Rise of the Dann

The Homecoming

At a secret military base, hidden deep in the mountains, the atmosphere was solemn, filled with respect. This base, known to only a select few, housed the world’s most elite warriors. In the midst of the crowd, Dann Riddect walked with steady, firm steps, his uniform immaculate, adorned with medals reflecting the many achievements he had earned on the battlefield.

Generals and soldiers stood in formation, offering their final salute to him. Among them, hushed whispers could be heard.

“Riddect is a true legend here,” one young soldier murmured. “Did you hear? He’s leaving us today.”

“Yeah, word is he’s heading home. After five years... I can’t imagine leaving someone for that long,” another soldier replied.

Dann walked past them with quiet grace, his face expressionless but his eyes brimming with determination. Only Max, his loyal assistant, understood the storm brewing inside him.

“Are you sure this is the right time, Commander?” Max asked as he caught up with Dann’s pace.

Dann stared straight ahead, taking a deep breath. “Five years is too long, Max. Time I should never have spent away from Eva,” he said with quiet resolve. “I left her without any explanation. Now, I have to go back and make things right.”

Max was silent for a moment before nodding. “If that’s your decision, I’ll stand by you, as always.”

With the farewell ceremony complete, Dann boarded his private jet. Inside, the cabin was quiet, matching the weight on his mind. As the plane took off, memories of the past rushed back, uninvited.

Five years ago, his life had been a mess. Cast out of his family’s clan for reasons he still couldn’t fully understand, he had been forced to work as a dockworker, far from the life of privilege he once knew. But that night... the night that changed everything... it was still fresh in his memory.

"Eva..." he whispered softly, thinking about the woman who had entered his life in the most unexpected way.

---

Five years ago, in the dim, salty air of the docks, Dann had been drugged and kidnapped by a group of unknown men. When he woke up, his body felt weak, and his mind was foggy. In the dark corner of the room stood a woman. Eva Anderson. Founder of the Starlize Group, powerful and commanding, but that night, she looked fragile.

“Who are you?” Eva demanded, her voice sharp as she eyed Dann warily.

“I... I don’t know,” Dann muttered weakly. His head was still spinning from the drugs. He had no idea why he was there, let alone why this woman was with him.

But that night spiraled out of control too fast to stop. Something happened between them—an unfortunate mistake, and soon after, the media had a field day, spreading the news maliciously. Eva’s reputation was destroyed overnight, and the market value of Starlize Group plummeted.

To mitigate the damage, the Anderson family arranged for Dann to marry Eva. Though the marriage wasn’t one of love, Dann resolved to make himself worthy of her. Shortly after their wedding, he enlisted in the military, determined to prove himself. He fought hard, excelled, and earned respect. But now, after five long years, it was time to go home and face the past.

---

As the plane descended, a knot formed in Dann’s stomach. He glanced out the window, seeing the city where Eva lived grow closer. "Is she still waiting for me?" he wondered, doubt creeping in for the first time.

When they landed at the airport, Max, ever-efficient, had everything arranged. But as they walked through the arrivals area, something unexpected happened. A little girl came running toward Dann, her eyes wide and hopeful.

“Daddy!” she cried out, stopping him in his tracks.

Dann froze, staring down at the little girl in confusion. “What…?” he muttered under his breath.

“Daddy! Mommy said you were coming, but why didn’t you come before?” the little girl’s voice was full of innocence and pain.

Max, just as surprised, stepped forward. “Mr. Riddect, I think there’s been a misunderstanding…”

But the little girl grabbed Dann’s hand. “Daddy, don’t you want me?”

Dann’s heart twisted. “I… I’m not your father, sweetheart. You must have the wrong person.”

Tears welled up in the girl’s eyes. “You are my daddy! Mommy said so!”

Dann, unsure of what to do, looked at Max. “We need to take her to security. Her parents are probably looking for her.”

---

At the airport security office, Eva rushed in, her face pale with worry, her eyes searching frantically for Xenn, her daughter. When she spotted her sitting on a chair, crying, her heart sank.

“Xenna!” Eva called out, hurrying to her daughter’s side.

Xenna ran into her mother’s arms. “Mommy! I saw Daddy, but he didn’t want me.”

Eva froze, her face turning white. She looked up, and her eyes met Dann’s. Time seemed to stop.

“Eva?” Dann’s voice was filled with disbelief.

Eva stared at him, her expression cold, though her heart raced at the sight of the man who had left her five years ago

. “So, you’ve come back?” she said softly, her voice tight with emotion.

Eva’s heart pounded as she stood face-to-face with Dann, her emotions spiraling out of control. Her initial relief at finding Xenna quickly turned into anger, resentment flooding back. For years, she had believed Dann was a selfish man who had abandoned her for money, leaving her to fend for herself and their unborn child.

“Xenna, sweetheart, are you okay?” Eva asked, her voice trembling as she bent down to comfort her daughter, who was still wiping tears from her cheeks.

Xenna nodded slowly, though her face still wore the pain of rejection. “Mommy, I saw Daddy... but he said I wasn’t his. Why doesn’t Daddy want me?”

Eva’s chest tightened, a mixture of fury and sorrow bubbling within her. She shot a cold glance at Dann, who stood there, visibly shaken but silent. How dare he show up now? After everything, after leaving her to raise their daughter alone, after costing her almost everything she had.

Dann swallowed hard, guilt and confusion swirling in his mind. “Eva... I didn’t know,” he finally said, his voice rough. “I had no idea I had a daughter.”

Eva stood up slowly, her body rigid with anger. “Of course, you didn’t know. You walked out before you even gave me the chance to tell you. You took the money and left, Dann. What did you expect?”

Dann’s face contorted in confusion. “Money? What money are you talking about?”