Lauren, Cedric, and Dylan watched in shock as a figure walked calmly into the room. The man ignored the tension in the air and strode straight toward Tony. "You must be Tony Madden, the so-called king of East Side," Andrew said, his voice steady. "I beat up Juan and killed your man. Well, I'm here. What are you going to do about it?" Lauren, Cedric, and Dylan were stunned by the sheer audacity of those words. He single-handedly stormed East Side, killed one of Tony's top men, and beat Juan to a pulp. Not only that, but he was even challenging Tony himself. Even Dylan, a man who had seen his fair share of violence and chaos, felt a cold sweat forming as he watched Andrew's unshaken figure. He always knew Andrew was formidable, but this was a whole other level of audacity. Tony's face turned red with rage, veins bulging in his forehead as he growled, "I'm going to kill you!" Over a hundred East Side members flooded the room, their faces twisted with menace. Several of them gave
Tony let out a sinister laugh. "What's the matter? Getting scared now? Weren't you acting tough just a minute ago?" Andrew smiled. "I'm not scared. I'm just suggesting we could resolve this peacefully. What do you think?" Tony laughed, his tone mocking. "Resolve this peacefully? This isn't over until you're in pieces! Get on your knees, cripple yourself, and beg for Juan's forgiveness. Maybe then we'll talk." Tony relaxed back in his chair, lit a cigar, and began blowing smoke rings. Lauren frowned. "Mr. Madden Senior, you're being unreasonable. We can treat Juan's injuries and discuss this like civilized people." "Tony, it's better to end feuds than escalate them," Dylan added gravely. "The three of us are willing to make amends. Isn't that enough?" Tony scoffed. "This loser dared to come to my territory and challenge me. Do you think I'll let him walk out of the East Side alive? That's ridiculous." Andrew chimed in, "I agree. I gave you a chance for peace, but you're t
Andrew sneered. "Well, are we doing this the hard way?" Tony was on the verge of losing it. He barked, "Shut up and let go of Juan! If you do, I'll let you walk out of here. Now, get lost! All of you!" Andrew said calmly, "Ms. Rhodes, Dylan, Dr. Aicker—let's go." Dylan did not move. "Mr. Lloyd, don't trust Tony. The moment we leave, he'll order his men to surround us." Andrew turned to Tony with a smile. "You'd better not try that. I've hit a pressure point in Juan's body that could be fatal." He continued, "If we can't leave safely, believe me, your idiot son will be the first to die." Tony's expression fell again. He had indeed planned to order his hundreds of thugs to beat up these bastards the moment Andrew released Juan. However, he had not expected Andrew to be one step ahead. "Are we really going to let this punk walk away just like this?" one of his trusted men shouted in frustration. "When has East Side ever taken such a huge loss?" Tony replied grimly, "What
Lauren said with disgust, "Last time at the racetrack, it was that bastard who pushed Juan to start trouble. While the Wellers may be one of Jayrodale's elite families, Harvey is nothing but a scheming snake." Dylan snorted. "Mr. Lloyd, would you like me to arrange something and teach that little punk Harvey a lesson?" Andrew responded calmly, "Not yet. If he continues to act foolishly and crosses my path one day, I'll make sure he understands the meaning of regret." Lauren's eyes sparkled as she smiled at Andrew. Her man was becoming more commanding by the day. Without making a show of it, he had both the legendary Aicker family and Dylan's people on his side. She could not help but wonder how Christina could have ever let go of someone with such capabilities. … That night, Tony was destined for a sleepless night. As he massaged his throbbing forehead, he asked, "Well? Have they figured out how to fix Juan's condition?" His trusted man replied anxiously, "Mr. Madden Seni
Tony muttered, "Andrew Lloyd, Andrew Lloyd…" Then, he slapped Bernard so hard it sent him flying across the room. He spat, "Are you out of your damn mind? You think you can mess with me?" Bernard was stunned and protested, "Mr. Madden Senior, I'm telling the truth! Why are you hitting me?" He tried to be helpful, but Tony was not only ungrateful, but he was also violent. Bernard wanted to leave and just let Juan die. Tony snarled, "Why am I hitting you? You idiot, that bastard Andrew is the one who put Juan in this condition!" "What? He did this to Mr. Madden?" Bernard's jaw dropped as he finally understood why Tony had slapped him. He had unknowingly poked at Tony's fresh wound, so maybe he deserved that slap after all. "Mr. Madden Senior, if Mr. Madden's condition was really caused by him, then we're in serious trouble," Bernard said gravely after collecting himself. Tony snorted. "What do you mean trouble? With my connections and power, do you think I'm just going to
Those in the know understood that Andrew could easily fill the deputy chief position at Jayrodale General Hospital. With his exceptional medical skills, he could even handle being the chief doctor without breaking a sweat. Standing in his newly renovated office, Andrew sighed and said, "Ms. Rhodes, Dr. Aicker, I honestly have no interest in the deputy chief position." Lauren beamed with joy as she replied, "Dr. Lloyd, we know you don't care about these titles. However, Jayrodale General Hospital is our privately owned hospital, and leadership positions are based on ability, not seniority. The position of deputy chief suits you perfectly." Francesca chimed in with a smile, "If you want, I'll even hand over my position to you. I could step down as chief doctor and assist you instead." "Please, I'm already overwhelmed with the deputy chief role, let alone being the chief," Andrew replied with a wry smile. Lauren flashed a mischievous grin and teased, "Fran, why are you being so
