News of Philip's dismissal spread like wildfire through the hospital, leaving staff in shock at the unexpected turn of events. "Serves him right! That creep's been harassing nurses for ages." "What an amazing news! It's about time someone stood up to the Hacketts. Dr. Lloyd's got guts!" Many were relieved Andrew had come out unscathed, while those who had hoped to see him go were baffled. They wondered how Bernard lost this battle, as it simply did not add up. After all, Andrew no longer had Christina's support, and he was nothing in their eyes. Some of the more imaginative male doctors exchanged knowing glances, wondering if Andrew had somehow charmed Francesca too. If so, they would never forgive him for snagging such a prize. On the other hand, Nyla's colleagues could not resist teasing her. "Dr. Lloyd played the hero for you, Nyla. Shouldn't you show your appreciation?" "That's right, Nyla! You're the belle of our hospital, and I think the only one who could sweep y
At that moment, Andrew received a call from Marvin. "Mr. Lloyd, Christina wants that orphanage property. Should we give it to her?" Marvin asked. Andrew thought for a moment before replying, "Handle it as you see fit. But given our history, if Stevens Corporation makes a decent offer, let them have it." Marvin sighed, "I knew you still had a soft spot for that woman. Alright, I guess Stevens Corporation is getting a good deal." Soon after, Christina received news that Wealthroller Investments had agreed to let Stevens Corporation develop the property. She was overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events and could hardly believe it. "Mr. Yates finally changed his mind?" The staff who delivered the message explained, "Ms. Stevens, your reputation as Jayrodale's rising business star precedes you. To be frank, Mr. Yates received a phone call and immediately agreed to give it to you." Christina was stunned when he heard that one phone call had changed Marvin's mind. She turned to
"Alright, Ms. Rhodes, let's get down to business," Andrew said, slightly overwhelmed by Lauren's antics. Her every move was irresistible, and he could not handle it anymore. Lauren's flirtatious smile faded as she nodded, "Yes, let's talk business." "Fran, I believe Dr. Lloyd can treat your condition," Lauren stated confidently. Francesca glared at Andrew, scoffing, "Him? I've consulted top specialists nationwide and even visited renowned experts in Braundville. They all said it was complicated. What makes this small-time doctor think he's capable?" Andrew frowned, "If I'm not mistaken, the condition you're seeking treatment for is vaginal atresia, correct?" Francesca felt embarrassed at the mention of her condition. She turned to Lauren and asked, "Lauren, this was our secret. Why did you tell this jerk?" Lauren quickly defended herself, "Fran, I swear I never told him anything about your condition." Francesca was skeptical. "Then how does he know about my... condition?"
"That's my girl! Well done. This ungrateful wretch deserved it," Irene cheered. "Way to go, Christie! You should've slapped him too. Teach him a lesson he won't forget," Leroy added. The mother and son applauded, secretly delighted. Shawn smirked. "Andrew, I almost feel sorry for you. Christie's such a kind and gentle woman, and you not only fail to cherish her, but you also manage to make her this angry. You're beyond help. It's no wonder Christie broke things off with you." Christina froze as she watched the water drip down Andrew's face, soaking his shirt. "W-Why didn't you dodge?" Andrew could have avoided it, but he chose not to. "Are you satisfied now? Do you feel better? You know their true nature better than I do, yet you believe everything they say. You're right, us breaking up was wise. Because you're nothing but a foolish woman!" Andrew's icy tone and cold gaze made Christina shiver. She started to doubt her own actions and whether Andrew was really the kind
Shawn looked at Andrew with a smirk. "What's the matter, Andrew? You sound like you have a problem with this." Irene mocked, "Of course he does. He can't stand that you're more capable than him. He's just jealous." Andrew shook his head, amazed at Shawn's shamelessness. He knew the truth—Marvin had personally called him for permission, and it was only after Andrew gave the green light that Stevens Corporation had a shot at the orphanage property. Shawn raised his glass, looking smug. "Andrew, you're being ridiculous. I'm graciously inviting you for a drink, and instead of being grateful, you're questioning me. Your attitude suggests you think you helped Christie, not me." Leroy scoffed, "Yeah, right! As if a wimp like him could pull that off. If he managed to do it, I'd eat my hat." Andrew turned to Christina, his tone serious. "A word of advice: you're surrounded by dishonest idiots with bad intentions. Be careful. I'd hate to see you run the Stevens Corporation into the gro
The crowd gasped in shock as they realized these thugs did not seem to care about the Fields family at all. Baldy snarled, "I hate showoffs like you the most. Let's see how tough you really are. Boys, teach him a lesson!" With that command, the gang approached Shawn, kicking and stomping him mercilessly. "Stop it, you bastards!" Shawn screamed, his bravado evaporating instantly. "I order you to stop right now, or I'll make you all disappear!" His threats quickly turned to pitiful pleas. "Please, stop! I'm begging you! You're going to kill me!" Shawn's face was a mess of bruises, his nose broken. The worst pain came from a vicious kick to his groin, leaving him wondering if he could ever father children. Christina stepped forward, her face ashen. "You thugs! What gives you the right to beat someone like this?" Just as she rushed to shield Shawn with her body, Baldy called for his men to stop. He sneered at Shawn's battered form. "Your pathetic Fields family is nothing b
