Chapter 40
Chapter 40 The Highcliffe Twins
“Yvette, you think too highly of yourself p>
Leander shook his head with a cold expression.
“What you say may be useful to others, but it holds no meaning for me.
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“Is knowing Colin an opportunity? Let me be clear. I do not need any opportunities. I depend solely on my own strength for everything. Besides, Colin reaching out to me does not mean he truly wants to get to know me.
“As for what happened at the bar tonight, I only acted because I was confident I could handle it. I do not require you to remind me of anything p>
Yvette’s expression shifted, but Leander continued in the same bland tone. “Yvette, your perspective is too limited. The world you perceive is merely the surface.
“ The things you regard as important, wealth, power, connections, background, mean nothing to
me p>
After Leander finished speaking, he turned away and waved to Madeline, leaving one last remark.
“Compared to what you value, there is one thing that is eternal and transcends all.
“That is raw strength, the power that can control everything p>
Yvette stood there for a long time before suddenly snapping back to her senses. When she looked up, Leander had already left the villa with Madeline in tow.
When she recalled Leander’s words, she could not help but shake her head. Her eyes were filled with deep disappointment.
She had kindly warned him, hoping Leander could be more self–aware and change himself so that he would avoid the same mistakes. However, Leander had shown no gratitude, even going so far as to call her self–righteous and narrow–minded.
Did he really think wealth, power, connections, and background were unimportant? Did he think that the raw strength was what truly mattered? To her, what he said was nothing but a terrible joke.
In this day and age, how could someone with exceptional martial arts skills still gain power as easily as they could in the past?
Even if such a thing were possible, it should not matter to Leander since he only knew basic
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martial arts. His skill was a far cry from the legendary figures who could leap from roof to roof and split mountains with a wave of their hands.
“It seems he hasn’t learned his lesson yet p>
Her gaze dimmed as she sighed. “I have said what needed to be said. If you continue to cling stubbornly to your childish ideas, one day, you will pay a much heavier price for your foolishness. ”
Through the night, Leander and Madeline walked side by side along the street.
Leander paid no attention at all to what Yvette had said earlier.
In this world, wealth and power were merely superficial things. True exceptional talents and prominent figures possessed immense strength!
For example, the Ashcroft family of Highcliffe. Although the Ashcroft family had a strong foundation in business, politics, and military, what truly led to its rise through the years were the martial art skills passed down through generations. As long as the Ashcroft family’s martial artists stayed strong, the Ashcroft family of Highcliffe would not fall.
Ever since he was abandoned by his biological father, Gareth, and thrown into a desolate mountain as a child, he vowed to become the strongest in the world.
In the past ten years, he has traversed treacherous mountains and dangerous places, often risking death. Finally, he created the unique and unparalleled martial arts technique “Devourer’s Ninefold Path” which made him invincible.
No matter how rich or powerful someone might be, he did not take them seriously. He could easily take them down, for who could stop him?
“Leander, are you truly okay p>
Madeline still felt uneasy.
“Silly girl, what could possibly be wrong with me? I am perfectly fine, am I not p>
Leander smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
Even though Leander’s smile was bright and warm, Madeline still felt a twinge of worry.
According to what the three women speculated before, Leander was threatened and humiliated by Tobias in the past three hours. His dignity would definitely be greatly injured.
She wanted to keep probing but feared reopening Leander’s wounds. Thus, she kept quiet.
“By the way p>
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As the evening breeze brushed past their figures, Leander suddenly asked, “Is there something special you wish to do? I remember you said when you were young that you wanted to be a singer p>
Madeline’s long hair danced in the wind, her flowing tresses gracefully moving. She gazed into the distance, her eyes filled with longing.
A moment later, she lowered her head with disappointment in her eyes.
“That is just a childhood dream. After my mother passed away, I realized how cruel this world is.
“Even if I want to be a singer, reality will not permit it p>
Madeline raised her head, forcing a smile.
“Right now, I will work part–time at the bar, prepare for the college entrance examination, get into a good university, and earn a stable income.
“As for the dream of being a singer, I will pursue it when my life is steady p>
Leander looked at this strong yet troubled girl and silently sighed. Original content can be found at.net
It seemed that Hazel’s death had a significant impact on Madeline.
“Madeline, don’t be so pessimistic.
Leander suddenly smiled. “Perhaps one day, a record label or entertainment company will suddenly ask you to sign a contract with them p>
Madeline shook her head. “Leander, you are just trying to cheer me up. Why would I ever be so lucky p>
Leander smiled and did not push the issue, but he had already made plans for her in his mind.
He was now Madeline’s only family. Naturally, he would protect her dream.
The two returned to their apartment and chatted for a long time in the living room before finally heading to their respective rooms to sleep.
The next morning, they left together for school. At the same time, over a thousand miles away in Highcliffe, a young man and woman also walked together on the street with their backpacks.
