From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heir (Leander Ashcroft) novel Chapter 564

"Time to pay up." Leander's blunt remark cut Ophelia off mid-sentence, the rest of her words dying in her throat.

She had been planning to introduce him properly. Everyone present was someone of status in Bladewick. Even Evren, just a bodyguard by title, was widely known there and carried real influence.

Leander had saved her. She intended to put in a good word for him, give him connections, and make things easier for him if he ever went to Bladewick. She never expected him to shut her down so coldly, killing the conversation with a single line.

Irritation surged in Ophelia's chest. Around them, expressions shifted one by one, expressions darkening. That one sentence had offended far too many people.

Cedric, most of all. His gaze turned heavy, edged with chill.

As the first heir of the Montgomerys from Bladewick, he was a genuine public figure. Paparazzi tracked his every move. Every gesture, every word, was fodder for newspapers and magazines.

From where I stand, Ophelia introducing me is already doing him a huge favor. And he turns around and says he has no interest in knowing who we are? That kind of arrogance is rare in Bladewick. Very few people dare speak to me in that manner.

Cedric looked straight at Leander and stepped forward, deliberately placing himself in front of Ophelia. "I do not care who you are. You saved Ophelia. Name your price, and I will pay it. Leave your car here. Once this is over, I will double the amount and add another half a million."

There was no attempt at courtesy in his voice. To him, Leander was nothing more than hired help, a driver for hire. In Cedric's opinion, money solved everything, and people like Leander were no exception.

"The deal was with her. As long as she pays what she owes, that's enough. Whatever you're offering, I'm not interested," Leander said.

Cedric had been confident Leander would jump at the offer. He never expected that cold, detached stare. Leander did not even bother to look at him. The proposed deal was dismissed with complete indifference.

"What did you just say?" Cedric's eyes narrowed as anger flared instantly.

As the heir of the Montgomery Family from Bladewick, he had come all the way to this desolate wasteland for a reason. He wanted Ophelia to see his sincerity. More than that, he was paving the way to marry her one day and secure the Snowbrooks' hundreds of billions in assets.

After arriving, he had assumed everything would go smoothly with more than twenty people at his command. Instead, the scorching desert heat came first, followed by the sudden sand cyclone. Only then did he truly understand the brutality of nature.

Cedric had already been holding back a mountain of frustration. Leander's detached attitude finally pushed him over the edge. "What did you say?" He stepped forward, glaring straight at Leander.

"Do you even know who I am? How much do you know about the Montgomery Family from Bladewick? And you think you can talk to me like this? Let me be clear. I came to you because I chose to. That was me giving you a reputation. And here you are, acting all high and mighty. Who do you think you are? Do you really think saving Ophelia once gives you the right to push your luck with me? Believe it or not, all it takes is one word from me. You will not drive that car anywhere, and you will not get a single cent."

Cedric's tone had turned openly hostile. His eyes narrowed further, sharp with unmistakable danger.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify