Chapter 1 The Marksman Returns

• "Oh, Felice. Chicks love bad boys. You don't expect me to be like that boyfriend of yours, who hasn't taken you to bed despite being in a relationship with you all these years, do you?"
• "Why are you bringing him up now, Walt?!"
• Thomas Clifford was standing outside the room looking like he had seen a ghost as he listened to the sounds that filtered out. He knew that woman's voice very well. It belonged to Felice Lott, his girlfriend!
• It felt as if a stick of dynamite had exploded inside Thomas' head. His ears were ringing.
• He had been in an eight-year relationship with Felice. All this while, he had been serving in the army, and every month, he would set aside just a little bit of allowance for himself and send the rest of his paycheck to Felice, including his bonuses for every successful mission. He was an orphan, but she had a family to support. Her parents were getting older, and she had a younger brother who was still in school.
• In other words, for the past eight years, he, Thomas Clifford, was the one who funded her entire family!
• Even though he earned all that money by risking his life on a multitude of dangerous missions, he never complained about using it to support Felice's family.
• In his heart, he considered Felice's family his own as well!
• And yet, what are you doing now? Cheating on me?
• How can you do this to me?
• Thomas couldn't take it anymore. He kicked the door down and marched into the room.
• The sound of the door banging open gave the couple in bed a fright.
• Felice didn't have time to put her clothes back on. She scrambled to use the covers to hide her naked body.
• However, she froze when she saw that it was Thomas who came in.
• "T-Thomas? Shouldn't you be at… Why did you come back?"
• "What about it? Am I not supposed to come back? Weren't you the one who said you were waiting for me every single time we talked on the phone? Is this what you meant by waiting for me?" Thomas questioned icily as he dumped his luggage on the floor.
• If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he never would've dreamed that this woman, the one who called him up each month asking for money, the one who swore he was the only one she would marry, the one who pledged her undying love for him, would do such a thing!
• Wasn't this a slap in the face right now?
• "Here I was wondering who it could be! So, Thomas Clifford is back, huh?! Haha!"
• The man, who was engaging in horizontal activities with Felice, smirked as he commented haughtily.
• So what if you caught Felice and me in bed? What can you do about it, Thomas?
• Who asked you to serve in the army? Who asked you to not take this pretty girlfriend of yours to bed?
• Well, if you're not going to touch her, then I'll do it on your behalf! Not only did I bed her, but I also took great pleasure in doing it! You should be honored that I'm teaching your woman the pleasures of life!
• Walt Fisher's body began to burn up again as he recalled the reactions that Felice had in bed. Nothing would make him happier than to reenact all of it right in front of Thomas!
• Thomas knew who this man was. Walt Fisher was a well-known local hooligan. They got into fights fairly frequently before Thomas joined the army. Walt was a stereotypical thug, and Thomas remembered that Walt had even given Felice's father such a heavy beating that he had to be hospitalized! It might've even turned fatal had the police not arrived in time to stop him.
• "Well, since you've seen it now, Thomas, I won't bother hiding it from you!" Felice declared. "Actually, I've been seeing Walt for quite some time now, but because you were deployed on a mission, I didn't want to let you get distracted by this, so that's why I didn't tell you."
• Felice didn't think she could be blamed for cheating. She could even count the number of times they'd held hands in the past eight years, let alone anything else. She was just a weak woman. How was she supposed to survive in this cutthroat society without someone to support her?
• Walt looked at Thomas and said, "Since you're back, there's no rush. Get out. You can have your fun once I'm done."
• "Oh, my. What are you saying, Walt?!" Felice exclaimed coyly.
• The fire in Thomas' eyes almost seemed to set the room ablaze.
• "Relax. I'm just fooling around with this b*tch. She's still yours. I'm not taking her, but I might still be keen on having some fun with her in the future. Look at those bosoms of hers, and those legs! Tsk, tsk, tsk, I can't bring myself to stop."
• Huff!
• Thomas exhaled to release some of his pent-up emotions. In his fury, he was sorely tempted to slaughter the cheating couple right there and then, but his reason was holding him back. His identity was a little complicated right now. He couldn't get involved in any sort of trouble. It was best to keep a low profile.
• Seeing that Thomas was still standing there, Walt's expression darkened. "What is it? You're not satisfied with that? Fine!"
• Walt got out of bed and started putting his clothes on. "Since you just came back, I shall be charitable just this once and let you have your fun first. I'll wait for you outside. Good enough? As for the way you interrupted my fun, well, I've got a big heart. I won't hold it against you, but you better remember not to do it again!"
• "Not to do it again?"
• Is Walt telling me not to do it again?
• Would any man stand for this level of humiliation?
• "What's the big deal about asking you to wait outside, Thomas? I don't even mind that you've seen me naked. Why are you making such a big fuss?"
• Felice rolled her eyes and grumbled disdainfully.
• Walt's a well-known member of the local 'society,' whereas you, Thomas, are nothing more than a lousy soldier. He's already kind enough to not hold it against you, and he's even letting you have me first. I'm still your girlfriend anyway, so what more do you want?
• Aren't you pushing your luck?
• Thomas chuckled after hearing what Felice had to say. It had finally struck him just how meaningless it was for him to get upset over a woman like her.
• As for all the money he had given her throughout the last few years, well, he decided to forget about it. He would just think of it as his contribution to the relationship he thought they had!
• After thinking things through, Thomas picked up his luggage from the floor and turned to leave.
• Walt and Felice exchanged a look. They could tell that Thomas wasn't planning on coming back again.
• "Hold it!"
• Felice called out to Thomas to stop him.
• Thomas turned his head back and asked with a frown, "What else do you want?"
• "Money, duh. You've gotten your paycheck by now, right? Are you making a bank transfer or are you giving me cash?"
• "Hm? You still have the gall to ask me for money?"
• "What's with all the nonsense?!" Walt bellowed. "Take out all the money you have on you right now. Do it! You're not leaving this house until you hand all of it over!"