The Almighty Dominance

Chapter 463

Night dropped like a curtain, and the Wolfsbane banquet hall burst to life with laughter and light.

This was their night-their triumph-one that would echo in family stories for

years.

They had spared no expense. The Wolfsbanes booked Winchester's most luxurious hotel, hired master chefs, poured the rarest wines, and brought in a singer whose voice could wash the weight off any soul.

Every detail shimmered with wealth and power.

Word had already spread through Winchester like wildfire: the Wolfsbane family had secured the Eden Group contract. Even more shocking-the chairman herself, Countess Marlena Von Adler, would attend.

The invitations became golden tickets overnight. Everyone wanted one. Few had the privilege to hold it.

Alex and Sofina walked through the hotel's marble lobby with Eve gliding at their lead — an egg-shaped robot with soft chrome curves.

Sofina's hand found Eve's smooth shell. She hugged the little machine like she'd hugged a living thing.

"Miss Sofina," Eve said sweetly, "I will be your guardian tonight. You don't need to worry. I will handle everything."

Sofina hugged Eve closer, a small smile softening her face. "With you here, I actually feel safe."

"You can count on me," Eve answered, a hint of pride rippling through her tone.

At the hotel entrance two reception androids snapped to attention. "Dear guests," one intoned, "please present your invitation cards."

Sofina froze, color draining. "They didn't give us one," she said. Her voice was small for the first time all evening. "We are family, can't we get in."

The androids stiffened, voices flat and mechanical. "Without an invitation card, entry is strictly prohibited. Please leave."

A murmur rolled through the line behind them.

"No invitation and still showing up?" someone scoffed. "How shameless."

Another voice cut in, sharper, mocking. "Pretending to be part of the family now, are they?"

A woman sneered. "No shame at all-trying to sneak into a Wolfsbane banquet. Let's see how they get thrown out. Arrogant fools think every door's open for them."

Eve's eyes blinked, then became a stream of numbers. Suddenly the two androids stepped back as if a hand had pressed against their chests.

They bowed, perfectly composed.

"My apologies for the mistake," the lead android said. "Welcome, Miss Sofina and Master Alex. You do not need invitation cards."

Sofina's eyes widened. "How-?"

puffed like she'd just finished a

with a curiosity. "Eve... did you hack those androids so we could

her head, her digital eyes flickering.

repeated, raising a

told them to let us in—or I'd fry their chips and wipe their

and relieved.

curved in a smug little tilt. "Not brilliant," she said. "They're

the machine-the sharp wit, the confidence that bordered on arrogance, and the spark of pride that made her almost human. Alex let the smile crawl across his face like dusk settling over a town-slow, deliberate, dangerous. "Tell me this, Sofina-wouldn't it be

hope in it. "Baroness Wolfsbane promised me the Deputy Chair if I secured the

voice even.

new Deputy tonight," Sofina replied. "That means

chance-before the announcement

to tell her the truth-that the Baroness hadn't invited her, hadn't called, hadn't said a single

him, the bridge had already been

used Sofina and moved on. But when he looked at her at the quiet determination in her eyes, the last flicker of faith-he couldn't bring himself to

fire

gently on her head, brushing a stray strand of hair aside before

for this world," he murmured. "But fine. Let's believe in kindness-

lips curved into a faint, fragile smile. "I believe people are

words

kindness had been her curse-three years under Heinrich's cruelty, three years of manipulation by the Baroness, all because she still

own devil, and we make

believes in the goodness of

flying into the flame, mistaking the burn

wanted to tell her that trusting liars was a kind of self-inflicted wound — a quiet, chosen

to keep believing in

toward wolves, mistaking their snarls for

meet them," Sofina said, still holding onto

"Take Eve

faint smile, then turned toward the grand hall,

go and let out a long breath, "If you

through the air like a

counterfeit suit? You look

His eyes slid toward Alex, dripping with

hardened. "What's it to you? Your outfit isn't any better. You look like a pig trying to

he considered beneath him—a "half-slave,"

scene," he sneered. "That's how she won the collaboration with Eden

eyes narrowed. "What