MasukShare
Chapter 348
Bab terkait
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 349
"Stupid woman, I just asked you to wait, not admitting defeat," Andrew said with a smirk. "Why are you already counting your money? Running low on funds?" Aspen's face turned red with anger. "Fine, let's see what trick you're trying to pull here," she spat, knowing she was running out of money. Even if she won, claiming Andrew's worthless stone would be like taking home garbage. "Mr. Lloyd, what else would you like me to do?" the cutter asked. The crowd watched curiously, wondering what Andrew could possibly do at this point. "This stone can be cut further, don't you think?" Andrew smiled, pointing at the multicolored piece. The cutter was taken aback and replied, "Mr. Lloyd, we've already reached the core layer. Further cutting would be pointless." Elsie and the others frowned deeply at Andrew's suggestion. The massive stone had already yielded worthless material and cutting it further would only destroy its integrity and decrease its value even more. "Mr. Lloyd, in
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 350
At this point, there was nothing else Elsie could do. The situation seemed hopeless for Andrew. "What a shame for Mr. Lloyd this round," someone remarked, while others chimed in, "Why choose such an obviously worthless large stone when there were so many better options?" The antique experts shook their heads in disappointment, having hoped to see Andrew triumph over the Bridgefields heiress. Yet, Andrew did not even glance at Aspen's Royal Violet Crystal. Instead, he carefully guided the craftsman's cutting, and as the waste material fell away, a mysterious red glow began to emerge. The craftsman's heart skipped a beat—such a lustrous glow should not appear in worthless material. Elsie noticed something unusual too, and quickly moved to Andrew's side, crouching down for a closer look. The red glow intensified, revealing a transparent red gem standing out prominently among the debris. For a moment, even the experienced Elsie was left speechless. "Well, what do we have here?
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 351
The Blood Phoenix Miracle once stunned the entire antiquities and gemstone world. Discovered in the northern desert of Etharia, it earned its name from its brilliant colors and a tiny red fossil inside. This made it the most prestigious of Etharia's four legendary stones before a mysterious billionaire acquired it. Andrew's Blood Phoenix Agate, with its perfectly preserved cicada inside, was essentially another Blood Phoenix Miracle manifesting itself into the world. Though more precisely, this one would be known as the Blood Phoenix Cicada. The chaos at the stone gambling venue was quickly contained when Silas, the CEO of Radiant Group, made a personal appearance. The panel of experts and the bigwigs from the Jayrodale Antiquities Association could not contain their excitement as they rushed to authenticate Andrew's extraordinary find. "There's no doubt that this is a divine treasure just like the Blood Phoenix Miracle," one expert declared. Others chimed in, "The cicad
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 352
"Mr. Lloyd has shown us what true stone gambling mastery means by turning something seemingly worthless into something miraculous," Elsie concluded. The crowd erupted into an unstoppable frenzy, repeatedly chanting, "Mr. Lloyd!" His reputation as a master was cemented in thousands of minds. Countless eyes gazed at him with intense admiration, though many found it hard to comprehend that Andrew was still just a young man. They wondered how someone so young could build such an impressive reputation in antiquities and stone gambling, making them question if some people were truly born under lucky stars. "I lost… I lost again," Aspen laughed bitterly, her face deathly pale. The higher her confidence had soared before, the more crushing her defeat felt now. Typically, as the proud heiress of Bridgefields' Stevens family, Aspen would never admit defeat. However, Andrew's final move with the Blood Phoenix Cicada completely shattered her pride and confidence. She no longer doubted w
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 353
"Thank you, then," Aspen said with a smile as she hung up the phone. "Like I said, life isn't just about stone gambling and these trivial antiquities. Power and connections are my ultimate weapons to crush you, Andrew!" Christina asked hesitantly, "Aspen, who did you call for help? From what we saw during the stone gambling, Ms. Santana and Andrew weren't cheating or manipulating anything." Aspen waved her off. "Stay out of this, Christie. That Andrew must have set me up. Why else would I lose so badly? Remember how he insisted on raising the stakes before we even started? That should have been my first red flag, but I foolishly missed it." Christina nodded uncertainly, not wanting to interfere further. Though Aspen treated her like a close friend, there was still a social gap between them since Aspen came from the main branch of the Bridgefields' Stevens family. "Aspen, Elsie works for Silas Vaughn at Radiant Group, and Andrew now knows many Jayrodale socialites," Christina re
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 354
"Little do they know that mediocrity is common in this world. Do they really think everyone can become a natural genius like Dr. Lloyd?" Cedric remarked. "Grandpa, stop acting high and mighty," Francesca retorted. "If it weren't for Andrew, you wouldn't have gotten such great benefits from this auction either." Cedric immediately brightened up with a smile. "Well, Dr. Lloyd certainly helped this old man catch a lucky break today." While everyone else was excited, Andrew remained remarkably calm. "Let's tally up all the gains and have Ms. Santana process them," Andrew said casually. Elsie perked up with surprise, "Mr. Lloyd, you're not taking everything you won today?" "I'll take the Blood Phoenix Cicada and the Royal Violet Crystal," Andrew replied. "For the rest, I'll trouble you to convert them to cash." Though slightly disappointed, Elsie quickly became energized again. While Andrew took the two best pieces, the remaining items were still valuable and would bring sig
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 355
"Grandpa, you're so embarrassing…" Francesca groaned. Andrew smiled gently and said, "Let's head home—the event is wrapping up anyway."Elsie watched enviously from the side, thinking how a man who could casually give away such a valuable crystal must be irresistible to women. Suddenly, Andrew turned to her with a smile and said, "Ms. Santana, you've been a great help today. After you process those crystals, please take a ten million commission for yourself." "Really, Mr. Lloyd?" Elsie asked, both surprised and delighted. Andrew nodded. "Of course. If you hadn't invited me to this auction, I wouldn't have had the chance to make such a fortune." Even though Elsie was well-to-do herself and mingled with upper society, Andrew's generosity certainly caught her off guard. Seeing Elsie's admiring gaze toward Andrew, Francesca felt uneasy and urged, "Andrew, Grandpa, let's get going. Thank you for everything, Ms. Santana." "Mr. Lloyd, you should take the VIP exit to avoid unwan
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 356
"Once you're in my custody, I'll teach you how to behave," Donald threatened as he snatched the security case from Andrew. "Mr. Warren, you'd better not lay your dirty hands on Andrew," Francesca warned angrily. Donald laughed harshly. "He's just a nobody who got greedy. Not only will I touch him, but I'll also make sure he learns what prison feels like." "Fran, Dr. Aicker, you should head home. I'll handle this myself," Andrew said calmly. Francesca protested furiously, "Andrew, you did nothing wrong. Aspen must have set you up!" Andrew shrugged. "It's fine. I'm always ready to play whatever game someone wants to start. Since he wants to throw me in jail without cause, I'll cooperate and submit to his judgment." "Well, well," Donald mocked, moving closer to Andrew's face. "Most people wet themselves at the thought of jail, but you're all smiles. What, you think I can't touch you?" He continued with a cold smile, "I've seen plenty of punks like you who think they're un
Bab terbaru
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 974
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 972
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
