The Almighty Dominance

Alfred Kingston sat at the long dining table with his wife Jessica and their daughter Jasmine.

The weight in the air was heavier than the plates before them.

"Jasmine," Alfred said, "I'm lifting your house arrest. You'll return to Vancouver, and from now on, you'll do exactly as I say."

"Your brother is working with his friend from Los Angeles. You'll open the mining agreement in Vancouver for them."

Jasmine fork slipped from her hand and clattered against the plate.

"Father, this is wrong. If you hand the mine over to those people, Vancouver will lose everything. Our revenues will collapse."

"That isn't our concern," Alfred snapped. "Just follow my orders. They've promised Charles thirty percent of the profits-without us lifting a finger."

"Father," Jasmine pleaded, "without them, Vancouver's government still keeps fifty percent of the profit-money that belongs to the people."

"If you give the mine away, Charles may take thirty, but his friends will steal another twenty. The people will lose everything."

Alfred's voice grew heavy, ruthless.

"We are the people, Jasmine. Your brother is the people. He deserves that thirty percent far more than strangers you've never met. You are the governor-so make it happen. Do it for our family."

Jasmine eyes shimmered with tears. "Father, please. You weren't always like this. You used to be a loving father, a governor who cared for his citizens. When did you change?"

Alfred leaned forward. "I haven't changed. I am still a loving father and a good governor. It's you who has changed, Jasmine. You're blinded by your feelings for Alex. You've stepped onto the wrong path."

Tears filled Jasmine's eyes, her voice breaking with fury. "Father, how can you call yourself a good governor when all you do is strike deals with the elites and stuff your pockets with their money-stealing what rightfully belongs to the people?"

"You won't even meet with the loyalists of the old government. Instead, you pressure them, crush them—and now you're ordering their deaths!"

"If they don't agree with me, then they can leave Los Angeles," Alfred said coldly. "Why should they stay?"

"They are your citizens!" Jasmine shouted.

"You can't slaughter everyone who disagrees with you. That makes you a tyrant. You once taught me that a good governor protects his people."

"Jasmine," Jessica cut in, "Vancouver is a small and poor state. Los Angeles is five times larger, five times richer. It takes a different hand to rule here. You cannot satisfy everyone. As long as the majority is content, that is enough."

"What majority?!" Jasmine's voice breaking. "All I see is you and Father hoarding wealth from a small circle of elites. You compromise with criminals and add to your fortune in the shadows. Everyone knows it!"

"Watch your mouth!" Jessica's voice lashed like a whip. "The statistics show your father is an excellent governor. Everything has improved under his leadership."

Jasmine pushed back her chair and stood.

"Do you think I don't know you pay those so-called statisticians, that you buy the news to polish his image?"

"If people stepped into Los Angeles and saw past the polished lies, they'd find the truth-poverty hidden behind your glittering numbers, the poor sinking deeper into despair. Don't you see how much they suffer?"

voice was sharp as a blade. "They're nothing but garbage

Once they're gone, Los Angeles will be clean, safe,

the poor is your solution?" Her voice trembled in

useless, they contribute nothing. Just

anymore. People say money changes

lessons from your brother. He started with nothing, and now he's on his way to fortune-because he made friends with Gilbert. Soon he'll inherit everything Gilbert owns. That's success you'll

breaking with anger, "that money is tainted. Don't you know

would never touch that

blurred with

couldn't understand when her family had turned into people who worshipped nothing but

hospital beds, the streets. They're just statistics. And Alex? He's just another number.

I warn you don't touch Alex. If you do, you'll bring a disaster on this family that you

rattled, glasses trembled, food shook across the cloth. His

defiance long enough. Every killer we've sent after Alex has been cut

you think your brother would

wasting nights

parties? No-he'd be governo

by

brother's future! What kind of family betrays their

s

"You really don't know anything, do you? Alex faced the Guise family head-on-he

what did the King do? He declared the Guise family guilty, Alex innocent. But to keep peace with the

as she locked them on her father. "Do you really think only the Kingstons know about Gilbert Guise's death-about the

fnet

is the

trying to kill Alex? And yet,

s

to kill him. Have you ever

untouchable? It's because

already dead!"

Kingswell stand behind him. The only reason the King hasn't already crushed you and Charles is because you were once part of Kingswell— and because you still hold

now, Father-the King doesn't like you

her feet, her face hard

You're

this world works. Alex is nothing.

I know enough," Jasmine

her governorship-for

keep pushing against Alex, if you keep targeting him, you'll lose everything

stepped forward and slapped her across the face. The crack echoed through the dining hall. "How dare you speak to your

didn't flinch. Her eyes burned, dangerous and unwavering. She

before it's too late, stop this. Stop targeting