Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 257

CHAPTER 178 PART 2

“He’s stable. Critical but stable. The surgeons say he’ll survive, though recovery will be extensive.”

“Good. And the Dragon King?”

“Still at Pearl on the Water Hotel. He hasn’t fled or gone into hiding.”

“Interesting.” Maurice paused, and Finley could hear papers rustling in the background. “I won’t be coming immediately. There are matters here that require my attention first. Political complications. Organizational concerns. I need you to remain at the hospital and protect Quantez until I can arrange proper security.”

Finley’s face went pale. “But Master, you said you’d be here within hours. You said anyone who hurt Quantez would face immediate consequences.”

“Plans change,” Maurice said flatly. “The situation is more complex than I initially understood. Amadeus Fairbanks himself contacted me. Advised caution. Suggested that rushing into Five-River Province without proper preparation would be strategically unsound.”

“So you’re just leaving us here?” Finley’s voice rose despite herself. “Leaving Quantez vulnerable? Leaving Marcus Steel unpunished?”

“Watch your tone,” Maurice’s voice dropped to something dangerous. “I’m making the decision that’s best for Willson Pavilion’s interests. Personal revenge is less important than institutional stability. You’ll remain on station, protect my son, and wait for further instructions. Is that understood?”

Finley looked at Marcus, who stood watching with an expression of absolute vindication.

“Understood,” Finley whispered.

The call ended.

Silence filled the lobby. Finley stared at her phone like it was a foreign object, her entire worldview fracturing. Marcus had predicted this. Had known Maurice wouldn’t come immediately. Had understood the branch manager’s psychology better than his own disciple.

“How?” Finley asked quietly. “How did you know?”

“Because powerful men are predictable,” Marcus replied. “They value position over people, reputation over relationships. Maurice loves his son, I’m sure. But he loves his status more. Rushing here emotionally would undermine that status. Better to delay, to strategize, to arrive with overwhelming force and political backing than to act on impulse like a common thug.”

“He abandoned Quantez,” Finley said, the realization still settling. “He chose the Pavilion over his own blood.”

“He chose himself,” Marcus corrected. “The Pavilion is just the excuse.”

Finley looked up, her eyes red but dry. “You planned this. You knew exactly how Maurice would react. You orchestrated everything to create maximum humiliation not just for Quantez, but for the entire Springs family.”

“Yes,” Marcus confirmed simply.

Before Finley could respond, Marcus moved with dragon speed. His palm strike caught her in the back with precisely calibrated force, enough to cause serious internal injury but not enough to kill or permanently disable.

Finley gasped and collapsed forward, blood trickling from her mouth, pain radiating through her torso.

“What…” she choked out.

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Marcus crouched beside her, his voice quiet and oddly gentle. “When you report back to your sect, you’ll need an excuse for why you failed to protect Quantez. Why you didn’t stop his beating. Why you stood by while the Dragon King humiliated Willson Pavilion.”

He gestured to her injury. “Now you have one. You engaged me, tried to fight, and were defeated. The injury proves your loyalty, your courage, your willingness to sacrifice for the sect. Without it, they might question whether you were complicit or cowardly.”

Finley stared at him through pain-blurred eyes, understanding dawning. This wasn’t an attack. This was assistance. Brutal, violent assistance, but assistance nonetheless.

“You’re… helping me?” she whispered.

“I’m preventing unnecessary complications,” Marcus corrected. “You showed intelligence by warning me. You demonstrated growth by recognizing your limitations. Rewarding that with execution would be wasteful. This way, you survive with your reputation intact.”

He stood and gestured to his bodyguards. “Get her medical attention. Nothing critical, just enough to stabilize the injury. Then ensure she makes it back to the hospital safely.”

As Miguel’s people moved to help Finley, she looked up at Marcus one final time. “You’re not human, are you? You’re something else. Something more.”

Marcus smiled slightly. “I’m the Dragon King. That’s all you need to know.”

Twelve hours later, Quantez Springs emerged from his second surgery. The doctors delivered their prognosis to a grim-faced Celeste Harrington and the remaining disciples.

“He’ll live,” Dr. Park said carefully. “But the damage to his spine and legs is extensive. Even with the best physical therapy, he’ll likely never walk normally again. A wheelchair is almost certain. Possibly for life.”

The pronouncement hung in the air like a death sentence. Quantez Springs, the arrogant young master who’d thought himself untouchable, would spend the rest of his life as a cripple, a permanent reminder of what happened when you challenged the Dragon King.

Night deepened over Five-River Province. At Bright Hospital, the Willson Pavilion disciples gathered in anxious clusters, waiting for Maurice Springs to arrive and save them.

But the hours passed, and no private jet landed.

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