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Chapter 328
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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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 332
"Andrew, Mr. Kelce is a master appraiser. You're getting too cocky challenging him," Aspen taunted. "Let's leave, Andrew. We shouldn't play with these shameless people," Francesca urged. However, Andrew patted her shoulder with a smile. "Don't worry, Fran. I'm definitely making this old man get on his knees today." Andrew raised the remaining bowl high. "Everyone, please witness this! If I can authenticate this bowl, Orion has to kneel and beg me, isn't that right?" The crowd cheered encouragingly. Someone shouted, "Exactly!" "Good luck, kid! We're rooting for you!" "Even if you misidentify the last bowl, you won't lose, because Orion's previous appraisal also ended in failure." "Yes, it's a draw at best. You're already impressive to have tied with Orion, handsome boy." Orion fumed. "Kid, no matter how lucky you get, you'll never figure out if this last bowl is real or fake."' Andrew studied the remaining bowl thoughtfully. Suddenly, he made a motion as if to smash
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 333
When Andrew approached Orion, the latter thought he was ready to give up. Orion said smugly, "Kid, it's time to learn your lesson." Andrew simply replied, "I know whether it's real or fake. Get ready to kneel before me," Orion retorted, "Then prove it. Is it real or fake? Announce it." "Andrew, it's real! This old fox is playing mind games. He wants you to overthink it!" The experts in the crowd agreed. They had faced Orion before and knew his tricky methods. Since the fake was already revealed, they reasoned, this had to be authentic. However, Andrew suddenly smashed the second bowl to pieces. The crowd stood frozen in shock, wondering how he could destroy what might have been a million-dollar piece. "You fell for Orion's trap," Elsie muttered in dismay. Francesca was extremely disappointed. If she had known, she would have tried to dissuade Andrew. Cedric grumbled, "Orion, you're so cruel." Aspen emerged from the crowd, smirking. "Andrew, reaching a tie with Mr. Kel
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 334
In stark contrast, Orion, Aspen, and his followers stood there, furious yet helpless. Meanwhile, Christina stared at Andrew in disbelief. She wondered if he really emerged victorious again. Orion was furious and growled, "How did you know they were fakes? What tricks did you use?" Francesca scoffed. "What a loser—he can't even accept his defeat graciously!" Andrew shrugged. "Does it matter how I knew? What matters is I was right about both bowls, which means you lost. Time to kneel before me." The crowd was shocked by Andrew's unexpected victory. His triumph brought pride to Jayrodale's antique community, and they relished seeing the arrogant Orion get his comeuppance. "You're always talking about rules, Orion," Cedric beamed, finally getting his revenge. "Well, a bet's a bet—kneel!" "Exactly, Mr. Kelce! Are you going back on your words now?" "Mr. Kelce, this is Jayrodale, not Bridgefields. I told you to be less arrogant, but you didn't listen. Now you're being punis
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 335
The crowd, stirred up by Aspen's accusations, began to eye Andrew again with suspicion. If he had really cheated by colluding with the owner, it would be a scandal of epic proportions. Andrew remained unfazed and responded calmly, "I thanked the owner, but not because he told me which piece was genuine." "In fact, I don't even know this man," he continued, his tone light yet firm. "If anything, I'd say this seller is more likely to be Mr. Kelce's acquaintance." Orion's face darkened, his teeth clenched tightly as he stayed silent. Aspen's heart skipped a beat. Could Andrew's claim be true? Was the owner actually on Orion's side? If that were the case, her earlier accusations would make no sense. After all, there was no reason for someone to align with Orion to help Andrew cheat. Elsie stepped forward with a calm but serious expression. "Mr. Cooper, as one of the event organizers, we have access to your background. "You're from Bridgefields, correct? And from what we know,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 336
"However—" Andrew began. Just then, Christina cut in excitedly. "While everyone was nervous, Mr. Cooper remained completely calm! That's how you knew both bowls were fake. He would have been panicking about their safety if they were real." "Exactly." Andrew nodded with approval. Christina felt conflicted. She was smart enough to run Jayrodale as CEO, but she would never have thought of such a brilliantly simple method. It seemed that her intelligence was nothing compared to Andrew's. The crowd erupted in amazement as the mystery was solved. "Incredible! He used psychology to authenticate antiques. Mr. Lloyd, you're truly the best!" Another expert claimed, "This is pure genius! I've been authenticating pieces for 20 years, but today's lesson has shown me I've still got more to learn!" "There's no doubt that Mr. Kelce has lost!" Aspen desperately searched for another angle to refute Andrew's claims but found none. She thought bitterly, 'He really beat Mr. Kelce. As fel
