The Tyrant's Return : From Beggar to Sovereign

Chapter 4: Who Owns the Franchise

Manager Henderson stood behind the glass desk, his entire body shaking like a leaf in a winter storm. Cold sweat ran down his forehead, dripping onto his expensive grey suit. His eyes were wide as he stared at the solid gold card. The roaring lion emblem seemed to glare back at him. His hands trembled so much he could barely pick up the office telephone.

Kevin Vance rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his leather jacket. He let out a loud, annoyed snort.

“Manager Henderson, why are you frozen like a fool? It is just a piece of fake metal from a toy shop. Call your security guards and tell them to beat this idiot up. He is wasting my precious shopping time.”

“Shut your mouth!” Manager Henderson suddenly screamed. His voice was high and panicked. He did not even look at Kevin. He quickly dialed a secret number on the phone, his fingers hitting the buttons with frantic speed.

The call connected immediately. On the other side, an older man with a very deep, powerful voice answered. It was Mr. Harrison, the multi-millionaire owner of the largest car franchise network in the province.

“Sir! Please come down to the main showroom right now!” Manager Henderson gasped into the phone, his voice cracking with pure terror. “A young man just walked into the building. He has the Gold Lion Card. The solid gold one, Sir. He wants to see you this very second.”

There was a sudden loud crash on the other end of the line. It sounded like Mr. Harrison had dropped his expensive crystal glass.

“What did you say? The Gold Lion Card? Do not touch him. Do not look at him wrong. If you breathe too loudly near him, I will end you. I am coming right now!”

The phone went dead.

Less than two minutes later, the screeching of tires echoed outside the glass doors. A luxury sedan parked crookedly at the curb, and a heavy-set older man in a fine black tuxedo burst through the entrance. He was running so fast he was panting for air, his tie completely messy.

This was Mr. Harrison.

He did not look at the expensive cars, and he did not look at Kevin Vance. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on Ethan’s damp delivery uniform.

Mr. Harrison ran straight toward Ethan, sliding slightly on the polished marble floor. He stopped right in front of the young driver and dropped to his knees, bowing his head so low it almost touched Ethan’s wet shoes.

“Young Master Vance!” Mr. Harrison cried out, his voice filled with deep submission. “I am deeply sorry for not greeting you at the gate. My name is Harrison. My entire life, my entire business, everything I own belongs to the Vance Global Empire. Please forgive my ignorance!”

Kevin’s mouth fell wide open. His eyes almost popped out of his head. He took a step back, his brain completely unable to process what he was seeing.

“Mr. Harrison? Are you insane? Why are you bowing to this broke househusband? He is a delivery driver. He has no money. He cleans toilets for the Miller family!”

Mr. Harrison stood up, his face turning bright red with absolute fury. He turned around and looked at Manager Henderson, his eyes full of murderous rage.

“You worthless fool! What did you do to our ultimate boss? You allowed this trashy kid to insult the supreme leader of our entire empire?”

Manager Henderson fell to his knees, weeping loudly. He began to slap his own face over and over again.

“I did not know, Sir! I thought he was a beggar! Young Master Vance, please have mercy on me! I have a family to feed!”

Ethan looked down at the crying manager, his expression completely flat, cold, and merciless.

“You told your security guards to break my legs. You said the smell of poverty was ruining your mood.”

Mr. Harrison did not wait another second. He stepped forward and kicked Manager Henderson’s desk chair over.

“You are fired! Pack your things and get out of this city. If I see your face in this province by tomorrow morning, I will make sure you spend the rest of your life in a dark cell! Guards, throw this garbage out into the mud!”

The two security guards, who were previously pointing their batons at Ethan, instantly dropped their weapons. They grabbed Manager Henderson by his expensive suit jacket and dragged him kicking and screaming across the marble floor, throwing him headfirst into the wet dirt outside.

Mr. Harrison then turned back to Ethan, bowing his head very respectfully. He quickly pulled a set of silver keys and a leather folder from his jacket pocket.

“Young Master, according to the supreme rules of the Gold Lion Card, this entire dealership franchise, the land, and all one hundred luxury vehicles are now legally transferred under your name. Here is the ownership deed. It is signed and complete. The black luxury SUV you pointed at is fully fueled and ready for your command.”

Ethan took the silver keys and the leather folder. He did not say thank you. He did not need to. This was all his to begin with.

He walked toward the exit, his heavy boots making a clear, firm sound on the floor. Kevin Vance stood frozen on the pavement outside the glass doors, his face completely pale and blank. He looked like a statue of stone. His model girlfriend had already run away in fear.

Ethan unlocked the massive black luxury SUV. The bright headlights flashed, cutting through the dark night air. He opened the door and climbed into the plush leather seat, starting the powerful engine. The beast roared to life with a deep, terrifying sound.

Ethan rolled down the tinted window and looked out at Kevin, who was shivering in the cold rain.

“Go tell your cousin Julian to enjoy his broken face,” Ethan said, his voice dropping like ice. “Because very soon, your entire family will be begging me for a drop of water.”

Ethan slammed his foot on the gas pedal. The luxury SUV sped forward, splashing a huge wave of dirty, muddy street water directly onto Kevin’s expensive leather jacket and gold chains. Kevin was left standing alone on the pavement, completely soaked in mud, his body shaking with pure terror.

Ethan drove smoothly through the city streets, the wipers clearing the rain from his windshield. He felt a sense of peace.

But just as he turned the corner toward the main highway, his cheap smartphone on the passenger seat suddenly lit up.

A loud buzz vibrated through the car. A new text message flashed brightly on the screen. It was from his wife, Chloe Miller.

Ethan glanced down and read the words on the screen. His grip on the steering wheel instantly tightened until his knuckles turned completely white, and his eyes turned into fires of pure rage.

The text message read:

“Meet at the Jade Palace restaurant for the divorce right now, or I turn off your sister’s life support.”