Nobody saw iting when Alex lunged forward and pped Zane Hernandez''s face.


    Had he lost his damn mind?


    Chicago dwarfed Vancouver in influence and made Kingston look like small potatoes—provoking them was suicide.


    “Alex, have you gone insane?” Jessica shrieked, eyes zing with disbelief and fury. “You dare touch Mr. Hernandez? You''re begging to die!"


    "You might be eager for your own funeral, but don''t drag us down with you!"


    Charles thundered, torn between delight at Alex''s blunder and terror at the thought of Chicago''s vengeance. "Hernandez isn''t some punk you can push around!"


    Even Mr. Dune paled visibly. "Mr. Alex, what the hell have you done?"


    The Chicago Lords were ruthless; if they retaliated, the Kingston family would be obliterated.


    But Alex stood cold and unshaken, sneering, “He''s nothing more than a pile of garbage. Who cares if I rough him up?"


    Without another word, Alex delivered another brutal p to Zane''s face, smirking mockingly.


    "Isn''t it polite? When one cheek gets hit, you''re supposed to offer the other for bnce."


    Everyone froze, stunned into horrified silence.


    Had Alex truly dared to p Zane Hernandez-again?


    Jessica nearly exploded. "You arrogant bastard! You''ve just signed your own death warrant!”


    Zane, finally snapping out of his shock, trembled with rage and humiliation.


    Never before had anyone dared toy a finger on him. Usually, doors swung open at his approach; people bowed and scraped before him.


    Now, his once-imposing face swelled grotesquely, marred by bruises.


    “You worthless piece of trash,” he snarled through clenched teeth, jabbing a finger at Alex. “You''ll regret ever touching me!"


    Alex chuckled coldly, unfazed. “Do you really think waving around your Chicago Lords badge means no one dares to knock some sense into you?"


    “I''ll kill you!” Zane lunged forward, fist cocked back for revenge.


    But Alex moved faster, nting a savage kick into Zane''s gut. Zane crumpled instantly, copsing onto the floor in agony, curled up and groaning.


    “Alex, stop it! Are you insane?” Jessica screamed, herposure finally shattering. Once was a disaster—twice, a death wish—but a third time? That''s pure insanity.


    Ignoring herpletely, Alex strode toward Charles, menace radiating from every step.


    "I warned you not to drag trouble to Kingston''s doorstep, but you just wouldn''t listen!"


    His hand swung hard, connecting viciously with Charles''s face.


    The p sent Charles sprawling helplessly over the conference table, smashing sses and scattering documents everywhere.


    “Charles!” Jessica screamed hysterically as she saw her only son knocked senseless. Pure rage contorted her face.


    “Grab that lunatic right now!"


    Security sprang into action, closing ranks around Alex. He eyed them fearlessly.


    “Go ahead—tryying a finger on my man. I''ll have you fired on the spot, and Kingston will make sure you never work in this city again."


    Suddenly, Jasmine''s sharp, unyielding face lit up the massive conference room screen.


    All eyes whipped toward Mr. Dune, who had patched her in live from the airport.


    Jessica paled instantly. “Jasmine...” Her voice quivered with sudden dread.


    Jasmine''s re pierced through them all like steel.


    "Did you really think I wouldn''t notice the cowardly stunt you pulled, sneaking around my London trip to wreak havoc on mypany?"


    The room froze in tense, choking silence.


    Jasmine Kingston was back—and she was furious.


    "Jasmine, calm yourself," Jessica snapped coldly.


    "Everything was fine until your thug


    boyfriend decided to attack Mr.


    Hernandez. He didn''t just humiliate


    Zane; he evenid hands on your own brother, Charles. This disgrace won''t be forgotten!"


    Jasmine slowly turned to Alex, an icy, defiant smile spreading across her lips.


    "Alex, dear, could you do me a favor and p them both again? How dare these vultures think they can swoop in and snatch what''s ours."


    "dly," Alex growled, advancing with measured steps toward Zane and Charles, who immediately recoiled in shock and dread.


    Jessica''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    "Jasmine! Have youpletely lost your sanity? You''re asking him to attack members of the Chicago Lords— and your own flesh and blood?"


    Jasmine responded with chilling calm, her voice dripping venom.


    "Zane strutted in here waving the Chicago Lords'' banner like a gun, thinking he could intimidate us into surrendering. Should I apud his audacity?”


    “If everyone with a fistful of cash could force us out, why not just hand over Kingston Pharmaceuticals wrapped in a bow?"


    Silence fell, oppressive and thick.


    The absurdity of buying half thepany for mere pocket change left everyone speechless.


    Charles had anticipated an easy surrender.


    Jasmine, cautious as always, would never dare defy the mighty Chicago Lords, especially given how their father, Alfred, trembled at their mention.


    It seemed foolproof: sacrifice Alex, gain favor, and pocket an extra share.


    But Alex was an unexpected storm—unyielding, fierce, and unstoppable.


    Not only had he refused to bow, but he''d struck Zane openly, with Jasmine passionately backing him.


    Now the neat ny shattered, the fragments sharp and dangerous.


    Yet Charles wasn''t entirely displeased.


    Victory would reward him handsomely—a promised ten percent from the Lords.


    If denied, chaos and ruin seemed preferable.


    "Jasmine Kingston!" Zane roared, staggering to his feet, bloodshot eyes zing.


    "I demand you break every limb of your arrogant pet here and now, or Chicago Lords will obliterate your entire


    family!"


    Jasmineughed softly, almost tenderly. "As you wish. Kingston security, you heard the man. Break Mr. Hernandez''s arms and legs."


    Kingston''s Guards advanced steadily toward Zane, whose face drained of color, his arrogance crumbling into


    panic.


    "Have you lost your damn mind, Jasmine? You''d dere war on Chicago Lords for this worthless boy?" "War? dly," Jasmine replied, unflinching andposed.


    "The Chicago Lords wield power, yes, but the Kingston name isn''t paper to burn easily. You thought we''d simply roll over and die?"


    "Fine, you''ve chosen this path! Don''tin when we bury you," Zane hissed venomously, turning toward


    the exit.


    "Guards! Did I say you could let him leave unharmed?" Jasmine snapped sharply.


    Instantly, ten elite Kingston guards surged forward, colliding violently with Zane''s bodyguards.


    The scuffle was brief, brutal-bones snapped, and Zane screamed, his howls echoing grotesquely, the cries


    of a pig led to ughter.


    Jessica stood frozen, her face pale with horror.


    The simple scheme to transfer shares had erupted into a potential catastrophe that could raze the entire


    Kingston empire.


    "Jasmine Kingston! You''ve doomed


    us all for this worthless boy! Have youpletely lost your grip on reality?" Jessica shrieked, desperation sharpening her voice.


    "Mother," Jasmine sneered contemptuously, eyes narrowed dangerously, "don''t lecture me on running Kingston Pharmaceuticass. I''m the one holding the reins now, and know precisely who dragged the Chicago Lords into our affairs."


    Jessica recoiled, guilt flickering unmistakably in her shifting gaze, her usations now turned back against


    her.


    If she hadn''t agreed to Charles''s n to bring the Chicago Lords into Vancouver, none of this would''ve


    happened.


    What she thought was just a fire burning Alex had now spread-scorching the whole house and everything


    she owned.