THE VENGEANCE OF THE WAR GOD

Chapter 8

Serena’s eyes burned as she looked at Ferdinand.

“Well, know this,” she said coldly. “I will take my revenge sooner or later. And do not ever act like we know each other again.”

Ferdinand tilted his head with a lazy smile. “You should think about your family. And the Avalon project. You cannot do it without me.”

“I would rather find another way than be with a potential criminal,” Serena replied. “If you may, leave the hallway.”

She tried to step past him.

Ferdinand suddenly grabbed her wrist.

“What are you doing?” Serena shouted, trying to pull free.

“Relax,” he said. “I am sorry if I offended you. I should not have done that. We can still talk things out.”

“No. We are not talking anything out. Leave me alone.”

Ferdinand’s expression changed. His voice dropped lower.

“Do you know why the minister has not approved the project? We specifically told him not to. Unless you are in a relationship with me, there is no way that project gets approved.”

Serena froze.

Her eyes widened. “So you are the one behind it?”

Ferdinand smiled proudly. “Yes. So do not stress yourself. Just agree to be with me and everything becomes easy for you.”

He was still holding her wrist.

“Let me go right now,” Serena said through clenched teeth.

He only smirked.

From behind her, Dustin’s voice came out calm but firm.

“Hey. You heard her. Let her go right now.”

Ferdinand turned slowly.

“What? Who the hell are you?”

Two bodyguards who had been standing a short distance behind Ferdinand stepped forward immediately.

Ferdinand looked Dustin up and down and took in the simple village clothes.

“Who is this lowly pauper-looking man? You better stay out of this.”

Dustin said, "well I am....".

serena knew he was about to go on with him calling himself her husband, so she chimed in.

"My personal bodyguard".

"I see..." Ferdinand said.

Dustin’s eyes were cold in a way that did not match his appearance. The look in them made Ferdinand pause for a brief second without knowing why.

“I will not repeat myself,” Dustin said evenly. “Let her go.”

Ferdinand scoffed and tightened his grip slightly. “Or what?”

Serena struggled again. “Dustin, just stepped back. i will deal with this.”

But Dustin had already taken a step closer.

The air between the men changed.

Ferdinand felt it. Something about Dustin’s calmness did not sit right with him.

“I said let her go,” Dustin repeated.

Ferdinand laughed, but it sounded forced. “You think you can threaten me? Do you even know who I am?”

“Yes,” Dustin replied. “I know exactly who you are. You are a loser who wouldn't take no as an answer. you are not anybody without mentioning your father and instead of impressing a lady you are forcing her to a relationship, you are a big loser”

This made Ferdinand crazy. but still he wouldn't let Serena go.

Before Ferdinand could know it. Dustin moved.

He did not rush. He did not strain. His hand came up calmly and caught Ferdinand’s wrist.

Then he twisted.

crack!!!

A sharp crack split the air.

Ferdinand screamed. “Aaaah! My wrist! My wrist!”

The sound was raw and ugly and loud enough to echo through the hallway. His knees almost gave way as pain tore through his arm. Even Serena froze in shock, staring at Dustin like she had never seen him before.

Ferdinand’s face twisted in rage and agony. “Kill him!” he shouted at his bodyguards. “What are you looking at? Kill him!”

The two men rushed forward at once.

Dustin did not step back.

The first bodyguard swung a heavy fist toward Dustin’s face. Dustin tilted his head slightly and the punch cut through empty air. In the same movement, Dustin drove his elbow into the man’s ribs. A dull thud sounded and the bodyguard’s breath left him in a harsh gasp. Before he could recover, Dustin grabbed his collar and flipped him over his hip. The man slammed hard onto the tiled floor and did not get up.

The second bodyguard hesitated for only a second before charging. He aimed a kick at Dustin’s side. Dustin caught the leg mid-air, twisted, and shoved him off balance. The man staggered. Dustin stepped in and struck him once in the chest with his palm. The force sent him crashing backward into the wall. His head hit with a heavy knock and he slid down, unconscious.

The whole thing happened in seconds.

Ferdinand stood there clutching his broken wrist, his mouth open. His eyes were wide with disbelief.

Who is this guy?

Serena quickly stepped forward and grabbed Dustin’s hand. “Let’s get out of here,” she said urgently.

They walked away, leaving Ferdinand on the ground in pain and humiliation.

“I swear I will take my revenge!” Ferdinand shouted after them, his voice cracking. “I will find you! I will make you pay for this!”

But they were already gone.

Outside, they got into the car. Serena started the engine with trembling hands and drove off.

For a few moments, there was silence inside the car.

Then Serena spoke. “What did you just do back there?”

Dustin smiled faintly. “I saved you.”

“I appreciate you intervening,” she said sharply, “but you broke Ferdinand’s hand. Do you know who he is?”

Dustin shrugged. “I do not care.”

Serena let out a frustrated breath. “They are one of the biggest families in this city. Bigger than us. And there is a rumor they are very close to the God of War. You just signed your death contract.”

Dustin scoffed quietly and looked out the window. He knew very well that rumor was meaningless. He was the God of War and he knew nothing about the Quilox family. But he said nothing.

“Just one day with you,” Serena continued, “and you have already caused trouble.”

“I did that to help you,” Dustin replied calmly.

“So I should praise you for creating more problems for me?” she snapped. “Just shut up.”

They reached the house shortly after.

Serena parked the car abruptly. “You can get off now,” she said. “I have somewhere to go.”

Dustin raised an eyebrow. “Where is my wife going without me?”

Serena turned to him in disbelief. “Just get out. And stop calling me your wife.”

Dustin nodded lightly. “Okay. Okay. Wifey.”

She groaned loudly. “Fuck.”

Dustin stepped out of the car with an amused expression.

Serena immediately floored the accelerator and drove away, leaving him standing there as dust rose from the road.