They Called Asher a Fallen War Hero... Biggest Mistake Ever

02: Driven Out

That single word hit hard, and the neighborhood went ghost-quiet.

‘Commander.’

The laughter outside the Bennett Villa slowly faded.

The passersby stared with wide eyes. Even the reporters who had followed Asher from the military headquarters looked confused.

Elaine's confident smile abruptly vanished.

Serena blinked in confused surprise.

Only Lily smiled brightly, her little face lighting up with excitement.

"I knew it!" she shouted with brightened cheeks: "Daddy is still a hero!"

The man standing at the front of the group kept his head lowered. He didn't dare look Asher in the eye. The others behind him remained in the same respectful posture, waiting for his next command.

Asher looked at them calmly.

He feigned a serious expression and mouthed: "You've mistaken me for someone else."

His voice was steady, no panic, just calmness. The suited man raised his head slightly.

"Our apologies..."

He quickly corrected himself.

"Mr. River."

He reached into his coat and carefully brought out a dark envelope sealed with black wax.

"This belongs to you. We were ordered to place it in your hands only."

Asher glanced at the envelope for a brief second before accepting it: "Thank you."

The man observed Asher's glances and nodded: "Our duty is complete."

Without another word, he turned around. The others followed him immediately. Within seconds, every SUV drove away as quickly as it had arrived. The street stayed silent for extra moments.

Everyone looked at one another as indistinct chatters were gradually murmured across the neighborhood:

"What just happened? Weren't they looking for him?"

"Why did they suddenly leave?"

"They must have mistaken him for someone important. That scared me for nothing."

The whispers soon turned into laughter again. Elaine folded her arms with a proud, relieved smile.

"I knew it."

"For one second, I almost believed someone still respected you."

Serena shook her head in disappointment: "What a joke."

"You've become so pitiful that people can't even recognize who they're looking for."

Lily frowned: "They weren't mistaken, Mum! They called Daddy 'Commander.'"

Elaine looked down at her granddaughter: "My dear… They corrected themselves, didn't they? Your father is nobody. Stop dreaming."

The words pierced Lily's little heart. She lowered her head, trying hard not to cry more.

Asher gently rubbed her hair.

"It's alright, Sunshine."

Then he looked at Elaine and Serena.

"I'll leave."

His calm answer surprised everyone. Elaine had prepared more venomous insults. Instead, he simply accepted it like he had somewhere else to be. That somehow made her feel like she had lost.

She quickly hid the feeling behind another cold smile: "Good. At least you still have a little pride."

Serena turned toward two servants standing nearby: "What are you waiting for? Bring all his things."

The servants exchanged hesitant looks. Neither of them moved.

Elaine's voice became sharper: "Did you not hear my daughter’s instructions?"

One servant swallowed hard before quietly entering the house.

A minute later...

He returned carrying a small carton. Behind him, another servant dragged a worn suitcase.

Elaine pointed toward the gate.

"Throw everything outside."

The servants hesitated: "I'm sorry, Sir..."

Then they carefully placed Asher's belongings beside the road.

Lily burst into tears: "No!"

"Don't throw Daddy's things away!"

She ran toward the suitcase and hugged it tightly. Her tiny body trembled as she cried.

Asher walked over and knelt beside her: "Sunshine." She looked at him through blurry eyes: "They're chasing you away. I don't want you to go."

His heart ached.

If there was one battle he had never learned to fight. It was seeing his daughter cry.

He gently wiped away her tears: "Look at me." Lily sniffed and nodded: "Do you remember what I always tell you?"

She answered between sobs: "A brave heart… never gives up."

Asher smiled softly: "That's my girl. So don't cry for Daddy.” His voice turned serious like he was sending a message: "I'll come back."

"And when I do… I'll take my Sunshine somewhere no one can make her cry again."

Lily immediately stretched out her little finger.

"Promise?"

Asher hooked his finger around hers: "I promise."

Standing a few steps away, Serena silently watched everything.

Her chest felt tight.

This was the same man who once stood proudly in military uniform. The same Major General who used to leave home without knowing if he would return alive.

But today, he was being forced out of the house with one suitcase. She wanted to speak further, but a part of her wanted to stop him. But every time she looked at her enabler, her mother

The words disappeared.

Elaine noticed her silence and smiled inwardly: "Asher."

She spoke loudly so everyone outside could hear: "From today onward. Don't ever come back to this house. Our family no longer has anything to do with you."

The neighbors nodded among themselves. Some even applauded: "She made the right decision. A disgraced soldier would only drag them down. Who would want a son-in-law like that?"

The harsh insults continued.

Asher acted as though he hadn't heard a single one. He picked up his travel bag with one hand. The old suitcase with the other.

Then one more time, he returned his gaze to Serena and Elaine and spoke from his gut:

“Pray hard that you don't regret your actions tonight. There will always be a time for reckoning. I'll be back…”

Those words sank through their chests, and no matter how hard they tried to fire back at him, they couldn't stop reminiscing about his last statement.

He turned around and walked toward the gate. Lily suddenly broke free from Serena's hand.

"Daddy!"

She ran after him.

Asher caught her before she stumbled. She hugged him one last time.

"I'll wait for you."

His throat tightened: "I know Sunshine."

He kissed her forehead gently before placing her back on her feet.

Without looking back again, he walked away. Lily stood at the gate crying until she could no longer see him.

Even after he was gone, she refused to go inside.

****

Several streets away...

The same black SUVs that had left earlier were parked close to a row of old trees.

The suited man who had handed Asher the envelope stood beside one of the vehicles. He removed a secure phone from his pocket and made a call.

The line connected almost immediately:

"He has left the Bennett Villa."

A calm elderly voice answered from the other end.

"Did he accept the invitation?"

"Yes."

There was a brief silence. Then the old man chuckled:

"Good. It's time."

"Bring him home.”