THE SECRET BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 3: The War God

Carl Stared at the $2 million cheque without much interest like it wasn't really worth anything, then folded it neatly and shoved it down his pocket.

"I'll find her later and return the money." He said and pulled his clothes, stepped into the bathroom for a shower. Today is a special day in his life so he should look at least, neat.

He's finally going to see his wife again, the woman prison took away from him for ten years.

The warm water washed over his body, steam bellowing into the air, filling the small space. His body was marred with Scars, each one a reminder of the tough life he survived in the prison.

He tilted his back slightly, his palm pressed against the cold glass, allowing the water to cascade down his body.

Memories from ten years ago resurfaced in his mind with clarity. He was just an ordinary man, the husband of a woman from a prestigious family in the city, Elira Kensington, but everything changed after Elira stumbled in one night with Blood all over her coat, stuttering that she'd killed a man in her office while protecting herself from assault.

Elira was crying, shivering, completely broken like a child. Soon, the entire family gathered around her, deliberating on how to handle the situation. CCTV footage was checked if the scene was caught on camera. Fortunately, there were no witnesses to prove that it was really Elira who committed the murder.

The family pleaded with Carl in tears, Elia's mother who never liked him before was on her knee, shedding exaggerated tears and calling him son-in-law for the first time, her father was pleading frantically, the Kensington family reputation would take a hit if Elira went to Prison.

They pleaded with him to take the fall, promising to reduce his sentence with their connection.

Carl knew the family was only nice to him now because they needed his help. They had always treated him with hostility because Elira married a man with no Affluent family background.

But Carl looked at just one person. His wife. The only woman that mattered to him. He couldn't imagine her suffering in the prison while he moved around as a freeman.

Carl took blame for her crime. He did it because he loved her, because sometimes love comes with big sacrifices.

Now, he had gotten his freedom back, not as the ordinary man but a powerful man. His third year in the prison after he survived bullies and was trained to become strong by a man called Master Li, he became ruthless and dangerous. Everyone feared him.

General Marcus Voss saw him as someone worthy to be in the military with his exceptional skills, especially at the time the nation was facing relentless Attack from hostile neighbors.

They took Carl out of the prison. He was trained for six months and he mastered every military training.

He challenged old hands in the army and won, even medical skills were easy for him, he was taught by a quiet old man during his second years in the prison, a man called Master Li.

At the seventh month when Carl was fully ready, he charged into battle and rewrote the odds. At that time, Black ridge border was already breached from all sides, armies were reduced to corpse, they were already losing hope, and the Enemy's posts were still standing stronger, their flags erected beyond the boundary of Blackridge. In no time, Black ridge would be just a history.

That was when Carl charged into the battle alone.

Enemies Posts fell one after the other, blood spilled across the battle field as he slayed the adversaries, battalions of them fell by his Blade. His presence brought back light and hope. More soldiers, hopeless and waiting for their death before, charged into the battle and fought along with him.

Blackridge flags were erected again because of one man.

Carl was celebrated. And because no man had ever seen his skills and bravery before, he was given the title GOD OF WAR.

Outside the Mufi hotel, Cassandra stood at the curb, the morning brushed on his skin, fluttering the hem of her gown gently. She was still unable to shake off what happened inside the hotel. She cursed Henry under her breath.

While she was waiting for a taxi,

Suddenly,

SCREECHES!

Two Hennessy venom F5 pulled over across the road, their polished hood glinting under the morning light, dust coughed in the air as the cars suddenly pulled over.

The few people walking the road paused to stare, most people in this backwater area hadn't seen such expensive cars before.

The Doors of the Cars swung open in sync, two hefty men in black suits stepped down, the air around them threatening and intimidating.

One walked to the backdoor of the Car and opened the door.

A man stepped out, tall, wearing an Oxblood suit that drank in the morning sunlight, a diamond wristwatch on his wrist scattered light across the street, the kind of watch that cost more than some people's net worth.

Henry Vernovas.

The man who always carried himself with the aura of untouchable, his shoulder always raised too high, his chin never down.

"That bastard!!" Cassandra cursed, his finger curled at the side.

Henry smirked, his usual arrogant smirk. He walked up to her. The Bodyguards flanked behind him. Five of them.

"Well, well, well, look who it is, my hot sister-in-law who ran away the previous night," he smirked. "I hope you got the video? You have just one choice right now sweetheart or I'll release our little secret to your family. Walk into the car with me and let's finish what we started or we go back in there and use the same room before you escape like a little rat."

Cassandra was irritated at his presence, so irritated her expression twisted like vines.

"You're disgusting, Henry." She hissed. "You have no slightest shame. You are my sister's husband and you still have the guts to ask me out, I keep forgiving you, but you went overboard to force your way with me. You're an animal!"

Henry let out a sharp laughter, not angry the slightest. He was amused.

He tilted his head slightly.

"Oh, sweetheart, isn't that word 'Animal' too Vulgar to use for your brother-in-law?" He took one step forward, his loafers clicking softly. "I need to teach you how to respect your in-laws and I'll show you..."

His voice hardened slightly now, the smug smirk on his lips had also disappeared.

"..I'll show you how animals fuck."

"Take her to the car."

Two bodyguards stepped forward and grabbed Cassandra's arm.

"Let go of me!!" She wriggled in their grips, using every strength left inside to force herself free but her strength failed against the men.

Cassandra's chest hammered with fear as the men drag her towards the Car.

"Let me to..no...." Her voice changed seeing her strength has failed to save her. "Henry please..let me go.."

Henry grinned widely, maniacally.

Just before Cassandra was pushed into the Car, a deep voice came from the back.

"You heard her," he said unhurriedly and calmly, "let her go."

The men paused.

Henry turned. He wondered who had the guts to poke nose in his affair.

Cassandra narrowed his eyes across the street. Carl was standing there, his hands jammed in his pocket, his posture relaxed without any hint of fear across his face.

"What hole does this asshole crawl out from?" Henry sneered, narrowing his eyes on the man in plain cloth.

Carl scoffed, taking one step close. "You want to know, huh? Mutt?"

Henry's expression darkened.

He'd never been insulted before.

"What did you just call me?" His voice trembled with anger.

"You heard me the first time, Mutt." Carl repeated without wavering. The bodyguards exchanged glances, clearly stunned by the stranger's arrogance towards their master.

Carl tilted his head slightly.

"So, you are the bastard who drugged a woman to force your way with her?"

Henry looked shocked now, shocked that he was rattled by a stranger.

"What.."

"You're so shameless, even coming after her again. So tell me, are you a mutt or not?"

"Who the fuck are you?!!" Henry screamed from his lungs, his voice trembling with anger he could barely contain. He hadn't expected a stranger to know about his mischievous act the previous night.

"Not your business," Carl clipped, his voice still calm. "let that woman go right now."

Henry paused and suddenly burst into a hysterical laughter that wasn't quite laughter.

He straightened back, then glanced back at Cassandra and then at Carl with a faint smirk at the corner of his lips.

"So, you fucked a Stranger and he's here to claim you like he own you?" He laughed— sharp, cruel and cold amusing. He cast an unkind look at Carl . "You're ready to die, M*therfucker!"

Cassandra panicked for Carl.

"Henry, don't do anything stupid. He's not involved in this."

Henry grinned, wide and wicked.

"That's why he must die!"

"Kill the bastard!"