The Almighty Dominance

Chapter 380

The night grew heavy. Shadows stretched long across the small house as Alex sat quietly by the crackling fireplace, the flames painting his face in flickering gold.

Across from him, old José sat hunched in his worn wooden chair.

Neither spoke. The only sound was the faint crackle of the flames.

Josephine stepped softly from the back room, her voice gentle.

"Lucia's asleep." She moved closer and sat down beside Alex, the glow of the fire warming her face.

For a long moment, silence hung over them.

Then José stirred suddenly, rising to his feet. "How could I forget? I haven't served you a drink."

"I'll help," Josephine said quickly, springing up before he could refuse.

He glanced at her, sighing as though carrying the weight of unspoken words.

"You... ah, never mind." Shaking his head, he pointed her toward the tea.

José lowered himself back into the chair, his tired eyes watching Josephine prepare the tea.

Something in them shimmered-age, memory, sorrow. The shine of unshed tears.

Josephine returned with three cups, setting them down gently.

"Josephine," José asked suddenly, "do you have a family?"

She paused, the question touching a hidden ache. "I'm an orphan. I never had a real family, but... I had a mother. The woman who ran the orphanage. She raised me as her own."

José leaned in, questioning her again and again, as if he longed to gather every piece of her story.

Then he turned sharply toward Alex.

"Alex! Look at me. I've been so caught up in talking, I forgot to ask-have you eaten? Wait here. I'll make something.”

He hurried into the kitchen, his frail hands still steady with purpose.

"Grandpa," Josephine called, rushing after him, "let me help."

José gave her a grateful nod, and together they began preparing a simple dinner.

But before the warmth of the kitchen could settle, screeching tires shattered the quiet.

A car skidded to a stop outside. Moments later, the door slammed open with a thunderous bang.

A man stormed inside, his voice a whip crack.

"Father! How many times have I told you? Get out of this broken-down shack! My girlfriend is ashamed every time I bring her here!"

"Then don't bring them here," José answered calmly from the kitchen. "We're not leaving this house."

The man's eyes swept the room until they landed on Alex. "And who the hell are you? Who let you in?"

Alex turned to face him. The man was dressed in a sharp business suit, mid- thirties, his face twisted with contempt.

"I'm talking to you! Are you mute?"

doctor," Alex said

man's lip curled. "A doctor? Why don't you just let them die, and I'll pay you ten times

voice was cold. "I'm a doctor, not

to give the man his

chair. "Boring. Father, why won't you listen? This stinking house isn't worth

will never come back. You've wasted decades waiting for

from the kitchen. His voice cracked with

breaking your mother's

If you want to see Maria so badly, why don't you just die

José's eyes

couldn't hold back-she stepped forward, facing

dare you speak to your father like that?"

frowning darkly. "And who

to help your parents,"

mouth shut about death.

slow and calculating. His sneer

this doctor? I'll pay you ten times more. Follow me, and

decent man should. But before he could, she struck first-her palm cracked across his

you hit me!" William's eyes blazed

filthy mouth," Josephine spat, her voice trembling with

William's face twisted red.

think you're better than me?" He lunged at her, fists

old voice

Josephine, dripping with both anger

her," José warned, standing between them, "you'll

snarled, then threw up

I'm heading out with friends later. Just give me money."

gave you a million dollars last month," José

started a business,"

so I

doing this! I won't give you another

his

leaned back, a wicked grin

on, old man. You're going to die soon

he sneered, each word

of your concern,"

what this

your precious fost daughter. Pathetic. She's

me. I'm your

only one left to take care of

tightened. "Shut your mouth. You're nothing but an adopted

bellowed

me!"

mother out of this," José

ever set foot in this dump if it

and defeated. He pulled out his phone. "I've transferred a

glass. "Are you mocking me, old man? A hundred thousand? That won't even pay

don't have the party,"

face. He charged forward, fist

me to hit you

you learn it's

enoun