Shen returned to Haven's hotel and immediately summoned a medic to his room. He slept for an entire day before checking out without much of a word.
"We hope you have a safe return, Lord Sovereign," said Stefan as Shen walked past him in silence, his expression unreadable.
He made his way back to the modest apartment shared by Ryona and her mother. His first words upon entering were calm and assured:
"The issue is settled."
But Ryona wasn't entirely convinced. She couldn't ignore the image still burning in her mind, the sight of Shen getting into an expensive luxury car with a stunning woman by his side. It had unsettled her.
Still, she brushed it off. What mattered was that the loans on Belle Monroe were gone. She could finally reopen her café and live without fear. That was enough for now.
A week later, at the headquarters of the Tucker Family's corporation, known simply as T Group, a man named Bictor Tucker strutted into the building.
He was the son of Tom Tucker, who in turn was the second son of Hela Tucker, the current matriarch of the Tucker bloodline.
Bictor was nothing extraordinary. Arrogant, petty, and cruel, he reveled in abusing those below him.
Acting Chairman of T Group for the past two years, he was notorious for one thing above all, being a womanizer of the worst kind.
As he walked through the glass entrance of the building, Bictor's eyes caught something divine.
A woman stood at the front desk, tall, poised, and wrapped in a body-hugging outfit that exaggerated every perfect curve.
Her waist was narrow, hips wide, and her presence almost cinematic. Bictor's jaw slackened as he ogled her from behind.
"Goddamn…" he muttered to himself.
He sidled next to her with that usual greasy smirk.
"Hey baby girl, what's a hot chick like you doing in a place like T Group?" he purred.
The woman, unfazed, tilted her sunglasses slightly, received a folder from the receptionist, and turned to him with a chilling smile.
"You should watch your mouth, little boy," she said coolly. "My boss is about to arrive and take over as Chairman of T Group."
She strutted toward the entrance with a confidence that sent a ripple through the air.
"W-Wait! What's your boss's name?" Bictor called out after her.
She looked over her shoulder, bit her lower lip seductively, and spoke just loud enough:
"Shen Tucker."
"Shen… Tucker?" Bictor repeated, confused at first, until realization hit him like a freight train.
"SHIT!!!"
He bolted toward the elevator, jamming the button repeatedly with trembling fingers.
"How could I forget?! It's today!" he muttered frantically.
The moment the elevator doors opened, he slammed the button for the 20th floor, the top floor of T Group.
When he burst into the boardroom, the meeting was already underway. His father, Tom Tucker, stood at the head of the table, speaking passionately about a business expansion into Russia.
Shen's mother, Hana Tucker, sat among the board members, her posture calm but alert.
Tom scowled at his son's disheveled entrance.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Bictor? Why are you panting like a damn fool?"
"Father… he's coming! Today's the day!" Bictor cried out.
Tom raised an eyebrow, unamused.
"Calm yourself and say it properly. Who's coming?"
Bictor scanned the room, spotted a chilled water bottle, snatched it, unscrewed the cap, and guzzled it down.
"Puhaa…!" he exhaled, drenched in sweat. "SHEN TUCKER IS COMING!!!"
Outside, a convoy of eleven luxury cars pulled up in synchronized precision. Ten black Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans flanked a central, dominant presence, a Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge Series II.
Employees crowded the lobby, gasping in awe.
The right-hand door of the Rolls-Royce opened first, and out stepped a striking woman. Xin Yin Jin, Shen's executive secretary, stunning and ice-cold in her professionalism.
Bictor stammered, recognizing her instantly. It was the same woman from the front desk earlier.
Xin Yin Jin walked gracefully to the other side of the vehicle. With elegance and power, she opened the door.
"We have arrived, Boss," she said softly.
Out stepped Shen Goddem Tucker, dressed in all black. An immaculate suit, a high-end watch gleaming on his wrist, black sunglasses masking his gaze. A chain-pin hung from his blazer, subtle but symbolic.
Xin Yin Jin handed him a dark cigar. With a grin, Shen struck the cigar against her shapely figure, igniting it.
