Lord Griffin's Mighty Return

[Breaking News: General Griffin, Honored War Hero, Falls in Battle!]

The nation grieves his heroic sacrifice in the fight against the Allied Forces.

General Griffin, after defeating thousands of enemies, has fallen into the "Abyss of Death."

…

Selune sat on the beach, staring at the breaking news on the screen, completely shocked.

General Griffin?

Her grandfather had talked about him often.

General Griffin was a legend, the invincible war hero who had saved the country more times than anyone could count.

No one had ever seen his face. He had always worn a mask.

But that didn't stop him from becoming an iconic figure.

He was known as the God of War, a man who could singlehandedly turn the tide of any battle.

His great strength and mysterious background are to be admired.

No wonder the nation grieving for him.

Selune turned off her phone, her heart heavy.

It wasn’t just the death of the God of War that weighed on her. It also reminded her of her grandfather.

Since her grandfather fell into a coma, everything has changed.

The family business was crumbling.

The company’s funds had dried up.

Her aunt, Elina Herbert, had taken over the family completely.

Elina’s solution to saving the family? A marriage alliance.

Selune had been promised to Ken Wells, heir to the powerful and insanely wealthy Wells family of Silverwood City.

But Ken Wells was a walking scandal. A notorious playboy. 

His name had recently been splashed across the headlines for allegedly assaulting an underaged girl.

The thought of marrying someone like him made Selune feel sick.

But her feelings didn’t matter. Her family had made their decision.

She was just a pawn in a bigger game, traded for influence and money.

And if she refused? The Wells family could crush her, her family, and everything they owned with a single move.

Selune sighed, her gaze shifting to the calm waves rolling onto the shore.

The sea looked so peaceful. So free.

Her thoughts were interrupted when something caught her eye.

"What’s that? A person?"

A figure was lying on the sand, not far from her.

Her heart skipped a beat. This was a private beach—no one else should be here.

Cautiously, she stood and approached.

As she got closer, her breath hitched.

It was a man, dressed in a black tactical suit and wearing a military mask. 

He was motionless, clearly washed up by the waves.

Instinct took over. Without hesitation, she rushed to his side.

He was cold to the touch, but his chest faintly rose and fell.

Desperate to help, she removed his mask. And Selune got stunned for a brief moment.

A sharp, commanding masculinity that radiated the power of the man. Even in his unconscious state.

She had seen her fair share of men, but none had such an overwhelming presence.

But there was no time to waste. She took a deep breath, pushed her shock aside.

She pressed her lips to his and began CPR.

Seconds felt like hours, the man coughed violently, water spilling from his lips as he gasped for air.

"Thank god. He’s alive!"

Selune let out a shaky breath, relief flooding her chest. 

But his eyes remained closed, his body still weak.

She glanced around. The beach was isolated, and her family’s villa was the only building nearby. There was no time to call for help and wait.

If she left him here, he wouldn’t survive the night.

Meanwhile, far from where Selune was, five Hummers roared down the mountain road, kicking up dust as they sped toward the coast.

"Have you found Selune?" A sharp voice called from the backseat. 

The woman speaking was holding a cigarette, her fingers adorned with rings.

It was Elina Herbert - Selune’s aunt, the head of the Herbert family now.

"She just used her phone. We’ve tracked her location." a man in the front seat replied quickly. He looked a lot like Selune.

Elina flicked the ash off her cigarette, some of it falling on the man’s face.

"Harold," she sneered, "You’ve been so useless. Can’t even control your own daughter now? Lucky we put a GPS on her phone. What if she ruins the wedding?!"

"I know, it was my mistake," Harold Herbert, Selune’s father, muttered, clearly cowed by his sister.

Elina had taken full control of the family business, leaving Harold with no choice but to follow her orders.

He continued. "I promise, she’s just out for relax. The wedding will go on as planned."

"You promise?" Elina scoffed, "Do you even realize what happens if this marriage falls apart? Our family could be destroyed. And don’t think you’ll get away unscathed when that happens."

"I’m telling you, whether she likes it or not, she will marry Ken! I’ll make sure of it! When we get back, lock her up!"

The bodyguards in the car nodded in unison, and Harold sighed, defeated.

Inside the villa, Selune had just finished her shower, washing off the sand from saving the mysterious man.

Barefoot, she stepped out of the bathroom. Towel wrapped loosely around her, barely covering her good figure.

Her gaze shifted to the man lying unconscious on the bed, his soaked clothes clinging to his body.

She frowned. 

‘At the very least, I should change his clothes so he doesn’t get worse.’ 

As she started unbuttoning his wet combat suit, her eyes widened in shock.

Who is this man?!

He wore a military uniform, but the pockets that should’ve held weapons were empty.

But it wasn’t just that that caught her attention—it was his body.

His body was covered in scars, deep and shallow, all crisscrossing like a web.

What really shocked her, though, was the tattoo.

It stretched across his back, a massive design of a half-eagle, half-lion creature. 

The lion’s head was thrown back. The eagle’s talons curled.

It was so detailed, looked like it might leap off his skin and into the room.

The tattoo was familiar, ancient and mythical…

Like the Griffin from old legends!

Selune’s curiosity deepened. She leaned in closer, eager to see the design more clearly.

Bang!

The door suddenly slammed open.

"Selune! Enough! Come back with us!"

Her father and her aunt barged in, followed by a dozen bodyguards.

When they saw Selune sitting on the bed in nothing but a towel, holding a naked man, they all froze.