Members of West End were already negotiating with the hotel's security staff at the entrance. However, the hotel's security guards were clearly unfazed by West End's reputation and blocked the entrance without hesitation. Dylan's face darkened, and he stepped forward, ready to force their way in. Andrew quickly stopped him, saying, "Don't make a scene!" Dylan argued, "Mr. Lloyd, if we don't get in now, Finley might be slipping away soon!" Andrew shook his head. "Relax, the effects of cantharides last at least half a day." Natasha chimed in, "This hotel belongs to the Rhodes family, and West End has a decent relationship with them. Let me try." She approached the entrance with a cold expression. "Move aside. I'm Natasha Vostokoff from West End." The guards exchanged uneasy glances, clearly intimidated by her commanding presence. One of them finally mustered the courage to say, "Madam Vostokoff, the hotel has been reserved for the night. Mr. Rhodes has ordered that no on
"Since you're not leaving, suit yourself," Michael said with a shrug. He had his men bring over a couch and plopped down at the entrance like a stubborn bouncer. "But today, our hotel is closed to the public, so we might as well get comfortable waiting here." "You idiot," Natasha snapped, her temper flaring. "Looks like I'll need to teach you a lesson since you think I'm bluffing." However, Andrew merely chuckled. "Since Mr. Rhodes seems to enjoy playing concierge so much, let's not disturb his new career choice." Michael's face twitched as he suppressed his rage while Andrew kept taunting him with concierge jokes, making the humiliation almost unbearable. He had no choice though—Finley was currently having a steamy affair with Atlas' mistress inside. Michael had to guard the hotel well because the consequences would be devastating if this got exposed. However, if he could satisfy Finley, Michael would finally have an involvement with the Hidden Dragons organization. Andre
Aspen stood up gracefully and said, "Well then, Christie and I will take our leave. And I'd like to offer my early congratulations to you on your inevitable dominance of Jayrodale's underworld—this will create an even better foundation for our partnership." Atlas was thoroughly pleased with himself. He boasted, "Ms. Stevens, you clearly have excellent foresight, knowing that I'll soon control all of Jayrodale's underworld. Before long, you'll witness the golden age of our Northern District." Just then, one of Atlas's top lieutenants entered with a troubled expression and signaled urgently to speak with him. Atlas maintained his composure and said smoothly, "In that case, ladies, please excuse me from seeing you out." "Farewell, Mr. Giordano," Aspen replied with a polite smile. After leaving the Northern District, Christina turned to Aspen. "Aspen, investing 150 million dollars just like that makes me nervous." Aspen exuded complete confidence as if everything was already perf
Atlas' man quickly said, "Mr. Giordano, please calm down. These photos are from an unknown source and might not tell the whole story, and we should investigate first. Besides, Mr. Moore is our ally, and if we let this scandal tear us apart, wouldn't that play right into our enemies' hands?" Atlas snapped out of his rage and nodded repeatedly. "You're right! I almost lost my head there." His expression darkened as he realized these photos were likely Natasha's or Dylan's handiwork, meant to drive a wedge between him and Finley. "Dylan, Natasha, you're both quite devious," he muttered through gritted teeth. "But unfortunately for you, I'm not so easily manipulated." He silently vowed to deal with them both as soon as possible. Just then, another of Atlas's trusted men burst in, looking even more distressed than the man before. Atlas frowned. "What now? Why does everyone look like they're at a funeral?" The man's face was grim as he reported, "Mr. Giordano, I just received w
After his furious outburst, Atlas continued in an ice-cold voice, "Besides, even if this is Dylan and Natasha's trap, what do I have to fear? Do you think they'd dare to make a move against me on Rhodes family territory?" His men had to admit he had a point. Even if it was a trap, who would dare touch Atlas when he brought all his Northern District enforcers? Still, what truly terrified them was the possibility that Finley really was fooling around with Atlas' woman. In their world, there were certain unwritten rules, and messing with another man's woman was asking for a brutal death. … Ten minutes later, over a dozen SUVs screeched to a halt in front of the Rhodes family hotel. Atlas led the charge with dozens of his Northern District muscle trailing behind him, storming toward the hotel entrance. Michael was still lounging at the entrance with his legs crossed. He muttered, "Mr. Moore, I'm sticking my neck out for you here. You've got some nerve going after Mr. Giordano's
However, Michael was not ready to give up just yet. He struggled to his feet, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth while silently cursing Finley for getting him into this mess. He grabbed a nearby security guard and barked urgently, "Quick—use the stairs and warn Finley and Yvonne to escape through the back door!" The guard, startled by Michael's intensity, stumbled away toward the stairwell. Afterward, Michael frantically tried calling Finley, but the phone was still off. At least Atlas' men would need some time to search all the rooms. There was still a slim chance of avoiding disaster. … Meanwhile, Andrew, Dylan, and Natasha were seated at a cafe across from the hotel, calmly sipping their coffee. "Darling, your plan worked perfectly. Atlas just stormed in with his men," Natasha said excitedly to Andrew. "Now we just sit back and enjoy the show?" Andrew set down his coffee with a smile. "We'll enjoy the show alright, but first, we need to block all the escape rout
