The Almighty Dominance

At noon, their private jet touched down at the Kane estate.

The Kane family was one of Vermont's oldest ruling lineages, and their headquarters reflected centuries of power.

The mansion rose like a fortress of wealth, its sprawling gardens and ponds arranged by the most renowned feng shui masters.

Every tree, every stone, every ripple of water was placed to channel fortune endlessly toward the Kane bloodline.

Hundreds of guards patrolled the perimeter, their eyes sharp, rifles steady.

Bella walked at Alex's side, her fingers clutching the back of his shirt as if it were her lifeline.

She stayed close, almost sheltered in his shadow, her steps timid but steady.

She longed to pull him nearer, but shyness held her back, stealing her courage—

yet the fear of losing him kept her grip unbreakable.

"Alex, you're finally here. Please, help us check on Jericho-something's happened to him."

At the entrance, Lidia stood with her butler, her face pale and frantic.

"I'll check him," Alex said firmly. "Lead the way."

Lidia's eyes flickered with doubt. "Are you sure you can cure him?" Her voice cracked with panic.

"I can't promise anything," Alex answered. "I need to examine him first. If it's just an ordinary illness, it will be simple. But if it's rare, the outcome depends on the severity. Some things aren't easy to cure."

"Please-quickly. Follow me."

Lidia spun on her heels, frowning, and hurried inside.

Alex and Bella followed close behind until they reached a lavish ward filled with state-of-the-art medical equipment.

Specialists clustered together, whispering anxiously as they tried to devise a treatment.

On the bed lay Jericho Kane. The once-charismatic governor was now unrecognizable. His skin carried a bluish tinge, his lips darkened to a dreadful purple.

Alex stepped forward. He placed his fingers on Jericho's wrist, feeling his pulse, then checked his eyes and mouth. His expression hardened.

Jericho had been poisoned. Not by something ordinary, but by a venom so rare and vicious that only one name surfaced in Alex's mind-the Kingswell.

This poison was a secret weapon, forged by the Kingswell under the king's command-crafted to bring down the most dangerous of enemies.

And now, that same toxin had been unleashed on Jericho Kane.

But the king had given no such order. Which meant only two people could have released it-Kelly or Alfred Kington, former Kingswell.

They had dared to use the poison without permission.

"Alex... how is my father? Can you save him?" Bella's voice trembled, fragile as glass.

Alex's eyes lingered on Jericho before he spoke. "It's complicated. But I'll try." Because this poison wasn't just deadly-it was cunning.

It could splinter into one hundred and eight variations, each more insidious than the last, shifting form depending on how it entered the body and how much time had passed.

The poison changed automatically with the flow of time, twisting itself into deadlier versions at every turn.

And Alex knew he was facing one of the deadliest puzzles of all.

This poison was designed with no cure. Once it took hold, the victim was left to wait for death.

through the

talking about, and all

games with his life—do you think my uncle is

Scarlet!" Lidia stopped

"But, Aunt-"

locked on Alex. "Please... tell me what you think

Alex straightened.

has been struck with a poison unlike any other. Every thirty minutes to an hour, its

kill. If we want even a chance of saving him, we'll have to gamble. His

crumpled. "That's not what I want to hear! I want

reason, making her forget that Alex had once cured Bella of an illness that

no longer wanted the truth-only

pressed her advantage. "Aunt, no one's perfect. Maybe he saved Bella, but every sickness demands a different cure. Poison is another world entirely. My mother already brought

"Who?" Lidia asked.

voice

door, a group of figures in white coats filed into

a thin, sharp-featured man, his eyes

walked a plump, middle-aged

Scarlet called,

Lidia gasped,

had always

Beatrice was the elder sibling and Jericho the younger,

any claim

the patriarch's torch,

Jericho had fallen gravely

Dr. Kevin," Beatrice announced, smiling with

School. His expertise in rare and deadly illnesses

Lidia's face lit up, her voice trembling

meant excellence beyond question. If

school, surely he was more skilled than any doctor

Alex, the man beside

had saved Bella when no one else could but wasn't he just

let him treat Bella. But this was different.

Kane could

Kevin cleared his throat. "Let me be clear. I don't allow anyone to touch my patient. I despise being compared. If you want this young man to meddle, then

lips curled into a sneer. "Alex, what are you waiting for? Step

shook his head. "I'm not underestimating him. But he can't cure this. The poison in Jericho isn't ordinary it's a fusion

Zit's a

university professor can hope

Beatrice snapped, her eyes sharp with

little clinic in the slums. Just because you

Dr. Kevin. Get out of the way before

Jericho's life in the hands of a quack? Look

Who will bear that responsibility? You?" "Mother!" Bella cried out. "I believe in Alex. Please, let

coldly, "you're blinded by your feelings. Just because you like him doesn't mean he can save your

turned to Alex. "Alex, step aside. Let Dr. Kevin take

hardened. "Mrs. Kane, this poison is unlike anything you've ever heard of. I can say

single mistake, it will mean instant death. No antidote. No second chances.

turned his eyes on Dr. Kevin. "I'm warning you this poison isn't for the arrogant to toy

sharp laugh,

you think you're better than Dr. Kevin. What a ridiculous joke. He's a

don't even hold a proper

could win against Dr. Kevin is one in

look down on me,"

look down on the poison. Only ignorant fools speak so arrogantly when they don't even understand how dangerous this is.