The Almighty Dominance

Chapter 354

After a long, passionate night, Alex held Sophia close, her delicate fragrance intoxicating him.

The warmth of her body nestled perfectly against his chest, stirring something deep within him.

He gently kissed her forehead, and Sophia responded by pressing even closer, her breathing slow and peaceful.

"Alex," Sophia whispered softly, her voice thick with happiness and exhaustion. "You're everything to me. I've never loved anyone the way I love you."

With those words, she drifted off into a tranquil sleep, completely unaware of the turmoil stirring inside him.

Alex stared silently at Sophia's serene face, his mind racing with thoughts and emotions.

Without noticing, morning quietly crept into the room.

Rising slowly from the bed, Alex stood over Sophia, captivated by her fragile beauty as she slept.

His heart twisted painfully, and a bitter poem slipped softly from his lips.

"Meeting is hard, parting even harder — If we never met, there would be no yearning.

If we never knew each other, there'd be no thoughts.

If we were never together, there'd be no heartbreak."

Alex exhaled softly, his gaze lingering on the woman who had unraveled him.

They had met. They had known each other. They had been together.

And now, nothing could ever be the same.

He thought one final night would bring closure-that he could walk away and leave her behind.

But he was wrong.

The moment he touched her, he was undone again. Every time he saw Sophia, every breath she took near him, he lost himself.

No logic could contain it. No discipline could suppress it.

His desire for her wasn't something he could tame. It consumed him, wild and absolute.

And he knew now-this wasn't the end. It was only the beginning of something far more dangerous.

He forced himself to leave the penthouse, his resolve hardening with every step. Outside, he dialed the Paris branch of Kingswell.

His voice was sharp, dangerous. "Send me every file you have on the Guise family—especially Gilbert and Sophia. I want to know every last secret."

Never in his life had Alex mixed personal matters with his work, but Sophia changed everything.

Now every detail about her had become vital-urgent.

For Sophia, he was ready to play dirty-dangerously dirty.

***

Sophia awoke, reaching instinctively for Alex, only to find the bed cold and empty.

Panic tightened her chest, leaving her uncertain whether this emptiness was good or bad.

Last night she had poured her entire heart out to Alex, surrendering herself fully.

loneliness crushed her once again, and

she scolded herself bitterly, choking

be grateful you had this one night with the man

from the bed, she slowly stepped into the shower,

she whispered, resigned to the fact that she had nothing left in

echoed through the apartment, igniting a spark of hope in her chest. "Alex, is that you?" she called eagerly, hurrying from the bathroom, her heart

was even the smallest chance to stay by

of Alex, Sophia froze as her gaze collided with Gilbert,

the hotel manager, who sheepishly avoided her eyes-no doubt unable to refuse a

Gilbert spat venomously, storming

could react, Gilbert's hand swung viciously across her face, a brutal slap knocking

as pain exploded in

all

for Alex,

roared, raising his foot and

body

to breathe. She was sure

horrific moment, Sophia knew the choice she had made-staying with Gilbert was disastrously

this mistake was doomed, rotten from the

erupted uncontrollably, his

trash! Worthless tramp!" Each insult was punctuated by another

pain. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her swollen face as she choked on desperate, silent

body burned with suffering, her spirit shattered under the

in

torment was her reality now, and she saw

heart knew only pain, regret, and the bitter realization of her terrible

Sophia whispered through the excruciating pain, hopelessness clawing at her soul.

brutally, yanking her head back to reveal her

you're clever, don't you? Mocking me like I'm some fool!" Gilbert spat, delivering a

papers now!" he barked

the document onto the table in front of Sophia, the ink stark against the

damn name, and we'll be husband and

head defiantly, eyes blazing through tears

rather die than marry a monster like

you're going to do much worse than die," Gilbert hissed darkly, pulling out his phone and

Lancaster. Send men after every Lancaster

desperation surging as she clung to Gilbert's

it—I'll sign!

face twisted with contempt as he slapped her again, harder this time. "You should've thought

the phone

them. Just beat them until

cold dread spreading through her

as she grasped the pen, prepared to

away.

Joe, the

vef

understand this clearly. This contract states if either of you dies, the surviving spouse inherits everything—all

that clause, fully

position.

name from her grandfather, but the true power came from her maternal

exile from the Montclaires, Sophia

heir, poised as the family's next

by the Montclaire elders who had already agreed but were still carefully deliberating the perfect moment to reveal it

even Sophia herself in the