Harvey stood frozen, muttering, "How could this happen? This isn't right… This can't be right…" He was completely floored by the news as he had invested everything he had, even borrowing money and convincing the Stevens family to contribute their savings. He had planned to pay them back a token amount from the payout money and keep the lion's share for himself. Yet, he was in an even worse financial position than before. For a fleeting moment, Harvey genuinely thought about just ending it all. "Harvey, what's going on?" Christina asked, her voice heavy with disappointment. "Did your family's inside information turn out to be wrong, or were you just gambling blindly?" Harvey's attempt at a smile looked more like a grimace. "Christie, please believe me, we really did have inside information. I wouldn't have—" "I don't believe anything you say anymore," Christina cut him off. "Mr. Thatcher made it clear—we've lost everything." Irene shouted, "Harvey, I don't care what it t
Meeting Christina's disappointed gaze, Harvey backed down from his rage. He could not let his prize slip away—he wanted both Christina and Stevens Corporation in his grasp. Then again, there was nothing he could do now. All the money was gone, lost in a terrible investment. In a way, he had nothing left except his status as the Weller family heir. Christina said, "Mom, stop pressuring Harvey. What's done is done, and we'll find another way to deal with the money situation." Despite her words, Harvey's pathetic, impotent rage made her realize for the first time that perhaps he was not as perfect as she had imagined. Meanwhile, Francesca seemed entirely indifferent to everyone's mood. With a bright smile, she turned to Andrew and said, "Dr. Lloyd, did you know Lauren bought you a big chunk of land in West End during the planning phase?" Her eyes sparkled as she added, "Congratulations! You're officially a millionaire now." Andrew was surprised that Lauren had allocated so mu
Francesca snapped, "Let go of Dr. Lloyd right now, Harvey. You blindly led the Stevens family into disaster. How's that his fault? If you're so tough, why don't you take it out on them instead?" Harvey gritted his teeth. "You must've used some underhanded methods to get lucky with West End, right?" Andrew replied mockingly, "Wow, Harvey, you've got me all figured out. Yes, we used some so-called 'clever tricks'—that's how we made bank while you got left in the dust." Harvey roared, "You're just a powerless, insignificant doctor! Where did you get your information about the West End?" Andrew chuckled. "Oh, you know, just asked around town. Everyone knew about it. I'm surprised you didn't, Harvey—you must be losing your touch." "Are you messing with me? Do you have a death wish?" Harvey snarled, waving his fist threateningly in front of Andrew's face. "Harvey!" Francesca barked, stepping forward. "If you dare lay a finger on our deputy chief, I'll make sure you don't leav
Harvey was completely helpless in Andrew's hands, defeated without any real effort. The scene left Christina completely stunned, as Harvey had always been her ideal prince charming—someone who could handle both intellectual and physical challenges with grace. She had grown accustomed to Harvey's name carrying weight wherever she went. Yet, she watched in disgust as Andrew put him in his place, beating him miserably. With his messy hair and gritted teeth, Harvey's appearance made Christina's stomach turn, and for the first time, she saw just how ugly he could be. "Andrew, how dare you slap me?!" Harvey clutched his cheek, pointing at Andrew with bloodshot eyes. "I'll kill you for this. The Weller family's elite fighters will rip you to shreds." Christina frowned and said, "Harvey, that's enough. I saw everything clearly—you threw the first punch. You couldn't beat him, and Andrew taught you a lesson. That's no one's fault but your own." "Christina, whose side are you on—mine o
Unfortunately for Harvey, his troubles were far from over. Just after being put in his place by Andrew, Leroy decided to strike with another blow. "Harvey, I need an answer right now. When are you going to pay back the money you borrowed from me?" Leroy's tone was aggressive, completely different from his usual fawning attitude toward him. "Leroy, considering my relationship with Christie, what's a few million between family? I could pay you back in a heartbeat," Harvey said, his patience wearing thin. Leroy extended his hand and demanded, "Great, then pay me right now." Harvey was furious but helpless. He did not have the money to pay Leroy, and he could not even bear to think about his other debts, wondering if he would have to sell everything he owned just to break even. Leroy mocked, "Harvey, you're supposed to be the Weller family heir and want to marry Christie. If you can't even come up with a few million, what makes you think you're worthy of marrying her?" Harvey t
"Just buy me a Bugatti, or give me your Porsche Panamera, and I'll help you get back together with Christina. What do you say?" Leroy pressed on eagerly. Before Andrew could respond, Harvey exploded in rage. "Leroy, have you no shame? How dare you try to sell out Christie for your own gain? Did you even consider my feelings?" Leroy retorted, "Harvey, you're drowning in debt, and you're nothing but a broke loser. Why should I care about your feelings when you're worth nothing? Since you're too pathetic to come up with the money, Christina obviously can't be with you." Harvey had never in his life had he faced such humiliation, and he was fuming. "Leroy, one more word out of you, and you can get the hell out of here," Christina snapped coldly. "I don't need any of you men deciding my life for me. Do you think I can't survive without you?" Leroy's words had struck deep at Christina's pride. They made it sound like she could not survive without either Harvey or Andrew, but
"Kane, the head of the Weller family, has been thinking about stepping down due to his poor health," Francesca said with disdain. "But judging by Harvey's stupidity and self-destructive behavior, if the Weller family ends up in his hands, it will be a complete disaster!" Andrew shook his head. "That's the Weller family's business, not mine. I just hope Harvey doesn't do anything too foolish." "If he actually gets control of the Weller family, someone as petty as him will definitely come after you," Francesca remarked with a frown. Andrew replied calmly, "Then I'll make sure both he and the Weller family meet their end sooner rather than later." "Harvey has no idea what he's getting into by targeting someone like you—a silent powerhouse!" Francesca giggled. "I'm getting chills just thinking about it." "I'm no powerhouse," Andrew responded. "I just believe in live and let live. Don't mess with me, and I won't mess with you." Suddenly, Francesca remembered something and exclai
"Make sure our security stays close to the convoy at all times," Lauren instructed Eunice. "We can't afford any problems." Eunice protested, "But Miss, are we really going to leave behind a third of our herbs? If we go back with this amount, we'll have to shut down several pharmaceutical plants. The losses will be substantial." "I'll cover the losses personally," Lauren replied with a cold smile. "If Michael wants to play games, I'll play along until the end." Eunice was worried but stayed silent, turning to relay the orders to the convoy. After that, Lauren stepped out of the car and approached Tracia Martin, a scar-faced woman standing nearby. "Tracia, the convoy is heading out. Please have your team keep watch over them during the journey." Despite her unremarkable appearance and small frame, Tracia's eyes held a sharp gleam that revealed her expertise as a martial arts master. "I apologize, Miss, but my team and I have only one mission—to protect you. Anything else is b
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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