"Who is the fool daring to cause a scene in the Imperial Residence!" A majestic roar of fury suddenly exploded within the hall.
Hearing this, Wesley Wang immediately wiped the rage from his face, replacing it with a fawning, oily smile as he hurried forward to greet the newcomer.
"Butler Lee! What brings you here personally?" Wesley asked with profound respect.
Internally, however, Wesley was feeling a flicker of unease.
He stole a glance at Ethan, wondering if this pathetic loser truly had some connection to President Natalie.
Ethan ignored Wesley's internal theatrics.
He kept his gaze calm and steady on the approaching Butler Lee, asking indifferently, "Did Natalie Liu send you?"
Butler Lee came to a halt.
He looked Ethan up and down—taking in his plain, inexpensive clothes with a look of supreme condescension—before barking, "What kind of creature are you? You think you're worthy of speaking President Natalie's name?"
He followed up with a sharp, piercing interrogation: "Where did you get the dog-like gall to come to the Imperial Residence and act so wildly!"
Ethan didn't immediately acknowledge the shouting.
Instead, he leaned down and with great care, helped Mrs. Ye up from her knees. Only then did he lift his eyes to counter the man: "And who exactly are you?"
Sarah Su let out a cold snort from the sidelines, mocking him, "Hmph! You don't even recognize him, yet you have the nerve to claim you know President Natalie?"
Wesley chimed in, pointing at the older man with triumphant arrogance. "Open your dog eyes and look closely! This is the House Manager of the entire Imperial Residence!"
He even added with a boastful flourish, "The only reason I can hold my wedding here is because Butler Lee did me the honor of lending me the estate for the day."
Bathed in their flattery, Butler Lee looked immensely satisfied.
He made a show of adjusting his tie, soaking in the reverent gazes of the crowd.
However, Ethan let out a soft, knowing scoff. "Oh, so that's who you are. I see now—you're just a thief!"
Butler Lee's face twisted instantly.
He glared at Ethan and roared, "Kid, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?"
Ethan's gaze turned icy as he exposed the truth without mercy. "Lending out the Imperial Residence to outsiders without the owner's permission... if that isn't the act of a thief, what is?"
Hit where it hurt most, Butler Lee became hysterical with rage.
He threatened Ethan with a venomous snarl: "Young man, disasters are born from the tongue!"
He pointed a warning finger directly at Ethan's nose. "Offend me, and you will find no place to stand in all of River City. Kneel now, kowtow, and apologize—and I might just let you live!"
Sarah added fuel to the fire from the side. "Butler Lee is the President's favorite! You'd better get on your knees and start begging for forgiveness!"
Hearing this, a sliver of supreme, mocking coldness touched the corners of Ethan's mouth. "Hmph. President Natalie... quite the reputation she has."
He paused, a hint of disappointment coloring his tone. "It seems she's nothing more than a blind, empty-headed socialite."
This comment pushed Butler Lee over the edge.
He jumped with rage, screaming, "You dare insult President Natalie! Men! Cripple him!"
At his command, a group of ferocious guards lunged forward like a pack of hungry wolves, surrounding Ethan.
But in the span of a few heartbeats, Ethan had effortlessly neutralized the five leading attackers.
Having dealt with the pawns, Ethan began to advance, step by heavy step, toward Butler Lee.
Butler Lee watched his guards wailing on the floor.
Though his heart was beginning to hammer against his ribs in fear, he maintained a fierce facade. "Kid, you can fight, I'll give you that!"
"Ethan..." Just then, a trembling cry came from behind him.
Ethan froze and whipped around. His pupils contracted instantly.
His mother was being held in a death grip by the remaining guards, a cold, sharpened fruit knife pressed firmly against her throat.
With his mother held hostage, Ethan was forced to stop.
A bone-chilling killing intent erupted in his eyes as he warned them, word by deliberate word: "Let go of my mother, or I will make you regret ever being born into this world!"
Seeing that Ethan didn't dare move, Butler Lee hurried forward. He swung his arm back and—SLAP!—delivered a thunderous blow to Ethan's face.
After taking the hit, Ethan's body remained as straight as a spear, unmoving.
He slowly turned his head back, his eyes like those of a reaper, locking onto Butler Lee with a gaze meant only for the dead.