Chapter 1 The Dragon's Seal: The Dragon's Misfortune

• In the scorching heat of July, Streamhaven, a remote small city in the south, was still as hot as a furnace.
• Maddox Sterling came down from the construction site, completely soaked in sweat. He glanced at his calloused hands, roughened from five years of bricklaying, and let out a long sigh. "Tomorrow," he muttered to himself. "Tomorrow's the last day. Once it's over, the Dragon King comes back, and it's payback time!"
• Fifteen years ago, the banquet at Emerald Grove Manor nearly wiped out the Sterlings. If the steward hadn't used his last bit of strength to push Maddox into the Arcadia River, he would have been dead by now, and the Sterlings would have vanished from Arcadia.
• "The Cravens, the Hawkes, the Whitmores, and all those who stood by and watched my family get destroyed, you never expected that I, Maddox, would still be alive, did you? After tomorrow, the seal inside me will be broken, and my power will return. Then, I will make sure you pay for the blood you spilled!"
• Maddox clenched his fists tightly, and a strong aura of menace surged around him. His coworkers couldn't help but shiver.
• Five years ago, he planned to take revenge, but an unexpected event forced him to lie low in the small city of Streamhaven.
• "Maddox, heading out to pick up your daughter again?" David Brown, a coworker as thin as a monkey, asked with a grin.
• "Yeah, I'm off. Tell the accountant I won't be working tomorrow and to have my pay ready in the morning," Maddox said as he waved and hopped onto his old, second-hand motorcycle.
• "No problem. I'll let the accountant know."
• David nodded. Almost everyone at the construction site respected Maddox. Not only was he super strong, carrying the load of three men, but he was also loyal and dependable.
• Maddox sped off on his motorcycle. The construction site was only about a fifteen-minute ride from the kindergarten, which was why he chose to work there. His daughter, Hannah, was five years old and in her last year of kindergarten.
• Even at a young age, Hannah had inherited her mum's beauty. With her bright, sparkling eyes, she looked even more delicate and beautiful than a doll.
• "Daddy, you're here! Was it tiring today?" Hannah asked as she ran out of the kindergarten.
• "Not at all. Come on, let me help you onto the motorcycle!"
• "Daddy, working in this heat must be hard. I'll give you a back and leg massage when we get home." Hannah smiled sweetly, her dimples showing.
• "You're such a good girl. Let's go home!" Maddox said, pinching her nose. Despite the hard times, their life was filled with warmth and sweetness.
• Just then, Maddox's phone rang. As soon as he answered, a frantic voice said, "Maddox, you need to get to the hotel right now. Scarlett's in trouble!"
• "What happened to Scarlett?"
• "I can't explain it all over the phone. Just come quickly. I can barely handle it!"
• Maddox's heart sank. He quickly started his motorcycle.
• The call was from Lila Grace, Scarlett Reed's close friend. Scarlett was working at a hotel that Lila managed.
• Maddox sped to the hotel. When he got there, the lobby was a mess. Scarlett was on the floor, her face all swollen like she'd been slapped, with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
• "Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty? You're just a hotel receptionist!" a young guy stood in the middle of the lobby with his hands on his hips.
• "Mr. Victor, you're misunderstanding. She's my close friend, not the kind of person you think she is," Lila said, trying to explain.
• "Not the kind of person I think she is? Today, I'm taking her with me. Are you going to stop me?"
• Lila was in a tough spot. The Graces had some influence in Streamhaven, but they were no match for the Quinns. Pissing them off could ruin her hotel.
• Maddox pushed his way through the crowd and helped Scarlett up. "Are you okay, honey? Is everything alright?"
• "I'm okay, but ... " Scarlett looked worried.
• Lila said, "Mr. Victor, her husband is here now."
• "So what if she has a husband?" Victor smirked. "I've decided I want her. Out of all the hotel staff, she's the most beautiful and has the best figure. I'm taking her with me!"
• Victor Quinn pulled out a stack of cash and threw it down in front of Maddox. "Tell your wife to come with me. From the looks of you, you're just a construction worker. This should cover a year's salary for you."
• Maddox clenched his fists, but he didn't make a move. It wasn't because he was scared—it was because he couldn't.
• Five years ago, he'd made a vow he couldn't break. If he did, it would bring serious trouble to the Aetherian Kingdom. Plus, his powers were sealed and couldn't be unlocked before the set time.
• "What? You still want to fight?" Victor sneered, with two strong bodyguards standing behind him.
• "Let's go, honey," Maddox said, pulling Scarlett to leave.
• "Who said you could leave?" Victor snapped. He waved his hand, and the bodyguards moved in.
• Maddox's hands were clenched so tightly that the veins were bulging.
• "That woman scratched my wallet. It's not a big deal, but if you want to leave, it'll cost you 27,000 dollars. Not a penny less!" Victor said with a cold smile.
• Maddox shouted angrily, "Don't push your luck!"
• "Push my luck? I'm going to push it as much as I want. You're just a poor construction worker, but you've got a beautiful wife. It's just not right!" Victor said with a sneer.
• Suddenly, Hannah was so frightened that she started crying.
• Lila quickly said, "Mr. Victor, I'll cover the 27,000. Just let them go, okay?"
• "Don't tell me what to do. Listen up, stay out of it!" Victor snapped.
• Lila was also angry. "Victor, I know the Quinns are powerful, but I've already called the police. They'll be here soon, and making a scene like this won't do anyone any good!"
• "Fine, you annoying woman. If you're going to mess up my plans, we'll see about that!" Victor sneered.
• He then turned to Maddox, pointed at him, and said, "Country bumpkin, ever heard the saying ‘someone else's wife is always more tempting'? I'm definitely going to get with your wife and see what she's all about."
• After that, he laughed loudly and walked away, full of arrogance and contempt.