The Tyrant's Return : From Beggar to Sovereign

Chapter 7: The Master of the Throne

The words from Manager Sterling went through the room like a cold blast of wind. Chloe felt the blood completely leave her face. She took two steps backward, her legs shaking so violently that she almost tripped over her own long red dress. She stared at Ethan, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

“Chairman? Chairman Vance?” Beatrice gasped, her eyes stretching so wide they looked like they would pop right out of her skull. She shook her head wildly, pointing a trembling finger at Ethan. “No! This is a trick! This is a massive mistake! Manager Sterling, you have been fooled by this trash! He is Ethan, my useless son-in-law! He drives a broken delivery scooter! He does not even have enough money to buy a decent pair of socks!”

Manager Sterling did not even look at Beatrice. He kept his head bowed deeply toward Ethan, waiting for his ultimate command. The six massive security guards stood like iron statues, their eyes fixed on the Miller family, ready to jump if Ethan gave the word.

Ethan stood tall in his fine black silk suit. He looked down at Chloe, Beatrice, and the bandaged Julian with complete indifference. His face was like a stone wall. There was no love left in his eyes, only a cold, dark void.

“Lock the doors,” Ethan said, his voice flat and calm. “If they cannot pay the one hundred and fifty thousand dollars in cash, put them to work. Let them clean the grease off the kitchen floors and wash the dirty plates until the debt is settled. If they break a single glass, add another thousand dollars to their bill.”

Julian let out a wild, muffled scream of rage behind his thick white medical bandages. He tried to rush forward to punch Ethan, but two massive guards instantly stepped in. They grabbed Julian by his arms, twisting them behind his back and forcing him down to his knees on the hard floor. Julian groaned in deep agony as his broken jaw hit the marble.

“Ethan, please!” Chloe cried out, tears finally spilling from her eyes. She reached out to grab his jacket sleeve, but Ethan stepped back, avoiding her touch like she was a diseased rat. “We are still married! You cannot do this to me! I am a lady! I cannot wash dirty dishes in a kitchen!”

“You chose your path, Chloe,” Ethan said coldly. He turned his back on them and walked toward the exit. “Enjoy your new job.”

As the heavy double doors closed behind Ethan, the loud, terrified screams of Beatrice and Chloe filled the VIP room. The guards were already dragging them toward the back kitchen.

Ethan walked out into the cool night air. The heavy rain had finally stopped, leaving the city streets shining under the glowing yellow lights. Thomas was already waiting by the door, holding the passenger seat open of the massive black luxury SUV. Ethan climbed inside, and the vehicle drove smoothly into the dark night, leaving the Jade Palace behind.

The next morning, the sun rose brightly over the city skyline, casting long golden shadows across the massive glass buildings.

Ethan stood in front of a giant mirror in a luxury penthouse apartment. He was wearing a custom-made, three-piece midnight blue suit. Every single thread was perfect. His shoes were polished to a mirror shine. His hair was pushed back neatly, revealing his sharp jawline and deep, piercing eyes. The tired, broken delivery driver was gone forever. Today, the true king was returning to his throne.

He walked out of the apartment and got into the back of a luxury car. Ten minutes later, the vehicle pulled up to the front entrance of the Vance Group Headquarters.

The Vance Group was the largest, most ruthless, and most powerful business empire in the entire country. The building itself was a massive seventy-story skyscraper made of dark glass and steel, towering over the city like a giant monster. They owned banks, shipping lines, hotels, and technology factories. Whoever controlled the Vance Group controlled the entire economy of the city.

For the past three years, the company had been run by a board of greedy directors because the old Chairman had passed away. But today, the secret will was being opened. The true heir was taking over.

Ethan stepped out of the car. He looked up at the giant gold letters on the building: VANCE GROUP. A cold smile appeared on his face.

He walked through the massive rotating glass doors and stepped into the main lobby. The lobby was as large as a football field, filled with white marble, giant water fountains, and hundreds of business workers in expensive suits walking hurriedly to their meetings. Security guards stood at every corner, checking badges with strict eyes.

Ethan walked with long, confident strides toward the private VIP elevator that led straight to the top floor. Everyone who walked past him stopped to look. They did not know who he was, but the powerful, heavy aura around him made them automatically step aside. He looked like a god walking among normal humans.

But just as Ethan crossed the center of the marble lobby, near the front reception desk, a loud, frantic voice broke through the quiet hum of the building.

“Please, you have to let me see the manager!” a woman pleaded desperately. Her voice was cracked, tired, and full of panic. “My family company is going to go bankrupt by noon today! We just need an emergency loan of five million dollars! Just five minutes with the loan director, please!”

Ethan stopped his footsteps. He turned his head slowly toward the sound.

There, standing by the front desk, was Chloe Miller.

She looked completely different from the proud queen at the banquet last night. Her red dress from yesterday was wrinkled and stained with grey dishwater grease. Her hair was messy, her makeup was ruined by old tears, and her eyes were red from staying up all night washing thousands of dirty plates at the Jade Palace. Her hands were red and raw from the harsh kitchen soap. She was holding a messy folder of company papers, begging a young female receptionist who was looking at her with total boredom and disgust.

“Madam, I already told you three times,” the receptionist said coldly, snapping her chewing gum. “You do not have an appointment. The Vance Group does not give loans to low-level, failing families. Please leave before I call security to throw you out into the street.”

“Please!” Chloe cried, dropping to her knees right in front of the desk, her tears splashing onto the marble floor. “My mother is in jail because of our debts! If I don't get this loan, we will lose our house! I will beg on the streets!”

Ethan stood just five feet away from her. He watched her crawl on the ground, the exact same way she had ordered him to crawl just twenty-four hours ago.

Chloe, crying bitterly, suddenly felt a shadow fall over her body. She stopped weeping and slowly raised her head, looking up.