Andrew chuckled and said, "Mr. Giordano, you truly exude an air of authority. Your composure and dominance are impressive." Atlas scowled impatiently. "Cut the flattery, kid. If you've got something to say, just say it." He continued, "I know well that Natasha and Dylan practically follow your lead now. When it comes to scheming, you're the real mastermind here." Andrew quickly waved his hands and replied, "Oh, you're thinking too highly of me." He lowered his voice and added, "I just wanted to let you know, Mr. Giordano, that back in the lounge at West End Manor, I noticed something interesting in Mr. Moore and Ms. Fuller's glasses." He smirked slyly. "It's a rare substance called cantharides. Rumor has it, once a man and woman ingest it, the only way to ‘work it out' is through an intense… physical session to get rid of its effect—" Atlas could not take it anymore and shut Andrew off. "Enough! Shut your damn mouth! Don't say another word!" The fury and humiliation he h
Atlas' mocking laughter echoed from a distance. "Before you came to Jayrodale, Northern District was already a dominant force. With or without you, it makes no difference. Also, Finley—I've been putting up with your nonsense for way too long!" "Get lost, you pathetic son of a bitch!" he added with a sneer. Left standing alone, Finley burned with murderous rage. Atlas had slapped him, severed their partnership, and humiliated him publicly. If that was the case, Finley decided there was no point feeling guilty anymore. Atlas, the so-called crime lord of the Northern District, was nothing more than a shortsighted fool. He thought someone as petty as Atlas never deserved his full support anyway, especially since everything was happening because of a woman. Meanwhile, Natasha and Dylan exchanged glances, their mutual excitement impossible to hide. The Northern District's two pillars, Atlas and Finley, had finally gone their separate ways. Now, it was their turn to take the stage.
Andrew, Natasha, and Dylan returned to West End with their respective entourages. Andrew said, "Dylan, I don't think I need to handle the rest of Madam Vostokoff's business." The chaos he had stirred up was more than enough, and he had no intention of meddling further in the underworld. Dylan nodded. "Mr. Lloyd, you've already done far more than enough for us. Madam Vostokoff and I can handle the rest without troubling you further." Natasha chuckled. "Darling, you even managed to divide Atlas and Finley for us. Why not see it through to the end? How about taking Atlas out entirely for us?" Andrew shook his head without hesitation. "You know my rules, Natasha. I've already done more than enough, far exceeding the value of that so-called medicinal herb you offered me. Isn't it a bit excessive to keep asking for more?" Dylan quickly agreed. "Madam Vostokoff, Mr. Lloyd has gone above and beyond for us. Asking him for anything more wouldn't just break the rules—it would make us
Dylan shrugged casually, clearly indifferent. He had already tried to warn Natasha, but if she refused to listen, there was not much he could do. It was obvious that Andrew was cutting her some slack—if someone like Michael had dared to act up, they would have been slapped into submission long ago. By the time Andrew returned to Moonlit Sanctuary, the sun was setting. He pushed open the door to the small house on the hill and found Marvin lounging under the tree at a stone table, sipping leisurely on some liquor. The table held not just Andrew's prized bottle of aged whiskey but also a few snacks that were perfect for drinking. Andrew walked over and smirked. "When did you start getting into the finer things in life, old man?" Marvin chuckled and raised his glass. "Sir, you're giving me too much credit. These fancy little snacks? Definitely not my handiwork." He gestured toward the house with a knowing look. Andrew frowned in confusion. "Who else would be here?" Just as
Lauren's words caught Andrew off guard, and he stammered, "W-What? No, you…" He had assumed Lauren had uncovered some hidden truth or had some brilliant insight. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect her to come up with such an absurd and melodramatic theory. Meanwhile, Lauren looked utterly confident, her face glowing with satisfaction. "Mr. Yates is nearly 60 now and has never married—that's no secret in Jayrodale's elite circles! Everyone finds it strange that a man with such immense wealth hasn't taken a wife, or even had a mistress, second wife, or a random fling." She leaned in conspiratorially. "There's been plenty of speculation that Mr. Yates must've had a secret family hidden away somewhere. But because he's never said anything publicly, no one dares to gossip too much." Lauren paused dramatically and grinned. "I used to think Mr. Yates was just really good at keeping his private life private. But after getting to know you, and the more I've learned about you…"
Lauren had talked so much that her mouth had gone dry. She grabbed her glass of water and downed it in large gulps. Andrew watched her, his lips twitching harder with every passing second. He was almost certain now—Lauren's wild assumptions resulted from reading too many trashy romance novels or binge-watching overly dramatic soap operas. Everyone knew how deeply these kinds of shows could corrupt their audiences, especially when it came to women with overactive imaginations. After finishing their meal, they cleaned the kitchen together, washing the dishes until everything sparkled. It was not even seven yet, so Andrew thought briefly before suggesting, "Ms. Rhodes, since it's your first time visiting, how about I show you around?" Lauren hesitated, looking conflicted. "Maybe another time, Dr. Lloyd. I really need to head back." Noticing how her fingers were fidgeting as if torn between staying and leaving, Andrew raised a brow in surprise. "It's still early, Ms. Rhodes. Y
