Chapter 1 The Return

“Lucian, you were uncontactable during your seven years in the army. Freya was involved in a car accident and is now paralyzed. She was driven out by the family. She’s alone and living a miserable life.” Lucian Gray and his mother were gathered before his father’s tombstone on the outskirts of Sioux. Lucian could not help the full-body shudder that ran through him. There was an unconcealable horror expressed through his eyes. He turned to his mother, Lilian Seymour, and asked, “How is that possible, Mom? I haven’t heard anything when I was in the troops…” “Much has happened in the seven years you’ve been gone. She kept writing to you a year after you left but every letter seemed to have disappeared into nothing. There was no news.”

Paralyzed… She’s confined to a wheelchair, lonely, and unable to return home. What has Freya experienced while I’ve been gone? Seven years… “It doesn’t matter even if you’re kicked out of the family, Lucian. I, Freya, am not afraid of anything. I’ll give up everything I have as long as you love me. It doesn’t matter what difficulties lie ahead, I won’t be afraid as long as I have you by my side.” “Promise me that you would never leave me no matter what.” His eyes reddened as tears of guilt began to build up at the mere thought of Freya’s words. Lucian had been the eldest son of the Gray family of Sioux seven years ago.

His father was a well-known big shot not just within the city. He could stand toe-to-toe with those of Hohenwald. What awaited him, however, was a spectacular setup where he died horribly in the streets. His cause of death was a mystery. Both he and his mother were expelled from the family following the incident with nothing to their names. They were reduced to the bottom rung of society. Freya, who was in love with Lucian, was not just a pretty face at school. She was the eldest daughter of the Harrison family. She continued to shine following her graduation and became vice president of the Harrison Group following the success of a large-scale project that was worth millions. Both Freya and he, who had been relegated to being part of the lower class, were people who belonged to different worlds. She, regardless of her family’s opposition, chose to give everything up to marry him in secret with papers to show for it. When the Harrisons learned of the matter, the head of the family was furious and forcibly separated the two by taking her away. Lucian decided to join the army after wallowing in his misery for a while in hopes that he would be able to make a name for himself by defending the country at the front lines. He wanted their union to be blessed. His rare talents were quickly unearthed after he joined the military.

He had become part of the special forces within the year. He cut off all contact with the outside world and was secretly deployed to the northern borders. He fought bravely, won his battles, slain foreign invaders, quashed the traitors in their ranks, and safeguarded Vandergrift in the seven years. King Vandergrift himself had personally canonized him as the Infernal War God! “There’s also something else I have to tell you, Lucian. You and Fay have a seven…” His phone began to ring before Lilian could finish. It was an unfamiliar number. “Hello? Is this Lucian Gray? I heard you were leaving the army and returning home. Divorce my Mom. I don’t want a father as heartless as you. I feel ashamed just thinking about it…” “I can take care of Mom just fine. I don’t need a father like you.” There was a childish voice tinged with determination and hatred on the phone. They did not hesitate to hang up without waiting for him to respond. He tried to call them back only to replace that the phone had been switched off. His breaths quickened as he processed the words. He felt nervous. Father?? I don’t need a father like you. He turned his attention back to his mother. “Mom I… I have a daughter?” “That’s right.” Lilian sighed and nodded. “Freya secretly gave birth a year after you left.

This angered Old Mr. Harrison and led to her being driven out of her home. She came here with her three-month-old daughter to look for you. She tried to establish contact for two years but nothing came of it. She left discouraged. She got into a car accident not two years later and has been paralyzed since…” “Both Freya and Minnie were thrown out of the family after the accident. Minnie had to be the one to set up a stall in the market to earn money just so they could live. I’ve been doing my best to offer them a modest contribution as well to make up for all we’ve done to her.” “There are also local hoodlums who often pick on Minnie and demand protection money. They often beat her up too.” Lucian’s head went blank at the revelation. Freya birthed him a daughter and was now an invalid. The mother-daughter duo was thrown out of their home and relied on a seven-year-old to earn their keep. Tears rolled down his cheeks in a flood of guilt. Freya had given everything up for love and had to birth the product of their love in secret. He forgot their promise and disappeared from her life in her most difficult moment. How much despair could she have been in? His hands curled into fists. “How dare they treat them that way? I’ll kill them…” His veins rippled with monstrous anger. Driven out of their home… A fatherless bastard child who’s abused in the streets. “Ah!!!” His eyes were bloodshot as he roared into the sky. She was only a seven-year-old child who not only had to earn money to support both herself and her mother and had to suffer the abuse thrown her way. He was going to kill the animals who hurt his wife and daughter. He was going to make sure that he wasn’t even going to leave a body behind for a proper burial. “What are you doing, Lucian?” Lilian immediately asked as Lucian sped away. “I’m going to Freya and Minnie. I owe them far too much… Far too much!”

He left the cemetery and rushed back to the city in a blaze of glory. … Meanwhile, at a lively marketplace. “My jewelry is pretty. I went to the next city over with my Mom to get it.” “Take a look, Miss. It’ll look nice on you.” Minnie was in a patchwork of a dress and calling to the people in the streets in her child-like voice. Every time she’d pass a woman by, she would actively sell her products to them. Her eyes demonstrated a maturity that did not match her age.

She was well-known in the marketplace as the seven-year-old girl with a paralyzed mother trying to earn a living. Many girls passing through would buy a few jewelry pieces to support her. Minnie was the stubborn sort that refused money given for free. Freya was in her wheelchair, gaze dull as she watched her daughter. She couldn’t help the tears rolling down her cheeks. She’s seven… She’s unable to provide Minnie with a good life as a mother and instead had to rely on her just to survive. She felt it better if she were dead rather than alive. If it weren’t for Minnie, she would’ve committed suicide. “Look who it is. The bastard child and her cripple mother are out here again? How much did you earn today? Got enough to feed yourselves hopefully.” A man with his hair swept back dressed in a suit came up to the girl with a wicked smile.

“What are you doing here, Calvin?” Anger surfaced in Freya’s eyes. Calvin Harrison, her uncle’s son, was the spendthrift of the family. He was the one who planned the accident that ruined her. Freya had shone far too brightly in the business world and threatened his position. It contributed to the reason why he would so thoroughly destroy her. “Why can’t I be here? It’s not like this marketplace is yours.” He crushed a jewelry piece underfoot and laughed. “Hahaha, I’m so sorry. I accidentally broke one. But that’s okay. I have lots of money. Here.” He took out a wad of cash from his wallet and threw the stack on Minnie’s head while cursing, “Better kneel, you little beast. Do it and this is all yours. This should be more than enough to last you for a few months, right?” “I don’t want it.” Minnie bit back. “Being mouthy now, brat?” Slap! He smirked and backhanded the girl, sending her sprawling to the ground.