Chapter 406
The next morning, the Kingston family mansion was anything but quiet.
Alfred Kingston had called an emergency family meeting, summoning everyone back to the old estate.
And one by one, every Kingston arrived-none dared to be absent.
As the eldest, Alfred had always been the pillar, but today his eyes carried something different-steel and fire.
His brothers David and Samuel, and his younger sister Sarah, all married with families of their own, filled the long table, their children sitting quietly nearby.
David leaned back, irritation plain on his face. “Alfred, I was in the middle of business when your emergency message came through. What’s going on p>
Sarah scoffed, flashing her diamond bracelets.
“Big brother, the money you send isn’t enough for me to live the way I deserve. When you summon us like this, we drop everything. So when this circus is over, you’d better transfer more into my account p>
Samuel’s eyes narrowed, his voice edged with challenge. “What’s this about, Alfred? Don’t tell me you’ve finally decided to step down p>
The words were barely out when Alfred’s palm slammed the table like thunder.
The polished oak cracked under the force, five deep grooves splitting its surface, and silence bowed.
No one had ever seen Alfred like this.
He was the brother who always smiled, who gave without limit, who seemed untouchable by anger.
But now, rage burned in his eyes, and the weight of it made even his nephews and nieces lower their heads.
Alfred’s voice came low, “The Kingston family is one step from destruction. And you—each of you play like spoiled children while our house crumbles. Enough is enough p>
David bristled. “What are you talking about? The Kingston family is the most powerful in the country. We own Los Angeles, Vancouver, Vermont soon Paris will be on our pocket. We’re untouchable p>
“Untouchable?” Alfred’s growl was a blade.
“Next time, turn on the damn news before you open your mouth. Vermont’s already gone-Kelly lost it. Jericho Kane, our sworn enemy, has it back in his grasp p>
“And Vancouver? It’s hanging by a thread, ready to fall straight into the hands of the Kings p>
Shock rippled around the table.
“How the hell could this happen?” David’s voice cracked.
“This isn’t possible!” Sarah gasped, the glitter in her eyes fading into fear.
Samuel’s fists clenched tight, “Explain yourself, Alfred! What the hell have you done p>
“At the last meeting, we all agreed-we’d throw everything we had into taking Paris. With that win, we’d control four states. We were one move away from being crowned kings of this entire country p>
“Kelly!” Sarah turned on Kelly, her eyes wide and frantic. “You’re the governor of Vermont-tell me you didn’t screw this up p>
Kelly stayed silent. Though adopted, she’d been in this family long enough to understand her place and Sarah’s.
With Sarah, words were weapons, and once she started, she never stopped. No one ever won an argument with her.
‘Silence is the true friend that never betrays p>
Sarah’s hand slammed down on the table with a crack. “Kelly! Why the hell are you sitting there in silence? Where’s your responsibility p>
“If you’d done your damn job as Vermont’s governor, no one would’ve stolen that position p>
“This mess is on you. And if my allowance gets cut because of your failure, you’ll regret the day you were born! You hear me, you daughter of a bitch p>
“Enough!” Alfred’s voice roared across the room. “We don’t have time for your petty blaming. We talk about what matters now p>
David’s voice cut in. “Then tell us, Alfred-what the hell could be more important than losing Vermont? All because of your adopted daughter. You should’ve never taken her in the first place p>
Samuel sneered. “Yeah, you should’ve just let her die in the street. Next time, Alfred, adopt a dog or a cat instead of a human p>
Alfred chose to ignore the jab. “Did any of you hear what happened in Vancouver last night p>
“Yeah.” David nodded. “The Chicago outfit got rolled up along with the corrupt cops. The media can’t stop talking about it everywhere p>
“Looks like the Kings are showing off, proving Kingswell’s muscle works better than the government. The governor there? Couldn’t even lift a finger p>
Samuel spat bitterly, his tone laced with contempt. “That new King’s nothing but a show-off. All he does is waste time with women and burn through money p>
“And damn him for not even inviting me into his harem. Anyway, Alfred-what’s it got to do with us? You’re always speaking around the bush p>
Alfred pressed his fingers to his temple, the throb of a headache building. How did he end up with brothers this damn foolish?
“Like you just said—the governor of Vancouver can’t do a damn thing. And in case you’ve forgotten, the governor of Vancouver is your niece. The Prime Minister’s already put us on notice: if she doesn’t show her face in public and start doing her job, she’ll be replaced p>
Sarah tossed her hair back with a sharp scoff. “Then it’s simple. Just send Jasmine to handle it. Why make a mountain out of a molehill p>
Alfred replied coldly, “Jasmine is under house arrest. We cannot allow her to take the governor’s seat back p>
David frowned, confusion twisting across his face. “And why the hell not p>
Alfred leaned forward, “Because we already agreed to back Charles for the Paris governor position. That was decided at the last meeting. Don’t pretend you’ve forgotten p>
Sarah rolled her eyes, voice shrill with frustration. “Yes, yes, we all know that. Just say what you mean, Alfred, and stop circling around. I don’t care about your politics-all I care about is that my allowance doesn’t shrink p>
Alfred’s gaze hardened. “To gain Paris legally, we have only one path. Gilbert’s last will. It states his inheritance will pass to whoever avenges his murder p>
“Yes,” David shot back. “We all agreed-the only way to lock down the Paris governor’s seat is through Gilbert’s last will p>
“Even if Sophia has the will that names her as heir to Paris, if we tie her to Alex as the cause of Gilbert’s death, we’ll win in court. Then Charles takes the position p>
“The path is very simple. Kill Alexander Kingsley. He’s no longer with Kingswell. Killing a man stripped of power, a beggar with nothing, should’ve been easy, right p>
Samuel glared at Alfred. “We agreed to send a hundred assassins after Alex last meeting, with Charles ready to claim the glory. So why the hell is he still alive? Don’t tell me you didn’t send them p>
Alfred’s jaw tightened. “We sent them. Every one of them. But Jasmine—” his voice cracked like steel-“Jasmine betrayed us. She’s obsessed with that man p>
“She used Vancouver’s elite guard to wipe out every assassin we sent. She made sure none of them touched him. So I had no choice but asked Charles to lock her up in her room. She’s grounded p>
Sarah blinked, politics was never her strength. “What do you mean, Alfred? Explain it clearly p>
Alfred’s voice dropped, dark and heavy. “The Prime Minister has made it clear-if we don’t put Jasmine back in her post, the government will strip Vancouver from
us. But if we release her, she’ll tear apart Charles’ path to Paris p>
Samuel slammed his fist against the table.
