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.

dear,” Florence cooed

is Madam Henny, an elder of the Montclair family. It's our tradition for younger members to kneel before their elders.

nearly slapped his

seduced by the false

and doubt clouding her

felt humiliating. Yet her mother kept pressing,

decisively, his voice echoing clearly for everyone to

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

mouth, Alex!" Florence snapped hastily. "If you know nothing, then don't

stripped of her position or punished by the king for this foolishness—she's a governor, and only the king has the right to receive her kneel;

silent, cornered by

standing firm

cannot follow the Montclair tradition to kneel. As acting governor of Paris, my loyalty

from their first encounter, sensing the older woman's

dismissive attitude made it clear she was someone best

her voice dripping with

some tea!" Florence frantically motioned to the

a delicate cup, and placed it respectfully before Sophia and Henny, who sat opposite each

Have you no manners

in confusion. "Excuse

too much from such low-class people. They wouldn't recognize proper etiquette even if it hit them in the face,"

served first? How dare your servant offer tea to you before Madam Henny. It's utterly

the teacup

tea into

girl shrieked in pain, tears streaming down her scalded

you worthless maid,

instruct you to insult our family elder? Is this your

despicable and unworthy of the Montclair name!" Clarissa

absolutely not the

a new maid who doesn't understand our ways. I'll dismiss her

grabbing another cup and offering

ignorance. Allow me

regarded Florence with utter

exactly do you think you are, daring

polite smile faltering as