Chapter 21

Leo stood with his head lowered and shoulders slightly hunched. His expression looked calm and indifferent, yet there was an undeniable weight of defeat in him. It might be Phyllis' imagination, but she could almost see all the pain he had endured in the past. Perhaps noticing her gaze, he turned his head and smiled faintly. "You must be wondering why someone like me, an arrogant family head, would fight for his life in a beast arena." Her expression froze for a moment, then she gave a small nod. "If you want to talk about it, I'll be a good listener. If you don't, that's fine too. Either way, it was never your fault." Or maybe, more than wanting to know his past, she simply felt sorry for him. "I can tell you." Leo walked into the room, opened the liquor cabinet, and poured himself a glass of burning whiskey. As the alcohol loosened his defenses, he let go of his strong front and spoke haltingly. "Three months after my grandfather died, some of his former men tried to kill me. B