Alfred Kingston shook his head slowly, his voice edged with disdain.

"Alex, I''ll admit you have courage. But the line between bravery and stupidity is razor-thin."

"And right now, you''re nothing but a fool who doesn''t even know his own limits. You''re nothing-worthless. You''re not even qualified to be our enemy."

Alex''s gaze was unflinching. "Mr. Kingston, a man is meant to be destroyed, not defeated."

Alfred''s lips curled into a bitter smile. He exhaled sharply, then barked, "Fine! Very well! You''re fearless, I''ll give you that. If you want to be destroyed, so be it."

"But for the sake of our past ties, I''ll give you one chance. Stop seeing Jasmine. Cut all ties with her, and I won''t hold this against you. But if you persist, you''ll face the consequences. We will crush you. Now get out."

He rose from his chair, his bodynguage final-conversation over.

Alex rose to his feet and walked toward the door. After a few steps, he stopped and turned. His voice was calm, deliberate.

"Mr. Kingston."

Alfred''s eyes narrowed. "What? Have you changed your mind?"

Alex shook his head. "I will never change my mind. But because of our past connection, I''ll say this. Your health is failing. I doubt you''llst another week."

The words hit like a hammer. Alfred''s brow furrowed, his voice harsh. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Alex''s gaze hardened, cutting like a de. "Your skin is dark, your pupils clouded with a sickly hue. If I''m not mistaken, you''ve been poisoned."

Alfred snapped back, fury and disbelief ring.

"Nonsense! You think you can scare me with cheap tricks? Just because you''re a doctor, you want me to beg for my life? You underestimate me!"

"Mr. Kingston," Alex''s voice was grave, steady. "I''m not joking. This isn''t a normal poison. Within a week, it will re up, and when it does... it will kill you."

"Enough!" Alfred roared, refusing to hear more. "Get out of my sight."

"I''ve done all I can," Alex said quietly, then walked toward the exit. But as he opened the door, he froze. Charles Kingston stood in the doorway.

Alex''s eyes flicked between father and son. A dry smile touched his lips. "So... father and son are back on the same side?"

Charles sneered. "We are family. We never separate."

"There may have been misunderstandings because of outsiders like you, but blood is thicker than water. My father finally realized the truth-you misled him."

Alex brushed past, his tone dismissive. "Whatever. I won''t get involved in your family''s mess."

But Charles blocked his path.

His eyes burned with venom. "I want you to deliver a warning to Sophia. Tell her to

stop reaching for what doesn''t belong to her."

Alex frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"The state of Paris," Charles hissed. "She has no right to sit in that governor''s chair."

Alex shot back, "She has documents showing the Guise family gave her everything. It''s her rightful im."

Charles''s lip curled into a snarl. "And I have information she caused Guise''s death. A murderer doesn''t deserve to be governor."

Alexughed coldly. "So if she''s unfit to be governor... who''s more fitting? You?"

Charles sneered, his voice sharp with venom.

"You guessed it right. When I kill you and finish Guise''s revenge, hisst will gives me the right to be governor of Paris State."

Alex almostughed at the absurdity. He turned to Alfred and Kelly, his expression dark.

"Charles? Governor of Paris? And you two support this madness? You actually back him?"

Alfred shrugged, cold and dismissive.

"He''s my son. He has every right to be governor. And I warn you, Alex-this has nothing to do with you."

Alex''s eyes hardened. "He wants to kill me, Alfred. That makes it my business."

His gaze shifted to Kelly. "And you? You stand with him too?"

Kelly met Alex''s eyes without flinching. Her voice was icy, deliberate.

"If it means Sophia goes down, then yes, I''ll support him. He''s a Kingston, and so am I. We Kingstons protect each other."

A deep disappointment carved itself into Alex''s chest. He stared at her, then shook his head.

"I expected more from you," he said quietly, and walked out, leaving them behind. Hourster, Alex stepped into the dim light outside the clinic.

The night sky stretched above him, stars scattered like distant fires, but none of them gave him direction.

He stood alone, his mind heavy with betrayal.

His dream was simple once: Jasmine Kingston, Alfred Kingston, Kelly Kingston, Lyra Thompson, and Sophia Lancaster-all allies, building states together, a united force strong enough to guide the country.

But now that dream was crumbling.

Alfred and Kelly, both state governors, had chosen to side with Charles in his im for Paris. Sophia would stand her ground, supported by Lyra, her closest friend.

And Jasmine? She was already under Alfred''s control, her fate tangled in his schemes-her marriage promised to Logan, heir of Manhattan State, a man whomanded a vast private military force.

Alex clenched his fists. The dream he once held slipped through his fingers like sand, scattering into nothing.fna0d4 ?????? ???? FιndNovel/fna0d4

All that remained was disappointment, sharp and bitter.

"Alex."

A voice broke through the silence. He turned and saw Josephine walking toward

him, her figure soft against the cold night.

"Josephine?" He was caught off guard. "What are you doing here?"

She smiled gently. "I could ask you the same. You''ve been standing here in the cold for a long time."

"I..." Alex struggled to exin, but before he could, Josephine stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him.

"What-" Alex froze, shocked.

"You," Josephine whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "You looked like you wanted to cry. There''s so much sadness in your eyes."

Alex stilled, her words cutting deep.

Was he truly wearing his grief so openly?

"Everything will be alright," Josephine said softly, her embrace warm against the night.

"You''ve carried too much for too long. Don''t force yourself. I''ll always be here for you. Whatever you need, just tell me."

For the first time in hours, Alex''s lips curved into a faint smile. He held her close, whispering, "Thank you."

And in that moment, he felt something he hadn''t felt in years-home.

Not in power, not in glory, but in the quiet strength of someone who chose to stand beside him.

For a man who bore the weight of the world, sometimes that was all it took to keep fighting.

In the dimly lit living room, Charles leaned back on the sofa, his voice sharp and hungry.

“Wouldn''t it be faster if we just kill Sophia? That way, the governorship falls to me immediately."

Across from him, Kelly sat with her arms crossed, her eyes cold and calcting. "There''s another way," she said, her tone smooth as a de.

"Marry her. If you do, you''ll still end up governor-and with less blood on your hands. It''s cleaner."

Charles''s eyes widened, sudden rity shing across his face. He leaned forward, almost grinning.

"Yes... perfect. A win-win. Either way, I be governor. But I''ll need your help."

Kelly''s lips curled into a sneer, her voice dripping with venom.

"To destroy Sophia, I''ll do anything."