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Chapter 313
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 314
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 315
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…"
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 316
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 317
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 318
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 319
In the car, Francesca called Lauren and spent several minutes chatting in hushed tones. When she hung up, her face showed clear disappointment. She said with a sigh, "It's a shame Lauren can't join us. We had planned to attend the showcase together with you, Andrew, but the Rhodes family has been keeping a close eye on her lately. She'll have to skip it this time." Andrew could not help but think back to Jerry and the others from the day before. While they claimed to be there to pick Lauren up, their behavior seemed more like they were monitoring her. Cedric chimed in, "The Rhodes family recently had an important guest arrive from the Blumedale. Lauren is probably tied up entertaining them, which is why she couldn't come along." The three of them chatted casually as they drove, eventually arriving at Jayrodale's most famous antique district. The streets were already packed with people, forcing Andrew to park the car several blocks away. Cedric glanced around at the bustling c
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 320
Andrew smiled and said, "Ms. Santana, it seems you're not just a skilled auctioneer but also an expert in antiques. That's quite impressive." Elsie's face lit up at the compliment, though she remained modest. "Mr. Lloyd, you're too kind. It's just that I've grown to love what I do, and my family has been in the antiques business for generations. I've picked up a few things along the way." As they strolled around the plaza, Andrew said casually, "Well, let's take a look around. If anything catches my eye, I'll leave it to you to help me evaluate it." Elsie nodded with a smile. "Feel free to let me know if something interests you, Mr. Lloyd. I'll be happy to assist." Feeling a little competitive, Francesca kept her expression pleasant but couldn't resist commenting. "There are so many antiques here—paintings, artifacts, and all sorts of treasures. Can Ms. Santana really guarantee she knows everything about all of them?" Elsie remained calm and replied confidently, "The world of
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 321
Andrew chuckled and said, "There's nothing strange about this. The antiques market has always been like this—full of counterfeits, knockoffs, and replicas with sky-high price tags. "If they find someone clueless, they'll rip them off hard. But when they're dealing with an expert, even a treasure from a king's vault could be marked down to the price of candy in a gumball machine." Elsie chuckled, her cheeks flushing as she gave Andrew a playful glare. "Mr. Lloyd, your analogy is pretty amusing, but you're spot on—that's exactly how it is." Francesca clenched her teeth and muttered, "These shameless crooks! If Ms. Santana hadn't been here, I'd probably have been scammed by that old man." After this little drama, her opinion of Elsie had clearly shifted for the better. Elsie led them around the plaza, where they continued browsing. Francesca was unfamiliar with antiques and mostly picked items based on appearance, gravitating toward colorful or uniquely shaped pieces. She fi
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1218
The crowd could not help but wonder if Andrew was just that hurried to die, "Dragon Claw Strike!" With a low, lethal growl, Ellis struck, his eyes full of murder. His hands curled into claws, shooting straight for Andrew's chest and eyes, going for nothing less than a kill shot right from the start. However, Andrew's expression did not change. He stepped back once, then again, calm and fluid. It looked casual, but every move was calculated—just enough to slip right past Ellis's deadly thrusts. "Not bad. That's some decent footwork," Ellis sneered, his tone mocking even as he circled again. Then, his wiry frame lunged low, sweeping toward Andrew with a lightning-fast kick. Andrew's voice remained quiet and steady. "Dragon Claw Strike and Golden Cicada Stance are elite techniques from Silverthorn Monastery. Too bad you only learned the shell, not the substance." He stopped moving. Like a rock in a river, his stance suddenly locked in place. Ellis's sweeping legs, fast as
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1217
The bald man, Ellis, was not some no-name street thug—he was well-known in Blumedale. Among Mosby's apprentices, he was one of the rare few with zero talent in medicine but exceptional prowess in martial arts. Insiders knew the truth—Mosby had not taken Ellis in to pass on his medical legacy or help heal the sick. He wanted muscle, someone who could handle the dirty work behind closed doors. The whispers began almost instantly among the growing crowd. "This is bad. That's Mosby's third apprentice—trained under the monks at Silverthorn Monastery. I heard he's so powerful he can crack stone with his bare hands." Another chimed in, "Genesis Dispensary isn't the kind of place you just stroll into looking for trouble. That young guy's finished." "Well… I don't know. Judging from what I saw earlier, the guy's no amateur either." "Amateur? My ass. Ellis doesn't hold back. People have died under his fists before. That punk's either going to be crippled or dead in minutes..." More a
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1216
Barely two minutes had passed, but every single one of Genesis Dispensary's enforcers lay sprawled on the ground—some unconscious, some writhing in pain, and some not even moving. Janice clutched the edge of her sleeve, her face pale as a sheet. She stared at Andrew in shock, as if not recognizing this man. The Andrew she knew was gentle, refined, eloquent—someone who had won her grandfather's respect the moment they met, a miracle doctor with endless skill. However, the Andrew standing before her now was the complete opposite—ruthless, cold-blooded, and surrounded by a sea of blood from the beatings he had just handed out. Old Hayface's legs trembled as he stared at Andrew like he had seen a ghost, thinking this was beyond insane. How could some young punk wipe out all of Genesis Dispensary's muscle like it was nothing? He shook his head furiously in denial. "Andrew, you've messed up big time—real big. Mr. Lake is on his way and—" Before he could finish, Andrew delivered t
