The Charismatic God of War

Chapter 3

“You’re so stubborn. Was I not clear enough earlier?” Samara scolded.

Hendrix glared at them furiously but chose to remain silent. He had to maintain his dignity in front of Spencer.

“G-Grandpa, I… I came here to…” Arabella stammered, her voice trembling as words failed her.

Vivien and Theodore shook with fear. They knew punishment awaited them the moment they returned home. Still, this was the only way to help Arabella divorce Thayer and marry a rich tycoon.

“You really have no shame,” Jonas sneered. “You dare to come even though you weren’t invited? Haven’t you humiliated us enough by marrying Arabella off to this loser?” He cast a mocking glance at Thayer, who stood there calmly, watching the entire scene with quiet contempt.

“We don’t need an invitation like you do,” Thayer replied coolly.

“You’re so naïve. Even Spencer—who’s been honored on the same level as the General—had to show an invitation to get in,” Ivy taunted.

“I’m a special guest at this event,” Thayer said with confidence.

“I’m laughing so hard I’m getting stomach cramps because of you,” Ivy mocked. “Don’t make more ridiculous jokes.”

“She’s right,” Irene added sharply.

Spencer smiled sweetly at Arabella. “I hope you divorce your husband soon, Bella. Otherwise, you’ll go insane because of him.”

“Go home already and help the servants clean up the dirty dishes,” Irene said smugly, her tone dripping with satisfaction.

“I feel sorry for you all,” Kane said with pity. “You’ll be thrown in jail if you force your way in. Please, stop embarrassing our family. Think about Grandpa. Do you really want to drive him to an early grave?”

“Of course not, Uncle Kane. Because I—”

“Enough.” Grandpa Hendrix raised his hand firmly, worried Thayer would start spouting nonsense again and claim to be the God of War at his event. “Bella, take your husband and parents home before I lose my patience. Especially you, Thayer.”

“We should hurry, sweetheart. They’re waiting for me inside.” Thayer took Arabella’s cold, trembling hand, ignoring Hendrix completely.

But Arabella slowly pulled her hand away. “I’m sorry, Thayer, I can’t. I don’t want Grandpa to hate us. He won’t hesitate to throw us out.”

“So, you don’t trust me?” Thayer asked, disappointed.

Arabella hesitated. Her heart ached seeing him like that, so she finally gave in and let him take her hand again.

“Look at how confident he is,” her mother scoffed. “He’s going to regret this for the rest of his life.”

“Open the gate,” Thayer ordered firmly.

“Where’s your invitation?” one of the guards asked mockingly.

“I’m an important guest here. I was invited personally over the phone, so I don’t need one.”

“We’re not idiots. Every guest entered with an invitation.”

The Lennox family burst into laughter.

Thayer remained calm. “Then why don’t you try calling your superior?”

Arabella hid behind Thayer, her face red with fear and embarrassment. The Lennox family was watching and laughing, waiting for the guards to throw them out.

Vivien and Theodore wished they could disappear into the ground.

The head guard hesitated for a moment, then decided to call Abner. “Sir, did the General invite an important guest?”

“What’s his name?” Abner asked over the phone.

“What’s your name, sir?”

“Thayer.”

“His name’s Thayer, Boss.”

“What?! That’s our boss! How dare you make him wait outside! You’re dead if you offend him—he never forgives anyone easily!”

The head guard froze in shock.

“Just wait and see. That guard will throw them out any second,” Ivy whispered. “Wanna bet, sister?”

“Of course.”

But instead, the guard dropped to his knees before Thayer, leaving the Lennox family dumbstruck.

“Forgive me, sir. We didn’t realize who you were—”

“Enough,” Thayer cut him off coldly. “You should never judge someone by their appearance.”

“I swear I’ll remember your words,” the guard said shakily before barking an order. “Quick! Open the gate!”

The massive gate swung open in all its grandeur before Thayer and Arabella.

Theodore and Vivien gaped in disbelief. Were they dreaming?

“Come on, Mom, Dad,” Thayer said with a small smile, glancing at Spencer with a mocking smirk.

Spencer and the Lennox family couldn’t believe what they were seeing. How could that so-called loser be respected and allowed to enter?

Theodore and Vivien cried tears of joy, hugging each other tightly.

“Please, come in, Madam and Sir,” the head guard said respectfully once he learned they were Thayer’s in-laws.

With their chins raised high, Theodore and Vivien strutted in proudly, acting as if they were honored guests.

“Don’t let them in, even if they have invitations,” Thayer quietly instructed the head guard.

The man nodded obediently.

Once they entered, the gate closed tightly behind them.

“Let us in,” Spencer demanded.

“You’re not allowed to enter. Please leave.”

“Why not? We came with Mr. Spencer! He’s an important guest!” Samara protested.

“Do you want to get fired?” Jonas snapped at the guard. “I can report you to your superiors for letting that bum in!”

“It’s a direct order from my superior!”

Spencer stepped forward with authority. “I’m Spencer, a VIP guest at this event.” He proudly showed his golden invitation.

“I don’t care about your ticket! You’re not allowed in! Leave before I have you all thrown in jail!”

The women began crying in frustration, while Hendrix slumped to the ground, clutching his aching chest.

What on earth was happening?

---

“How did you do that, Thayer?” Arabella asked in disbelief.

Thayer smiled. “I once saved the General during a deadly war. Maybe that’s why he invited me. Every soldier who fought alongside him was invited, too.”

“So, you know the General personally?” Arabella’s eyes sparkled with awe.

“Something like that.”

“Then you have to introduce us to him!” Vivian urged. “If he agrees to partner with us, we’ll gain massive benefits! The Lennox family will have no choice but to bow before us!”

Thayer grew annoyed by his mother-in-law’s greed. If Vivian knew he was the General, she’d only use him for her own gain. He refused to let that happen.

“I’m not that close to him, Mom. After that bloody battle, I never saw him again. He’s hard to meet.”

“Tsk! Useless! You should’ve taken that chance to get closer to him. At least then you’d be useful to our family!” Vivian snapped.

“Mom, please. You don’t want us to get kicked out, right?” Arabella said softly.

“Ah, you’re right.”

Finally, they arrived at the ballroom. The grand hall gleamed with luxury, decorated with expensive ornaments. The place was filled with glamorous guests—government officials, business moguls, and other powerful figures.

Thayer led them to a round table with Arabella’s name on it.

“How did the General even know your name, Arabella?” Vivien asked, beaming with pride.

“I personally put her name on the list,” Thayer said.

“That’s good! That way the General will remember Arabella’s name, not yours,” Vivien muttered smugly.

Thayer clenched his jaw but said nothing.

A moment later, Abner entered the hall with his soldiers. Their synchronized steps sounded like a march of death. The once-bustling room instantly fell silent.

“Welcome, everyone. Thank you for coming,” Abner said from the podium, his expression stern and unreadable. “Today is a special day. We’re gathered to honor our General—the man who risked his life to protect this nation. Without him, we’d be facing both economic and human collapse.”

The crowd erupted in applause.

“Has he arrived yet, sir?” one of the guests asked.

“He’s already here,” Abner replied.

“What?” The guests gasped, exchanging confused glances.

“Where is he?”