RISE OF THE UNDERDOG SON-IN-LAW: DRAGON'S POWER UNLEASHED

REWRITE THE STORY

The atmosphere in the Steel family dining hall was filled with chatter and clinking utensils.

Julian sat at his small table, silently sipping water while others feasted. Dominus Steel, one of Rose’s cousins, sauntered over with a smirk, holding Julian’s pot of soup.

“Look at this masterpiece,” Dominus jeered, lifting the lid with exaggerated reverence. “Chicken soup, made by none other than Julian Rivera. Grandfather didn’t even finish it. Seems like a waste to me.”

Julian frowned. “What are you doing with it?”

Dominus whistled toward the family dog lounging near the fireplace. “Let’s see if Bruno finds it more appealing.”

“Put it down,” Julian said, with his voice sharper this time.

“Oh, come on,” Dominus laughed, tipping the pot slightly as if to pour it into Bruno’s dish. “I’m doing you a favor, Julian. At least someone will appreciate your hard work.”

“I said, put it down,” Julian repeated, rising from his chair. His eyes burned with anger, though his tone remained controlled.

Dominus shrugged but placed the pot back on the table. “Relax, it’s just soup. No need to get all emotional.”

“Unlike you,” Julian said calmly, “I don’t waste what’s meant to nourish someone.”

Dominus opened his mouth to retort, but a loud crash interrupted him. Everyone turned toward the commotion at the main table.

Carlos, another cousin, stood frozen, staring at the floor where Old Master Steel’s special longevity noodles lay scattered.

“You idiot!” Mia screeched, pointing at Carlos. “How could you be so careless?”

Carlos stammered, “I-I didn’t mean to...”

One of the servants, sensing an opportunity, stepped forward and pointed at Julian. “It was him! I saw Julian bump into young master Carlos. He knocked the noodles over.”

Julian looked surprised by the accusation. “That’s not true. I didn’t even go near the main table.”

The room erupted into murmurs as the family turned their accusing gazes on Julian.

“Julian,” Mia sneered, “can’t you go one day without embarrassing us? First, your pathetic gift, and now this?”

“I didn’t do it,” Julian said firmly, looking directly at Old Master Steel.

“Enough!” Old Master Steel barked, silencing the room. His sharp eyes darted between the servant and Julian. “If he says he didn’t do it, where’s your proof?”

The servant hesitated but kept his head bowed. “I swear I saw him, Master Steel.”

“Convenient,” Julian muttered under his breath, clenching his fists. Of course, they’d rather believe a lie than hear the truth from me.

Rose stood abruptly, her face flushed with anger and humiliation. “Julian, why do you always have to make things worse? Do you enjoy being the center of ridicule?”

“I didn’t do anything,” Julian said, his voice low but steady.

“Enough excuses!” Rose snapped with an indifferent tone, “You’re ruining everything!”

Her hand came down in a stinging slap across Julian’s face. Gasps rippled through the room, and Julian stood stunned for a moment, his cheek burning.

“Just go home, Julian,” Rose hissed, her eyes blazing with frustration. “You’re nothing but a constant disappointment. I can’t keep defending you anymore.”

Julian swallowed hard, the humiliation cutting deeper than any words. Without another word, he turned and walked out of the villa, the murmurs of the family trailing behind him.

The streets of New York City were quiet as Julian wandered aimlessly, his thoughts a turbulent storm.

Three years, he thought bitterly, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. Three years of trying to fit into their world, and this is what I get. Mockery, insults, and betrayal.

Rain began to fall, soaking through his thin jacket, but he didn’t care. He stopped in a deserted alley, leaning against the cold brick wall. His chest heaved as the emotions he’d bottled up spilled over.

“Why?” he muttered, his voice breaking. “Why do I even try?”

A low voice echoed from the shadows. “Because you’re not meant to be ordinary.”

Julian’s head shot up, his eyes scanning the dark alley. A man in a black coat and hat stepped forward, his face obscured.

“Who are you?” Julian demanded, his body tensing.

“Someone who knows what you’ve been hiding,” the man said, his tone calm yet commanding.

Julian frowned. “Hiding? What are you talking about?”

The man extended his hand, revealing a ring with an intricate dragon motif. The metal seemed to shimmer faintly, as though alive.

“This belongs to you,” the man said simply.

Julian stared at the ring, confusion and curiosity battling within him. “I’ve never seen that before.”

“Not with your eyes,” the man said cryptically. “But your blood remembers it,”

Julian shook his head. “I don’t have time for riddles. Who sent you?”

“No one sent me,” the man replied. “But I’ve been watching. I see the fire in you, Julian Rivera. The anger, the pain. That fire is your strength. Wear this, and you’ll understand.”

Julian hesitated, his eyes drawn to the ring. Something about it felt... familiar.

“What happens if I put it on?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The man smiled faintly. “You’ll stop being what they made you and start becoming who you were meant to be.”

Julian’s hand hovered over the ring, doubt gnawing at him. “And if I don’t?”

“Then you’ll remain in their shadow,” the man said, his tone hardening. “Ridiculed, forgotten, powerless. The choice is yours.”

Julian clenched his jaw, his mind racing. I’ve spent years being nothing to them. Maybe it’s time I became something more.

With a deep breath, he took the ring and slid it onto his finger.

The moment the metal touched his skin, a surge of energy coursed through him. His vision sharpened, his hearing heightened, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to pause.

“What is this?” Julian gasped, clutching his chest as the power settled within him.

“Your inheritance,” the man said with a nod. “And your first step toward reclaiming your destiny.”

Before Julian could ask more, the man disappeared into the shadows, leaving him alone in the rain.

Julian looked down at the ring, its dragon motif now glowing faintly. He didn’t fully understand what had just happened, but one thing was clear, his life was no longer the same.

"They wanted me to stay broken," he thought, his eyes narrowing. "But now, it’s my turn to rewrite the story!"