At that moment, Andrew was at Jayrodale General Hospital when Dylan called. "Mr. Lloyd, there's something urgent I need to report." "What is it, Dylan?" Andrew asked. "My men saw Tony's people take Christina, the CEO of Stevens Corporation, from the South City project," Dylan reported gravely. "When did this happen?" Andrew's tone turned icy. "Just moments ago. She's probably been taken to the East Side by now. I suspect Tony is planning to use her against you, Mr. Lloyd." "I'll make sure he pays with his life for this!" Andrew growled. Dylan felt a chill running down his spine. "Mr. Lloyd, are you going to intervene? I'll gather our men right away to storm East Side with you." "No need. I'll go alone. I want to see what Tony's up to," Andrew replied calmly. "But Mr. Lloyd, Tony's dangerous! Going alone is—" Before Dylan could even finish his warning, Andrew interrupted, "Don't worry. Once I'm there, no matter how many men or skilled fighters East Side are protecti
Tony chuckled. "Of course, Mr. Blackwood. Even just having you here is worth every penny." Even though he said that, his heart ached at the cost. These martial arts masters had extraordinary skills but were also arrogant and greedy. Each job they took was like an excuse to extort the clients, draining them dry with every outrageous demand. Nonetheless, Tony's thoughts turned cold as he remembered the rumors circulating in Jayrodale's underworld—that he, the East Side crime lord, was a useless old man, and Juan was equally worthless. Both father and son had been humiliated by some nobody, tarnishing the reputation of East Side's ruler. The shame was simply unbearable, and Tony believed the only way to salvage his reputation was to eliminate Andrew. By doing so, he would restore his image as the unshakable ruler of the East Side. Just then, Christina was brought in. Her face turned pale at the sight of the hundred-plus thugs and the martial art masters seated at the front. "
Christina took a deep breath, finding her calm. "Mr. Madden Senior, even as East Side's crime lord, if you hurt me, Harvey will demand justice." At this point, she could not imagine Tony completely disregarding the Weller family's influence. However, Tony scoffed. "Harvey? That guy owes me millions. Justice? The moment he sees me, he'd be on his knees begging!" The men around the room erupted in mocking laughter. "Harvey? That guy's nothing but a cowardly joke!" one of them jeered. Another sneered. "Ms. Stevens, you're a stunner, but sticking with Harvey? You're wasting your beauty. You'd be better off with Mr. Madden Senior. He'd make sure the Stevens family reaches new heights." "Honestly," another chimed in, "Harvey's only still afloat because his father has some sway. Otherwise, he'd have been tossed out of Jayrodale long ago!" Christina's anger flared. She could not believe the arrogance of these East Side thugs, openly belittling the Weller family like this. However, do
Tony angrily shouted, "Are you making the call?" Christina's face was already drained of all color, her mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood. Even so, she stood her ground, weakly shaking her head. "No… I won't let Andrew walk into a… death trap because of me. You might as well… give up!" "Keep hitting her! Beat her to death if you have to!" Tony roared, his fury boiling over. The whip struck her back again and again, each lash more merciless than the last. Christina's body soon became a canvas of blood, her dress torn and stained as her skin broke under the relentless assault. She wailed in pain before passing out. Sitting beside Tony, Herman Blackwood, an elderly man with streaks of white in his hair, chuckled darkly. His voice was laced with malice as he said, "This one's got some backbone; I'll give her that." "But for someone like her, brute force alone won't break her spirit. I've got an idea that'll make her submit instantly." Tony was intrigued. "Wh
Juan let out an excited yell and tugged forcefully at Christina's dress. The delicate fabric tore apart, exposing a flash of her pale, flawless skin. "Stop! Get away from me!" Christina screamed, her voice cracking with fear and desperation. Tears streamed down her face as she broke down completely, the brutal beating earlier having nearly shattered her resolve. Now, faced with humiliation and violation, her defenses crumbled entirely. "Scream all you want—it only makes this more exciting!" Juan laughed wickedly as the East Side thugs, and even Herman cheered him on from the sidelines. "Go for it, Mr. Madden! Show her who's boss!" "But don't forget the order—Mr. Madden Senior will go after this, then the rest of us!" "Tonight, every one of us gets to enjoy her!" The room echoed with their wicked jeers. Christina could not take it anymore. She collapsed to her knees, clutching her head, sobbing uncontrollably. In her most helpless moment, she cried out, "Andrew… Andrew,
Tony gritted his teeth in rage, each word coming out like venom when he saw Andrew. Meanwhile, Andrew's expression was colder and more menacing than ever, unlike anything they had seen before. With lightning speed, he hurled the axe he seized during the fight, and it whistled through the air past East Side's elite fighters. The axe struck Juan's arm with devastating precision, causing him to scream in agony as his right arm was cleanly severed at the shoulder, blood gushing everywhere. Some droplets even landed on Christina's pale, horrified face, leaving her trembling in shock and disbelief. "My arm, my arm… Dad, help me! Kill him, kill that bastard!" Juan clutched at the stump of his shoulder as he writhed on the ground, rolling in the growing pool of blood. His once-arrogant demeanor was now reduced to a pitiful, blood-soaked mess. Tony roared like a madman, "Andrew, you bastard! I'll kill you and your whole damn family!" Then, he turned to his men and shouted, "Ge
Tony's massive frame froze, feeling weak all over. A moment later, he roared. "Andrew, you bastard! How dare you kill my son! Everyone, attack him! I want him dead and in pieces!" Tony was like a madman. Yet, despite his orders, the East Side thugs remained motionless. Instead, the remaining twenty or so thugs trembled uncontrollably, their weapons shaking in their hands as they backed away from Andrew, whose display of power had completely shattered their courage. Seeing this, Tony's bloodshot eyes bulged with rage. "You cowards! You spineless trash! Attack him! That's an order, damn it!" No matter how much he screamed, his men did nothing, their fear paralyzing them. "I'll handle this!" One of the three elite fighters Tony had hired stepped forward. The muscular man leaped into the air like a feral beast, aiming a devastating flying kick at Andrew. Herman snorted. "Don't worry, Mr. Madden Senior. With us three here, this punk won't cause any trouble." However, he qui
Herman glanced down at Erica's lifeless body, her wide-open eyes frozen in death. Fury consumed him as he kicked the chair behind him aside and stepped directly into Andrew's path. "Step aside, or you'll meet the same fate as them," Andrew warned in a low voice. Herman bristled at the insult. "You arrogant child, how dare you disrespect me!" He snarled, "Do you even know who I am? I'm an elder of the Crimson Alliance—surrender now, or even if you kill the Maddens, our clan will hunt you to the ends of the earth." "He's right, Andrew!" Tony chimed in, suddenly hopeful. "Touch me, and the Crimson Alliance will never stop hunting you. You probably don't know this, but they're the force behind East Side's power!" Andrew shook his head dismissively. "The Crimson Alliance? Should I be impressed? Sorry, but I don't keep track of every minor league martial arts organization out there." Herman smirked. "Our clan ranks among the top five martial arts organizations in all of Jayrodale
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