Atlas had personally shown up with his crew. Even with Finley's usual reckless bravado, he could not help but feel a pang of guilt and sheer terror. Meanwhile, Yvonne went pale as a ghost when she heard Atlas was there. "Atlas… is here? A-Are you sure?" she stammered, her voice trembling, tears already welling in her eyes. Finley shoved her clothes at her and barked, "Put them on! If we're caught lingering, neither of us is getting out of this alive!" Yvonne, shaking uncontrollably, burst into tears as she fumbled with her outfit. She cried, "This is all your fault! You're the one who wouldn't take no for an answer! You drugged me, Finley! You forced me into this—I'm the victim here!" Finley's face turned beet red as rage consumed him. Seeing her blame him while still not dressing herself drove him to the edge. He spat, "You lying tramp! Were you forced, or were you the one itching to get involved? Don't pretend you didn't know what you were doing! And now that it's done,
At the hotel's front entrance, Michael felt his heart pounding in his chest. "Mr. Giordano, we've searched every room, but there's no sign of them," one of Atlas' men reported. Atlas stood with his hands behind his back, his face cold and unreadable. On the other hand, Michael let out a long sigh of relief. 'Thank goodness Finley managed to escape,' he thought. At least now, he would not have to bear the consequences of this disaster. "Mr. Giordano, like I've told you before, you must have made a mistake," Michael said with a forced smile. "Our hotel isn't even open for business today." Trying to sound as casual as possible, Michael was eager to get Atlas to leave before something went wrong. However, Atlas gave him a sharp, icy glare, and Michael forced himself to stay calm, staring back without flinching. After all, he reasoned, Finley and Yvonne had already slipped out the back. Even if Atlas suspected something, he would not have any proof. Without evidence, there was n
Someone joked, "Let's clear the room. With Dr. Lake here, the rest of us are just background decor." "Once Mr. Phelan Senior takes Dr. Lake's medicine, he'll recover in no time!" The chorus of flattery made Mosby smile. He tried to maintain his dignified image, but the praise still went to his head. He said, "You're all too kind. I just had a few extra years of study. Medicine is a vast field, and I'm sure you'll all reach greatness someday." His humble reply earned another round of admiration. Luna stepped forward, and she was actually smiling for once. "Dr. Lake, thank you for tending to my grandfather." Mosby flushed with pride. "Ms. Luna, it's my honor. Keeping Mr. Phelan Senior healthy is my privilege." The others quickly bowed to Luna as well. After all, she was the Phelan family's prodigy, the capital's undisputed genius—her military rank of major-general at such a young age rivaled even Chetvine's elite. Her status made her the capital's brightest star, outshining
Back when Montgomery was in Chetvine, he ran into trouble. In the end, it was Marvin who stepped in to help, and that was how the bond between their families began. Walking ahead, Luna asked, "How is Marvin doing these days?" Andrew replied, "Perfectly fine. He still puts away full plates at every meal. What worries me is his refusal to find a wife and settle down." Luna frowned. "You're his junior, and your flippant attitude displeases me. Moreover, an elder's affairs are none for you to casually judge." Andrew said flatly, "I'm speaking within reason. No issue here." Luna stopped walking and turned, her face icy. "Marvin once saved my grandfather's life. That's why I respect him. But you? All you've done is cause trouble and pick up bad habits. "Out of respect for Marvin, the Phelan family is willing to give you a place in the capital. But if you keep this lazy, hopeless attitude, we don't take in trash." Luna was never one to argue. After all, no one around her was wo
Luna said, "He's a guest Marvin personally recommended to the family—we can't treat him with disrespect. Francis grumbled as he lowered his hand. He clenched his jaw and said, "You're lucky Miss is composed and gracious. Otherwise, with that arrogant mouth of yours, you'd be in serious trouble by now." Andrew curled his lip. "Save the lecture. Just take me to see Mr. Phelan Senior. I've got more important things to do afterward." Luna's voice came quietly, cool as deep water. "Not so fast. You said my garden lacks elegance and composure. I'm curious—were you just trying to get attention, or do you actually know what you're talking about?" Andrew replied without hesitation. "I was totally bluffing. Don't know a thing, really. So let's not waste time. Take me to Mr. Phelan Senior already." Francis scoffed. "Miss, there's no point arguing with someone so half-baked. Just report back to Mr. Phelan Senior, then toss him out of the estate." Luna narrowed her eyes and said calmly,
