Mark was a man of his word and immediately ordered someone to fetch the Seventh-Heaven Quince for Andrew. Puzzled, Cedric could not help but ask, "Dr. Lloyd, Seventh-Heaven Quince is known to be highly toxic. What do you plan to do with it?" Andrew replied casually, "Alchemy." Cedric's eyes widened in shock. "Dr. Lloyd, you practice alchemy?" Andrew smiled modestly. "I know a thing or two." "What's so special about this alchemy you're discussing?" Mark asked, his curiosity piqued. Cedric explained with reverence, "Mr. Thatcher, alchemy is an ancient sacred art passed down through generations of master healers. In certain traditions, it's known as the art of creating elixirs. By combining various rare ingredients and following secret formulas, one can create miraculous medicine. Take the medicinal pills from Mistveil Peak, for instance. They're legendary throughout Etharia for their powerful effects and are worth a fortune!" Mark stared at Andrew in amazement. "Mr. Lloyd,
After leaving the mayor's mansion, Cedric rushed home with obvious excitement. Lauren turned to Andrew with a knowing smile and explained, "The Aicker family's business isn't huge, and their reputation mainly comes from Mr. Aicker's medical expertise." "It seems Mr. Aicker is ready to make his big move and capitalize on this opportunity," she added thoughtfully. Andrew nodded in understanding. "It's definitely a golden opportunity." Mark had essentially handed both the Rhodes and Aicker families a silver platter of opportunities, and even a fool could see what a precious chance this was. Lauren gazed at Andrew intently. "Dr. Lloyd, Mr. Aicker and I both benefited because of you. While Mr. Thatcher has good relationships with our families, he wouldn't normally hand out opportunities like this so freely. I really need to thank you properly." Andrew recognized that Mark had shared this privileged information solely out of respect for him. Nonetheless, he simply smiled and sai
Lauren pouted as she glared at Andrew and whispered shyly, "Dr. Lloyd, we haven't even established a relationship yet, so touching is definitely… inappropriate," She thought momentarily and added, "However, if you really want to, we could… maybe share a kiss?" It was Andrew's turn to be flustered. He never expected Lauren to say something so bold, especially with that soft, bashful expression. Andrew had always regarded Lauren as a confident and outspoken woman. Hence, her delicate demeanor and shy, alluring gaze completely stunned him. She looked like a gentle, elegant beauty straight out of a painting. For a moment, Andrew felt his heart skip a beat. Just as the atmosphere grew thick with tension, Andrew's phone rang, abruptly breaking the moment. Lauren covered her mouth, giggling softly. "Go ahead and take your call, Dr. Lloyd. I'm in no hurry!" When Andrew answered, Christina's cold voice came through. "Mr. Lloyd, do you remember what we discussed before? Please com
Nelson's eyes gleamed with lust as he pointed to the chair beneath him. "You don't need Stevens Corporation to shoulder anything. Just spread those beautiful legs and take a seat right here, Ms. Stevens. How about it?" Christina's face darkened immediately. "Mr. O'Connor, what exactly do you mean by this?" "Isn't it obvious? You want the loan, and I want to sleep with you in return," Nelson stated bluntly, dropping all pretense of professionalism. "You're shameless!" Christina growled in anger. Nelson sneered and leaned back, patting his thighs as he mocked her. "Let's not kid ourselves, Christina. You're the one coming to me for help, not the other way around. I've wanted to see what Jayrodale's 'Ice Queen' is really like for years now." His tone turned cruder as he continued, "Let me have my fun tonight, and I'll approve the funds. You'll walk out of here with everything you came for." "You disgusting pig!" Christina cursed at him and turned to leave. How
Blood dripped from the corner of Christina's mouth, and panic gripped her heart. She was alone in Nelson's office, and no one could hear her cries for help. Tears streamed down her face as fear overwhelmed her. In that critical moment, she did not think of her fiance, Harvey. Surprisingly, it was Andrew instead. Suddenly, the office door crashed open with a thunderous bang. Both Christina and Nelson turned in shock as Andrew strode in with a cold expression. Without hesitation, Andrew delivered a powerful kick to Nelson's chest, sending his heavy frame flying backward into his desk with a loud thud. Christina stood frozen, her eyes wide as she stared at Andrew's swift and powerful move. "W-What are you doing here?" she stammered, the red mark on her face still stinging. Andrew's eyes were ice-cold. "Ms. Stevens, did you forget? You called me over." "No, I mean... h-how did you get past security?" she stuttered. "That's not important right now," Andrew snapped. "What we
The security guards and employees stood frozen, stunned by the audacity of someone who dared to storm into Nelson's office, given his position in the bank. Christina felt her blood run cold, wondering why Andrew would escalate the situation when they were so heavily outnumbered. "What are you idiots waiting for? Get them!" Nelson screamed from the floor, his rage boiling over. Since becoming the bank manager, he had never faced such humiliation. Just then, two cars suddenly screeched to a halt outside the bank. Irene and Leroy rushed in with Stevens Corporation security as backup. "Christie, are you alright?" Irene asked frantically. "Mom, I'm fine. Andrew saved me," Christina explained. Irene scoffed. "Saved you? Then why are you hurt?" "Mom, don't be unreasonable!" Christina retorted, her frustration rising. "If Andrew hadn't come, who knows what could've happened to me!" Irene snorted dismissively. "If he had gotten here sooner, you wouldn't be injured at all. An
