The Sovereign

Chapter 2

The woman was his childhood sweetheart, Shanny.

"Why aren't you dead?!" Shanny's face flushed and then drained of color.

"Hmm… that's a long story." Fugaku didn't read too much into her reaction; after all, he had been gone for over two years.

"Fugaku..." The handsome young man beside Shanny's eyes lit up as if in recognition. A moment later, his expression shifted to one of pure mockery. "You're the useless bum who fled the Diningrat family wedding two years ago. So, you're still alive." The failed marriage between the Diningrat and Vegas families had been a massive scandal, a topic of gossip even to this day.

"And you are?" Fugaku's gaze finally settled on the young man, his brow furrowing slightly.

"I'm Shanny's boyfriend, Beckham." The young man draped his arm possessively around Shanny, the challenge in his eyes undisguised. "Shanny told me everything. Because of you, the Vegas family was ruined by the Diningrats. Their warrant for you is still active, yet you dare to return to the Northern region. You've got some nerve."

Fugaku fell silent, his gaze shifting to Shanny, a storm of confusion in his eyes. "Shanny, is this true?"

Shanny bit her lip, her expression pained. Finally, she met his eyes, her face a cold mask. "If you're not dead, then there's no need to hide it anymore. I know why you came back. For me, right?" Her eyes suddenly filled with disgust. "Give it up. I don't want my boyfriend to get the wrong idea. You've brought nothing but ruin to my family. The very thought of you makes me sick." "Look at you. Who knows what you've been doing all these years. No car, no house. What woman would ever want to marry you?"

"Beckham is different." Shanny's tone shifted as she proactively wrapped her arms around Beckham. "He's promised to help our family's business. Beckham is the man for me."

Hearing this, Fugaku simply sighed. His two years in the Celestial Forces had tempered him. The grand passions of romance now seemed trivial; what he valued more was the familial bond he shared with Shanny. But alas, the scenery remained the same, while the people had changed. His eyes turned impassive. He ignored them and walked straight toward the living room. He needed to see his father's condition; he knew a little about traditional medicine.

"Hold it. Who said you could come in?" Beckham sneered, moving to grab Fugaku's shoulder. Even though Shanny no longer liked Fugaku, the fact remained that they were childhood sweethearts. The thought made Beckham's skin crawl, and he decided to teach Fugaku a lesson.

Fugaku whipped his head around, his gaze piercingly cold. Beckham felt as if he had been plunged into an icy abyss. A terrified grunt escaped his lips as he stumbled backward and fell to the ground.

What kind of look was that?

A terrifying, murderous aura! As calm as if he were looking at a corpse!

"Move," Fugaku's tone was chilling. "I won't say it a second time."

"Fugaku, you stop right there!" His insistence on entering enraged Shanny. "My father is gravely ill! Are you trying to go in and provoke him?"

Fugaku merely glanced at her, his expression blank, and utterly ignored her.

Scrambling up from the floor, Beckham's eyes were dark with malice. "If you won't listen, then don't even think about walking. Break both his legs for me! Let him kneel before Uncle Dimitri's bed and beg for forgiveness!"

At his command, six of Beckham's bodyguards stepped out and surrounded Fugaku.

"Fugaku, run!" Anson shouted desperately.

But Fugaku seemed not to hear him. He kept his back to the bodyguards, his pace unhurried.

"Idiot," Beckham scoffed. Shanny watched on, her expression cold and indifferent.

Two bodyguards flanked him, lunging at him from the left and right. Just as their hands were about to touch him, Fugaku suddenly spun and threw a powerful punch.

The bodyguard on his left had his face caved in by the single, brutal blow. The man was sent flying backward as if hit by a battering ram, crashing into the guards behind him before collapsing, unconscious.

An absolute silence fell over the Vegas family's courtyard.

Shanny and Beckham stared, their eyes wide with disbelief, looking at Fugaku as if he were a monster. Anson was too terrified to move, his mouth hanging open as he stammered, unable to form a single word.

The remaining bodyguards froze, their eyes fixed warily on Fugaku as they formed a protective circle around Beckham, certain he would be the next target. But Fugaku did nothing. As if he had just swatted a fly, his expression remained as placid as ever. Without so much as a glance, he turned and continued walking toward the living room.

Beckham snapped out of his daze, panic flashing in his eyes. Shanny shrieked, "Fugaku, how dare you!"

It was then that she finally understood why he had dared to return. Though she didn't know what he had been through these past few years, it was clear that Fugaku had become terrifyingly strong.

"Why is it so noisy outside!" The commotion finally drew the attention of those inside the villa. An lavishly dressed older woman who bore a slight resemblance to Shanny walked out. But the moment she saw Fugaku approaching with a blank expression, her voice caught in her throat, and she let out a panicked scream.

The scream jolted everyone inside the house.

"What is it?"

"What's happening?"

But without exception, the moment they saw Fugaku, they all fell silent, their mouths agape as they stared at him in stunned disbelief.

"Shouldn't that jinx have died back then?"

"Is he the one causing all this racket?"

"What is he doing here? What does he want?"

Hearing their murmurs, Fugaku paused. His expression softened slightly as he pleaded, "Elders, I will explain the commotion later. For now, please just let me see Father."

"Stop!" Just as Fugaku was about to pass the group of elders, a sharp cry halted him. He turned to see Shanny's mother, Putri. She was pointing a trembling finger at him, her voice hysterical. "You jinx! You still have the face to come back? Do you feel you haven't caused the Vegas family enough harm?"

"Mother, it's not what you think…"

"Shut your mouth!" Putri cut him off mercilessly. Her eyes fell on the two unconscious bodyguards at the door, and sudden understanding dawned. She grew even more furious. "You dare to strike my people?"

"I think he's deliberately trying to harm us!"

Aunt Jane also pointed at Fugaku, her tone dripping with suspicion. "He doesn't return for so long, but shows up just as my brother is about to die. What are you after?"

"I think my brother's sudden collapse must be connected to him. It's possible Fugaku is the one who harmed him…"