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Chapter 159
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 160
Andrew quickly removed his hand from Christina's, feeling awkward. Francesca raised an eyebrow and asked, "Ms. Stevens is in such a vulnerable state right now. You're not falling for her again, are you?" "It's not like that at all," Andrew replied wearily. "She got hurt because of me, so it's my responsibility to help her recover." "That better be all it is," Francesca warned. "You know Lauren would be heartbroken if you got back together with Ms. Stevens. I think you know that better than anyone." "Why are you bringing up Ms. Rhodes?" Andrew groaned. "That's completely unrelated." "Don't play dumb—it's totally related," Francesca snapped. "Everyone can see Lauren has feelings for you. If you break her heart, you're nothing but a jerk." Andrew wisely chose not to argue, knowing it would only make things worse. This irritated Francesca even more. "Well? What are your plans with Lauren?" "Ms. Rhodes has helped me a lot, and she's beautiful and kind. I consider her a good f
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Lauren's heart sank, but her face remained cold and distant. She declared firmly, "No one has the right to decide about my marriage except me." Michael let out a scornful laugh. "I knew you'd resist, but it's pointless. This arranged marriage has been approved by the head of the family and the Rhodes Corporation board members. You have no choice in the matter, whether you object or not." With a mocking glance, Michael walked away. Lauren sat back in her chair, feeling helpless as she mumbled, "Even after everything, I still can't escape being another steppingstone for the family's expansion…" Her gaze flashed with determination as she continued, "The Driscoll family might be powerful, but I refuse to accept this arrangement!" However, it did not last long. The light in Lauren's eyes quickly dimmed as she let out a bitter laugh. She wondered aloud, mumbling, "What about his feelings for me? These past few days, he's completely focused on Christina, ignoring me. Perhaps Mic
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 162
After being hospitalized at the Jayrodale General Hospital for three days, Christina finally regained consciousness. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the luxurious private ward, where a tall figure in a white coat was busy working with his back turned to her. His handsome profile was serious and striking, just as gorgeous as she remembered. Suddenly, Andrew turned around and said, "You're finally awake." Christina quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks flushing. "Yes, I am." Andrew replied. "That's good news. I'll notify your family that you can be discharged." Christina frowned, hurt evident in her voice. "Are you that eager to see me leave now that I'm awake?" Andrew stared at her directly. "What else would you have me do? Am I supposed to beg you to say?" Christina fell silent for a long moment before speaking through gritted teeth. "Andrew, why does every conversation between us have to turn into an argument fill
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 163
After a moment's hesitation, Christina said, "Harvey, I have some questions I'd like to ask you. If you're uncomfortable answering, I won't press the matter." Harvey's heart skipped a beat, but he forced a smile. "Christie, darling, there's nothing you can't ask me. I've always been completely honest with you." Andrew secretly scoffed, realizing Christina had finally noticed some of Harvey's suspicious behavior. However, it was no longer his concern. "Tony mentioned that you owed him millions when he kidnapped me," Christina said carefully. "Harvey, is that true?" Harvey immediately denied it. "Absolutely not. It's completely false. Tony is nothing but a common thug. As a member of the Weller family and one of Jayrodale's elite, I wouldn't even speak with someone like him, let alone owe him money." Irene chuckled. "Christie, you silly girl! The Wellers are old money, and Harvey was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. People owe him money, not the other way around." The
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Andrew's sudden comment instantly darkened the mood for the Stevens family and Harvey. Harvey replied with a scowl, "As I said before—I was busy calling in favors and gathering support the moment Christie was taken. Andrew, what's the point of constantly criticizing me?" "Even if you were gathering support, that wouldn't prevent you from answering your phone," Andrew shot back with a cold smile. "Or was the support story just a cover because you were too scared of Tony to do anything?" Harvey's face darkened even further because Andrew had hit the nail on the head. When Tony had disrespected and mocked him earlier, Harvey had spent hours fuming helplessly. Owing Tony millions, he dared not confront him, let alone demand anything from Tony. "Andrew, you're just a small-time doctor. I'm letting this slide for Christie's sake," Harvey said smoothly. "You may not understand the extent of my family's power from your limited perspective, but those who know, know." Though seething w
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 165
"Mom, please stop it with the flattery—there are people here," Christina said uncomfortably. Then, she asked, "Harvey, has the paperwork on the East Side redevelopment investment you mentioned earlier been approved? What's the status?" Harvey immediately broke into a confident smile. "You're right, Christie. The documents have been officially approved. I was planning to surprise you when you woke up, but you beat it to me." "Does this mean my 15-million-dollar investment return is coming?" Irene asked excitedly. Leroy chimed in eagerly, "Harvey, don't forget about me! I'm not as greedy as Mom—just a few million will do. I'll immediately buy a Bugatti, and it'll make someone's cheap car look like trash." He shot a deliberate smirk at Andrew as he spoke. Andrew ignored the fool who was counting on the East Side investment money to buy a luxury car. In fact, these two idiots would be lucky if they had enough money left to buy even a meal when this was all over. Harvey said