"Boss, you tease," she said with a smirk, giggling as he winked back.
They entered the building together, brushing past Tom and Bictor Tucker without acknowledgment.
Hana looked down, guilt washing over her. She hadn't seen her son in eight years and she knew she hadn't earned his forgiveness.
Shen didn't spare her a glance.
Inside the Chairman's office, Shen and Xin Yin Jin took their positions.
She dusted off the leather seat for him. "Here you go, Boss."
Shen walked over, gently wiping the remaining dust from her hand. "Xin Yin Jin, you don't need to do all this yourself."
She smiled and stepped aside as he settled into the chairman's seat.
"Eight years," Shen murmured as he sank into the leather. "Leaving the Tucker Family household at seventeen was the best decision of my life."
Xin Yin Jin chuckled. "If you hadn't, we wouldn't have met, right?"
They shared a soft laugh. But the atmosphere quickly shifted.
Footsteps approached. Shen nodded to Yin Jin. She took her position beside him, tablet in hand.
The boardroom doors flung open.
Tom, Bictor, Hana, and the rest of the board burst in and froze.
Shen Tucker was seated in the Chairman's chair.
"Surprise, surprise, Uncle. Cousin." Shen grinned, exhaling smoke from his cigar.
Tom exploded. "You think you can just walk in and sit on that seat after leaving the Tucker family for eight years?! We literally threw you out!!!"
Shen laughed, mocking, cool.
"Hmm... how to put it..." He tapped his cigar. "Ah, yes. Mom called me and begged me to take over."
All eyes turned to Hana.
She didn't flinch. Arms crossed, she admitted, "I did."
"Sister, how could you let him—"
"Shut up, Tom!" Hana snapped. "You know damn well why. T Group is falling apart, thanks to your incompetent son, who can't keep his pants zipped or his mouth shut!"
She pointed directly at Bictor.
"And you! Every deal you've made in the last two years has been a disaster."
Just then, the door opened again.
Bictor's spoiled sister waltzed in, draped in designer fashion and followed by her gangster-looking boyfriend.
The moment she saw Shen, she froze.
"Hello, spoiled little brat. Still looking for a sugar daddy?" Shen said with venomous charm.
Her boyfriend stepped forward, chest puffed.
"You dare talk to my girl like that?! Someone's gotta put you in your place!"
He reached out and grabbed Shen's shoulder.
Xin Yin Jin sighed. She already knew.
CRASH!!!
In a flash, the boyfriend was hurled out the window, crashing down onto a car below. Screams erupted from the floor below.
The room went deathly silent.
Shen adjusted his blazer, brushing off imaginary dust. "Tch. Always the loudmouths who break the fastest."
He sat back down and blew out another puff of smoke.
"Listen up," Shen announced. "From now on, knock before entering. The Chairman doesn't like being disturbed by nonsense."
"And as for the Chairman…"
He took off his sunglasses and glared at them.
He tilted his head with a smirk.
"You're looking at him."
He snapped his fingers. Xin Yin Jin tapped her tablet, instantly sending out a bulletin across the T Group network.
Chairman: Shen Tucker. Effective Immediately.
Shen stood again.
"I said my mother begged me. But did I say I accepted right away?"
He gave a mocking clap.
"No. I waited. Because I wanted to watch it all burn first. And now its very amusing and pitiful."
His eyes blazed.
"My fams," he said boldly. "They say the eldest comes back for a mother's sake."
He raised his index finger and waves a decline gesture.
"Tch tch tch."
"I came back for my sake."
The boardroom was frozen. They were no longer looking at the boy who left eight years ago.
They were staring at a dragon.
"Dear Tuckers," Shen said, voice thundering.
He clicked his tongue.
"Watch out…"
"The Heir…"
"RETURN'S."
Shen leaned back, propped his feet on the glass table, and stared them down with cold disgust, fidgeting his right three fingers slowly and smoothly.
Bictor trembled in fury, fists clenched.
Tom burned in rage.
Hana… simply smiled.
Because Shen Goddem had returned, and he was ready for all-out family war.
---
Chapter 11 — End.