Andrew's straightforwardness made Francesca scoff. She mocked, "You didn't even bother to greet me first? You're so unsophisticated." Despite her annoyance, she slid an elegant box across the table to Andrew. He opened it, confirming the presence of a twisted root nestled on silk, then stood to leave. "Wait," Francesca called out. "You've got what you wanted. When are you going to treat me?" Andrew replied frankly, "Just set a time. But I should warn you about the treatment. I'll need to lift your dress." Francesca froze. "Lift my dress? What do you mean?" Andrew explained calmly, "Your condition isn't ordinary. It's more severe, which I'm sure you're aware of." Francesca's face flushed as she realized the implications, her gaze a mix of embarrassment and anger. Ignoring her reaction, Andrew continued, "To ensure a complete cure, I'll need to perform a minimally invasive procedure on the… affected area. Understand?" Francesca gritted her teeth. "That's hardly appropriat
"Enjoy yourselves tonight, everyone. Drinks are on me," Harvey announced with a charming smile. The crowd erupted in cheers and praise. After all, Oakridge Club was known for being one of the most expensive places in Jayrodale. Only someone like Harvey could boldly claim that the whole night's bill was on him. "Mr. Weller sure is generous!" "He's still the same Mr. Weller we know and love!" "Only the beautiful CEO of Stevens Corporation is worthy of our handsome and wealthy Mr. Weller!" Francesca watched in admiration as Harvey and Christina disappeared into the VIP room on the second floor. "Before he went abroad, Harvey was known as Jayrodale's most eligible bachelor. Now, he's returned even more refined and mature. The Weller family has a bright future, and Ms. Stevens is a lucky woman." Andrew sipped his drink and nodded. "This is a great wine." Francesca looked at him, confused. "At a time like this, you're still in the mood to enjoy your drink?" She found Andre
Andrew spoke casually, "I'm not in a great mood today, so I'd advise you not to push your luck." Bobby's eyes gleamed dangerously. "What did you just say? Repeat that." Andrew chuckled. "I said, get lost. I'm not in the mood, and I'd hate to hurt you if things get out of hand." Francesca thought Andrew had lost his mind. "Andrew, shut up! Don't you know Bobby is Mr. Garner's best fighter from South City? I can't protect you if you keep running your mouth." She turned to Bobby, her voice tense. "Bobby, this guy's a friend of mine and Lauren's. Can we talk this out later? Maybe you could let him off the hook today?" Bobby laughed. "I'm afraid that's not possible. This punk messed with Mr. Garner's business yesterday. The boss wants him taken care of personally." He continued, "Ms. Aicker, please tell Ms. Rhodes it's nothing personal. This guy not only screwed up Mr. Garner's plans, but he’s also acting all high and mighty even with my knife on the table. That's disrespecting
"Bobby, put the knife down please, for my sake," a calm voice interrupted just as Bobby was about to strike. Bobby turned with a cold smirk, ready to dismiss whoever dared interfere. However, his demeanor instantly changed when he saw the elegant Harvey approaching. "Mr. Weller, what brings you here?" Bobby asked with a forced smile. Harvey, with Christina by his side, walked over gracefully. They looked like a prince and princess, drawing everyone's attention. "Dylan and I are great friends. I'm vouching for this man today, and I'll talk to Dylan personally later," Harvey stated with a smile as if it were a trivial matter. He glanced at Andrew, his eyes flashing mysteriously. Bobby hesitated. "But Mr. Weller, this guy hurt over a dozen of Mr. Garner's men yesterday. He really disrespected the boss…" Harvey calmly replied, "I said I'd handle it. Don't worry about Dylan; I'll explain everything to him. Besides, I heard your men tried to harm my fiancée yesterday. I haven't
