THE UNDERESTIMATED HEIR

FRACTURED TIES

Like a lightning bolt, Marvin’s fist clenched tight, his knuckles turned white as fury overtook him.

His eyes were locked on the glowing Synapticore mark etched into Daniel’s forehead, it was the symbol of the man who had stolen his life, his future—his family.

In a burst of adrenaline, Marvin lunged forward with a force he didn’t even know he had.

His vision tunneled, and the world shrank down to the single goal of his fist smashing into Daniel’s skull.

The crack of impact echoed through the restaurant as Marvin’s fist connected with Daniel’s head, right over that cursed Synapticore mark.

Daniel staggered under the blow, and his body jolted from the sheer force.

“You took everything from me!” Marvin roared, his voice was thick with years of suppressed rage.

His next punch came hard and fast, the power of it was fueled by a cocktail of heartbreak and betrayal. “I’m going to destroy you!”

But Daniel, whose blood was now trickling from the corner of his mouth, simply smirked. “Oh please, Marvin,” he sneered, wiping his lip with the back of his hand. “You are always so dramatic. You think throwing a few punches will change anything?”

His words were a match thrown into the inferno of Marvin’s rage. He lunged again, landing blow after blow, with each punch landing harder than the last. “You bastard!” Marvin shouted, his voice was raw. “I’m not just going to beat you, Daniel—I’m going to make you suffer!”

Daniel’s smile didn’t falter, even as his knees buckled under the force of another punch. “You think you’re the first one to try and make me suffer?” Daniel said, with a tone that dripped with mockery. “You’re just sad. Pitiful, even.”

Marvin’s fists blurred with rage. Each punch felt like it carried the weight of everything Daniel had taken from him—his love, his family, his life.

“I’ll show you pathetic!” Marvin bellowed, with his fist smashing into Daniel’s head once more. “I’ll break you! I’ll wipe that smug grin off your face!”

Daniel, who was still smirking through the blood smeared across his lips, barely flinched.

He let out a derisive laugh, even as his body recoiled with each punch. “Is that the best you’ve got?” he taunted, his voice was calm despite the brutality of the beating. “You’re pathetic, Marvin. You’ve always been pathetic.”

A growl erupted from deep within Marvin, his rage was so thick it was choking him. “I’ve lost everything because of you! My family! My reason to live! I won’t let you walk away this time!” His voice shook with emotion as he continued to rain down blows, but Daniel barely seemed to register the pain.

Marvin’s fist struck the glowing mark again, and this time, Daniel's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second.

The Synapticore mark began to flare, its eerie light began to intensify as Daniel attempted to activate its power.

“Not a chance!” Marvin snarled, driving his fist directly into the mark once more.

The force of the blow sent Daniel stumbling back, with his head snapping to the side. For the first time, a flicker of frustration passed over his face.

"You’re not using that power on me again." Marvin growled through clenched teeth. “Not now. Not ever.”

Daniel wiped the blood from his brow, his smile returned, though it was thinner now, and less amused.

“You’re just delaying the inevitable, Marvin,” Daniel taunted, stepping back as his eyes gleamed with dark anticipation. “Sooner or later, you’ll fall. And I’ll be there, like always, to watch you crumble.”

Fueled by that cold, dismissive tone, Marvin roared and threw one final, devastating punch.

It landed with a sickening thud, sending Daniel crashing to the floor. The once-bright Synapticore mark on his forehead dimmed, flickering like a dying ember.

Marvin stood over him, chest heaving, his breathing ragged from the exertion. “Look at you now,” Marvin muttered, his voice was laced with disgust. “All that power, all that arrogance—and you’re nothing but a broken man.”

The restaurant had gone deathly silent. A couple of patrons, shocked into action, rushed forward to pull Marvin back, holding his arms as they tried to prevent any further violence.

“Hey, man, calm down!” one of them pleaded, gripping Marvin’s shoulder.

Others scrambled to help Daniel off the floor, but even then, that smug grin never left his face. “You’re so predictable, Marvin,” Daniel wheezed, spitting blood onto the floor. “You might be stronger than me physically, but this…” he pointed to the faint glow of the Synapticore mark on his forehead, “this is what makes me superior.”

Marvin’s face turned crimson, his muscles strained as he fought against the hands holding him back. “Let me go!” he growled, his voice turned hoarse. “I’ll finish this snake right here!”

And then—"BANG".

A sudden, sharp pain exploded at the back of Marvin’s head. He crumpled to the floor, his vision began swimming as stars erupted behind his eyes.

Groaning in agony, he barely registered the broken beer bottle rolling away from him. Blood seeped from his bandaged head.

Martha stood over him, and her chest was rising and falling with quick, shallow breaths.

The empty bottle still hung loosely in her hand. Her eyes, once filled with warmth and love, were now hard and cold as stone. “How DARE you lay a hand on the father of my children!” she hissed, her voice was venomous.

Marvin’s eyes fluttered as he tried to focus. “Martha…” he croaked, but his words barely came out.

She raised the bottle again, intent on striking him once more, but Mr. Fredrick intervened, gripping her wrist firmly.

“Enough!” he barked, prying the bottle from her hand. “Don’t do this, Martha. Not here. Not like this.”

Her face twisted into a sneer as she yanked her arm away. “Stay out of this, Fredrick,” she spat. “You can take his side all you want, but I won’t let this pathetic excuse for a man ruin my life any longer.”

Marvin lay on the floor, with blood trickling down his face, his body wracked with pain. His vision blurred as he tried to push himself up, but his limbs felt like lead. His children—his beautiful children—were watching everything, their innocent eyes were wide with confusion.

Bryan’s voice was small, trembling. “Mom, is Dad okay?”

Martha didn’t even look at him. She hoisted their daughter into her arms and gripped Bryan’s hand. “That is NOT your father, Bryan,” she said coldly, casting one last, scornful glance at Marvin. “Come. Let’s leave this miserable place.”

“Martha, wait—” Marvin rasped, as his voice was barely a whisper. But she didn’t stop. She didn’t even look back.

Daniel, who was bruised but still grinning, staggered to his feet with the help of Martha’s hired bodyguards. “I told you, Marvin,” he said softly, as his voice was dripping with victory. “I always win in the end.”

With that, Martha, Daniel, and the children swept out of the restaurant, leaving Marvin crumpled on the floor in a pool of his own blood and humiliation.

The sound of the door closing behind them felt like the final nail in the coffin of his life.

Mr. Fredrick stood above him, his face was twisted with pity. “Marvin,” he said quietly under his breath, shaking his head. “You didn’t deserve this. None of this.”

But the words barely registered. The pain—the physical pain of the blow, the emotional wreckage of betrayal—was too much. His world, once so full of love and promise, was shattered beyond recognition.

And all that remained was the unbearable weight of knowing he had lost everything.