After Asher stepped out of the cab, he did not immediately walk over.
He still harbored some complicated feelings within him as he once again appeared before the Stewards. The moments of him being expelled by the Stewards were still flashing before his eyes.
"So that is Asher Craig?" Freya gave Asher an indifferent look before shifting her attention back to the others. "He is somewhat handsome but does not seem to offer anything unique."
Julian smiled and said, "Sometimes, being handsome is a resource in itself. At least he can use it to live off a woman."
"It's said that Noelle is the most capable one among the Stewards' youngsters. Some even call her the pride of Rollinsford. I thought that she would have high standards... I didn't expect that she'd fall for appearances alone," Freya said in a mocking tone.
"Ash," Livia quickly approached him with a joyful smile on her face. "Ash, you really came."
Asher smiled gently and said, "How could I not when you're in trouble?"
Livia couldn't help but be attracted to Asher's face. It was perfectly chiseled, with his eyebrows arched at just the right place, and his eyes burning with spirit.
Women are ruled by passion, as the saying goes. It was much easier for a man to enter her heart, especially when he was willing to step up for her when she was in trouble.
Livia felt her heart suddenly skip a beat as she blushed. She then said in a soft voice, "Thank you, Ash."
Noelle heard the conversation between Asher and Livia clearly. At that moment, she suddenly felt her heart cracking, as if it was on the verge of shattering. How she wished that she was Livia at that moment, and that Asher's words were meant for her.
Noelle's eyes began to turn red without her noticing. Her vision blurred as tears almost formed.
When the youngsters from the Stewards saw Asher come over, they all stared at him viciously.
"Asher, you have already been expelled from the Stewards! How shameless can you be to show your face around here again."
"If he had any dignity left, he wouldn't have lived off Noelle for two whole years. I wonder what she was thinking back then. She gave up the chance to become the wife of a Leonard, and instead married this sorry excuse of a man! If she had done so, we would not be in such a pinch!"
"True. However, I didn't expect that he would actually show himself here. He should know his place! If he can save Livia, I'm willing to give up drinking!"
All the youngsters from the Stewards were complaining about Asher. They all believed that the root of all the Stewards' problems stemmed from Asher and Noelle. The matter with the drag race caused by Erick was simply the last straw on the camel's back. Even if the matter with the drag race did not happen, the Leonards would still find some other ways to implicate the Stewards.
Asher heard everything clearly. However, he was not angry per se. Instead, he pitied the Stewards. Out of all the Stewards, the only people that he could see some talents in were Noelle and Livia. For a household to fall to such an extent... It was indeed quite pathetic, was it not?
Even though Asher could maintain his composure, Livia could not. She turned around and coldly stared at the youngsters and cried out, "Zip it, all of you! None of you are willing to say a word when the Stewards have been backed into a corner by the Leonards. Now that Ash has come to help me and Elle, all you can do is yap non-stop and insult him. Is that all you can do? If you want to show me that you are capable, then oppose the Leonards to the very end! Only then will you win my respect!"
When they heard that, all the youngsters from the Stewards fell silent, embarrassment etched on their faces.
Livia gave the humiliated youngsters an angry glare and continued, "Ash, Radley is forcing me to be his maidservant. I'll not give in even if I have to kill myself. The Stewards have abandoned me. The only person that I can depend on now is you, Ash. Please, take me with you. I don't want to stay with the Stewards anymore."
Asher nodded and said, "Alright."
He was not loud, but his voice steeled Livia's heart. She believed that since Asher had given her his word, then she was in safe hands.
Livia's eyes unintentionally met Asher's. She suddenly felt somewhat numb as she quickly shifted her eyes away from his deep eyes, as if she had been jolted by something as her face burned red.
Livia couldn't help but consider if she had really fallen for her brother-in-law?
"Asher! You should worry about yourself. You managed to escape last time out of luck. But this time? Don't think that you can leave so easily!" Radley sneered as his eyes burned with rage.
As soon as he had finished saying so, the bodyguards that accompanied him last time quickly made their way out of the crowd, surrounding both Asher and Livia.
Livia subconsciously grabbed at Asher's arm, her face turning somewhat pale.
