Leslie said, "So I hope you never let yourself get carried away with these kinds of assumptions again."

Ryder's face turned red with embarrassment. Feeling humiliated, he snapped, "Leslie, are you saying I'm being delusional? Then tell me what I have to become, what I would have to do, to be good enough for you? What level would be enough to not be a ‘delusion' in your eyes?"

Leslie gave him a long, slow look, and her eyes were filled with scorn. It was not just rejection, but the way she looked at him was deeply insulting.

After a pause, she spoke coldly, "Captain Ulrich, you know my current position, don't you? I'm the General's adjutant. And once she rises, I'll rise with her. If we're talking family background, sure, the Terrell family might not be as powerful as the Ulrichs.

"But the gap isn't as big as you think. And you? You may be the eldest son, but who knows how long it'll take before you're actually in charge. I'm not like that. All I need to do is stay on course, st