From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heir (Leander Ashcroft) novel Chapter 226

Chapter 226 The Breaking Quiet

Finished

Emma stepped out in a sleek dress, radiating elegance with a touch of frost–far more poised and untouchable than when she’d first crossed paths with Leander.

Her expression stiffened the moment she laid eyes on him. A subtle shift, then her whole demeanor turned cold.

“Why are you with Maeve?” Her voice sliced through the air, sharp and demanding answers.

Last time she visited Ravenridge with Elias, they’d pushed Leander to end things with Maeve. Emma had assumed that chapter was closed. So, seeing him now–especially showing up beside Maeve in the same car–set off alarm bells.

Leander didn’t flinch. He kept his cool, flicking a glance at the silver Mercedes AMG in front of him. “Since when do I need to check in with you about who I hang out with?”

He then pointed at the car. “Move it. You’re in the way.”

Emma looked like she was about to throw another jab, but Maeve suddenly piped up, her tone playful. “Whoa, Emma… you two know each other?”

That caught Emma off guard. Her brows pulled together slightly as she turned to face Maeve. Something about Maeve’s clueless expression stirred a different concern.

Emma assumed Leander had already confessed and reunited with Maeve–after all, they showed up in the same car. Clearly, that wasn’t the case.

Maeve didn’t even recognize him.

Recovering quickly, Emma gave a dismissive shrug. “Oh, no. Thought he looked like someone I used to know. My bad.”

Without another word, she climbed into the car and motioned for Maeve to follow. The Mercedes AMG pulled away moments later, leaving behind a heavy silence–and a final glare from Emma that hinted at more than just disapproval.

Back in Leander’s car, Yvette turned to him with curious eyes. “Was that Maeve’s sister? Do you guys go way back or something?”

Leander shook his head casually. “Only met her once. That’s about it.”

He kept his eyes on the road, heading toward Maplebrook Manor without offering more.

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Chapter 226 The Breaking Quiet

Finished

Meanwhile, Maeve sat in the passenger seat of the Mercedes AMG, replaying Emma’s behavior in her head. That’s weird. Emma definitely knows the guy–anyone can see it. So why was she acting like he was just some random stranger?

And the weirdest part? She didn’t even say a word to him after that. It just doesn’t sit right.

Before Maeve could make sense of it, Emma broke the silence. “So, where’d you disappear to today? Since when do you just hop into random guys‘ cars like it’s no big deal?”

Maeve cringed a bit, guilt bubbling up. She ended up telling Emma the whole story about what went down at the mall.

Emma listened without much reaction, nodding here and there. On the outside, she stayed calm. Inside, she was already putting the pieces together.

This run–in is just a fluke. Maeve clearly hasn’t connected the dots–she doesn’t even realize that guy’s the one who saved her. And Leander? Of course, he kept quiet.

Emma let out a quiet breath and muttered, “At least the guy knows his limits.”

She remembered the last time she saw him–barely scraping by in a shabby rental. Sure, today he was driving a nice car and had clearly polished himself up a bit. Still, in her eyes, it wasn’t enough.

Maeve was practically Astria’s sweetheart. Her face was on posters from one end of the country to the other. She rubbed shoulders with heirs to powerful families, sons of top officials–people with serious clout and endless money.

Whatever success Leander had now, it didn’t stack up. Not even close.

“Emma, are you sure you don’t know him?” Maeve asked again.

Emma didn’t miss a beat. “Positive. He just reminded me of someone, that’s all.”

Maeve nodded, then tilted her head. “Didn’t you say you were locking yourself away at Tri–Peak Sect for a while? What made you come here all of a sudden?”

Emma’s expression flickered for just a second before she smiled. “I finished my training early this round. Had some time, figured I’d swing by since I heard you were in town.”

She added, “I’ll stick around Ravenridge for a bit before heading back to prep for the Martial Sovereign training.”

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Chapter 226 The Breaking Quiet

Maeve smiled, totally unaware that danger was inching closer by the hour.

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#Finished

They arrived at Maplebrook Manor not long after. Maeve headed off to fix her makeup for a party later that evening. Emma, on the other hand, slipped into a private lounge where two young men were lounging, sipping drinks and chatting like old friends.

One was Troy, the eldest son of the Levington family–basically the poster boy for wealthy heirs, dressed to impress in a tailored trench coat and striding in as if the place were his. The other was Elias, Tri–Peak Sect’s golden boy. He’d tangled with Leander before, so the name was sure to ring a bell.

Emma stepped in, and both guys turned to greet her.

“Emma, did you find her?” Troy asked quickly.

“Yeah, she’s backstage now, fixing her makeup,” she replied, then paused for a beat. “We’ve got about three hours before the Umbral Court makes their move. Until then, we should be in the

clear.”

She gave a respectful nod to both men. “Thank you for stepping in like this. My family’s in a tight spot, and you didn’t hesitate to help. The Reyne family owes you.”

Troy waved her off with a smile. “Come on, Emma. Maeve and I are getting engaged soon, and I already see her as my wife. If someone tries to come after her, I’m not just going to sit back.”

Elias shot Emma a warm glance, his voice low and easy. “Hey, we’ve trained together–you don’t have to thank me. Maeve’s your sister, so that makes her practically family. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

The truth was, he’d always had a thing for Emma. Jumping in to help wasn’t just about keeping Maeve out of trouble–it was also his shot to show Emma he wasn’t just another name in the

sect.

He wanted her to see him as someone she could count on.

On top of that, he’d been itching for a real test. Word was, the Umbral Court sent only the deadliest, exactly the kind of fight that could push him into the spotlight in Astria’s martial

world.

“Thanks, really.” Emma gave them both a nod, her tone shifting to serious. “Maeve’s not exactly low–profile–everyone knows she’s tied to the Levington family and Tri–Peak Sect. You’d think anyone with a shred of sense would back off.

“Yet the Umbral Court still took the hit. That kind of confidence? Means they’re sending in

someone serious.”

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Chapter 226 The Breaking Quiet

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Troy leaned forward, frowning. “The Umbral Court’s been around for over a decade, and they’ve only gotten gutsier. No way they’ve lasted this long without serious backing. We might not have names, but that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down.”

Elias stayed quiet. Despite his strength, the thought of facing off against the Umbral Court made even him uneasy.

The three of them were top–tier in Astria’s martial world–Martial Grandmasters, each one. Emma, especially, was one of the legendary Nine Geniuses, on the brink of breaking into the Martial Sovereign level.

Even so, the Umbral Court’s shadow loomed large. None of them knew what was coming. None of them felt safe.

Ravenridge wasn’t just a city on edge anymore. It was a ticking clock, and time was running out.

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From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heit