LOGINShare
Chapter 323
Related chapters
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 324
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 325
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,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 326
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.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 327
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 328
Andrew shook his head. "I'm no master—I just know a thing or two." Elsie could no longer take Andrew's modesty at face value. Earlier, she had confidently shown off her antique knowledge while guiding Andrew and Francesca through the collection, but now she felt embarrassed. It was like teaching calculus to a math professor. While some celebrated, others brooded. Orion's face had turned dark as he reached out his hand and demanded, "I don't trust these worthless Jayrodale experts. Give it to me—I need to examine it myself." "Dream on, Orion," Cedric pulled back protectively. Andrew intervened calmly, "Let him see it. Let's put his doubts to rest." Cedric reluctantly handed over the relic. Orion turned it over in his palm, examining it from every angle until his face went ashen gray, an uncontrollable glint of greed flickering in his eyes. "According to the auction rules, whoever authenticates a piece gets to keep it," Andrew said. "Mr. Kelce, you've handled it enough, and i
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 329
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Orion's assistant brought two identical porcelain bowls forward. They were pristine white with delicate blue patterns adorning their surfaces. Elsie's expression turned serious as she warned, "Mr. Lloyd, in authentication, the toughest challenge is the twin test." "What's the twin test?" Andrew asked, which made Elsie sigh helplessly. She could not understand how Andrew seemed to know nothing, yet had spotted that sacred relic earlier. She quickly explained, "The twin test is an authentication term. It refers to two identical pieces—one authentic and one fake—that are so similar, they're impossible to tell apart with the naked eye. These two bowls, for instance, appear identical. Usually, we'd rely on professional knowledge, experience, touch sensitivity, and specialized equipment—but the competition rules prohibit using tools, so you'll need another approach." Orion extended his hand with a smirk. "You have five minutes to identify the authen
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 330
Orion's assistant mocked, "This kid knows nothing about antiques, and as for experience. Hell, he's barely old enough to drive! Just kneel before Mr. Kelce and admit you're wrong, kid. That's how youngsters like you should behave." "These jerks are going too far," Francesca grumbled. Andrew picked up both porcelain bowls, one in each hand, and asked with a smile, "Ms. Santana, these bowls are competition property, right?" Elsie nodded, puzzled by his question. "Yes, Mr. Lloyd. Competition rules state that all antiques and items must be from registered dealers." "Then I'd like to ask the owner of these bowls to step forward," Andrew announced loudly. Orion laughed coldly. "Do you really think the owner would tell you which is real? Stop playing games and just admit you don't know anything." "Patience. You'll be crying soon enough," Andrew replied with a smirk. The bowls owner, an elderly man in a burgundy suit with kind eyes, stepped forward and said politely, "Young man,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 331
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. They could not understand why Andrew had wasted time asking such obvious questions about the bowls' value. "Are you done wasting time? Can you tell which is real now?" Orion asked impatiently. Without answering, Andrew casually tossed the bowl in his left hand into the air. Aspen shouted angrily, "Andrew, what are you doing? Can you afford to replace a million-dollar piece?" Before she finished speaking, the bowl crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces. The spectators stared in disbelief, wondering if the pressure had made him lose his mind. Elsie was overwhelmed and could only manage to stutter, "Mr. Lloyd, you—" "If it were real, I'd have to pay for it, right?" Andrew asked calmly. "Well, that's obvious," Elsie replied, distressed. Andrew let out a relieved sigh. "Good thing I broke the fake one." The crowd was stunned. Some whispered about Andrew's unorthodox authentication method, while others bet he was just bluffing
Latest chapter
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 752
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 751
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 749
Andrew paused for a moment, surprised that she was not ready—not because of hesitation, but because of the location. With a light chuckle, he gave Francesca's soft bottom a playful pat. "Don't move. We'll be home soon." He shifted gears, released the brakes, and stepped on the gas. The G-Wagon roared to life, speeding toward the Moonlit Sanctuary estate at the top of the hill. Francesca's lips curled into a satisfied yet bashful smile. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she leaned forward and bit Andrew's chest playfully. "You big pervert! You jerk!" However, deep down, she was already scheming. 'Lauren, you better not blame me for this. You're the one who told me to take good care of Andrew first. Hehe… once your little purity mark is out of the way, the two of us will make sure Andrew completely surrenders!' And so, that night, the master bedroom of Moonlit Sanctuary's hilltop estate was anything but quiet. Francesca, at first nervous, soon found herself completely imm
