Chapter 332
hapter 332 Reginald Bowed, His Obsession Scattered
The bronze lock hit the ground and broke cleanly in two. With that, the bond between Leander, Gareth, and the rest of the Ashcroft family was severed by his words alone.
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Long before setting foot in the residence, he had already decided what he wanted to do. Reclaiming what was lost, demanding justice–those things meant nothing to him. All he wanted was to stand before the Ashcrofts and declare to the world that he had not died and was living better than any of them, that the name Leander Ashcroft still carried weight.
To him, the Ashcroft Residence was nothing more than a memory, a place without attachment or nostalgia. Beyond Ethan and Lydia, there was no one else in the family he cared about. He had come that day to cut ties once and for all, leaving nothing behind.
The lock shattered, yet the hall remained deathly silent. From the moment Leander had appeared until now, no one dared to speak. His presence alone held the room in thrall, silencing every breath.
Mira’s gaze flickered as she looked at him. Since childhood, she had seen Leander as her absolute idol. Back then, even though they had all been children, Leander was already the undisputed leader among Highcliffe’s younger generation.
Neither Tycen of the O’Brien family nor Rodrick of the Wave family–both of whom now dominated Highcliffe’s elite circles–had been able to stand against him. Each time they clashed, Leander had crushed them without effort, leaving them with a fear that ran bone- deep.
It was only after Leander’s sudden disappearance at the age of ten that Tycen, Rodrick, and others like them had the chance to breathe again. From there, they trained relentlessly, their wings gradually filling out, until they rose to become Highcliffe’s most powerful heirs.
She had often wondered what heights Leander might have reached if he had never vanished. Now that he had returned, the reality was far from what she had imagined. Instead of reuniting with their family, he severed ties with them, publicly chastising Gareth and Reginald in their own hall, mocking the family’s century–old legacy without hesitation.
Once again, she found herself overwhelmed by his sheer force of will.
“Leander!” Ethan stepped forward, tugging gently at his arm. He had thought that when his brother came back, though he carried anger toward Gareth and Reginald, family ties might still soften his heart. But Leander’s words shattered that hope completely.
Leander shook him off, sweeping his cold gaze between Gareth and Reginald. “Once, this family was my pride and faith. Not anymore. Every blade of grass, every single thing tied to this family–even the name itself–means nothing to me. From this day forward, the Ashcrofts and I walk separate paths. We have nothing to do with each other p>
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Chapter 302 Reanald Bowed Hin Obsession Scattered
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When he finished, he clasped his hands in salute toward Gareth and Reginald, his expression as indifferent as ever. “Old Mr. Reginald Ashcroft, Mr. Gareth Ashcroft, and all of you here today- thank you for your time. I’ll be taking my leave p>
His words made Gareth and Reginald flinch. The respectful titles sounded polite enough on the surface, but to them, they cut deeper than if he had shouted their names with hatred.
For if Leander still called them by name, at least it would mean he still felt anger–anger meant there was still some emotional tie. But now, with the distance in those honorifics, it was clear: to Leander, the Ashcrofts were strangers.
Lydia’s eyes brimmed with tears, her heart aching, yet she said nothing. She understood his choice better than anyone. If her own father and grandfather had treated her the same way, she would have reacted even more fiercely than Leander.
Leander gave the room one final clasped salute, patted Ethan on the shoulder, and bent slightly toward Lydia. Then, without hesitation, he turned to leave the Ashcroft family’s main hall.
Just then, Reginald, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke. “Ander!” His voice carried weariness, as though he had aged decades in an instant.
Leander paused slightly and turned his head, his gaze flat and emotionless. “Old Mr. Ashcroft, my name is Leander p>
Reginald’s hand trembled as he leaned on his cane and stepped down from the head seat. His voice was layered with turmoil. “What happened nine years ago has been the greatest pain of my life. It was the most foolish, most grievous mistake I have ever made!
“You were right. The Celestial Mirror may be our family’s greatest treasure, and yes, it helped us escape several calamities. But relying on it for strength–that was never the true path.
“I should have trusted our own power to face hardship. Instead, I followed its decree and raised my hand against my own grandson. If this family could only be safe through such cruelty, what right do we have to stand in this world? I have shamed our ancestors and betrayed the legacy of our forebears p>
He flung his cane to the ground and bowed deeply toward Leander, his voice heavy with guilt. “Ander, I was wrong p>
The hall shook with shock. Every member of the Ashcroft family, Gareth and Lydia included, turned pale with disbelief.
Reginald had spent half a lifetime in battle, proving himself with his fists, sweeping aside all opposition, commanding such fear at the borders that neighboring nations dared not advance.
Even after stepping down from his post and taking on the title of chairman of the Ashcroft Thɪs chapter is updated by.net
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Thaeres da Reginald Bowed To ObsPaton Scattered
Group, his influence in Astria remained unmatched. Across the nation, only a handful of people could truly rival him–and each of them was a giant in their own right. That was the weight Reginald carried.
Within the Ashcroft family, he stood as its pillar, its unshakable foundation. Even if Gareth had propelled the clan forward in the past twenty years, the true backbone had always been Reginald. As long as he lived, the Ashcrofts would never fall.
A man of such pride, whose casual nod could elevate a younger generation, whose gaze most of Astria’s so–called heirs weren’t even qualified to meet—such a man now bowed his head and apologized to Leander. If word of this left the hall, it would shake not just Highcliffe, but all of
Astria.
Mira’s eyes shimmered. Across the entire country, only Leander can make Reginald bow.
Leander narrowed his eyes, then, after a long moment, waved dismissively. “Old Mr. Ashcroft, you don’t need to apologize to me. Some things can be understood, but never forgiven.” With that, he stepped forward and walked out of the hall.
Reginald slowly lifted his head, guilt still etched across his features. He called out to Leander’s retreating back. “Ander, you may refuse to acknowledge your father. You may refuse to acknowledge me. You may refuse this family. But remember this–the Ashcroft family will always be your family, and everything in it will always be open to you p>
His voice echoed endlessly in the hall. But Leander never once stopped. He strode straight out of the Ashcroft Residence.
When he reached the long street outside, he curled his fingers into a fist. Clouds gathered and coiled, twisting into the form of a dragon that surged and rose into the sky. Nine years of obsession, in that moment, finally scattered into smoke.
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