The Strongest General Has Returned

Chapter 3

Lyle tried to hold back his anger. "He's a bad guy. And he hurt you earlier, didn't he?"

Anxious, Abigail shook her head. "I'm fine now, sir. Please don't hit him. Just get him to say sorry. I don't want to cause Mommy any trouble."

"No problem," Lyle replied with a bitter smile and tried to fight back tears. Then he raised his eyes, staring at Jasper like a predator locking onto its prey. Though his gaze appeared as serene as a tranquil lake, a chilling feeling sliced through Jasper.

"Apologize to her!" Lyle's voice rang out. If it wasn't for the impact it might have on his daughter's psyche, his demand for an apology would have been much more ruthless.

Jasper quivered under Lyle's intense stare. He felt as if there were a noose around his neck, poised to hang him. He wondered why this young man exuded such a cold aura. Shame contorted Jasper's face as he reminded himself not to be threatened by a fool and a little girl.

"What are you guys waiting for? Take them down! Beat the s**t out of them!" Jasper commanded. In an instant, a group of bodyguards charged towards Lyle. Abigail, nestled in Lyle's protective embrace, squeezed her eyes shut in fear, while bystanders watched with sneers.

"What an i***t! He thought he was a tough guy or something," someone scoffed.

"He's asking for trouble! He'll regret it once his limbs are broken," another chimed in.

Jasper enjoyed the thought of Lyle's impending suffering.

Just then, a heavy thud pierced through the air. With a single blow and kick, Lyle knocked out the leading guy, who foamed at the mouth. Another was sent crashing into the crowd of bodyguards, all colliding to the ground like dominoes.

The swift action caught everyone off guard, making onlookers, especially those who had mocked Abigail, move backward in fear.

Ignoring the stunned crowd, Lyle locked eyes with Jasper. "I'll say this one last time, apologize to my..." He paused. "Apologize to her, now!"

Lyle's words carried a bitter edge when he struggled to utter the word "daughter." The sense of irresponsibility gnawed at him. While distance from the overseas military base made communication challenging, he knew it was just an excuse. He blamed himself for failing to protect his child.

With eyes shut tight, memories flooded Lyle's mind. Four years ago, he led a team in a fierce battle to hold off the enemy. He got severely injured but stood firm. A year later, he raided a terrorist stronghold. And two years ago, he protected the president from an assassination attempt.

Countless such moments lingered. Throughout his military journey, he held the frontline, his very being a shield of flesh and blood. By the time he left the overseas base, he had become one of the top five-star generals in Meriana.

"How... How could it be?" Jasper's face twisted in disbelief as he surveyed his fallen bodyguards. Each of them cost him a pretty penny and possessed incredible combat skills. Yet here they were, crumbling before Lyle like mere dead corpses. It didn't make Jasper worried, though—with plenty of money, he decided to recruit a legion if necessary, for five or six guards proved insufficient.

Locking eyes with Lyle, Jasper sneered and said, "You won, you motherfucker, but be careful not to get cocky. Your luck won't hold next time!" With that, he leaped into an Audi and vanished into the distance.

That made sense—Jasper, a shrewd man, understood facing Lyle head-on was foolish.

"Stop right there!" Lyle exclaimed, ready to give chase. However, Abigail's gentle tug on his sleeve caught his attention. "Sir, I feel cold. Can you please get us out of the rain?"

Her simple plea halted Lyle in his tracks. In a hurry, he draped his coat around Abigail, words stuck in his throat. Witnessing Abigail's vulnerability shattered his anger. As if on cue, the rain stopped, unveiling a rainbow in the sky.

Abigail nestled into Lyle's arms, experiencing a newfound warmth. "Look, sir. There's a rainbow!" At this moment, she couldn't understand why her mom's employer had treated her like that. All she knew was that she should thank the gentleman right in front of her. "Thank you, sir. You're so kind! My mommy says kind people always help those in need."

Lyle voice was choked with emotion. "A rainbow stands for brighter days ahead. From now on, you will be happy."

"Really?" Abigail's eyes held a hint of doubt. Mustering her courage, she gazed up and asked, "Sir, can you help me with one more thing? It's a small favor, I promise."

'A small favor?' Taken aback, Lyle paused before nodding. "Tell me what you need, sweetie. I'll do my best to help you!"

Helping her once more was a trivial matter—he'd offer his soul if it could ease his guilt. Yet, he understood that no matter how hard he tried, it wouldn't alter the fact that he was an irresponsible father. His eagerness tinged his words with urgency.

Lyle's swift reply made Abigail blush. She lifted her gaze and said in a serious tone, "Sir, I want you to play the role of my dad!"

She then explained, "I won the Math Olympiad today, and my teacher told me there's a Parent-Teacher meeting tomorrow to present the rewards. But Mommy's busy. She might not come. I don't want my classmates to call me an unwanted child! They said my mommy never liked me and my dad abandoned me. If you agree to be my daddy, they won't laugh at me, right? Can you help me, sir? If you agree, I'll pay you for this!"

With that, Abigail extended the packet of gummy bears, hope gleaming in her eyes. "My teacher gave these gummy bears to me as a prize. They're yummy! I planned to keep them for Mommy, but now I want to give them to you, sir!"

Lyle's heart felt like it had been pierced by a blade. 'How ironic! My daughter just told me she had only had gummy bears once. It might be the best candy she's ever tasted!' He exclaimed inwardly.

A wave of sorrow crashed over him, rendering him speechless.

Lyle's silence made Abigail assume he was rejecting her. Her hopes disappeared once again, and she apologized, "I'm sorry, sir. I know this will cause you trouble. I shouldn't ask you to do something you don't want to. Just forget it; it's fine!"

Abigail was on the verge of tears. She struggled to free herself from Lyle's embrace.

Lyle finally snapped out of his daze and tried to explain his feelings to her. How could he say no to his daughter? He wouldn't allow his child to grow up without a father, vulnerable to others' mockery.

Just then, a woman in her fifties, clad in a janitor's uniform, approached them hurriedly. "Who are you? Get away from my granddaughter!"