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 748
Francesca sat there, completely stunned. It felt like all the air had been sucked from her lungs. She thought, 'Did… did this guy just do what I think he did?' She had practically offered him her lips, yet he did not kiss her. All he did was unbuckle her damn seatbelt. Francesca silently cursed Andrew for being an idiot. The perfect moment was right there, and he ruined it. Her face burned with embarrassment as frustration bubbled up inside her. Then, she let out a huff, sulking like a child. Andrew raised a brow. "What's wrong, Fran? Are you feeling sick again?" Francesca let out a sharp laugh. "Nope. Don't worry about it!" Andrew smirked. "Say that again." "I said—don't worry about it! Don't. Worry. About. It. What are you gonna do about it, huh?" Her voice rose in irritation, her temper flaring as she glared at him. Without warning, Andrew's large hand pinched her soft, delicate cheek. He grinned and teased, "Say it one more time." Francesca's eyes widened in shock
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 747
With Francesca in the passenger seat, Andrew drove swiftly through the city. Before long, they arrived at Moonlit Sanctuary. Just as they reached the gated community, a loud rumble echoed across the sky, followed by heavy rain. The sudden downpour was intense, with flashes of lightning cutting through the darkness. Francesca hugged herself, her voice soft with unease. "Andrew, it's storming… I don't like being alone when there's thunder. Can you stay with me for a while?" Andrew pulled the car to a stop along a quiet street. Towering trees lined both sides, their silhouettes barely visible in the dim light, while the car's warm interior glowed softly. "Alright, I'll stay until the rain stops." Francesca's face lit up with joy. "Andrew, you know… ever since I was little, thunderstorms have always scared me. But right now, with you here, I don't feel afraid at all. Actually, I feel… safe." Andrew glanced out the window. Raindrops pounded against the glass, the steady drumming
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 746
Francesca had enough. She turned to Christina and snapped, "Christina, are you seriously going to stand there and let your mother humiliate herself like this?" Christina's face burned with shame. She was beyond embarrassed, but Andrew's attitude toward her was something she could not accept. So instead, she steeled her voice. "Andrew, there's no denying that my mother was hit. You probably don't want this to escalate, so here's the deal—come back with me to the Stevens mansion, and I won't pursue this any further." Andrew let out a short laugh. "Go ahead. Let her make a scene all she wants. In fact, I have a pretty good relationship with Donald over at Jayrodale's law enforcement division. I'm sure he'd love to look into a case where a crazy old woman is harassing my business." The second Andrew reached for his phone, Irene instantly panicked. She scrambled to her feet so fast it was almost comical—no trace of the poor, battered old lady was left. She shrieked, "Andrew, you b
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 745
Leroy sneered. "Andrew, you and Christie had a history. Back when you were struggling, she was the one who helped you! Now that you're successful, it's only right that you repay her. If you refuse, then you're just an ungrateful traitor—and trust me, if you don't cooperate, I'll make sure you're ruined!" Andrew's eyes turned ice-cold as he let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Christina helped me when I was at my lowest? Leroy, the Stevens family really has no shame, huh? When I was living under your roof, did I ever take a dime from you? Did I ever owe you anything? "If anything, it was you—and your greedy, money-grubbing mother—who kept taking from me, milking me for every cent you could get." Ignoring how Irene and Leroy's faces darkened, Andrew turned to Christina and scoffed. "And you, Christina—what is it? Now that I have everything, you think you can just swoop in and claim a piece of it?" Christina opened her mouth, struggling to explain. "I-I'm not the kind of person you th
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 744
Leroy said, "You just need to manage Stevens Corporation, make good money, hand over your G-Wagon to me, and introduce Natasha to me as my future wife. That's all!" Andrew burst out laughing—so hard his stomach hurt. He mocked, "Hah! The Stevens sure are straightforward with their demands. And wow, so polite about it too!" However, Irene did not seem to catch the sarcasm in his tone. She beamed. "Of course! Andrew, just come back and patch things up with Christie. You two were meant to be together! Don't worry, as your future mother-in-law, I'll treat you well from now on. Everything that happened in the past? Consider it forgotten!" Leroy stretched out his hand expectantly and smirked. "Andrew, give me the keys to the G-Wagon now. I'll take it for a spin at the club tonight—gotta impress the ladies! And about Natasha, no rush! Just talk to her and let her know that becoming my wife would be an honor. She should be grateful, honestly!" He was already lost in his own fantasy, gr
