Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth

The Confrontation at the Royal Elysian

Chapter 6: The Confrontation at the Royal Elysian

Dylan stood calm and unbothered, the corners of his lips curling in subtle amusement as Jane’s voice reached a fevered pitch. Her accusations were wild, her energy almost theatrical, and Bobby’s smug grin only added to the absurdity.

"Cheating on you?" Dylan’s voice was low but sharp, slicing through Jane’s tirade. He sneered, folding his arms. "Jane, the only affair here is yours—with this gentleman." He tilted his head toward Bobby, his tone dripping with mockery. "And let me clear something up—for the record, Helen and I met today. Your imagination deserves an award."

Jane’s face flushed an angry crimson as she jabbed a shaking finger at Dylan. She was furious; she was most afraid of being labeled as an adulterer.

"Don’t you dare twist this on me!" she shrieked. "Everyone knows you’re nothing but a broke fraud! And her—" She turned her fiery glare to Helen, who stood composed beside Dylan. "What is she supposed to be? Another one of your desperate lies? Are you going to tell us she’s from the Nelson family too and the one who invited you here?"

Helen exchanged a quick glance with Dylan, her lips twitching as if suppressing a laugh.

Dylan’s response was as smooth as ever. "Funny you should mention that, Jane," he said, his tone as cold as it was calm. "Because Helen is from the Nelson family. But, no, she’s not the one who invited me here. That honor belongs to someone else. Nice try, though."

The crowd erupted into a mix of laughter and skeptical murmurs. "This guy’s delusional," a woman quipped, earning a few more chuckles.

The crowd’s laughter grew louder, and a man near the back called out, “Oh, so now you’re dating royalty too? What’s next? Gonna tell us you’re best friends with the president?”

Another chimed in, “Or maybe you’re an undercover billionaire! That’s why you’re dressed like… well, that.”

The room filled with more laughter, and Dylan’s calm exterior remained unshaken.

Bobby stepped forward, his laugh condescending and loud enough to draw attention. "Oh, please," he sneered. "Jane, your broke, pauper ex-husband here has a wild imagination—I’ll give him that. But claiming ties to the Nelson family? That’s a new low, even for him."

The growing commotion attracted the attention of a tall, elegant woman in a black suit. The sharp click of her heels echoed against the marble floor as she approached. Her poised demeanor immediately silenced the chatter.

It was Vivian, the managed the Royal Elysian Hotel, Vivian Grey.

"Vivian!" Bobby greeted her with a smile clearly showing they were familiar with each other, his tone dripping with false charm. "Perfect timing! You’ve got to help us sort this out." He gestured toward Dylan and Helen dismissively. "These two lunatics are claiming to be connected to the Nelson family and are making quite the scene."

Vivian’s sharp eyes scanned the group. She paused, her gaze lingering on Dylan and Helen as if trying to piece together the situation. "And what exactly are they claiming?" she asked coolly.

Bobby puffed out his chest, his confidence swelling with the audience. "This guy," he said, pointing at Dylan, "claims he was invited here by the Nelson family for dinner. And her—" he gestured toward Helen—"she’s pretending to be a Nelson herself! It’s ridiculous."

Vivian’s expression froze for a split second before a bead of sweat slid down her temple. She did know that the Nelson family was indeed scheduled to entertain someone important here tonight. Could it really be Dylan?

"Well, I..." Vivian paused, gathering her thoughts. “I do know that the Nelson family were supposed to be entertaining someone very important. I wasn’t told who exactly. It was supposed to be a surprise." She let the words hang in the air, carefully choosing not to directly deny Dylan’s involvement but also not fully confirming it. "So, it’s possible, I suppose."

The tension in the room thickened as murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“Wait… could he actually be telling the truth?” someone whispered.

A woman near the bar leaned toward her friend, her voice low. “Do you think he could be telling the truth?” she asked, eyeing Dylan. “I mean, he’s not acting like a conman.”

“I don’t know,” her friend replied, narrowing her eyes. “But the Nelson family? That’s a pretty bold claim. What if… what if he actually does have some connection to them?”

Bobby, sensing the uncertainty in the room, quickly stepped in, his tone laced with feigned assurance. “Vivian, let me clear this up. The Nelson family isn’t here for them,” he said, gesturing toward Dylan and Helen dismissively. “They’re here because Jane invited them to celebrate their recent cooperation.”

Vivian’s eyes darted toward Jane, then back to Dylan and Helen, her unease growing. “Is that so?” she asked, her voice even but sharp.

Bobby nodded firmly. “Exactly. These two are just… crashing the party. Clearly.”

But the sweat on Vivian’s brow betrayed her thoughts. What if they weren’t bluffing?

Straightening her jacket, Vivian cleared her throat and addressed the room. “For clarity,” she began, her voice carrying authority, “Royal Elysian Hotel is a property of the Nelson family. I know every single member of their circle and their invited guests.” Her sharp gaze turned to Dylan and Helen, who remained unfazed amidst the accusing stares. “If these two are impostors, I’ll have them escorted out immediately."

"Finally!" Jane hissed, crossing her arms.

The crowd parted as Vivian pushed forward, her heels clicking against the marble floor like a metronome counting down to a verdict.

As she approached Dylan and Helen, Vivian’s eyes narrowed, carefully examining their faces. Dylan met her gaze with calm confidence, while Helen stood composed, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

The silence stretched, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Then suddenly, Vivian’s expression darkened.

Her voice rose, firm and filled with authority. “Security!” she barked, pointing an accusing finger at Dylan and Helen. “Get these two people out of the hotel immediately!”