Rising from the Ashes

"I'm sorry, Andrew, but I can't marry you!" Christina Stevens declared coldly in the CEO's office of Stevens Corporation. She sat behind her desk, looking elegant in a black lace dress, her demeanor icy and aloof. Across from her sat a handsome man in modest attire. Andrew Lloyd could not believe what he was hearing and asked, "Christie, what do you mean? What happened to the promise between us?" They had agreed to tie the knot on the day Stevens Corporation went public, marking the end of their three-year courtship. "Since we've been dating each other, I'll be frank," Christina replied, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her stunning features exuded grace and beauty with every movement. "Andrew, don't you think the gap between us has grown too wide? It's like we're from different worlds now. Forcing this relationship won't do you any good. For me, it would be… a burden." A burden? Andrew was stunned, never expecting Christina to say such a thing. If it had not

Meanwhile, Andrew had already settled into a Rolls-Royce, heading toward Jayrodale General Hospital. His phone rang, and to his surprise, it was Christina calling. Since their relationship was over, Andrew saw no reason to answer. Yet, the phone kept ringing, seemingly urgent. Frowning, Andrew finally decided to pick up. "Andrew, listen to me. Turn yourself in immediately!" Christina's voice blared through the speaker, catching Andrew off guard. "That King of Diamonds is worth 7.5 million dollars, Andrew. Have you lost your mind? I know you did this to make me happy, but have you considered the legal consequences? Turn yourself in now, while there's still time. Don't worry, with Stevens Corporation's influence in Jayrodale, I'll do my best to keep you out of jail!" Christina's voice was filled with righteous indignation, feeling disappointed in Andrew. Andrew finally understood—she thought he had stolen the King of Diamonds. "You've got it wrong. I didn't steal it," he said sim

Lauren's face paled instantly. "What did you say? Where's Dr. Hackett? What's going on?" Bernard and Philip approached, looking apologetic. "We're sorry, Ms. Rhodes. Ms. Cecelia's condition is critical. We've done all we can." Philip added, his voice filled with frustration, "The initial treatment seemed promising, but suddenly, Ms. Cecelia's breathing weakened dramatically. It's not our lack of skill, Ms. Rhodes. We're simply facing an impossible situation." Before Philip could finish his explanation, Lauren slapped him. "Ms. Rhodes, what was that…" "You idiot!" Lauren seethed, her body trembling with rage. "Didn't you just boast about your ability to save Cece?" Philip stood there, speechless and humiliated, his cheek stinging from the blow. Then, Lauren turned to Bernard, her voice dripping with venom. "Dr. Hackett, I'll ask you one last time. Is there anyone else in this hospital who can help? If anything happens to her, you and your incompetent son will face severe

Andrew's voice was calm, showing no sign of arrogance. Meanwhile, the scarred man and his thugs were stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Ha! Did this pretty boy just tell me, Scarface, to get lost?" "Idiot, you've been watching too many superhero movies. Trying to play the knight in shining armor, huh?" "Boss, why waste time talking? Let's just take him out!" Another thug swung a steel pipe viciously at Andrew's head. Lauren sighed inwardly, thinking she would have to step in to protect this brave but foolish man. Suddenly, she heard a piercing scream. The thug who had attacked first was on the ground, clutching his stomach. Somehow, Andrew had taken the steel pipe from him. Then, in a blur of motion, Andrew swung the pipe. A series of thuds followed as the attackers fell to the ground, groaning in pain. Yet, no one could see how he moved as he was moving too fast. Scarface roared in anger, leaping at Andrew with a vicious kick. At the same time, Andrew

Christina stared coldly at Andrew, her eyes filled with disappointment, anger, and a hint of jealousy that she did not even realize. "Andrew, I can't believe you found someone new so quickly after we ended things," she said bitterly. "How foolish of me to feel guilty all this time. I guess I was just fooling myself!" Andrew shot back, "When it comes to moving on quickly, I could never match your efficiency, Ms. Stevens!" "You… Fine, you win. I can't argue with you anymore," Christina stammered, at a loss for words. Lauren's beauty, curvaceous figure, and commanding presence all made Christina feel incredibly insecure. If the woman by Andrew's side had been plain or unremarkable, she might have brushed it off. Yet, Lauren was different—she posed a real threat. This woman did not fall short in any aspect compared to Christina. She even surpassed her in some ways, like her more prominent cleavage. Lauren was the complete package, oozing charm and sex appeal. Shawn's lewd stare