The boy was around sixteen or seventeen years old. He stood tall and walked with a confident demeanor. His bright eyes sparkled, revealing him to be more than what he seemed.
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If someone were to closely examine him, they might be surprised to find him looking rather similar to Leander.
The girl walking next to him was no ordinary girl either. Dressed in a plaid shirt with lace trim and striped straight–leg pants that accentuated her curves, she captivated everyone around her.
There was an ethereal flair to her beauty as her flawless features were perfect down to the very minute details.
The air of elegance and nobility she naturally exuded could rival that of any royal princess or noble girl, evoking both admiration and respect from those around her.
People kept glancing at them. The men were captivated by the girl, unable to shift their gazes away for a long time as they secretly envied the boy.
The boy ignored the gazes of those around him and looked at the girl. His eyes were filled with undisguised affection.
“Daphne, our grandfathers publicly announced our engagement yesterday. You seem unhappy, though p>
The girl named Daphne slightly tilted her head in response as she coldly looked at him.
“Yes, I am unhappy p>
She decisively responded, causing Ethan’s eyes to narrow.
“Ethan, you
Ethan’s heart ached. He clenched his fists as the light in his eyes
should know very well that I’ve only ever liked your older brother p>
dimmed.
“My older brother p>
Ethan knew that Daphne, the great beauty of Highcliffe, had always liked that other body.
That other boy was Ethan’s older brother, who had been branded as the cause of the Ashcroft family’s downfall by Reginald ten years ago. Gareth had personally stripped him of his martial power and expelled him from the family.
Even though Leander had been gone for ten years, Daphne had never forgotten him. Despite spending a decade with her, Ethan still could not win her love.
“Ethan, you should understand the actual cause for everything you possess today, including your unrivaled status and the admiration of many young heirs from prominent families in Highcliffe p>
Daphne continued with a serious expression, saying, “If Leander had not been expelled from
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Chapter 40 The Highcliffe Twins
the Ashcroft family, do you really believe everything you have now would be yours, considering his talent p>
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Ethan fell silent, unable to argue against her. As a child, Leander had shown extraordinary talent, surpassing all his peers. Even Ethan felt inferior in comparison. Had Leander not been expelled from the Ashcroft family and lost his martial power, all the admiration, accolades, and even the future position of head of the Ashcroft family would belong to Leander, not to him.
Daphne quickened her pace.
“Ethan, I am the only daughter of the Florian family, which has always maintained close ties with the Ashcroft family. My grandfather arranged for me to marry you, and I will not oppose it. This is for the benefit of our families.
“Still, let me be clear: even if I marry you and become your wife, I will never love you p>
“In my heart, he is the only one p>
Ethan followed behind Daphne. His eyes shone with frustration.
“Leander is already dead. He has been gone for ten years p>
He could not imagine how a ten–year–old child, stripped of his martial power and abandoned in the mountains, could have survived.
When Daphne heard that, she suddenly lifted her head and looked up at the clear sky. Her eyes were full of hope.
“He would not have died. With his stubbornness, there was no way he would have given up p>
A slight smile appeared on her lips. She looked so beautiful that even Ethan found himself momentarily stunned.
“Leander, I know you are still alive. I believe you are still out there. I, Daphne Florian, once promised that if you say the word, I will follow you without hesitation. Even if the whole world opposes us, I will never waver.
“I will wait for you in Highcliffe. I’m waiting for you to say the word p>
Ethan stood beside her with his heart burning in jealousy.
He had known Daphne for over ten years. They spent nearly every day together. They walked to and from school, yet he had never seen her smile so beautifully at him. She was always cold and distant, keeping him at arm’s length.
Yet now, at the mere mention of someone who had been gone for ten years, Daphne smiled like a blossoming flower. It was a smile that could captivate the world. How could he not feel
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jealous?
He clenched his fists tightly, his energies surging as his heart roared with fury.
“Daphne, you belong to me!
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“One day, I will stand at the pinnacle of the world. I will surpass my father and even those who reign over the martial realm.
“ I will prove to you that I am stronger than my brother. I am the one who truly deserves you p>
At that moment, Ethan possessed two strands of martial power. One was his own, and the other had been taken from Leander by Gareth and surgically grafted onto him.
Since he had received Leander’s martial power, Ethan’s cultivation had rapidly improved. Even at a young age, he had reached the peak of Martial Grandmaster. He was just one step away from entering the Martial Sovereign realm. He felt confident that he could prove to Daphne that he was the true martial genius of this era, destined to become a pillar of the martial world.
As for Leander, he had long been relegated to the past. Even if Leander were still alive, without his martial power, he could no longer cultivate. How could he ever compare to Ethan now?
Meanwhile, far away in a classroom in Mornwick, Leander blankly stared at the pull tab of a soda can in his hand.
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