The Charismatic God of War

Chapter 2

“What if I can afford to pay it?”

Laughter erupted even louder at Thayer’s ridiculous question.

“You think you’re some kind of billionaire?” Jonas mocked, laughing scornfully.

Hendrix approached Thayer, leaning on his cane. His face was gloomy and full of hatred.

“Get out of here. Don’t ruin my event. You’re no longer part of the Lennox family!” Hendrix shouted. “You destroyed my granddaughter’s life and brought shame to the Lennox family. Arabella deserves a better man than a loser like you!”

Thayer smiled faintly. “But the man Arabella wants is me, Mr. Lennox. Can you please stop using the family as a tool for business?”

Slap!

Thayer didn’t even flinch as the slap landed across his scarred and stitched face.

“Are you deaf? Leave before I call my aide to throw you out!” Hendrix completely lost his patience.

Thayer’s face darkened. He didn’t mind being insulted, but being separated from his little family was unbearable.

“You’ll regret driving me away.”

“We will never regret getting rid of a useless parasite like you!” Jonas sneered, trying to impress his father.

Suddenly Thayer’s phone rang. He was sure it was Abner calling. He smiled confidently at Arabella. “I have to attend the mayor’s event to welcome the God of War. But I promise I’ll come back and take you with me.”

“The God of War?” Laughter echoed again. “No way the God of War invited you! He’s an important and noble man. It’s impossible he knows trash like you!”

“That’s right! Even if you were once a soldier, he’d never associate with you.”

The guests joined in mocking Thayer.

Suddenly the door opened, making everyone turn their heads. A tall man in an expensive suit entered, shocking everyone.

“Isn’t that Spencer?”

“Yes, that’s him! The rich man, Spencer.”

“Oh my God! Did the Lennox family invite him too?”

“The Lennox family is incredible, being able to invite two powerful men in this city!”

“Good afternoon, everyone. Sorry I’m late. The airport was temporarily closed because of the God of War’s arrival,” Spencer said charmingly, smiling at the crowd.

Everyone stared at Spencer in admiration. He was rich and powerful, considered equal to the God of War himself.

“Coincidentally, the God of War will come here,” Hendrix said proudly, his eyes full of excitement. He didn’t expect two powerful men to attend his event.

“Really?” Spencer looked around. “Has he arrived yet?”

“Unfortunately, not yet.” Hendrix sighed nervously. “Maybe he’s busy. Try contacting him again, Kane.”

“Alright.” Kane sent a message to Abner and waited anxiously for a reply.

[He already arrived, but you didn’t treat him properly.]

Kane was stunned.

“What’s wrong, Kane?” Hendrix asked, confused by his son-in-law’s shocked expression.

“The God of War already came, but we didn’t treat him properly.”

“Damn! He must’ve left because he was uncomfortable with the commotion caused by Thayer.”

“I think I’m that God of War,” Thayer said confidently.

“Stop talking nonsense,” Hendrix scolded, embarrassed. Thayer sounded insane, desperate for attention. “Leave before I really lose my temper!”

Arabella trembled. Grandpa never joked when he said things like that. Even though they weren’t as rich as the God of War, Hendrix still had enough power to make anyone’s life miserable without lifting a finger.

Spencer looked Thayer up and down with a judging gaze. “Who is he, Mr. Hendrix?”

“Just ignore him, sir,” Jonas said politely, then gave Thayer a mocking glance. “He’s just a troublemaker. A crazy man.” This was a perfect chance to get his daughter, Ivy, closer to Spencer.

“I’m Arabella’s husband,” Thayer said with a faint smile.

The Lennox family boiled with anger.

“Husband?” Instead of being shocked, Spencer chuckled sarcastically. “I don’t think a beautiful woman like Arabella would marry someone like you.”

“Do you think Arabella likes you too?” Thayer sneered, aware of Spencer’s interest in his wife.

Spencer’s jaw tightened. How dare Thayer talk back to him? Still, he kept his composure. He had to maintain his image in front of the Lennox family.

“It seems the God of War won’t come here. He must be busy attending his own welcoming ceremony. If you want to meet him, the only way is to attend that event,” Spencer explained. “Unfortunately, not everyone received an invitation. Only those the God of War considers important.”

Hendrix sighed in disappointment.

“But don’t be sad, Mr. Hendrix. I’ll take you and your family to the God of War’s reception.” Spencer smiled.

“Really?” The Lennox family cheered while the guests looked envious.

“How will you do that, Spencer?” Hendrix asked skeptically.

“I received a special invitation for eight people. My family couldn’t come, so I decided to invite you instead.”

“Oh my God, you’re so generous, Mr. Spencer!”

“So kind and humble!”

Spencer grinned, enjoying the praise. It wasn’t a waste spending millions of dollars just to impress the Lennox family and the guests.

