Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth

The Shift of Power

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.

She saw Lisa's bloodied face and asked in shock, "Lisa! What happened? What’s going on?"

“It’s Dylan!” Lisa wailed. “He hit me!”

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.”