From Ruin to Reign Leander's Unbreakable Will novel Chapter 373

Leander stood at the peak of Westvale, atop the tower of Durham Abbey. The wind tugged at his coat as he looked toward the far horizon. The strange feeling in his chest grew stronger. It was sharp now, almost calling to him, like another force in the world was reaching back.

"What is that?"

His gaze darkened. He stood there in silence for a long time before he finally exhaled and turned away.

At the entrance of the quiet temple, he raised his hand and knocked gently.

"Come in," came Lydia's soft voice from within.

Leander opened the door. Lydia sat at a wooden table, dressed in a simple blue robe. Her hair was tied high, her face bare of paint, yet calm and radiant.

What caught his attention, though, was the girl sitting across from her.

The girl turned at the sound of the door. When she saw Leander, surprise widened her eyes.

"You?"

Her eyebrows arched slightly. Her skin was fair, her teeth pearl-white. The long white dress she wore made her look pure and gentle. Her hair fell straight down her back, dark and glossy, framing delicate features that could rival any of the campus beauties at Highcliffe University.

Leander blinked, curious. He walked closer. "Have we met?"

The girl's eyes dimmed with disappointment, but she quickly straightened her posture. "You don't remember me?"

She pressed her lips together and continued, "The day you first arrived at Highcliffe University, I offered to show you around."

Leander paused, searching his memory. Then it clicked.

"Oh, that was you."

He remembered now. She had tried to speak to him that day, but he had brushed her off. At the time, he hadn't cared enough to remember any of the girls who crossed his path.

"Leander, sit," Lydia said, smiling warmly.

She pulled him down beside her, then looked between them with surprise. "So, you two know each other?"

Leander smiled faintly and shook his head. "Not really. When I first came to Highcliffe U, she was kind enough to offer help. We only met that once."

The girl was Luna—the same one he had turned down before. She was a devoted believer, often visiting Durham Abbey for peace and prayer.

One day, she met Lydia by chance, and the two had grown close. Luna liked the air Lydia gave off. Their quiet talks had become a habit.

She hadn't expected to see Leander here.

"Ah, I see," Lydia said with a gentle nod.

She turned to Luna with a warm smile. "Luna, this is my son, Leander."

Then she looked back at him. "Leander, this young lady is Luna. She's been keeping me company lately. She visits almost every day."

"Luna?"

Leander paused for a moment. He remembered now—there was a girl by that name on the Highcliffe campus ranking list. He smiled lightly.

Seeing his expression, Luna's heart fluttered. She thought he had recognized her name. Her excitement lasted only a second before she saw the calm return to his face.

"Nice to meet you, Luna," he said.

"Thank you for spending time with my mom."

Luna's smile faltered, a quiet sadness flickering in her eyes.

Still, she answered softly, "No need to thank me. Talking with Lydia has been a blessing. She's taught me a lot about patience and kindness. I should be the one thanking her."

Her voice was clear, gentle. Her bright eyes lingered on Leander a moment longer, curiosity and admiration mixing in her gaze.

"I never thought you'd be her son," she said, half-smiling.

Leander chuckled and nodded politely. The room fell into an easy calm again. The three of them talked quietly, their voices soft against the backdrop of rustling leaves outside.

Janey mistook his silence for weakness. She took a breath, ready to throw more words his way—

But the door flew open again. A rush of heavy footsteps filled the small temple. More than ten men poured in, crowding the narrow space until the air itself seemed to tighten.

At their lead was a young man dressed in tight black leather. His hair was styled in thick waves that stood high, almost like a rock singer from another decade. He moved with swagger, each step dripping arrogance.

Behind him, men in black suits filled the doorway, silent but dangerous. And now the place was packed.

The man's grin widened when his eyes landed on Luna. He put on a look only he thought was cool. "Luna, there you are," he said smoothly. "I've been looking for you everywhere. Your roommate told me you agreed to catch a movie with me today. I'm here to take you there."

Luna's expression froze. Her shoulders stiffened. Skelly Riverstone. The most persistent and annoying one among her suitors. He was also the richest, but she had no feelings for him.

"Skelly, I didn't agree to anything," she said coldly. "Whoever told you that, you can go bother her instead. Stop harassing me."

Her eyes narrowed. "This is a sacred place. Show some respect."

Skelly threw his head back and laughed.

"A sacred place?" he mocked. "Please. I don't care about that."

He stepped closer, his grin widening. "The car's waiting down the hill. The movie starts soon. Let's not waste time. You like this place, don't you? Fine. Come with me tonight, and tomorrow I'll donate a hundred thousand to your little abbey."

He reached out toward her.

Luna froze where she sat. Her breath caught in her throat.

He'd done this before, cornered her in places where she had no way to escape. But never here. Never in a room this small.

Then, before his fingers could touch her, a voice cut through the air like shattering ice.

"Take your people," Leander said quietly, his tone colder than steel, "and get out."

"If you take one more step, I'll throw you off Westvale Peak myself."