THE WAR GOD'S RECKONING

Chapter 5

Outside the Grandview Pavilion, Fiona’s first words were,

“Where’s Rose? Where’s my daughter? I need to find her.”

Her voice trembled, panic already blooming in her eyes, she couldn't escape before but now that she have her freedom, she needs to find her precious one.

Max didn’t waste time, just took her arm and said, “She’s at the hospital. She needed care. Come.”

As they hurried toward the car, Fiona’s mind raced, guilt, dread, every mother’s nightmare crawling up her throat. Tears welled, but she bit them back. She clung to Max’s sleeve, needing his strength just to keep moving.

The ride felt endless. When they finally burst into the hospital, they were greeted by chaos, nurses struggling to hold down a tiny girl thrashing on the bed, her cries echoing down the corridor.

“I want my Daddy! Daddy promised to stay! Where is he.. Daddy!”

Relief broke across the doctors’ faces as soon as they saw Max and they let go.

The moment Rose saw him, her wailing stopped as if a switch had been flipped. She threw herself into Max’s arms, sobbing hard, arms locked tight around his neck.

“Daddy, you promised… You promised you’d never leave me. Why did you go? I thought.. I thought you were gone again..”

Max held her close, fighting back his own ache, running a rough hand over her back. His anger at the world twisted deep, but his voice stayed gentle for her alone.

“I had to find your mother, little one. You know I’d never leave you. Not now, not ever.”

Rose’s head snapped up, eyes searching his face. Then she spotted Fiona, standing there, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Mama!” The word came out as a gasp, half disbelief, half joy.

She tore herself from Max’s arms and ran, colliding with Fiona, clutching her like she’d never let go.

Fiona dropped to her knees, arms crushing Rose close, sobs finally breaking loose.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, over and over. “I’m so sorry, baby. I should’ve been there. I should’ve protected you. I failed you…”

But Rose just laughed through her tears, pulling Fiona’s hand, tugging her back toward Max.

“Daddy found you! See, Mama? Now we can all be together. We’re not alone anymore. We’re all here...Daddy, Mama, Rose and aunt Amelia!”

She pressed their hands together, then wrapped her tiny arms around both their waists, beaming up at them through swollen eyes.

“We’re a family now. No more crying, Mama. I’m not scared anymore.”

Fiona broke, clutching her daughter tight, forehead pressed to Rose’s. “I’ll never leave you again. I promise, you’re all I need.”

Max knelt beside them, pulling both into his arms, letting the weight of loss and reunion settle in his chest. For a moment, the anger, the questions, the debts, they didn’t matter much cause this was what he’d bled for.

A soft knock at the door.

The doctor stepped in, smile tired but kind. “She’s strong,” he said. “They both are. You can take them home now.”

Max nodded, scooping Rose gently into his arms, Fiona’s hand never leaving hers.

Amelia waited outside, her face gaunt but her eyes shining at the sight of them all together. She reached for Rose, who hugged her tight, then clung to Fiona again. Amelia has a lot to talk but kept calm.

Together, the four of them walked out of the hospital.

---

After a long drive, they finally got home, the house was small but little Rose was happy to be home again.

Max stood quietly at the doorway, eyes sweeping over the cracked walls, the faded paint, the uneven floor tiles. Two cramped rooms and a narrow parlour with mismatched furniture. Nothing luxurious and nothing safe-looking.

This was how they had lived.

He said nothing but something cold settled deep in his chest cause this wasn’t what they promised.

Fiona moved around nervously, helping Amelia settle on the couch, fussing over Rose, trying to make the place feel warmer than it was, Rose didn’t seem to notice the poverty. She was just happy. That alone twisted something sharp in Max’s gut.

Just as they were about to sit, a hard knock slammed against the door.

It wasn't polite or hesitant, it was a knock meant to announce dominance.

Max’s eyes narrowed cause he already knew so he moved and opened the door.

The Smiths stood there like a bad smell that refused to fade.

Morgan pushed forward immediately, eyes blazing with hatred, finger stabbing the air toward Max and he was tempted to twist it but he held back.

“You should have died!” she screamed, voice shrill and unrestrained. “You should have rotted on that battlefield instead of crawling back like a curse! Ever since you married into our family, nothing but disaster followed!”

Max stared at her blankly and unmoving

“You ruined my daughter’s life,” Morgan continued hysterically. “You dragged her into shame, into poverty! And now you still dare show up and steal her away again?”

She turned sharply to Fiona.

“Come back,” she ordered. “Right now. This nonsense ends tonight. The wedding will continue. The Cooper family is still willing, this is your last chance.”

Fiona stepped forward, spine straight and, eyes clear.

“No,” she said.

“There’s no marriage,” she continued steadily. “There never was. I’m not going back. Not now. Not ever.”

Morgan’s face twisted in disbelief, then rage.

“You ungrateful...”

“Enough.” Benjamin Smith, the head of the family spoke.

The old man stepped forward slowly, leaning on his cane, eyes sharp and calculating.

He looked at Fiona like she was a chess piece that had stepped out of line.

“You have two choices,” he said coldly.

Fiona didn’t blink.

“First,” Benjamin continued, “you return to the family. You marry into the Cooper family as planned. The crisis ends. Everyone survives.”

He paused, then smiled thinly.

“Second,” his voice hardened, “you secure a cooperation with any top-tier company in this city within three days. One deal that's enough to save the Smith family.”

Silence stretched.

“And if you fail,” Benjamin added calmly, “you, your mother, and your father will be expelled from the family permanently. No support. No name. No protection and your life and that of your jinx daughter will be hell in this city.”

The words landed hard and Fiona’s hands trembled but she didn’t lower her head and Max finally moved.

He stepped forward slowly, placing himself between Fiona and the Smiths.

“So that’s it,” Max said softly. “Sell your daughter or throw her parents to the streets. Impressive morals.”

Morgan scoffed. “This doesn’t concern you.”

Max laughed.

“You’re wrong, old leeche” he said, eyes dark. “Everything that touches my wife concerns me.”