Chapter 84
Chapter 84 The Unreachable Peak
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Finished
Howard had been planning to take care of the arrogant punk who injured Zayn. Anyone who dared to lay a finger on the Mardins in Ascendia was digging their own grave. But when he turned his eyes towards the young man, he froze.
At that moment, all his confidence drained away as soon as he saw Leander’s face. His legs buckled beneath him, and he collapsed onto his knees.
“M–Mr. Ashcroft p>
The boy in front of him carried a girl on his back and looked at him with cold indifference. That gaze and his unmatched handsome face left a deep imprint in Howard’s heart. Even if he forgot his own appearance, he knew he could never forget that face.
Leander had been the one who shattered the stage at Mount Lurvale with a single move. He killed Mason with a punch from ten feet away, then crushed Tommy and commanded respect from all. After that, every underground power in Mornwick bowed to him.
At this moment, the boy he had once regarded as a god stood before him. How could he not feel fear? How could he not be afraid?
“Mr. Ashcroft? Who the hell is that? Howard, what’s going on?” Zayn was clueless. He had called Howard to help him get revenge, but Howard was kneeling in front of Leander now.
“Mr p>
He muttered the name under his breath, and then it hit him.
Isn’t it just earlier that I think Derrick looks very similar to Mr. Ashcroft from the video?
But didn’t Autumn say Leander was just a student from the countryside? I dismissed the thought because I figured I must have been mistaken. I even looked down on him. But now, seeing Howard kneel before Leander and call him “Mr. Ashcroft, ” how can I not see the truth? How could I have missed it all this time?
The realization hits him. His face pales as he collapses to his knees.
Autumn Little’s hand covers her lips in shock. Her eyes widen, and her heart churns with turmoil.
The boy I’ve always looked down onand thought was useless turns out to be Frankie’s biggest supporter, the supreme ruler of Mornwick’s underground.
“You know who I am?” Leander’s voice was calm as he addressed Howard.
Howard quickly got up and bowed even lower. He nodded furiously. “Mr. Ashcroft, my father is
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Chapter 14 1te Unnar hable Peak
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Gumus Mardin, and my name is Howard Mardin, Laccompanied him to Mount Lurvale and witnessed your unmatched power with my own eyes a few days ago? Follow current novᴇls on
Sweat dripped from his forehead as his whole body trembled. The thought that he had almost raised a hand against Leander sent chills down his spine.
“So, you’re Gumus son,” Leander said, his gaze sliding toward Zayn. “And this is your brother p>
Howard wished more than anything to deny it. In his mind, he cursed Zayn a thousand times over, but he still nodded reluctantly,
On the other hand, Zayn was frozen in place and paralyzed with terror.
Leander’s lips curled into a slight smirk as he turned to Zayn. “Didn’t you say you wanted me dead p>
“I… I…” Zayn’s voice faltered. He had thought Leander was just an ordinary student, someone he could crush without a second thought. But now, Leander had transformed into something far beyond his reach, an untouchable dragon soaring above him.
Leander’s expression darkened. His tone was low and dangerous. “Even Gumus wouldn’t dare speak to me like that. Who do you think
you are p>
The words had barely left his mouth when Howard suddenly sprang up in fury. “You d*mn idiot p>
Howard’s kick sent Zayn sprawling to the ground. “Do you have any idea who Mr. Ashcroft is? Do you think you can threaten him? I’ll kill you, you worthless piece of trash p>
Each punch and kick that followed grew harder than the last. Already gravely injured from his earlier fight with Leander, Zayn could only lie there and barely cling to life. He was on the verge of death within minutes.
Howard hesitated but knew what had to be done. Zayn had offended Leander. By extension, he had endangered both himself and Cumus. It would be the end of their family if Leander chose to pursue this grudge. Cumus would lose everything he had built in Mornwick over the last ten years.
As Howard continued to beat Zayn senselessly, he kept an eye on Leander’s reaction. Leander remained cold and indifferent. He showed no emotion, even after Zayn’s face was battered beyond recognition, which caused Howard’s heart to sink even further.
Only now did Howard truly understand what it meant to stand in front of Leander. The fear that gripped him was unlike anything he’d ever known. This was the man who ruled Mornwick, the one who commanded the loyalty of countless powerful figures. Howard had never felt such
terror in his life.
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Chapter 81 The Unreachable Peak
Desperate, he pulled out a handgun and pressed it against Zayn’s forehead. Zayn was too broken to resist. He stared up at Howard with silent and pitiful pleading in his eyes.
Finished
“Mr. Ashcroft, should I kill him?” Howard asked with his finger resting on the trigger.
Though Zayn was his brother, Howard knew he wouldn’t hesitate to pull the trigger if Leander gave the word. In the end, Zayn’s life meant nothing compared to his family’s future.
Leander carried Yvette and finally let out a light laugh. “Howard Mardin, I’ll remember this name. Quite interesting p>
He stomped on Zayn’s leg, and the sickening crunch of breaking bones echoed through the bar. Zayn passed out instantly from the pain, and his left leg was crushed beyond repair.
“He said he wanted me dead. I’ll spare his life for Gumus‘ sake, but this leg is the price he has to pay!” Leander’s voice was cold.
“Go back and tell Gumus that Zayn is no longer allowed to manage any part of his business from today onward. He’s to be stripped of all responsibility and sent to the very bottom. If I ever see him again in Mornwick’s elite circles, I won’t just take another leg. I’ll take his life. Understand p>
Howard’s heart leaped in relief, and he knelt down in gratitude. “Thanks, Mr. Ashcroft! I’ll relay your words to my father. I swear, this fool will never live in luxury again p>
Leander nodded. His gaze drifted toward the gun in Howard’s hand. “Stop using that p>
Howard blinked, confused.
“A gun might work on ordinary people,” Leander explained, his voice calm but sharp, “but it’s nothing but a death sentence against someone strong p>
Crack!
Before Howard could react, the gun shattered into pieces and fell from his trembling hands in a heap of useless metal. Howard stood frozen in place, and terror etched across his face. By the time he looked up, Leander had already left the bar with Yvette,
Autumn, a once–respected figure in Ravenridge’s upper circles, was now trembling in the corner and paralyzed by fear.
In her eyes, Zayn and Howard had always been powerful and untouchable figures. But they were reduced to groveling cowards in front of Leander. Zayn even lost a leg in the process. Leander held all the power and looked down on them as if they were nothing.
Autumn’s mind raced as she recalled the way Leander had ignored them all. It wasn’t arrogance or rudeness. He simply didn’t care. He didn’t even see us as worthy of his attention.
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Chapter 84 The Unreachable Peak
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Compared to someone like Leander, they were nothing more than children pretending to play in the grown–up world.
Autumn thought back to all the dismissive things she had said about Leander in front of Madeline and felt dizzy from shame.
Why would someone like him care about socializing? Why would he need connections or allies when he already commands every major player in Mornwick? The elite would flock to his side with a single word from him. Who could even come close to matching his power in the entire region?
As she watched Leander disappear into the night with Yvette, Autumn shuddered and said a silent prayer for Colin. Colin, you think you’re up against nobody, a powerless kid from the countryside. But what you don’t realize is you’re facing a mountain so high you’ll never be able to climb it.
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