"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
"Aspen, how did you know they'd leave through the back door?" Christina asked as she and Aspen appeared at the VIP exit after Andrew and Elsie were taken away. "With such precious items in hand, Radiant Group would obviously arrange a secret exit," Aspen replied with a cold laugh. "Too bad Elsie isn't clever enough to outsmart me." After a moment of silence, Christina spoke up. "Aspen, once you get your things back, could you maybe ask them to go easy on Andrew?" Aspen was shocked. "Christie, you can't be soft-hearted about this. Donald is in charge of Jayrodale Police—whatever punishment he decides is out of my hands." Christina hesitated before asking, "But once they recover your items, that should be the end of it, right?" Aspen replied mockingly. "That depends on Donald's mood. Though I didn't tell him exactly what to do, he's one of my most devoted admirers. When he learned how Andrew conned me, he was furious. Andrew won't be released until he's learned his lesson." C
In truth, Simon felt deeply satisfied, hoping Andrew would get what he deserved from Donald. That way, no one would be left to compete with him for Francesca. However, Cedric was not swayed by Simon's words and instead gave the latter a grim look. He demanded, "What exactly are you trying to say?" "Sir, I'm just reminding you that Andrew's made too many enemies and can't be saved now," Simon said stubbornly. He added, "Even if all the Aickers tried to help, we'd be powerless—we can't risk conflicting with the police and destroying everything we've built." Francesca rushed over with tears in her eyes before Cedric could strike his ungrateful apprentice. "Grandpa, we don't need his help. I've already called Lauren—let's go save Andrew now!" "Don't cry, sweetheart. Dr. Lloyd will be fine," Cedric quickly consoled her. Francesca wiped her tears anxiously and said, "Donald is notorious for using torture and crippling people. I'm worried we'll be too late!" Simon's face darke
At the Rhodes residence, Lauren immediately prepared to leave after her phone call with Francesca. She would not let anyone who hurt Andrew get away so easily.."Miss, you can't leave without Mrs. Rhodes' permission," Jerry blocked her way at the main gate. Lauren's face remained expressionless as she said, "Move aside. This is urgent." "Miss, I must follow Mrs. Rhodes' orders," Jerry insisted firmly. "Please return inside. Any urgent matters need Mrs. Rhodes' approval." "What if I insist on leaving?" Lauren asked coldly. "Are you going to use force against me, Jerry?" As Jerry frowned in hesitation, a sharp voice cut through the air. "How dare you! As a daughter of the Rhodes family, you're becoming increasingly disrespectful and out of line!" Lauren's mother, Tiana Lambert, the matriarch of the Rhodes family, approached with an icy expression. Jerry immediately greeted her, "Mrs. Rhodes, you're here." Tiana simply dismissed Jerry, who immediately left. After all, Tia
"Contact someone? Can't do that—they took my phone," Andrew said with a smile. "Then how can you remain so calm, Mr. Lloyd?" Elsie sighed helplessly. Andrew simply replied, "Don't worry, someone will come get us out soon." Elsie shook her head doubtfully. Donald was the Police Commissioner of Jayrodale with considerable power and influence, and she was not even sure if Silas could help, given Donald's earlier dismissive attitude. In his office, Donald immediately called Aspen. "Aspen, it's all taken care of. I have the security case right here. When would you like to collect it?" "No rush," Aspen replied. "First, tell me how you'll handle this fraud case." Donald laughed darkly. "As you mentioned, the case involves over 100 million dollars and priceless antiquities. Once we hand him over to the judicial system, he won't see daylight for at least 20 years." Aspen chuckled and said, "In that case, I'll let you send him off for his free lunch as soon as possible." Donald
Elsie sneered, "Mr. Warren, are you planning to steal it right in front of us?" Donald shamelessly replied, "As the chief commissioner, I need to inspect what illegal goods are inside." "Inside is the Blood Phoenix Cicada that Mr. Lloyd won at our antique auction through stone gambling—worth over 100 million dollars. It's absolutely not illegal goods," Elsie retorted through gritted teeth. Donald ignored her explanation. In his mind, there was only one number—100 million dollars! Holy crap, what a jackpot! Donald said excitedly, "Well, well, Andrew. The value of your criminal case amounts to over 100 million. Now, as the commissioner, I order you to open that case immediately." Andrew replied calmly, "I advise you not to touch my belongings. Otherwise, I doubt you'll keep your position as commissioner for long." Donald laughed angrily, "You little punk, do as I say, or you'll suffer the consequences! This is my territory. If I really wanted to kill you right here, all it
Donald remained unfazed. He even propped his feet on the desk, completely dismissing the Aickers' presence. "Mr. Warren, please release Andrew," Francesca demanded coldly. "Why should I? A fraud belongs in prison." Donald scoffed. "Where's your evidence?" Francesca snapped. Donald replied, "The evidence is for the judge, not for you. Now, all you Aickers better leave my office immediately, or you won't be able to handle the consequences of obstructing justice." "Mr. Warren, Andrew is not a criminal," Cedric said gravely. "Moreover, he knows Mr. Thatcher personally. You'd better not do anything rash." Donald sneered. "Doctor, don't try to manipulate me. He's just a nobody—even if he's met the mayor once, does that count as knowing him?" "Donald, do you really want this to escalate to the mayor's office?" Cedric pressed. "If it comes to that, no one will be able to protect you." "Cedric, you're being ridiculous," Donald mocked. "As the chief commissioner of Jayrodale's po
