Page 1 of King of Ruin

Chapter 1

"Six months."

Leaning back against the deep leather sofa, Elias Creed slowly swirled the amber liquid in his crystal whiskey glass before lifting his eyes to the man seated across from him. One dark brow arched ever so slightly, amusement flickering across his otherwise composed face.

"It took you six months to come back from your honeymoon."

A low chuckle escaped Cassian Han.

Completely unbothered, he leaned back in his seat, one ankle resting casually over his knee as he took an unhurried sip of his whiskey. There wasn't the slightest trace of guilt on his face. If anything, he looked thoroughly satisfied with himself.

"You sound jealous."

Elias let out a quiet scoff, shaking his head before taking a sip from his own glass.

Outside the private lounge, the Phantom Club was already in full swing. Music pulsed through the building with a bass heavy enough to make the crystal glasses vibrate ever so slightly on the polished black marble table between them. Laughter drifted in from the crowded dance floor, blending with the clinking ofchampagne flutes and the low hum of conversations carried out by Manhattan's wealthiest socialites.

Phantom wasn't a place that simply accepted reservations.

It was one of the most exclusive clubs in Manhattan, a place where influence mattered far more than money. Plenty of wealthy people had tried to buy their way inside over the years, only to find that their fortunes meant very little without the right family name or the right connections. Membership itself was considered a privilege reserved for the city's elite, and even among those members, only a select few were ever granted access to the private VIP lounges.

Those rooms were more than just secluded spaces away from the crowd.

They were status symbols.

An unspoken declaration that the people inside belonged to the highest tier of Manhattan's social and business circles, where power wasn't measured by wealth alone but by influence, legacy, and the ability to shape industries with a single decision.

Inside one of those lounges sat four men.

Cassian Han, Elias Creed, Xavier Chen, and Lucius Frost.

Each of them headed a multibillion-dollar empire. Each carried a surname capable of moving financial markets, and together they represented four of the most influential families in the country.

Elias set his glass back onto the marble table with a soft clink. His gaze lingered on Cassian for another moment, the corner of his mouth lifting into a knowing smirk.

"So, now that you've finally decided to return to civilization, are you planning on running Han Group again or should we assume you've retired to married life?"

Cassian let out a quiet breath and rolled his eyes before taking another sip of his whiskey. Lowering the glass onto the table, he glanced around the spacious lounge, his gaze lingering on each of the men gathered there.

Elias sat comfortably across from him, one arm draped over the back of the leather sofa while the other rested loosely around his drink. The teasing grin on his face hadn't disappeared since the conversation began, and the amusement dancing in his eyes made it obvious he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

Seated beside Elias was Lucius Frost. Unlike Elias, Lucius remained silent, his attention lowered to the whiskey in his hand as he slowly rotated the crystal glass between his fingers. He sat with effortless elegance, one leg crossed over the other, every movement measured and refined. There was an air of quiet sophistication about him that naturally commanded attention.

Across from Cassian sat Xavier Chen.

His posture was relaxed, yet there was nothing casual about him. One arm rested along the back of the sofa while the other held his whiskey glass loosely between his fingers. The amber liquid caught the dim light each time he absentmindedly swirled it, but his gaze never left Cassian. His expression remained indifferent, though the faint curve at the corner of his lips suggested he was quietly entertained by the exchange unfolding before him.

Cassian looked from one man to the next before letting out another resigned sigh.

"I wouldn't have come back yet if Juliet hadn't insisted," he admitted, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. "She kept saying we'd already been away long enough."

The moment the words left his mouth, his eyes landed squarely on Elias.

His expression darkened.

"Actually..." he drawled, narrowing his eyes. "Now that I think about it, this is your fault."

Elias frowned. "Mine?"