Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 208

CHAPTER 155 PART 2

Everyone turned to stare at her.

“So what?” Ives repeated, louder now. “Marcus used Elize. Marcus is married. Marcus probably uses everyone around him for his own purposes. Who cares?”

“Who cares?” Simeon sputtered. “Ives, he’s married! To Quinn Hartford! The Sacred Saintess! And you’re just—”

“Just what?” Ives’s smile was defiant. “Just willing to overlook it because I like him? Because he’s interesting and powerful and doesn’t bore me to tears like every other man in this pathetic province? Yes. Exactly.”

The room erupted in shocked murmurs. This was Ives Abbott-the dignified daughter of one of Five-River Province’s most influential families-openly admitting she was pursuing a married man. The scandal implications were enormous.

“You’re insane,” Madison breathed.

“Maybe,” Ives agreed cheerfully. “Or maybe I’m just done pretending to care about reputation and propriety. Marcus’s wife knows about me. She knows he’s here. And you know what? She doesn’t care either. Because their marriage operates on rules the rest of you couldn’t possibly understand.”

Elize laughed bitterly. “Rules? You mean she’s okay with her husband sleeping around?”

“I didn’t sleep with you,” Marcus interjected, his patience clearly thinning. “How many times do I have to say it? You got drunk, wore a ridiculous costume, and I kept you from making even worse decisions. That’s it. That’s the entire story.”

“But you spent the night-”

“In a chair. Fully clothed. Completely uninvolved.” Marcus’s dragon eyes flashed with irritation. “The only person who slept was you, after you passed out from alcohol poisoning. If that counts as a romantic evening in your mind, your standards are even lower than I thought.”

The insult stung, but Elize pushed forward anyway. “You’re lying. You have to be lying because-”

“Because you need me to be guilty?” Marcus finished. “Because if I’m not, then you’re just the girl who got drunk, acted foolishly, and got rejected? Which version makes you feel better about yourself?”

Before Elize could respond, Ives laughed-sharp and mocking. “Honestly, Elize, even if Marcus had slept with you, it wouldn’t mean anything. You in that bunny costume? That’s desperation, not seduction. At least I have some dignity when I pursue him.”

“Dignity?” Elize whirled on her. “You just admitted you’re chasing a married man! What dignity is there in that?”

“More than wearing a bunny costume and begging for attention,” Ives shot back.

The argument might have continued, escalating into something truly ugly, but Atlas Lancaster’s voice cut through the chaos like a knife.

“As fascinating as this is,” he said coldly, “I’m not here for relationship drama. I’m here for her.” He pointed directly at Elize. “Everything else is just noise.”

That’s when the real danger arrived.

The door that Atlas had entered through opened wider, and a massive man stepped in-completely bald, built like a professional wrestler, with scars crisscrossing his knuckles and a face that suggested violence was his first

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language. Behind him, more men filed in, until Atlas’s original dozen had swelled to nearly twenty.

The bald enforcer’s gaze swept the room with professional assessment, then locked onto Elize. “That her?”

“That’s her,” Atlas confirmed, his smile returning. “The little bitch who thought she could embarrass me and walk away clean.”

“Atlas, don’t-” Simeon started, but fell silent when the bald man’s attention shifted to her.

“Names,” the enforcer demanded, his voice like gravel. “All of you. Who are you connected to?”

The young elites exchanged nervous glances. In their world, family names were shields-invoking the right connection could stop violence before it started. But there was something in this man’s demeanor that suggested he might not care.

“I’m Simeon King,” Simeon said, trying to sound authoritative. “My brother is—”

“Don’t care,” the bald man interrupted. “Next.”

“Brandon Chen. My father owns-”

“Don’t care.”

One by one, they gave their names and connections, each receiving the same indifferent dismissal. The message was clear-whatever protection their families offered meant nothing here, tonight.

When it was Ives’s turn, she lifted her chin defiantly. “Ives Abbott. Daughter of Miguel Abbott. And if you touch me, my father will-”

“Will what?” The bald man actually smiled. “Make threats? Call in favors? Your daddy’s scared of the people I work for, little girl. So unless you want to end up on the floor bleeding with your friend there, I suggest you shut up and sit down.”

Ives looked ready to argue, but Marcus placed a hand on her shoulder-not rough, but firm. “Don’t.”

She looked up at him, surprised by the intervention, but something in his dragon eyes made her swallow her protest and step back.

The bald enforcer turned his full attention to Marcus now. “And you. You’re the one who made Young Master Lancaster look like a fool, yeah? The one playing house with his fiancée?”

“Former fiancée,” Marcus corrected calmly. “And yes, that’s me,”

“Boss wants a word with you too. But first-” He gestured, and several of his men moved toward Elize. “First, we collect the girl. She’s got debts to pay.”

Elize backed away, terror finally overwhelming her earlier bravado. “No-wait-you can’t-”

Marcus’s analysis had been running since the moment these men entered. Their confidence despite the Abbott name. Their complete disregard for family connections. The way Atlas stood back, letting them do the dirty work.

Only one force in Five-River Province could act with this kind of impunity.

The Lancaster Family wasn’t sending subordinates. They were sending a message.

Marcus’s hand moved casually to the table beside him, his fingers wrapping around a beer bottle. To most observers, it looked like a nervous gesture. But those who knew what to look for-who could recognize the subtle shift in his stance, the dangerous calm in his dragon eyes-understood differently.

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