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Chapter 109
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 110
"Mr. Lloyd, I assure you this matter will be resolved satisfactorily," Mark declared earnestly. His deferential tone stunned everyone, including Christina. She could not believe the mayor's unusually respectful attitude toward Andrew. Andrew remained unfazed. "Mr. Thatcher, you'd better give me an explanation for this. If not, breaking his hand will be the least of my actions." Mark inwardly cursed Nelson's stupidity. Of all the people to provoke, this fool had to pick someone even he himself needed to treat with respect. Nelson, a mere branch manager, clearly had a death wish. Mark's frustration boiled over. He glared at Nelson and snapped, "Mr. O'Connor, step forward and explain yourself. If Mr. Lloyd isn't satisfied with your explanation, I won't be able to protect you." Nelson's face paled, and he protested in disbelief, "Mr. Thatcher, he's the one who attacked me! Why should I have to explain myself to him?" Mark exploded in anger. "You idiot! Would Mr. Lloyd have
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Andrew stated firmly, "While Ms. Stevens might be satisfied, I'm not quite done yet." Christina froze, wondering how this guy could still make demands. She thought he should be counting his blessings and wondered where he got the nerve to ask for more. To her surprise, Mark played along perfectly. "Mr. Lloyd, please tell me what else concerns you, and I'll take care of it." "First, we still need to process the loan," Andrew said. "Second, these Jayrodale Bank employees who conspired with Nelson are no better than him. Mr. Thatcher, I don't think you should allow such parasites to continue working in public service." "I'll have someone process your loan immediately," Mark agreed without hesitation. Then, he turned his icy gaze toward the employees. "Start drafting your resignations. I won't repeat myself." The employees' faces turned ghostly white. They had gotten away with so much nonsense under Nelson's protection that even complaints could not touch them. Yet, Andrew's sing
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Before Andrew could answer, Irene exploded, "Andrew, would it kill you not to brag? Harvey's obviously the one helping behind the scenes. Have you no shame?" Andrew smirked. "If he's helping, where is he? Or is he suddenly too humble to take credit for his good deeds?" Irene was at a loss for words, her face darkening. Christina also found it strange that Harvey had not shown up even though everything was over, wondering if he had not received her messages or if there was another reason. Just then, a sports car came speeding up, and Harvey rushed out. "Christie, I'm so sorry I'm late. Something came up," he apologized immediately, looking troubled. Irene's face lit up. "See? I knew Harvey was helping us behind the scenes. Why else would Mr. Thatcher take our side?" "Earlier, Nelson, the bank manager, refused the loan and got handsy with me, but it's all sorted now," Christina explained. Harvey's face darkened with rage. "That pervert dared to touch you? Don't worry, Christi
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"I just don't want someone to be twisting the truth and taking credit for another person's hard work," Andrew said calmly. Harvey shook his head with a wry smile. "Andrew, your bias against me keeps growing, and I don't even know what I did to offend you." He pulled out his phone and showed Christina, Irene, and the others his call history. "Look, I called Mr. Thatcher an hour ago. Here's the proof." "Now, what do you have to say for yourself?" Irene shouted at Andrew. Leroy smirked. "Mr. Thatcher obviously came to help us an hour ago because of Harvey's call. Andrew, stop trying to compete with Harvey—he's out of your league." Harvey sighed dramatically and said, "Actually, I didn't just call Mr. Thatcher. I also had our family's connections ready to step in, along with several other powerful allies. I could have had people here in minutes if Christie needed them." "Harvey, you're absolutely incredible!" Leroy exclaimed, giving him a thumbs up. Andrew shook his head, ama
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Harvey's smile turned sinister. "So what if it's a threat? I'm Harvey Weller, heir to the Weller family and the most prominent of Jayrodale's elite four. If I weren't worried about Christie getting suspicious, I would have taken you down already." Andrew chuckled, unfazed. "You're awfully confident. Well then, why don't you go ahead and try?" Harvey narrowed his eyes, and he mocked, "What do you have that could possibly match me, Andrew? I know what you're after—it's Christina. While she's out of your league, I'll have her in my grasp any moment now. Then, I can have her any way I want, whenever I want." Andrew replied calmly. "Christina and I have nothing to do with each other anymore, and you don't need to flaunt your superiority. But let me warn you—don't push your luck. I'm not as patient as you think, and if you go too far, both you and the Weller family might regret it." With that, Andrew walked into the private dining room smiling, brushing past Harvey like he was nothi
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 115
Andrew stated calmly, "That's just how I am—I'm petty and like to sweat the small stuff. Is that a problem, Ms. Stevens?" "Fine, Mr. Lloyd, have it your way," Christina replied, swallowing her pride. "Leroy, give me the bottle. I'll pour Mr. Lloyd's wine." "Christie, who does he think he is?" Leroy protested. "Acting like some big-shot executive when he used to be your errand boy!" Christina felt hurt and shocked. This new Andrew was so aggressive and domineering, nothing like the person she used to know. He was acting more like some arrogant rich heir now. Nonetheless, business came first, so she poured his wine anyway. Leroy sneered. "Getting cocky just because you're riding on Mr. Yates's coattails. You'd be nothing without him." "Are you mocking me?" Andrew stared at him intently. Leroy froze, surprised by Andrew's directness. Irene and Christina were equally shocked and wondered what had gotten into Andrew. "Hell yeah, I'm mocking you, you gold digger!" Leroy shouted
