Chapter 4: The Shift of Power
Lisa was frozen in place, her face pale as Dylan’s piercing gaze locked onto her. “If I ever hear you insult Molly again,” Dylan said coldly, his voice steady and sharp, “I’ll make you regret it in ways you can’t even imagine.” Lisa’s confidence wavered, her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. For the first time, she was truly afraid of the man she had belittled for years. Dylan didn’t wait for her response; he bent down to pick up Molly, who clutched his neck tightly, her tears slowly drying. “Let’s go,” he said softly to his daughter. Molly nodded, her voice small but steady. “Okay, Daddy.” Without another glance at Lisa, Dylan walked out of the house. Outside, the convoy of luxury cars awaited. A chauffeur opened the door of a sleek black Rolls-Royce, bowing slightly as Dylan and Molly got in. Lisa stood by the window, watching as the convoy disappeared down the street. Her shock gradually turned into indignation. “This has to be a setup,” she muttered, pacing back and forth. “There’s no way that loser has connections like that. He must’ve stolen money from Jane to hire those actors.” Fuming, Lisa snatched up her phone and made a video call to Jane.Jane was shocked. "What? What exactly happened? He's always been a coward. How could he dare to hit you?"
Lisa was momentarily speechless, thinking about the things she had said to Molly. She wasn't sure if Jane truly didn't care about Molly anymore, so she didn't dare to tell Jane the truth. Instead, Lisa feigned indignation and said, "Don't you believe me? I've been beaten and I'm bleeding! Do you still want to defend that good-for-nothing ex-husband of yours?" Jane quickly explained, "I'm not saying I don't believe you, I just want to know what happened!" Lisa spoke with a sense of grievance, "I was just telling him that raising a daughter costs a lot of money and that I hoped he would give you custody. He suddenly got angry and hit me! Did my words hurt his pride?" Jane sighed, "It must be that. He's just a loser, yet he refuses to listen to advice..." She glanced at her watch and said, "Don't worry, I'll definitely get justice for you! I'm going to call Dylan right now and make him apologize and pay for your medical expenses!" Hearing Jane's words, Lisa's face lit up with joy. "I knew you would help me! Where are you now? It looks very luxurious!" Jane smiled and said, "Royal Elysian Hotel. I've booked a banquet hall, waiting to sign a contract with the Nelson family. Once the contract is signed, I'll be the most successful businesswoman in the city!" "Congratulations! Then quickly resolve Dylan's issue before the Nelson family arrives. Don't let that good-for-nothing mess up the important matters!" Jane nodded in agreement and ended the video call. Then, she angrily dialed Dylan's phone. --- In the backseat of the Rolls-Royce, the atmosphere was light and playful. Dylan, trying to lift Molly's spirits, lightly tickled her, making her giggle uncontrollably. Across from him, seated in a corner, was John Nelson, his old ally and the patriarch of the Nelson family. Beside John sat his granddaughter, Helen, a young woman whose shyness was palpable. She sat straight, her hands folded nervously in her lap, her eyes often darting away from Dylan's. “Young master, it’s truly an honor to meet you in person after all these years,” John said, his voice quivering with emotion. "You’ve always been like a son to me." Dylan’s lips curled into a small, polite smile as he met John’s gaze. “John, you’ve always been loyal. It’s good to see you too.” John’s eyes glistened as he continued, “Loyalty? You’ve given me more than that. You’ve made me who I am today. Without you, I would still be nothing but a servant in the Grenville family, cleaning floors and fetching tea. You saw potential in me when no one else did, and because of you, I’m now the head of the Nelson family.” Dylan remained quiet, his gaze briefly softening at John’s words. The mention of his past with the Grenville family stirred memories, but he didn’t let them linger long. John’s face lit up with pride. “And there’s someone I want you to meet. My granddaughter, Helen.” He turned his gaze to the young woman beside him, and Helen’s cheeks flushed pink as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her eyes avoided Dylan’s, and she kept her hands tightly clenched in her lap. “She’s just returned from studying abroad,” John continued. “Helen’s been preparing herself for the day she’ll take over the Nelson legacy. I thought it would be a good opportunity for her to meet you today.” Dylan gave Helen a polite nod, noticing her shyness, and smiled warmly, though he wasn’t sure how to approach the young woman. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Nelson.” Helen’s voice was soft, barely above a whisper as she replied, “It’s… it’s an honor, sir.” Her eyes remained cast downward, and she didn’t look up at Dylan.John, noticing the tension, gave his granddaughter a gentle nudge, but Helen only seemed to shrink further into her seat, her shyness overwhelming.
