Chapter Two

"Everyone knows why you're back. You want to leech off the Armstrong family's resources, isn't it?!" Jeffery Armstrong blurted out defensively. The hall were the event was being held was quiet to the point you could hear a pin drop, and everyone's attention was on the Armstrong family and their guest." You've long been expelled from this family, you ungrateful wretch of a human being, this family has nothing to do with you" Jeffery finished with a stern mean look on his face.

Authur's adoptive parents rose to their feet and pointed at his nose, hurling all soughts of abusive remarks at him. Their brazenness of distorting the truth was mind bending.

How disappointing. He had thought they would feel somewhat apologetic after all this years, but they were unexpectedly more aggravated. They took everything from him, crippled him, and ruined his reputation, turning everything upside down and making everything his fault instead.

Benjamin swiftly walked towards Authur, assessing him condescendingly. "Tch! Don't you just want money now that you're back?"...

*Flap!*

Benjamin threw a credit card to the ground and lifted his foot, shaking his leather shoe. "Huh! My shoe is dirty. Lick it clean, and the one million in this card is yours!". His words lit a spark of laughter within the Armstrong family members and some onlookers of the crowd.

"I'm sure one million is enough to cover your living expenses. You should better start licking dimwit!" Benjamin roared. "On your knees!..."

Arthur stared at him coldly and held his peace.

"kneel!!!".

Benjamin rushed to Authur and pressed an aggressive palm against his shoulders, forcing him to kneel, but the latter didn't budge.

"I said kneel!!". Benjamin let out aggressively again.

Arthur suddenly slapped Benjamin in the face, sending him flying almost eight meters away. Silence engulfed the room once again. Everyone in the Armstrong family was in shock, what did Authur just do? Did he just knock Benjamin to the ground with a single slap?. 

Benjamin was about to stand on his feet when Authur stepped on him, crushed him, and crossed over him. Looking at his dreadful approach, Benjamin's brother instinctively stepped back. Authur made his way up to the stage and adjusted the microphone stand as everyone looked at him, wondering what he was going to do next. 

"Can I have everyone's attention please..." Authur spoke into the microphone. "I'm sure you remember what happened a little over five years ago, yes? For the love and care I had received from the Armstrong family during my childhood, I'm giving you one month to kneel before me for three days and three nights to atone for your sins!... If I don't see any shadow from the Armstrong family within a month, the outcome is simple - I won't fail to wipe out every single one if you here today!". 

Authur's voice was low and deep, but as soon as he finished, the crowd bursted into uncontrollable laughter. 

"Did a decade in prison eat your brain?" 

"The Armstrong family are the top ones in Eldrida. He's just a free criminal" were the whispers coming from the chattering crowd. 

Authur let out a cunning smirk. "Bear in mind that I have limited patience. You only have one month! Of course, you may gather your strengths and connections to fight against me! I'll be waiting" . 

Authur then took his leave immediately, disregarding the mockery of the crowd. 

"Stop right there, you bastard!" Benjamin yelled at Authur as he made his way out of the hall without looking back. 

"Ben, let him go!" Jeffery exclaimed. "It's a big day today. I don't want to see anymore bloodshed. Go wipe your face your bloodied all over!". Jeffery let out of sigh of relief when Authur was finally out of sight, "Yeah! There are a lot of opportunities to take care if him!... He's in luck the one and only is on his way, I would have dealt with him personally. 

With that, Authur left the building under the watchful eyes of hundreds of people. 

After Authur had left, hours passed and the guest along with the Armstrong family were filled with dismay and had puzzled expression on their faces. 

"Where the hell is he? Isn't he here yet?" Jeffrey's wife Valerie spoke up. 

Jeffery looked dazed. "According to the time, he should have arrived a while ago. Let me ask..." 

After concluding his phone call, Jeffery was stumped. "Hunny... The big shot was here, right here but he has left already..." 

"What? He was here... And we didn't notice him?" Valerie snapped at her husband like a rattle snake. She bit her finger in anxiety and her face widened with revolve. "I get it!. He must have left in a fit of rage after witnessing the hurricane that good for nothing Ten boy had created!". 

Benjamin trembled with anger, his nose still bleeding from the impact of Authurs slap. "That brat must pay for this!". 

The crowd reacted accordingly. 

***

After leaving the Hotel, the next person that Authur was going to look for was his wife, Amanda Cortez. 

In this life, he owed no debt to the Armstrong family, nor his friends but Amanda. He had been imprisoned on the second day after the wedding, making Amanda lose her reputation that even put her through years of widowhood.

After hesitating for a long time, Authur pressed the doorbell. The door swung open almost immediately.

The young woman dropped her mobile phone to the ground as the door opened, upon taking a closer look at Authur's face, Amanda broke down in tears.

"Amanda!!!... a voice called out from within the house. Quick, just get the mail and come in, its almost time for the family banquet! Your grandfather is going to settle your marriage at the family banquet tonight" . The voice finished, Amanda's parents were very keen on the success of her arranged marriage with her new groom.

"Amanda, I'm back!" Authur said with excitement, wanting to fling his arm around her, but Amanda slapped his hands away immediately.

"Why did you come back!? I've already forgotten about you" her voice was choked with sobs. Her parents rushed to the door on hearing their daughter lash out in tears.

"How dare you have the nerve to come back? Do you know how much criticism my family has suffered because of you especially Amanda, do you know how much she has suffered for the past decade?" Mr. Aaron, Amanda's father snatched at Authur's face.

"You should know that this relationship between you and my daughter is impossible in this life the moment you went to jail!, you're a criminal, and you're just a street rat in Eldrida! Amanda's mother cut in.

Naturally, Authur had known of Amanda's sufferings for the past years, including her refusal to remarry because of him. Authur put on a serious face, "This time, I'm back for good. I won't leave Amanda ever again. I will grant her a bright future and let her own the world". He finished with a stern look.

Authur's declaration enraged Amanda's parents even more. "You've spent years in jail. How are you going to give Amanda a future!" Aaron asked with a sneer. "Look punk, you're making my daughter upset on an important day. There's a limit to talking big, so you better start taking your leave" . He finished with a threatfull look on his face.

Authur smiled. "Don't worry, I'll reclaim what I've lost. I'll destroy my adoptive family in a months time for taking my life away from me." 

"Authur!" Amanda spoke up. "Can we be more realistic? It doesn't matter if you just got out of prison. Can't you just be down to earth and start a new?". 

"Amanda, trust me"  Authur said earnestly. "I can make the Armstrong family bow at my feet with just one word!" .