"A bit of character?" Francis paused, clearly displeased, and his tone quickly turned sharp. "Listen—if you don't understand something, don't go throwing opinions around. "The Phelans are the pinnacle of prestige in Gabo Creek. And this estate you're looking at? Do you have any idea how far back it goes? During The Solarian Period, it was the residence of a high-ranking statesman!" His words dripped with pride as though he was speaking of sacred history. Andrew replied casually, "The renovation and design definitely have that classic charm. But the layout feels a bit unbalanced, geomancy-wise. And the gardens? A little too flashy, too much Valemonian style. It's missing that Holtrien grace—that quiet, dignified simplicity. It just doesn't flow." Francis' face darkened. He had not expected Andrew to double down—much less critique his work directly. The idea of a kid from Jayrodale thinking he knew anything about geomancy or landscape design was laughable. Francis snapped, "
Andrew said to the lady, "And don't go looking for a nice, honest man. What did an honest man ever do to deserve you?" As the Rolls-Royce drove off, the woman on the plaza stomped her foot in frustration. "Hmph! Acting all high and mighty. You rich guys walk around in suits like you're so proper, but once the clothes come off, you're worse than animals! "And what's wrong with liking an honest guy, huh? Plenty of them love women like me!" Muttering to herself, she swayed her hips and went off to reel in her next customer. … Inside the Rolls-Royce, the driver was an elderly man dressed simply—plain shirt, cloth shoes, nothing flashy. However, he was impeccably neat and carried an unmistakable air of dignity. This type of low-key appearance was common among the long-established elite. It looked humble, but in reality, it spoke volumes. "You must be Andrew Lloyd, the one from Jayrodale, right?" he asked without turning his head. Andrew nodded. "Yeah, that's me." The old m
Jameson nodded, looking quite pleased with himself. "Now, Joe—he's definitely an exceptional young man. I'm satisfied with him, no doubt. But being satisfied doesn't mean he's to my taste! "Andrew, on the other hand, first of all—he's handsome, just like I was back in my prime. Second, he's got charm. Talking with him is actually fun, and that's rare these days." "But most importantly…" Jameson leaned in like he was about to share a state secret. Tiana scowled. "Let me guess—because he lacks ambition and has no shame?" Jameson grinned shamelessly. "Wrong! That kid gave me a pill that… let's just say it brought my manhood back to life! And the best part? Not only did I benefit, but you did too! "So if we're being honest here, we both ought to be thanking him—and treating him right!" Tiana's face flushed bright red. In the blink of an eye, she stormed over and smacked Jameson across the face. She shouted, "Disgusting! Filthy pig! I have no idea what I was thinking when I agr
Andrew replied calmly, "Plan on coming? Oh, no… I'm already on my way." Tiana inhaled sharply, completely stunned. Gritting her teeth, she repeated the same word three times, each one colder than the last. "Fine. Fine. Fine… You really are the kind of fool who won't turn back until he slams into a brick wall, who won't give up until he drowns! "You have no idea what kind of death trap Blumedale is! This is the heart of Gabo Creek—the political and economic center of the region, Holtrien's southern metropolis! "You coming here is like a small fish diving into the open ocean… or a lamb wandering into a den of lions! What awaits you is a shredded body and a death so brutal, no one will even recognize your corpse!" Andrew's gaze sharpened as he replied coolly, "Is that so? Because in my eyes, Gabo Creek's Blumedale is nothing more than a slightly bigger jungle. And an elite hunter doesn't just take down rats and stray dogs… they can gut tigers and rip open lions too." With that,
In Blumedale, Michael's funeral, arranged by Kenny, had already ended, yet Andrew never showed up. Kenny and Sherilyn grew furious, and Sherilyn, backed by the Goldings, boldly offered 300 million dollars to launch a vendetta against Andrew. The entire Blumedale power structure buzzed with rumors and speculation, wondering what kind of man from Jayrodale had incited the wrath of the Rhodes family elder and the Goldings. The so-called family vendetta was a killing order issued by the top-tier families, a deadly move targeting an enemy's life. Once activated, anyone allied with those families could hunt down the fugitive for the 300 million dollar reward, and if successful, the money would be theirs. With the combined might of these influential families and their alliances, the order was terrifying, as being targeted meant being hunted by a dozen or more powerful houses, a true death sentence. Tiana personally called Andrew to warn him that he either had to hide out in Jayrodale
Tears of humiliation welled up in Shawn's eyes as he clenched his teeth and muttered, "Got it!" Andrew slapped him again, harder this time. "I didn't ask if you got it. I asked if it's okay." The weight of shame nearly crushed Shawn from the inside out. Nonetheless, he did not dare resist. He did not even flinch as he squeezed out, "Okay!" No one missed how low he had sunk. Even Quinton, the proud heir of Blumedale, had lost all his swagger, and now Shawn had no one to count on. He was completely on his own. Andrew looked down at him and said coldly, "You can fuck off now." Shawn acted like he had just been pardoned from death row. He scrambled to his feet and bolted straight back to the Fields family. From that day on, he swore he would check the stars before leaving his house, and he would make damn sure Andrew was not in the same zip code. If their paths might cross, he would rather stay home or take a two-hour detour. "Alright, Fran, let's go," Andrew said, brushing o