Florence and Jack glowered by the window, practically brimming with poisonous contempt as they tore into Alex''s name.
"I swear to God," Jack hissed, mming his palm on the table, "the world''s gonepletely insane if that ipetent asswipe actually owns this hotel."
Florence leaned forward with a vicious re, her words dripping with venom. "You''re telling me. That leech is just mooching off Jasmine''s good graces. Without her pity, he''d be homeless, rolling around in his own filth somewhere."
Jack gave a low, humorlessugh,
eyes brimming with envy
"He probably crawled on all fours, begging like a stray dog to get this ce under his name. And don''t even get me started on the ''man-whore'' shtick-if I wanted to stoop that low, I''d blow that loser out of the water. At least I''ve got a shred of dignity."
Florence scoffed. "Ha! Don''t tter yourself, Jack. No one can sink to Alex''s level. He''s the champion of freeloaders. Now, Charles-there''s a real man: young, shrewd, polished. Didn''t have to sell his soul for sess."
Jack nodded so aggressively it looked like his head might pop off.
"Right? If that shameless con artist Alex hadn''t wheedled his way into Jasmine''s life, Charles would be ruling Vancouver."
"You said it," Florence agreed, voice ringing with disdain. She shot Charles an approving look. 1
"Honestly, Charles, you''re at the prime age for marriage. Why not settle down with Sophia? You could crank out a baby, and Alfred Kingston would probably roll out the red carpet for you. Instant promotion to top dog in Vancouver."
"Mom, are you for real right now?" Sophia all but growled, shooting her mother a lethal re. "This conversation ispletely out of left field."
Florence threw her hands up. "Just a little dose of reality, sweetheart. Marry Charles, pop out an heir, and watch him be the new king. It''s simple math."
Sophia opened her mouth to snap back, but Charles lifted a hand gently. "Alright, let''s not let our food turn into ice. Rx and enjoy the meal."
His words worked, at least momentarily. Florence and Jack stuffed their faces, seethingmentary on pause for the sake of food.
A short whileter, Florence dabbed daintily at her mouth with a napkin. “Jack and
I have business to discuss. We''ll leave you two... alone." She gave Jack a meaningful side-eye.
"Uh-huh," Jack said, rising abruptly.
They scuttled away, smirking like they were leaving a ''Do Not Disturb'' sign behind.
With them gone, Charles leaned closer to Sophia. "I really am sorry about the mess I made with that Lancaster Kingston partnership. I know it caused a stir. Let me make it up to you."
Sophia sighed, exhaustion flickering in her eyes. "It''s water under the bridge, and you''ve already straightened it out. Let''s not dig it all up again."
Chapter 171.
Charles''s lips curled into a smirk, just shy of a genuine smile, "Gd to hear that. By the way, I recall you did some modeling before? I was quite the admirer. And as your mother said, it all makes sense."
What does?" Sophia asked.
"The marriage and the baby," Charles said with a chuckle. Maybe if I do those, my father would finally acknowledge me."
Sophia searched for a way to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"Um... excuse me, I need to use the restroom." She practically fled the table.
Charles watched her walk away, his gaze brimming with predatory intent.
The second she disappeared, he slipped a small packet of white powder from his pocket, emptied it into her wine, and swirled itzily.
The whole gesture reeked of smug satisfaction.
A few tables over, Alex was lingering discreetly when a waiter approached him.
"Sir, as you instructed, I''ve been keeping an eye out for that guest," the waiter murmured. "I just saw him with Miss Sophia... he put something in her drink."
Alex''s features hardened. "You''re absolutely sure?"
The waiter nodded, anxietycing his voice. "Clear as day.
Lyra, seated next to Alex, narrowed her eyes. "Is there a problem?"
Alex rose to his feet, expression grim. "I need to step in. You two go ahead without me."
At that exact moment, Sophia returned from the restroom.
Charles instantly passed her the spiked wine, his smile practically oozing false warmth. "Sophia, here''s to fresh starts. Cheers."
"Fine," she said tly. "But after this, I''m leaving. I''ve got too much on my te tomorrow."
"No rush," Charles replied airily, taking a long gulp of his own drink while watching her closely.
Sophia lifted the wine to her lips-only to be halted by a sharp voice slicing through the tense silence:
"I wouldn''t drink that if I were you."
She spun around and saw Alex marching toward them. "What''s your deal now?" she demanded.
Alex pointed at the ss in her hand. "Charles spiked it. Don''t let that trash get the better of you."
She blinked in confusion, her gaze ping-ponging between Alex and Charles. Charles''s expression faltered momentarily before slipping into an innocent grin. "Oh, here we go again. Alex, you''re delusional."
Alex looked ready to lunge at him. "You and I both know what you did, you snake."
Charles turned to Sophia, his face an expert mask of wounded innocence. "Sophia, do you really believe I''d stoop so low as to drug you?"
Sophia chewed on her lip, feeling torn. "Alex, got any actual proof?"
Alex gestured to the waiter by his side. "He saw everything
"Right," the waiter agreed, voice steady despite the tension. He stabbed a finger in Charles''s direction. "I literally watched you pour something in her wine."
Sophia folded her arms. "That''s still kind of thin, Alex. I mean, you just have this guy''s word. He is your worker."
Alex''s temper shed. "Oh,e on. Why the hell would I make this up? If you need a full-blown CSI team, be my guest."
Sophia let out a shaky breath.
She''d always seen Charles as an upright member of Kingston family, but Alex rarely invented such serious usations. Then again...
Charles''s tone turned indulgent, like he was speaking to a confused child.
"Sophia, this is ridiculous. If that ss is tampered with, I''d me Alex. He owns this restaurant, the wine is from his ce."
Charles added, "Look at him- clearly he wants to sabotage me. Tries to act like a knight in shining armor in front of you just to make me look bad. It''s beyond pathetic."
Sophia squinted at Alex. "Why would you stage something like that?"
"He hates me, that''s why.: Charles sighed dramatically. "He and my sister would love nothing more than to see me crash and burn. And maybe dragging you into the scandal is his twisted way to destroy both of us. He''s obviously desperate." Sophia pursed her lips. “Alex... is any of that true? Did you set all this up?" Alex clenched his jaw. "I don''t need to stoop to your level, Charles. I''m telling you Sophia, he spiked your damn
drink."
But Sophia''s features hardened, disbelief flickering in her eyes. “It''s just... it sounds so over-the-top. Are you sure you aren''t lying?" 2
Before Alex could speak again, Florence and Jack swept back in like a two- person SWAT team.
Florence snatched Sophia''s wine off the table and slung the contents into Alex''s face, drenching him.
"You piece of garbage!" she snarled. "Sophia divorced you. Move on already, you pathetic creep. Don''t you dare sling your ridiculous usations around here."
Jack sized Alex up, curling his lip in disdain. "You can''t stand the fact she''s not yours anymore, so you''re going after any man who so much as looks her way. That is straight-up psycho behavior, dude. Get lost."
Florence jabbed Alex hard in the chest. “And if you''re actually jealous of Charles, then grow a damn spine andpete with him fair and square-don''t make up insane stories. You look so small and desperate it''s almost pitiful.”
She glowered at Alex, her tone ice-cold. "I don''t want you in my daughter life anymore, got it?"
Alex''s eyes red with pain as he wiped wine from his face. "So Sophia, do you really think I just cooked this all up?”
Sophia was looking at Charles then let out a short, bitterugh.
"Afex, you got handed one little restaurant from some sugar mama, and now you
think you can y in Charles''s league? Get a grip. You''re still nobody."
She instantly looked like she wanted to swallow those words back, but pride
sealed her mouth shut.
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