Exiled Son-In-Law, Supreme General

Chapter 2

The warden’s salute was crisp, but there was respect in the way his shoulders softened afterward. 

This was no ordinary inmate, it was Maxwell Liang, the man whose silent service had saved cities without ever stepping into the limelight.

Maxwell rose, his movements unhurried but commanding. The orange uniform could not dull the latent power in his frame, nor could the bleak walls of the prison contain the gravity in his gaze. “Lead the way,” he said simply.

The warden’s polished shoes squeaked against the slick floors as they walked down the dim corridor. 

Behind the heavy steel doors, muffled voices and the distant clang of metal on metal echoed, but the sound faded when they entered a secure wing rarely used for ordinary inmates.

Inside, a sterile briefing room had been transformed. A long metal table stood at its center, and above it, a holographic projector flickered to life. The air vibrated faintly with the hum of hidden equipment.

The hologram coalesced into the dignified figure of the President. Around him, senior officials appeared in perfect formation, their uniforms pristine, medals glinting in the pale light. 

Each of them raised their hand in a salute that was precise, unwavering, and filled with gratitude.

“General Maxwell Liang,” the President said, his voice resonant with solemn respect. “For years, you have borne the weight of this nation’s safety in silence. Your courage has shielded millions, though the world knows you only as a convict and a son-in-law scorned.”

Maxwell inclined his head, expression unreadable. “I was only doing my duty.”

One of the officials, a grizzled man with silver at his temples, stepped forward. “Duty alone does not explain what you’ve done. The nation owes you more than medals can convey.”

The President’s eyes softened. “On behalf of the Republic, I hereby promote you to Five-Star General.”

The room seemed still. For a fleeting moment, the weight of his hidden sacrifices, the battles fought in shadows, the blood spilled without recognition, pressed against Maxwell’s heart. But outwardly, he remained the same: composed, steady, invulnerable.

He accepted the promotion with a brief nod. “Thank you, Mr. President. I… thought I might finally retire.” The faintest ghost of a smile crossed his lips, dry and weary.

The President dismissed the other officials with a glance. Their holograms flickered and vanished, leaving only the two men facing each other across the table. 

The President’s expression turned grave. “I need you for one more mission,” he said quietly. “This one cannot fail.”

Maxwell’s jaw tightened. He had suspected as much. “What’s the target?”

A digital file slid across the projector’s interface. Its contents remained sealed, the details hidden behind a security encryption. 

The President’s gaze held his. “All you need for now is here. You’ll understand why we can’t reveal everything at once. Use any resources necessary, you have the highest level of clearance.”

Maxwell accepted the file. He didn’t ask further questions. He had been in this game long enough to know that too many answers, too soon, could be dangerous. “I’ll take it,” he said.

The President’s voice softened. “Be careful, Maxwell. This one… involves people closer to you than you think.”

The hologram flickered, then disappeared. The room felt colder in its absence. 

The warden cleared his throat. “Your release papers are ready, General. Officially, it will be recorded as early parole for exemplary behavior.” He hesitated, then added quietly, “I know today must have been… difficult. If there’s anything we can do, ”

Maxwell waved him off gently. “You’ve done enough. Thank you.”

The late afternoon sun was a muted smear of gold behind the storm clouds when Maxwell stepped out of the prison gates. 

The rain had eased to a fine mist, the kind that clung to skin like memory. For a long moment, he stood there, breathing in the scent of wet earth and freedom.

A flash of crimson broke the gray. Before he could react, a lithe figure darted toward him, a whirl of silk dress and perfume. 

A pair of slender arms wrapped around him in a crushing embrace. “Maxwell!” The voice was honeyed and bright, trembling with joy. “You’re finally out!”

He stiffened, more from surprise than discomfort. “Victoria?”

Feng Victoria, daughter of his former subordinate and now the dazzling CEO of Lin Corp, clung to him as though she had been waiting at these gates for years. 

Her fiery red dress was scandalously bold against the dreary backdrop, her makeup flawless despite the rain.

The prison guards scrambled after her, their faces pale. “General Maxwell Liang, we’re so sorry! She slipped past security.”

Maxwell raised a hand, silencing them. “It’s fine.” His voice carried the easy authority that made even seasoned soldiers fall into line. He turned to Victoria, gently prying her arms from his neck. “What are you doing here?”

She beamed, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief. “Celebrating your freedom, of course! Do you know how scared I was when I heard about your divorce? I came the moment I heard you were being released!”

Maxwell sighed, though the corners of his lips twitched despite himself. “You shouldn’t be here. This isn’t the place for you.”

She ignored the warning, twirling once with a playful flourish. “You’ve been gone for too long. Someone has to welcome you back in style!”

Her laughter was light and teasing, but beneath it, there was an unmistakable tenderness, the kind that came from years of silent longing. 

Maxwell felt it, but he looked away, unwilling to acknowledge what he could not return. To him, she would always be his comrade’s daughter, nothing more.

“Come on,” Victoria said, looping her arm through his. “Let’s get you somewhere better than this miserable gate. I’m taking you out.”