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 116
Andrew simply smiled and continued eating his dinner, brushing them off. The chapter with Christina had long since closed, and their paths had diverged completely. As for the Stevens family and Harvey, Andrew no longer felt the need to be overly courteous or put on a show of politeness for them. From another perspective, his current standing did not allow him to maintain a low profile anymore. If Harvey played it smart and stayed in his lane, Andrew would not bother him. However, as he had mentioned before, if this self-proclaimed number-one heir of Jayrodale decided to cross him, he would not hesitate to take action. It would not matter if it were just Harvey or the entire Weller family with their prestigious status—he would crush them all. After all, even before coming to Jayrodale, Andrew had already dealt with his fair share of so-called elite families. Leroy said through gritted teeth, "Andrew, showing off in front of us is one thing, but do you really think your petty
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Irene eagerly said, "Harvey, I get it now. You're planning to give Stevens Corporation a piece of this lucrative pie, right?" Harvey smiled. "Exactly, Mrs. Stevens, but I'm not talking about just a small slice—I'm offering Stevens Corporation a full third of the development rights. Once the paperwork comes through, Mrs. Stevens and Leroy, you could turn a few hundred thousand in investment into millions, maybe even tens of millions in profits." Irene and Leroy's eyes lit up with undisguised excitement at the prospect. "There is indeed a major development project in the works," Christina commented thoughtfully. "But there hasn't been any official documentation yet. How did you find out it's in the East Side?" Harvey flashed a confident smile. "Christie, this is the difference between old money and smaller businesses. Our family executives confirmed this directly with the state officials two weeks ago." Christina fell silent, contemplating the situation. She knew that when it
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1036
"Aspen, long time no see." Christina was the first to speak, smiling as she broke the awkward silence. Aspen's expression turned icy. "You don't need to call me. I don't recognize you as family. Your family is in Jayrodale, and mine's in Bridgefields. We were never close, and we never will be." Christina kept her smile steady. "It's been so long, and you're still holding a grudge? But don't forget—when the main family fell apart, and you ended up as Andrew's servant, that was mostly your own doing." Aspen let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, I'll admit it. Everything back then was my own fault. But Christina, do you dare say you didn't stir the pot from behind the scenes with that sweet, scheming smile of yours? I know it was you who lured the main Stevens family to Jayrodale, just to use them against Andrew." Christina did not even try to deny it. "You're absolutely right. I brought them there. But I only did it to help you—to settle the score on your behalf. Things just didn't go h
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Aspen smirked. "Not much, just a little over 30 grand." Andrew let out a cold chuckle. "You sure know how to burn through my money like it grows on trees. But it's fine—if you ever drain me dry, I'll just sell you off to cover the losses." That wiped the smug look right off Aspen's face, leaving her gritting her teeth. Andrew had absolute control over her now. If he did sell her, she would have no one to complain to—not even a court that would listen. She huffed, "The ones draining you dry are Lauren and Francesca. I haven't even touched a penny…" Her heart shrank a little, but her mouth still refused to back down. … After finishing the company tour, Andrew barely took a breath before heading to the charity event hosted by the local government. Aspen's competence clearly was not just for show. All the way there, she gave Andrew a crash course on the capital's complicated business networks and behind-the-scenes power plays. She said, "In a bit, Governor Derek McCormick
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Andrew let her go and said casually, "Your twin core meridians were never fully opened. That's why your skills have always been so underwhelming. But now, I've fixed that for you. "From here on out, your cultivation will be a lot faster. And you've officially broken through to the senior grandmaster level." Feeling the new surge of power running through her body, Aspen gasped, "But… opening the twin core meridians is something only a martial king could do, and even then, with rare medicinal aids! H-How did you pull it off?" Andrew answered calmly, "Just gave it a strong push. It hurts a little, but you already lived through it, didn't you?" Aspen's face turned red hot as she gritted her teeth. "You sound like a damn pervert, you sleazy jerk!" She said that, but deep down, she was genuinely grateful to him. Reaching senior grandmaster so quickly was partly thanks to her own hard work, but mostly, it was Andrew's guidance. Aspen knew how rare this kind of hands-on instruction
