Chapter 16 My Daddy's a Hero

• Larrey strolled out, a glass of red wine in hand, wearing a wide grin.
• Following him were Hugo and Mabel.
• Daphne shielded Tahlia desperately, enduring the blows and kicks from three burly guards, her senses dulled by the agony.
• "Please don't hurt my mom anymore, please ... sob ... "
• "Where are you, Daddy? Please come save us, sob ... "
• Tahlia sobbed, her tears flowing ceaselessly.
• "Your Daddy won't save you, silly girl.
• "If you say something nice, maybe I'll let you go," Larrey remarked nonchalantly before dousing Daphne with wine and then crushing her face underfoot.
• "How dare you hit my woman! This wine costs a fortune. I bet you've never tasted anything so lavish," he hissed.
• "Daphne, weren't you having a ball this morning? Come on, keep the fun going," Mabel taunted.
• Meanwhile, Hugo sneered, "You should've just married Mr. Benson. Why did you do this to yourself?"
• Daphne's face was pressed into the ground, with Larrey's shoe grinding against it mercilessly. Her smile was bleak and sorrowful. Why did you come back, Maxwell? Why? It's all your fault that Tahlia's in this state. Even if I die, I'll haunt you forever.
• Bang!
• Gunshots echoed from below the mountain.
• "Boss, are they shooting down there?" Hugo exclaimed in surprise.
• "Go check what's happening," Larrey ordered. Does Maxwell have a gun? How did he manage to get one? I thought he retired.
• "If he's armed, we've got guns here too. We'll just shoot him on the spot."
• If he doesn't have a gun, we'll capture him alive.
• If Maxwell is armed, it's too great a risk; it's better to eliminate him immediately!
• "Yes, sir."
• "Daddy's here, Daddy's here!" Tahlia suddenly exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with joy.
• "Yes, your dad is here to meet his end." Larrey smirked.
• Is Maxwell really here to save us? Daphne's thoughts were in turmoil.
• She harbored resentment toward Maxwell, yet she didn't want him to come back and face danger.
• Larrey is a madman. Despite Maxwell's prowess, he can't fend off these many people, especially when Larrey's guards are armed.
• "Daddy! That's my Daddy! Daddy's flying ... " Tahlia exclaimed, her cheeks flushing and her eyes radiant. She had even forgetten the pain on her forehead.
• He's flying?
• Larrey, Mabel, Hugo, and the rest of the Grant family's guards instinctively looked up at the sky.
• A rumbling sound emanated from above as nearly a dozen armed helicopters emerged.
• Everyone on the ground was left dumbfounded, their eyes nearly bulging out!
• What's happening?
• Why are there so many helicopters?
• What's going on?
• Are we heading into battle?!
• Amidst the stunned expressions of the guards, the helicopters hovered above the mansion's entrance.
• Simultaneously, ropes were lowered from the choppers.
• Soldiers in military attire descended from the helicopters one by one.
• In mere moments, lines of disciplined soldiers encircled Larrey and his cohorts!
• Larrey and the others were utterly flabbergasted, while the timid Hugo stumbled onto the ground, trembling.
• Why are the troops here?
• A clear and resounding voice echoed in the air as a dark figure descended, rapidly growing larger from a tiny dot as it plunged downward.
• It's a Gyrfalcon, one that's much larger than usual!
• Usually, a Gyrfalcon's wingspan measured around two meters, but this one stretched nearly five meters wide.
• Perched on the Gyrfalcon's back was Maxwell, with his hands clasped behind him!
• Larrey and the others in the courtyard of the villa were utterly bewildered. Are we dreaming?
• They saw a figure standing on the immensely broad back of a Gyrfalcon, soaring through the sky.
• No way!
• This is unbelievable!
• Right then, Daphne also caught sight of Maxwell standing with his hands behind him on the Gyrfalcon's back. In that moment, her heart raced uncontrollably.
• Maxwell is really here. In that moment, Maxwell exuded an aura of dominance, as if he was a deity.
• Daphne even questioned her own eyesight, momentarily forgetting the pain coursing through her body.
• I wonder what Maxwell has endured in these years to acquire such a commanding presence.
• And did he summon these fierce and skilled soldiers?
• "Daddy! That's my Daddy!" Tahlia exclaimed with excitement, lost in the moment.
• Daddy looks so dashing, like a hero from television! Daddy's a real hero; he's come to save Mommy and me!
• As the Gyrfalcon hovered about ten meters above the ground, Maxwell leaped.
• Swoosh!
• Larrey, Hugo, Mabel, and the rest gasped in disbelief. Did he just jump from a height of ten meters?
• While the soldiers descended using ropes, Maxwell needed no such assistance.
• Maxwell's landing was quiet, resembling that of a drifting leaf as he landed gracefully on the ground.
• His eyes brimmed with deep remorse and self-reproach as he cradled Tahlia with one arm and supported the bloodied Daphne with the other. "I'm sorry I hadn't come sooner."
• Daphne gazed at Maxwell with a blank expression, unsure of what to say. Her lips moved, feeling a mix of familiarity and strangeness toward him.
• "Daddy, those bad people beat us just now," Tahlia cried. Her tears were streaming down like pearls, yet her innocent face lit up with a smile.
• "Does it hurt?" Maxwell inquired, noticing the cigarette burn mark on Tahlia's forehead.
• "Now that you're here, it doesn't anymore," Tahlia replied.
• Maxwell's heart ached, as if he was pricked by needles.
• There were still matters to attend to, so he entrusted Tahlia to Daphne. "Take her back first."
• Tahlia was still young; she shouldn't witness any gruesome scenes.
• Daphne glanced at Maxwell and stated slowly, "Tahlia and I will stay here with you."
• "Alright." Maxwell nodded.
• As he spoke, there was a series of clattering noises outside.
• Larrey and the others turned their heads, only to see two soldiers carrying a black coffin, marching in step by step.
• After setting down the coffin, four soldiers positioned themselves in front and behind it.
• Then, another four soldiers bore in another coffin.
• Four soldiers entered bearing coffins in succession, until a total of eighteen coffins were laid out.
• The entire courtyard fell into a hushed silence!
• Larrey and the others felt their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
• The sight of the coffins being brought in one after another instilled sheer terror in them!