“To celebrate your return, young master,” John continued, clearly eager to change the subject, “I’ve arranged a grand banquet at the Royal Elysian Hotel, the finest in the city. Every detail has been prepared to honor you.”
Molly’s eyes brightened at the mention of food. “A banquet? Does that mean lots of yummy food, Daddy?”
Dylan chuckled softly, ruffling Molly’s hair. “Yes, sweetheart. Lots of yummy food.”
As the car made its way through the city, John’s pride swelled, and he glanced fondly at his granddaughter. Since Dylan had divorced Jane today, he knew this was a chance for Helen to shine, to perhaps win Dylan’s favor. If she could become Dylan's wife, the Nelson family would rise to prominence.
Just as the atmosphere in the car grew lighthearted, Dylan’s phone buzzed. His brow furrowed when he saw the caller ID—Jane. He sighed, answering with reluctance. “What do you want, Jane?”
Jane’s voice erupted through the line, sharp and furious. “Dylan! How dare you lay your hands on Lisa? Have you lost your mind? She told me everything! You’ve crossed the line this time!”
“You’re nothing but a violent, greedy man!” she continued furiously.
Dylan’s expression darkened. “Jane, if you’ve called to lecture me, save your breath.”
“Lecture you?” Jane snapped. “You need to apologize to her immediately! Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused? If you don’t make this right, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
Dylan held back his anger, "I didn’t hit her. She was the one trying to hit Molly. I was just protecting my daughter!"
"You're lying! Molly is also my daughter, and Lisa would never hurt her! You must be angry because your little scheme was exposed by Lisa. Now you're taking your frustration out on a woman!" Jane said with disappointment.
"I always thought you were a useless man, but not a bad one. I never imagined you'd be so shameless! You're nothing but scum!"
Dylan was completely disheartened. He spoke coldly, "There’s a camera in the living room. Watch it yourself, and you’ll understand everything. Instead of standing here slandering me, why don’t you think about how your so-called best friend had the audacity to hit Molly!"
"If you actually cared about your own daughter, Lisa wouldn’t dare look down on her or insult her with words! She's our daughter, not some random stranger!"
Jane faltered for a moment before doubling down. “You’re just proving you’re unstable! If you don’t apologize, I’ll cut you off completely!”
Dylan let out a cold laugh. “Cut me off? Jane, I’ve been nothing but a shadow in your life for years. Do what you want. I don’t care anymore.”
“Dylan!” Jane’s voice cracked with frustration.
“I’m done with this conversation,” Dylan said firmly. “Goodbye, Jane.”
He hung up, his jaw clenched as he stared out the window. Molly, sensing his tension, reached out and held his hand.
At the Royal Elysian Hotel, Jane stared at her phone in disbelief, trembling with anger. “He’ll pay for this,” she muttered. “He. Will. Pay.”

