The Almighty Dominance

Chapter 156

"Don't any of you fret," Jarvis murmured, his voice as steady as a loaded gun. "I'm not about to rip your nails off

just for fun."

He spoke so casually that it sent a chill straight through the crowd. One look at him, and they knew he was

perfectly capable of following through.

Everyone shrank back, fear gnawing at their insides. This man had the kind of presence that made people obey

without question.

"Alright then," Jarvis went on, folding his arms across his chest. Let's get straight to it: Were any of you involved

in my brother's death?"

A wave of panic rippled through the group, like a stampede of anxious cattle.

"Us? We had nothing to do with it!"

"It's true! We're innocent!"

"Lieutenant, you've got this all wrong! None of us killed Sir Drake!

Their frantic denials filled the air, each person terrified that a single misstep would seal their fate.

"That so?" Jarvis let out a harsh, humorless laugh.

"Jasper!" He jerked his chin, beckoning the limping man forward. "Take a good look at these folks."

"I'm here," Jasper snarled as he hobbled across the room.

His eyes skimmed over the crowd and landed on Sophia.

A flicker of lust turned to dark resentment in the sheartbeat.

With his injury, he was no longer able to indulge his desires-even for such a captivating woman.

"Uncle, it's her-Sophia!" he spat.

"She's tied up in my father's death. She was with her, and then-bang!-he's dead. But she is safe. Looks mighty

suspicious, don't it?"

He flung his arm toward Marco, eyes blazing with accusation.

"And him! He's always circling her like a damn guard dog, ready to jump to her defense. If she's involved, then

so is he! No way he's sitting this one out!"

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Marco stood there, jaw slack.

He couldn't believe Jasper was dragging him into this nightmare.

"You got anything to confess?" Jasper demanded, fixing Marco with a piercing glare. "Tellright now: Did you

kill my old man?”

"No! No, it wasn't me!" Marco pleaded, his voice cracking in terror Beads of sweat formed on his brow. "I don't

know anything about it! Please-you've got it all wrong!"

"Don't know, or don't want to say?" Jasper's tone sharpened like a blade.

"Mr. Drake, | swear, | had nothing to do with your father's death!"

"Then | guess you need a little convincing." Jasper shrugged, a sadistic grin tugging at his lips. "Boys-teach him

to talk."

Two soldiers lunged forward, iron batons at the ready.

"Wait-damn you!" Jack suddenly roared, wincing through the pain in his injured leg. Despite the agony, his

temper flared like a brushfire.

Chapter 156

"Do you have any clue who you're messing with? That man there Marco Ashford! He's tight with Kingston. You lay

a hand on him, and Kingston's men will cdown on you harder than a hammer on a nail!"

Jasper's eyes sparked in delight. "Hear that, Uncle Jarvis? This clown's got ties to Kingston. That means he had

every reason to go after Dad!"

"You tellingyou're Kingston's accomplice, the one who put my brother in the ground?" Jarvis demanded,

turning his glare

onto Marco.

"No! God, no!" Marco insisted, desperation pouring from every word. "I've got nothing to do with Kingston. This is

all one giant misunderstanding!”

Jack shot Marco a nasty grin. "Why are you shaking in your boots, hen? Kingston's on your side, aren't they?

These folks won't dare lay a finger on you."

"Shut your mouth!" Marco snarled, delivering a fist to Jack's face.

He was practically shaking with fear. ‘Kingston's finished-Charles Kingston lost his power ages ago. Meanwhile,

Jarvis is a lieutenant with an entire army under him.

Who on God's green earth can stand up to that?'

"Marco!" Florence shouted, rushing to her son's side. "How could you strike my boy? You called on Kingston the

last tDrake went after Sophia, didn't you? Can't you do it again now, save us all?"

"For the love of-woman, keep your trap shut!" Marco was on the brink of losing it, sweat rolling down his temples.

"These idiots. Don't they see how dangerous Jarvis is?"

"Save your breath," Jasper broke in coldly. "We've got evidence. Now, how are you gonna worm your way out of

this one?"

Marco knew his twas up.

When the water's rising to your neck, you don't waste breath complaining-you start swimming.

Without hesitation, he flipped sides in an instant.

"Evidence?" Marco spat, panic staining his voice. "This is all nonsense! Sophia only ended up at my place by

chance that day. They gavecredit for helping her, but | never lifted a finger!"

Jack's eyes narrowed. "So you didn't help my sister at all?"

"Help her?" Marco snapped. "Use your damn head! You think I'd ask Kingston to rescue your sister? | was the one

who handed her address over to Harlan so Drake could capture her. I've always been on Drake's side!"

Silence fell over the Lancaster family like a tombstone. They stared at Marco, horror etched into their

expressions.

"You... you sold Sophia out to Drake?" stammered one of the Lancasters. Marco turned sharply back to Jasper.

"Go ahead and check with your men. They'll tell you | was the one who handed Sophia's address over, and I've

got no ties to Kingston. That bastard cheatedwith worthless stock, leavingbroke!"

A cry rang out from one of the Lancasters who had put money into that scompany. "So Vermont Life is

useless? It's all worthless?"

Marco let out a humorless bark of laughter. "Sure is. Alex was right all along- Vermont National Life is nothing but

an empty shell!"

Florence looked like she'd been punched in the gut. "But... you said we could exchange it at Vermont. How does

a big company just go empty like that?"

"| lied!" Marco snapped. "All of it was lies. If you want to blsomeone for losing your money, blCharles

Kingston-he's

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Chapter 156

the one who took it all!" He glanced at the family with scorn.

"I'm cutting myself loose from you fools, and I'll do whatever it takes to survive."

Florence gaped, her voice trembling with shock. "You've been deceiving us this entire time? Scamming us?"

"Damn straight!" Marco sneered. “| needed squick cash, and you were stupid enough to swallow every tall

tale | spun."

"Monster!" Florence shrieked, lunging at him like a mother wolf protecting her cubs. “You stole our life savings! |

want it

back!"

Shouts and curses exploded from the furious Lancasters, but guards shoved them aside.

Only Florence managed to rake her nails across Marco's face.

"It's gone!" Marco roared. "I wired the money overseas, so you can kiss it

goodbye! You trusted me. That was your mistake.”

Sophia, who had been quiet until then, finally found her voice.

"Why on earth would you do something like this?" she asked in disbelief. She recalled the warnings they might be

scammed, and how no one had believed it. Now the grim truth stared back at her.

"Why?" Marco let out a twisted chuckle. "Simple: money. With money, | can have anything-women, power, you

nit."

Sophia pressed on. "So the partnership with Kingston at first was never your doing either?"

"Exactly." Marco smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Charles never even spoke to Kingston about working with you. It

just fell into place on its own, and | went along for the ride. And you fools? You practically worshippedfor it."

Her expression darkened. "And what about the partnership with Charles?" "That," Marco sneered, eyes glinting

with mockery, "is all thanks to your dear mother. Couldn't keep her damn mouth shut, shoved Jasmine aside, and

handedthe perfect opportunity. Now, thanks to her, Charles owns half your Lancaster properties And if he

needs cash? Guess who's footing the bill? You lot signed your own shackles-might as well start calling him

master."

All color drained from Sophia's face. She had never imagined that the man she once believed had helped her

had instead betrayed her at every turn.

If Marco wasn't the one pulling the strings to save her, then who was?

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