The King From Tomorrow

The grand ballroom of the luxury mansion was a sea of opulence and high society. Glittering chandeliers hung from the ceiling like frozen stars, illuminating the country's most powerful figures. Laughter, expensive wine, and a heavy air of prestige filled the room. This was a night of pure celebration.

Suddenly, the Master of Ceremonies stepped up to the podium, his voice echoing through the gold-trimmed hall.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Today, we gather to celebrate a monumental milestone. Exactly twenty-seven years ago, in 1999, Chairman Lee Dong-Chul founded this empire—DEAR CHERIE. For nearly three decades, our visionary Chairman has poured his blood, sweat, and tears into making this company a global powerhouse. Tonight, as we mark our 27th anniversary, the Chairman is officially preparing to pass the torch of leadership to his firstborn son. I know everyone in this room has been waiting for this moment with bated breath. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the heir of Dear Cherie... Mr. Jayden Lee!"

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. Every camera in the country turned toward the grand entrance, lenses focused, shutters clicking in a synchronized frenzy. The world was waiting to see the future king of business.

But when the heavy mahogany doors swung open, the room froze.

Gasps of pure shock rippled through the high-society crowd. People rubbed their eyes, unable to believe the audacity of the man walking in.

It was indeed Jayden Lee. But he didn't look like a corporate heir. He didn't look like a savior.

Jayden strutted down the red carpet with a careless smirk on his face, wearing casual clothes instead of a tuxedo. In his arms, he was casually holding a small, pampered dog, treating the multi-billion-dollar anniversary like a stroll in a public park. He was chewing gum, looking completely unbothered by the hundreds of flashing cameras.

The whispers began instantly. Some people covered their mouths in disbelief, while others couldn't help but chuckle at the sheer madness of the scene. The prestigious atmosphere of Dear Cherie had just been shattered into a million pieces.

Yet, Jayden didn't care. Not even a single bit.

With slow, arrogant steps, he ignored the whispers and walked straight up to the main stage. He snatched the microphone from the hands of the terrified MC.

Jayden turned his sharp, mocking eyes toward his father.

"Father," Jayden's voice boomed through the speakers, laced with dripping sarcasm. "I know we are all here to celebrate your grand legacy. But let's be completely honest for a second. I never wanted your crown. I never asked for your inheritance. But by some twisted stroke of bad luck, you chose to pass your throne to me anyway. Oh, look at his face..." Jayden chuckled coldly into the microphone, pointing at his father. "Look how happy he is."

A suffocating silence descended upon the ballroom.

Every single pair of eyes stared in absolute horror at Chairman Lee Dong-Chul. The old billionaire sat frozen in his velvet chair, his face turning a dangerous shade of crimson as his blood pressure skyrocketed. Next to him sat his wife, Jayden's stepmother, Madam Shin, whose fake, painted smile cracked instantly, revealing the cold fury beneath her mask.

Behind Jayden's arrogant smile, a storm of deep-seated trauma raged. The source of his malice was none other than the woman sitting next to his father: Madam Shin. She was his stepmother, and the mother of his younger stepbrother, Joan.

As the awkward tension reached its peak, John—the dedicated family assistant and the son of Jayden's late maternal uncle—hurriedly walked up the stage. He gently grabbed his cousin's arm, his eyes pleading. "Jayden, what on earth are you doing? Please, just stop this."

Jayden scoffed, ripping his arm away with pure disdain. "Mind your own business, John. Don't ruin my moment. Go back there and toast your champagne to the crowd."

The public humiliation was too much for Chairman Lee Dong-Chul. Unable to bear his raging blood pressure, he ordered John to drag his chaotic cousin away from the venue and ensure he was taken straight home. John quickly obeyed, guiding a cynical Jayden out of the suffocating ballroom.

An hour later, they were standing inside Jayden's luxury penthouse. The silence was broken only by the sound of ice clinking against glass.

"Was there really a need to humiliate your father like that in front of everyone?" John asked, his voice heavy with disappointment.

"You know nothing, John," Jayden replied coldly, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the Seoul skyline. "You don't understand how much I despise him."

"Is this all because he married Madam Shin?" John pressed on, stepping closer.

Jayden took a slow sip of his amber whiskey. "Maybe. Let's just say that's the main reason."

"Jayden, please. Just stop this madness. It's enough," John sighed, shaking his head. "He has suffered more than enough because of your endless rebellion."

"You don't know a damn thing!" Jayden snapped, his eyes flashing with sudden fury.

"Remember, he only married Madam Shin to raise you after your mother passed away!" John raised his voice, trying to reason with him.

"To raise me?!" Jayden laughed, a dark, hollow sound that echoed through the room. "She never raised me. Instead of being a mother to me, she crawled into Father's bed and gave birth to Joan! She replaced my mother instantly."

Jayden's voice shook with suppressed tears as he poured another heavy glass of dark liquor.

John sighed deeply. Despite everything, his loyalty to his uncle's family remained unshaken. "No matter what you think, and despite all his flaws, Chairman Lee is still your father. He has stood by you as a parent until this very moment."