Watching Bernard storm away as angrily as he had arrived, Francesca frowned. "Lauren, it seems Bernard still can't let go of his prejudice against Andrew." Lauren scoffed. "Who cares about him? Anyone who goes against Dr. Lloyd is bound to fail sooner or later." Francesca's expression turned serious. "Lauren, Mr. Bozzelli backs Bernard, and he has never really seen eye to eye with our families." "If Mr. Bozzelli is smart, he won't oppose us just to support someone like Bernard," Lauren said with a cold snort. The entire morning was quiet for Andrew. Since becoming deputy chief, he found himself less busy than when he was an attending physician, and both Lauren and Francesca had given him considerable autonomy. Unless the hospital encountered cases that were too challenging even for Francesca, Andrew only needed to step in during emergencies despite being Jayrodale General Hospital's ace. Christina called at noon, her tone notably distant as she said, "Mr. Lloyd, do you hav
An uncomfortable silence fell between them in the car. Finally, Christina broke the silence and asked, "Do you still hate me after all this time?" Andrew chuckled. "You're overthinking it, Ms. Stevens. Why would I hate you? I'm happy that you're getting married into such a prestigious family." Christina murmured, looking lost. "I can't tell what it is, but I don't feel any joy at all from Harvey's return and proposal." "That's your business, Ms. Stevens. It has nothing to do with me," Andrew replied coldly. "Can't you just listen to me?" Christina snapped in frustration. Andrew fixed her with an icy stare until she nervously looked away. "Look, I spent years listening to you, through your happiness and sadness, always quietly supporting you. But you chose another man's arms because you thought I was too ordinary for you. You made your choice, so whether it works out or not is your problem, not mine." Christina took a deep breath, her eyes regaining their determination. "No
Lauren nodded. "I've realized both of these issues too. The Pharmaceutical Division's reputation has tanked, and there's no way to fix that in the short term. But for the second issue, I think we can bring in a well-known spokesperson to endorse our two formulas." Marcus' eyes lit up as he immediately agreed. "That's a great idea, Ms. Rhodes. Our products will gain instant recognition if we get a solid endorsement!" Andrew chuckled. "Getting a spokesperson is a good move. But for our two formulas, it would be best to have an expert in traditional medicine or holistic wellness—someone with real authority in the field." Marcus suggested, "How about we get Mr. Aicker to endorse us?" Lauren shook her head. "No way. Mr. Aicker is the head of the Aicker family. There's no way he'd personally endorse Rhodes Corporation's products." Andrew smirked. "That works out perfectly. I need to drop by Moonlit Apothecary to see him anyway. When we get there, we can ask him about any well-respe
Jerry said, "Mr. Lloyd, Mrs. Rhodes is sincerely asking for your input this time. She really wants you to come in and help strategize." Jerry's voice was urgent. "Like it or not, we're all in the same boat right now. If the Pharmaceutical Division goes under, you're going to take a loss too, Mr. Lloyd." Andrew let out a light scoff. "What, you mean the five billion I invested? Big deal. Even if Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division collapses, the rest of the corporation will still stand. "If worst comes to worst, Mrs. Rhodes can just file for bankruptcy and liquidation. Whatever I get back is whatever I get back. And even if I lose all five billion, I couldn't care less." Jerry could not believe how Andrew was dismissing the five billion dollars like it was nothing. Was Andrew even human? His expression darkened as he lowered his voice. "Mr. Lloyd, I understand you don't approve of Mrs. Rhodes' methods. But don't forget—Ms. Rhodes is her daughter. If you ever want thin
Michael had been in his office, getting a little too comfortable flirting with his secretary, when his subordinates suddenly barged in, looking grim. They reported, "Mr. Rhodes, the Weller family is playing dirty! They're openly marketing against us, calling our products garbage that not even dogs would buy. And that scumbag Harvey even hired a professional team to run tests on our products and posted the results online! "Now, the entire internet is trashing us, saying our products are nothing but a cash grab with zero real value. Our Pharmaceutical Division's reputation has completely tanked, and we're being dragged through the mud online!" Shoving the secretary aside, he did not even have time to zip up before he exploded, "What the hell happened? How did things turn to shit this fast? Get me the latest market reports—now!" Grabbing the report, he skimmed through it with an increasingly dark expression. By the time he reached the last page, veins bulged on his forehead. With