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Harvey shot Andrew a cold smirk, determined to put him in his place. "Andrew, I kindly offered to let you in on this investment opportunity to help you make some money. Too bad you didn't take advantage of it. Are you having regrets now?" The Stevens family members joined in with mocking laughter, eager to curry favor with Harvey. One mocked, "Don't waste your time on lost causes, Mr. Weller. Some people are destined to stay poor forever." "Next time there's easy money to be made, count me in, Mr. Weller! Unlike certain idiots, I won't turn down free money," another chimed in. "Exactly, Mr. Weller! You should just tell us and not waste time on those losers!" "Remember how you called us all fools, Andrew?" Irene gloated. "How does it feel now? Jealous?" Andrew let out a mocking laugh. "Jealous of you all losing everything by falling for this scam?" Leroy taunted, "Classic sour grapes. Just wait until the money comes in—I'll make sure to drive my new Bugatti past you so yo
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Harvey stated confidently, "You just mentioned the new development zone. If it's not East Side, where else could it be? Let's turn on the TV and watch the news. I'm sure the media will be calling me, the biggest winner, for interviews any minute now!" Then, he lounged back, feeling smug. Leroy rushed to turn on the TV like an eager puppy, and the Stevens family watched intently, brimming with excitement. Someone muttered, "Wait… that doesn't look like the East Side!" "It's not East Side. It looks more like West End." "Yeah, it's definitely West End—that run-down area with all the cheap land around it. The city tried to sell it before, but no one was stupid enough to take it," another commented. The Stevens family members quickly realized something was wrong. The payments being discussed on TV were not for the East Side at all, but for the West End—the complete opposite side of town. Cold sweat broke out on Harvey's forehead, though he tried to maintain his composure. "Ah, W
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 758
Lauren nodded. "I've realized both of these issues too. The Pharmaceutical Division's reputation has tanked, and there's no way to fix that in the short term. But for the second issue, I think we can bring in a well-known spokesperson to endorse our two formulas." Marcus' eyes lit up as he immediately agreed. "That's a great idea, Ms. Rhodes. Our products will gain instant recognition if we get a solid endorsement!" Andrew chuckled. "Getting a spokesperson is a good move. But for our two formulas, it would be best to have an expert in traditional medicine or holistic wellness—someone with real authority in the field." Marcus suggested, "How about we get Mr. Aicker to endorse us?" Lauren shook her head. "No way. Mr. Aicker is the head of the Aicker family. There's no way he'd personally endorse Rhodes Corporation's products." Andrew smirked. "That works out perfectly. I need to drop by Moonlit Apothecary to see him anyway. When we get there, we can ask him about any well-respe
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Jerry said, "Mr. Lloyd, Mrs. Rhodes is sincerely asking for your input this time. She really wants you to come in and help strategize." Jerry's voice was urgent. "Like it or not, we're all in the same boat right now. If the Pharmaceutical Division goes under, you're going to take a loss too, Mr. Lloyd." Andrew let out a light scoff. "What, you mean the five billion I invested? Big deal. Even if Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division collapses, the rest of the corporation will still stand. "If worst comes to worst, Mrs. Rhodes can just file for bankruptcy and liquidation. Whatever I get back is whatever I get back. And even if I lose all five billion, I couldn't care less." Jerry could not believe how Andrew was dismissing the five billion dollars like it was nothing. Was Andrew even human? His expression darkened as he lowered his voice. "Mr. Lloyd, I understand you don't approve of Mrs. Rhodes' methods. But don't forget—Ms. Rhodes is her daughter. If you ever want thin
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Michael had been in his office, getting a little too comfortable flirting with his secretary, when his subordinates suddenly barged in, looking grim. They reported, "Mr. Rhodes, the Weller family is playing dirty! They're openly marketing against us, calling our products garbage that not even dogs would buy. And that scumbag Harvey even hired a professional team to run tests on our products and posted the results online! "Now, the entire internet is trashing us, saying our products are nothing but a cash grab with zero real value. Our Pharmaceutical Division's reputation has completely tanked, and we're being dragged through the mud online!" Shoving the secretary aside, he did not even have time to zip up before he exploded, "What the hell happened? How did things turn to shit this fast? Get me the latest market reports—now!" Grabbing the report, he skimmed through it with an increasingly dark expression. By the time he reached the last page, veins bulged on his forehead. With
