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
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
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
"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
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
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,
Irene, embarrassed and angry, snapped, "Who asked you to defend us? Stop acting so high and mighty. If Harvey were here, he could have handled it just as easily." Leroy added smugly, "Exactly! If Harvey were here, that idiot Conan wouldn't have dared to act so shamelessly." Deep down, both mother and son felt bitter. The fact that Andrew handled someone who had trampled over them only made them look weak and useless in comparison. Christina could not take it anymore and scolded them. "Mom, Leroy, can you two just stop?" She sighed in exasperation. "Andrew helped us out, and that's the fact. Thanks to him, the issue with Thrive Enterprise's materials has been resolved perfectly." Christina turned to Andrew with a complicated expression. "Whether you accept it or not, I need to thank you. If it weren't for you, my mom and Leroy would have been beaten for nothing." "Christie, why are you thanking him? We didn't ask for his help," Irene muttered resentfully. "Andrew, please
Christina said, "I was trying to give you friendly advice, but if you won't listen, forget I said anything. I understand you might not have access to Mr. Yates, which is why you're pretending not to need his help." "Don't worry though. You helped me once, so even if you can't get Mr. Yates to speak up for you, I'll stand up for you if Mr. Huxley causes any trouble," she added. Andrew chuckled dismissively. "That won't be necessary. Stevens Corporation should focus on its own problems." Irene snorted. "What problems? Our company is thriving. Don't you dare spread rumors." Andrew gave a cold smile. "From what I hear, Harvey's drowning in debt and barely staying afloat. Stevens Corporation's investment is probably going down the drain. If I were you, I'd try to get that money back now to minimize losses." "That's bullshit!" Irene snapped. "Andrew, just admit you're jealous. Harvey just confirmed everything's on track. Once the paperwork comes through, Stevens Corporation will be
"Has West End lost all its pride?" Conan demanded. Natasha waved her hand dismissively and gritted her teeth. "Everyone out—I can't blame anyone when I'm simply outmatched. I underestimated him, and even if you all attacked together, you'd just be throwing your lives away." Conan and the other two men reluctantly withdrew, but this time, he remained stationed right outside the door. He wanted to be ready to rush in if Natasha needed help, though he knew they stood no chance against someone who could defeat her. "I admit now that you surpass me in both combat skills and intelligence," Natasha said blankly. "You even have mysterious connections with Marvin and Mark. I can't beat you, Andrew, so do what you will with me." For the first time, Natasha felt utterly defeated. She had never underestimated Andrew, but she had clearly misjudged him completely. She had admired him and wanted him to work for West End, believing her status, charm, and fighting prowess would be enough to t
Natasha's bedroom was in complete disarray. She lay on the floor, drenched in sweat with disheveled hair and blood at the corner of her mouth, her face ghostly pale. Her half-open eyes glared at Andrew with intense hatred, while he sat casually on the couch, sipping his tea as if nothing had happened. Unlike Natasha's battered state, not a single thread on Andrew's clothing was out of place. "Wait, so you two weren't… you were actually fighting?" the bearded enforcer asked in disbelief. Another West End thug added in shock, "How is it possible that Madam is injured?" To them, Natasha had always been an invincible fighter, yet now she lay helpless on the floor, thoroughly defeated by Andrew. Conan shot an angry glare at the bearded enforcer and his companion. "Weren't you just saying how much fun she was having? Stop standing there like idiots and help her up!" The two men rushed forward to assist Natasha, but she impatiently pushed them away. "Get out! All of you get out!