“Then have both! Order Jasmine to keep her mouth shut about Paris. Let her focus only on Vancouver. She’s your daughter, Alfred-damn it, control her! And if you can’t, then let me control her p>
Alfred’s face flushed red with fury.
“Shut your fucking mouth, Samuel!
Do you think my daughter is like your useless brat-only good for begging money and burning down every business handed to her? She can’t do anything right! Control your own daughter-and control your damn mouth!” s
David slammed his hand down so hard the table rattled, the echo shaking through
the room.
It seemed the entire family had developed a habit of slamming the table just to claim the right to speak.
“Alfred! Don’t forget how you became governor in the first place! We gave you our money, every damn coin, to fuel your campaign. We made you head of this family. You owe us p>
“Everything you have comes from us. Don’t you dare forget it. And your daughter —she was chosen by you. We paid for her seat too. She belongs to the family’s will, not her own p>
Sarah bared her teeth, slamming the table with her jeweled hand. “If we tell her to move right, she moves right! If we say left, she goes left! We cannot tolerate her defiance p>
The room erupted like a wildfire. Voices overlapped, anger flaring from every
corner.
Even Alfred’s nieces and nephews jumped into the fray, shouting across the table.
“You should’ve never put Jasmine in that seat! You should’ve chosen me p>
“Yeah! How could you hand that weak woman the governorship? I’d do a thousand times better p>
One by one, the words grew harsher, sharper, like knives thrown across the room.
What began as argument turned into chaos, the Kingston family tearing itself apart with every sentence.
Alfred finally had enough his voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
“It seems all of you enjoy stabbing each other in the back. Do you want me to cut
off every last one of your allowances p>
The hall fell into dead silence.
“Alfred-” Sarah tried to speak.
“Shut up,” Alfred snapped, his glare pinning her in place.
Sarah’s face burned red with rage. “How dare you silence me, Alfred? You always
act like you don’t need us p>
“But the moment you’re in trouble, suddenly you demand our support! You can’t
keep bossing us around-we’re adults, not your servants. You’re nothing but a fucking tyrant p>
“Then keep it that way forever!” Alfred roared back. “This was never a damn democracy p>
“Listen carefully, everyone. Jasmine will be released. If we don’t, we’ll lose Vancouver entirely. But understand this once she’s free, she’ll try to sabotage our plan to kill Alex and take Paris p>
“I’ll handle her by forcing her into marriage with Logan. And you-” he
jabbed a finger at each of them, sharp as a dagger will move faster Kill Alex before Jasmine can interfere. Keep it hidden from her. That is the only way we take Paris.” s
The family stared at him.
As always, the weight of his presence crushed resistance. He was the patriarch-
smarter, sharper, stronger. Even in anger, he commanded them. And like sheep, they bowed.
“We agree,” they answered in unison.
Alfred straightened. “The Kingston family must remain at the top. We began with
one state. We still hold two. And we will take a third. But this time, every ounce of our power must be used p>
“Yes,” the others replied, their voices trembling with loyalty and fear.
Alfred’s gaze snapped to Kelly, sharp as a blade. “And you, Kelly. We trusted you
with Vermont, and you lost it. You’ve damaged this family’s interests. You are
nothing but a disappointment p>
Kelly’s throat tightened. She wanted to scream, to remind them it wasn’t Alfred
who placed her there, it is the king.
But in the Kingston family, nothing belonged to the individual. Everything belonged
to the family.
“I took you in,” Alfred continued
coldly. “we accepted you as a Kingston. You’ve sat at this table because of me. But now? You’ve lost
the governorship. You lost even the Kingwell position fought to place you in. You are worth nothing anymore.” s
The words shattered her. Kelly had feared this judgment since she was a child—
that she was useless.
That she would never be enough.
Alfred didn’t soften. He delivered the final blow with brutal clarity.
“You will marry Charles. Not as his wife-no. As his mistress. You will serve him,
protect him, and lead on his behalf. You are smarter and stronger than him. That is your role now-his shield, his slave. You will live for him p>
Kelly’s heart turned to stone. She understood what it meant: her life was no longer hers.
Every coin they gave her now came back as a shackle.
She would be chained to Charles, forced to carry his incompetence on her back-
shielding the family, the business, and everything they had from the disasters his stupidity could unleash-while he enjoyed an easy life with his wife.
Her own will stripped away, turned into nothing more than the perfect slave.
And as she sat in silence, rage burning beneath her fear, one thought consumed
her-
It all began because of Alex.