Marcus's fingers moved with supernatural precision across Alessandro's pressure points, channeling divine healing energy through meridians that mortal doctors couldn't even perceive. The jade ring blazed with celestial light as ancient techniques flowed through his fingertips like liquid fire.
Alessandro's labored breathing began to ease, color returning to his ashen face as the punctured lung tissue regenerated under Marcus's divine touch. The internal bleeding stopped, damaged vessels sealing themselves with otherworldly precision.
"Impossible," Alessandro gasped, his voice growing stronger by the second. "The pain... it's completely gone. How did you do that?"
"Ancient healing arts that most mortals have forgotten," Marcus replied, stepping back as his work completed. "Your lung is fully restored."
Valentina stood frozen in shock, her earlier arrogance replaced by wide-eyed amazement. "Papa, you look... you look twenty years younger."
"I feel reborn," Alessandro laughed, tears streaming down his face. "Young man, I don't even know your name, but you've saved my life. How can I ever repay you?"
"You don't need to repay anything," Marcus said with divine composure. "I helped you because your soul carries the light of righteousness. The schools you built for underprivileged children, the hospitals you funded—the God of War always protects those who serve justice."
Alessandro's eyes widened. "How could you possibly know about my charitable work? I keep those projects completely private."
Because I can see the divine light in your spirit, Marcus thought, just as I can see the darkness in others.
"Mr...?" Alessandro pulled out his business card, hands trembling with gratitude.
"Kane. Marcus Kane."
"Mr. Kane, please allow me to show my appreciation. The finest restaurant in the city, the most expensive suite at the Grand Imperial Hotel—anything you desire."
"I appreciate the offer, but I have urgent personal business to attend to," Marcus declined, his tactical mind already focused on his next target. "Someone needs to answer for their betrayal."
Sophia Chen, he thought, divine fury building like a storm. Time to face the consequences of your treachery.
Alessandro pressed a platinum business card into Marcus's hand. "If you ever need anything—anything at all—call me immediately. The Romano Empire is forever in your debt."
Marcus nodded and walked away, leaving the father and daughter staring after him in awe.
Twenty minutes later, Marcus stood before the imposing Chen family mansion, its marble columns and gold-trimmed windows displaying wealth built on pharmaceutical empire profits. The God of War's presence seemed to darken the afternoon sky as he approached the front door.
He didn't knock. He didn't ring the bell. His divine voice simply commanded: "Sophia Chen. Come out and face me."
The door flew open, revealing Carmen Chen—a woman whose plastic surgery couldn't hide the ugliness of her soul. Her face twisted with disgust as she recognized Marcus.
"Well, well, well," Carmen sneered, her voice dripping with venom. "If it isn't the family's disgraced ex-convict. What gutter did you crawl out of, you pathetic criminal?"
"Where is Sophia?" Marcus demanded, his godly authority making the air itself tremble.
"Getting ready for her wedding, not that it's any of your business, you worthless piece of trash," Carmen spat. "She's marrying a real man today—someone with money, power, and a future. Not some broke loser who throws his life away over petty violence."
"I want to speak with her. Now."
"Speak with her?" Carmen laughed mockingly. "You delusional fool, do you actually think my daughter would soil herself by talking to prison scum? You're nothing but a bad memory she's finally erasing."
Marcus's divine presence overwhelmed the mansion's defenses as he stepped forward, his supernatural aura making Carmen stumble backward in involuntary fear.
"Sophia!" his voice boomed through the house like thunder from Mount Olympus.
Footsteps echoed from the grand staircase, and Marcus's breath caught as Sophia appeared at the top of the marble steps. She was breathtakingly beautiful in an ivory wedding gown that cost more than most people's yearly salary, but her eyes held a coldness that chilled Marcus's divine heart.
"What do you want, Marcus?" Sophia's voice was ice-cold, devoid of any warmth or recognition of their shared history.
"An explanation," Marcus said, his commanding tone carrying the weight of divine judgment. "I went to prison defending your honor. I sacrificed three years of my life to protect you from Victor Blackwood's assault. And this is how you repay me?"
Sophia descended the stairs with regal arrogance, her designer heels clicking against marble like a countdown to execution.
"Oh, Marcus," she laughed, the sound sharp enough to cut glass. "You sweet, naive little boy. Did you actually think I'd waste my youth waiting for some violent criminal to get out of prison?"
"I protected you from that monster!"
"Monster?" Sophia's eyes glittered with cruel amusement. "Victor Blackwood is worth five hundred million dollars. His family owns half this city. He can give me everything I've ever dreamed of—mansions, yachts, jewelry, private jets. What could you possibly offer me? Love? Romance? Emotional support?"
She threw back her head and laughed mockingly.
"I'm marrying Victor this afternoon," Sophia continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "The same man whose face you rearranged, yes. Isn't that deliciously ironic? While you were rotting in a cell, I was falling in love with your victim."
Marcus felt his divine heart crack like ancient stone. "So everything we had meant nothing?"
"Nothing?" Sophia pulled out a thick envelope of cash and threw it at Marcus's feet. "Here's what our relationship was worth—exactly five thousand dollars. Take it and buy yourself some decent clothes so you don't end up sleeping under a bridge."
She has revealed her true nature, Marcus thought, divine pride shielding his wounded heart. A mortal soul corrupted by greed and vanity.
"You think money is everything," Marcus said quietly, his voice carrying prophetic certainty. "But I promise you this, Sophia Chen—one day you will regret this decision. You will remember this moment and understand exactly what you threw away."
"Regret?" Sophia cackled like a witch. "The only thing I regret is wasting two years of my life dating a broke loser who couldn't even afford to take me to decent restaurants. Victor spent more on my engagement ring than you'll earn in your entire pathetic existence."
Carmen joined her daughter's laughter. "Get out of here, you delusional convict, before we call security. My daughter is marrying into royalty, not associating with gutter trash."
Marcus turned and walked away, leaving the money scattered on their pristine marble floor. Behind him, mother and daughter continued their cruel laughter, completely unaware that they had just insulted a god walking among mortals.