THE VENGEANCE OF THE WAR GOD

Chapter 7

They returned to the sitting room together.

Every face turned toward them at once.

Serena walked ahead while Dustin followed a step behind her. Her expression was firm and unreadable.

“We have talked,” she announced. “And I will go ahead with the wedding.”

A slow smile spread across Mr. Earnshaw’s face. Relief washed over him like a man who had just won a long war.

“I knew things would work out,” he said with pride. He clapped his hands sharply. “Guards! Prepare the Hall Gate Hotel now. Invite every influential name in this city. My granddaughter is getting married!”

“Are you out of your mind, Serena?” Mrs. Morgan burst out. “Why would you even think of having anything to do with this village boy?”

Mrs. Earnshaw stepped closer, her voice tight with suspicion. “Did he threaten you? What did he do?”

Serena shook her head. “No. We just talked it out. We will go through with it, but on one condition. There will be no grand wedding. No publication. Just the two of us. We will register it quietly and nothing more.”

Mr. Earnshaw blinked. “But—”

Dustin spoke calmly. “Yes. We talked about that too. That is what we want.”

Mr. Earnshaw looked from one to the other, then nodded slowly. “Alright. If that is how you want it.”

Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Earnshaw were still visibly upset.

“What about Ferdinand now?” Mrs. Morgan demanded. “How will we strike the Avalon Construction deal?”

That name filled the room with a different kind of tension.

The Avalon Construction project was the family’s biggest investment in years. They had poured money into it and waited endlessly for approval from the Minister of Lands and Construction. The only people who had influence strong enough to sway the decision were the Quilox family. That was the real reason they wanted Serena to marry Ferdinand, the heir.

Serena let out a tired breath. “I will work it out.”

Mr. Earnshaw did not even seem to care about that at the moment. He was too happy that the marriage was happening.

Mrs. Morgan’s face twisted with anger. “I do not approve of this. And I swear I will do whatever it takes to split you two apart.”

She turned and stormed out of the room.

Hours later, Serena stood outside the house waiting for Dustin so they could go and register the wedding.

She folded her arms and stared ahead impatiently.

When Dustin finally came out, he had changed his clothes. But it was still the same simple village attire.

Serena looked at him with open disgust.

“Oh Lord. What is all this? I cannot even imagine a single day of you as my husband. These three months will feel like a lifetime to me.”

Dustin gave a small whine. “Am I not handsome enough? Look at me.”

Serena could not deny it. He was handsome. Very handsome. But that did nothing to erase his poor background in her eyes.

She sneered. “Just get in. Let us go and get this over with.”

They entered the car and drove away.

Minutes later, they arrived at the city hall.

Serena stepped out first. She quickly put on a face mask and opened a small umbrella to shield her face from view. The last thing she wanted was to be recognized here.

Dustin watched her with mild amusement but said nothing. if only she knew who he was. She would prayed everyone see she was with God of war.

They walked into the marriage registry office where a judge was already waiting for them. The process was quiet and formal. Documents were brought forward and read aloud. One special clause had been clearly written into the agreement stating that the marriage would be annulled after three months by mutual consent.

Both of them signed.

The judge signed.

It was sealed.

They stepped out of the office together.

Dustin stretched his shoulders and smiled. “Wow. So we are a couple now.”

Serena shot him a sharp look. “Hey. We have not even left this place and you are already mixing things up. This marriage only exists on paper.”

“My name is Dustin, not hey,” he replied calmly. “And even for three months, I am still your husband. Talk to me with respect.”

Serena groaned. “Ugh. I knew something like this would happen. Well, we already signed for three months. But in your dreams will I ever address you as my husband.”

She turned angrily and began to walk off.

Because of her frustration, she was not watching where she was going.

She collided into someone.

The impact made her face mask slip slightly.

“I’m sorry…” she began to apologize as she looked up.

Then she froze.

It was Ferdinand.

He looked just as surprised. “Oh. Serena, it’s you. What are you doing here?”

His eyes shifted toward the office door behind her.

“That is the marriage registration office. What are you doing here?”

Serena stared at him. Anger began to rise in her chest as the memory of the previous night came rushing back.

Ferdinand smirked.

“By the way,” he added casually, “why did you run away last night? I looked for you and couldn’t find you. we supposed to have a lot of fun”

Serena scoffed in disbelief. “You think this is funny? You spiked my drink and tried to take advantage of me and you are joking about it?”

Ferdinand raised his brows. “No Serena. I think you were also into it. I only spiked your drink to spice things up. Who else would have the privilege to bed the most beautiful goddess in Winchester except me?”

Her anger flared instantly.

“You are even admitting to it. How can you be so inhumane. I swear I will report you to the police.”

Ferdinand smiled without a trace of fear. “As if there is anything the police can do to me. I am the heir of the Quilox Group.”

Dustin stood behind Serena. witnessing Ferdinand disgusting behavior.