Frustrated and refusing to listen further, John turned on his heel and stormed out of the penthouse.

Smash!

The moment the door clicked shut, Jayden hurled his whiskey glass against the wall, shattering it into a thousand glittering shards. He sank into his leather couch, breathing heavily, completely consumed by bitterness.

A new day arrived, washing away the remnants of the chaotic night.

When Jayden woke up the next morning, a sudden wave of excitement replaced his hangover. He opened his phone and stared at a digital confirmation screen. He had managed to secure a highly coveted VIP ticket to a grand concert tonight. It was the concert of South Korea's biggest mega-star, the woman he was utterly obsessed with: Park Ha-yoon.

The sheer joy of finally getting to see her live made him forget all the family drama from the previous night. He spent his morning in a rare good mood, having a quiet breakfast and taking care of his daily routines.

As twilight began to fall and the clock struck 7:00 PM, the city lights flickered to life. It was finally time for the concert. Jayden dressed casually, grabbed his car keys, and walked down to the garage. He climbed into his sleek sports car, the engine roaring to life with a ferocious purr.

He pulled out into the rainy Seoul streets, heading toward the concert venue, his heart racing with anticipation.

But he hadn't even driven two blocks when his dashboard screen lit up. An incoming call was flashing across the screen.

The caller ID made his blood run cold. It was his stepmother: Madam Shin.

Jayden connected the call, his voice dripping with annoyance. "What do you want, Madam Shin? Are you seriously disturbing me again?"

"You foolish boy," Madam Shin's voice came through the speakers, cold and laced with venom. "You didn't even have the decency to apologize to your father for the chaos you caused last night."

Jayden scoffed, steering his sports car through the blinding rain. "Why on earth would I ever apologize to him? He deserves every bit of it."

"Suit yourself, Jayden," Madam Shin whispered, a dark, chilling smile evident in her tone. "But remember this... I am giving you one last chance to repent before you lose your place in this world entirely."

"Whatever," Jayden snapped, cutting the call off aggressively.

He threw his phone onto the passenger seat, oblivious to the trap that had already been set for him.

The moment his phone screen went dark, a sudden, blinding explosion erupted from the front of his sports car. Madam Shin had tampered with the engine. The sheer force of the blast rattled the vehicle, throwing Jayden forward. The brakes failed instantly, and he completely lost control of the steering wheel. With terrifying momentum, the car crashed violently through the concrete barriers of the bridge, airborne for a split second before plunging into the deep, freezing abyss of the Han River below.

As the icy, dark water shattered the windshield and rushed into the car, filling his lungs, a profound sense of despair consumed Jayden's heart.

'Damn it...' Jayden thought, tears mixing with the river water as his vision began to blur. 'Why now? Why does it have to be today? Tonight was supposed to be Ha-yoon's concert. I spent so much effort to get that ticket, just to be one of the few to witness her perform live on stage... I can't die yet. I really can't...'

But the universe didn't listen to his final plea. As Jayden's consciousness slipped away, a sudden, supernatural phenomenon occurred under the dark water. A brilliant, ethereal blue light exploded around the sinking car, cutting through the murky depths. Then, a heavy, suffocating silence took over, and Jayden's world went completely pitch black

Gasps for air shattered the silence.

Jayden violently opened his eyes, sitting up as he coughed heavily. His mind was in a complete daze. The first thing his hands instinctively did was search his body, frantically patting down his clothes in search of his smartphone.

But there was nothing. No phone. No wallet. Nothing.

Instead, he was surrounded by a wall of chaotic noise. A sea of strange people dressed in ancient clothing were weeping and shouting all around him. Annoyed by the deafening cries, Jayden suddenly threw the heavy silk blankets aside, stood up from the massive wooden bed, and roared at the crowd.

"Shut up! All of you, quiet!" Jayden snapped, his voice echoing through the chamber. He stared at the trembling servants like they were speaking a foreign language. He stepped closer to one of them, demanding answers. "Have you seen my phone? Where is my smartphone?!"

He stood there, panting, looking at the historical room in utter disbelief. The servants only stared back at him with wide, terrified eyes, frozen in silence.

"I asked you a question!" Jayden yelled in frustration, his temper flaring. "Where is my phone?!"

Before anyone could answer, the heavy wooden doors of the royal chamber were suddenly thrown open. A bright wave of light poured into the room, and a silhouette stepped across the threshold.

It was the Queen.

The moment Jayden's eyes locked onto her face, his heart stopped. His breath caught in his throat. It was an absolute miracle. The woman standing before him looked exactly like a carbon copy of Park Ha-yoon—the mega-star musician he was deeply, truly obsessed with in the future. It was her. The exact same captivating eyes, the same soft features.

Tears streamed down the Queen's beautiful face. Without warning, she ran toward him with desperate steps, her silk robes flowing behind her.

"Your Majesty!" she cried out, her voice cracked with emotion. "My King!"

Jayden stood entirely frozen, rooted to the spot in a state of absolute shock. He couldn't move, he couldn't speak, completely paralyzed by the sheer impossibility of the scene.