Andrew was nowhere to be seen as Christina looked around. "Since you're not involved in this, get lost, you coward," Baldy snarled, kicking Shawn aside before turning his attention to Christina. "Ms. Stevens, Mr. Garner has his eye on that property. You're coming with us to sign it over." Shawn crawled away, groveling, "Thank you for your mercy. Thank you, Mr. Garner, for sparing me." Internally, he cursed his terrible luck. Jayrodale's four districts were each controlled by a ruthless crime lord. Dylan was the crime lord of the southern area, with hundreds of loyal thugs at his command. The Fields family was insignificant in comparison. "Shawn, they're taking Christie! Do something!" Irene pleaded desperately. Leroy joined in, begging, "Shawn, I know you can figure this out. You're the Fields family heir. Don't you have connections?" Shawn's face darkened as he replied, "I can't do anything. When Mr. Garner wants something, you'd better hand it over." Irene turned on hi
Right at the last second, a cold voice suddenly commanded, "Get away from her!" Baldy's hand had just begun to swing when a powerful force struck his back. Before he could even grunt, he was sent flying by a kick, landing motionless on the ground. Christina stared in disbelief at Andrew, who had suddenly appeared behind Baldy. Andrew's eyes were frighteningly cold, as if ready to kill. "W-Why did you come back?" Christina stammered, surprised. She had thought Andrew had left, disappointed that he seemed even more cowardly than Shawn. "Should I have let them take you and have their way with you?" Andrew snapped, giving the thoughtless woman a stern look. Christina froze, feeling Andrew was being too aggressive. "Andrew, I know I misunderstood you, but you're—" Before she could finish her sentence, Baldy roared, "Get him! Kill that bastard!" A dozen thugs in black clothes immediately surrounded Andrew, some even pulling out weapons. Shawn was secretly delighted and though
"Once you're in my custody, I'll teach you how to behave," Donald threatened as he snatched the security case from Andrew. "Mr. Warren, you'd better not lay your dirty hands on Andrew," Francesca warned angrily. Donald laughed harshly. "He's just a nobody who got greedy. Not only will I touch him, but I'll also make sure he learns what prison feels like." "Fran, Dr. Aicker, you should head home. I'll handle this myself," Andrew said calmly. Francesca protested furiously, "Andrew, you did nothing wrong. Aspen must have set you up!" Andrew shrugged. "It's fine. I'm always ready to play whatever game someone wants to start. Since he wants to throw me in jail without cause, I'll cooperate and submit to his judgment." "Well, well," Donald mocked, moving closer to Andrew's face. "Most people wet themselves at the thought of jail, but you're all smiles. What, you think I can't touch you?" He continued with a cold smile, "I've seen plenty of punks like you who think they're un
"Grandpa, you're so embarrassing…" Francesca groaned. Andrew smiled gently and said, "Let's head home—the event is wrapping up anyway."Elsie watched enviously from the side, thinking how a man who could casually give away such a valuable crystal must be irresistible to women. Suddenly, Andrew turned to her with a smile and said, "Ms. Santana, you've been a great help today. After you process those crystals, please take a ten million commission for yourself." "Really, Mr. Lloyd?" Elsie asked, both surprised and delighted. Andrew nodded. "Of course. If you hadn't invited me to this auction, I wouldn't have had the chance to make such a fortune." Even though Elsie was well-to-do herself and mingled with upper society, Andrew's generosity certainly caught her off guard. Seeing Elsie's admiring gaze toward Andrew, Francesca felt uneasy and urged, "Andrew, Grandpa, let's get going. Thank you for everything, Ms. Santana." "Mr. Lloyd, you should take the VIP exit to avoid unwan
"Little do they know that mediocrity is common in this world. Do they really think everyone can become a natural genius like Dr. Lloyd?" Cedric remarked. "Grandpa, stop acting high and mighty," Francesca retorted. "If it weren't for Andrew, you wouldn't have gotten such great benefits from this auction either." Cedric immediately brightened up with a smile. "Well, Dr. Lloyd certainly helped this old man catch a lucky break today." While everyone else was excited, Andrew remained remarkably calm. "Let's tally up all the gains and have Ms. Santana process them," Andrew said casually. Elsie perked up with surprise, "Mr. Lloyd, you're not taking everything you won today?" "I'll take the Blood Phoenix Cicada and the Royal Violet Crystal," Andrew replied. "For the rest, I'll trouble you to convert them to cash." Though slightly disappointed, Elsie quickly became energized again. While Andrew took the two best pieces, the remaining items were still valuable and would bring sig
