Rise of The Abandoned Husband (Liam Knight) novel Chapter 58

58 Chapter 58- The Gymnasium Standoff insults, Stakes, and a Late Arrival

58 Chapter 58 – The Gymnasium Standoff: Insults, Stakes, and a Late Arrival

I pushed the ornate box back toward Marcus, watching his hopeful expression falter.

“I can’t accept this,” I said firmly.

“Mr. Knight, please reconsider-” he began, his voice tinged with desperation.

“You misunderstand,” I interrupted. “I don’t need payment to help you”

Marcus blinked, confusion replacing disappointment. “I don’t follow.”

“I’ll fight for your school against the Donovans,” I clarified. “Free of charge.”

His mouth fell open slightly. “But… why would you do that?”

I thought of Declan Donovan’s smug face, of Nora’s cruel smirk, of Lucas Rhodes’s arrogance. “Let’s just say your rivals and I have unfinished business. Besides,” I added with a slight smile, “you asked politely. That’s rare enough these days to warrant some consideration.”

“There’s something you should know,” Marcus said hesitantly. “Declan has been boasting that he’s hired an inner strength expert for the competition–someone quite formidable.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “If he’s anything like Lucas Rhodes, I’m not concerned.”

Relief washed over Marcus’s features. “Then you’ll do it? You’ll represent the Valerius School?”

“I’ll be there,” I promised. “When and where?”

“Tomorrow at noon. Havenwood City Gymnasium,” he replied eagerly. “I can’t thank you enough, Mr. Knight.”

As Marcus departed, practically bouncing with newfound confidence, Alaric gave me a curious look.

“You’re just full of surprises tonight, aren’t you?”

I shrugged. “Consider it a warm–up before our training begins.”

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68 Chapter 58 The Gymnasium Standoff Insults, Stakes, and a Late Arrival

–

The following day, I found myself approaching the Havenwood City Gymnasium with Eamon Greene and Alaric flanking me. We were running late–a minor emergency at Eamon’s shop had delayed us.

“Are you sure about this, Liam?” Eamon asked, keeping his voice low. “Getting involved in these martial arts school rivalries can be messy business.”

“I’m not exactly known for staying out of trouble,” I replied dryly.

As we neared the entrance, I could already hear raised voices echoing from within- one particularly smug and condescending. Declan Donovan was clearly enjoying himself.

We slipped inside quietly. The gymnasium was arranged with a central fighting platform surrounded by rows of seats, most already filled with spectators. Marcus Valerius stood alone on one side of the platform, looking increasingly uncomfortable as Declan Donovan and his entourage taunted him from the opposite end.

“Is this some kind of joke, Valerius?” Declan called out, his voice carrying across the entire space. “Where’s this champion of yours? Or was that just another empty boast?”

Marcus maintained his composure, though I could see the strain in his shoulders.

“He’ll be here.”

A younger man–undoubtedly Lucas Rhodes–stepped forward with a sneer. He’d recovered from our encounter, though the way he kept rolling his shoulders suggested lingering discomfort. “Maybe he got cold feet when he heard I’d be his opponent.”

“More likely he doesn’t exist,” chimed in Nora Donovan, looking particularly pleased with herself. Her eyes scanned the crowd. “I think poor Marcus is about to suffer

another humiliating defeat.”

The crowd murmured, some sympathetic toward Marcus, others clearly enjoying the spectacle. The Valerius students shifted awkwardly, their faith in their master visibly

wavering.

“Marcus,” Declan called out with mock sympathy, “why prolong this? Your mystery fighter hasn’t shown up. Just concede now and save yourself the embarrassment.”

“Twenty more minutes,” Marcus insisted, checking the entrance again. When he didn’t

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58 Chapter 58- The Gymnasium Standoff Insults, Stakes, and a Late Arrival

see me, his expression fell slightly.

Lucas stepped onto the platform, spreading his arms wide. “Why wait? I’m ready now. Or perhaps,” he smirked, “you’d like to fight me yourself, old man? Show everyone what the mighty Valerius technique is worth.”

Marcus hesitated. I could see the calculation in his eyes–weighing the humiliation of fighting and likely losing versus the shame of backing down entirely. He squared his shoulders and moved toward the platform.

That was my cue.

“Mr. Valerius,” I called out clearly, my voice cutting through the tension, “I’m sorry for being late.”

Every head in the gymnasium turned toward me. Declan’s smug expression froze. Lucas’s eyes widened in recognition and then narrowed with barely contained fury. But it was Nora whose reaction was most satisfying–her face drained of color as she grabbed her father’s sleeve.

“That’s him,” she hissed, audible in the sudden silence. “That’s the man who humiliated

Lucas!”

I strode forward confidently, Eamon and Alaric following a step behind. Marcus’s relief

was palpable as I approached.

“I hope I haven’t caused too much trouble with my tardiness,” I said, loud enough for

all to hear.

“You!” Declan sputtered, finding his voice. “What are you doing here?”

I turned to face him with a pleasant smile. “I’m the fighter Mr. Valerius mentioned. Is there a problem?”

Lucas had backed away from the edge of the platform, his previous bravado evaporating. “Father, this is a setup,” he growled. “They deliberately brought in an

outsider to-”

“Isn’t that exactly what you did?” I interrupted, nodding toward Lucas. “Or is Mr. Rhodes here a long–standing member of the Donovan family that I wasn’t aware of?”

Declan’s face flushed. “That’s different. We hired Lucas as an instructor months ago.”

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58 Chapter 58 – The Gymnasium Standoff: Insults, Stakes, and a Late Arrival

“Really?” I raised an eyebrow. “Strange that he was introducing himself as a ‘guest‘ at your dinner party just yesterday.”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Declan’s lie was transparent, and everyone knew

1. it.

“It doesn’t matter,” Declan recovered quickly. “The rules allow for each school to field their chosen representative. If Marcus wants to embarrass himself by sending a nobody against Lucas Rhodes, that’s his decision.”

I removed my outer robe, handing it to Alaric. “Shall we begin then? I have other appointments today.”

“Wait,” Nora stepped forward, her eyes calculating. “How do we know this isn’t just some random person Marcus found? There need to be stakes worthy of this competition.”

“What do you propose?” Marcus asked warily.

Declan’s smile returned, predatory and confident. “If your man loses, the Valerius School will publicly acknowledge the superiority of the Donovan method and

recommend all your students transfer to our school.”

Gasps rose from the Valerius students. Such a concession would effectively end their

school’s existence.

“And if your man loses?” I asked before Marcus could respond.

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