The Hall was quiet once Bryan walked in. All the members of the family were just as he had left them, fuming, angry, and trying to drag his name in the mud. Freda was speaking as Bryan walked in and he could hear her trail off at the sight of him. "I don't know how I ever met a man like him! I regret the day that I gave my daughter to__" But that was all she could say before she saw the man that was walking behind him. Her mouth hung open and she couldn't help but frown at the scene before her. "Is that...lord Gudling?" She asked with a stunned tone. Derek, who was now fully recovered from the drugged stupor, thanks to the antidote that was given to him, walked to the head of the table. Maxwell who never stood up for Shine was suddenly at his feet and he growled at one of Claire's uncles to get up and offer his seat to lord Maxwell. "Let the master of the Gudling family sit, how dare you make him stand when you're occupying a seat?!" He snapped. He hissed as the man got on his fee
Maxwell visibly deflated in his seat. How could such a word be said in the presence of his entire family? He had a reputation to keep and that reputation had been upheld all through the many years that he was the lord of the Derek family because he didn't let anyone tell him what to do. "What's going on? Why would you try to defend a nobody like him?" Freda asked in a high-pitched voice. Maxwell snapped at her at once to keep quiet and not disrespect or question their guest. "You can't ask the lord silly questions, Freda. He has the right to do whatever he wants!" He snapped. Freda had to keep quiet and lean back in her seat but her eyes remained fiery. "I will make sure he is taken out, he has to be banished!" She whispered harshly to Claire who was already getting hopeful. Maxwell sighed heavily, it was clear that he was hesitating and didn't want to send Bryan off. Maxwell did not need to be reminded to punish any disobedience. He didn't also listen to any pleas when it was tim
Claire stood firm despite her shaky hands and feet as the lord of the Oscar family surprisingly declared her as the new CEO. Everyone was shocked. "This is really happening," someone said weakly among the crowd but just one glare shot at the entire table made everyone keep shut. Derek signed the contract successfully and gave Bryan a smile. "I'm honored to finally be able to pay back this debt, you've been a hero," he said loudly.Bryan gave him a single nod and then nodded at his wife too who was looking his way. "I made a promise to you, darling, I've just fulfilled it," he stated. It was at this time that Tom got on his feet and raised his hand, asking for the opportunity to say something. Grandfather Maxwell was in a pleasant mood because he had just secured the contract with Derek so he wasn't so touchy anymore. As a matter of fact, he was more inclined to hear what others now had to say. Apparently Tom knew this and that was why he raised his hands. "If we have successfully s
Maxwell stood at the head of the table, looking at Tom with such fierce expression that he almost caved. But even though his feet were shaking and he was a trembling mess, he didn't want to say anything to confess. First, because he thought that Bryan would never have an army man that knew him, and secondly because it was going to be doom for him to confess that he had tried to harm the exalted lord Derek in any way or form.But to his shock and everyone's dismay, an army officer walked right into the room and marched straight to where Bryan stood. He bowed to him respectfully and said, "Supreme master, I am with the evidence."Tom's eyes became saucers and he couldn't believe what he was witnessing. Was it possible that he would be taken to jail? What would be his punishment? Could he lie his way out of it? These were some of the things that went through Tom's head as he saw the army man. Benjamin stood right beside Bryan, waiting for him to give instructions. He didn't want to do a
In a couple of minutes, they arrived at one of the hotels which was being owned by the Oscar family. It seemed like Maxwell didn't waste any time in alerting everyone in the company that he was no longer the CEO and the position had been given to Claire. "Welcome to the Magnifico Hotel, Mistress Claire, the grand suite is ready and we are willing to attend to your every need," the manager of the hotel said, welcoming them both himself. Claire was very pleasantly surprised because she knew that the esteemed manager of the hotel would never welcome anyone himself apart from Grandfather Maxwell. The few times that she and her mother had reason to show up at the Magnifico, they had been given a very poor reception and her mother made them leave the very next day. "I will have a good buffet sent to the room, is there anything else you want, mistress?" The manager asked again. Claire was still too absorbed in her surprise to say anything and Bryan had to answer for her. "The buffet and
Claire looked at him with wide eyes, "After the army?" She mumbled, her tone shaky as she asked. "Yes, I want to know everything that happened when I arrived home from the army," he repeated himself.Claire looked at him with an odd stare. She dropped, picked up a napkin, and wiped her mouth as she pushed the food away. "I don't know why you're asking this, Bryan," she said with a soft tone.It looked like she had lost her appetite completely at the mention of the past. She looked at the food and then sighed, getting up from the table. But Bryan wasn't feeling remorseful at all. As much as he cared about her and didn't plan to hurt her, he certainly didn't mind doing that just to get the answers that he needed. "I know this might be hard for you, but have you thought of how much harder it is for me?" I am the one who has to live with the idea that I had the last half year of my life taken away from me. I can't remember who I was and what happened in all those months!" He snapped.Clai
Bryan knew that there was no way he was getting any sleep. He thought of picking up the bottle of wine and doing justice to it but he quickly decided against it. He needed his head clear for the meetings that he had set up tomorrow. He had to keep his mind intact if he was going to get any information from Benjamin or the rest of the rest of the people that he believed knew about his return. Soon, before he could grab the glass and pour in half a glass - as he told himself was his limit - the phone rang and he looked at the display contact. It was Benjamin who had called back. "Hey, Ben, I know that you need your sleep, we can talk tomorrow instead," he said. Benjamin refused, "Master, if it has kept you awake for this long then it's something important," he said. Bryan couldn't argue with him. He kept silent because Ben wasn't far from the truth. "I just spoke with my wife. She knows very little about my return, I thought maybe there's an angle to the story that you might have fo
The next day, Bryan woke up to find himself on the same table that he'd laid on after looking through the photo album. At some point in the day, he'd finally been able to find sleep after looking through the pictures of himself and his men in several cities and after deadly combats. Memories filled him up the previous night and sometimes he could almost taste the blood on his tongue, feel the pain of the bullet, and hear the cries of their enemies on the battlefield. He didn't want to get back to the pains and bitterness that he'd faced with his generals, when they had to go without food and water for several days and all that they had was hope for a better day and the thought of returning home. The previous night was the first time that Bryan had relieved all his experiences in the army, looked at the eyes of all his generals, and recalled all their sufferings and triumphs. "Bryan?" Someone said right in his ears and he jerked out of his seat, grabbing the arms that lay on his sho