Asher merely let out a bitter laugh and said calmly, "Do you think any of you can stop me if I want to leave?"
The arrogance!
That was the impression that everyone had of him when they heard him.
Even the once silent crowd began to become unruly.
"Jesus Christ! He is such an arrogant bastard! How can he speak to Radley like that? Why is he so confident?"
"He's going to pay dearly for his arrogance."
Freya could not help but give Asher another look, only to see him standing there calmly. His eyes did not look like those that belonged to someone who was twenty-five years of age. She could not help but furrow her brows. How could he be so confident?
Normally, when someone tried to boast without confidence, they would intentionally speak with a louder voice to overcompensate for lack of certainty.
However, Asher's expression was one of serenity. His voice was also very relaxed. It did not look like he was boasting.
Could it be that this man, rumored to be less than an animal, really was a hidden gem?
Noelle also had her brows locked as she looked at Asher in shock. She had this feeling that Asher was somewhat different than he normally was. In the past, he would always run away when he was in any trouble. He would not respond even if he was verbally humiliated.
However, Asher seemed to have great confidence in himself. His eyes were ice-cold, as if he was a resting lion. Everything that Asher was at this moment was so alien to her.
Mikaela smiled as she said with an icy tone, "Asher, do you even know who you're speaking with?"
"Who are you?" Asher gave Mikaela a glance.
"I am Radley's cousin. Am I a target of yours as well?" Mikaela asked with a smirk.
Asher merely responded, "You're not worth my time."
"Insolent fool! I'll have your head for this!" Mikaela wanted to pounce at Asher as she huffed and puffed.
However, Radley quickly grabbed Mikaela by the arm as his expression turned dark. The reason he had organized all this was to make some fame for himself amongst his peers. He also wanted them to know that the Leonards' social status could not be messed with.
However, Radley did not expect that Asher would steal all the fame for himself instead. It was only natural for him to feel irate.
"You are the first person who dares to speak like that in front of me, Asher Craig. I promise you. You'll have a very brutal death," Radley said threateningly as he gritted his teeth.
Asher was simply telling the truth. With his ability, no one present could stop him. What else was he supposed to say if these snobs believed that he was simply boasting?
"Enough, you fool!" Carter yelled, no longer able to contain his fury. "Livia, return at once! How much more damage do you wish to inflict upon our reputation?!"
Livia then said angrily, "Grandpa, since Elle and I are no longer in our household's good graces, even if we do damage someone's reputation, it'll be our own. This has nothing to do with the Stewards!"
Upon hearing her retort, Carter was so angry that he could not stop coughing.
It was at this time that a Mercedes-Benz suddenly screeched and stopped by the roadside.
When they saw the vehicle, they were stunned. While a Mercedes-Benz was common enough, the license plate number was not something ordinary.
Anyone in Rollinsford that was worth their salt knew that this particular Mercedes-Benz belonged to Castor Yaeger. Even Radley had to put on his game face. He came!
"I heard that he came back a few days ago. I thought it was just a rumor, but I didn't expect the rumor to be right," Julian said with a low voice as he stared sternly.
Everyone thought that there were four great households in Rollinsford, but only a few knew that Rollinsford only had three great households. The reason was that the Yaegers had long since surpassed the three other households.
For the past two years, Julian and the others were zenith among their peers when Castor was not in Rollinsford. However, if he was around, all of them would become nothing more than an afterthought.
Even Freya's eyebrows were drawn together, confusion filling her delicate face. She mumbled, "What's he doing here? Did Radley call him over too?"
"I don't think so. Castor is not someone that Radley can call over on a whim. Take a look at Radley. Even he's confused." Julian motioned at Radley. "Forget about why he's here for now. Let's go and greet him."
With that, both Julian and Freya quickly approached the Mercedes-Benz. Seeing the two of them walk over, the others also followed suit.
"Radley, why is he here?" Mikaela asked nervously. "Did you invite him here?"
"Do you think I have the ability to invite him over?" Radley was also quite perplexed. "Let's go and greet him as well."
"Father, why is someone from the Yaegers here?" Michael and the others asked Carter hastily.