully.

But threats? They were begging for trouble.

"Cute speech, Charles. You really think scaring me is that easy? Careful, boy—your arrogance is showing."

Charles's face flushed red, fists clenched at his sides. "You worthless bastard! Who do you think you're talking to?"

"Charles, that's enough!" Mr. Dune barked, his voice booming like a gunshot.

"Alex owns those shares legitimately. Miss Jasmine gave them to him personally. If you want them back, use some dignity-not brute force!"

"Stay out of this, old man!" Charles spat venomously. "You're just hired help. This isn't your business." Mr. Dune's eyes widened, his breath hitching sharply, ready to unleash fury on the younger man, when Jessica sharply intervened, grabbing his arm.

"Dune, know your place," she hissed icily. "This is family business. Keep your nose out."

Turning her cold, disdainful gaze onto Alex, Jessica continued smoothly, "And you, Alex. A wise man recognizes when he's outmatched."

"You can't hold onto these shares without consequence. Hand them over quietly. Countless fools have met ruin not for what they've done, but simply for holding onto things that never belonged to them."

"With your past and bleak future, all you're doing is inviting disaster. Don't you think your life is worth more than that?"

"That sounds an awful lot like a threat, Mrs. Kingston," Alex retorted, unwavering.

He had long felt Jessica's disdain, sharpened especially when Jasmine publicly declared her love for him.

It seemed Jessica's grand plans of marrying Jasmine off to some rich aristocrat had crumbled—and Alex was the scapegoat.

Jessica's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Call it friendly advice. Know your limits, Alex. Without Jasmine's protection, you'd be nothing but street trash. Know your place!"

Her resentment ran deeper still, fueled by the humiliation Charles faced when Alfred disowned him.

blamed Alex entirely—for Jasmine's rise, Charles's fall, and

limits," Alex snapped back coldly, his voice like

Jasmine gave me shares as payment-fair and square. I don't care about them one bit, but

hand violently onto the table, rattling glasses and nerves alike as

I've been patient with you, but you're pushing it. One more

the villain now, huh? Fine, I'm done playing nice. Those shares

a savage glint in his

plenty of ways to break this stubborn dog until he begs to give us exactly what we

smirked. “Go ahead

twice before you cross a line you can't come back from,"

Alex, Miss Jasmine and Mr. Alfred will never forgive you. This'll sever what's left of

visibly, the stark warning cutting

Alfred and Jasmine was already frayed beyond recognition. Another reckless decision could tear it

gaze shifted uneasily to

by Alfred's

the Kingston Pharmaceutical shares from Alex, Jessica felt this might finally

Alex control shares that rightfully belonged to

accept

who had been silently observing

to handle this? I promise you, I'll

Alex's eyes narrowed dangerously.

His voice dripped with venom. This stranger had set off alarm bells from the moment he'd

Charles had

is one of the Chicago Lords. Maybe

sneered. "And how do

to steal their Emerald

Chicago Lords rute far beyond Dupont's petty games. This time, I speak for all of Chicago. Your options are simple-take the ten million, surrender your shares quietly, or prepare for war with the

now or prepare yourself to be

Zane's expression twisted with disdain. “You

Lords is like signing your

remained unshaken. "First, don't pretend you speak for every Chicago family. Second, do you honestly think your gang rules beyond your

harshly,

a long while since someone dared

a