Chapter 191
Chapter 193
Chapter 193
Alex glared at them all, his patience long gone. “Next time I’ll just watch while they hack off your damned “hand,” he snapped, turning away from the group. Sophia squared her shoulders and stepped closer, voice cold and unwavering.
“You think you’re such hot stuff, don’t you? Don’t let a little backing from Jasmine Kingston make you stupid. I’m telling you to think before you throw your weight around p>
She raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with condescension.
“Face it, Alex. It’s one thing to have powerful friends pave your way, but it’s another to actually have the chops to keep climbing. Don’t trick yourself into believing you’re invincible. Let this be my final warning p>
Alex rolled his eyes, letting out a derisive chuckle. “You talk like you’re some holy saint who’s got it all figured out. You’re so sure I’m just mooching off the powerful p>
“Oh, spare me the act,” Sophia shot back, spitting the words like venom.
“If Jasmine Kingston hadn’t put her name on the line, Viper would’ve turned your bones to dust by now. You’re lucky you’ve got her shadow to hide under p>
Alex gave a short, scornful laugh.
“Nothing I do matters to you, does it? In your eyes, I’m just a worthless piece of trash. Fine. Think what you want. I’m done playing the game your way.” Sophia’s expression softened for a fleeting second-then hardened again.
“Alex, I’m being real with you. Stop letting people dangle you on a string. You’ve got one life; use it to prove you’re more than just a lazy freeloader p>
Alex shrugged, throwing his hands up in mock surrender.
“So what if I am a freeloader? Gotta admire a man who takes the easy route. That’s called working smart, honey p>
Sophia’s nostrils flared. “You are infuriating. You don’t even have the decency to be ashamed! It’s like talking to a wall p>
Before she could insult him further, the distant wail of sirens ripped through the tense air.
The squeal of tires cut off the rest of their argument, and within seconds, squad cars blocked off the intersection.
Uniformed officers jumped out, guns flashing under the sunlight.
“Hands in the air! Now!” one cop roared, finger on the trigger.
Alex’s gaze swept over them, cold as ice. “Easy, officer. Mind telling me what this is about p>
Another cop sneered. “We got a tip you were trashing a bar and snatching valuables. Looks like we’ve got ourselves a bunch of thieves. You’re all under arrest p>
Alex’s jaw tightened. “There’s been a mistake p>
“Shut up and get on the ground, or I’ll put a bullet in you,” the
bat
Pale-faced and trembling, Florence, Megan, and the rest of the Lancaster family raised their hands in surrender.
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Chapter 193
Jack’s voice trembled as he pleaded, “Officer, there’s gotta be some misunderstanding p>
But the cops had already moved in, cuffing everyone without mercy.
Alex glanced over and spotted Raymond watching from the shadows, a satisfied grin plastered on his smug face.
Rage coiled in Alex’s gut like a hot snake. That coward had set them all up, using crooked cops to pin false charges on them.
An officer yanked Alex’s arm behind his back, snapping the cuffs so tight they cut into his skin. “Don’t move, punk p>
“Hey, what’s in this box?” another demanded, pointing at the package Alex was carrying.
“Wild ginseng,” Alex replied, dead-eyed.
“That’s stolen property,” the cop snarled. “All of you-into the cars. Now p>
“Officer, we didn’t do anything!” Sophia protested, her face white as chalk as an officer forced cuffs onto her wrists. “This is insane p>
“Zip it. You’ll get your turn to talk after we haul your sorry butts to the station,” the cop growled.
Her pleas fell on deaf ears.
The officers shoved them roughly toward the patrol cars, loading up Alex, Sophia, and the entire Lancaster clan. They all wore expressions of shock and helpless fury-except Alex, whose glare never left Raymond’s triumphant face.
In a whirl of flashing lights and shrieking sirens, the convoy took off.
At the station, the Lancasters were dumped into one communal holding cell.
But Alex and Sophia vanished somewhere else.
“Police! We’re innocent!” Florence screeched, shaking the bars in a wild panic.
A smirking officer strolled by and gave them a mock salute. “Yeah, sure, sweetheart. Prove it with something green, and maybe we’ll let you out p>
He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together suggestively, then turned his back on their outcries.
Florence’s rage erupted. “That slimy, corrupt bastard! This is all Alex’s fault. That worthless sack of flesh got us all in this hellhole!” 1
Jack glowered, pounding a fist against the cold metal bars. “If the fool wants to ruin his own life, fine! But why drag us into his mess? Curse him p>
Megan tried to keep her voice steady. “Look, yelling isn’t getting us out of here. We need a plan. Bribe, a call to a lawyer-anything to get these cops off our backs p>
“Yeah,” Florance grumbled, “I’ve got a cousin in the local government, maybe he can p>
Their voices trailed off as the corridor lights flickered.
Meanwhile, in a small, cramped office, Viper lounged across from a police inspector with a grin that made the officer’s skin crawl.
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Chapter 193
“Alex is a tough nut,” Viper mused, tapping his fingers on the desk.
“Bet that woman, Sophia? She’s his ex. Keep her locked up till the bastard hands over whatever formula or secrets Sir Raymond wants. That’ll twist his arm real good p>
The inspector leaned back in his chair, eyes gleaming with reed. “Sounds like we can have some fun. You fork over a million and I’ll squeeze out every last bit of info on that magic pill or whatever the hell he’s hoarding p>
Viper’s grin widened, snake-like. “Double it if you get the job done right p>
A sick chuckle rumbled from the inspector’s throat. “Relax pal. This is my playground. I’ll make him squeal p>
That Night Interrogation Room
The flickering bulb cast a harsh glare over the grime-streaked walls. Alex and Sophia were strapped tight to metal chairs, ankles bound, wrists cuffed.
Alex cleared his throat, voice level despite the tension. “I’m sorry you got pulled into this circus p>
Sophia cut him a scathing look. “So you really stole something, or is this just another con? Because if it’s the latter, I’m not keen on rotting in a cell next to you.” Alex’s mouth twisted into a humorless grin. “You truly think I’d be stupid enough to loot some two-bit bar? Use your head p>
She rolled her eyes. “Then it’s a setup. Likely Viper’s doing p>
“Viper’s the puppet,” Alex corrected, a low growl humming in his throat. “The real puppet master is Raymond p>
Sophia paled. Her voice quivered with disbelief. “Sir Raymond? Seriously? You used to be on decent terms, so what did you do? Spit in his face? Pee in his cereal p>
“I decked him,” Alex replied casually.
Her breath hitched. “You what?! Are you out of your mind? Do you realize who Sir Raymond is? He snaps his fingers, and half the city scrambles to do his bidding.” Alex shrugged, unfazed. “He threw the first punch. I finished it p>
She glared daggers. “You’ve got a real death wish, don’t you? I can’t believe this… You can’t possibly handle the fallout p>
An uneasy silence settled. Despite her anger, Sophia’s eyes flickered with fear.
She let out a shaky breath. “You better hope you can call Jasmine. She’s the only one with enough sway to get you out of this nightmare p>
The words chafed at her pride-she hated admitting that she, on her own, was too small a fish in this dirty pond. But it was the cold, brutal truth.