THE GHOST KING RETURNS

A tall, muscular man in a dark suit and glasses stepped out of a black luxury sedan, his phone glued to his ear. The car was so rare that it had no recognizable brand. "Is everything ready?" “Yes, King. We have secured a position for you as a driver for the Anderson family’s young miss,” a voice on the other end responded. “Her name is Luna Anderson. She’s 25 years old. Her family’s company is in trouble, desperate for an investor. She is the laughingstock of the city because of a terrible accident that left her scarred and blind in one eye. People call her the ‘Broken Princess.’ Her father has offered to marry her off to anyone who can save the company.” Rex Thorne tightened his fist, the leather of his glove creaking. Ten years ago, he was known as Adrian Shaw, a young prodigy from a wealthy and powerful family. But a conspiracy had shattered his life. His family was ruined, his parents murdered, and he was left for dead. He had been found, barely clinging to life, by a kind-hearted girl. She had used her savings to get him to a doctor, hiding him from the men who sought to finish the job. Now, he was no longer Adrian Shaw. He was Rex Thorne, the Ghost King. An unstoppable force in the underworld, a legend in finance, and the owner of countless companies and assets, all hidden behind layers of shell corporations. He was back to reclaim his legacy and avenge his family. His first step was to find the girl who saved him. He had sent men to find her for years, but she had been living a quiet life, avoiding the public eye. Now he knew why. The girl who had sacrificed everything for him was suffering, and he would make it right. He entered the skyscraper, the cold air conditioning a stark contrast to the boiling anger inside him. The Anderson family was meeting on the top floor, a desperate last-ditch effort to find a suitor. He knew his men had arranged for him to be among the final candidates. He would take her hand, just as she had taken his all those years ago. Inside the grand ballroom, a handful of men waited awkwardly. They were all there for the money, not for the woman who sat in the corner, her face half-hidden by a silver scarf. She was small and fragile, and he could sense the fear radiating from her. A man, Luna’s father, walked to the front of the room, and announced, “My daughter, Luna Anderson, needs a husband. She will marry the man who can give our family a future.” The men began to boast about their wealth and connections. One by one, they were dismissed. When it was Rex’s turn, he simply walked forward and stood before Luna. He didn’t say a word. He just looked at her, his eyes full of a promise no one else could see. “You, the driver. Why are you here?” Luna’s father, Mr. Anderson, sneered. Rex’s voice was calm, but it held a power that silenced the room. “I am here to marry your daughter.” A wave of snickers went through the room. Luna’s cousin, a man named Marcus, stepped forward. “You? A driver? You think you can marry my cousin? She’s lucky to get anyone to look at her!” Rex ignored him. He knelt in front of Luna, his movements smooth and deliberate. He gently took her hand, his thumb brushing over her trembling knuckles. “Luna,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper meant only for her. “Do you remember the boy you saved ten years ago? The one with the burn marks on his arms?” Luna’s eyes, one blue and one a cloudy white, widened. She remembered. The boy she had found on the street, half-dead. He had given her a small, chipped jade dragon before he disappeared. She still kept it with her. “I’m that boy,” Rex said, his voice full of emotion. “And I’ve come to protect you. I will give you the world.” Luna’s face, still hidden by the scarf, was wet with tears. The other men left in disappointment, and her family looked on with a mix of confusion and disgust. They couldn’t understand why this handsome stranger was so interested in the “Broken Princess.” Rex stood up, still holding Luna’s hand. “Let’s go,” he said softly. He led her out of the room and out to the waiting car. Two men in black suits were waiting. One of them began to speak. “King…” Rex held up a hand, silencing him. He helped Luna into the car, his touch gentle. “Take us to the private estate. We have a debt to repay to Anderson, but first, I have a more important debt to repay to my wife.” He closed the door, a look of fierce determination on his face. He wasn’t just a driver. He was the Ghost King, and he was going to heal his Luna and bring her family’s enemies to their knees. The drive to the private estate was quiet. Luna stared out the window, her mind spinning. She could still feel his touch on her hand. She was in a car with the Ghost King. It felt like a dream. The car stopped in front of a huge, modern house. Two men in black suits stood waiting. Rex got out and opened Luna's door. "King, welcome home," one of the men said, bowing slightly. Luna's heart pounded. She looked from Rex to the men. The "King"? Rex ignored the men and focused on her. "Come on," he said gently, taking her hand again. The house was beautiful and simple. Rex led her into a big living room and pointed to a soft couch. "Sit," he said. He left the room for a moment. Luna was alone, her thoughts racing. She was in a king's house. It was unbelievable. Rex came back with a small wooden box. He knelt in front of her, his eyes serious. He reached for the silver scarf that covered her face. Luna pulled back, her heart beating fast. "Don't be afraid," he whispered. He slowly took off the scarf, showing the scar on her face and her cloudy eye. She waited for his reaction—the pity, the disgust. But his eyes held only a deep, steady gaze. He opened the box. Inside the box was a perfect shiny jade dragon. It was just like the one she had given him, but new. He held it out to her. "This is for you." Tears filled Luna's eyes. She fumbled in her pocket and pulled out her old, chipped jade dragon. "I... I kept yours," she whispered. A small smile touched Rex's lips. He took her dragon and placed it carefully next to the new one in the box. "I have the best doctors waiting," he said, his voice firm. "They will help with your scars and your eye. You will not have to hide anymore." He stood and held out his hand. "This is your home now, Luna. I will protect you." Rex was a man of few words, but his actions were clear. He was no longer just the boy she had saved. He was the Ghost King, and he was here to save her.