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Meanwhile, at the Goth family back in Jayrodale. Dominic had been restless since he returned from Quinton's roundtable event. He thought it was the perfect time for the Goth family to rise. If he could impress Quinton, billions of investments would come pouring into the family. With that kind of funding, the Goths could skyrocket and finally stand shoulder to shoulder with the Weller family, the Rhodes family, and other regional powerhouses. Eventually, Dominic could not wait any longer and eagerly waited for Nyla to get home from work. He greeted her with uncharacteristic warmth. "Nyla, come here, sweetheart. You're back a little early tonight, huh? It's been a while since we all sat down for dinner together. Tonight, I want to have a real heart-to-heart with you." Nyla gave him a suspicious look but walked over and sat down beside him. Normally, Dominic was completely consumed by family business. Even when he came home, he only spoke to Camilla and barely acknowledged Nyl
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 973
Tyler said plainly, "Seth? To be honest, I don't know you, and I definitely don't remember ever having a drink with you. So please, don't make up stories like that." He was still polite about it, but the message was loud and clear. Seth's face flushed with heat. Tyler had not yelled at him, but his tone made it obvious—he wanted Seth gone. He was not even acknowledged, let alone remembered, and the drink? A total lie. His attempt to show off had backfired hard, and the shame burned worse than any public embarrassment. Nonetheless, Seth did not have the guts to argue back. All he could do was step aside awkwardly, watching as Tyler turned his full attention to Aspen. Tyler said respectfully, "Ms. Stevens, your new company in Blumedale recently opened a corporate account with our bank, correct? A transaction just hit that account earlier today, and I felt this matter was serious enough that I needed to confirm it with you personally." Aspen frowned, thinking it over. The new
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Aspen could not help but laugh to herself. Men in Blumedale really were something else—being a player here took skill, and this one clearly had it down to an art. Seth spouted romantic lines like a pro, sounding so sincere it was almost believable. Compared to him, Andrew might have been a brute with zero charm who only knew how to exploit her, draining every ounce of energy she had left. Nonetheless, at least Andrew was not fake—what you saw was what you got. Meanwhile, this charming heir from the Haywood family was starting to feel downright repulsive. "Mr. Haywood, I've told you more than once—there's no chance between us," Aspen said, her voice firm. "You should know I'm not even free right now. Honestly, my body doesn't even belong to me. While I appreciate your feelings, you're just wasting your time." She let out a sigh as if she was tired of repeating herself. Seth's face turned cold as he said with conviction, "Aspen, tell me—who's the bastard? The one controlling yo
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 971
Aspen silently swore that she was going to escape his clutches one day. The instructor, Lily Williams, replied calmly, "Yoga is a practice that helps you relax. It's about becoming one with nature and your own body and mind. What it values is harmony between humanity and nature—letting things flow naturally. "Ms. Stevens, your mind is clearly unsettled today. I think it's best we end your session here." Aspen thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Ms. Williams. I'll come back tomorrow." Lily smiled, then suddenly pointed outside the studio and said, "That gentleman is waiting for you again with flowers, Ms. Stevens. It's pretty obvious—he really likes you." Aspen turned her gaze toward the glass doors at the front of the studio. There stood Seth, holding a bouquet, dressed sharply and polished like a spoiled, wealthy heir straight out of a TV drama. His eyes glowed as he looked at her. His expression was calm and elegant, with a refined sort of charm. If sh
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 970
