Chapter 147
Chapter 147 Endless Regret
Yvette stood frozen at the edge of the cliff, her mind completely blank, her eyes locked on Leander’s proud and commanding figure in the distance. She couldn’t comprehend what had just unfolded.
The first time she had met Leander at her home, he had looked no different from a beggar- filthy, disheveled, and utterly unremarkable. Naturally, she hadn’t felt the slightest bit of affection for him. Over time, no matter the situation, Leander always seemed indifferent toward everyone around him, showing no interest in wealth, power, or social status.
She had repeatedly advised Leander to learn how society worked, to understand how to build relationships and seize opportunities. She had urged him to change his attitude, to stop acting so arrogant. But Leander had ignored her every time. She had thought him too full of himself, living in his own little world.
Later, when Leander moved into Villa No. 1 at Rivergate Haven, she assumed he had taken a job under Frankie and that Frankie was offering him favors to win him over. But now, in hindsight, she realized it had all been her own assumptions, her own imagination. Leander wasn’t working for Frankie. He wasn’t anyone’s lackey. He was the ruler of Mornwick himself the feared and respected Mr. Ashcroft.
No wonder he always acted as if nothing mattered. No wonder he looked down on wealth and power, and dismissed everything I said. No wonder he crossed Bastian Dunphy, only for him to leave with a broken leg. It’s because he’s Mr. Ashcroft! Yvette mused, her face pale as she took three steps back, laughing bitterly in self- mockery.
Reflecting back, Yvette realized she had clung to her first impression of Leander- dirty and beggar-like-forming a judgment in her mind. Even though Leander had done many things that left her in awe later on, she had never considered that he could be someone of great importance.
Even when Leander had revealed his identity to her in the rundown apartment the day before, she hadn’t believed him. She even mocked him, treating it as a joke.
Madeline, standing beside Yvette, was equally stunned, as if she had turned to stone. She had never imagined that her childhood playmate, the Leander she had once been so close to, was, in fact, the high and mighty, almost legendary Mr. Ashcroft.
Her mind raced, piecing together things she hadn’t noticed before. Now that Leander’s true identity was revealed, everything suddenly made sense.
Glorious Entertainment, Frankie’s entertainment company, had been established six months ago. During that time, Madeline performed in several talent shows at her school, even singing on stage, yet no one approached her for a contract. But after Leander reappeared, at just one school celebration event, Glorious Entertainment had suddenly come to her, offering her a
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contract with terms overwhelmingly in her favor. The deal was so extraordinary that not even the biggest stars could have hoped for such privileges. She had been
baffled as to why Glorious Entertainment would treat her so well.
Now, with Leander’s identity out in the open, it all became clear. All of it-the generous contract, the opportunities-had been Leander’s doing, paving the way for her behind the
scenes.
No wonder, back at Water Paradise, Leander had said, “The path has already been laid out for you.” How laughable it seemed now, considering she had quarreled with him over Autumn’s words-that she and Leander were on different levels, and she distanced herself from him as a result. The thought now sent waves of pain coursing through her chest.
The person closest to her, the one who had always cared for her the most, had been right by her side all along. But she, lost in the glittering world of the so-called upper class, had drifted away from the one who had been her dearest “Leander p>
It was her fault that she had lost him. It was her fault that she had pushed away the “Leander” who had always been there for her.
Autumn had been right about one thing-Leander wasn’t in her league. But it wasn’t because Leander didn’t measure up to her. It was because she didn’t measure up to him. The realization hit her so hard that her legs gave way, and she almost fell off the cliff. She looked at the young man standing tall on the stone pillar as if he could hold up the sky itself, and her vision blurred with tears.
Meanwhile, Ginny was so terrified that she collapsed onto the ground, her eyes filled with shock and fear. All this time, she had never once respected Leander. Whether it was his dominance in the martial arts club or his top-ranking grades in school, she had always dismissed him as a country bumpkin. She thought of him as nothing more than an arrogant, cocky boy from the countryside.
Even when Leander had moved into the prestigious Villa No. 1 at Rivergate Haven, Ginny hadn’t taken him seriously. And now, the very person she had looked down upon had transformed into the legendary Mr. Ashcroft, the ruler of Mornwick, standing atop a towering stone pillar. The sheer reversal of her perception was too much for her to handle.
Her face turned pale as she finally understood why Leander had always carried himself with such pride and indifference. Why shouldn’t he? He was young, held great power, commanded men, and controlled the resources of an entire state. Why shouldn’t he look to the heavens? With his strength and status, who had the right to demand his respect? Who could make him humble? People like Shiloh Wolfe, Victor Lane, and even Colin beside her were all insignificant compared to Mr. Ashcroft.
Ginny’s heart trembled violently. All this time, she had treated Leander like a joke, never realizing that she had been the real fool, parading around like a clown in her own ignorance. Leander had hidden his true self, quietly blending into the world, facing everything with a calm.
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detachment. The realization filled her with overwhelming regret, and she wished she could bury herself in shame.
As for Colin, he stood there dazed, like his soul had left him. From the beginning, he had harbored deep hostility toward Leander, which only grew as time went on, seeing him as a rival who had to be eliminated. But to be honest, he had never truly considered Leander his equal. He was the heir of a major corporation, young and successful, controlling millions in assets. There were few among his generation who could compare. Leander, just a high school kid, might have had some talent, but compared to him? Not even close.
Yet here they were, standing atop Glidewing Mountain, and Leander had shattered every bit of Colin’s confidence and pride. Leander was a few years younger than him but had already dominated Mornwick, commanding the respect of all. How long would it take Colin to reach that level? Twenty years? Thirty? Or perhaps he never would. And even if he did, who could say what heights Leander would have ascended to by then?
“Is this why… you can look down on everything?” Yvette’s eyes were filled with complex emotions as she gazed at Leander’s straight and unyielding figure. The world around her seemed to fade away, and all that remained was his towering silhouette.
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