Thunderlord

Chapter 10

In the Goldengem Hotel, the entire Lane family was executed.

That night, the hotel was locked down, and the ban on Bennyvasia was lifted.

At that moment, Audrey and Bella sat together at a small table in a small restaurant.

Bella gazed hungrily at the two drumsticks in front of her and swallowed hard.

"Bella, let's eat first, okay? You're so hungry. We don't have to wait," Audrey gently coaxed her.

"No."

Bella shook her head and said, "I just saw Daddy teach the bad uncle a lesson. He must be very hungry when he comes back. I want to eat with him. It's my first time eating with Daddy. I'll save the biggest drumstick for him..."

Bella sucked on her finger, her eyes filled with hope as she gulped down her saliva.

Audrey's heart trembled, her nose tinged with sadness. Her daughter was so understanding, and it broke her heart.

"Why hasn't Daddy come back? Is something wrong, Mommy?" Bella's eyes shimmered with tears, her fear of losing her father again gnawing at her.

"Bella, Daddy will be back! He loves us very much!"

Audrey fought to keep her eyes dry, not wanting her daughter to see her tears. "Be a good girl. Mommy will wait with you for Daddy!"

'Bryson, are you hearing this? Please don't get into trouble! Come back soon... We can't manage without you!'

"Daddy won't leave us, right?"

Bella's tears fell like raindrops down her delicate face.

This broke Audrey's heart even more.

She held Bella tightly. "He won't! Daddy will definitely come back!"

'Bryson... please, don't get in trouble. We don't want anything but you. Just come back safe! Bryson, can you hear me? Please come back!'

Audrey kept these thoughts inside, afraid to voice her worries. She wiped her tears secretly whenever Bella looked away.

"Daddy!"

At that moment, Bella spotted something behind Audrey and called out excitedly.

Audrey turned around, and there was Bryson, tall and straight, walking closer.

Seeing how worried they were for him made his throat tighten. "Bella, it's Daddy. I'm back!"

"Daddy... Daddy!"

Bella shouted with glee, momentarily forgetting her aching wounds as she reached out for him, calling, "Daddy! Did you scare off my bad uncle? Daddy, are you hurt? Are you hungry? I saved the biggest drumstick for you!"

Bella's wide, bright eyes brimmed with concern.

Plop!

Bryson couldn't hold back any longer. Tears streamed down his face.

As a fierce, battle-tested man, he felt a wave of warmth wash over him at that moment.

He had a daughter who loved him so much!

She was so hungry, yet she still chose to wait for him, saving the best for him...

Seeing Bella's adorable face, Bryson could no longer hold his guilt back. He wrapped her in his arms, tears flowing as he repeated, "Yes, I drove him away! Daddy will never get hurt!"

'From now on, Daddy won't let you or Mommy be in danger. Daddy will always protect you!'

"Really?" Bella hugged Bryson tightly, afraid that if she let go, her father, whom she had been missing for years, would vanish.

"Yes! Daddy will never leave you again..." Bryson gently rubbed Bella's head, his voice softer than ever.

"Okay, let's make a pinky promise."

"I promise."

Bryson, known as the unrivaled "Thunderlord," felt tears streaming down his face uncontrollably at that moment.

How much hardship had Audrey and Bella endured over the years?

Bryson's heart ached, and Audrey nestled against his strong shoulder.

Bryson looked at his wife, Audrey, his eyes filled with a mix of feelings: love, pain, guilt... all tangled together.

The three of them embraced, crying happily. They were finally together again.

***

After dinner, the three of them arrived at a small, old apartment building in a rundown neighborhood.

This was the place Audrey's parents rented after Linda took charge of the Russell family and forced them out.

The tiny apartment was less than thirty square meters—more of a roof over their heads than a real home, but at least it provided more shelter than what Audrey had.

Bryson held Bella in his arms and exchanged a meaningful glance with Audrey. When she nodded, he knocked a few times on the door.

"Who is it?" a voice called from inside.

The door swung open to reveal a plainly dressed middle-aged woman. She was Audrey's mother, Jenny. She stared at Bryson for a moment in surprise before exclaiming, "Bryson! When did you come back?"

"Jenny, I just got back today."

Jenny reached out for Bella, but Bella shook her head, saying, "I want Daddy to hold me."

"Come on in," Jenny said, stepping aside to let them in. She called out, "Honey, come see who's here!"

"I know who's here!" a voice replied, tinged with irritation.

Ryan glared at Bryson as he slumped down on the worn-out sofa, clearly impatient.

"Bryson Reed, you've got some nerve to come back," he snapped.

His words made the atmosphere in the small room tense and uncomfortable.

Jenny quickly intervened, "Ryan, it's a good thing Bryson is back. Why are you speaking like that?"

Ryan shot Bryson a hostile look. "You've put our family through so much. And you left your wife and daughter for three years, you piece of trash!"

Bryson tried to explain, "Dad, when I went to the army, it was—"

"Don't say anything!" Ryan interrupted, waving his hand dismissively. "You claim you went to serve, and you were gone for three years. Now that you're back, what have you achieved?"

"I'm a five-star general," Bryson said firmly. "The Great Guardian."

"Nonsense!" Ryan shouted, visibly agitated. "Are you joking with me? What kind of ridiculous title is that? Does such a thing even exist? Look at him! He's a loser, and now he's making up stories. It's ridiculous!"

Jenny quickly stepped in, trying to defuse the situation. "Honey, please calm down. You know your blood pressure. Don't get so worked up."

She turned to Bryson and said softly, "It's okay if you haven't made it big yet. Just try not to upset Ryan. If you treat him and your family well, he won't be so harsh on you."

Bryson understood that Ryan held a deep grudge against him. Ryan's perspective was limited, which was why he didn't know the title "the Great Guardian."

Bryson knew he needed to explain things better later.

With his face flushed, Ryan sneered. "I'm not surprised you haven't achieved anything. If a worthless person like you ever made something of himself, that would be a shock."

Jenny stroked Ryan's chest. "Honey, calm down. Bryson won't lie to you; just try to stay calm."

After a moment, Ryan sighed and asked, "So, how do you plan to support your wife and daughter in the future?"

Bryson replied earnestly, "I will take good care of them."

"Hah!" Ryan scoffed angrily. "You can't just support them with just words, you stupid loser."

"Dad..." Audrey tried to interject.

"Don't interrupt me!"

Ryan snapped. "Back then, my daughter was the most valued successor in the Russell family. In terms of looks and talent, she was top-notch. All of this is because of you! Do you know what kind of life she's living?"

The room fell silent, thick with tension.

A moment later, Ryan sighed and continued, "I'll give you six months. If you can achieve something in that time enough to support your wife and child, I'll still recognize you as my family. I'm not asking for wealth or fame, just that."

He added sternly, "Otherwise, get lost. I mean it."

Audrey and Jenny exchanged worried looks. Jenny didn't carry the same deep resentment toward Bryson. She felt that Ryan's harsh words were hard for Bryson to bear.

After finishing, Ryan stood up. "I was just about to leave. The butler of the Russell family called. They want me to come over. It sounds urgent, so I'll be going now."

Bryson tried to speak. "Ryan..."

"I don't want to hear you talk right now. Don't embarrass me anymore!"

With that, Ryan slammed the door behind him and left.