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

THE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR

The cold night breeze touched the Julian’s face as he stared at the glowing dragon ring on his finger. His mind spun with fragments of memories flooding back, a life he didn’t even know he had.

Harvey Tarlose was my puppet? Julian thought, pinching his eyebrows.

The name echoed in his mind, bringing with it flashes of meetings, signatures, and whispered commands.

All these years... they thought I was nothing, but I’ve been everything they feared.

Julian pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he dialed a number he hadn’t dialed in years. The line clicked after two rings.

"Julian?" Harvey Tarlose’s voice sounded nervous, almost panicked. "I—It’s been a long time, how are you?"

“Harvey,” Julian said, with a cold and commanding tone. “Do you still remember who made you?”

There was a pause, then a stammered response came out. “O-Of course. How could I forget? I owe everything to you.”

“Good,” Julian replied, with a smirk, “It’s time to repay that debt. I want you to extend full cooperation to the Steel Group. Every resource, every connection. Do you understand?”

“Yes, absolutely,” Harvey said quickly, without any further questions, “Anything you need. I’ll make the arrangements immediately.”

“And Harvey,” Julian added, his voice dropping an octave, “don’t even think about trying to cross me. You know what happens to people who betray me.”

“Of course not, Julian! I would never even dream about betraying you,” Harvey exclaimed, with a shaking voice. “I’ll handle everything for you, believe in me, you have my word.”

Julian ended the call, slipping the phone back into his pocket. His lips curled into a small, grim smile. They’ll never see this coming.

Back at the Steel family villa, Rose paced in the living room, with a racing mind. The events of the evening replayed in her head, each moment more humiliating than the last. She picked up her phone and dialed Julian’s number, but it went straight to voicemail.

“Where are you?” she muttered under her breath, her frustration mixing with a strange sense of unease.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Mia’s mocking voice from the next room.

“Your husband probably ran off to cry somewhere,” Mia said, with a sarcastic laugh, “Can you blame him? He’s useless, and everyone knows it.”

Rose clenched her fists. “Just mind your own business, Mia.”

“Face it, Rose,” Mia continued, smirking. “You married a loser. If I were you, I’d file for divorce and save myself the embarrassment.”

Before Rose could respond, her phone buzzed, she answered it immediately as if in a hurry. “Julian?”

“It’s me,” his voice came through, steady and calm, but with an edge she didn’t recognize.

“Where are you?” Rose demanded with a furious voice. “Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed me tonight?”

“Rose,” Julian interrupted, his tone commanding. “I need you to listen carefully, things are about to change, and I need you to be ready.”

“Change?” Rose asked, being confused by Julian's words. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ll see soon enough,” Julian replied. “But for now, stay put and do as I say.”

Rose hesitated. There was something different in his voice, an authority that made her stomach twist. “Where are you? Are you okay?”

“I’ve never been this better,” Julian said before ending the call.

Rose stared at her phone, her heart pounding. What’s gotten into him?

Meanwhile, Julian wandered through the dimly lit streets, his senses sharper than ever. Every sound, every shadow seemed to carry a new depth.

He was no longer the timid son-in-law they had mocked. He could feel the power coursing through him, awakening something dormant.

As he turned a corner, he heard a commotion ahead. A group of hooligans had cornered a woman against a wall.

“Leave me alone!” the woman shouted, trying to push them away.

“Come on, sweetheart,” one of the men sneered. “We just want to have a little fun, serve us well, you'll get rewarded in the end.”

Julian narrowed his eyes, without hesitation, he strode forward.

“Hey!” he called out, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The group turned, sizing him up. One of them laughed. “What’s this? The knight in shining armor?”

“Walk away,” Julian said evenly. “Before you regret it.”

“Big words for a skinny guy like you,” another man said, stepping closer. “What are you gonna do, huh?”

Julian didn’t bother responding. The moment the man reached for him, Julian moved with a speed and precision that surprised even himself. One swift punch sent the man sprawling.

The others hesitated, but Julian didn’t. He grabbed the next attacker by the collar and threw him into a dumpster.

The remaining two men exchanged nervous glances before bolting into the night.

The woman stared at Julian, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and gratitude.

“Thank you,” she said, brushing herself off. “I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up.”

Julian nodded, but looked concerned about the woman, “Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine,” she replied, with a smile, “What about you? That was... incredible earlier, I have never seen something like that before, you're not hurt anywhere, right?”

“I’m fine,” Julian said as always using his calm tone, turning to leave.

“Wait!” she called after him. “At least tell me your name.”

Julian paused for a moment before shaking his head. “It’s not important.”

He walked away, leaving the woman staring after him, her curiosity piqued.

Julian eventually found himself outside a shopping center.

The bright lights and bustling crowds seemed to exist in a different world from the storm brewing inside him. He stepped inside, his presence unnoticed yet magnetic.

"I’ve spent too long in the shadows," Julia felt within him, as his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "It’s time for everyone to see who I really am!"