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Aspen was so furious, and she shouted, "Andrew, you're such a bastard!" Nonetheless, Andrew stayed calm and replied, "Using yoga to try and reach senior grandmaster level? It's not a bad approach. However, your method is flawed. "You should try activating your twin core meridians and running your energy through the full-body cycle. It'll get you results with half the effort." With that, he turned and went upstairs to rest. Aspen stood frozen in place, full of shock and suspicion. "So he wasn't staring at my body… he was analyzing my training? Hmph, acting all high and mighty as if his advice would actually help!" She did not want to admit it, but deep down, she was tempted to try what he said. So, she adjusted her posture and started cultivating again, following his method. … Upstairs, Andrew collapsed onto the huge bed in his room. He had just arrived in the capital and had already run into trouble—no wonder he felt drained. Still, there were things he needed to keep up
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1032
After leaving the Aroma Exchange, Andrew got into the car and said, "Drive. I'm tired and just want to rest." However, Aspen did not start the engine. She had been holding back her curiosity all evening and finally asked, "Was Mr. Fischer really your subordinate?" Andrew kept his eyes on the window and replied calmly, "Something like that." Aspen's heart skipped a beat. She had suspected that Andrew was not an ordinary man. She pressed on, "Mr. Fischer called you… General. Andrew, were you some kind of military general before?" Andrew glanced at her and said, "Why the interrogation? Are you trying to run a background check?" The Ferrari shot forward with a roar, and Aspen huffed, "Fine, don't tell me. It's not like I'm dying to know anyway." Andrew said, "The more you know, the more dangerous it gets for you." Aspen scoffed, "There it is. The mysterious act. You think you're in a movie or something?" A vein popped on Andrew's forehead. "Aspen, I just complimented your
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Aspen could only imagine how terrifying Andrew's real identity was. Everyone knew that Holtrien had no shortage of prodigies, but those who made it onto the Titan List were monsters in human form—true legends among legends. Take Aspen, for example. In her hometown of Bridgefields, she was the pride of the city, admired by everyone. Yet, not a single person from Bridgefields had ever qualified for the Titan List. Even the Underworld Index only had at most two names from there, and they were way at the bottom. Andrew stood up and said, "Alright then, I should head back and get some rest. Thanks for the hospitality, by the way." Zachary stood up right after him, eyes blazing with passion. "Come back with us. Let's rise again together. Once the old crew hears you're back, they'll drop everything and come running!" Andrew chuckled and replied, "Don't exaggerate. I'm just a regular guy, just trying to live a simple, quiet life. All that talk about fighting and war? I'm not into
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Zachary let out a cold snort. "You better make sure there isn't a next time. Everyone seated here has earned their place—except you. You're just a cheap nobody who doesn't belong at this table." He added, "Get on your knees and pour drinks for Mr. Lloyd and Ms. Stevens." Ruth stared at him in disbelief. Was he seriously asking her to kneel now, all for Andrew? Was he really worth this level of humiliation? Ultimately, she gritted her teeth and dropped to her knees like a servant—silently pouring drinks as ordered. Aspen watched, wanting to say something but stopped herself. She could not help but shoot Andrew a look, annoyed he had not said a word to stop it. Letting someone kneel like that was seriously inhumane. However, Andrew just sipped his drink quietly, as if he had not seen anything. He had no intention of stepping in—not after how Ruth had acted earlier. If anything, this was just karma being served cold. Zachary downed half his glass and looked across the table
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"Ms. Stevens, please have a seat," Zachary said warmly. Aspen was caught off guard but quickly sat beside Andrew, feeling like she had entered a surreal dream. Never in her life had she imagined someone like Zachary Fischer—a living legend in the southern martial arts world—would personally invite her to sit. "Ruth, go grab the two vintage bottles I've been saving," Zachary added, turning to her with a tone that left no room for negotiation. "Tonight, I'm going all out for Mr. Lloyd." Ruth's face tightened with resentment. Why was her man, always so powerful and untouchable, suddenly acting like a bootlicker? However, when Zachary's icy gaze locked onto her, she shuddered and hurried off to obey without another word. Andrew chuckled, clearly amused. "Zac, you're living large these days. And your woman? Man, she carries herself like she the damn queen." Zachary forced a bitter smile. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lloyd. Ruth's gotten spoiled by me. I'll discipline her better going forward
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"Zac! Do it! What are you waiting for?!" Ruth shrieked, stamping her heel in a fury. Without a word, Zachary raised his hand and slapped her across the face hard. The force sent Ruth flying, blood trickling from the corner of her lips. Stunned, she clutched her cheek and stared at him in disbelief like she had just seen a ghost. "Why… Why the hell did you hit me?" she stammered. Around them, everyone froze in place. They all could not believe what had just happened, and they could not help but wonder if it was a mistake. After all, they all thought Andrew was the one who should have been hit. Andrew stared at Zachary, shocked. Then, he let out a low, amused laugh. He certainly had not expected to see a familiar face, of all things. Meanwhile, Zachary shuddered. From the moment Andrew had stepped into the light, he had been frozen, like some spell had locked his limbs in place. His legs were shaking as he stammered, "C-Captain, is it really you?" Andrew's lips curled int
