The King Of War Returns (Jaden Rift) novel Chapter 145

“That’s… that’s Jaden Rift?” someone in the crowd stammered, voice trembling. “The guy who took down the entire Thornfell Hotel… and wiped out the Gravesend Group?”

A stunned silence followed.

Then panic.

All color drained from Reuben’s face as the truth hit him like a sledgehammer. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the polished floor with a dull thud, landing on his backside.

“No... No, no, no...” Reuben gasped, sweat pouring down his temples. “I—I mocked the King of War? I’m done. It’s over for me… I need to leave this country. Hell, I need a new identity.”

He scrambled backward like a man trying to escape death itself.

Across the hall, Alex sneered, completely missing the shift in atmosphere.

Victor’s eyes twitched as he watched his son smirk like an idiot in front of a lion.

“Hmph,” he muttered under his breath before snapping his head toward Alex and landing a sharp, unexpected slap across his son’s cheek.

Smack!

The sound cracked through the air like a gunshot.

Alex reeled. “What the hell, Dad?!”

“What’s with that tone?! Apologize to your uncle Jaden. Now.” Victor’s voice thundered with authority.

“Uncle?” Alex scoffed, clutching his stinging cheek. “On what basis? Because he can fight? So what?”

Victor’s eyes widened. “You dare—!”

“No, seriously! What does being a glorified street fighter have to do with our industry?” Alex barked. “He’s just some guy who learned how to throw punches and got lucky. The entertainment world runs on power, money, connections—not fists.”

The crowd held their breath. No one dared speak.

Victor clutched his chest like the air had been knocked out of him.

“You…” he gasped. “You absolute fool.”

But Alex wasn’t done. His arrogance was a dam with cracks now bursting.

“You think you’re something just because you beat a few gangsters? Without the wealth and support from families like mine, martial artists like you would still be scrapping in alleyways for protein powder!”

The sneer on his face deepened. He folded his arms smugly, as if he’d just won an argument.

“I’m willing to take a step back,” Alex offered with a crooked smile. “Let’s not drag this out. Be grateful, accept the apology, and we can settle things like gentlemen.”

The words hung in the air.

But Jaden didn’t say a thing.

Didn’t look at Alex.

Didn’t even acknowledge his existence.

He simply turned, silently walking toward the banquet hall doors, as if brushing off an ant that bit his shoe.

The silence was brutal.

Alex laughed bitterly. “Ha! That’s it? You’re running away? The ‘King of War,’ fleeing like a little coward?”

He stepped forward, puffing his chest. “Didn’t you say you’d kill—urk!”

His voice caught mid-sentence.

Suddenly, Alex clutched at his throat, eyes bulging in shock. His face turned red, then purple.

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