From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heir (Leander Ashcroft) novel Chapter 225

Chapter 225 Emma, Again

“Wait, you’re Maeve?”

Firushind

Yvette’s voice cracked with excitement. Her cool composure shattered in an instant. Her eyes lit up like a fan meeting her idol in real life.

Maeve caught it all and felt a surge of victory.

Leander had ignored her over and over again. On the plane, just now in the car–like she was nobody. But now, the truth was out. She had shown her real face. And she knew it would land like a thunderclap.

She refused to believe there was a man in Astria who didn’t recognize her. He had to know her now. He had to care now.

But Leander’s face didn’t change. He stared at her. And his tone stayed cold. “What are you still doing here?”

Maeve’s smile faded in a heartbeat. Her eyes widened like she had been slapped with a blast of cold air. She had taken off her hat. Her sunglasses were gone. And Leander still didn’t recognize her?

“I’m Maeve,” she replied, almost breathless. “You really don’t know who I am?”

Her voice wavered as she stared at him, waiting for a flicker of recognition. But there was nothing.

Leander didn’t even bother to look back. His voice stayed flat. “Am I supposed to?”

Maeve blinked, stunned. The silence stretched as her confidence faltered.

Yvette looked between the two of them, completely thrown.

She turned to Leander and said, “Wait, you seriously don’t know who she is?”

She pointed at Maeve, almost like she needed to prove something. “That’s Maeve. The Maeve. Everyone knows her! She sang ‘Only You in My Eyes‘ and ‘Heaven Is Wherever You Are!. You’ve heard those, right?”

Leander let out a quiet laugh. “I’ve heard the name. She’s famous, sure.”

Then, he leaned back and gave a shrug. “But why does that matter to me? Just because she’s a celebrity, I’m supposed to be her driver now?”

His voice tightened. His patience was running thin.

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Finished

“Ms. Maeve, you’re holding me up. That crowd’s closing in, and I’ve got somewhere to be. Get

out.”

Maeve sat stiffly in her seat. Her ears rang. She couldn’t believe it.

She had spent the last two years climbing to the top of the music world. Her voice and beauty had opened every door. She had won award after award and broken records left and right. They called her the youngest Gold Melody winner in history. She was the voice of a generation. The press crowned her a goddess.

She never chased praise, but she had grown used to the way people looked at her. They bent over backward just to get close. They smiled, complimented, offered her everything. CEOs, actors, socialites–everyone wanted her attention.

But Leander? He acted like she didn’t even exist.

Even now, after hearing her name and seeing her face, he still told her to leave. His coldness wasn’t fake. It wasn’t an act. It was real. He genuinely didn’t care.

Maeve sat frozen, her confidence cracked.

She had met men who pretended not to know her just to stand out, hoping to spark her interest. But Leander wasn’t pretending. She could tell.

For the first time, she felt completely powerless. She’d forgotten a crowd was still after her.

Yvette noticed her dazed look and couldn’t stay quiet. She turned to Leander, her voice low. “I know you don’t care about celebrities, but Maeve’s been my favorite since high school. Just this once, could we help her out?”

Maeve turned slowly. Her expression was blank, almost hollow. She never imagined she’d be in a position where someone else had to plead on her behalf. She wasn’t used to this feeling–of needing help, and not being able to ask for it herself.

Leander gave Yvette a quick glance. He looked back at the mob that had almost reached them. He exhaled, hit the gas, and drove off.

The crowd rushed toward the car, but it was too late. The BMW slipped away, leaving them staring, confused and disappointed.

Inside, Maeve finally blinked herself back into the moment. She forced a smile and looked at Yvette. “Thanks,” she said quietly. “Really.”

She knew it wasn’t Leander’s kindness that saved her. It was Yvette.

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Chapter 225 Emma, Again

พร

Finished

Yvette waved her hand, beaming.

“It’s nothing! Maeve, you look even better in person. I’ve been a fan forever. I have all your albums. Do you think you could sign something for me?”

Maeve nodded. She took Yvette’s phone and, with steady fingers, scribbled her signature across the back with a practiced flourish.

The two girls kept talking, and before long, their chatter slipped into an easy rhythm. Maeve cast a sideways look at Leander, who sat behind the wheel like a statue. His eyes stayed glued to the road. He hadn’t said a word since they left.

She leaned closer to Yvette and smirked. “So… is he your boyfriend?”

Yvette’s eyes widened, and her face flushed. She stole a quick glance at Leander. He didn’t react. He looked as if he hadn’t even heard. The warmth in her smile faded, and she shook her head gently.

“No. We’re just friends.”

Maeve caught the hesitation in her voice. It said enough. Her irritation with Leander kicked up a notch.

It was obvious Yvette liked him, but he acted like no one else in the car mattered. Maeve couldn’t wrap

her head around it. A guy that cold and stuck–up didn’t deserve attention from a girl like Yvette–quiet, graceful, and way out of his league.

Before she could say anything else, Leander steered the car toward the side of the road. The tires crunched over the gravel as he eased to a stop.

“We’re far enough from the mall. You’re clear now. You can get out.”

His voice was dry. There wasn’t an ounce of kindness in it.

Maeve’s smile tightened. She hadn’t expected to be dropped off like an inconvenience. “This is good. Thanks,” she replied, forcing her tone to stay polite.

She grabbed her hat and sunglasses, slid them back on, and reached for the door. Just as she cracked it open, the deep growl of an engine broke through the quiet.

A silver Mercedes shot up from behind and cut across the front of Leander’s BMW, tires humming as it stopped at an angle.

From the driver’s seat stepped a woman in a figure–hugging silk dress. Her stride was long and

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Chapter 225 Emma. Again

steady. Her legs moved with the poise of a dancer, and her face was cold, elegant, and impossible to ignore. Even the breeze seemed to give her space.

She fixed her eyes on Maeve and spoke in a calm, sharp voice.

“Who told you to run off like that?”

Finished

Maeve froze, then blinked. Her lips parted in disbelief, then curled into a grin as recognition dawned. She rushed forward and threw her arms around the woman’s waist.

“Emma! I can’t believe you came!”

It was Emma–one of the most powerful women in Astria’s martial world. Compared to the last time she’d crossed paths with Leander, she looked even more fierce. Her beauty had only grown sharper, and her whole presence felt untouchable.

As soon as Maeve wrapped her arms around her, the ice in Emma’s face softened. She let out a breath and hugged her sister close.

“You never learn, do you?” she asked gently. “Running off without a single guard. What if something happened to you?”

She reached out and tapped Maeve’s nose with one finger, the way an older sister scolded but never meant her words.

“I know, I know. I won’t do it again. Don’t be mad,” Maeve pleaded, clinging to her arm and rocking it playfully.

Emma sighed. Whatever anger she had was already gone.

But before they could get another word in, a flat voice cut through the air like a cold breeze.

“Are you moving the car, or do I need to do it for you?”

She turned. Her eyes landed on Leander, who stood by the BMW with one hand on the door. His face was calm, but his tone made it clear–he wasn’t asking twice.

Her chest tightened. Her gaze locked on his face, and for a moment, she didn’t breathe.

Why him? And why is he with Maeve? Did they already reconnect?

The thought hit fast and hard. Her eyes darkened as her heart dropped.

Send Gifts

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