"What''s all this about?" Sophia snapped, her eyes zing as she red at Henny.


    "You''ve crossed the line. You''re not wee here-get out."


    Henny''s expression turned icy. "You''re kicking me out? Do you realize what this means?"


    "I''ll report this straight to the Montirs. You''re throwing away your chance to be the matriarch."


    "Whatever, Get out!" Sophia yelled.


    "N-No! Sophia, control yourself," Florence quickly interjected, forcing an awkward smile despite the redness spreading across her face.


    "It''s my fault entirely. Serving such low-quality tea to Madam Henny was unforgivable. Of course, you deserve only the finest. This mistake is mine."


    rissa sneered, her voice dripping with disdain. "What pathetic groveling."


    Henny shifted her cold gaze to Sophia.


    "Sophia, what are you standing around for? Apologize immediately to Madam Henny," Florence pleaded, her voice desperate.


    Sophia shook her head stubbornly. "Forget it, Mom. I refuse to bow to her. Let the Montirs decide-I won''t be their pawn."


    She spun on her heels, ready to leave.


    "Stop right there," Henny barked sharply, throwing a venomous nce Sophia''s way.


    "Do you really think your dear grandma Betty can protect you? Let me enlighten you-the Montirs are still divided."


    "Right now, barely half support you. You need my help if you want to be the Matriarch and eventually the Governor of Paris."


    With a dramatic m of her hand on the table, she leaned in, eyes zing.


    "With my support, the governorship is all but guaranteed. All you have to do is show a little respect... and pour me a drink."


    Florence''s eyes widened urgently.


    "Sophia! Hurry up! Serve Madam Henny her tea-only the very best this time," she urged, trying to signal discreetly.


    This was the chance of a lifetime, humiliation be damned.


    What was dignitypared to the power of being governor?


    "Sophia, think clearly," James chimed in eagerly.


    "You need her support. Imagine me-the brother of the Governor of Paris! The city''s famous beauties would swarm around me. We''d celebrate every night!"


    "No," Sophia said tly, unmoved.


    Florence rushed over, pulling Sophia aside desperately.


    "Look at me," she whispered fiercely.


    "I''m already humiliated, drowning like a rat in a sewer. Just one more step and it''s all over. Madam Henny will support you this will be thest time, I swear. Control yourself just this once."


    "Mom..."


    "Don''t argue," Florence begged. "If you still respect me as your mother, do thisst thing for me. Please."


    "But Mom..."


    "Sophia, do you want me on my knees?" Florence''s voice cracked with desperation.


    "My dream is to see you be governor. Imagine what my friends would say. Please, for me. Just this once."


    Sophia''s heart softened at her mother''s pitiful plea.


    "Fine," she relented. "But this is thest time."


    "Yes!" Florence hissed triumphantly. "Now put on your best smile. This is your ticket straight to the governor''s office."


    Sophia took a deep breath, following her mother''s instructions.


    She grabbed the fresh tea from the maid and forced a smile as she handed it to Henny.


    Florence kept whispering anxiously, "Smile bigger-make it convincing!"


    Henny scoffed, snatching the cup from Sophia''s hand. "And what tea is this supposed to be?"


    Sophia met her gaze squarely.


    "I have no idea," she said coolly. "If it''s not to your liking, feel free not to drink it."


    "Is this how you speak to me?"


    Madam Henny snapped furiously in


    a rage,


    she hurled the cup of tea


    straight into Sophia''s face,


    10萬


    drenching herpletely.


    Florence and James froze, instantly realizing the trouble brewing.


    It was clear as day-Henny was deliberately humiliating Sophia.


    "Sophia? What kind of upbringing did you have?" rissa sneered, her voice dripping with contempt.


    "Your attitude is vile, your manners are nonexistent-and your taste in tea is downright revolting." A twisted


    smile curled on her lips as she leaned in with smug satisfaction.


    Sophia shook with rage, ready to p Madam Henny, but Alex quickly grabbed


    her wrist, his voice urgent but controlled.


    "Sophia, you''re acting governor. Don''t do something that could ruin your reputation."


    Sophia hesitated, watching Alex calmly bend down to pick up the teapot.


    "Listen carefully, Sophia," Alex murmured.


    "Sometimes people provoke you intentionally. They want you to strike first so they can drag your name through the mud, strip away your governorship, or even cost you your chance to be matriarch."


    "Who the hell do you think you are?" rissa shouted, her voice trembling with outrage.


    Alex''s eyes hardened. "Sophia, everyone in this room knows exactly why they''re here they came looking for trouble."


    In one swift, shocking movement, Alex raised the ceramic pot filled with steaming tea and smashed it directly into Madam Henny''s face.


    The pot shattered violently, hot tea sshing and burning across her skin. Henny screamed in agony as boiling tea and leaves soaked her face, leaving a trail of scalded redness and sticky tea leaves clinging everywhere. rissa stared in disbelief, stunned by Alex''s audacity. "You... How dare you!"


    Without hesitation, Alex grabbed another teapot and swung it ferociously at rissa''s face.


    "To tell you the truth, I''m not in the mood to hold back today," Alex growled fiercely.


    "And frankly, you''re both too arrogant. You''ve pushed my buttons perfectly, and now you''re paying the price."