Return of the General's Daughter
Chapter 49: The Annoying Neighbor

Chapter 49: The Annoying Neighbor

Years of anguish, regret, and sorrow spilled from his lips in a sound so raw, so filled with pain, that even those behind the door felt their chests tighten.

Lara’s fingers twitched against the wood. She never thought she would hear her master express such emotion. He had always been a pillar of strength, an unshakable force who never wavered. But here he was—breaking.

Reya and Sandoz exchanged glances, their expressions troubled. They had trained under Jethru for years and had never seen him falter. His every word was a command, his presence an undeniable force. But today, his cries of sorrow shook them to their very core.

Inside the room, the storm of emotions raged. The weight of memories long buried, of choices made and regrets unspoken, crushed Jethru’s spirit.

When Jethru finally calmed, his breath still unsteady, he turned—and that was when he saw them.

Huddled together in the corner of the room, their small frames trembling, were the two children. Their eyes were red, mirroring his own. Silent witnesses to his breakdown, they clung to each other, afraid yet unwilling to look away.

A lump formed in his throat. He could not look away from them.

Alpha’s small hands clenched as he swallowed hard. Omega, standing beside her brother, looked up at him as if searching for an answer. Her tiny face was defiant, but her eyes betrayed her uncertainty.

Jethru’s breath hitched. He knew those eyes. They belonged to someone he had lost long ago.

He trembled as he approached the two little ones, who resembled two chicks abandoned by their mother. He kneeled before them to meet their dark eyes, filled with longing. He clenched and unclenched his hands. He wanted to gather them in his arms but was afraid he would be rejected.

"Your names? Was it your mother who gave them to you?" He asked hoarsely.

"It was Grandpa," Alpha answered, his hands hanging limply beside his body. He did not know whether to hug the old man or not.

After hesitating, he raised his thin arms and encircled the old man’s body. He felt that his grandfather’s body was strong and warm. Hugging him was a little better than hugging Grandpa Samuel.

Jethru was about to roll his eyes toward his master. What was he thinking when he gave those names to the children? Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end? Was he out of his mind? Why did Naomi not protest?

But when he felt the warmth of Alpha’s embrace, his disdain toward his master for such an unusual name vanished.

Jethru frowned. Reluctantly, he stood and silently went to the door.

He abruptly opened the door.

Thud. Thud.

"Ouch!"

Reya and Sandoz cried out as they fell on top of each other.

Sandoz was able to brace his fall with his two hands, but Reya fell on him, and her weight was too much—his hands caved, and he fell face down on the ground.

Lara, on the other hand, still stood with her back straight. Such ’surprises’ were not a surprise for her.

"What were you doing eavesdropping at the door?" Jethru scolded them, his voice stern.

Reya regained her composure. She stood and smiled brightly at Jethru, the picture of innocence.

"Grandpa, we are so happy that you found your grandchildren." She held onto Jethru’s arm and tugged him gently back to where Alpha and Omega stood.

Jethru rolled his eyes and slapped Reya’s hand away. But when his glance fell on the two children, he forgot about the mischief caused by his disciples and half-disciples. His gaze softened.

"Alpha, Omega, he is your grandfather. Elijah was his son. From now on, you should call me Great Grandpa." Samuel, who was sitting on the bed, spoke weakly.

"But Great Grandpa, why did he abandon our Grandma and us? Would we have suffered these past few years if he was with us?" Omega’s voice trembled with resentment. Unlike Alpha, she did not understand what the two old men were talking about earlier.

Jethru felt as if a force squeezed his heart. He placed his hand over his chest to ease the pain.

"Your Grandpa had his difficulties. He did not purposely abandon us. He also did not know of your existence," Samuel explained, his voice strained.

The young girl looked at her great-grandpa with big, moist eyes before shifting her gaze to her brother. Alpha nodded.

Omega hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward. She opened her arms wide and hugged the old man with silver hair.

Jethru froze. Though Omega was gaunt, she still felt soft.

Lara looked at the touching scene before her. She was happy for her Master. At least he had a family. He was lucky.

She felt something warm and wet trickle down her face. She wiped it with her hand, and she was in a daze. She hadn’t cried in a long time. Her father told her that only the weak shed tears.

Her gaze shifted to Alpha, who was looking at her with eyes full of gratitude. No wonder she felt an affinity with the siblings. No wonder when she first looked at Alpha, he seemed familiar.

She just realized that Alpha—despite still being a boy—had eyebrows and eyes similar to Jethru.

Lara tapped Reya and Sandoz, who seemed entranced by the emotional reunion. She gestured with her eyes, and the two silently followed her out of the room to give space to the family.

...

The following morning, Lara woke up Sandoz at dawn. He had missed a few days of practice, and she was determined to ensure he caught up.

While Sandoz ran laps around the small courtyard, Lara moved through her sun salutations and other yoga poses with effortless grace.

Unbeknownst to her, a pair of obsidian eyes watched her from the inn’s window across the narrow alley.

A fleeting curiosity crossed the man’s face before he exhaled and returned to his bed, settling into meditation.

After Lara completed her morning routine, Sandoz was still running in circles.

She smirked and crossed her arms. "Five more laps," she instructed.

Sandoz groaned but obeyed, his legs aching from exhaustion.

When he finished, she handed him an axe. "Now, chop the firewood."

He gaped at her. "You’re kidding."

"Do I look like I’m kidding? You need to strengthen your grip and improve your target accuracy."

"Tsk... Tsk... Tsk. So cruel. Letting the child do all the work while you stand there and enjoy the morning sun."

Lara was startled. Why was the voice sounded familiar?

She turned sharply, searching for the source.

On the second floor of the inn, a man leaned against the open window, watching her with amusement. His black eyes glinted with mockery, and his lips curled into a smirk.

"You..."