Andrew chuckled mockingly. "Looks like Harvey and the rest have finally learned their lesson." After hanging up the phone, Andrew did not spare another thought for Quinton. Right now, in Jayrodale, it did not matter whether it was Quinton or even his father—the head of one of the Five Apex Families—if Andrew did not feel like showing respect, he would not even blink. Meanwhile, Francesca was in the shower, her curvy silhouette faintly visible behind the frosted glass. Andrew saw it every day, so he was completely unfazed by now. Before the busty little troublemaker came out and started clinging to him again, Andrew made another call—this time to Aspen. "What do you want?" Aspen snapped the moment she picked up. "Calling at this hour—don't you think that's incredibly rude?" Andrew smirked. "It's barely past eight—how is that rude? Or wait… are you with some pretty boy over in Blumedale right now? You two in the middle of something?" Aspen was furious and shouted, "You're dis
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 969
Quinton muttered, "Christina's a tough one. She's still on guard and clearly doesn't trust me fully yet. So before I can truly get her under my thumb, I need to hit her with something big—something she won't see coming." Harvey chuckled coldly. "Fine, Quinton. I'll play along. I've been itching to make a move on the Stevens family anyway." Quinton nodded. "Good. Then wait for my signal, and act when the moment's right." … Meanwhile, over at Moonlit Apothecary, closing time had arrived. "Dr. Aicker, Dr. Lloyd, I'm heading home for the night!" Nyla said cheerfully. It was as if Camilla stealing her paycheck had never happened. Andrew smiled warmly. "Alright, Nyla. Get home safe." Nyla gave him a bright smile and walked out with her bag swinging gently by her side. Francesca watched her go and scoffed. "I can't believe how naive that girl is. She's being walked all over and doesn't even make a sound. Honestly, I don't get her." Andrew spoke softly, "Nyla's a kind girl. S
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 968
Harvey stood up and said, "Mr. Wright, since the Weller family can't be of help, we'll be taking our leave." However, Quinton raised his hand. "Hold on. I've got something to discuss with you, Mr. Weller. Shawn, Christina—go on ahead. I just need a private word with Mr. Weller." Christina did not think twice and left right away. However, Shawn frowned. He wondered why Quinton was pulling Harvey aside instead of discussing it with him, his most trusted man. He felt slighted, but he did not dare show it. With a tight expression, he quietly walked out. Once everyone else had gone, only Harvey and a few of the Weller family's elders remained with Quinton. Harvey crossed his arms. "Alright, Quinton. Now that it's just us, what is it you need? If you're still trying to drag the Weller family into a fight with Andrew, then forget it. That's not happening." He locked eyes with Quinton, clearly on guard. Quinton shook his head, his face cold and composed. "Relax, Harvey. I don't
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 967
Quinton glanced over, not thinking much of Dominic since the latter was just another small-time family head. He replied flatly, "Speak, Mr. Goth. If you really have a way to get me what I want, then I'll make you a promise right here. The Goth family will become the number one family in Jayrodale, and I'll personally make it happen." Dominic lit up with excitement. "Mr. Wright, you might not know this, but my daughter is currently working at Moonlit Apothecary. If you want the formulas for those two miracle pills, I just might be able to get them—through her." Quinton's eyes widened, and a look of shock turned into overwhelming joy. "What did you say? Your daughter works at Moonlit Apothecary?" "What's her name? How much does Andrew trust her? Is she part of the inner circle or just another employee?" He fired off questions without pausing, his mind spinning. It would not be useful if she was just a background worker or someone sweeping floors. He needed someone Andrew actual
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 966
Harvey shook his head and said, "Sorry, Mr. Wright, I appreciate the offer, but the Weller family truly can't help you. I can only express my regrets." Quinton clenched his jaw and snapped, "So you're admitting you're just as spineless as the others? No different from that bunch of cowards who just walked out?" Harvey's face darkened—he had not expected Quinton to speak so bluntly and with such blatant disrespect. Harvey said coldly, "Heh, coward or not, call me whatever you want. But the Weller family is staying out of this. Because I have no interest in throwing myself into a pit I can't climb out of." It was a direct declaration, and Harvey clearly was not holding back anymore. He had already learned his lesson the hard way from crossing Andrew—he had paid for it, suffered for it, and was not about to make the same mistake again. Unless he had the power and a surefire win, Harvey was not going to make a single move. Quinton turned to glance at Christina, but she looked a