After spinning his web of lies, Nelson smirked smugly at the Stevens family. He thought they were foolish for trying to go against him. His employees chimed in obediently, one of them saying, "That's right, we all saw Ms. Stevens come in to request a loan. When negotiations failed, she called for backup and resorted to violence." "Have you no shame?" Christina shouted in rage. Nelson's expression turned sinister. "This, Ms. Stevens, is the price for defying me. You're not even close to being in my league." Irene snapped back, "You disgusting low life! We'll just pull the surveillance footage to prove the truth!" Nelson laughed dismissively. "Did you think I wouldn't think of that, you old hag? All our surveillance cameras are conveniently malfunctioning today." Christina clenched her fists, her fury barely contained. Nelson had clearly planned this, covering his tracks completely. The bank employees stared at the Stevens family with contempt. One female employee in a r
Mark's commanding presence filled the air as he demanded, "What's going on here?" Nelson pointed accusingly at the Stevens family. "Mr. Thatcher, when I denied Stevens Corporation's loan request, they turned violent. Ms. Stevens even tried to blackmail me with a setup!" Mark's expression darkened as he turned his cold gaze toward the Stevens family. "Is this true?" Christina spoke up firmly, "Mr. Thatcher, that's not what happened at all. This man abused his position and tried to take advantage of me, so I defended myself." Nelson gestured at his injuries. "You're the CEO of Stevens Corporation, yet you dare lie to the mayor's face? Look at my injuries—this is what her thug did to me when I refused her advances!" Mark's eyes narrowed as he took in Nelson's visibly broken hand. Fury overtook him. "Officers, arrest the Stevens family immediately! Who gave you the right to assault someone?" The Stevens family members trembled with fear, but Christina pleaded, "Mr. Thatcher, p
Nyla lifted her tear-streaked face, eyes full of sorrow. She choked out, "Andy… my dad… he's forcing me… He wants your formulas. He's making me steal them and bring them back to him." She broke down into sobs. "Andy, Dr. Aicker, you should fire me. I don't deserve to stay at Moonlit Apothecary anymore. I don't even have the face to show up here!" The words poured out of her as the tears fell. She had finally revealed everything because her trust in Andrew and Francesca was unconditional. Her loyalty to them ran deeper than blood, and when it came to Dominic, the man who was supposed to be her father, she felt nothing but heartbreak and betrayal. She had come to see that the man who once called her his daughter had turned into someone cold, greedy, and unrecognizable. He wanted her to betray Andrew—to steal from someone who had only ever been kind to her. Nyla realized she simply could not do it. She would rather tell the truth than live with that kind of guilt. Francesca
"But the Three Titans—Driscolls, Phelans, and the most elusive of them all, the Drache family—you'd better be careful around them, Mr. Lloyd," Phantom Eye said seriously. He added, "From what I've heard, those families each have someone far beyond the martial king level hidden in their ranks." Andrew remained unfazed. "If they don't mess with me, I won't mess with them. So what if they're above martial king? The world is vast—no one stays undefeated forever. There's always a higher peak beyond the last, and just because they're the Three Titans doesn't make them invincible." Phantom Eye nodded, still concerned. "Maybe so, but the Three Titans have always held the reins there. So, Mr. Lloyd, it never hurts to stay cautious when you're not on home turf." Andrew understood where Phantom Eye was coming from. Anyone who survived in Blumedale's ruthless martial world had to have a sharp eye and a wide view. Even a semi–martial king could build a reputation and live comfortably, but
A new day had begun. First thing in the morning, Andrew noticed several missed calls from Aspen. However, he did not respond to any of them. He already knew exactly why she was calling—she wanted to ask about the new 40 billion dollar transfer. However, Andrew did not feel the need to explain. As far as he was concerned, as long as Aspen managed the funds properly, that was enough. Francesca stepped out of the bathroom with flushed cheeks, looking irritated and disappointed. "Andrew, my period just started." Andrew chuckled. "It is what it is. Does your stomach hurt? Want me to give you the classic 'get some rest' line?" Francesca clenched her jaw. "Don't. Only emotionally clueless guys with zero tact say stuff like that." Andrew nodded seriously. "I agree. That's why I was going to make you a proper warm tea instead." Francesca waved it off. "No need. I may be on my period, but I'm not cramping or low on energy. Don't forget—I grew up in a traditional medicine family. My
