His Innocent Sera novel Chapter 51

He walked in, picked out what he liked without glancing at the price tags, and headed straight for billing.Earning money is a real hassle if you don't have a degree and are in hiding. Nate slid the mask onto his face and strode down the narrow lane towards the ring where his opponent waited. At the end of it, the underground buzzed with his opponent's name, looked like the motherfucker was popular. Good, he didn't like easy anyway.

Rio had brought him here. Since they were lying low for a while, they needed money to survive. Rio had offered to help, but Nate had declined. He had never let anyone pay for him. Maybe it was his pride or his obsession with staying in control, but that's how it was. Owning others wasn't his thing. And like hell, he would feed Sera with other man's money. He was her sole provider—everything from her clothes to food would come from his pocket. After Nate refused the financial help, Rio showed him this place. Here, he could both train and fight. The perfect solution.

Apart from meeting daily needs, he also needed to save for their wedding. They could have gone the easy route with a court marriage as they were adults, but Nate didn't want that. He wanted the traditional way. He wanted to see her in that white gown, walking towards him with a bouquet in her hand. He wanted the whole wedding thing with her, not just a duty to be fulfilled.

His face was hidden under the hood and the mask, save for his stormy grey, piercing eyes. Nate assessed his rotund frame and concluded that even a hippopotamus would look like a runway model next to him.

Booeing erupted the second he stepped into the light. Unfazed, he climbed up the stairs to the ring, eyes locked with his rival. His opponent snorted and huffed like a bull to intimidate him, but Nate only smirked and got inside the ropes. The bell rang, and they both circled each other, waiting for the first move. The opponent lunged and slammed his fist into his jaw. It stung more than usual as the bruises from his dad had still not healed, but not enough to throw him off track. Nate grabbed his wrist in the speed of lightning and twisted it around his back. His opponent had barely let out a scream when he drove his elbow hard into his back, sending him sprawling to the ground. The roly-poly made a mistake of underestimating him.

The crowd went dead silent as he beat his rival, each blow deadlier than the last. Gasps of disbelief echoed through the room with every hit until the final strike landed, hard and decisive, knocking the man flat. The match finished and he was announced the winner.

He was christened "The King." A befitting name.

After collecting his cut, he headed straight home. The bidders approached him, curious to know more about him, but he ignored them. His body was marked with fresh bruises, but his pocket was heavier. It wasn't his first earning, but for some reason, the joy it gave him was way bigger than the one he received for working under his dad. Maybe because now he had someone to spend it on.

He stopped by a clothing store to buy some for him and Sera. Even though he preferred her without them, Sera still needed a few. He walked in, He walked in, picked out what he liked without glancing at the price tags, and headed straight for billing. The woman behind the counter checked him out as he walked from shelf to shelf.

"Girlfriend?" she chirped, smiling as he placed the clothes on the counter. It was a heap of dresses, men's clothes, undergarments, and some skincare stuff. Nate glanced up, catching the hint of obvious interest in her eyes.

"Wife," he answered flatly.

"Ohh," she replied, a little disappointed. The woman rang up the clothes, which turned out to be more than what he had budgeted. A frown settled over his brows as he considered. He had to buy groceries as well.

"Leave those. Bill only these," he instructed, pushing his clothes aside. He'd get something for himself next time.

His gaze drifted to the candies placed near the counter. He picked one packet and put it on the pile. "This too."

"Well, if it's not too forward," she leaned forward, her smile suggestive, eyes flickering with interest, "I can cover your clothes and in return, you can, maybe, treat me to a cup of coffee?"

"I only drink coffee with my wife. Now..Bill these," his tone sharp, cutting off her flirtatious smile with his stern gaze. Her smile slipped before she gave him a tight nod.

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