James Mester greeted him with utmost respect. “Mr. Shelby, on behalf of the entire East Coast Chamber of Commerce, I welcome you back.”
“Welcome, Mr. Shelby!”
“Welcome, Mr. Shelby!”
“Welcome, Mr. Shelby!”
One by one, prominent figures of the East Coast business world stepped out of over a hundred luxury cars. These were the titans of their industries, yet in the presence of Chris Shelby, they were deferential and humble.
Because everyone knew the truth: Chris was the king of the East Coast.
To him, these so-called giants were nothing more than ants.
The surrounding crowd was stunned. None of them had expected the return of the once-reigning king of the East Coast.
Chris gave a wry smile as he looked at James. “Why such a grand scene? Careful, someone might report me for showing off!”
He recalled a recent incident where a local boss, freshly released from prison, was greeted by a crowd of followers. Within days, the showy reception landed the man back behind bars.
Chris got into Juliette’s car, and the convoy of over a hundred luxury vehicles departed under the protection of thousands of bodyguards. The spectacle turned every head, making it clear to all-Chris Shelby, the king of the East Coast, had returned.
Back at Cloud Bay, the security guards at the entrance greeted him with reverence.
“King of the East Coast!”
“King of the East Coast!”
“King of the East Coast!”
The guards, all members of East Coast Securities, couldn’t help but cheer as they saw him.
Amid the applause, Chris entered Cloud Bay.
His father-in-law, John Jefferson, had retired from managing Chester Group and now led a carefree life. Though only in his fifties and far from the typical retirement age, John had relinquished all responsibilities, choosing to enjoy his days in leisure.
Chris’s mother-in-law, Susan, was traveling abroad. She had long since become enamored with her travels, and with the vast fortune left by the Collins family, she had no financial concerns.
After nearly a year apart, Chris and John Jefferson shared drinks and conversation.
John eyed Chris with a sigh. “Chris, you’ve been gone for a year. I never imagined that when you returned, you’d be… well, a cripple. You’ve lost both your hands.”
Chris smiled faintly. “Dad, are you saying a cripple like me doesn’t deserve Esther? It’s too late for that. We’ve been married for years, and our daughter is already grown. Don’t even think about splitting us up.”
John chuckled and shook his head. “You’re as sharp-tongued as ever. No wonder your mother ran off abroad and hasn’t come back!”
He sighed again. Susan’s absence was, in some ways, a relief for him. Her temperament would’ve made his life much harder if she were around.
John’s expression turned serious. “Chris, I know how much you and my daughter care for each other, and I’m done trying to interfere. But now that you’ve lost your hands, how are you going to manage your life?”
Chris’s smile didn’t waver. “Dad, do you think losing my hands makes me useless?”
As he spoke, the wine glass in front of him floated into the air.
John froze, his eyes wide with disbelief.
He had assumed Chris would be a broken man after losing his hands. He never expected him to possess such extraordinary abilities.
John shook his head with a laugh. “Chris, if anyone saw this, they’d think they’d encountered a ghost.”
For Chris, the absence of his arms made little difference. The only drawback was that he couldn’t reveal his soul power in front of ordinary people.
Earth wasn’t Aethelgard. If people saw objects floating on their own, it would undoubtedly cause panic.
Moreover, Chris’s control over his soul power was still rough and required refining. Once he mastered it, he wouldn’t have to fear any enemy.
Meanwhile, on the second floor of the villa, Esther was having a heated conversation with Mara Wainwright.
“What did you just say? Chris was with Lindsay the whole time he was in Aethelgard?”
Esther’s face flushed with anger. She couldn’t believe Chris had been messing around even in Aethelgard.
Lindsay Windson was Esther’s close friend, and she knew all too well about Lindsay’s feelings for Chris. Back in Riverton, Chris had lived in Lindsay’s home, and now, even in Aethelgard, they had stayed together.
Though Lindsay had returned to Riverton to visit her grandfather after leaving Aethelgard, the thought still infuriated Esther.
Mara laughed lightly. “Esther, you know Lindsay, don’t you?”
“Hmph!” Esther let out a cold snort, refusing to answer.
Candace was different from Lindsay. Candace had grown up with Chris; their bond was undeniable. By contrast, Esther felt like the third party who had intruded on their relationship.
But Lindsay was her best friend. How could she betray her by pursuing her husband?
For the next few days, Esther barely spoke to Chris, keeping him at arm’s length.
Chris didn’t mind. He chalked it up to one of those times of the month when women were in a bad mood.
After returning to East Coast, Chris inspected East Coast Securities. Despite his year-long absence, the organization had developed steadily and was now the protector of the entire East Coast.
The underworld was no longer plagued by chaotic gangs. Under East Coast Securities’ management, order had been restored, and the public felt safer than ever.
Esther, meanwhile, threw herself into work. As the CEO of Chester Group, she had a mountain of tasks waiting for her after a year away.
One morning, Chris drove their daughter, Hope, to school. On the way back, a police cruiser sped toward him and came to a screeching halt in front of his car.
Chris glanced over and saw Lightning, the chief inspector of the East Coast police department, stepping out.
The moment Lightning saw Chris, his face lit up with relief. “Mr. Shelby!”
Chris frowned. “Lightning, what’s going on?”
Lightning’s expression was frantic. “Mr. Shelby, someone’s trying to kill me.”