Even Carter had no clue on what was happening. When he forced himself to go and beg the Yaegers for help, hoping that they would render aid to the Stewards, he did not even manage to see anyone that was in charge. It was a harsh blow to his pride.
"I'm not sure. But let's go and greet them for now. We cannot afford to offend anyone from the Yaegers," Carter said as he began to approach Castor without any hesitation. While the latter was simply a youngster in terms of seniority, behind him stood a force so powerful that no one in Rollinsford could even touch.
"Asher, see those two that just stepped out of the car? They are Castor and Dove Yaeger. Castor has been focusing his efforts in the Capital City, but his social status in Rollinsford remains unrivaled." Noelle said as she walked toward Asher and stood by his side as she played around with the hair on her forehead.
She then continued, "If they are willing to stand up to the plate and say a few words for the Stewards, then the household can be saved. Unfortunately, even they refuse to help us."
Noelle thought that Asher did not recognize who Castor was, and that was why she was explaining it to him.
"You have suffered quite a lot for the past two years. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do to compensate you for your suffering. All I can offer is an apology." Noelle gazed into Asher's eyes earnestly. "You shouldn't have come here today. You should leave when an opportunity presents itself later. The crisis that the Stewards are in is not something that you can resolve."
Asher said nothing as he simply gave Noelle a glance.
Everyone had gone over and was surrounding Castor and Dove; as if they were celebrities walking on the red carpet. They had become the darlings of the occasion.
"Master Castor, Lady Dove," Julian addressed them politely.
Freya then said with a smile, "Dove, why didn't you inform us of Castor's return? We could've organized something for him."
"Master Castor, why are you here?" Radley said with a smile.
At this moment, all of these young scions that had their noses in the air instantly became as low as dirt. Two years ago, Castor had already proven himself to be the best among them. Then, during the past two years, they heard how Castor was doing well in the Capital City. With that in mind, these scions dared not invoke his ire.
Castor scanned the faces of these so-called scions of Rollinsford, and his eyes landed upon Radley. He then said in a grim tone, "Radley, you've just gotten yourself in deep trouble."
Everyone was taken by surprise when they heard his words.
Both Freya and Julian exchanged a glance, curiosity and a sense of urgency filling their expression.
Radley was speechless as he could not believe what he was hearing. Just as he wanted to ask for more details, Castor walked toward Asher full of smiles as everyone watched in astonishment.
Even Noelle was jolted by what was happening. She could not understand why Castor would walk in their direction. As she was simply a daughter from a third-rate household, it was clear that Castor did not come to greet her.
Could it be that he came for Asher?
How was that possible? How was it possible that Asher made Castor approach him with such a smile?
At this time, Castor had already stopped right in front of Asher. He bowed down humbly to him, like a servant greeting his master.
Noelle was in awe as her jaw dropped.
Freya was similarly astonished.
Julian was also astounded.
No one could believe what they were seeing with their own eyes.
Castor, knowing that he could not expose Asher's identity, humbly asked, "How can I serve you today, Master Sander?"
Master Sander!
Castor's words had drawn everyone's attention back to Asher.
"Who's Master Sander? I have never heard of him."
"True. I believe that the low-life's surname is Craig, isn't it? Why would Master Yaeger call him Master Sander? A case of wrong identity, perhaps?"
"It has to be. If the Stewards managed to get their hands on someone like that as their son-in-law, they wouldn't have expelled him in the first place. They would be all over him instead!"
Everyone began to whisper among themselves.
"Julian, Master Yaeger said that Radley is in deep trouble. Can it be because of Asher?" Freya could not help but look at Asher with an inquisitive stare. However, Asher simply stood there calmly, as if Castor bowing to him was something rightly so.
Julian was similarly concerned as he said, "My worry is that he had intentionally hidden his identity when he married into the Stewards for some reason. It's fortunate that we didn't provoke him. Otherwise, we would be in hot water as well."
However, the ones that were truly uncomfortable were the youngsters from the Leonards. Especially Radley.
He took a few steps forward and then asked a probing question, "Master Castor, did you get the wrong person? He is Noelle Steward's ex-husband, Asher Craig. He is not some Master Sander."
Castor glared at Radley and said, "Master Sander hails from the Capital City's Sander Household. Even among the elites of Capital City, Master Sander is someone at the top of their social circle. I wouldn't mistake him for someone else. He's always been very discreet and dislikes showing himself in public, so few people know about him even among the Capital City's elites. I'd only seen him by coincidence that one time. It's not unusual that you don't know him."
When those who were present heard what Castor had to say, they could only gasp in horror. Asher Craig, the Stewards' son-in-law, was a scion of a household from the Capital City? This news was shocking, to say the least. No wonder Castor, the pride of Rollinsford, had to bow before him.
In just a few seconds, Radley's expressions shifted from doubt to shock, and then to fear...
Fear filled his eyes in the end with his lips losing their color and his legs shaking uncontrollably.
"Impossible! Asher is just some lowlife that got married into the Stewards! He's not some scion from the Capital City! No! I don't believe this! Castor, you're lying to me!" Radley's mind had already gone blank. If Asher was really someone that originated from the Capital City, then him... And even the Leonards... All of them would be done for.
Smack!
A slap fell on Radley's face as his glasses were thrown into the air. Castor let out a cold grunt and said, "Who are you calling lowlife?!"
Radley was stunned.
When the Leonards saw that Radley had been slapped, all they could do was stare in silence.
If it were someone else, the youngsters would have already hurried over and avenged him. But the person that hit Radley was Castor from the Yaegers. They had no courage to go up against him.
At that moment, everyone present was troubled by what was happening.
Noelle could not help but look at the man next to him. He stood there in silence as if he had accepted the truth that he was Master Sander.
At this time, Noelle suddenly remembered what Castor said when she went to the Yaegers last time. The root of the problems plaguing the Stewards was not the Leonards, but a man that none of them could afford to mess with.
So the man that Castor was referring to was none other than Asher.
Livia had also mentioned to her more than once that Asher was the only one that could save the Stewards. However, Noelle paid it no heed. She simply thought that her blind confidence toward him rose from her affection toward him.
It was at this juncture that Noelle felt that she was a fool. Why did she not believe her? Otherwise, Asher's relationship with the Stewards would not have ended up like this.
"Asher, you..." Noelle let out a sorrowful smile. If she did not divorce Asher, that would mean she was the Capital City's Madam Sander, correct?"
"I should call you Master Sander, I suppose." There was a hint of despair in Noelle's tone as she spoke.
Asher did not respond to Noelle. He simply stared at Radley and calmly said, "What's happening between the Leonards and Stewards is not something I will dirty my hands with. However, I'll take Livia with me today. As for everyone else... They have nothing to do with me."
Radley was still in shock.
Castor then said, "Radley, Master Sander has decided to be generous today and will not stoop as low as you. Is this how you show your gratitude?!"
Only then did Radley recover from the shock. With his glasses having been struck away, all he could see was a blur. He could only see Asher's figure, but not the expression on his face.
"Master... Master Sander, I am guilty of going against you out of ignorance and conceit! I thank you for showing me generosity and not putting this against me," Radley had no choice but to lower his head no matter how unwilling he was with how things had developed.
"Livia, come on." Asher did not want to stay for long.
Livia nodded and then peeked at Noelle, and she could not help but ask, "Ash, take Elle with us. We cannot let her become the Leonards' maidservant."
"When Carter forced me to leave the Stewards, only you spoke up for me. Everyone else had simply hit me when I was down. Not to mention that the heiress of the Stewards requires no help from a lowlife, am I right?" And with that, Asher simply walked away.