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Chapter 340
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 341
The cutter straightened his posture and nodded firmly. "Miss, don't worry. With over a decade of experience in stone cutting, I'll make sure not to damage your stone." Aspen smiled confidently. "Good. Then follow my instructions and make the cut." The man carefully brought the blade down, following Aspen's precise directions without a single deviation. As the outer layers were stripped away, the crowd collectively gasped as the interior was revealed. "It's a high-quality translucent emerald! Aspen's got an incredible eye for this." "That piece alone is worth far more than 200 thousand dollars. She's definitely made a great call on this one." "Man, what a sharp woman. Her skill at stone gambling isn't something ordinary people can match." The crowd was awestruck, their admiration for Aspen growing. However, she remained unimpressed. In her mind, this was only a warm-up. "Cut this one next," Aspen instructed, pointing to another stone. "And those three over there—open them
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 342
"Wow, Aspen truly lives up to her name as Bridgefields' Stevens family's golden girl. She's got more guts and precision than most men out here!" "She's in a league of her own—no one in Jayrodale could match her confidence and skill in this game." Aspen's boldness and undeniable charm captured everyone's attention. Some men could not help but look at her longingly, practically ready to bow down at her feet. She scanned the area with a sharp gaze but did not see Andrew anywhere. She smirked and mumbled, "Looks like someone finally realized they're out of their depth. He must've decided to hide rather than embarrass himself in front of me." The master gem cutter began working on the third gemstone. With years of experience behind him, he carefully shaved away the outer layers without making any bold cuts. Two-thirds of the stone was removed, yet nothing remarkable was revealed. A tense silence fell over the crowd. Could Aspen actually fail this time? Even so, her calm and c
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 343
"It's a shame there's no real competition," Aspen said lazily, stifling a yawn. "Let's open two more stones for fun, and then we'll head out." She lifted a finger, casually signaling the gem cutter to begin again. Her every movement captivated the crowd, who watched eagerly, anticipating another jaw-dropping display of her talent. Before the cutter could start, a calm but distinct voice cut through the chatter. "Excuse me, could you help me cut this stone?" Though the voice was not particularly loud, it seemed to pierce through the noise, drawing everyone's attention. Instantly, the crowd erupted in irritation. "Who's this clown? Can't they see Ms. Stevens is about to make her move?" "Ms. Stevens is playing at the highest level—why waste time with someone else cutting a stone that's probably worthless?" "Whoever it is, they need to leave. Today's show belongs to Ms. Stevens, and no one else should get in the way." The disgruntled murmurs turned into curious stares as
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 344
Aspen smirked and said, "Ms. Santana, you sure are devoted to Mr. Lloyd. From the beginning, you've been protecting this so-called expert at every turn. Aren't you worried that the rest of us collectors might feel a little neglected?" Elsie responded calmly, "I'm not sure I understand what you mean, Ms. Stevens. Mr. Lloyd is a distinguished guest of Radiant Group, and it's my job to assist him. Is there an issue with that?" Aspen let out a disdainful laugh. "For someone to earn such exceptional treatment from you, Ms. Santana, they must be quite the expert. So, Mr. Lloyd, how about it? Are you brave enough to take me on? Don't chicken out now after all your earlier bravado." All eyes turned to Andrew, their curiosity piqued. His earlier confrontation with Orion had been impressive, earning him widespread admiration, but gemstone cutting was an entirely different challenge. Someone encouraged, "Mr. Lloyd, your expertise in antiques is remarkable. Surely you can hold your own in
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 345
Andrew spoke calmly, his tone steady but cutting. "Aspen, there's nothing wrong with a woman being proud and confident. As long as she has the right to be proud, that's fine. But if a woman is arrogant and foolish on top of it, she's bound to learn some painful lessons." Aspen sneered, glancing sideways at Christina. "Christie, did you hear what this man just said? He claims he's going to teach me a painful lesson. Honestly, with an ex like that, I can't blame you for kicking him to the curb. If you hadn't, I would've stepped in to help straighten him out myself." Christina's face darkened as she cast a worried glance at Andrew. Why was he so bold? It seemed that he did not understand that going up against Aspen in a gamble like this was reckless. "Everyone, quiet down! The gemstone challenge between Mr. Lloyd and Ms. Stevens is about to begin," Elsie announced, her voice rising above the crowd. She turned to Andrew and Aspen, adding, "Do either of you have any additional term
