From Ruin to Reign Leander's Unbreakable Will novel Chapter 411

Margot's expression turned, her face marked with disdain and a mocking grin. Her tone clearly indicated that she doesn't care about Leander entirely.

She grabbed her purse and marched up to the second floor with a flick of her wrist, and her frustration was evident.

"This child!" Gemma felt utterly embarrassed but found no words to express his feelings.

Stella frowned deeply, completely perplexed.

She had assumed that Margot would be thrilled to see him again, but this reaction was completely unexpected.

"Leander, we really indulged that girl too much. Don't take it personally," Francis said to Leander with an apologetic tone.

He merely smiled softly, seemingly unfazed. "Mr. Wilson, you're being overly serious. I've always regarded Margot as a little sister. She's grown up now—having a bit of attitude is to be expected."

Nearby, Gemma sighed heavily. The once-vibrant and charming younger daughter had transformed into a rebellious and jaded version, and it pained her heart.

After dinner, he lingered to chat with Gemma and the others, sharing bits and pieces about his life over the past eight years. He avoided mentioning the martial world or the Jeff Enterprises, simply glossing over those details with a casual remark about being away from school.

It wasn't until eleven at night that he and Daphne returned to the guest room that Gemma had arranged for them.

Inside the guest room, Daphne's heart raced noticeably. This was her first time alone with a man in a closed space, and when she noticed there was only one bed, her cheeks flushed with shyness.

"Hah, so Dani can feel bashful too?" he said with a smile. "How about this—you take the bed while I sleep on the floor."

Suddenly, she flashed him a charming smile and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You're the one who called me your future wife. What kind of wife would I be if I let my husband sleep on the floor?" she questioned.

Leander chuckled, put an arm around her waist, and lay down with her on the bed. The atmosphere was warm and tender.

"Ander…" Daphne's voice was gentle as she inquired, "Why do I have the feeling that both sisters in this house have feelings for you?"

Leander couldn't help but laugh. "What are you saying? Stella and Margot were merely friends I grew up with. And then there's Madeline too—the four of us were the closest kids in the neighborhood back then."

Daphne playfully tapped his nose and huffed. "As a woman, I understand how women think much better than you!

"Just look at the way Stella gazes at you. She may have a fiancé, but the attachment in her eyes when she sees you? That's genuine.

"And as for Margot—when she spotted you just now, I noticed a brief spark of surprise and joy in her gaze. She only stormed off when she saw me there," she declared.

His expression became slightly perplexed. "Since when did my Dani start noticing things like this?"

She laughed. "Why wouldn't I? My Ander is so remarkable—who knows how many girls are secretly interested in you? I need to keep an eye out and identify potential rivals. Even if I eventually became best friends with them, I should at least get myself ready mentally, right?"

He couldn't resist giving her a light tap on her forehead. "You little troublemaker, when did you start overthinking things? What do you mean by rivals and best friends?

"Aside from practicing martial arts and spiritual strength, all of my feelings belong to you. There's no space for anyone else. After waiting for me all these years, how could I allow you to get hurt?" he explained.

He softly kissed her forehead and chuckled. "Get some rest. We have to attend Stella's engagement ceremony tomorrow!"

"But eight years ago, you disappeared without a single word and never returned. From that moment on, I decided I would never take anything you said seriously again!" she shouted.

"After I went off to school, my world expanded. I experienced more, learned more, and came to realize that all the lessons you taught me back then were just childish. Idolizing you was merely a phase of being young and naive." She folded her arms, speaking with an air of self-importance.

"Given that we grew up together, I can still refer to you as brother out of respect. But if you're here to scold my parents on my behalf, you can forget about it. Back in the day, I listened to you. You were the one person I trusted the most. But that was a long time ago!

"Now? You're no longer my idol!" she snapped.

She pivoted away from the railing, leaning against it with a subtle smile tugging at the corners of her lips, exuding that wild, wandering-swordswoman aura.

"Take my sister's fiancé as an example—my future brother-in-law. In terms of wealth or status, he's far superior to you. Yet, I have no respect for him whatsoever. If he doesn't have the right to lecture me, why should you think you do?" Margot asked.

Leander's lips turned upward slightly, his expression inscrutable. He replied evenly, "So you're implying that you'll only listen if I earn your respect—if I reclaim the title of your 'idol'?"

Margot didn't try to conceal it. She extended her hands. "Naturally!

"If you expect me to admire you, then you'd better be one of three things: incredibly wealthy, managing tens of billions in assets; occupying a high-ranking position with authority; or an absolute powerhouse capable of taking on a hundred men single-handedly."

She shot him a sideways glance filled with disdain. "Leander, the only reason I looked up to you before was due to my naivety and inexperience with the world. Do you honestly think that, as you are now, I would still idolize you blindly?"

Everything she expressed that evening was the release of eight years of pent-up resentment over his abrupt disappearance. It was immensely gratifying.

"Tens of billions, controlling a territory, and unbeatable in combat, huh?" Leander's lips curled into a mischievous smirk.