"Mr. Weller just saved your life. Don't you think you owe him a thank you?" "I bet he's just jealous of Mr. Weller's status and influence!" The crowd's attitude toward Andrew turned even more disdainful. Some even considered teaching Andrew a lesson to impress Harvey. Christina frowned. "Andrew, Harvey's intervention calmed things down with Mr. Garner. Is it so hard to show gratitude for helping us both?" Before Andrew could respond, Harvey waved his hand dismissively. "Christie, there's no need to force him. You know I don't do favors expecting anything in return." He turned to Andrew with a smile. "Andrew, right? Christie has told me about you. I should thank you for looking after her these past three years." The crowd was impressed by Harvey's graciousness, further highlighting the contrast with Andrew. "Mr. Weller's is such a classy man. That loser can't match him!" "Ms. Stevens made the right choice dumping this petty jerk." "This loser must be feeling pretty use
Harvey glanced at Andrew, shaking his head with a smile. "I apologize if my words offended you, Andrew. I simply meant that a lady from a prestigious family like Fran should be accompanied by a gentleman befitting her status." Though not overtly insulting, Harvey's words dripped with upper-class superiority and dismissiveness toward Andrew. Andrew grinned. "I'm impressed. Also, didn't you say earlier that you'd cover all expenses at Oakridge Club today?" Harvey nodded, surprised by the question. "That's right. Whatever you want to drink or do, it's on me." "Well, since you offered, I'd be rude to refuse," Andrew replied, his smile widening. Harvey chuckled and walked away with Christina, not bothering to respond further. He had hoped to have some fun with this nobody, but Andrew did not even pique his interest. Christina was already eager to leave. Her disappointment in Andrew had turned to disgust. It seemed he knew he could not compete with Harvey and was shamelessly tryi
Andrew grabbed and lifted Bobby with one swift motion, then taunted, "I said I'd beat the shit out of you, but you wouldn't believe it!" Bobby let out a fierce roar and drove his knee toward Andrew's chest. The impact made a dull thud, but Andrew did not budge, even flashing a confident smile. Bobby was stunned—that kick would have shattered an ordinary person's ribs. Yet, this guy was still grinning. Suddenly, Andrew wrapped an arm around Bobby's head and slammed it across the nearby tables like a rag doll. Plates shattered, glasses broke, and bottles smashed everywhere. With blood streaming down his face, Bobby shouted, "I'll kill you and your whole family!" Then, he quickly pulled out a knife and stabbed at Andrew's waist. "Not bad, Bobby. You've got some skills!" Andrew praised mockingly. After that, he moved at an unbelievable speed and snatched the knife away. With a swift motion, the blade pierced Bobby's palm and drove deep into the table. Immediately after, a
That night, in a private hospital in Jayrodale, Dylan stormed in with over 100 of his men dressed in black. The hospital staff and visitors trembled in fear, wondering who had earned the wrath of South City's most notorious crime lord. Dylan, usually sporting a buzzcut and friendly demeanor, was oddly absent of smiles. When the doctor emerged from the ward, Dylan extinguished his cigarette and asked, "How's Bobby?" The doctor's face was grave as he shook his head, replying, "It doesn't look good." "What does that mean? Explain!" "H-He's in a vegetative state," the doctor said carefully, casting a wary glance at Dylan. Surprisingly, Dylan showed neither rage nor murderous intent. "Mr. Garner, we must get our revenge!" "Let us tear this punk into pieces for daring to touch one of our own!" "Just say the word, Mr. Garner; I'll take care of this clueless punk right now!" Dylan raised his hand. "Keep it down. Don't disturb Bobby's rest." "But Mr. Garner…" Dy
"Heh, Mr. Yates, your money might be able to move mountains, but Aspen's threat is right here and now!" Tiana said with a cold smirk, clearly annoyed. "Once they deal with the Madblade Martial Academy fighters, Aspen will turn his sights on Andrew." She continued, "Even if you throw a fortune around right now, by the time your reinforcements show up, your prized pawn will already be on his knees, begging for mercy!" Cedric frowned. "If Gordon gets too out of hand, aren't you going to step in?" Tiana gave a playful but sharp smile. "Why would I? The Bridgefields' Stevens family has done me no harm. Why should I get involved in their business?" Cedric's voice became more serious. "You're still from Jayrodale, Mrs. Rhodes. Are you really going to stand by and watch Gordon run wild in your own city? And what about Dr. Lloyd? He and Lauren are close. Surely, for their sake, you'd lend a hand?" Tiana gave an icy snort. "Mr. Yates is right here. He's the boss around here, and he has