The next morning, Andrew arrived at Jayrodale General Hospital bright and early. As the deputy chief, his workload was typically light, and he often joked that his role was more symbolic than hands-on. Though the hospital was the largest in Jayrodale, it was privately owned, granting Andrew significant freedom. Unless there was a particularly complex case or a challenging surgery, he rarely had to step in, thanks to Francesca and Lauren's help managing the load. "Good morning, Dr. Lloyd!" The vibrant and cheerful nurses greeted him warmly as he walked through the corridors. Andrew smiled back and replied, "Good morning, everyone!" The most beautiful nurse in the hospital was Nyla, widely regarded as the belle of the department. When she saw Andrew, her face turned bright red, and she quickly lowered her gaze, clearly flustered. Andrew gave her a polite smile before stepping into the elevator to head to his office. Hospitals were known for being breeding grounds for gos
Andrew stayed silent for a moment, then glanced over at Francesca. Her face was flushed red all the way to her neck, and the moment she noticed his gaze, she quickly turned away and muttered, "Andrew, don't listen to my grandpa's nonsense. He's just a hopeless old man." Andrew chuckled lightly and said, "Dr. Aicker, as I've mentioned before, the age gap between us is far too wide. Accepting you as my apprentice wouldn't be appropriate, so there's no need to bring this up again." Cedric looked visibly disappointed as he nodded and sighed. "Fair enough, I understand. It was a bold request, after all." He then brightened up and added, "But, Dr. Lloyd, I didn't come here just to ask about becoming your apprentice. There's something else I wanted to discuss with you." Andrew tilted his head curiously. "Oh? I'm all ears." Cedric stroked his beard and explained, "Today is the Antiquities Showcase hosted by Radiant Group. Experts and collectors from Jayrodale, Blumedale, and even B
Tiana said coldly, "And these last two are from Rhodes Corporation. Aspen, do you have any idea how much damage you've caused? Because of you, Rhodes Pharmaceutical has taken hit after hit. We're barely hanging on! "Now get lost. Go back to Bridgefields, and don't ever set foot in Jayrodale again. Otherwise, if I'm ever in a bad mood, I'll make sure to slap you every time I see you!" Exuding pure dominance, Tiana let out a disdainful scoff before turning on her heel and walking away with her entourage. Aspen collapsed to the ground like a pile of broken rubble. Her whole body trembled as tears streamed down her face. The pain was unbearable—not just physically, but mentally. "W-why… why did it come to this?" she choked out. "Why, of all people, is it me? First, Andrew torments me, and now Tiana! Why?" She lay there, shoulders shaking violently as sobs racked her body. Tiana had completely destroyed her face, but that was not the worst part—the worst part was that her spirit w
Christina gritted her teeth, refusing to say a word. She hated the idea that anyone could think she was beneath Andrew. Deep down, there was a dark, bitter part of her that would never accept that he was doing better than her. After all, admitting it would mean that leaving him had been a monumental mistake—one of the dumbest decisions she had ever made. Christina was too proud to ever acknowledge that. Even if she said it out loud, she would never truly believe it in her heart. Tiana scoffed. "Forget it. I only said all that because I found you incredibly irritating. But I'm actually here for Aspen." As she spoke, her icy gaze shifted to Aspen. Aspen, already trembling, started shaking even harder. She stammered, "M-Mrs. Rhodes, what can I do for you?" Tiana took two slow steps forward, her smile sharp and merciless. "I never expected the Stevens family to produce someone like you, nor did I think Zephyr would raise such a thieving daughter!" Aspen swallowed her anger an
Christina said flatly, "Let's grab a bite first. We can deal with everything else after. Andrew is even taking the people I set my sights on now. Fine. If he wants to force my hand, then I have no choice but to go against him." Aspen hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Christie, have you considered that maybe Andrew really isn't on the same level as us anymore?" Failing time and time again, getting crushed by Andrew repeatedly—it had shattered Aspen's once-proud and confident heart. Whenever she faced him, she found herself losing the drive to compete. Instead, she just wanted to keep her distance. Aspen did not want to admit it, but deep down, she knew she was scared of him now. Christina's voice was icy. "No. I don't think he's that impressive. I'll admit, he's changed. He's become more powerful and holds much more influence now. But I'll never bow to him. I'll prove to him that if he can thrive, I can do even better." Aspen parted her lips, about to say something when
