The leaves danced in the soft embrace of the whispering wind. Ethan Knight smoothed his coat and took one final glance at the well-known campground and the folks he had come to know. His teeth clenched into a determined grin.

"Let's go," he said in a forceful tone.

Ethan whirled on his heel and dashed toward the helicopter, its hatch door appealing to him. Rows of towering, powerful men stood behind him, their features composed despite the emotion in their eyes. They lifted their hands in a concerted salute, determined to stand in the cold weather.

"Goodbye from the Assault Unit, Captain!"

"Goodbye from the Reconnaissance Squad, Captain!"

"Goodbye from the Support Division, Captain!"

Their voices, a symphony of poignant farewell, filled the still air. It was a farewell that signaled the end of one chapter and the start of another—a moment of closure and hope for new beginnings.

….

The helicopter's propeller whirled ceaselessly, eliciting a chorus of ecstatic shouts.

Every voice was full of pride and emotion, reverberating through the air with unwavering determination.

"Captain, can you truly bear to..." Dylan's voice stuttered, and as he wiped away his tears and closed the chopper's hatch door, his eyes revealed his hesitancy.

As the helicopter's wings rotated to lift it into the air, the familiar campground and the teams below faded away, leaving only imprints on the ground.

Ethan turned aside, a faint smile tickling his lips. "Everything has a conclusion," he said gently. "There's no longer a need for me to remain here."

It had been seven years since Ethan had been on this land. He had quickly risen through the ranks, from a young recruit with a new face to a commanding general, garnering authority through a series of near-fatal incidents.

The steadfast and unstoppable Eagle Squadron under his leadership had served as a bulwark, resolutely defending the vast area encompassing the State of Vallorbe.

Ethan had risen to become the most powerful God of War in the eyes of the Eagle Squadron's tens of thousands of members, admired for his remarkable command abilities and unrivaled battle ability. Under his command, Vallorbe had become an impregnable fortress, deterring any potential invaders.

With his career established, Ethan was able to retire at the young age of twenty-eight. As the chopper flew south toward the nearest airport, Ethan pulled an old pocket watch and a slightly yellowed photograph from his chest.

The snapshot depicted Ethan and a young woman, taken seven years ago when he was still quite green. The woman's face was delicately beautiful, with firmly pursed lips and crystalline eyes that appeared to gaze through the snapshot into Ethan's soul.

The scenario that appeared humorous at the time remained clear in his mind.

Ethan grinned cruelly as he began to recall the events of seven years prior.

Anastasia Reed, who had recently graduated from college, had already built Spark Enterprises with her exceptional fearlessness and humor, making her a stunning and well-known female CEO.

However, her clean image quickly collapsed.

The young and gorgeous CEO, formerly lauded for her spectacular appearance, was shown to have a scandalous private life. She had an affair with the company's chauffeur, which permanently tarnished her reputation.

The media pounced on the story, unleashing a barrage of hostile, speculative, and frequently false reports that tarnished her reputation even further.

Anastasia's image was ruined overnight, leaving her in despair. Her once-thriving Spark Enterprises, now soiled by scandal, was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Nobody bothered to investigate the truth: they had been drugged. The public was just interested in gossip, and the Reeds merely sought to conceal the incident. In the end, that man married into the Reed family and became her husband. However, the marriage did not help Anastasia and the Reeds' reputation.

The once-revealed beauty of Emerald Coast County has become the object of derision and scorn. Those who formerly envied her now make scathing remarks about her character. Meanwhile, they scoffed at the impoverished chauffeur, who had apparently struck riches by marrying into an affluent family.

Ethan, the poor of the poorest chauffeur.

Both Ethan and Anastasia are aware of the reality of their marriage.

Ethan discreetly left for the military camp, his heart heavy with determination. He vowed to build a reputation for himself and demonstrate his worth to the woman who had once greatly admired him.

After seven years, he returned with success.

Ethan stared at the woman in the photograph, feeling emotions swirling inside him. As he pondered on the past, he felt an overwhelming sense of guilt and apology.

He was curious about her well-being after so many years apart.

…..

"Finally, back!" Dylan stretched his back and looked at Ethan, who appeared nostalgic.

The two of them walked through the congested Emerald Coast International Airport and ordered some fast food at the mall outside.

"Captain…No, I mean, Ethan, your hometown is in Emerald Coast County, right?"

Ethan casually nodded.

They had been away from Emerald Coast County for a long time, and now that they had returned, they had a lot to deal with.

"Mommy, I want Mommy." A childish and sharp wail rang out nearby.

Ethan paused in his tracks.

For some reason, the soft tears pulled at his heartstrings.

Ethan pushed aside the crowd to follow the sound.

A small girl was standing beneath a billboard beside him, sobbing, her face streaked with tears.

Ethan found her strangely familiar.

The girl, no more than five or six years old, held a plush bear tightly in her arms. Her face was as delicate as jade, and tears pooled in her huge, black eyes. A little, delicate nose sniffled amidst her sobbing, giving her a charming and forlorn aspect that touched Ethan's heartstrings.

When the girl spotted Ethan, she suddenly stopped crying.

Her eyes were filled with amazement as she jumped toward Ethan and gripped his thigh! "Daddy!"

Ethan was surprised, bewildered, and unsure of what to do.