Editing Marty Marcano (section)

=== Education and career (2017–2023) ===
Marty’s first semester in America showed promise. He adapted quickly to the language, made friends easily, and even earned decent grades.

However, as time went on, Marty became increasingly absorbed in the American college lifestyle. Frat parties, club nights, and hookups became more important than lectures and assignments. His role as a self-proclaimed nightlife connoisseur quickly grew, with Marty organizing wild college parties and becoming a familiar face in local clubs. While his charisma won him many friends, his academics began to slip.

Giuseppe, hearing of Marty’s exploits, grew furious, but it was too late. Marty had tasted freedom, and he wasn't going back.

It was during his second year that he met [[Claire]], a first-year nursing student who had been accepted at just 15 years old—an exceptional academic feat. Claire, despite her brilliance, was shy and introverted, often isolated from the rest of the students. One afternoon, Marty noticed her having a quiet breakdown during lunch, sitting alone behind the library. On impulse, he approached her and offered comfort.

Their connection was immediate. What started as a comforting gesture turned into friendship, and eventually, a secret relationship. Marty, then 18, found Claire fascinating and deeply empathetic, while Claire looked up to Marty’s confidence and charisma. The age gap sparked controversy when Claire’s parents discovered the relationship, particularly after they learned the two had slept together. Shocked and disapproving, they attempted to intervene, but Claire—despite her youth—defended her relationship with Marty.

In his third year, Marty received a phone call that would change everything. Giuseppe called to inform him that Connie, his mother, had passed away from cancer. Marty, half drunk at a house party, answered the phone and bluntly told his father to fuck off. The call ended in silence, and it deeply saddened Giuseppe.

The next morning, sober and somewhat remorseful, Marty called back—only to coldly reaffirm what his father feared. He told Giuseppe he didn’t care, claiming that Connie and Giuseppe had always favored his brothers. "I’m my own man now," he said, and hung up. That moment marked the final fracture. Marty cut off contact with his father entirely.

Despite falling behind on some courses and clashing with faculty, Marty managed to recover just enough to finish his degree in 2021, but it wasn't with honours.

After graduation, Marty moved to the city of Los Santos, cutting a clean break from his past. Though Giuseppe made several attempts to contact him, Marty ignored them all.

Claire stayed in Liberty City to continue her studies. Despite the distance, they stayed in contact, though the relationship became increasingly one-sided. Claire remained emotionally invested, hoping they would reunite seriously someday. Marty, however, treated the relationship casually—occasionally driving to Liberty City just to sleep with her. While Claire viewed him as a significant part of her life, for Marty, the connection was more about convenience than commitment.

In Los Santos, Marty took up a job at the Pillbox Hill Medical Center, working as a nurse. Initially, his career flourished. Patients liked him, and he seemed committed, even if he never pursued a full university degree. With his earnings, he secured a small apartment and bought a Bravado Youga Classic, which he converted into an RV to sleep in during long shifts.

However, Marty’s self-indulgent side quickly returned. One night during a late shift, he and a nurse named [[Shayla Dingleberry]] got intimate in a storage closet. The encounter was cut short when their manager walked in on them. Both were fired on the spot.

Unable to pay his bills, Marty was forced to sell his apartment. With nowhere else to go, he took up permanent residence in his van. His once-promising start in Los Santos had crumbled. For the next year, Marty lived out of his RV, roaming the streets and scraping by, a self-made exile at rock bottom.