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The room froze. The bow was not deep, but it was sharp, precise, and undeniable.The same people who had been laughing seconds ago now stared in stunned silence. The sound of a glass being set down too hard at the bar echoed like a gunshot.The man near the pillar shifted his weight, his face draining of color. “W–wait,” he stammered, his earlier confidence cracking. “You… you can’t be serious. He’s just—”“Enough,” the manager cut him off without even glancing his way. His voice carried the weight of authority, calm but absolute. “Mr. Grenville is not to be questioned.”The young bartender, who had whispered earlier, felt his throat close. His hands shook as he tried to polish a glass, but the cloth slipped from his fingers. He dared not meet Dylan’s eyes.Dylan finally slid his phone back into his pocket, his smirk widening just slightly. He didn’t look at the crowd, only at the man still bent before him. “Good,” he said quietly, as if the single word settled everything.The manager
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The tension in the room had barely begun to settle when a new layer of mockery surfaced.A man in a dark blazer, arms crossed, leaned forward slightly, his voice dripping with disdain. “Oh, look at him,” he said with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. “Grenville this, Grenville that. If you’re so important, why don’t you prove it? Or is this just all smoke and mirrors?”A few others around him chuckled, emboldened by his words.Dylan’s eyes flicked toward him lazily, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in a smirk that was all predator. “Smoke and mirrors, you say?” His voice was soft, slow, deliberate. “Funny. I’ve never met a man so confident in his ignorance.”A young bartender, who had been trying to remain unnoticed by the drama, finally whispered under his breath, “Yeah, big talk for someone who just walks in and stares at us like he owns the place.”Dylan’s head snapped toward him, sharper than anyone could have expected. “Walks in? I glide in,” he corrected, his tone slic
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The words hit the lobby like a dropped glass. Conversations stuttered, laughter faltered, and even the clink of glasses from the bar seemed to still.The older receptionist blinked, her lips parting as if she wanted to retort but couldn’t find the words. Dylan’s gaze stayed on her, sharp and unwavering.“Tell me,” Dylan drawled, straightening and letting his hands rest lightly on the counter, “do you really believe a clipboard and a checklist give you more power than me? That a pen stroke decides who belongs here?” He let out a quiet chuckle, slow and mocking. “Adorable.”The tall man near the pillar scoffed, pushing off it with his shoulder. “Big words for someone who can’t even walk in without stuttering at reception.”Dylan’s head turned lazily toward him, eyes narrowing with the faintest glimmer of amusement. “Stuttering?” His smirk deepened. “You must be mistaking me for yourself, since the only thing I’ve heard from your mouth so far is the nervous laugh of a man desperate to be
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Dylan’s eyes flicked toward the younger receptionist, cool and assessing, the kind of gaze that made people feel like they were being measured and found lacking. His voice was low, even, but laced with sharp amusement. “Why should I give my name?”The receptionist hesitated, her fingers tightening on the edge of the desk. She glanced at her colleague, then back at him, as if trying to decide whether to stand her ground or collapse under the quiet force radiating from him. “It’s… it’s just… protocol,” she said finally, a little too quickly. “Everyone has to give their name. Otherwise…”“Otherwise what?” Dylan leaned in slightly, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. His presence was calm, but the air around him seemed to thrum with a tension that made the busy lobby quiet down in patches.The older receptionist straightened, her expression firm, though the faint twitch in her jaw betrayed irritation—or perhaps fear. “Otherwise we can’t let you through. The boardroom is
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The SUV rolled to a smooth stop in front of the chic five-star hotel, its glass facade glinting like a mirror under the late sun. Valets rushed to open doors, their uniforms crisp, their movements rehearsed. But when Dylan stepped out, the hum of conversation near the entrance dipped, curiosity crackling in the air.Men in tailored suits lingered with cigars, their laughter fading as eyes shifted toward him. Women in jewel-toned gowns turned ever so slightly, lips curling, whispering behind manicured hands.“Is that… Dylan Grenville?” one voice murmured.“He actually showed his face here?” another scoffed.A tall man with slicked-back hair let out a low chuckle. “God, look at him. Plain shirt, no tie. Walks in like he belongs. Embarrassing.”A woman in crimson with earrings that glittered like small chandeliers gave a pitying laugh. “I almost thought he was a driver. Imagine—Dylan Cross reduced to this.”Their disdain rolled over him like smoke, but Dylan’s stride remained steady. His
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Inside the SUV, the low hum of the engine filled the silence. Dylan rested an elbow on the armrest, his fingers brushing against his jaw as he stared out the tinted window. His expression was unreadable, but his driver dared a glance through the mirror.“Sir,” the driver said cautiously, “you… handled it differently than usual.”Dylan’s lips twitched faintly, though it wasn’t a smile. “Sometimes words cut deeper than fists. He needed to feel both.”The driver nodded, gripping the wheel tighter. “The crowd—they’ll talk about this for weeks.”“That’s the point,” Dylan murmured. His gaze lingered on the fading image of the fruit stall. “Fear fades. Memory doesn’t.”⸻Back at the stall, the fruit seller still clutched his cheek, his breath shallow, his pride shattered. His knees buckled, and he sank onto the chair, staring at the ground as if the dust could swallow him whole.The villagers edged closer now that the SUV had vanished, their whispers growing bold.“You called him a beggar,”
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