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1215
The red Ferrari screeched to a stop in front of the famous Genesis Dispensary like a streak of lightning. The dramatic entrance instantly caught the attention of pedestrians walking by. "Who the hell do you think you are? Driving that flashy piece of crap like you own the place? Move it before we lock your ass in!" Two burly security thugs stationed at the entrance of Genesis Dispensary stomped over, cursing as they approached. Janice jumped out of the car in a panic and rushed to explain, "I'm sorry, sirs, really sorry! We'll leave right now, please don't—" However, before she could even finish her sentence, Andrew stepped forward and slapped both men across the face. Each blow landed with a crack, and neither man had time to react before their heads slammed into the pavement, completely unconscious. Janice stood frozen, wondering if Andrew had always had such an explosive temper. How had she never seen this side of him before? "You bastard! You think you can hit our guy
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1214
Ronan's Oak Apothecary had built a modest but respected reputation in Blumedale, so having him gather the herbs was a huge time-saver for Andrew. However, the moment Andrew stepped into the shop, Janice Bates came running toward him in tears. "Andrew! My grandpa… he got hurt! Someone beat him up!" she cried, sobbing uncontrollably. Andrew's brows furrowed. "Janice, stop crying for now. Take me to him." In the back room, Ronan was lying on a bed, clearly injured. Two red handprints burned across his cheeks, and his forehead was bruised and bleeding as if someone had shoved him hard against something. "Mr. Lloyd… you came," Ronan said weakly, trying to sit up. "Forgive me, I've failed you." Andrew quickly motioned for him to stop talking. "Don't waste your breath. Let's get you patched up first." After checking him over, Andrew was relieved to find that Ronan had only suffered surface wounds and a badly twisted waist. He worked swiftly, massaging the injured muscles and ap
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1213
The awkward silence lasted for almost half an hour. Eventually, Aspen regained enough strength in her legs to move again. Without a word and her face icy cold, she reached for the car door, desperate to leave. Andrew quickly grabbed her wrist and said, "I'll drive you home so you can change clothes. Especially your skirt and stockings—they're completely soaked." Aspen immediately blushed crimson, embarrassment flooding up her neck and across her cheeks. She ground her teeth angrily and snapped, "No need!" Andrew ignored her protests completely, starting the Ferrari and driving straight back to The Sovereign Residences. Neither said a word during the entire drive. Andrew genuinely did not know what to say. Everything had been perfectly normal until he suddenly crossed the line with Aspen. It was just like those old movies, where the wealthy guy ended up sleeping with his favorite maid. Technically, Andrew had not done anything wrong; Aspen was his slave, after all. Nonethe
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1212
Andrew shook his head slowly and said, "No, you're not like some middle-aged lunatic, and you're definitely not trash or a hooker. You look like a cute little bunny rabbit, just begging to be eaten up. You forced my hand, Aspen!" As soon as he finished speaking, Aspen's eyes widened in sudden panic, realizing what was about to happen. She struggled fiercely, desperate to escape Andrew's grasp. Her voice trembled with tears as she pleaded, "No, no, no! Andrew—Mr. Lloyd—I'm sorry, I admit it, I was wrong! I swear, I won't do it again, please don't do this—please, no!" Her frantic protests ended abruptly with a soft, electric whimper as Andrew silenced her, pressing his mouth firmly onto hers. What followed was a hungry, unstoppable kiss, intense and overwhelming. Aspen's clear eyes widened, her expression first filled with shame and anger, then disbelief, and finally melting into a dazed, dreamy blankness. Their rapid breathing mingled in the confined space of the Ferrari, th
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1211
Andrew let out a cold laugh as he stared at the trembling Aspen right in front of him. "What am I doing? What do you think I'm doing? When you were trying to suppress Christina and Davon earlier, you used my presence to scare them off. Don't tell me you forgot that?" Aspen flushed, both embarrassed and angry. "I didn't forget! But what I said—was any of it wrong?" Andrew snorted. "No, it wasn't wrong. But you did get one thing messed up: your grudge with Christina has nothing to do with me, so don't drag me into it just to make yourself look good. You used your own boss as a pawn. That takes some guts, Aspen." Aspen instantly felt a chill. She shrank back and begged, "I-I-I… I won't do it again, okay? Andrew, just let me down first. My butt's right up against the window, and if someone walks by and sees this, how the hell am I supposed to live that down?" The corner of Andrew's lips curved into a teasing grin. "Isn't that perfect? You're my little secretary. This? This is very
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1210
Someone joked loudly, "But we get it… I mean, with a secretary like that, why would you even look at anyone else?" The others burst into raucous laughter, not bothering to hide it even in front of Aspen's increasingly dark expression. "Exactly!" another chimed in. "Mr. Lloyd is living the dream. Damn, I look at my office girl and suddenly feel dead inside!" "Mr. Lloyd's not just talented—he's got the best of both worlds. That little secretary of his is a top-tier beauty!" A bespectacled executive chuckled crudely and added, "Mr. Lloyd, let me give you a piece of advice: when there's work, let the secretary handle it; when there's no work, handle the secretary! That line fits you perfectly!" The entire room erupted in laughter as Aspen's face flushed deep red, her cheeks burning. Furious, she shot Andrew a murderous glare, then stormed out of the room in her heels without a word. Andrew, looking utterly unbothered, leisurely followed behind. He even muttered to himself, "Han
