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
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
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
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
Christina hesitated, torn between the desire to make money and her business instincts that warned of potential risks. Unlike Irene and Leroy, who blindly invested without considering the risks, she knew better than to jump in without thinking. "If I were you, I wouldn't play the role of a gullible investor," Andrew interjected. "Andrew, do you know something?" Christina asked, surprised by his tone. Andrew frowned and said, "I already told you—the East Side isn't getting developed. You've been in business long enough to be wary of such promises, Christina. Since when does investing a few million guarantee returns in the hundreds of millions? It sounds too good to be true because it is." Christina's resolve began to waver at his words. "Stop fear-mongering, Andrew. This isn't your business," Irene snapped. Leroy added, "Christie, why are you even listening to him? Harvey wouldn't trick you." "Well, Christie, it seems you trust Andrew more than me," Harvey said with feigned
Harvey scoffed. "As if our prestigious family would need to borrow any money. The very idea is laughable." "Actually, Harvey, Nelson did mention you owed the bank money," Christina said. "I was planning to discuss that with you." "Christie, do you really think that's possible?" Harvey smiled. Irene jumped in and defended Harvey. "That idiot Nelson deserved to get fired for spreading such lies. My future son-in-law could easily pull out 150 million or even 1.5 billion if he wanted to." Harvey waved dismissively, exuding poise and confidence. "Mrs. Stevens, you must be joking. A few hundred million, or even billions—that's a big deal. But to owe just a few million? Please, I wouldn't even bother with something so small."Andrew stood up, clearly done with the conversation. Christina frowned and asked, "Andrew, are you leaving already?" He replied flatly, "If I stay any longer, I'm afraid my intelligence will take a hit." Christina's face darkened. "Fine, Mr. Lloyd. Don't l
Harvey felt better knowing Andrew was in bigger trouble than him. He smirked and muttered, "Tony's even more ruthless than Dylan. Andrew won't have a single bone left intact when Tony is done with him." Just outside the restaurant, three SUVs suddenly surrounded Andrew. He remained calm as he watched several men step out of the vehicles. "Remember me?" Juan sneered through his barely healed bruises. "Today will be your last." "Oh, I remember," Andrew replied with a smirk. "How could I forget? Last time, I beat you up so badly that you were almost unrecognizable." The memory of Andrew's slaps at the racetrack still haunted Juan. "You won't be laughing soon. Before we kill you, I'm going to make sure you know exactly how it feels to have your face destroyed." Standing nearby with a cold glare, Rocco chimed in, "Don't play any tricks. Cooperate, and I might make it quick. If not…" His voice trailed off menacingly, leaving no room for doubt. Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Let me g
Rocco muttered as he looked at the gun, "With this baby, everyone will bow down—no matter who they are." He failed to notice the icy calm in Andrew's gaze, utterly unfazed by the weapon. After Juan and his men took Andrew away, one of the South City gang members emerged trembling from his hiding spot. He quickly dialed his phone and reported, "Mr. Garner, we've got trouble—Mr. Rocco from East Side just took Lloyd" Dylan's voice shook with anger as he shouted, "W-What? You idiots! Weren't you supposed to watch Mr. Lloyd and report anything suspicious immediately?" The lackey stammered, "M-Mr. Garner, this wasn't our fault. The East Side crew came out of nowhere, and Rocco had a gun. Mr. Lloyd had no chance to fight back." "Those bastards brought weapons?" Dylan cursed. "That old fox Tony's playing for keeps." "What do we tell Mr. Yates if something happens to Mr. Lloyd?" the lackey asked anxiously. Dylan growled, "Don't panic! I'll report this to Mr. Yates immediately.
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