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 cooed

the Montclair family. It's our tradition for younger members to kneel before their elders. Just kneel, alright? Please don't cause

his own forehead in

seduced by the

confusion and doubt

didn't even know felt humiliating. Yet her mother kept pressing, panic

voice

to kneel to anyone except the king himself. If you kneel to this woman, you

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

king for this foolishness—she's a governor, and only the king has the right

silent, cornered by

standing firm as

afraid I cannot follow the Montclair tradition to kneel. As acting governor of

Henny from their first encounter, sensing the older

attitude made

her voice dripping with arrogance. "Bring me

Henny some tea!" Florence frantically motioned to

delicate cup, and placed it respectfully before Sophia and

this how your family serves guests? Have you no

blinked in

They wouldn't recognize proper etiquette even if

Lancaster, don't you realize that in the Montclair household, elders are always served first? How

the teacup intended

into the maid's

pain, tears streaming down her

you worthless

to insult our family elder? Is this your

of the Montclair name!" Clarissa shouted

that's absolutely not the case!" Florence rushed

doesn't understand our ways. I'll dismiss

another cup and offering it respectfully to

Madam Henny, forgive our ignorance. Allow

regarded Florence

who exactly do you think you are, daring

froze, her polite smile faltering as