Leslie said, "So I hope you never let yourself get carried away with these kinds of


    assumptions again."


    Ryder''s face turned red with embarrassment. Feeling humiliated, he snapped,


    "Leslie, are you saying I''m being delusional? Then tell me what I have to be,


    what I would have to do, to be good enough for you? What level would be enough


    to not be a ''delusion'' in your eyes?"


    Leslie gave him a long, slow look, and her eyes were filled with scorn. It was not


    just rejection, but the way she looked at him was deeply insulting.


    After a pause, she spoke coldly, "Captain Ulrich, you know my current position,


    don''t you? I''m the General''s adjutant. And once she rises, I''ll rise with her. If we''re


    talking family background, sure, the Terrell family might not be as powerful as the


    Ulrichs.


    "But the gap isn''t as big as you think. And you? You may be the eldest son, but


    who knows how long it''ll take before you''re actually in charge. I''m not like that. All


    I need to do is stay on course, stick with the General, and someday I might just


    marry into the elite families of Chetvine."


    As she spoke, a look of pride and dreamy ambition bloomed across her face.


    Ryder was instantly crushed, feeling deeply ashamed and bitter. He had not


    expected this from Leslie. When they first entered the military, they were both


    naive young people who felt helpless and lost.


    However, he had never stopped caring for and looking after Leslie.


    Leslie had also appreciated his kindness back then, calling him by his first name


    in private. During those warm moments, they would even sneak away together to


    watch the sunset while leaning against each other.


    Back then, Ryder had thought Leslie had agreed to be his girlfriend and that they


    had pledged their love to each other. However, everything changed after Leslie


    became Luna''s aide.


    She became aloof and distant, barely acknowledging him anymore. She stopped


    calling him by his first name and started addressing him as "Captain Ulrich".


    Moreover, she would follow closely behind Luna wherever she went, never giving


    anyone else a second nce.


    Once, when Ryder was punished at the base, he begged Leslie to ask Luna to


    give him a break. However, Leslie tly refused and said some very heartless


    things to him.


    Actually, from that moment on, Ryder knew that the once innocent girl had


    changedpletely-he had just been lying to himself, unwilling to admit it.


    Leslie said coldly, "That''s enough,


    then. I hope you''ll keep everything


    that happened between us buried


    forever. Captain Ulrich, you can find


    other better girls. It''s just that I


    personally feel we''re notpatible,


    so don''t think there''s anything wrong


    with you."


    Her words sounded likefort, but they did not feel like it.


    Ryder was normally pretty


    thick-skinned. Otherwise, he would


    not be thinking about overthrowing,


    his own father to be family


    head. However, he felt like he had


    been hit by a massive blow, and his


    face turned pale.


    This young man had made the same mistake that most young men make. Instead


    of enjoying his youth with drinking, partying, or other pursuits, he had chosen to


    be a simp.


    At the peak of his youth, when he could have been doing anything. Drinking,


    gambling, chasing thrills. He chose the worst path possible-foolishlymitting


    to ady.


    Ryder exhaled deeply, gritting his teeth as a cold smile crept onto his face. He


    finally learned the hard truth that the nice guy would not finishst. Instead, he


    ended up being the butt of jokes.


    "I hope you won''t regret this," he said, taking a deep breath as he seemed to


    wake up from his delusion, gritting his teeth in a cold smile.


    Leslieughed mockingly, "What makes you think you could ever make me regret


    anything?"


    Ryder growled back, "Just wait and see. I''ll take over as head of the Ulrich family!


    I''ll be the youngest leader of a major family in Blumedale!"


    Leslie walked away dismissively,


    saying, "Keep dreaming! You really


    think you''re like Andrew? Someone


    who got fucky and achieved sess


    at a young age? Captain Ulrich you


    need to wake up and be more


    realistic! General Phn is top-tier,


    and that Andrew is at least


    second-tier."


    She continued, "And me? Well, I''m also second-tier, not inferior to Andrew at all!


    But you? If you can reach fourth-tier status, I''d say that''s pretty impressive!"


    Her condescending words echoed in his ears long after she walked away.


    Ryder stood frozen in ce, staring at the empty door. Suddenly, he mmed his


    fist down on the bedframe.


    "From now on," he growled through clenched teeth, "I swear I will never be a


    damn hopeless fool again..."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!