The Tyrant's Return : From Beggar to Sovereign

Chapter 1: The Birthday Banquet

The grand ballroom of the Imperial Crest Hotel was filled with bright lights, loud music, and rich people. Everyone wore expensive clothes and drank costly wine. But in the middle of this beautiful room stood Ethan.

He was thirty years old, but he looked much older because he worked three jobs every single day. Right now, he was wearing a dirty delivery uniform with a cheap kitchen apron tied around his waist. His hands were rough and dry from hard work.

Ethan was not supposed to be a guest here. He was here to work. He was a delivery driver, but his mother-in-law had called him to help the hotel staff for free.

He held a heavy silver tray loaded with clean glasses. His feet ached inside his old shoes. He looked across the room and saw his wife, Chloe Miller.

Today was her twenty-fifth birthday. She looked like a queen in a beautiful white dress. Around her neck was a diamond necklace. Ethan knew that necklace very well. He had skipped meals and worked sixteen hours a day for months just to help her buy it.

But Chloe was not looking at Ethan. She was sitting closely next to a young man named Julian Vance. Julian was the handsome heir to a rich real estate company. He wore a suit that cost more than Ethan could earn in three years. Julian had his arm around Chloe, and Chloe was smiling at him.

Ethan felt a sharp pain in his chest. He walked toward their table, his heart sinking into his stomach.

Beatrice Miller, Ethan’s mother-in-law, saw him coming. Her face instantly twisted in deep disgust. She stood up and blocked his path, speaking so loudly that the nearby guests stopped talking to look.

“Look what the wind blew in,” Beatrice sneered, her voice cutting through the music. “Why do you look like a beggar at my daughter’s elite party? You are a total embarrassment to our family.”

Ethan kept his head down. “Mother, you called me to bring the extra glasses. I came straight from my delivery shift.”

“Do not call me mother,” Beatrice snapped, her eyes full of hatred. “You are just a broke loser. My late husband made a huge mistake by forcing Chloe to marry you three years ago. You have brought nothing but shame to our name.”

Julian laughed softly, swirling the red wine in his glass. He looked at Ethan like he was looking at a piece of dirt on the road. “So this is the famous househusband? Chloe, darling, I cannot believe you live with this garbage man. He smells like cheap sweat and grease.”

Chloe did not defend her husband. She just crossed her arms and looked away, her face full of boredom and annoyance. “Ethan, why did you have to wear that dirty uniform here? You are ruining my special night. Just put the tray down and leave.”

Ethan looked at his wife. “Chloe, it is your birthday. I worked extra shifts to buy you a gift too.” He reached into his pocket to pull out a small, simple silver ring he had saved up for.

Before he could show it, Julian stood up. He intentionally stuck his foot out and kicked Ethan’s ankle.

Ethan lost his balance. The heavy silver tray shook in his hands. Three glasses tipped over, and a stream of dark red wine poured out, splashing directly onto Julian’s shiny leather shoes.

“Oh my god,” Beatrice screamed, clapping her hands in horror. “Look what you did to Young Master Julian’s shoes. They are custom made from Italy.”

Julian’s face turned red with anger. He stepped forward and looked down at Ethan. “You clumsy pig. Do you know how much these shoes cost? You cannot buy them even if you sell both of your kidneys.”

Ethan tried to stand straight. “You tripped me on purpose.”

“Shut up,” Beatrice yelled, slapping Ethan hard across the face.

The loud smack echoed in the ballroom. Ethan’s cheek burned with pain, and his head thudded. The entire room started laughing at him. People whispered and pointed fingers at the pitiful delivery boy.

“Get down on your knees right now,” Beatrice ordered, pointing at the floor. “Clean the wine off Young Master Julian’s shoes with your bare hands. Wipe them until they shine.”

Ethan felt a drop of sweat run down his neck. He looked at Chloe, his eyes begging her for help. “Chloe, please.”

Chloe finally looked at him, but her eyes were colder than ice. “Do what my mother says, Ethan. You made the mess. Get down on your knees and clean his shoes. After this party, we are getting a divorce. Julian can give me the life I want. You are just dead weight around my neck.”

Julian smirked. He held his foot out right in front of Ethan’s face. “Come on, boy. Get down on your knees. Bow your head to your betters.”

For three long years, Ethan had endured everything. He had cleaned their house, cooked their food, and taken their insults because of a secret promise he made to his dying grandfather. He had acted like a weak dog to keep his sick little sister in the hospital. He had loved Chloe with all his heart.

But looking at her now, sitting next to another man and mocking his poverty, something inside Ethan snapped. Hot blood rushed to his brain. The fear vanished. A terrible, dark coldness filled his eyes.

“You want me to clean your shoes?” Ethan asked. His voice was low and quiet, but it sounded like a ghost whispering.

“Yes, clean them,” Julian barked.

Ethan did not bend his knees. Instead, he gripped the heavy edge of the silver tray with both hands. He swung it with all his strength.

The heavy silver tray slammed directly into Julian’s face.

A loud, sickening crunch broke the air. The force of the blow shattered Julian’s nose and jaw instantly. Blood and teeth flew across the white tablecloth, splashing onto Chloe’s white dress. Julian let out a wild scream of agony and flew backward, crashing hard onto the floor, clutching his broken face.

The ballroom went completely silent. Nobody breathed.

Beatrice shrieked like a dying animal, jumping back. “You monster. You killed him. Security, break his legs.”

Chloe scrambled away in terror, staring at the blood on her dress and then at Ethan. She could not believe this was the same husband who never talked back. “Ethan, are you crazy? You are dead. Julian’s family will destroy you.”

Ethan threw the bent silver tray onto Julian’s bleeding body. He ripped the cheap apron off his waist and threw it into the dirt. He stood perfectly straight, his shoulders broad and his posture commanding. The weak, pitiful look was entirely gone. His eyes looked like a killer shark’s.

“We are done,” Ethan said, staring down at Chloe. “You want a divorce? You have it. But remember this night, Chloe. Everything you think you own, everything this rich bastard promised to give you, I will take it all away. You will beg me for a piece of bread.”

Nobody dared to stop him. The rich guests moved back in fear as Ethan walked past them. He walked out of the hot ballroom, out of the luxury hotel, and stepped into the dark, pouring rain.

The cold water soaked his uniform. He reached into his pocket and pulled out an old, rusty burner phone that he had not turned on for three years. He dialed a single number.

The phone rang once and connected. An old, trembling voice filled with deep respect spoke from the other side. “Young Master? Is that really you? Has the time come?”

Ethan looked up at the dark sky, his voice cold and sharp.

“Thomas, the three-year vow is over. Bring the cars.”