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 346
Andrew did not waste any time. He pointed at a medium-sized stone and said, "Could you cut this one for me, please?" Aspen scoffed and said, "Andrew, you should really take a closer look. Jumping in without thinking might just make you a laughingstock." Ignoring her, Andrew turned to Francesca with a smile. "Get ready to celebrate." Francesca froze for a moment before catching on. "Wait… are you seriously this confident?" Andrew chuckled and replied, "We'll know soon enough, won't we?" Aspen gritted her teeth. This man had an unbearable arrogance that made her want to wipe the smirk off his face. The crowd stayed silent, not daring to say a word. With stakes this high, nobody wanted to risk disrupting the players' focus and becoming the target of blame. Aspen's stone was cut first. A gasp echoed from one of the experienced gem traders in the crowd. "Wow! It's a massive green tourmaline with impressive quality. It's just shy of the imperial grade." Christina let out a
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 347
Aspen felt a sharp, burning pain on her face. Christina was stunned too, unable to believe the sudden turn of events. Aspen had opened such a good gem, so how could she still lose? "Fine, I'll admit defeat for the first round," Aspen said, her voice cold as she could not bear the eyes of the crowd anymore. "Andrew, do you dare to go for another round?" Andrew waved her off. "There's no need to hurry. I'll deal with things first." Right in front of Aspen and everyone else, Andrew casually gathered Aspen's green tourmaline and his own rare red spinel and handed them to Francesca. Francesca blushed. "Andrew, I can't carry these." "It's fine. They're ours anyway. Just keep an eye on them. Don't let anyone steal them." Francesca beamed, nearly bursting with excitement. These were two high-quality gems—though she was not an expert, she knew they were worth a fortune. Nonetheless, it was not about the money. What mattered was that Aspen, that nasty woman, had lost to Andrew—sh
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 348
The cutter was beginning to regret his earlier actions because Andrew had proven to be far more formidable than expected, even outshining Aspen. If only he had not been so absolute in his statements before. "What are you waiting for? Don't you trust me?" Aspen snapped when she noticed her cutter's hesitation. The cutter flinched and quickly replied, "I'll cut open Ms. Stevens' stone right away. This time, Miss, you'll definitely win." Andrew chuckled. "Aspen, your judgment is clouded. The Stevens family of Bridgefields isn't exactly rolling in money. Being this wasteful isn't doing you any favors." He gestured toward the largest raw stone in the center. Aspen responded with a cold laugh. "Andrew, don't you understand that a raw stone's size has nothing to do with what's inside? You can't seriously think that just because this stone is huge, it must contain something valuable?" Several gambling experts nodded in agreement with Aspen's statement. The central stone, with its ha
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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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 965
Quinton was in disbelief, and his face twisted with rage, veins bulging at his temples as if they were about to burst. The humiliation, the burning fury, and the sheer frustration had his whole body trembling. He had just been insulted—him, the heir of the Wrights, who came to Jayrodale bringing both power and wealth, and now a bunch of low-level underground thugs had just cursed him in front of everyone. Christina's expression was conflicted as she said calmly, "Mr. Wright, please calm down. I think you need to understand the current situation in Jayrodale." Quinton snapped, "What damn situation? If it weren't for my self-control, those cowards—those worthless losers—would've all been dead where they sat!" His face had darkened so much that it looked like a thunderstorm was about to roll in. Everyone he had summoned had either abandoned him or turned on him. The grand effect he envisioned—rallying everyone to crush Andrew—was unraveling fast. Christina spoke firmly, "Mr. Wri
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 964
