Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

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 become,

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?"noveldrama

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 glance.

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

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

things to him.

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

changed completely-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 not compatible,

so don't think there's anything wrong

with you."

Her words sounded like comfort, 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 become 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

become 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-foolishly committing

to a lady.

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 finish last. 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.

Leslie laughed 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 become 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 success

at a young age? Captain Ulrich you

need to wake up and be more

realistic! General Phelan 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 place, staring at the empty door. Suddenly, he slammed 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..."