THE SAVIOR GOD OF WAR RETURNS

Chapter 5

The hall fell silent after Jack tore up the check and contract. Emily's scoff echoed through the room, her confidence unbroken. "You'll regret this," she muttered.

Not likely, Jack thought, his eyes scanning the room with practiced calm.

Then the doors opened.

William Thompson entered—a name that made even the wealthiest guests hold their breath. Beside him stood Sarah Thompson, the woman Jack had saved from kidnappers, and Daniel Thompson, their equally formidable family member.

The Wilsons' reaction was instantaneous. Michael and Patricia Wilson practically tripped over themselves, rushing to welcome the Thompsons. But William ignored them completely, his gaze fixed solely on Jack.

He's been looking for me, Jack realized.

William approached, and to everyone's shock, he bowed slightly. "Mr. Parker," he said, "would you honor us with a drink at our home?"

The crowd watched, breathless. An invitation from the Thompsons was not something anyone refused.

Jack's response surprised everyone. "No," he said simply. "I don't enjoy social visits."

Gasps rippled through the room. The most powerful family in Harmonfield had just been casually rejected.

Ryan Brooks, still seething from his earlier humiliation, couldn't contain himself. "Apologize!" he screamed, face red with anger. "Apologize to Mr. Thompson, or I'll break your legs!"

What happened next was so fast that most guests didn't see the details.

Jack's hand moved. In one fluid motion, he grabbed Ryan by the hair, yanking him down. Three precise slaps echoed through the hall—each one a public humiliation that stripped away Ryan's dignity.

Emily exploded. "How dare you!" she shouted. "You're just a poor man using violence to seem powerful! Apologize to Ryan immediately!"

She still doesn't understand, Jack thought.

Sarah Thompson stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension. "Shut up," she told Emily bluntly. "You spoiled, pathetic little girl. If anyone from the Wilson or Brooks family touches Mr. Parker, the Thompson family will destroy you both."

Silence.

Michael Wilson tried to regain control. "Are you certain?" he asked William. "This man could be tricking you."

William's cold glare silenced him instantly. "Mr. Parker," he announced to the entire room, "is our honored guest." Then, turning to the Wilsons, he added, "I suggest you control your people and teach them some manners."

Old Joe would find this amusing, Jack thought, remembering his mentor's lessons about power and respect.

William turned back to Jack, his voice low but carrying throughout the hall. "Just say the word," he said, "and we'll make both the Brooks family and the Wilsons disappear."

The meaning was clear. This was no idle threat.

Jack studied William for a moment. No surprise. No fear. Just a calm acknowledgment of power.

The guests looked at Jack differently now. The man they'd mocked, the supposed "nobody" in a simple jacket—was someone completely unexpected. Someone with connections that could make entire families tremble.

Sarah stepped closer to Jack. "Are you alright?" she asked quietly.

"I'm fine," Jack replied.

Daniel Thompson watched the scene, a slight smile playing on his lips. Something about Jack intrigued him—this man was more than he appeared.

Emily stood frozen, her world suddenly turned upside down. The man she'd dismissed, the fiancé she'd rejected, was now being honored by Harmonfield's most feared family.