Zenith's New Master: The Lost Sterling heir Returns

CHAPTER 7

Lily's shock lasted all of three seconds before her expression shifted into something sharp and contemptuous.

"Well, well," she said. "Look who crawled out from whatever hole he died in." She tilted her head, studying Ethan with pity. "Is this why you're here? Did you come to beg? To get on your knees and plead for another chance?"

Damien burst out laughing. "That's exactly what he's here for! The pathetic dog came back to lick the hand that beat him!"

"How touching," Lily said, pressing a hand to her chest in mock sympathy. "Three years of being used and he still can't let go." She leaned into Damien's arm. "He must really have nothing else in his miserable little life."

Ethan said nothing. He stood with his hands in his pockets, watching them with an expression that revealed nothing.

"What's wrong?" Damien stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "Nothing to say? No tears? No begging?" He gestured at the ground before him. "Go on then. Kneel. Beg for mercy like the dog you are and maybe—maybe—I'll consider letting you leave with all your teeth."

"Kneel, Ethan," Lily repeated, her voice hardening. "You owe us that much at least. Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused just by being alive?"

People were beginning to glance over—arriving guests, corporate executives, staff—their attention caught by the commotion at the entrance.

Ethan watched them both for a moment longer. Then he exhaled slowly and stepped forward. "Get out of my way."

The laughter that followed was immediate and vicious.

"Get out of your way?" Damien doubled over with exaggerated amusement. "Did you hear that, Lily? The trash is giving us orders now!"

"You should be more careful with your words," Lily said, her amusement gone, replaced by cold irritation. "You're standing outside a building full of the most powerful people in this city. You have nothing and you are nothing. One word from Damien and your life gets considerably worse than a dog cage."

"Speaking of which," Damien straightened, smoothing his jacket with a satisfied smile. "You should know what day this is, trash. Today I become the official partner of Zenith Global Industries. My family's project gets signed off by the new chairman this afternoon." He spread his arms wide, gesturing at the tower behind him. "This building, this empire—it's essentially becoming part of my future. While you?" He looked Ethan up and down with contempt. "You're still exactly what you've always been. A worthless piece of garbage with no name, no family, and no future."

Ethan looked at him and chuckled softly.

"What?" Damien's smile flickered.

"Nothing," Ethan said. "Just that it isn't certain yet whether you'll be securing that partnership."

Damien's face darkened instantly. "What did you just say to me?"

"You heard me."

"You arrogant little—" Damien turned sharply, spotting two security guards posted near the entrance. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers. "Guards. This man doesn't have an invitation. Remove him from the premises."

The two guards approached immediately, recognizing Damien Cross and responding to his authority without question.

"Sir," the lead guard said to Ethan"This is a private event. Please produce your invitation or vacate the premises."

"I have one," Ethan said simply.

"He's lying," Lily said immediately, stepping forward with absolute confidence. "He's a nobody. A former warehouse worker who somehow found out about this event and decided to crash it. He has no invitation."

The gathering crowd had grown now—executives pausing on their way inside, assistants whispering to each other, a small audience forming around the entrance steps.

"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," the guard repeated.

Ethan reached into his pocket and produced the exclusive Sterling access card—matte black, embossed with the crimson crest, different from anything the guards had seen before.

Damien took one look at it and burst out laughing. "Again with the fake cards! Lily, he did the same thing last night at a jewelry store! He actually carries around counterfeit cards and expects people to believe him!"

Lily shook her head with theatrical disbelief. "He's been doing this everywhere. It's embarrassing. Someone should really call the police."

The lead guard looked at the card, then at Damien, then back at Ethan's plain clothes. The calculation was visible on his face.

"Sir, this card cannot be verified. Please leave the premises immediately."

"The card is legitimate," Ethan said. "Verify it properly before you make a decision you'll regret."

"Are you threatening security personnel?" The guard stepped closer, squaring his shoulders. "Leave now or we will physically remove you."

"I'm warning you," Ethan said quietly, meeting the guard's eyes directly. "Don't touch me. You'll regret it."

The surrounding crowd had gone quiet, watching.

Damien laughed. "Did he just threaten you? Throw him out! Break his legs if you have to—I'll cover any liability personally!"

The guard reached for the baton at his hip, drew it in one practiced motion, and swung it directly at Ethan's shoulder.

Ethan was no longer where he'd been standing.

He'd moved with a speed that made several onlookers gasp—a slight, effortless sidestep that left the baton cutting through empty air. Before the guard could recover his balance, Ethan's palm connected squarely with his face.

The sound was like a thunderclap.

The guard left his feet completely, sailed backward through the air, and crashed hard into the marble wall of the entrance. Plaster cracked on impact. He slid down slowly, leaving a visible dent in the wall behind him.

For three full seconds, nobody moved.

Then the guard dragged himself upright, his legs shaking beneath him. He turned his head and vomited blood onto the polished steps. His eyes, when they found Ethan again, had lost all professional composure—replaced entirely by rage and humiliation.

"All units to the main entrance," he rasped into his radio, his voice wet and broken. "Subdue the suspect. Full force." He spat blood and pointed a trembling finger at Ethan. "I want every bone in his body broken.”