The Almighty Dominance

Chapter 363

Old Henny glared venomously at Sophia. She had despised the girl from the moment she'd laid eyes on her.

When the Montclair family-one of the Five Lords of Chicago-fell from grace, panic rippled through the city as their empire began to crumble.

They desperately searched for their next matriarch.

Clarissa Montclair, Henny's granddaughter, was the natural successor until Betty Montclair, that slippery snake, returned from her long exile.

Not only did Betty reappear unexpectedly, she brought with her Sophia, the potential next governor of Paris, sending the entire Montclair clan scrambling to curry favor with Betty.

Henny's bitterness turned to rage as she watched her granddaughter's birthright being snatched away.

Without informing Betty, Henny dragged Clarissa to confront Sophia directly.

Sophia stood speechless, struggling to grasp the nonsense spewing from the old woman's mouth.

Did she just hear something about kneeling?

What century were they living in, demanding respect from strangers?

Clarissa eyed Sophia with envy, bitterness tainting her voice as she sneered, "Hey, you! Are you blind? My grandmother stands before you!"

"Kneel and show some respect, you arrogant brat! You clearly don't deserve to lead the Montclairs."

"Grandma, we can't let someone like her become matriarch-or governor of Paris, for that matter!"

Alex's brow furrowed deeply.

He knew full well the Montclairs had lost nearly everything when their former matriarch fell from power, dragging the family into scandal after scandal.

Lyra, the new governor of Chicago, had a reputation for ruthlessness and was itching to punish the five disgraced families for their corruption.

Sophia's friendship with Lyra was the Montclairs' last lifeline.

They desperately needed Sophia to become governor of Paris, to preserve what little prestige remained.

Yet here were these two vile women, playing their manipulative games as if people were fools.

Alex's fists tightened, ready to put the old witch in her place, when Florence suddenly rushed to Sophia's side.

Florence

family. It's our tradition for younger

slapped his

seduced by the false

and

Yet her mother kept pressing, panic evident in her

his voice echoing

king himself.

then don't speak nonsense! Sophia should respect her ancestors; there's nothing

or punished by the king for this foolishness—she's a governor, and only the king has the right to receive her kneel; to kneel to anyone else is treason-will you

silent, cornered

steady breath, standing firm as she faced

to meet you, Madam Henny, but I'm afraid I cannot follow the Montclair tradition to kneel. As acting governor of Paris,

from their first encounter, sensing

and dismissive attitude made it

loudly, her voice dripping with arrogance.

Henny some tea!" Florence frantically motioned to

tea into a delicate cup, and placed it

Have you

blinked in confusion. "Excuse

proper etiquette even if it hit them in the

are always served first? How dare your servant offer tea to you before Madam Henny.

grabbed the teacup intended for Henny and

tea into the maid's

pain, tears

me, you worthless maid,

family elder? Is

despicable and unworthy of the Montclair

the case!" Florence rushed

who doesn't understand

the situation, hastily grabbing another cup and offering it respectfully to Henny with

forgive our ignorance. Allow me to serve

regarded Florence with

do you think you

smile faltering as