"Thank you, then," Aspen said with a smile as she hung up the phone. "Like I said, life isn't just about stone gambling and these trivial antiquities. Power and connections are my ultimate weapons to crush you, Andrew!" Christina asked hesitantly, "Aspen, who did you call for help? From what we saw during the stone gambling, Ms. Santana and Andrew weren't cheating or manipulating anything." Aspen waved her off. "Stay out of this, Christie. That Andrew must have set me up. Why else would I lose so badly? Remember how he insisted on raising the stakes before we even started? That should have been my first red flag, but I foolishly missed it." Christina nodded uncertainly, not wanting to interfere further. Though Aspen treated her like a close friend, there was still a social gap between them since Aspen came from the main branch of the Bridgefields' Stevens family. "Aspen, Elsie works for Silas Vaughn at Radiant Group, and Andrew now knows many Jayrodale socialites," Christina re
"Mr. Lloyd has shown us what true stone gambling mastery means by turning something seemingly worthless into something miraculous," Elsie concluded. The crowd erupted into an unstoppable frenzy, repeatedly chanting, "Mr. Lloyd!" His reputation as a master was cemented in thousands of minds. Countless eyes gazed at him with intense admiration, though many found it hard to comprehend that Andrew was still just a young man. They wondered how someone so young could build such an impressive reputation in antiquities and stone gambling, making them question if some people were truly born under lucky stars. "I lost… I lost again," Aspen laughed bitterly, her face deathly pale. The higher her confidence had soared before, the more crushing her defeat felt now. Typically, as the proud heiress of Bridgefields' Stevens family, Aspen would never admit defeat. However, Andrew's final move with the Blood Phoenix Cicada completely shattered her pride and confidence. She no longer doubted w
The Blood Phoenix Miracle once stunned the entire antiquities and gemstone world. Discovered in the northern desert of Etharia, it earned its name from its brilliant colors and a tiny red fossil inside. This made it the most prestigious of Etharia's four legendary stones before a mysterious billionaire acquired it. Andrew's Blood Phoenix Agate, with its perfectly preserved cicada inside, was essentially another Blood Phoenix Miracle manifesting itself into the world. Though more precisely, this one would be known as the Blood Phoenix Cicada. The chaos at the stone gambling venue was quickly contained when Silas, the CEO of Radiant Group, made a personal appearance. The panel of experts and the bigwigs from the Jayrodale Antiquities Association could not contain their excitement as they rushed to authenticate Andrew's extraordinary find. "There's no doubt that this is a divine treasure just like the Blood Phoenix Miracle," one expert declared. Others chimed in, "The cicad
At this point, there was nothing else Elsie could do. The situation seemed hopeless for Andrew. "What a shame for Mr. Lloyd this round," someone remarked, while others chimed in, "Why choose such an obviously worthless large stone when there were so many better options?" The antique experts shook their heads in disappointment, having hoped to see Andrew triumph over the Bridgefields heiress. Yet, Andrew did not even glance at Aspen's Royal Violet Crystal. Instead, he carefully guided the craftsman's cutting, and as the waste material fell away, a mysterious red glow began to emerge. The craftsman's heart skipped a beat—such a lustrous glow should not appear in worthless material. Elsie noticed something unusual too, and quickly moved to Andrew's side, crouching down for a closer look. The red glow intensified, revealing a transparent red gem standing out prominently among the debris. For a moment, even the experienced Elsie was left speechless. "Well, what do we have here?
"Stupid woman, I just asked you to wait, not admitting defeat," Andrew said with a smirk. "Why are you already counting your money? Running low on funds?" Aspen's face turned red with anger. "Fine, let's see what trick you're trying to pull here," she spat, knowing she was running out of money. Even if she won, claiming Andrew's worthless stone would be like taking home garbage. "Mr. Lloyd, what else would you like me to do?" the cutter asked. The crowd watched curiously, wondering what Andrew could possibly do at this point. "This stone can be cut further, don't you think?" Andrew smiled, pointing at the multicolored piece. The cutter was taken aback and replied, "Mr. Lloyd, we've already reached the core layer. Further cutting would be pointless." Elsie and the others frowned deeply at Andrew's suggestion. The massive stone had already yielded worthless material and cutting it further would only destroy its integrity and decrease its value even more. "Mr. Lloyd, in
The cutter was beginning to regret his earlier actions because Andrew had proven to be far more formidable than expected, even outshining Aspen. If only he had not been so absolute in his statements before. "What are you waiting for? Don't you trust me?" Aspen snapped when she noticed her cutter's hesitation. The cutter flinched and quickly replied, "I'll cut open Ms. Stevens' stone right away. This time, Miss, you'll definitely win." Andrew chuckled. "Aspen, your judgment is clouded. The Stevens family of Bridgefields isn't exactly rolling in money. Being this wasteful isn't doing you any favors." He gestured toward the largest raw stone in the center. Aspen responded with a cold laugh. "Andrew, don't you understand that a raw stone's size has nothing to do with what's inside? You can't seriously think that just because this stone is huge, it must contain something valuable?" Several gambling experts nodded in agreement with Aspen's statement. The central stone, with its ha