"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
Tony's expression turned cold as he replied, "Mr. Eslinger, it was a young man named Andrew Lloyd." Bane Eslinger frowned. "A young man? That seems unlikely. Mastering pressure point techniques that could manipulate someone's life and death isn't something a youngster could achieve." Tony said bitterly. "Mr. Eslinger, I'm not lying. Andrew not only struck Juan's pressure point but also took down one of my top lieutenants. I'll make him pay dearly for this." Michael interjected, "Mr. Madden Senior, are you talking about that junior doctor from Jayrodale General Hospital?" "That's exactly who I mean!" Tony replied, surprised. "Do you know him, Mr. Rhodes?" Michael's expression darkened. "Of course I do. Right now, he has my dear cousin Lauren, the Rhodes family's heiress, completely wrapped around his finger." He turned to Bane and said, "Bane, remember the Death's Draught you gave me? Andrew was the one who neutralized it." Bane was surprised. "Ah, so it was him. If he can
"You're making too big a deal out of this. Why bring me in for such a minor player?" Bane remarked. Michael scoffed. "Bane, you're oversimplifying things. To inherit Rhodes Corporation, I need to get rid of Lauren. With your help, eliminating her would have made my path to leadership smooth sailing, but then Andrew showed up and ruined everything. I can't even enjoy messing around with women anymore with this rage burning inside me." Bane nodded. "Fair enough. He has sparked my curiosity too. The fact that he could neutralize my poison shows more skill than that old fool Cedric—I'd like to meet him myself." Michael smiled coldly, confident in his plan. "With Lauren protecting him, I couldn't touch him directly. But now that Tony's involved, that punk is as good as dead." … Later that evening, Christina was preparing to leave the South City project office after a long day's work. "Christie, please buy me a Porsche. I'm begging you," Leroy pleaded, following behind her. Chr
"Take her." As soon as the command rang out, two East Side thugs immediately grabbed Christina's arms and started dragging her away. "Let her go! Who the hell do you think you are, touching someone from the Stevens family?" Leroy shouted in rage. "You better not lay a finger on her!" Irene screamed. "My daughter is Harvey Weller's fiancee. Do you have any idea what's going to happen to you?" The leader stood emotionless, radiating deadly intent. "Do you think I care about the Stevens family? Here in Jayrodale, I've killed people from families way more important than your little family. Back off if you want to live. I won't hesitate to kill you right here." His menacing presence sent chills down everyone's spines, but Leroy refused to back down. "You think I'm scared of you? Go ahead, try something! Harvey will have your head if you touch me!" The leader's eyes flashed coldly as he suddenly struck Leroy with devastating force, sending him flying. Blood spurted from Leroy's m
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