The Almighty Dominance

Alex shook his head bitterly, eyes blazing with disbelief.

"So that's it, huh? Just because I'm poor, every crime lands on me? You people are unbelievable."

"Can't any of you see? Charles is the monster here! He was about to assault Sophia!"

Florence laughed mockingly, eyes narrowed in contempt.

"Charles? Assaulting Sophia? If Charles decided to take Sophia to bed, we'd throw a goddamn celebration! That would be marriage, not assault."

"But you, a useless leech without two pennies to rub together-you try to touch my daughter. That's not affection-it's assault. It is rape!"

Alex smiled coldly, the fury burning out to numbness. "I get it. Nothing I say matters as long as my wallet's empty, right? Fine. Have it your way-I don't give a damn anymore."

He spun sharply, heading for the door.

Jack exploded from his seat, eyes wild with rage.

"You think you're just gonna stroll outta here after what you did to my sister? You cowardly little bastard-get back here!"

But Alex didn't even glance back, the door swinging shut behind him.

Jack cursed under his breath, fists clenched tight.

"That punk's lucky he slipped away, or I'd have broken every bone in his miserable body."

Charles surged forward, voice authoritative and cold.

"Don't worry, I'll handle it. I'll drag that criminal straight to jail myself. We can't let scum like him roam free."

"Thank you, Charles," Florence hissed, lips twisted with satisfaction. "Make sure that bastard rots behind bars!"

Clara quickly nodded, spurred by a chorus of agreements. "He's crossed every line!"

With that Charles rushed out.

Just then, Sophia stirred, eyelids fluttering open weakly.

Florence rushed to her side instantly, relief flooding her face. "Sophia! Thank God, you're awake. How are you feeling?"

Sophia pressed a trembling hand to her throbbing forehead, confusion clouding her eyes.

"Mom? What's everyone doing here?"

Florence's voice trembled with feigned compassion.

"Charles warned us that you might be in danger. Good thing he did we arrived just in time. Alex nearly had his way with you!"

"Alex?" Sophia whispered, frowning deeply as fragmented memories stirred. "Where is he?"

"Don't you worry," Florence soothed, eyes narrowing maliciously. "Charles is going after him. Soon, he'll be exactly where he belongs-in a cold, dark cell."

Jack chimed in aggressively, "We've got the cops on his trail too. He won't get away."

Sophia looked up sharply, sudden panic flickering in her eyes. "Arrest Alex? Why would you do that?"

Florence scowled fiercely. "Sophia, you were drunk out of your mind! Alex dragged you here to take advantage of you!"

"What? No, that's not right..." Sophia's voice faltered, her head pounding with uncertainty.

"Charles... Charles was the one. He did something-I passed out. Alex tried to save me, I think."

A stunned silence descended, disbelief etched starkly across every face. Florence gasped, incredulous. "Are you serious, Sophia? Alex was caught red- handed! We saw him with our own eyes, about to assault you!"

Jack leaned forward, voice urgent and angry. "Sis, he was pulling off your clothes while you were unconscious!"

Clara backed him swiftly, nodding vigorously. "We were all witnesses, Sophia! Alex is guilty!"

Sophia shook her head desperately, eyes swimming with confusion and pain. "No! It can't be Alex! It wasn't him..."

Florence leaned closer, voice coldly decisive. "There were only three of you in this room, Sophia. Alex, Charles, and you. Who else could it possibly be?"

Sophia's voice trembled, her gaze frantic as she tried piecing together fragments of the horrifying evening.

"It was Charles Kingston-that filthy bastard!" The words clawed their way from her throat, raw and aching.

"Sophia, you're drunk," Florance snapped back sharply, eyes narrowed in disbelief.

"Charles is respectable. He'd never stoop that low."

Her brother chimed in quickly, his voice laced with suspicion. "Did Alex slip something into your drink? Is that why you're all twisted up inside?"

Another voice cut in, cold and condescending. "Those alcohol scramble your brain-you probably imagined it all. Honestly, you should feel lucky if Charles even wants to sleep with you. We'd all be rich."

Their relentless doubts seeped into Sophia's mind, twisting her certainty into a tangled web of confusion.

She looked down at the bruises marking her body, feeling the bitter sting of uncertainty gnawing at her soul. Could she truly be wrong?

She thought of Alex, warmth unexpectedly flooding her cheeks.

Alex... force himself on her?

No. They had already slept together before he wouldn't need to force her.

If he had just asked... maybe she would've said yes.

Suddenly, Sophia's cheeks flushed with shame.

"What am I even thinking?" she whispered harshly to herself.

Meanwhile, Charles moved swiftly in the opposite direction from Alex, fear simmering beneath his carefully maintained facade.

Just minutes earlier, the contact meant to switch the key ingredient with Alex had

gone dark-no reply, no trace. The silence screamed of sabotage.

Acting fast to cover himself, Charles called in Sophia's family-blindly loyal,

always ready to defend him without question.

But it was Alex's sudden appearance that unsettled him most.noveldrama

That man was a storm-relentless, unpredictable, and dangerous.

Charles paused abruptly, his thoughts shifting dangerously.

Maybe Alex was even more dangerous than he had imagined.

He needed backup plans-and fast.

It was time to speed up the elimination of his father and take full control of Los Angeles.

Or perhaps... align himself with Jericho Kane or anyone else wanted to have Emerald Elixir's formula.

A wicked grin tugged at his lips. If more people joined forces against Alex and

Jasmine then power would tip in his favor.

"You think you've won, Alex?" Charles hissed, venom lacing every I come back with forces so strong, they'll crush you like the

word.

Sasite you are. You damn snake."

"Oh, really?" a voice echoed from behind.

Charles froze.

Spinning around, his heart rammed into his ribs. Alex stood there-silent, deadly,

eyes burning with raw fury.

"What did you just call me, you twisted coward?" Alex's voice was a blade dipped

in ice.

Charles straightened, clinging to bravado. "What are you doing here! Polices are looking for you."

Alex let out a bitter laugh—sharp, cutting, dangerous. "I have recording that you drag Sophia out of that bar, Charles. You're not fooling anyone. No lie can save your filthy skin now."

Panic surged through Charles, though he masked it behind a smirk. "You think

you can touch me? You're already finished."

Alex stepped in, his presence suffocating. "Tonight's your last breath. Got any final

words?"

Charles's throat tightened. Sweat trickled down his spine as he choked out, "You'll regret ever laying a hand on me."

Alex's eyes narrowed, voice low and lethal. "No. The only regret... will be if I don't finish you tonight."