Michael grew anxious and blurted out, "Aunt Tiana, why are you asking him? What can he possibly do?" He quickly followed up, "You have nothing to worry about. Even if the Stevens and the Wellers both jump in, I guarantee I'll keep them completely suppressed!" Tiana shot him a cold glare. "I hate when people interrupt me while I'm talking. Right now, I'm asking Andrew, not you. So shut up—that would be the best thing you could do!" Michael's face turned red, then pale. He could not understand why Tiana was turning to Andrew instead of relying on him. He was the backbone of Rhodes Corporation now, was he not? Andrew remained completely unfazed. "Sorry, Mrs. Rhodes, but I don't have any great solutions at the moment. But it's easy to predict that with Stevens Corporation suddenly jumping into Jayrodale's pharmaceutical market, the situation will only become even tougher." Tiana's expression darkened even further. She replied, "Mr. Lloyd, I know you still hold a grudge against
Michael sneered. "When the time comes, I'm going to crush you so hard, you won't even know what hit you!" He truly could not understand why Andrew and Lauren were still bothering to put up a fight. Even with Glorious Pharmaceuticals backing them, he believed there was no way they could produce anything worthwhile in such a short period. Michael had never been more confident. At this point, losing was not even an option. Just then, Tiana called them over. Michael walked up with a smug smile. "Aunt Tiana, what can I do for you?" With his numbers climbing, he spoke with newfound confidence. Tiana's expression was slightly grim as she slammed a document onto the table. "Take a look at this!" Michael frowned and flipped through the pages. The moment he grasped what was inside, his face twisted in anger. "Stevens Corporation is entering the pharmaceutical industry? "And according to this analysis, their products are almost identical to Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Divisi
Andrew chuckled and said, "No pressure. Even if, down the line, you decide not to work with us or you don't want to handle orders this big, I'd understand. Right now, our products are all investment and no return. No one knows if they'll actually sell. If they flop, that's a massive loss!" He added, "But let me remind you—golden opportunities don't come around every day. When the market is hot, the smart ones soar. Those who hesitate and miss their chance? Well, they'll just be watching from the sidelines." Stephen's eyes flickered, and after a brief internal struggle, he clenched his teeth. "Mr. Lloyd, I'm in!" Andrew shot him a look of distaste. "We're both grown men. Watch how you phrase that—it sounds way too suggestive." Lauren nearly burst out laughing. Andrew was definitely a little sensitive about certain words lately. Stephen let out an awkward chuckle. "Right, poor choice of words. What I meant is that my company is taking this on, Mr. Lloyd. You don't need to go lo
Lauren blinked her big, expressive eyes and asked in confusion, "Why?" Andrew spread his hands and said, "Because I don't think I even went all out." Lauren's expression froze instantly, thinking that Andrew was truly terrifying. Watching as the flirty Lauren quickly turned and fled, her graceful silhouette disappearing in the distance, Andrew felt completely misunderstood. However, he had only spoken the truth. Last night, he had actually held back with Francesca. If he had not, things would have taken a much wilder, more intense turn. … Today was the scheduled delivery day for Stephen's shipment. Andrew and Lauren personally went to oversee the product being sent out. Stephen wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned. "Mission accomplished, Mr. Lloyd. Please check if everything meets your expectations." Andrew clapped his hands and said, "No need. I already looked it over—good work, Mr. Brunner!" Stephen quickly laughed along. "As long as you're satisfied, Mr. L
Andrew packed up and drove to Rhodes Corporation. Right at the entrance, he ran into Marcus, who had just stepped out of his car. The moment Marcus saw Andrew, he gave him a once-over, grinning from ear to ear. He chirped, "Mr. Lloyd, you're looking great—full of energy and in high spirits!" Andrew raised a brow in surprise. "Mr. Chapman, how exactly can you tell I'm feeling good?" Marcus smirked knowingly. "Mr. Lloyd, let's not play dumb. We're both men. That kind of glow? It's obvious you had a very… satisfying night." Andrew was even more surprised. Could Marcus really tell something like that just by looking at him? Then, it clicked. This department head at Rhodes Corporation might appear serious on the surface, but he was a regular at certain high-end clubs. That explained a lot. Lowering his voice, Marcus chuckled. "Every time I spend the night at a club, I see plenty of like-minded gentlemen walking out in the morning with the exact same look as you. "It's the kin
Lauren's teasing voice came through the video call. "Fran, are you at Dr. Lloyd's place right now?" Francesca's cheeks instantly flushed red. She hesitated for a second before mumbling a quiet "Mm-hmm." Lauren gasped dramatically before covering her mouth with a giggle. "Oh, so that means… Fran, you got the full Dr. Lloyd treatment last night?" Francesca gritted her teeth. "Lauren, you better not laugh at me! Do you even know how close I was to being ruined last night? I can barely walk!" Lauren blinked, looking both impressed and mildly horrified. "Wait… you mean Dr. Lloyd is that intense?" Francesca huffed. "You'll find out soon enough. When it's your turn, let's see if you can handle it!" Lauren snickered. "Oh no, no, no—I hate pain. I'll let Dr. Lloyd go wild with you first, and then I'll swoop in once he's all tired out. That way, I can dodge the first wave of his attacks!" Francesca narrowed her eyes and smirked. "Nice try. Next time, you go first—I'll sit back and