Andrew spoke calmly, "Ivan has solid expertise in hard martial techniques. With his aggressive internal boxing style, he might hold his ground against that hunchback for a while. But if the fight drags on, that old man will use his superior stamina to gain the upper hand—he's adept at controlling internal energy flow." On the VIP platform, Tiana said flatly, "That Madblade Martial Academy guy is going to suffer today." Marvin chuckled. "Not many know this, but Cedric and I are well aware of your talents, Mrs. Rhodes. You've always been a martial arts genius. Who do you think that girl from Bridgefields is relying on?" Cedric nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. Back then, you were one of Jayrodale's most celebrated women. Even Kane from the Weller family admired you. We'd appreciate your insights." Tiana smiled arrogantly. "Those days are long gone now that I'm a wife and mother. But since you asked, I'll share what I know." She turned her gaze toward Gordon and explained, "That man
"Dr. Lloyd, Aspen and Christina seem prepared for something serious. We need to be cautious," Lauren warned, her voice tinged with concern. Francesca nodded in agreement, her brows furrowed. "Aspen's always been proud and arrogant. She wouldn't dare show up here and threaten to ruin Moonlit Apothecary unless she had absolute confidence in her backing." Andrew smiled faintly. "Her confidence comes from that hunchbacked old man standing behind her. His skills are decent. In Jayrodale, there might not be many who could stand against him." Lauren's eyes widened in surprise. "That old man? He looks so frail he can barely walk. I didn't think he'd be a master fighter!" Francesca's worry deepened. "That just makes it worse, Andrew. Aspen's failures here have already filled her with resentment. I'm worried that after dealing with Madblade Martial Academy, she'll turn her attention to you." Andrew snorted, a hint of disdain tugging at his lips. "Sure, he might be formidable to others
Finley scoffed, shocked that Andrew was actually trying to fleece five million out of Aspen. He could not help but think Andrew's greed was going to be the death of him. Irene stood with her hands on her hips, smirking. "Andrew, you've got quite a show going today, but let me tell you something—our family may not have brought a large crowd, but we're not someone you can push around!" Leroy puffed up his chest and added, "Yeah! Aspen's got top family fighters with her. You're in for a world of pain soon!" "Shut up, both of you!" Christina snapped, her brow furrowed in frustration. "Why should we?" Irene huffed. "With Aspen backing us, I've got every right to show off a little!" She crossed her arms and scowled. "Besides, look at this fancy medical center Andrew's opened. It's practically a luxury resort. I can't stand the thought of him living it up like this!" Leroy nodded eagerly. "Exactly! Andrew dumped you, and now he's thriving—first buying that fancy Mercedes, and now
"Mr. Moore, that hunchbacked old man looks like he's reached the level of a senior grandmaster," one of the Hidden Dragons experts whispered. "No, not just senior grandmaster—he's probably at the peak, capable of taking lives with a mere flick of his finger!" "Hah, Moonlit Apothecary is in big trouble now. I've been saying that Andrew can't go around making enemies without someone eventually coming to settle the score." The Hidden Dragons experts exchanged smug glances, their eyes gleaming with schadenfreude. Finley sneered, his jaw tightening. "Just wait. Today, not only will Moonlit Apothecary be wrecked, but that loser Andrew will probably be lucky to survive this." Finley sensed the overwhelming danger emanating from Gordon. Although he could not pinpoint who the man was, his instincts screamed that Gordon was not someone to provoke. If Finley had been in Andrew's shoes, he would have run without a second thought. Natasha's voice sliced through the tension. "Aspen, tak