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Michael grew anxious and blurted out, "Aunt Tiana, why are you asking him? What can he possibly do?" He quickly followed up, "You have nothing to worry about. Even if the Stevens and the Wellers both jump in, I guarantee I'll keep them completely suppressed!" Tiana shot him a cold glare. "I hate when people interrupt me while I'm talking. Right now, I'm asking Andrew, not you. So shut up—that would be the best thing you could do!" Michael's face turned red, then pale. He could not understand why Tiana was turning to Andrew instead of relying on him. He was the backbone of Rhodes Corporation now, was he not? Andrew remained completely unfazed. "Sorry, Mrs. Rhodes, but I don't have any great solutions at the moment. But it's easy to predict that with Stevens Corporation suddenly jumping into Jayrodale's pharmaceutical market, the situation will only become even tougher." Tiana's expression darkened even further. She replied, "Mr. Lloyd, I know you still hold a grudge against
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Michael sneered. "When the time comes, I'm going to crush you so hard, you won't even know what hit you!" He truly could not understand why Andrew and Lauren were still bothering to put up a fight. Even with Glorious Pharmaceuticals backing them, he believed there was no way they could produce anything worthwhile in such a short period. Michael had never been more confident. At this point, losing was not even an option. Just then, Tiana called them over. Michael walked up with a smug smile. "Aunt Tiana, what can I do for you?" With his numbers climbing, he spoke with newfound confidence. Tiana's expression was slightly grim as she slammed a document onto the table. "Take a look at this!" Michael frowned and flipped through the pages. The moment he grasped what was inside, his face twisted in anger. "Stevens Corporation is entering the pharmaceutical industry? "And according to this analysis, their products are almost identical to Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Divisi
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Andrew chuckled and said, "No pressure. Even if, down the line, you decide not to work with us or you don't want to handle orders this big, I'd understand. Right now, our products are all investment and no return. No one knows if they'll actually sell. If they flop, that's a massive loss!" He added, "But let me remind you—golden opportunities don't come around every day. When the market is hot, the smart ones soar. Those who hesitate and miss their chance? Well, they'll just be watching from the sidelines." Stephen's eyes flickered, and after a brief internal struggle, he clenched his teeth. "Mr. Lloyd, I'm in!" Andrew shot him a look of distaste. "We're both grown men. Watch how you phrase that—it sounds way too suggestive." Lauren nearly burst out laughing. Andrew was definitely a little sensitive about certain words lately. Stephen let out an awkward chuckle. "Right, poor choice of words. What I meant is that my company is taking this on, Mr. Lloyd. You don't need to go lo
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Lauren blinked her big, expressive eyes and asked in confusion, "Why?" Andrew spread his hands and said, "Because I don't think I even went all out." Lauren's expression froze instantly, thinking that Andrew was truly terrifying. Watching as the flirty Lauren quickly turned and fled, her graceful silhouette disappearing in the distance, Andrew felt completely misunderstood. However, he had only spoken the truth. Last night, he had actually held back with Francesca. If he had not, things would have taken a much wilder, more intense turn. … Today was the scheduled delivery day for Stephen's shipment. Andrew and Lauren personally went to oversee the product being sent out. Stephen wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned. "Mission accomplished, Mr. Lloyd. Please check if everything meets your expectations." Andrew clapped his hands and said, "No need. I already looked it over—good work, Mr. Brunner!" Stephen quickly laughed along. "As long as you're satisfied, Mr. L
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Andrew packed up and drove to Rhodes Corporation. Right at the entrance, he ran into Marcus, who had just stepped out of his car. The moment Marcus saw Andrew, he gave him a once-over, grinning from ear to ear. He chirped, "Mr. Lloyd, you're looking great—full of energy and in high spirits!" Andrew raised a brow in surprise. "Mr. Chapman, how exactly can you tell I'm feeling good?" Marcus smirked knowingly. "Mr. Lloyd, let's not play dumb. We're both men. That kind of glow? It's obvious you had a very… satisfying night." Andrew was even more surprised. Could Marcus really tell something like that just by looking at him? Then, it clicked. This department head at Rhodes Corporation might appear serious on the surface, but he was a regular at certain high-end clubs. That explained a lot. Lowering his voice, Marcus chuckled. "Every time I spend the night at a club, I see plenty of like-minded gentlemen walking out in the morning with the exact same look as you. "It's the kin
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 750
Lauren's teasing voice came through the video call. "Fran, are you at Dr. Lloyd's place right now?" Francesca's cheeks instantly flushed red. She hesitated for a second before mumbling a quiet "Mm-hmm." Lauren gasped dramatically before covering her mouth with a giggle. "Oh, so that means… Fran, you got the full Dr. Lloyd treatment last night?" Francesca gritted her teeth. "Lauren, you better not laugh at me! Do you even know how close I was to being ruined last night? I can barely walk!" Lauren blinked, looking both impressed and mildly horrified. "Wait… you mean Dr. Lloyd is that intense?" Francesca huffed. "You'll find out soon enough. When it's your turn, let's see if you can handle it!" Lauren snickered. "Oh no, no, no—I hate pain. I'll let Dr. Lloyd go wild with you first, and then I'll swoop in once he's all tired out. That way, I can dodge the first wave of his attacks!" Francesca narrowed her eyes and smirked. "Nice try. Next time, you go first—I'll sit back and