Andrew's fingers struck with precision, targeting pressure points that sent waves of intense pain through Natasha's body. "Darling, no! Please, stop! I was wrong—I'm sorry! I can't take it anymore. It hurts so much!" "Ahhh! Stop it, please stop! Don't do this anymore!" Natasha cried out, her voice switching between desperate wails and hysterical laughter as the unbearable pain pushed her to the brink. The excruciating pain caused Natasha to writhe on the floor. She crashed into the couch and coffee table, making loud thudding noises that echoed through the room. … In the hallway outside, several heads peeked around the corner, intently watching Natasha's door. Conan led the group, his weathered face twisted with concern as he whispered, "Something doesn't sound right about this." One of the West End enforcers chuckled. "Come on, can't you tell? Madam is just having a good time!" Another man with a scruffy beard joined in with a knowing chuckle. "Exactly! Madam Vostoko
Andrew remained seated on the couch, his expression unchanged, as he raised his leg to intercept Natasha's attack. "You won't even stand up? Fine! If you're going to disrespect me like this, I'll have to teach you a lesson!" Natasha's chest heaved with anger. Her combat abilities surpassed Dylan's, and she was just a hair's breadth away from matching Atlas. Yet, this arrogant young man would not even bother to get up from his seat to face her attack, which felt like a direct insult to her pride. She transformed her claw-like strikes into palm strikes, alternating blows aimed at Andrew's chest. Without even looking, the latter countered with two palm strikes of his own, and their hands collided with two dull thuds. Natasha felt an overwhelming force transmitted through Andrew's hands, causing her to stumble backward. Meanwhile, Andrew remained as steady as a mountain on the couch, even taking a moment to pick up his teacup for a casual sip. He commented, "I'm surprised that a
With frustration written across her face, Natasha gritted her teeth. She had decided it was better not to show off her strategies in front of Andrew anymore, wanting to avoid further embarrassment. Andrew ignored her visible discomfort and said calmly, "I want you to understand that anything gained through deception and betrayal will eventually become too hot to handle and turn to dust. That's the lesson history has taught us time and time again." Natasha scoffed. "Fine, I can't argue with you. But you have to admit that two-thirds or more of Jayrodale's underworld is now under my control. Either you and Dylan submit to my authority, or you'll face death!" Andrew shook his head and replied, "You're seeing things through rose-colored glasses. While Dylan might not be able to handle you, I can take you down with a single move. That's another lesson I want to teach you today—that in the face of absolute power, no amount of schemes or clever tricks will work." Natasha paused, then
After her initial shock, Natasha's face flushed with embarrassment and anger, refusing to back down as she questioned him. "Alright, you call yourself a master physician. Then let me ask you this—why did I still get injured in my fight with Atlas after taking the Blood Surge Pill? And now you're accusing me of faking it?" Andrew's lips curled into a mocking smile as he replied, "Is that so hard to figure out? The moment you got back, you took a high-quality healing pill. Judging by your complexion, it must've been a top-tier Vitality Pill. These pills can quickly replenish energy and restore blood, bringing you back from weakness in no time." "Well, am I wrong?" Andrew's tone was dripping with sarcasm as he stared at Natasha. Natasha fell silent for a long moment before clapping her hands, a rosy blush spreading across her face—there was not a hint of weakness left in her demeanor. "No wonder Dylan swears unwavering loyalty to you. Even I have to admit defeat before you, darlin
"At this point, West End can't even send out a proper representative," Andrew stated emotionlessly. "Since you're treating me like I don't exist, I'll kill you first, then have a chat with Natasha." "Mr. Lloyd, please don't go too far!" a voice suddenly thundered from behind. "Conan, done watching the show from your hiding spot?" Andrew smirked as he released his grip and kicked the tattooed giant toward Conan. Conan's face twitched. He knew the tattooed giant was one of Natasha's most fearless fighters, young and skilled in hand-to-hand combat, yet Andrew had broken him so effortlessly. "Please follow me, Mr. Lloyd. Madam Vostokoff will see you now," Conan said coldly. Andrew sneered. "Oh, now she's willing to meet after this show of force?" "Mr. Lloyd, West End has already absorbed Atlas's territory," Conan stated angrily. "If you were smart, you wouldn't have come here." "So, if I hadn't shown up, Natasha would just take everything herself?" Andrew's face remained expr
Andrew's patience had run out as he spoke in a cold tone. "One last time—tell Natasha to come out and talk now." The tattooed giant mocked, "Or what? What can you do? Andrew, you might have some history with West End, but if you think that gives you the right to make demands, you're in the wrong place." As he moved to push Andrew away again, the other guards snickered. With Atlas' fall, Natasha had become Jayrodale's most powerful underground leader, and they could not believe this man's audacity in challenging West End. Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed through the air—the sound of a wrist being broken. The tattooed giant let out an agonizing scream. "My hand! You broke my hand! Get him! Attack!" The fifty-over guards stood shocked for a moment before charging forward with angry shouts. Andrew's face turned cold as his leg swept out. Screams filled the air as the first wave of guards went flying, their faces meeting Andrew's foot. The tattooed giant, his wrist still in Andrew
Aspen had invested ten million dollars in Atlas's operation, and if it were all gone, there would be serious consequences. They immediately got into the car with Irene and Leroy, heading toward Jayrodale's Northern District. … Meanwhile, Andrew's G-Wagon drifted to a smooth stop in front of the West End headquarters. Unlike usual, the building was surrounded by guards in black suits, dark ties, and sunglasses, creating an intimidating atmosphere. One of Natasha's top enforcers blocked Andrew's path. "Sorry, Mr. Lloyd, but you can't enter right now!" "I'm here to see Madam Vostokoff. Is there a problem?" Andrew asked with a smile as he sized up the man. The enforcer was a muscular giant with a crew cut and tattoos covering his neck, chest, and arms. His bulging muscles and fists the size of melons marked him as someone not to be messed with. "Mr. Lloyd, please understand that Madam Vostokoff isn't available right now," the man chuckled, pushing Andrew back. "You're an honore