Rise of the Dann

Henry?

Jeremy abruptly stopped insulting Dann when his phone rang. His expression shifted from arrogance to smug satisfaction as he answered the call. With a haughty tone, he announced to the crowd, “Uncle Henry will be arriving soon. Yes, you all know who he is—Major General Henry Ford. This birthday party for Dad is about to get even classier.”

Eva looked at Jeremy with confusion and a hint of worry. She knew all too well that Jeremy often leveraged his family connections for attention and praise. However, the arrival of Henry Ford—a highly influential and respected two-star general—would turn the atmosphere of this event into something far more formal and stressful, especially for Dann, who had always been treated like an outsider.

“Henry Ford? That uncle of Jeremy’s?” Eva whispered to Dann, her eyes betraying an anxiety that was hard to hide. Dann simply nodded slightly, unaffected by the big name. Yet, Eva could sense the tension in the air escalating.

“Yeah, that famous Uncle Henry,” Jeremy said, his smile growing wider as he seized the moment to further humiliate Dann. “He’ll be here any minute. I think this will be a great opportunity for Uncle Henry to see firsthand just how lowly the man who was once close to our family has fallen.”

Whispers among the guests began to swell. The name Henry Ford wasn’t just known in military circles; it also resonated within the Ford family’s business circles. Many looked at Jeremy with admiration, given his position as the fourth heir to the Ford dynasty, which granted him considerable influence. Within minutes, the party atmosphere shifted to one of anticipation for the general's arrival.

Eva could feel the discomfort mounting. From the very start, she had never liked how Jeremy flaunted his wealth or exploited his family connections to boast. But now, the situation was far more complicated with Dann having to face even greater pressure.

Still, Dann remained unshaken. His gaze was steady and filled with determination, as if nothing could make him back down. “Let him come,” he said calmly, but with deep conviction. “I’m not afraid of anyone, Eva. Whether he’s a Ford or not, that doesn’t define who I am.”

Eva bit her lip, torn between her belief in Dann and the pressure from her family pushing her to conform. If Henry showed up and got involved, would the situation worsen? Or could it possibly unveil the truths that had long been hidden?

Amidst the uncertainty and emotional turmoil within her, Eva knew one thing—today would be more than just her father’s birthday.

As word of Henry Ford’s impending arrival spread among the guests, the atmosphere in the room shifted even more. Thomas Anderson, who had previously appeared cold and cynical, now looked proud and smug. He turned his attention to Dann, who still stood beside Eva and Xenna. With a commanding tone, he said, “Dann, I want you to stay away from Eva and take Xenna with you. She doesn’t need to be involved in Eva’s new relationship with Jeremy.”

Thomas's words struck like lightning. Dann felt his anger flare. He glared at Eva’s father, his heart swelling with a myriad of difficult emotions. He knew that Thomas was trying to protect his interests and undermine the bond between him, Eva, and their child. “How dare you say that to me?” Dann replied, voice restrained as he struggled to remain calm for Xenna, who was still enjoying her slice of cake.

Xenna, not fully grasping the situation, looked up at her father with wide eyes, as if to ask why his mood seemed so tense. Dann attempted to smile at her, trying to distract his daughter from the argument unfolding. “Enjoy that cake, sweetheart. It’s delicious, isn’t it?” Dann said, striving to give her his full attention despite the turmoil within him.

Meanwhile, Thomas stepped closer, disregarding Dann’s efforts to maintain the atmosphere. “Xenna doesn’t need to be an obstacle to Eva’s new relationship. She’s suffered enough due to your presence in her life. So, please, leave.”

Thomas’s decision to use Xenna as a tool to separate them only fueled Dann’s anger further. He understood that Thomas wasn’t just hurting him but also his daughter. “Xenna deserves to know who her father is. And no one—least of all you—will separate us,” Dann stated firmly, his voice quivering slightly with the weight of uncontained emotion.

Thomas sneered, feeling superior. “Before you work so hard to maintain this relationship, remember who you’re up against. I have connections, money, and power to keep Eva and Xenna far away from you.”

