Return of the Disabled Commander

Chapter 2: Former Glory and Present Struggles

Bruce pushed his wheelchair into the living room. The furnishings were simple but tidy.

"Have you... recovered?!" Ezra gasped, her hands covering her mouth in disbelief as she emerged from her room, staring into Bruce's clear eyes.

Before Bruce could respond, the door to the living room was suddenly flung open. A young man strode in with a sneer on his face. He wore a black military robe, embroidered with golden threads that coiled like dragons around the fabric. In his right hand, he held a massive sword, its blade gleaming with a cold light that reflected Bruce's face. It was the National Guardian Sword, once the symbol of the Nine-Star Commander, Bruce. Now, it was gripped by Kellan.

"Well, look who's awake. The i***t's finally up?" Kellan mocked, his voice dripping with sarcasm the moment he stepped through the door.

Bruce narrowed his eyes, locking his gaze on Kellan. The eldest son of the Diaz family had long coveted Ezra's beauty, and during Bruce's time in a stupor, Kellan frequently visited the Meyers family, conspiring with Ezra's mother, Vernie, to force Bruce out of the house. Now, Kellan dared to wear the Nine-Star Commander's uniform and wield his sword.

Bruce's cold eyes swept over Kellan's attire, and his lips curled into a faint sneer. "The Nine-Star Commander's uniform, the National Guardian Sword... Kellan, do you think you can handle things that don't belong to you? Aren't you afraid of dying?"

Kellan paused for a moment, then smirked with disdain. "Bruce, you might have been the commander of the Northwest Warzone once, but that's history. Now, you're nothing more than a cripple in a wheelchair. Even if your mind is clear now, what can you possibly do?"

He stepped closer to Bruce, his sword flashing as he brought it up, resting the blade lightly against Bruce's neck. "Look at yourself. You can't even stand up anymore, still dreaming of your past glory? You're just a broken man living off the Meyers family's pity."

Kellan's words were sharp, each one a deliberate jab at Bruce's dignity. He sneered further. "The National Guardian Sword, the Nine-Star Commander's uniform—I took them just as easily. Soon, I'll be marrying Ezra. Every night, I'll hold the woman who was supposed to be yours, strip her n***d, and have my way with her. And you, crippled and helpless, will just have to watch from the sidelines."

As Kellan gloated, Bruce's eyes turned icy cold, rage simmering inside him. He felt the cold blade against his neck, but before Kellan could savor his victory, Bruce calmly raised his right hand, effortlessly pinching the sword between two fingers.

"Do you think you can do whatever you want?" Bruce's voice was flat, without a trace of emotion. "I, Bruce, was undefeated on the battlefield. And you, Kellan... who are you?"

Before Kellan could react, Bruce flicked his fingers lightly. With a crisp "clang," the National Guardian Sword flew from Kellan's grasp and crashed heavily to the ground. Kellan's hand throbbed from the shock, and he stared at Bruce in disbelief.

"You..." Kellan was utterly stunned. He never imagined that Bruce, crippled as he was, still possessed such immense strength. He quickly lunged forward, grabbing Bruce by the collar, and snarled through clenched teeth, "Who do you think you are? Your legs are useless. You've got nothing left but your hands. What else can you do?"

"Smack!" Bruce didn't bother replying. Instead, he slapped Kellan hard across the face.

Kellan staggered back, crashing into the table in the living room, a clear handprint blooming across his cheek. He clutched his face, stunned and disbelieving. "You... you dared to hit me? I'm the eldest son of the Diaz family! My family's wealth and power know no bounds. You're dead!"

Bruce raised his long, slender hand, staring coldly at Kellan. His voice was calm as he said, "These hands... can still hit you."

Kellan stomped in fury. "Do you even know what kind of power the Diaz family wields? You dare hit me? I'll make sure you're wiped off the face of the earth!"

Bruce chuckled coldly. "The Diaz family? When my personal guards march south, your family won't even be considered among the elite in River City."

Kellan, enraged, was about to lunge at Bruce when a loud voice suddenly shouted from outside the room, "Stop!"

"What is going on here?" Vernie appeared, grabbing Ezra's arm, her expression filled with righteous indignation. "Ezra, that fool Bruce actually hit young master Diaz! He's been pretending all along. He's not brain-damaged at all. He's been deceiving you, playing dumb to trick you. This kind of man should have been thrown out of the Meyers family long ago!"

Kellan quickly chimed in, "Ezra, don't be fooled by him. Bruce definitely has some hidden agenda. He's using you and the Meyers family!"

Ezra stood firm, her voice resolute. "Whatever his motives may be, Bruce is awake now, and he is still my fiancé. I no longer have any reason to marry someone else. The engagement was arranged by my grandfather, and I won't break it."

Bruce had been an orphan, adopted by his foster father, who had raised him into a military hero and ultimately granted him the title of Nine-Star Commander. The Meyers family's patriarch had recognized Bruce's potential and had insisted on securing an engagement between him and his granddaughter, Ezra.

Vernie's face darkened, but she persisted. "Ezra, you don't understand! He's not the same fool you think he is. Look at how sly he's become! Who knows what he's planning?"

Bruce smiled faintly, though his heart was filled with cold amusement. He still maintained his façade, letting his expression turn vacant once more. "Ezra... who are they? I... I don't understand..."

Seeing Bruce pretend to be foolish again, Kellan's face turned beet red with rage. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "You're still pretending! You hit me just now! Ezra, can't you see? He's tricking you!"

Despite her doubts, Ezra remained resolute. She stood protectively in front of Bruce and said firmly, "No matter what, he is my fiancé, and I will take care of him. As for you two, I ask that you leave now."

Kellan, seething with anger, yelled, "Bruce, this isn't over!" He shot a furious glance at Ezra before storming out of the living room, dragging Vernie behind him.

Ezra gently pushed Bruce's wheelchair out into the courtyard. As the sunlight bathed them, she knelt softly in front of him, her voice tender. "Bruce, I know you were once a hero who defended our country. I also know how heartbreaking it is to see you like this now... But no matter what you've become, I'll always be here to take care of you."