Chapter 344
Chapter 344 The Brothers‘ Pact
Finished
“sshole!” Tycen slammed his fist into the floor. The tiles exploded beneath his hand, and a web of cracks shot outward. Still, nobody in the bar–not even the owner in the suit -dared so much as blink.
With Tycen’s name and reputation, he could have levelled the whole place, and people would’ve swallowed it. The owner didn’t even dare complain about a few broken tiles.
Anger boiled behind Tycen’s eyes. Ever since he rose to fame in Highcliffe, he had never felt this humiliated.
Up against Leander, Ethan, and Daphne, he hadn’t dared lift a hand. All he could do was stand there and watch as Leander threw down his threat and walked away without a care.
For Tycen, it was the deepest humiliation of his life.
“Mr. Tycen!” Rodrick patted his shoulder. “Don’t take it so hard. I’ve been on the losing end of Leander’s hand since we were kids. Back then in Highcliffe, nobody topped him. Even Ethan and Daphne were behind him p>
Rodrick’s meaning was clear: Leander was untouchable, even for Ethan and Daphne. It made Tycen’s failure feel normal, at least in Rodrick’s eyes.
“You’re saying I’m beneath Leander?” Tycen’s eyes snapped. His murderous intent flared so hard that Rodrick took a step back.
Tycen fixed him with a cold stare. “Those Highcliffe legends are history. If Leander outshone us
that was then–not now. He’s just a regular man with no cultivation. Take away the Ashcroft Family halo, and he’s nothing. For more chapters visit.net
once,
“If Ethan and Daphne hadn’t stepped in, I would have taken him down in one move. Relying on Ethan and Daphne to bully people into respect–that’s cowardice, pure and simple p>
He
spat the words out. “Next time they aren’t there, I’ll show him what the young generation of Highcliffe can really do p>
Tycen’s tone came out cold, the kind that cut straight through the air. He still couldn’t shake off the sting of failing to bring Leander down, and the frustration gnawed at him.
Tycen had already sensed something when he made his move against Leander. Yet Leander didn’t dodge and even flinch. His body stayed perfectly calm, not a trace of inner strength stirring in him.
He looked for all the world like an ordinary man–nothing like the way Teion once described him, as the rising star of Highcliffe’s younger generation. The two images didn’t match at all.
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Rodrick, hearing this, felt a flicker of surprise.
Back in the day, Leander’s cultivation had been stronger than both Ethan’s and Daphne’s. He was the kind of guy who could slam Rodrick to the ground and beat him without breaking a sweat. But tonight, he hadn’t lifted a hand once.
He even needed Ethan and Daphne to shield him–nothing like the Leander that Rodrick remembered.
Eira’s gaze swept over the men, her eyes cold. Only when she thought about the version of Leander she despised did her expression shift the slightest bit.
Leander… the b * stard. Turns out he’s not dead after all. And now, he shows up again.
The thought curled her lips into a strange smile.
Looks like Highcliffe’s about to get a lot more interesting. And Leander–there’s no way he’ll ever slip out of my grasp.
With that, she tossed her head high and strode out of the bar, not sparing Tycen or Rodrick another glance.
Outside the bar, Nathan and Livia had already made themselves scarce, slipping away with some excuse. That left only Leander, Ethan, and Daphne.
“Ander, are you okay?” Daphne’s voice was soft, thick with worry as she walked beside him. “Did Tycen hurt you p>
Ethan watched them, his eyes narrowing. He kept silent, but his fists–hidden at his side- shook ever so slightly.
Tm fine Leander brushed it off with a faint smile, glancing at them both. “But what about you two? What brought you here all of a sudden p>
His question made Ethan and Daphne pause, their expressions tightening for a moment.
The Ashcrofts and the Florians had roots that ran deep in Highcliffe. Their reach was everywhere, and nothing in town escaped their notice. Every whisper of trouble, every shift in the wind–sooner or later, it made its way to them
And with Leander crossing paths with the Wave Alliance, news like that could never slip past
their net.
Leander didn’t need to ask when the silence fell. He caught on instantly. After stretching lazily,
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Chapter 344 The Brothers‘ Pact
he walked with Ethan to drop Daphne off at the Florians‘ gates.
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Daphne had wanted a few more moments with him. But with Ethan right there, she kept it to herself and disappeared into the grand Florian estate without a word.
The night pressed in as the two men walked side by side. When they reached the edge of an artificial lake, Ethan stopped dead in his tracks.
“Leander p>
He spun around, his expression sharpened with a grave intensity. “There’s something I’ve been holding in for far too long. It’s about Daphne p>
He didn’t flinch or even look away. “I know how she feels about you. But I love her too. I’d let you win in a thousand other things–but not this. Daphne’s my fiancee now, and I’m going to marry her p>
Leander’s expression stayed calm, almost unreadable. The moment he learned of their engagement, he’d known this day would come.
A faint smile touched his lips as he stepped closer to the lake, eyes fixed on the wide, glassy
surface.
“Kid,” he said evenly, and his tone carried the weight of years. “You’ve grown. Nine years ago, you wouldn’t have dared say that to me p>
He rested a hand on Ethan’s shoulder, his gaze deep and steady, voice ringing with quiet force.
“I’m your older brother, and you’re my only brother. Everything else—the Ashcroft Family’s resources, the heir’s title, the position as head of the Ashcroft, even my martial strength–1 could hand it all to you.” Leander turned his head slightly, his eyes steady, a faint softness flickering there. “But Daphne? On that, I won’t give you an inch p>
“She waited nine years for me. I gave her my word, and I swore I’d give her a life of glory. Even if she’s already engaged to you, I’ll take her back.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s you, the Ashcrofts, the Florians, or even all four great houses of Highcliffe standing against me–the outcome’s the same. She’s mine, and no one on earth can change that.” Leander’s words landed one by one, and at the end, he grinned widely.
“Kid, I’ve known since we were young that you liked Daphne. But with me in the picture, you never dared act on it. You kept it buried, waiting for your shot, hoping one day you’d surpass
“Well, that day’s here. You want her. I want her for life. Our lines are drawn. So, what do you say
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-let’s settle this in a fight?” he asked, challenging Ethan.
Ethan’s pupils shrank, and clarity flashed through him.
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When he looked at Leander, it didn’t feel like he was staring at a man stripped of martial strength and drained of cultivation. No–what stood before him seemed like the same proud legend from nine years ago, the one who had outshone every peer in Highcliffe and burned too brightly to be ignored.
Ethan fell silent for a moment, then suddenly lifted his head, a bold grin breaking across his face. “Fine, Leander. We’ll fight. But this time, I swear I won’t lose to you again p>
For the first time, both of them–bound by blood yet closest of kin–stood on opposite sides, ready to clash over Daphne.
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