Heads whipped around at the suddenmotion to reveal tall man swaggering into the bar like he owned every "inch of it.


    A ragged scar cut across his cheek, and a half-smoked cigar jutted from the corner of his mouth.


    He had one arm draped possessively around a voluptuous brte, while the other hand hovered near his hip- exactly where a holstered pistol might be.


    The crowd in Paradiso parted like they were avoiding a contagious gue. Even Charles felt a spike of dread sink into his gut.


    "Big Bro, you made it!" The young man in white hurried over, relief etched on his face.


    "Got ourselves a little situation here. These jackasses want you-of all people-to kneel and apologize." He practically spat thest word.


    Viper gave Charles a t, indifferent stare. "So you''re the genius demanding I apologize, huh?"


    Charles, never one to swallow his pride, jutted his chin defiantly. "Your goons messed with one of my men. Don''t you think you owe him a little regret-andpensation?"


    Viper raised an eyebrow, then without a flicker of warning, mmed the back of his hand across Charles''s face.


    The impact echoed sharply, and everyone in the bar froze.


    Charles stumbled, pressing trembling fingers to his burning cheek.


    "You... you hit me?" His voice quivered with a mix of rage and disbelief.


    "Damn right I did," Viper growled, flexing his knuckles.


    "You prance in here with your chin held high, trying to throw your weight around on my turf. Then you want an apology? You must be suicidal, kid. I don''t care if you''re the spawn of royalty-no one storms my ce and demands I bow down."


    Charles spat a thin line of blood onto the floor, eyes brimming with hate. "You''re messing with the Kingston name. Do you have any clue who I am?"


    "Yeah, I know exactly who you are," Viper sneered.


    "A fallen Prince, some has-been kicked out from a family. Your sister might still pack some punch, but you?" He let out a cruelugh.


    "You''re just a leftover. A cheap leftover. And right now, I''m deciding if I should tear you to pieces or let you c away."


    "You''ll regret this," Charles snarled, though his voice wavered.


    Viper''s hand shot out like lightning, mping around Charles''s throat.


    "The only one who''ll have regrets here is you, hotshot. I could snap your neck right now and pin it on any of my men. But let''s say I''m in a generous mood."


    He loosened his grip and flung Charles into a corner booth, sending splintered wood and shattered ss flying as bottles toppled and crashed onto the floor.


    He didn''t owe Charles an apology, but lie had no interest in making an unnecessary enemy out of him either.


    Elorence and Jack watched in horror. Thest shred of arrogance drained from their faces—especially when Viper ""said:


    "You see, I''m not just some random thug with a big mouth I''m bankrolled by Sir Raymond-one of Chicago State''s top power yers. Ever heard that name, genius?"


    Charles''s face turned ashen.


    Vancouver had been in termoil since the civil war erupted between Charles and Jasmine.


    Meanwhile, other states had already begun secretly plotting to divide their territories.


    It wasn''t just Jericho Kane, the king of Vermont, making moves-Chicago''s union


    was also eyeing a piece of the Vancouver pie.


    "The wolf on the hill is never as hungry as the wolf climbing the hill.


    Now, they found themselves staring down a ruthless gangster with deep connections.


    Humiliation burned through Charles.


    He had paid the woman to stir up trouble for Jack, hoping to swoop in as the hero-but he had forgotten one crucial fact. His power was already slipping.


    His n had failed spectacrly, leaving him with nothing but a stinging p to show for it.


    Meanwhile, the color drained from Florence''s and Jack''s cheeks.


    They''d banked on the Kingston name stopping any trouble.


    But if even Charles was getting pped around like a nobody, what chance did they have?


    Viper took a long drag of his cigar, exhaling smoke inzy circles. "Alright, enough with the forey. Which one of you morons picked a fight in my bar?"


    Jack felt his knees go wobbly. His mouth opened, but no sound came out.


    He''d heard the horror stories: Viper''s men cutting off limbs as casually as trimming weeds, dumping bodies in the river. His nightmares wereing true. Sophia, pulse hammering in her ears, thrust herself forward.


    "Mister Viper, please. My brother is just... an idiot. He doesn''t think before he acts. We''ll pay for damages- double, triple-anything! Just please, let''s not escte this "


    "Double? Triple?" Viper snarled.


    "You think I need your damn pity cash? If word gets out that a bunch of clueless punks waltzed into my bar and left without consequence, I''ll be aughingstock by sunrise Time to set an example."


    He flicked his hand, and six of his hulking henchmen moved in, machetes glinting under the neon lights.


    The sudden reflection of steel sent a chill through every onlooker. "Boys, chop off some hands. Show these fools how we handle disrespect."


    Jack practically wet himself. "S-Sophia!" he wailed, scrambling to hide behind her. "D-do something!"


    One brute rushed forward, machete raised, ready to end Jack''s short career as a jerk.


    But before the de could descend, crack! An ashtray hurtled through the air and smashed into the henchman''s skull, sending him crumpling to the floor like a marite with its strings cut.


    Every head in the bar pivoted in shock. Viper''s men instantly tensed, scanning the room like wolves on high alert.


    Viper''s eyes narrowed to predatory slits.


    "Who the hell threw that?" he thundered, voice dripping with barely restrained fury.


    Before anyone could muster a response, more ashtrays and bottles flew out of nowhere, hurtling with pinpoint uracy toward the other five men.


    Shards of ss exploded upon contact, driving the thugs to the ground, howling in pain.


    A stunned hush fell, thick as msses.


    No ordinary bar brawler could knock out half a dozen armed men with tossed beer bottles and ashtrays. Gasps rippled through the onlookers.


    "Show yourself, coward!" Viper roared, chest heaving. His furious gaze raked over the startled crowd. "Who the hell do you think you are, messing around in my domain?"


    Slowly, a silhouette separated from the throng, strolling forward with an air of controlled cool that made people step back in awe.


    A calm, almost casual voice sliced through the tension. "Sir Viper, I hear forgiveness is a virtue. But you don''t seem to be the charitable type, do you?" Chapter 190