Quinton exploded, slamming the table. "Is this the best the Weller family can do?" He sneered, "Mr. Weller, you're supposed to be young and capable, right? You landed the head position at such a young age, and this is all the guts you've got?" What angered Quinton the most was Harvey's next response. Harvey just nodded and admitted bluntly, "You're right, Mr. Wright. I really do lack guts and boldness." Now Quinton was seething with rage. He shouted, "I invited you all here out of goodwill, giving you the chance to get rich, and this is how you repay me?" His gaze swept across the room, his expression turning sharp and threatening. These guys were supposed to be the top dogs of Jayrodale. With this many major figures in the room, how was it possible that not even one of them had the spine to act? In Quinton's mind, Andrew was just the owner of a local apothecary. All it would take was a united public statement, and Moonlit Apothecary would be done for in Jayrodale. Then,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 963
Quinton had painted himself as the poor victim, skillfully drawing out sympathy from the room. He had gone all in, dangling a massive investment as bait. He was convinced the power players of Jayrodale would be fired up, rally to his side, and join forces to crush Andrew completely. The more he thought about it, the more impressed he was with himself. After all, using others to do the dirty work and riding the wave of influence was downright masterful. Andrew thought he was untouchable, clinging to those two miracle medicines like a dragon hoarding treasure. However, once Quinton boxed him into a corner, left him begging for air, and drained every last drop of business out of him, he would see Andrew on his knees, pleading for mercy from the Wrights, just for a sip of water. The fantasy alone made Quinton grin smugly. He half-expected applause at that moment, maybe some shouting, some outrage, someone grabbing their team and storming off to Moonlit Apothecary to cause trouble.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 962
The moment Quinton said that, several people in the room erupted in outrage. Dominic, the head of the Goth family, slammed his hand on the table and declared, "Mr. Wright, you're an honored guest from Blumedale, bringing billions to help revitalize Jayrodale! "We're beyond grateful you'd even consider investing here, and yet someone actually had the nerve to offend you? Mr. Wright, if you just say the word, the Goth family will be the first to deal with whoever that bastard is!" Harvey was not about to fall behind and quickly chimed in, "Mr. Wright, you're our meal ticket—our livelihood depends on you. Who the hell was blind enough to cross you? The Weller family would walk through fire for you, no hesitation!" Everyone else immediately jumped in, each one eager to win Quinton's favor. "Mr. Wright, just tell us—who was it? Which family or which group pissed you off? Whoever it was, we'll drag them out and make them get on their knees in front of you and beg for forgiveness!"
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 961
Rodney let out a cold snort and said nothing more. Plenty of people around could not help but be shocked—Quinton was really something else. After all, Rodney was usually wild and arrogant, never caring about anyone, but Quinton shut him right down with just a few words. Now, that was what you called true dominance. Christina leaned toward Quinton and whispered gratefully, "Thank you, Mr. Wright, for stepping in." Quinton flashed a charming smile and replied, "It's nothing. Since you've already decided to join me for the development project in Blumedale, you'll be under my care from now on. Naturally, I have to keep you well protected." His words were laced with an obvious flirtation, like a possessive man doting on his favorite girl. Christina did not say anything, but Quinton was secretly feeling very pleased with himself. He believed a true master never showed all his cards and had no doubt he would win Christina over eventually. There was no rush—when the time came,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 960
The massive conference room was buzzing with activity. Quinton sat back with one leg crossed over the other, his polished branded loafers casually propped up on the large round table. He looked completely at ease, though it was clear he was putting on a show. People continued arriving for his so-called roundtable meeting, including some of the most influential figures in Jayrodale. Among them were Natasha, Dylan, and Harvey—the head of the Weller family—as well as representatives from Madblade Martial Academy and the Goth family. Shawn, ever the suckup, leaned forward with a flattering grin. "Mr. Wright, your influence is truly unmatched. Look around—everyone who holds real power in Jayrodale, from the high society elites to the underground forces, has shown up just for you!" Quinton did not respond, but the smirk on his lips grew even more noticeable. Sitting beside him, apart from Shawn, was another notable figure—Christina. She had not spoken a word, but internally, she wa
