Reborn as the Villainess

Chapter 83 66%

Ross snapped back to reality, frowning in irritation. "Is there anything else? If not, I'm hanging up."

"No, no, don't hang up," King quickly interjected. "I heard from Gregory that we have a new sect leader. Who is it? They say it's just a kid. How about we make the first move? Maybe we should just kill them." Ross pressed his lips together, remaining silent.

Ever since the previous sect leader's death, Ghost Sect had been in turmoil. On the surface, each division appeared calm, but underneath, it was a maelstrom of ambition. No one was willing to submit to anyone else. Regardless of the new sect leader's abilities, the fact that they were young was enough.

Once they entered Ghost Sect, the others would devour them, leaving nothing behind, not even bones. Ross had no intention of diving into this political quagmire. "Let's stay out of it," he said, his tone unexpectedly sharp and mature for his age. "We're not here to play kingmaker. Whoever ends up in charge is none of our business."

King clicked his tongue and nodded. "True enough. Even though the new leader's young, she's got the bracelet. As long as she doesn't mess with our affairs, keeping her around as a buffer against trouble isn't a bad idea." "Mm-hmm" Ross nodded.

King, still somewhat uneasy, asked, "What about Gregory? Should we give him a heads up?"

Ross shook his head. "No need. He's too straightforward, and he can't keep secrets. The more we tell him, the more likely he'll slip up."

King let out a soft "Mm", signaling his agreement. "That dimwit Gregory probably still thinks Ghost Sect is all brotherly love and harmony. In reality, it's a mess of conflicting agendas, with nearly everyone harboring their own secret schemes. While others are plotting to seize power, he's busy thinking about how to suck up to the new sect leader. They're not even on the same wavelength.

King shook his head, thinking, "Telling him anything would just turn him from a clueless idiot into a clueless idiot who knows too much... And that's about all it would accomplish.'

Ross stood at the roadside, phone in hand. He tilted his head back, taking in the vast starry sky above and the brilliantly lit skyscrapers lining the street. At that moment, he finally felt he might truly belong to this world after all.

He'd spent so long in Ghost Sect, so long that he could wield a dagger and kill without batting an eye. So long that he sometimes forgot he was human, not just some soulless machine.

"King, do you want to leave Ghost Sect?" Ross suddenly asked. His voice was barely a whisper, so soft that even on the quiet night street, no one would have noticed it.

The other end of the line fell silent for three seconds. Then came a thunderous crash as if something had been violently thrown to the ground. King's shocked voice followed. "Y-y-you. Are you out of your goddamn mind, Ross? Or do you have a death wish?"

He spat the words. "Even that moron Gregory knows better than to talk that kind of crazy. How the hell can you even suggest it? You forget what happens to runners? Don't forget we've still got trackers on us."

Ross gaze dropped to the floor, the fire in his eyes dimming. "I know. I was just...asking."

"Don't even ask. No, don't even think about it," King warned coldly. "Ross, we'll never be normal people. You're the one who told me that, remember?"

Ross jaw clenched. "Yeah. I remember." He'd known this truth since the moment he entered the underworld, not daring to forget.

King continued, "If you haven't forgotten, then don't say things like that again. You're lucky it was just me here. If those old geezers had heard you, lives do you think you'd have left to lose?"All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

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"I understand," Ross replied softly..

After hanging up, Ross seemed to deflate as if his very soul had been drained of energy. He sat on a stone bench by the roadside, staring blankly at the ground.

For people like them, a normal life was as out of reach as the stars. He had no right to grasp at happiness, no right to hold her in his arms.

The next morning, Eleanor's understanding of wealth was blown wide open.

On the sprawling lawn behind Vanderbilt Manor, two helicopters stood ready. A third circled overhead, seemingly unable to find a landing spot.

Eleanor's lip twitched. "Andrew, isn't one enough? We don't need this many."

Andrew, however, remained unfazed. "Of course we do. One for you to ride in, the other two for luggage."

Eleanor was stunned into silence. She was only going away for about a month. That didn't warrant two helicopters' worth of luggage.

But when the servants wheeled out her packed belongings, she was left utterly speechless. Seven enormous suitcases rolled out in an impressive convoy as if she were moving house.

"Andrew, don't you think this is a bit much?" Eleanor struggled to find the words, wondering if Andrew had somehow managed to pack their entire estate for her trip.

Seeing Eleanor's shock, Andrew felt a pang of sadness. His own sister, a true Vanderbilt heiress, had never known the life of luxury she deserved. What was commonplace for them now seemed so foreign to her.

He gently smoothed her wind-tousled hair, his eyes filled with affection. "Ellie, I'm not exaggerating. You need to understand that you're one of a kind. Compared to you, everything else is ordinary. You get that, right?"

"It's different out there than at home. Having everything prepared will make things easier for you," he explained. "The assistant I chose left last night to set things up. When you arrive, just head to the Vanderbilt hotel and find her. She'll take care of everything else, so you can focus on your filming."

Eleanor noticed the dark circles under Andrew's eyes. The refusal she had been about to voice died on her lips.

'Andrew must have tossed and turned all night, fretting over this she thought.

"Thank you, Andrew. I understand," Eleanor said softly. "But please don't waste your resources like this anymore. I'd like to try making it on my own."

Eleanor knew Andrew meant well, and his efforts touched her. But this wasn't the path she wanted for herself.

Andrew didn't immediately grasp what she meant by "making it on her own". He asked, bewildered, "Why on your own? Am I getting too old? Or has the Vanderbilt family gone bankrupt?"

Eleanor stammered, "Uh..." She knew that according to the storys trajectory, and the Vanderbilt family was destined for bankruptcy. If she debuted under the Vanderbilt name, she'd inevitably face setbacks in the future. It would only lead to unnecessary complications down the line.

She was destined to become the Vanderbilt family's secret weapon, a hidden ace up their sleeve. If the family ever faced financial ruin, she would be the force to keep them afloat. But to achieve this, she absolutely couldn't debut in the

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entertainment industry under the Vanderbilt name.

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"I want to see how far I can go in show business on my own merits," she explained. "Without relying on the Vanderbilt name or you, Andrew. Is that okay?"

Andrew's brow furrowed instantly, his disapproval evident. "No, I don't like it. It's not safe."

He couldn't wrap his head around her request. After all, he'd been burning the candle at both ends to get Vanderbilt Group back on its feet, all so Eleanor could have her pick of opportunities.

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