Meanwhile, the chatter among the guests grew louder, all turning towards the door, ready to welcome Henry’s arrival. Their cheers resounded, signaling just how high their hopes were to see the influential figure. Eva glanced at Dann, sensing the tension between them, unsure of what to do next.

“Henry is coming, Dann. If you keep acting like this, you’ll only make things worse,” Eva tried to mediate, but Dann stood resolute.

“I won’t stay away from Xenna, Eva. She’s my daughter, and I won’t let anyone—including your family—hurt her,” Dann declared.

Just then, a sturdy man in military uniform stepped into the doorway. All eyes shifted to Henry Ford, and the tension in the room felt palpable. Thomas seemed to catch a breath of fresh air with the arrival of his influential brother. Meanwhile, Dann felt that this battle was just beginning, and he would not back down.

“Welcome, Uncle Henry!” Jeremy exclaimed, waving with a broad grin as if everything had gone according to plan.

Eva looked at Dann, feeling a strong shift between them. On the one hand, she wanted to protect her daughter’s relationship with her father. On the other hand, she knew that this ongoing war wouldn’t end well if no one stood up for the truth.

Henry strode confidently into the room, searching for Eva’s father among the crowd. However, when his eyes landed on Dann standing in the corner, his expression suddenly paled. His heart raced, as if time had stopped.

He recalled their past meeting, when he learned Dann’s true identity—the God of War, a figure who was immensely influential and feared. Henry felt an immense weight on his shoulders, realizing that Dann’s presence at this party could spell disaster. A wave of anxiety washed over him; if he breached military decorum and spoke out of turn, the consequences could be dire.

Despite wanting to rush over and greet Thomas, eager to showcase his own importance, his focus remained fixed on Dann. His eyes couldn’t leave the man, who stood with an air of calm confidence. Henry attempted to blend into the crowd, trying not to draw attention to himself, but cold sweat began to bead at his temples.

Meanwhile, Jeremy spotted Henry with a broad grin. He wanted everyone to know how close he was to his influential uncle. “Look who just arrived! My uncle, Henry Ford! He’s a two-star general, folks! A great soldier who even people in the military respect!” he exclaimed, his voice dripping with pride.

Jeremy continued, “You all must have heard about his achievements! Sitting at the big table making crucial decisions—that’s no small feat, folks!” He glanced at Dann, his smile growing broader. “Of course, my uncle probably wouldn’t bother with someone like you, Dann. Who would want to associate with a former dockworker when they could rub elbows with great people?”

Henry, hearing Jeremy’s words, felt more trapped than ever. He struggled to find the right words to respond, but could only look at Dann with mounting anxiety. In his mind, one thought spiraled: If Jeremy kept boasting, Dann might not stand idly by.

“Jeremy, don’t go overboard,” Henry tried to rein in the situation, his voice tense.

But Jeremy didn’t care. He pressed on, “No need to be modest, Henry! We all know how hard it is to have an uncle like you. I can’t wait to show everyone just how close we are! We’ve even planned some big projects together.”

Henry felt cold sweat trickling down his temples. Meanwhile, Dann stood firm in the corner, feeling the tension growing between them. As he witnessed how Henry was caught between respect and fear, Dann knew that Jeremy was digging himself deeper.

“Jeremy,” Dann finally spoke, his voice calm yet powerful. “You should remember who’s really here. When faced with things larger than ourselves, arrogance will only make you look small.”

Jeremy’s expression froze as he stared at Dann, but his confidence didn’t waver. “Oh, I’m sure my uncle can handle anything, even a former dockworker trying to be a hero,” he retorted sarcastically.

In the corner of the room, Henry watched their interaction anxiously. He knew that if this continued, everything could spiral out of control. “Maybe we should all try to behave better here,” Henry attempted to mediate, but his voice sounded weak amid the noise.

With the tension escalating, Dann stood tall, facing Jeremy. “Maybe you should learn to respect those who’ve fought to reach their positions, Jeremy. Not everyone comes from a fortunate background like yours.”