Chapter 53

Marcus was hauled to the man's feet, the distance between them vanishing as the man lowered himself to meet Marcus at eye level. A cloud of smoke billowed from the man's mouth, engulfing Marcus in a suffocating haze. The crowd erupted in laughter, relishing the display of power and degradation.

As Marcus coughed and sputtered, the man clapped his hands. In that moment, the door to the room opened, revealing Don—a sight that failed to surprise Marcus.

The man's gaze slid to Don, the question heavy in the air: "Is this the one who filed a case against my son?"

"Yes, sir," Don replied, his eyes averted.

The man reacted with a swift, stinging slap to Marcus' cheek, leaving a burning red mark. He held Marcus' gaze, the force of his words amplified by their proximity: "Drop the case."

Marcus' initial reaction to the ultimatum was a burst of laughter, his defiance unyielding in the face of the man's intimidation tactics.

A seething rage burned in the man's eyes as Marcus' laughter rang o