Return of the Disabled Commander

Chapter 5

"What the hell?! Isn't that Bruce, the paralyzed guy who turned into a vegetable? How is he suddenly not brain-dead anymore?"

"Who knows? This is wild—he's been out of it for three years, and now he's alright!"

"Must be some kind of medical miracle. Wonder what shocked him back to life."

The crowd murmured in astonishment. The atmosphere in the banquet hall grew tense with Bruce's sudden appearance. Quinn and Trevor exchanged amused glances, smirking as they were eager to start mocking him.

"Bruce, how did a cripple like you end up being the center of attention at this party?" Quinn's voice was sharp and dripping with sarcasm.

"Bruce, congrats! You've gone from being a brain-dead cripple to just a regular cripple. I'm truly happy for you!" Trevor chimed in with a sneer. "But it doesn't really matter now. Just get ready to attend Ezra' wedding to Kellan. Watching your fiancée marry another man—well, that should be quite entertaining, don't you think?"

All eyes were on Bruce now, full of mockery and disdain, as though he didn't belong in such a high-class setting.

Kellan, more confident than ever, strutted over with a cold smile, towering over Bruce. "Bruce, you worthless cripple, how dare you speak so boldly? I've already had you checked out—you're just a washed-up soldier. Look around—everyone here is leagues above you. What makes you think you deserve to stand next to Ezra? Honestly, you're not even fit to carry my shoes."

Kellan's words cut through the hall like a blade, slashing at Bruce's dignity. His tone was full of contempt, and the crowd seemed to silently agree, looking at Bruce with judgment in their eyes.

"But I like him!" Ezra suddenly stepped forward, shattering the tense silence of the banquet.

Everyone turned in shock to look at her—especially Kellan, whose face immediately darkened.

"You like him?" Kellan spat through clenched teeth, his voice shaking with anger. "Ezra, are you insane? You're telling me you like this worthless cripple? Do you even understand what you're saying?"

Ezra didn't back down, her gaze firm. "I know exactly what I'm saying. I like Bruce! He's the one I choose!"

The hall erupted into chaos as the guests began to whisper and murmur, utterly shocked by her declaration.

Vernie's face turned dark as she strode forward, her voice sharp and commanding. "Do you think this is Verona? Do you think this is some fairy tale about Romeo and Juliet? We're in New York! Every minute here is worth its weight in gold. The man you're going to marry isn't someone for your whimsical emotions—he's someone who will bring tangible benefits to our family. If someone wants to marry my daughter, they better come with money!"

Ezra stood speechless, knowing that her mother's mind was set and that changing her attitude was impossible.

Vernie turned her scornful gaze to Bruce, eyes filled with contempt. "If Ezra marries Kellan, she'll live in luxury, and it will save our company from its crisis. But what about you, Bruce? What can you bring to our family? What benefit could you possibly offer?"

"Enough,Vernie, go ahead and seat everyone. I have an important announcement to make."

A voice interrupted the heated exchange, breaking the tension. Mrs. Meyers had spoken, her calm but authoritative voice silencing the room. "This is my birthday banquet, and the focus should be on gifts and celebration. I'm not unreasonable—I expect my future grandson-in-law to bring value to this family. After all, the future of our family's prosperity relies on strong, capable support."

She glanced around at the guests, her sharp gaze making her expectations clear. "I want to see who can offer real support to the Meyers family. Whoever presents the best gift and shows the strongest financial capability will have my consideration for Ezra's hand. If the gift is valued at over 10,000 dollars, they can sit in the back at the next family gathering. For 30,000 dollars, they'll have a seat in the front. But if the gift is worth over 100,000 dollars... they'll sit beside me, and I'll personally discuss the engagement with Ezra."

The room buzzed with anticipation. Kellan's smile grew even broader, his confidence swelling. "Don't worry, Grandmother. I've prepared something truly exceptional that will surely meet your expectations."

Kellan produced an elegant gift box and opened it to reveal a stunning blue diamond ring. "This is one of the rarest blue diamonds in the world, valued at 100,000 dollars, symbolizing ultimate nobility. I hope you like it."

Mrs. Meyers' face lit up with approval as she accepted the ring, nodding in satisfaction. "Kellan, you've been very thoughtful. This is a remarkable gift."

The crowd gasped in admiration, clearly impressed by Kellan's generous offering, and murmurs of praise began to spread throughout the room.

Amidst the praise, Kellan turned his sharp gaze toward Bruce. "Well, Bruce, it's your turn now."

With a smirk, Kellan continued, "Since you've regained your senses, I'm curious—what 'precious' gift has you prepared for Grandmother? Don't tell me you came empty-handed."

Trevor scoffed, joining in the mockery. "Yeah, Bruce, what surprise do you have in store? Or did you just show up with nothing at all?"

Seeing the situation escalate, Ezra stepped forward, trying to intervene. "I've prepared a gift for Grandmother—"

"You're you, and he's him!" Quinn interrupted with a mocking laugh. "You can't give a gift on his behalf! You're not married yet, so don't be so eager to speak for him."

Ezra's face flushed red with embarrassment, her fingers nervously twisting the fabric of her dress. She knew Bruce had nothing of value to offer, and as the sneers continued, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

At that moment, Bruce slowly stood up, reaching into his jacket. His voice was calm as he said, "This is my gift to Mrs. Meyers."

The crowd went silent, eyes fixed on the small wooden box Bruce produced. The box was plain and simple, looking completely unremarkable—certainly not something that could contain a valuable gift.

Trevor, unable to contain himself, strode forward and snatched the box from Bruce's hand, eager to expose him. He opened it, revealing a small, deep-brown pill inside. With a look of disgust, Trevor held up the pill and burst into laughter. "Bruce, what did you give her? This... is this dog poop?"