Aspen strode confidently to the center of the banquet, her expression cold and unforgiving. She swept a glance over the gathered crowd and sneered. "Looks like today's a good day. Jayrodale's most prominent figures are all here. Perfect timing—I'll make sure everyone knows that the Stevens family from Bridgefields always collects their debts." However, Christina and her family looked increasingly nervous. Christina whispered urgently, "Aspen, you might want to reconsider. Even Jayrodale's wealthiest man is here today. You're playing with fire!" Irene glanced around nervously. "How on earth did that loser Andrew manage to gather such a crowd? These people aren't ones to mess with!" Leroy clutched Irene's arm, his legs shaking. "Mom, I feel like fainting. Oh my God, look! Even Natasha and Dylan are here—those two are killers, legends in the underground world of Jayrodale!" Their initial confidence quickly evaporated. They had arrived intending to support Aspen and demand rev
Andrew sighed dramatically. "I can't believe it. You have a Hidden Dragons boss as your uncle, yet you can't even manage 50 million. Fine, I'll lower it to 30 million." "30 million? Forget it! If you're going to keep pushing, then do it. I'd rather risk my life!" Finley snapped. Andrew chuckled. "Alright, alright, you look like you're about to pass out. Let's settle on five million. Honestly, you're the poorest and stingiest of all the guests today, Mr. Moore." In the end, after some intense back-and-forth, Finley begrudgingly transferred five million to Andrew. He stared at his phone screen, watching his balance drop, and felt his heart bleed. Five million gone over a single simple banquet—it was a humiliation he could not swallow. The moment the transfer came through, Francesca promptly confiscated it. "This isn't some secret fund, Andrew. It's part of the collection, so I'll keep it for proper accounting," Francesca said with a playful grin. "You're not getting it back!
Finley's eyelid twitched violently. "What do you mean by that? I'm warning you—don't go spreading rumors!" Andrew chuckled. "Oh, it seems Mr. Moore values his reputation quite a bit. But here's the thing—this is my Moonlit Apothecary. You've eaten and drunk here without paying, and that's just unacceptable." He leaned in a little and added with a smirk, "All it takes is one loud announcement from me, and soon, everyone in Jayrodale will know you're nothing more than a broke freeloader. Think about your uncle's reputation!" Finley's expression darkened further as Andrew casually said, "So, Mr. Moore, why not save face and swipe that card? Or perhaps consider applying for a loan?" At the mention of Hidden Dragons' reputation, the faces of the other gang members grew serious. They could tolerate embarrassment, but their leader's reputation? That was sacred. "Mr. Moore, just pay something. It's not worth the fallout." "Yeah, if word gets out that Hidden Dragons can't even cover
Finley crossed his arms, sneering. "Sorry, Andrew, but if you want more, tough luck! We're out of cash. If you're that desperate, go rob a bank." He was not broke, but he had limits. He would not be bullied into emptying his wallet just for this. Andrew raised an eyebrow and replied calmly, "Mr. Moore, don't push me." Finley snapped, "Push you? You're the one pushing me!" He was in disbelief at how shameless Andrew was. Andrew simply smiled. "No worries. You can pay by card, or maybe Venmo or PayPal?" Finley's temper exploded. "Andrew, don't test me! You've got some nerve." Ignoring his outburst, Andrew continued casually, "And if you're low on funds, no problem! You can always take out a quick loan. I'll wait." Finley's hands trembled in fury, his eyes blazing red with barely restrained rage. He had never been so publicly humiliated. Meanwhile, his Hidden Dragons crew watched in stunned disbelief. "Damn… Mr. Moore wasn't exaggerating," one muttered. "This Andrew guy