King of War's Dominance

Chapter 3

"But I am thinking about my daughter," Thom continued. "What do you think will happen to our child's mind if she finds out her father and mother do not sleep in the same room?"

"I don't want her to grow up without love,” he added.

Rachel clicked her tongue and folded her arms across her chest.

"Don't act like you know anything about parenting, Thom!"

"What are you? Just a low level soldier! So don't pretend to know about my child's mind."

"Rachel..."

"I am the best mother for Shenina," she cut in sharply. "By sleeping separately from you, nothing will change in my child's mind!"

Thom fell silent. His jaw tightened.

"Now move to the back room!" Rachel slammed the bedroom door shut.

BANG!

Thom carried the suitcase to the back room.

The room was dark, dusty, full of old boxes and unused items.

He simply placed the suitcase in the corner and closed the door slowly.

Thom stood frozen in front of the dusty small window.

A thin ray of light slipped in, splitting his face into two parts, one dark, the other filled with shadows of the past.

His breathing was slow, but his chest rose and fell with pressure he could barely control.

Without wanting to, his mind went back to that night.

Three years ago.

The night when his life collapsed.

He still clearly remembered how he returned from military training, only to find an ambulance and police tape surrounding the small house where his mother lived.

People crowded around, whispering in horrified tones.

When Thom forced his way inside, he saw his mother’s body lying on the floor, her face bruised and pale, dried blood at the corner of her lips, and eyes that were open without life.

And worse than that… his younger sister was also found dead.

The autopsy said she was raped before being killed.

Thom remembered how his whole body trembled, how he stared at the two body bags in front of him and felt the world collapse in an instant.

But it was not the grief that drove him insane. It was an injustice.

The police closed the case in only two weeks.

No evidence, no suspects, no effort.

As if the lives of those two women meant nothing.

And Thom knew why.

He knew who silenced the police.

He knew who ordered the case to be buried—the Lanster family.

The same family that had thrown him away since he was a child.

The family that treated him like trash.

The family that erased the names of his mother and sister from their history, as if they never existed.

Thom clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"Three years…" he whispered softly. "It has been three years and they think I will stay quiet?"

He lifted his face, his gaze turning sharp, cold, and filled with determination strong enough to shake anyone who saw it.

Now it was time.

Time to return.

Time to take revenge.

He remembered his past, how miserable his life had been as a child who was never acknowledged by the Lanster family.

Twenty seven years ago, the head of the Lanster family, Thom’s biological father, married his mother as the second wife. A status that brought more humiliation than protection.

Since birth, Thom and his mother were never given a place, never considered, only treated as stains that had to be hidden.

And when Thom’s father died, everything became worse.

The Lanster family kicked them out without mercy.

No inheritance. No acknowledgement.

Thom’s mother worked day and night to raise him and his sister, while the large Lanster household lived in luxury in their villas and big houses.

Not one of them admitted that Lanster's blood ran in Thom’s body.

Until finally, the incident three years ago destroyed everything.

His thoughts broke when the sound of small footsteps came from the doorway. He turned.

There stood a little girl with soft light brown hair, her big eyes blinking in confusion.

Shenina. His daughter.

For a moment, Thom froze. Then his body moved faster than his thoughts. He immediately crouched down and opened both arms wide.

"Shenina…" he whispered softly, his voice shaking. "Sweetheart… come here. It is Daddy."

The two year old girl looked at him for a long moment.

Then Shenina blinked, her small lips parted, and she walked slowly toward him.

When her tiny fingers touched his shoulder, Thom felt like the whole world collapsed and awakened at the same time.

Shenina touched his cheek, then without resistance, without fear, she leaned her small body against Thom’s chest.

As if she had known that warmth since birth.

Thom closed his eyes for a moment, holding his breath so the tears would not fall.

He picked up his daughter gently, and Shenina immediately wrapped her little arms around his neck.

"Good girl…" Thom whispered while softly stroking her small back.

For a few minutes, he just sat on the floor with Shenina, showing her a little doll he found in the corner of the room, making funny sounds, playing with her hair.

Shenina laughed softly, a sound he had missed for three years, a sound that made all of Thom’s wounds feel alive again.

It was at that moment that quick footsteps echoed.

Madam Yosie appeared at the doorway, already wearing an expensive gown and flashy jewelry. She was about to leave for a banquet.

But her eyes widened when she saw that Thom holding Shenina.

"Give my granddaughter to me!" she said sharply, her hand extended impatiently.

But the moment her hand approached, Shenina tightened her grip around Thom’s neck, her face turning frightened, and she said softly, "No!"

Madam Yosie froze. Then her expression hardened.

"She does not want to follow you because you are filthy and smell like a street soldier," she said coldly. "Shenina, sweetheart, come to Grandma."

But Shenina hid her face in Thom’s chest, trembling slightly as if refusing to be separated.

"Oh my God…" Rachel’s voice came from behind as she hurried down the stairs. "Mother! We have to go. The banquet starts in one hour!"

Madam Yosie let out an annoyed huff. "Look at this! Shenina refuses to be taken from that filthy father. This child is being fussy."

Rachel tried to take her daughter.

But Shenina pushed away her mother’s hand, hugged Thom tighter, and shook her head firmly.

Rachel lost her patience. "Shenina! Do not cause trouble!"

The girl shrank in fear but still refused to let go of her father.

The air grew tense.

Rachel frowned. Madam Yosie clenched her fists.

Both of them were frustrated because their important agenda was being held back by a child who did not want to get off Thom’s arms.

Finally, Thom lifted his face, his expression calm and his voice steady.

"In that case," he said slowly, "I will come along."

Rachel and Madam Yosie turned to him at the same time.

"What? No!"

"You are not invited!"

Thom slightly raised an eyebrow. "If that is so, then let me and Shenina stay at home."

"NO!" Rachel and her mother replied at once.

Because Shenina was important. They planned to use her there.

Frank Lanster had visited several times only to play with Shenina. He showed excessive attention that made Rachel believe Frank truly cared. And the Had family relied heavily on that connection.

If Shenina did not attend… it would disappoint Frank.

Rachel bit her lip.

Madam Yosie exchanged looks with her daughter.

They hated Thom. They were disgusted that this poor soldier even stepped on their floor.

But without Shenina, they could not attend the banquet with confidence.

Finally, Rachel let out a harsh sigh.

"Fine," she said unwillingly. "You may come. But do not cause trouble!”

Madam Yosie added coldly, "My granddaughter must be there. That is the only reason we are allowing you to come, filthy soldier!"

"Hurry outside, we are waiting!" Rachel said.

Then she and her mother walked out.

Then, Thom’s phone rang.

The name that appeared on the screen—Red Dragon.

One of his subordinates.

A general who bowed only to him.

Thom answered the call.

"King," Red Dragon’s voice was low and respectful, "I just received news. Your family banquet will be held today.”

“Will you attend, King?"

Thom stayed silent for a moment.

As if he was weighing something.

As if he was deciding his next step.

And he finally answered, "Yes."

"I will come," Thom added.

"Y-yes, King," Red Dragon trembled as he received the answer.

Red Dragon immediately prepared everything.

The banquet needed a welcome….Because their King of War was going to attend!