From Outcast to Overlord The Unyielding Heir (Leander Ashcroft) novel Chapter 563

Leander told the driver to pull over. Both Ophelia in the back seat and the driver found it strange, unsure what he was about to do.

They both looked at him.

Leander sat in the front, silent for a moment, as if weighing something in his mind. Then, he raised a hand and pointed decisively in one direction. "Go that way."

The direction he indicated was nothing but endless yellow sand. Ahead, sand and dust churned violently, far harsher than the other routes, with visibility that could disappear at any moment.

"Mr. Ashcroft, are you sure you want to go that way?" The driver was familiar with most of the desert routes. When he saw where Leander was pointing, his expression shifted, a flicker of fear crossing his face.

"That area is known by the locals as the Kiss of Death. There are hidden currents of quicksand everywhere. One wrong move and it will swallow you whole. Sand tornadoes often form there as well. Even locals who know this desert well avoid it. Mr. Ashcroft, could you be mistaken?"

Even though the people above had instructed him to follow Leander's orders without question on this desert expedition, doubt still crept in.

Money mattered, but his life mattered more.

In the desert, one wrong move can get everyone in the car killed. If we lose our lives, what is there left to enjoy?

"No mistake. Trust me. This way." Leander looked indifferent. His expression was flat and final, as if changing his mind was never an option.

The driver hesitated, his expression full of uncertainty, until Ophelia finally spoke up from the back seat. "Leander, are you sure you are not mistaken?"

Her eyes flickered with tension as she lowered her voice. "I remember this desert area. My team and I passed through here before. Even the guide we hired warned us that this region was strictly off-limits. Anyone who goes in risks death.

"And now you want us to drive straight through it. Are you seriously treating our lives like a joke?"

Leander did not even glance at her. He kept his eyes on the driver. "You were assigned to bring me here, and your orders were to follow everything I say. If I tell you to take that route, you take it. Do not worry. If anything happens, I will take full responsibility."

After that, he finally turned to Ophelia. "We are going this way. If you are uncomfortable or have concerns, you are welcome to leave. I will give you a portion of water and food."

The coldness in his words made Ophelia freeze for a moment. This guy…

She felt a surge of grievance well up inside her.

I am the precious daughter of the Snowbrooks from Bladewick. I am also a fashion jewelry designer. Not just any designer, but someone who leads the entire industry.

Additionally, I work part-time as a print model and have appeared on the covers of numerous weekly magazines. Wherever I go, I am polished, glamorous, and constantly in the spotlight.

Even if I strip away every title and bit of shine, I am still a breathtaking beauty. Men fall for me everywhere. And yet when Leander looks at me, it is like he is staring at a stranger—someone who has no connection to him.

Getting even a few extra words out of him feels like pulling teeth. I seriously start to wonder if the desert sun has been roasting me for too long. Perhaps my looks have actually taken a hit, and that is why he treats me this way.

"So, have you made up your mind?" Leander asked calmly. His gaze was deep, unreadable, and stripped of any evident emotion.

Ophelia glanced around at the endless stretch of yellow sand. Her heart jolted. She clenched her jaw, then made her decision. "Fine. I will go with you."

…

At the sight of them, Ophelia's excitement surged even higher. "It's them. Those are the bodyguards I hired!"

She spoke as she leaned out the window, waving vigorously at the people ahead.

More than a dozen burly men in long coats had noticed the scene as well. One of the younger men recognized Ophelia and lit up immediately, hurrying toward the off-roader with long strides.

"Ophelia? Is that really you?" He did not even wait for the vehicle to come to a complete stop before rushing to the back seat, reaching out as if to take her hand.

Ophelia instinctively leaned back, dodging his grasp. She still stepped out quickly and joined the others.

A flicker of awkwardness crossed the young man's expression. Around them, the dozen-plus guards Ophelia had hired closed in. Their weathered expressions made it obvious that after being scattered by the tornado, none of them had come through unscathed.

"Ms. Snowbrook, are you all right?" The lead guard looked at Ophelia with open concern. He had worked for the Snowbrooks for ten years and had always treated her like his own daughter.

When she was separated from them in the storm, he had blamed himself relentlessly.

"I'm fine, Evren. They saved me." Ophelia gestured behind her as Leander and the driver stepped out of the vehicle and walked over.

"Leander, let me introduce you. This is Evren Westvale. He's the head of security hired by the Snowbrooks, and also my grandpa's personal bodyguard." She turned toward Leander, gratitude clear in her eyes, as she introduced the broad-shouldered man beside her.

Then, she opened her palm toward the handsome young man nearby. After a brief hesitation, she continued, "This is Cedric Montgomery, the heir of the Montgomerys from Bladewick. He's my—"

Before the word "fiance" could leave her mouth, Leander cut her off with an impatient wave of his hand. "You don't need to tell me who they are. I'm not interested. We've delivered you safely to Sandsong Oasis. The deal is done. Pay us what you owe.