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Chapter 131
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 132
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 133
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 134
Finally owning his own car, Andrew did not need Christina's help anymore. He stepped on the gas and headed straight for the South City project site, leaving Christina staring at the disappearing Porsche in frustration. Since their breakup, Andrew has shown less and less regard for her. His luxury car, the position as deputy chief at Jayrodale General Hospital, and the trust of billionaire Marvin, who made him an executive at Wealthroller Investments—all these titles combined made him seem just as impressive as her role as CEO of Stevens Corporation. 'Did I really misjudge him?' Christina could not help but wonder, her feelings mixed. Nonetheless, she quickly dismissed the thought, convincing herself that Andrew's success was due to others' help. Such a man could never be worthy of her, Christina Stevens. She needed someone who could genuinely impress her with genuine talent and ability, not someone riding on others' coattails. Christina and Andrew arrived at the South City pr
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 135
Andrew said dismissively, "I simply don't want useless people interfering with our partnership. Ms. Stevens, don't forget that I control half of this project." Irene and Leroy were fuming but did not dare speak up. They had hoped to profit from the project through Christina, their capable daughter and sister. However, they would have to back off if Andrew disagreed. "Mr. Lloyd, rest assured that my mother and brother won't receive any special treatment on the South City project," Christina stated firmly. "I know how to separate business from personal matters! Though I must say, your narrow-mindedness is quite disappointing," she added before walking into the office with a cold expression. Irene smirked. "Andrew, Christie is my daughter and Leroy's sister. An outsider like you can never compete with family, so give it up!" Andrew remained unfazed and smiled. "I finally understand why Christina can be so foolish sometimes—it runs in the family. You're all cut from the same clo
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 136
Settling back into the sofa, Conan smirked. "I'll let this slide since you're Ms. Stevens's brother, but let me give you a piece of advice, kid—don't judge people by appearances. Do you think I'd be this confident without backing?" Irene defended Leroy, saying, "Aren't you just another social climber? What's the big deal?" Conan snorted. "Old hag, you're just as blind as your son, aren't you? Why don't you ask Ms. Stevens if I'm worth the trouble? Without me, this South City project won't even get off the ground—I'll bet on that." Irene and Leroy glared at him, full of resentment and anger. Before they could respond, Christina snapped, "Mom, are you trying to ruin everything? Thrive Enterprise is our only reliable supplier for the materials we need. Or would you rather find me another supplier yourself?" Irene and Leroy fell silent, shrinking back. Conan smiled with satisfaction. "Ms. Stevens, you truly are a gem of our business world. Smart, capable, and beautiful—a rare
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 137
"Aren't your demands getting excessive, Mr. Huxley?" Christina's voice was strained with barely contained anger. Conan smiled, seemingly unfazed. "Don't get upset, Ms. Stevens. It pains my heart to see a beauty like you become Mr. Weller's woman soon. Can any of you imagine wanting something so badly, yet knowing it's forever out of reach?" Leroy snapped impatiently. "Just get to the point, Mr. Huxley. And remember, no one except Harvey is worthy of Christie." Conan chuckled. "You're absolutely right. Ms. Stevens and Mr. Weller are a perfect match. I'm not asking for much—I just want to share one intimate toast with Ms. Stevens, our faces close together. That's not too much to ask, is it?" Under the Stevens family's icy stares, Conan continued shamelessly, "Foreigners even kiss on the lips as a greeting, don't they? I'm just asking for one toast. I promise, just one." Christina was disgusted that after all his circling, his intentions were so crude. Without hesitation, she re
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 138
Christina felt utterly helpless. Even her position as CEO of Stevens Corporation meant little when dealing with shameless thugs like this. However, she was reluctant to call Harvey because she did not want to appear helpless and dependent on him for everything. Yet here she was, watching her mother and brother get assaulted right in front of her while their material supply deal evaporated. Stevens Corporation had lost on all fronts, gaining nothing but humiliation. As Conan reached the door, Andrew, who had remained silent until now, blocked his path. "Mr. Huxley, you can't just assault people and walk away like nothing happened." Conan raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "And who the hell are you? If you don't want to get hurt, I suggest you get out of my way." Andrew met his gaze without flinching. "I'm the other project manager. You're free to refuse our business, but attacking people on my turf crosses a line." Conan burst into exaggerated laughter. "Your turf? I crossed a l
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 139
Blood gushed from Conan's nose and mouth as his head spun from Andrew's strikes. With a powerful kick, Andrew sent Conan's heavy frame sprawling face-first onto the floor. Stepping on Conan's chest, Andrew glared at him and said, "Since you're not into civil conversations, let's try a different approach. Now, how about that apology and compensation?" Terror filled Conan's eyes as the beating had completely stripped away his arrogance. "Please, stop! I'll apologize and pay—whatever you say!" he whimpered, nearly in tears. Even though he had met tough people before, few had ever humbled him like this. As soon as Andrew lifted his foot, Conan scrambled to Irene and Leroy. He slapped himself multiple times, his bloody face full of remorse as he pulled out stacks of cash from his briefcase. "I'm so sorry, please forgive me. Here's money for your medical expenses!" The Stevens family stood stunned. The man who had just been pushing them around was begging for their forgiveness,
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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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1035
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1034
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1033
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1031
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1030
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1029
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1028
"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
