Sophia stood looking at her grandpa's unconscious face.The night before, he had called her in, his eyes filled with a sorrow that pierced her heart.He had expressed deep regret over her betrayal—the choices she had made behind his back.She had sworn to herself that she would never repeat those mistakes.Now, with her grandfather lying in a coma, this might be her final chance to make things right.But her grandmother, Amelia Lancaster, placed the entire blame for the Chris Roland scam squarely on her shoulders, despite orchestrating the scheme herself.She even went as far as forcing Sophia into an arranged marriage with Peter Smith—a man twice her age from the affluent Smith family."Sophia," Amelia's voice sliced through the tense silence, cold and commanding."You will ask Alexander for a divorce. Your grandfather spoiled you, but I am the head of this family now. You'll do as I say for the Lancaster name."Sophia met her grandmother's icy gaze without flinching."Grandfather tol

As Alex contemplated his next move, Josephine burst out of the kitchen, wielding a frying pan like a weapon, fury blazing in her eyes."I've had enough of this nonsense!" she shouted.One of the thugs lunged at her, but with a swift, powerful swing, the frying pan connected with his face.The sickening crunch of bone echoed as his nose shattered, sending him sprawling to the floor.Alex watched, a flicker of admiration in his eyes—Josephine was as fierce as ever.She wasn't delicate; she was a storm incarnate, and when she struck, the world felt her wrath."Get her!" the fat man barked at the remaining two thugs.Josephine's eyes narrowed. "I cook alone, clean alone, do the laundry alone, wake up early, and come back late every night—all alone!"She swung again, the pan smacking into another thug's cheek with a resounding crack, knocking him down.The last thug drew a small knife.Before he could act, Alex casually tossed an ashtray across the room. It struck the thug's hand, the knif

Alex walked fearlessly toward the group of gangsters, each armed with knives, machetes, katanas, and handguns—all poised to confront him."How dare you attack our men? You'll die here!" snarled a man with a tattooed face, stepping forward to challenge Alex.Without breaking stride, Alex delivered a swift slap across the man's face, sending him sprawling to the ground, unconscious.A hundred gang members tightened their grips on their weapons, eyes narrowing as they watched him.But none moved to attack. Something about him was off—different.Anyone else facing such a formidable crowd, surrounded by menacing killers wielding an arsenal of weapons, would show at least a flicker of fear.But Alex's eyes held none.He strolled forward as if he were merely walking through a quiet park.The casual ease with which he'd dispatched one of their own left them stunned.They were used to bullying the weak, flaunting their power.But this impenetrable man left them at a loss.They had never encoun

Brock was furious when he discovered that Josephine had the audacity to resign.Seething with anger, he burst into his modest home, the door slamming behind him like a thunderclap."Grace!" he shouted at his wife, who was quietly folding laundry in the living room. "Tomorrow, you're opening the restaurant!"Grace looked up, startled by his outburst. "What happened with Josephine?""She quit! Don't ask any more questions!" he snapped, pacing the room like a caged animal.Grace's face paled."But... I don't know how to cook.""Just do it like you always have!" Brock barked."Brock," she pleaded, her eyes welling up. "I really don't know how to run the restaurant. Can't you find someone else?""Don't argue with me!" he shouted, shoving her aside.Grace stumbled, catching herself against the wall."When I tell you to do something, you do it!"The next morning, Grace stood alone behind the counter of the bustling restaurant, her hands trembling as she struggled to keep up with orders.Broc

A few days later, Alex and Sophia arrived at the grand banquet hosted by the Lancaster family.The opulent hall was abuzz with anticipation.Amelia Lancaster had organized the event to announce the acquisition of BioHealth Solutions from Roland and to unveil its rebranding under the Lancaster Group.And their partnership with Kingston would send ripples through Vancouver's business community, marking the Lancasters' bold expansion into something greater.Whispers filled the room about Jasmine Kingston's attendance."Why do we have to be here?" Sophia sighed, glancing at her father, Justin.He adjusted his tie, his expression firm. "This is our family's banquet, Sophia. We need to show face.""But they've already pushed us out," she protested softly."Regardless, we must attend," Justin insisted."Our livelihood depends on the Lancaster Group's shares. Imagine what would happen if your grandmother decided to cut us off entirely."Nearby, Florence cast a disdainful look at Alex. "You sh