“You’d better get ready. The event will start soon,” Spencer said.

“Come on, Arabella. Let’s get ready!” Vivian said excitedly.

“You’re not invited,” Samara, Jonas’s wife, interrupted coldly. She glared at Arabella and her parents with disdain. “Your presence isn’t needed.”

“Why not?” Vivian snapped. “We’re part of the Lennox family too.”

“More like a burden,” Samara sneered. “You’ve been leeching off Grandpa for years. You never contributed anything to the success of Lennox Corp.”

Vivian and Theodore were furious but too embarrassed to argue back. The guests laughed mockingly. Arabella lowered her head, ashamed of being her parents’ disgrace.

“You don’t need to worry,” Thayer said softly to his in-laws. “We’ll all attend the event, even without invitations.” It was his chance to win their hearts.

“Once again, you’re embarrassing yourself,” Jonas mocked. “Don’t you realize you’re the reason your wife and her parents lost their rights in the company? And now you want to deceive them again with your nonsense?”

“There’s no point lecturing them, dear,” Samara said sarcastically. “Let’s just go. We still need time to buy a gift for the General.”

The group left, but Thayer called out with a smirk, “I suggest you stay here. You won’t be able to get in anyway. I’d hate to see you humiliated.”

Spencer chuckled. “Who do you think you are? Are you the General?”

Thayer lifted his chin proudly. “Yes, I am.”

Laughter roared across the room again, making Arabella, Vivian, and Theodore even more embarrassed. They couldn’t even lift their heads; their dignity was gone.

Arabella grabbed Thayer’s arm and dragged him toward a quiet corridor. “Stop talking nonsense in front of everyone, especially my family. Don’t humiliate us anymore, Thayer. Is this how you repay me after I waited for you seven years?”

“I’m only telling the truth—”

“Enough. I don’t want to hear your nonsense anymore. If you still want to be my husband, keep quiet and don’t go against my family,” Arabella pleaded. “Please, don’t make things harder for my parents. You have no idea how much we’ve suffered since you left.” Her eyes glistened with tears.

Thayer’s heart ached seeing her cry. He hadn’t realized how deeply he’d hurt her and her family.

His fists clenched. He swore he would make them happy again.

“Just this once, believe me. We’ll attend that event.”

Arabella’s disappointment deepened as tears rolled down her cheeks. “You want my family to be humiliated again in front of the General?”

Thayer took her hands. “If I fail, we’ll get divorced.”

Arabella froze. The sincerity in his eyes made it hard for her to refuse. Thayer never broke a promise. He had already proven that by coming back alive.

She sighed softly. There was no other choice. Her life was already a mess anyway.

“Alright.”

When Thayer returned to the hall, the Lennox family and all the guests were gone. Only Arabella’s parents and the servants remained. The powerful guests had no interest in mingling with the lowest branch of the Lennox family.

Vivian’s cries filled the room. “This is all your fault! If you hadn’t come, none of this would’ve happened! Why are you even alive?!”

“Mom, please watch your words. He’s my husband,” Arabella said softly.

Vivian slapped her daughter across the face. “How dare you defend the man who ruined our family! If it weren’t for him, we’d be at the God of War’s event with Spencer right now!”

“Mom, I promise I’ll take you there,” Thayer said firmly, still smiling.

“And how will you do that, huh? By jumping over the fence?”

“If Thayer fails to take us there, I’ll divorce him,” Arabella said tiredly.

Vivian stopped crying and suddenly looked interested. This was a perfect opportunity to separate them. She didn’t mind waiting one last time until the marriage truly ended. After all, there was no way Thayer could get them into such a prestigious event filled with the world’s richest people.

She wiped her tears away and said coldly, “Fine. If you fail, you must divorce my daughter and leave our lives forever.”

Thayer nodded with a growing smile. “I promise.”

Arabella felt a chill run down her spine. How could Thayer possibly fulfill that promise? Who did he think he was? He was just a low-ranking soldier, someone paid to die on the battlefield. There was no way he knew the General.

“What about the gift?” Arabella asked quietly.

Theodore scoffed. “You really think your poor husband can get us in there? I bet we’ll be thrown out before we even reach the gate.”

Arabella lowered her head. He was right. Her doubts grew stronger.

She didn’t want to separate from Thayer because of this bet, though. She still loved him deeply. He always treated her with respect—as a woman, as a wife—unlike those rich men who saw women as toys.

“We should hurry. The God of War doesn’t like gifts,” Thayer said.

Though still annoyed, Vivian and Theodore followed him. Thayer took his wife’s family to the city hall by taxi. Luxury cars lined up at the gate, while guards stood bowing respectfully to welcome the guests.

Thayer, Arabella, and her parents approached the entrance.

“What are you doing here?” Spencer’s voice carried a mocking tone.