Chapter 6 Arena, Life or Death!
I watched Lucas leave Amelia hanging there and found the scene rather amusing.
For the past three years, I'd loved and cared for Lucas deeply, but his heart only had room for Amelia. Now that we were getting divorced, Lucas suddenly started caring about me, while Amelia, whom he'd worked so hard to win over, had already lost her novelty to him.
"Your true love is crying. Aren't you going to comfort her?" I said.
Amelia grabbed Lucas's arm, forcing him to look at her. "Lucas, what do you mean? You know I like this bag, but you gave her money and humiliated me with her!"
Her twisted expression distorted her pretty face as Amelia hissed, "I came all the way from Dawnharbor to this dump for you, but how much time have you spent with me these past few days?"
Lucas was silent for two seconds. "A dump?"
He shook off Amelia's hand. "I told you I'd come to Dawnharbor to get you after the divorce. You're the one who came early."
This was the first time Amelia heard Lucas speak to her in such a cold tone. She asked excitedly, "You're blaming me? It's my fault?"
Lucas took a deep breath and said calmly, "What I mean is, give me some time. I'll handle the divorce properly."
Marcus let out a disdainful laugh.
Lucas's gaze was sharp as a knife. "You got something to say?"
"You're the one who keeps talking about 'divorce,' and you're also the one who can't let go of Bella," Marcus said sarcastically.
I asked Lucas wearily, "We've wasted three years on each other. Now we're cutting our losses in time. What more could you want?"
Lucas couldn't really say what he was unhappy about.
Maybe it was because he couldn't see me when he got home, and the empty house made him uncomfortable, but he didn't want to admit it, so he felt irritated.
Seeing that I wasn't as heartbroken and reluctant as he'd expected made him even more irritated!
His bad mood desperately needed an outlet. Lucas looked at Marcus and pointed outside. "Regal Court Mall has a special feature—an arena. Do you dare fight me? Once we're in the arena, life or death doesn't matter!"
Marcus was eager to try. He'd wanted to beat up Lucas for a long time—how could he pass up this opportunity being handed to him?
But Marcus held back his impulse and gave me a look that seemed to ask if I was fine with it.
I nodded.
If Lucas had fought with Marcus in my house last night, there would've been a string of troubles afterward, but the arena was different. Even if someone got beaten half to death, it would be Lucas's own doing.
Marcus asked, "What's the bet?"
Lucas replied, "If you lose, leave Bella and never appear in front of her again!"
"I can't lose," Marcus said confidently. "If you lose, promise to use your status as Lord of the North to grant Bella any wish within three years."
Lucas clenched his fists. "You care so much about her, but you don't mind that she has other men?"
Marcus answered seriously, "The more people love Bella, the happier I am."
Lucas sneered, "Seems like you get along well with those other two."
Marcus nodded. "Pretty much like real brothers."
I fell silent. Marcus was telling the truth, but Lucas didn't believe it.
They walked toward the arena. I didn't need to go—Julie provided me with the best viewing spot.
Both chose bare-knuckle combat. Before starting, outside spectators could place bets. I didn't hesitate to bet ten million dollars on Marcus winning.
Marcus made a "victory" gesture to me from the platform. Lucas's face was dark, probably furious that I was using the money he gave me to back another man.
Lucas looked at Amelia. Julie had also arranged a seat for her. She asked impatiently, "Why hasn't it started yet?"
Julie added, "Amelia, aren't you betting on Mr. Valeri?"
Amelia said stiffly, "No need. Lucas will definitely win."
Betting at the arena required paying an expensive handling fee. I guessed Amelia didn't want to spend the money. But given our positions, winning or losing money was secondary—placing a bet represented trust and could boost morale. The higher the amount, the more honor for the person on stage.
Julie smiled and said meaningfully, "Indeed, not just anyone can be Mrs. Valeri."
Lucas bet twenty million dollars on himself. Seeing this, I added another ten million. Lucas added another twenty million.
Although the betting pool was opened temporarily, within just ten minutes, hundreds of people who heard the news placed bets. Gale even called me, telling me to add another thirty million dollars.
When betting time ended, Lucas's support rate far exceeded Marcus's by four times!
Julie studied my expression. "Aren't you worried?"
I shrugged. "Nothing to worry about."
Julie said, "Seems like you have a lot of confidence in your bodyguard, but Lucas isn't a simple person."
I knew that, of course.
Lucas's achievements today were 10% luck and 90% ability. He'd practiced fighting, boxing, and shooting since childhood. From age fourteen to twenty, he was the champion of the family shooting competition, and no one in the Valeri family could match him to this day.
However, his father felt he was taking opportunities away from other brothers and permanently disqualified Lucas from competing.
Lucas graduated from a prestigious military academy, majoring in command. He had many scars, big and small, on his body. I knew the location of every one.
When we embraced in bed, I often traced the outlines of those scars with my fingers or lips.
I loved him, loved his body and his strength. I, Isabella, wouldn't fall in love with an ordinary man.
But my third brother was Marcus. He used to be a playboy, but now he was the top assassin, ranked first on the Shadow Assassin Rankings.
The crisp bell rang. Lucas and Marcus threw punches simultaneously. Lucas instinctively dodged—his movements were agile and quick—but Marcus took the punch squarely, just so he could land his fist on Lucas's face.
Marcus fought like a madman with no regard for his life. Lucas was completely enraged, like a crazed lion. Their blood spilled on the arena floor, but neither surrendered. Their attacks grew more and more vicious!
Both attacked each other's wounds at the same time, then each staggered back a step and collapsed on the arena floor, gasping for breath.
Seeing that neither could stand up, the referee said hesitantly, "It's a draw. Can you accept this result?"
"No!"
"I don't agree!"
Marcus and Lucas said in unison.
They both said they could still fight, their eyes rolling with violent killing intent.
I walked to the edge of the arena. Lucas's right-hand man Alfred hesitated for two seconds, then bowed to me. "Mrs. Valeri."
I nodded in response and said flatly, "Go carry your employer down."
Alfred shook his head. "No! That would be admitting defeat!"
I pursed my lips. "Lucas's old shoulder injury seems to have gotten worse. Get him to the hospital quickly. There's no point in continuing."
Alfred cared deeply about Lucas's health. Bearing the pressure of facing Lucas's anger, he quickly ran onto the stage and stared fiercely at the referee.
The referee called it a draw, and wasted no time getting Lucas off the stage.
Marcus forced himself to stand up. I went on stage to help him, but he refused. "I can walk. Don't let the blood dirty your dress."
"It's just a dress." I helped Marcus back inside Elite Emporium. Julie thoughtfully provided medicine and a rest room.
I treated Marcus's wounds, then walked out of the rest room.
The items in the store were almost all packed up. Julie said, "Please leave an address, and we'll deliver to your door later."
I handed Julie a business card. Julie took it and looked at me puzzled. "Platinum Haven Hotel Vice Chairman—Isabella?"
I smiled slightly. "I'd like to work with your boss and have him supply goods to Platinum Haven Hotel."