Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1405

That kind of contempt really set Punikon off. He clenched his jaw, practically fuming.

Some folks at the gym muttered,

“Man, he’s acting all high and mighty. You think he actually knows how to fight? I checked every ranking I could find for Zhinora martial artists—not a single mention of Tarquin. Nobody on the circuit’s ever heard of him!”

Punikon’s father scoffed,

“Zhinora businessmen are arrogant to the core. Just because they know how to make money, they think they can rule every field they step into. Hah!”

He clearly looked down on Tarquin.

The only reason he hyped up Tarquin’s reputation was to boost his own.

The tougher your opponent, the more impressive it looks if you beat them.

Little did he know, he was nothing but a pawn in a bigger game. If it weren’t for the bait-and-switch, he wouldn’t even get the chance to face Tarquin in the ring.

Punikon’s father stood up and walked to the ring, handing the referee the signed contract for the match.

The ref held it up so everyone could see.

Once the crowd realized this wasn’t just a friendly spar but a “no holds barred” match—winner takes all, loser might not leave the ring alive—the mood shifted instantly.

A friendly match is just practice, a handshake at the end.

But this? This was the kind of fight that could end in a funeral.

After reading the contract out loud, the ref turned to both men, asking if they agreed.

Tarquin and Punikon’s father nodded without hesitation.

The local Thyania fighters went wild, whistling and taunting, shouting, “Knock him out! Make him pay!”

By contrast, the Zhinora team looked tense and worried.

They didn’t know who Tarquin was, or which rich guy might have secret fighting skills—but everyone recognized Punikon’s name.

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