The Almighty Dominance

"Jerk!" Nikolaus shouted, his voice echoing across the parking lot. "Don't mess with me, return my car!"

Alex didn't even flinch. He turned his back and started walking away, calm as a man who'd already won.

"I'm not playing with you," he said. "The system recorded our bet. It's automatic- government protocol. You lost, Nikolaus. That means your car transfers to me. I didn't have to lift a finger."

"You're half a slave," Annabella snapped, stepping forward. "You're not even allowed to own any property!"

Alex smiled. "You're right. That's why the car's under my wife's name now. Sofina."

He glanced at the luxury flying car behind him, then back at them. "You two should probably call a taxi. Or walk. And hey-thanks for the car."

Nikolaus's face flushed crimson. His day had already been hell his family collaboration got canceled, his father tore into him, and now this. Losing his car to Alex was the final nail. Fury took over reason.

"You bastard!" he roared, charging at Alex.

But Alex had already stepped back toward the glass entrance of the Eden Group tower.

Before Nikolaus could swing, the android security units moved in-fast, mechanical precision.

A sharp crack split the air.

Nikolaus jerked violently as the taser hit him. His body stiffened, then collapsed onto the marble floor. The shock made him lose control-his pants darkened wet as the crowd gasped.

Annabella screamed and rushed to him. But the androids misread her movement. Their scanners flagged her as an aggressor trying to breach restricted access.

Another jolt flashed.

She hit the floor beside him, her hair standing on end, her breath shallow.

Both of them lay there, twitching under the bright corporate lights while onlookers pulled out their phones.

They watched because they needed someone else's ruin to feel alive.

Within minutes, photos and clips flooded the city's feed-Baron Krüger's son and his fiancée, electrocuted and humiliated in front of Eden Group headquarters.

By afternoon, everyone in Winchester had seen it. Rumors spread like wildfire. No one knew the full story, but everyone agreed on one thing: the Krüger family had crossed Eden Group.

By evening, their reputation was in ashes.

Workers from the Krüger estate-men and women who'd built their lives on Eden Group contracts-were dismissed overnight. Without those connections, the family's empire collapsed like a house of cards. Within days, their wealth evaporated.

Once a proud name among Winchester's elite, the Krügers were now clinging to survival—a fallen barony buried under debt, scandal, and the ashes of its former glory.

To survive, they had no choice but to sell off their land piece by piece, just to cover what they owed the banks.

The Krügers had been kings of the city once. Now, they were ghosts walking through the ruins of their own pride.

Baroness Wolfsbane's hands trembled as she stared at the photo of Nikolaus and Annabella splashed all over the news feed.

hotter than

kindly-almost like her own-because he'd promised to become the bridge between the

her status, secured her family's power. But now, after that disgraceful scene, even Annabella looked like she'd

Krüger family officially cut off from all Eden

news spread through Winchester like wildfire. Streets buzzed, boardrooms erupted, and noble families whispered

that the mysterious founder of Eden Group himself had been seen at the company's Winchester headquarters earlier that very

since the Eden Group first emerged, no one truly

confirmed name. Just a legend a man powerful enough to build thirty branches across Prussia, to dominate

had

city ablaze. Every wealthy and powerful household scrambled

founder. And for those with eligible

biggest shock came from Eden's official announcement-they were searching for a new family to replace the

Krügers had reached unprecedented wealth in just two

it meant: whoever filled their shoes would

before

practically hear the coins

her religion, and Eden

is like seawater; the more she

the bell, summoning her staff. "Call everyone," she ordered sharply.

minutes, servants rushed through the halls, carrying the Baroness's

light and movement. Every member of the Wolfsbane

night because Baroness Wolfsbane had

him and sneered. "Well, look

did you find the courage, parasite? Half a slave - you

to come. Alex is my husband.

laugh. He's nothing

closer and curled his lip. "You want me to toss him

with a look. "Do it. Grandma would thank you for clearing away that disgusting

as if ready to

entered. She carried herself like a queen- stern, commanding,

snapped. "Take

and took a step back. He turned to Alex. "You're lucky I'm civilized tonight. Otherwise I'd break your

pressed close, keeping to themselves while

the high chair at the head of the table. She rapped the wood with her knuckles until the

spoke, voice

Group

wealth and influence. If we can secure a partnership with Ederfandimpress the fofinder than

the

waiting for. A shot to push the Wolfsbanes up where we belong to the top of Winchester's social pyramid. We will find a way in-no matter

the long table looked unimpressed, their faces flat against the Baroness's

first time the Wolfsbane family had dreamed of partnering with Eden Group — and every time, that

years, Eden Group had ignored their

the room knew the truth: there were