The Almighty General

CHAPTER 4

The heavy wooden doors were pushed open, revealing a convoy of sleek black vehicles rolling into the compound like a storm. 

"Who could it be?"

"The person must be an important figure" someone in the crowd murmured. 

The vehicles came to a stop and the doors flung open simultaneously.

Soldiers stepped out of the cars dressed in black suits.

 Selene, Lance's personal assistant, stepped out of the car and rushed to open the door of Lance's car. 

Lance came down with an air of authority and hurried to the entrance. 

Gasps rippled through the crowd. 

"Is that not Lance Colton?" someone said as he came closer. 

His eyes, cold as steel, swept over the crowd, who immediately paved the way for him to pass, and then he saw then he saw his wife scrubbing the floor like an animal. 

"Dear!" He screamed as he immediately dashed toward her. He grabbed Alister who loomed over her and flung him across the hall. 

Evelyn immediately embraced her husband. 

“Lance?” she exclaimed, her voice above a whisper. 

“I’m here,” he breathed, cradling her against his chest. “I’m here, Evelyn.”

Tears streamed down her face as she gripped onto him. She clutched his shirt so tightly, as if she feared he would disappear again.

Her husband was finally back home. 

His grip tightened around her protectively before his eyes darted towards his daughter on the other side of the Hall. 

How could they treat his family like this? 

Her head was bowed, but when she lifted it, their eyes met.

Lance caught back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. 

“Dad…” she muttered. 

The single word shattered something inside of him.

“I’ve got you, baby,” Lance said as he hugged her. 

“No one will ever hurt you again.”

A hush fell over the crowd, but then the murmurs started again.

“It’s him… It’s really him.”

“Lance Colton is back!”

The once-fearful onlookers now stared in awe. 

Lance brought his gaze to his father.

John still lay on the floor, his body trembling from the cruel beating he had endured. Blood pooled beneath him, staining his tattered clothes.

Selena followed him closely behind, wondering how someone dared to lay a finger on the general's family. 

“Dad…” Lance whispered, his voice tight with anguish as he knelt beside him. He gently lifted John’s head, his fingers brushing against his pale cheek.

John’s eyes fluttered open, a weak smile gracing his lips. “My boy…” he rasped, his voice barely above a breath.

“Don’t speak,” Lance ordered, his voice rough with emotion. “Save your strength. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

John’s frail fingers grasped his son’s wrist. “You came back…”

John let out a shaky breath, his smile widening. “I knew… you’d come back…”

Lance clenched his fists, his entire body trembling with barely contained rage. He turned his gaze to his wife and daughter, his expression darkening at how they were maltreated. 

The family gathered together and Lance held them tight in his arms. He felt so bad for leaving them all these years. 

But now that he is back, no one can hurt them. 

Rachael wiped the tears from her eyes as she turned to the crowd.

"You see it, don’t you?" she said, her voice trembling but strong. "You all thought my father was dead. You all thought he was a deserter. But look at him! He’s here, alive, standing before you!"

A hush fell over the crowd.

"My father is not a coward!" Rachael’s voice rose with fierce pride. "He is a hero!"

"Lance Colton… a hero?" Alister scoffed, dusting off his shirt. His sneer deepened as he took a step forward. "No, Lance Colton is nothing but a disgrace to Prescott!"

The tension in the room shifted instantly.

"How dare you shamelessly return here?" Alister spat, his voice laced with contempt. "You ran away during the war, and you have the guts to return back here?"

Lance’s body stiffened. His jaw tightened, his breathing heavy.

Slowly, he released his family and took a step forward.

"How dare you bully my family?"

His words reverberated through the hall like a thunderclap.