Chapter 227.


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    Everyone froze, eyes wide, as they watched Barbie fall to the ground, blood spilling across the floor.


    If they hadn''t seen it themselves, they wouldn''t have believed it.


    A legendary warrior-undefeated in the arena-now dead by a single bullet.


    Jaws dropped. No one could''ve seen thising.


    They thought Barbie''s arrival would settle things. Instead, everything flipped upside down.


    "You!" Henry barked. "Don''t you have any honor? How could you use a gun in a fight?"


    "Good question," Alex nodded, cool and sharp.


    "Why would anyone try to fight someone with a gun using their bare hands? Is she stupid? Most people run from a gun, not charge at it-unless she really thought she could win."


    "She can''t!" Henry screamed.


    "She rushed me. I figured she could take it. So, I shot!" Alex snapped back.


    "Alright, Barbie, I''m sorry," he added, his voice t.


    You bastard! What''s the use of your sorry? She''s dead now!" Henry shouted.


    Alex''s answer was another shot-this time grazing Henry''s thigh


    Henry screamed, clutching his leg as he copsed.


    Alex leveled the gun at him. "You wanna keep talking, or should I send you to see Barbie in the afterlife so you can deliver my apology? I could even say ''sorry'' to you once I''m done. How''s that sound?"


    Everyone felt sick. What was the point of saying sorry to the dead?


    "All of you start doing your job," he sneered, "feel free to keep pushing my buttons. I''ve got plenty of bullets and an endless supply of apologies."


    "Damn," they all thought. Be made no sense. This guy made even less.


    Might as well p them both and head home.


    They started moving, this time with more urgency.


    But Be Kane-Jericho Kane''s notoriously spoiled daughter-was still there.


    She had always been untouchable, always had the upper hand.


    "All of you! You can''t treat me like this!" Be shrieked with bleeding and bruise face, her voice cracking under the weight of genuine fear.


    "I''m Jericho Kane''s daughter-if you harm me, my father will crush you, your family, even your distant rtives! You''ll all pay for this!"


    Alex rolled his eyes as though profoundly bored.


    LA


    "Good grief. Heard that one before. Everyone, please give it your best shot. Maybe she''ll learn something you all take turns. Do it and call it charity-maybe you''ll help break her nasty habits.


    One after another, they pped Be''s face, struck her ribs, kicked her when she fell screaming to the floor.


    The room was soon filled with her blood-curdling shrieks.


    She sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.


    People who''d once cowered before Be Kane were now unleashing every ounce of resentment and fear they had bottled up. By the time thest guest filed out, she was unrecognizable, her body battered, her spirit even more so.


    Outside, in the hotel''s lobby, the departing guests were confronted by a group of photographers carrying long-lensed cameras. One of them waved at a woman who had just stepped out.


    "Hey there, good customer. Had fun inside? got some great pictures of you. Want to buy one?"


    The cameraman had snapped the exact moment she hit Be.


    Every p, every expression-captured perfectly.


    This guy knew his job.


    The woman''s face turned pale. "What do you want?"


    "Nothing much," the man said casually.


    "Just a little warning. When you get home, tell your parents and family to cut all business ties with Jericho Kane. Then report to the Kingstons. Whatever the Kanes gave you, the Kingstons can give even more."


    He raised his camera. "If you keep your connection with Kane, we''ll send this straight to him. What do you think he''ll say after seeing you hit his daughter? Still think he''ll protect you?"


    The woman''s face went ghostly white.


    She turned and rushed away from the hotel, shoes cking in panic.


    Momentster, phones all across the city lit up between these former associates. "What do you think we''re going to do?" her friend asked, nervous


    "I think," the woman answered calmly, "we''re going to cancel all contracts with Kane. If we all agree, Kane will lose his support and be left standing alone." "While we side with the Kingstons. They''ll rise, and easily overpower Kane." "But that means we''ll betray the Kane family," said another voice, hesitant. "Then go ahead and support Kane. But once they find out you hit Be, do you really think she''ll smile at you? You know that woman''s psycho."


    "She''s never going to forgive us. She''ll drag us to hell if we stay on her family''s side."


    "Honestly, I can''t say I didn''t feel a little joy pping that bitch."


    "Fine!" the other snapped. "That bitch deserved every hit. She''s been the queen of evil for too damn long.''


    "Have you heard who''s taking over all our contracts once we cut off from Kane?"


    The man suddenly said, "Kelly Kingston. Word is, she''ll be running Vermont when Kane''s done."


    "So we join the Kingston camp.''


    "That''s our best chance now."


    33


    Meanwhile, back at the emptied banquet hall, Bey in a broken heap.


    Her body was bruised and torn, her mind shattered by the night''s events.


    }}


    Alex loomed over her trembling form.


    He took out a small, dark pill.


    “Be, I''m not killing you tonight," he announced coldly, pressing the pill to her


    lips.


    "But don''t mistake my mercy for forgiveness. In two days, you''ll kneel before Sophia and beg her pardon—if you want to keep breathing, that is. Otherwise, you''ll meet a fate worse than death."


    Be tried to spit out the pill, but Alex forced it down her throat with a callous shove.


    "That poison will take effect soon enough if you don''t do what I say. Maybe this experience will teach you some humility. Or maybe not. Either way, it''ll be entertaining for me."


    With that, Alex walked out into the darkness of the night.


    At Kane Vi, miles away, Jericho Kane was deep in discussion with his associate, Vet.


    "Mr. Kane, the first batch of Skin Dew Essence ispletely sold out!" Vet was practically dancing with excitement.


    "We''ve gotten nothing but rave reviews, and lots of people want to partner with us long-term. If we keep producing at this rate, Kingston''s going to bleed money and lose their grip.


    They''ll never see iting!"


    A smug smile tugged at Jericho''s lips.


    "It''s all thanks to the Kingstons'' years research-so poetic that their own work is


    going to bury them. Jasmine''s a fool if she thinks she can challenge me. This is my checkmate."


    Vet pped like an excited child.


    "Let me be the first to congratte you in advance on crushing the Kingston family, Sir!"


    Jericho chuckled, standing up to straighten his jacket.


    "Well, I should get going. Be''s hosting a banquet tonight, and if I''mte, she''ll


    Suddenly, the assistant burst in, face as pale as the moon. 2


    "Sir!" he gasped. "Terrible news... Miss Be has been attacked. Badly."


    Jericho''s pleased grin vanished in an instant.


    His eyes darkened, fury roiling just below the surface. "What do you mean, attacked? Exin this-now."