Jamie gasped and immediately shouted for his men to stop. He stepped forward, and what he saw made his scalp tingle—curled up inside the trunk was a man so battered and bloodied that his face was completely unrecognizable. The man was barely clinging to consciousness, struggling to breathe. Jamie asked, "Sir, who are you? And why are you in Mr. Lloyd's car?" He kept his weapon pointed at the man, his tone sharp. "Where's the wild boar? Mr. Lloyd said he brought one back—did you let it escape?" Michael was already half-dead, barely holding on to his sanity. During the ride, he had vomited every last drop of fluid in his stomach, nearly passing out from exhaustion. When the trunk finally opened, he had been ecstatic, thinking he was finally free. Yet, before he could even take a breath, he was met with a brutal, merciless beating—one so bad that he nearly pissed himself. His hatred for Andrew burned so deep it could have swallowed him whole. He clutched his head and let out
Lauren assured him, "Don't worry, I'll get it done!" Andrew turned to Shiloh and asked, "As for where you'll stay… I have no idea where to put you. How about I just buy you a place?" Shiloh immediately shook her head. "No way! City housing prices are insane. I checked online, and in Jayrodale, it's over 15 grand per square foot. I'm not buying!" Andrew laughed. "Relax, I'll pay for it. You can just live there for free!" Shiloh shook her head even harder. "That's even worse! I don't like owing people!" Andrew felt a headache coming on. "Didn't you just make 20 million? Use your own money to buy a place." Shiloh's eyes burned with outrage. "Absolutely not! I just earned a fortune, and the first thing you want me to do is dump it into real estate? Mr. Lloyd, you've got capitalism running through your veins. Evil, evil, big bad energy—do you get that?" Andrew just stared at her, speechless. He had no counter for that. Meanwhile, Lauren could not hold it in anymore. She doub
Shiloh nodded. "Fine, I'll give you some leeway. But I act based on my mood. If I'm in a bad mood, even you won't be spared." Andrew raised his hands in surrender and chuckled nervously, saying, "Whatever you say. So please, make sure to stay in a great mood!" Lauren was drowning in work, her stress levels through the roof. However, the moment she saw Andrew walk in, she immediately brightened up and was about to greet him with a kiss. Then, her gaze shifted, and she spotted Shiloh standing behind him. She asked, "Dr. Lloyd, is this the wellness guru, Ms. Shiloh Greene?" Lauren, all warmth and enthusiasm, stepped forward with a bright smile and extended her hand. "Hello, I'm Lauren Rhodes, Dr. Lloyd's girlfriend." Shiloh reached out and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Rhodes." Andrew noticed something odd—Shiloh did not seem nearly as distant with Lauren as she had with everyone else. That made him curious. "Shiloh, you seem to like Lauren, don't you?" Shiloh answe
The elevator bell rang, and the doors slid open. Andrew stepped out with Shiloh, walking toward Lauren's office under the employees' curious gazes and polite greetings. On the way, they ran into Tiana. She eyed Shiloh up and down, her gaze carrying a hint of doubt as she asked, "Mr. Lloyd, is this the Master Shiloh you went to recruit?" Andrew nodded. "That's right, this is Ms. Shiloh Greene." He secretly let out a breath of relief—he had almost called her Master again. The last thing he wanted was to end up like Michael, who got slapped across the face for it. Tiana, exuding her usual cold and commanding presence, stepped closer to Shiloh and said, "Take off your veil. Let me see what you look like. If you're going to represent Rhodes Corporation, you can't be someone who doesn't look the part." Shiloh met her gaze calmly and replied, "Wearing a veil won't stop me from endorsing your products." Tiana's brows furrowed, her voice taking on a sharper edge. "Even so, I'd st
They chatted idly on the way back. Before long, they arrived in downtown Jayrodale, and Andrew drove straight to the Rhodes Corporation building, pulling up in front. A security guard jogged over with a big smile. "Mr. Lloyd, you're back!" As Andrew and Shiloh stepped out of the car, he handed over the keys to the guard and said, "Park it for me." The company's security guards practically worshiped Andrew now. Their respect for him was just as strong compared to Tiana's. "Of course, Mr. Lloyd, don't worry! I'll take good care of your car!" Just then, a weak knocking sound came from the trunk, along with what sounded like muffled cursing. However, with the noise of traffic all around, it was hard to make out. The security guard frowned and asked, "Uh… Mr. Lloyd, I think something's moving in the trunk." Andrew waved it off. "We picked up a wild boar on the way back. The kind that roams the mountains—mean as hell." The security guard's eyes widened. "A wild boar? Oh man,
From the moment Shiloh first mentioned she was over 80, Andrew had suspected she suffered from a rare condition—one commonly known as the "ageless syndrome". As the name suggested, those affected by it never aged beyond a certain point. Looking at Shiloh, even with her veil on, Andrew could tell she had likely stopped aging in her early 20s—still in the prime of youth. To the outside world, ageless syndrome sounded like a blessing—eternal youth. Yet, in reality, for many who suffered from it, it was a nightmare. Some stopped growing as infants, toddlers, or even newborns, forever trapped in a child's body. On the other hand, Shiloh was one of the lucky few—she had at least matured into adulthood before her aging had frozen. Nonetheless, the ageless syndrome was not as wonderful as it seemed. Certain conditions—cold, extreme heat, or even specific lunar phases—could trigger unbearable pain, or worse, episodes of mental instability. In Shiloh's case, she was not just dealing wi