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Cracks in the Villain

Author: Oma
last update Last Updated: 2025-12-24 23:23:11

Chapter 7:

Cracks in the Villain:

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"Nathan?" Iris shook his hand, trying not to wince at his crushing grip.

"Marcus is the only person who gets away with calling me that," Nathaniel said.

"That's because I knew him when he was a scrawny kid trying to act tough in my neighborhood." Marcus grinned. "He once tried to join my gang. We turned him down because he was too much of a nerd."

"I was fourteen and thought gangs were cool. We all make mistakes."

"You wore glasses with tape on them and carried a briefcase to school. A fucking briefcase, at fourteen." Marcus laughed, a sound like rocks in a cement mixer. "The other kids called you 'Businessman' and you wore it like a badge of honor."

Iris stared at Nathaniel, trying to imagine him as a nerdy teenager with taped glasses. "Really?"

"Marcus is exaggerating."

"I absolutely am not. You had a day planner. You scheduled your homework like it was a business meeting." Marcus turned to Iris. "This man tried to negotiate with gang members usi
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