The man stood still, not even turning around, and said, "Your name is Griffin Soare, and you work for Atlas Giordano in the Northern District. You're ruthless and have killed many innocent people. Am I right?" Griffin did not deny it. He scoffed and replied, "Since I started practicing martial arts, I've killed and maimed so many people, I've lost count. Good, bad, young, old—it's all the same. And you—you sound like you're here to avenge those dead souls. It's a noble thought, but let's see if you can back it up." Finally, the figure by the window turned around. It was Andrew, his face half-hidden in the dim light of the city outside. He nodded and replied, "Since you've admitted it, I'll make your death a quick one." Griffin quickly drew a gun from his waist, aiming it at Andrew with a sneer. "You sure talk big for a guy your size. Do you think you'll get away with it? One shot, and you'll be history." With that, he pulled the trigger. At the same time, Andrew's right hand
The men who had previously doubted Andrew and feared he would not be able to handle Griffin now looked at him with admiration. One of them said, "As expected of Mr. Lloyd—he's truly incredible." Dylan, feeling energized, gave orders, "Our chance has come. Mr. Lloyd has removed Griffin, the thorn in our side. Pass the word: while East City is in chaos, have all our men move out immediately. We'll take over the East City turf and not give Northern District any chance!" "Yes, Mr. Garner!" A chorus of approval rang out, their spirits soaring. That night, the underground forces of North and South City clashed in fierce combat. South City launched a major counterattack, and the Northern District was caught off guard, suffering a terrible defeat. Many people were losing sleep, and the night was full of unrest. Among those unable to sleep was Kane, the head of the Weller family. "Dr. Aicker, how is my condition?" Kane asked carefully in his private study. Kane had urgently
Soon, Harvey and the stunning Serena entered the study, one after the other. Both kept their heads down, afraid to meet Kane's eyes, which were filled with murderous intent. "Honey, w-what's going on?" Serena stammered, her voice trembling as she spoke first. Kane's cold gaze swept over her curvy figure, then landed on Harvey. Then, he ordered flatly, "Get on your knees!" Harvey forced a smile, trying to hide his nervousness. "Dad, what's going on? Why does it feel like you've changed after seeing Dr. Aicker? Has your condition worsened?" Kane roared, "You bastard, I told you to kneel! Didn't you hear me?" Harvey's smile faltered, and reluctantly fell on his knees, his heart pounding rapidly. Kane coughed violently, barely managing to control himself. His shaking finger pointed at both of them. "You have one chance to confess," he said coldly. "Who poisoned me? Was it one of you, or did you both have a hand in it?" At this, Serena almost collapsed to the floor, her body
Harvey sneered. "I know you're angry and confused right now, but don't you think you've deserved this for a long time? You've been sitting on the throne of the Weller family for years, refusing to pass it down to me." Kane's heart burned with fury as he roared, "You ungrateful bastard! Just because you want the title of family head, you think you can do this? Betray your own blood?" Harvey's face twisted into a snarl, his teeth clenched. "Why can't I? Don't you get it, Dad? I've been waiting for this for years. I've had enough of waiting." He added, "If you were healthy and strong, I wouldn't even think about it. But you're not. You're barely hanging on, yet you refuse to pass the title to me. Don't you know how torturous that's been for me?" Kane could not believe his own son wanted him dead. The ridiculousness of it all stung, especially after all the work he had put in. Despite struggling with his illness, he was still trying to pave the path for Harvey for his future. A w
"Is… is he dead?" Serena asked, trembling as she pushed away from Harvey. Harvey's face showed a mix of doubt and hesitation as he cautiously approached. It was not until he placed his hand near Kane's nose and confirmed there was no breath that relief washed over his face. "He's dead. He's finally dead!" Harvey chuckled, his voice manic with joy. "This is it! The Weller family is mine now!" Laughing wildly, he became almost unhinged, waving his arms in celebration in front of Kane's lifeless body. Serena was trembling with fear. "Harvey, his death will fall on us. If anyone finds out it was us, we won't escape punishment." Harvey sneered. "What are you worried about? I've already taken the risk with poison, so why should I be afraid of what comes after?" He reminded her, "You just need to keep quiet, especially when the elders ask. We'll both deny it, understand?" Serena's face turned pale with fear. "But if they really investigate, won't they find out?" Harvey cut her
Andrew asked, "Did the Weller family give any explanation for Kane's death?" Francesca smiled awkwardly and said, "Harvey told the media himself that his father died from overwork." Andrew snorted. "Overwork, huh? What a convenient excuse. I bet the real cause of Kane's death has something to do with him." Francesca stared at him, shocked. "No way. You don't actually think Harvey had anything to do with his father's death, do you?" Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Why is that so hard to believe?" Francesca shook her head. "It just doesn't seem likely. Harvey's still the son of the Weller family head. If his father's death were his doing, Harvey would be a monster." Andrew scoffed. "It's easy enough to figure out how Kane died. But since it's not my business, I'm not interested in looking into it. However, one thing is clear—once Kane is gone, the Weller family will fall into Harvey's hands." He continued, "So, Harvey's the biggest beneficiary of Kane's death. Some people will d
As Andrew left the hospital, he saw Christina and her family standing together. He approached and said casually, "Mrs. Stevens and Leroy are fine now, but it would be best for them to rest for a few more days." Before Christina could respond, Irene cut in, "Andrew, we're fine, and we're not falling for your tricks. We're not going to waste more money at your hospital." Still wrapped in bandages, Leroy added, "Yeah, Andrew, don't think I don't see through your game. You want us to stay longer so you can rack up more charges." Andrew's expression turned cold. "I tried to be polite, but if you don't want to listen, that's on you." He could not believe how ungrateful they were, especially after they nearly let Harvey kill them. His offer to help them heal had been turned into a money grab accusation. Irene smirked, "Go ahead and leave. By the way, our family's experts from the main branch of Stevens Corporation are already in Jayrodale. Pretty soon, the Stevens family will rise u
Two rows of bodyguards in black suits stood at the entrance, welcoming guests with an air of intimidation. As the trio got out of the car, they exchanged odd looks. "Is the Weller family hosting a funeral or a celebration?" Francesca asked, unable to hide a smirk. It was supposed to be Kane's funeral, but with all the fanfare, it felt closer to a celebratory party. Just then, Harvey appeared at the front gates, flanked by two older men who exuded a heavy, intimidating aura. Lauren stepped forward, offering her condolences. "Harvey, my deepest sympathies." Harvey, dressed in mourning attire, did not seem the least bit sad. In fact, he looked vibrant and full of life, almost as if he were attending a celebration instead. "Lauren, Fran, you made it!" He greeted them with a smile, but his grin instantly froze when his eyes landed on Andrew. "Andrew, I can't believe you actually showed up today, of all days. You've got guts!" Harvey sneered, his eyes flashing with cold fury.
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