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Chapter 319
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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
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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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Orion's sharp words left Cedric furious. He raised the statue in his hand, ready to smash it, but Francesca and Elsie quickly grabbed him and calmed him down. Francesca asked anxiously, "Grandpa, why are you so upset?" Cedric's face turned red and pale in anger as he gritted his teeth. "Do you see this statue? Orion tricked me into buying it for ten million, only for me to find out it's a fake. That rotten old cheat!" Francesca was livid and stepped forward, ready to confront Orion, but Elsie held her back. "Ms. Aicker, you shouldn't," Elsie said, shaking her head. "Why not?" Francesca shot back. "Just because he's a big shot, he's allowed to scam people?" Elsie let out a small sigh. "That man is Orion Kelce, one of the top antique experts from Bridgefields. He's highly respected in the field." Francesca was not having it. "So what if he's an expert? Does that give him the right to cheat others?" Elsie replied with a wry smile, "Unfortunately, in the rules of this appra
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Aspen smiled sweetly and said, "Mr. Kelce, back in Bridgefields, you're considered a legend in the antique world, always sharp with your words." She glanced around dramatically. "I see that even here in Jayrodale, you've kept your genuine style. I must say, I admire your consistency." Orion's face lit up with pride. "Ah, finally, someone who gets me! So many think I'm just showing off or looking down on others, but why would I need to pretend at my level? Like you said, this is just who I am—straightforward and honest. I never sugarcoat my words." Aspen's gaze shifted over the crowd before landing on Andrew, her smile turning icy. "Mr. Kelce, we Bridgefields folk like to let our skills and logic speak for themselves. However, some people here just can't seem to respect us, no matter what." Orion smirked. "Oh? And who's bold enough to disrespect us?" Aspen pointed directly at Andrew. "It's him, Mr. Kelce. His name's Andrew Lloyd. Ever since I arrived in Jayrodale, he hasn't m
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Christina sighed, glancing at Andrew with a mix of helplessness and frustration. "Aspen, enough already," she said, tugging her cousin's arm lightly. "Let's just walk around. I want to find a couple of good pieces to bring home." Aspen chuckled, clearly enjoying the attention, and let Christina pull her away. "Sure, Christie, let's look around," she replied, her voice dripping with smugness. You know, back in Bridgefields, I was trained by the best since I was a kid. I've never been wrong about authenticity in antiques, not even once." Christina could not help but admire Aspen's confidence. They were cousins, and Aspen was just a year older. Yet, she always seemed so composed and capable. Whether it was her sharp instincts or commanding presence, Aspen had the kind of charm that Christina found hard to rival, even with her own pride. Just as the tension seemed to subside, a sharp, mocking voice broke through the hushed crowd. "Two strays from Bridgefields barking away, b
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One of Orion's followers shouted, "Hey, Mr. Kelce is graciously lowering himself to challenge you in an appraisal contest, and you don't even have the guts to agree?" Another chimed in, "Calling us dogs? Kid, you're biting off more than you can chew. Words like that will get you into real trouble—if you don't crawl out of this appraisal event on all fours today, I'll take your last name!" A third laughed mockingly, "Even Jayrodale's antique experts wouldn't dare utter a word against Mr. Kelce, yet here you are, some nobody playing the hero. Didn't your mom ever teach you that sticking your neck out doesn't make you brave? It makes you reckless, and reckless fools tend to end up regretting it!" No one could believe that Andrew, who was not even part of the antique world, would dare provoke someone as influential as Orion. Christina snapped angrily, "Andrew, apologize to Mr. Kelce and Aspen right now!" Andrew replied nonchalantly, "Why should I apologize?" Gritting her teeth,
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Francesca voiced her concern, "Andrew, you don't know anything about antiques, let alone artifact authentication. Maybe we should bail—after all, this is Jayrodale, and even though we're dealing with Orion and Aspen, what's the worst they could do?" Andrew raised an eyebrow and replied, "Who told you I don't know about antiques?" He took the bronze statue from Cedric's hands, weighed it carefully, and turned to Orion. "Since you're letting me go first, I won't hold back. Now, why don't you authenticate this piece?" Orion was stunned for a moment before breaking into laughter. "You fool, this is nothing but a fake, and you dare test me with it? Listen carefully—this is a replica of the famous piece from the Hall of Faith. Unfortunately for you, the original was destroyed during the civil wars of the early 20th century." Several antique experts in the room nodded in agreement. "That's correct—this statue is just a replica," they chimed in. "The original was destroyed long ago.
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"Mr. Lloyd, is that a sacred relic in your hand?" Elsie gasped in disbelief. Andrew casually tossed it to her and said, "Have your Radiant Group experts verify it—that should clear things up right away." Elsie immediately took the pearl for authentication. Orion felt uneasy but still scoffed, "A sacred relic? Kid, you've got some nerves. Do you even know how precious these artifacts are?" "Of course I do," Andrew replied coolly. "When ancient spiritual masters passed away and were cremated, these relics remained. Scientifically speaking, they're just crystallized remains—but in the antiquities world, every authentic relic is priceless. I'm sure the experts here understand what I mean." Many nodded in agreement with Andrew's words. Indeed, any genuine sacred relic was one-of-a-kind, and while it might not have any special physical properties, its cultural and historical significance made it an absolute treasure in collectors' eyes. Seeing Orion's confidence falter, Aspen qui
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 758
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 750
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