Nyla could not believe how Dominic could say something so vile, so cruel, and actually mean it. Dominic let out a furious snort, his tone sharp as a blade. "Listen closely. The Goth family is currently on the verge of locking in a billion-dollar investment deal. Do you have any idea what that kind of money means? "It would launch our family into the elite overnight—we'd finally be one of the top powers in all of Jayrodale. For that kind of future, a small sacrifice like this is nothing. Nyla, you're not a child anymore. It's time you started contributing to this family." Camilla, her belly swollen from pregnancy, was practically trembling with excitement. "Wait—what did you just say? A billion-dollar investment? Oh my god, do you know how massive that is?" She turned to Nyla, her tone sharp and commanding. "Did you hear that? Dominic is doing this because he has no choice—it's all for the family. If you had even a sliver of conscience, you'd agree without hesitation. "So wha
Camilla could not help but sneer. "Dominic, I told you long ago that Nyla isn't loyal to our family. She's always been the type to side with outsiders. "You treat her well, and in the end, she'll never remember what you did for her. If you ask me, raising a stray dog would've been better than raising her." Dominic's voice turned cold. "You're right. I must've been blind to raise such a disgrace. If I'd known she'd turn out like this, I should've let her die with her mother!" The alcohol was clearly taking over. Dominic had downed a couple of drinks, and now his true colors were coming out. His face turned red, his eyes fierce, and a violent temper simmered just under the surface. Nyla was terrified. Before long, her vision blurred as tears welled up. She was used to Camilla being mean to her and trying to push her out of the family, but she never expected her own father to be so cruel. She never imagined Dominic to say something so venomous—something like wishing she had die
It was not that Nyla was some reckless flirt—far from it. She was just under unbearable pressure from her family, and Andrew's sudden appearance had felt like a lifeline. In her heart, she fantasized that if she could marry someone like Andrew, her life would finally feel complete. Nonetheless, it did not take long for reality to set in. Andrew was incredible—kind, brilliant, and respected—and she knew she was not in his league. Gorgeous and confident women like Lauren and Francesca were all vying for his attention, so someone like her did not stand a chance. That thought broke her heart a little, but at the same time, she felt strangely lucky. After all, even though Nyla did not have his love, Andrew and Francesca, not to mention Lauren, were all incredibly kind to her. Especially Andrew. As the head of Moonlit Apothecary, he cared for her and supported her like a mentor. At Moonlit Apothecary, she could already see a promising future ahead of her. "Dad, if there's somethin
Meanwhile, at the Goth family back in Jayrodale. Dominic had been restless since he returned from Quinton's roundtable event. He thought it was the perfect time for the Goth family to rise. If he could impress Quinton, billions of investments would come pouring into the family. With that kind of funding, the Goths could skyrocket and finally stand shoulder to shoulder with the Weller family, the Rhodes family, and other regional powerhouses. Eventually, Dominic could not wait any longer and eagerly waited for Nyla to get home from work. He greeted her with uncharacteristic warmth. "Nyla, come here, sweetheart. You're back a little early tonight, huh? It's been a while since we all sat down for dinner together. Tonight, I want to have a real heart-to-heart with you." Nyla gave him a suspicious look but walked over and sat down beside him. Normally, Dominic was completely consumed by family business. Even when he came home, he only spoke to Camilla and barely acknowledged Nyl
Tyler said plainly, "Seth? To be honest, I don't know you, and I definitely don't remember ever having a drink with you. So please, don't make up stories like that." He was still polite about it, but the message was loud and clear. Seth's face flushed with heat. Tyler had not yelled at him, but his tone made it obvious—he wanted Seth gone. He was not even acknowledged, let alone remembered, and the drink? A total lie. His attempt to show off had backfired hard, and the shame burned worse than any public embarrassment. Nonetheless, Seth did not have the guts to argue back. All he could do was step aside awkwardly, watching as Tyler turned his full attention to Aspen. Tyler said respectfully, "Ms. Stevens, your new company in Blumedale recently opened a corporate account with our bank, correct? A transaction just hit that account earlier today, and I felt this matter was serious enough that I needed to confirm it with you personally." Aspen frowned, thinking it over. The new
Aspen could not help but laugh to herself. Men in Blumedale really were something else—being a player here took skill, and this one clearly had it down to an art. Seth spouted romantic lines like a pro, sounding so sincere it was almost believable. Compared to him, Andrew might have been a brute with zero charm who only knew how to exploit her, draining every ounce of energy she had left. Nonetheless, at least Andrew was not fake—what you saw was what you got. Meanwhile, this charming heir from the Haywood family was starting to feel downright repulsive. "Mr. Haywood, I've told you more than once—there's no chance between us," Aspen said, her voice firm. "You should know I'm not even free right now. Honestly, my body doesn't even belong to me. While I appreciate your feelings, you're just wasting your time." She let out a sigh as if she was tired of repeating herself. Seth's face turned cold as he said with conviction, "Aspen, tell me—who's the bastard? The one controlling yo