Not only Donald, but even the Aickers were shocked by this turn of events. "Lauren, please stop!" Francesca pleaded, her face turning pale. If Lauren actually killed Donald, the situation would escalate beyond control. Lauren kept the gun pressed against Donald's sweating forehead, completely ignoring Francesca's plea. She growled, "You pig, I've been more than courteous with you. Just because you're the head of Jayrodale police department, you think you can get away with arresting my man without cause?" Lauren's eyes were fierce, and her chilling gaze made Donald tremble. However, a surge of anger quickly rose within him—after all, he was one of Jayrodale's top dogs and head of the police department. Donald said coldly, "Ms. Rhodes, if you've got the guts, shoot me right now. If I die in my office, not only Andrew but you and the entire Rhodes family will face severe consequences." Lauren smiled menacingly, "Oh? Do you really think I won't pull the trigger? I'll send you s
The crowd could not help but wonder if Andrew was just that hurried to die, "Dragon Claw Strike!" With a low, lethal growl, Ellis struck, his eyes full of murder. His hands curled into claws, shooting straight for Andrew's chest and eyes, going for nothing less than a kill shot right from the start. However, Andrew's expression did not change. He stepped back once, then again, calm and fluid. It looked casual, but every move was calculated—just enough to slip right past Ellis's deadly thrusts. "Not bad. That's some decent footwork," Ellis sneered, his tone mocking even as he circled again. Then, his wiry frame lunged low, sweeping toward Andrew with a lightning-fast kick. Andrew's voice remained quiet and steady. "Dragon Claw Strike and Golden Cicada Stance are elite techniques from Silverthorn Monastery. Too bad you only learned the shell, not the substance." He stopped moving. Like a rock in a river, his stance suddenly locked in place. Ellis's sweeping legs, fast as
The bald man, Ellis, was not some no-name street thug—he was well-known in Blumedale. Among Mosby's apprentices, he was one of the rare few with zero talent in medicine but exceptional prowess in martial arts. Insiders knew the truth—Mosby had not taken Ellis in to pass on his medical legacy or help heal the sick. He wanted muscle, someone who could handle the dirty work behind closed doors. The whispers began almost instantly among the growing crowd. "This is bad. That's Mosby's third apprentice—trained under the monks at Silverthorn Monastery. I heard he's so powerful he can crack stone with his bare hands." Another chimed in, "Genesis Dispensary isn't the kind of place you just stroll into looking for trouble. That young guy's finished." "Well… I don't know. Judging from what I saw earlier, the guy's no amateur either." "Amateur? My ass. Ellis doesn't hold back. People have died under his fists before. That punk's either going to be crippled or dead in minutes..." More a
Barely two minutes had passed, but every single one of Genesis Dispensary's enforcers lay sprawled on the ground—some unconscious, some writhing in pain, and some not even moving. Janice clutched the edge of her sleeve, her face pale as a sheet. She stared at Andrew in shock, as if not recognizing this man. The Andrew she knew was gentle, refined, eloquent—someone who had won her grandfather's respect the moment they met, a miracle doctor with endless skill. However, the Andrew standing before her now was the complete opposite—ruthless, cold-blooded, and surrounded by a sea of blood from the beatings he had just handed out. Old Hayface's legs trembled as he stared at Andrew like he had seen a ghost, thinking this was beyond insane. How could some young punk wipe out all of Genesis Dispensary's muscle like it was nothing? He shook his head furiously in denial. "Andrew, you've messed up big time—real big. Mr. Lake is on his way and—" Before he could finish, Andrew delivered t
The red Ferrari screeched to a stop in front of the famous Genesis Dispensary like a streak of lightning. The dramatic entrance instantly caught the attention of pedestrians walking by. "Who the hell do you think you are? Driving that flashy piece of crap like you own the place? Move it before we lock your ass in!" Two burly security thugs stationed at the entrance of Genesis Dispensary stomped over, cursing as they approached. Janice jumped out of the car in a panic and rushed to explain, "I'm sorry, sirs, really sorry! We'll leave right now, please don't—" However, before she could even finish her sentence, Andrew stepped forward and slapped both men across the face. Each blow landed with a crack, and neither man had time to react before their heads slammed into the pavement, completely unconscious. Janice stood frozen, wondering if Andrew had always had such an explosive temper. How had she never seen this side of him before? "You bastard! You think you can hit our guy
Ronan's Oak Apothecary had built a modest but respected reputation in Blumedale, so having him gather the herbs was a huge time-saver for Andrew. However, the moment Andrew stepped into the shop, Janice Bates came running toward him in tears. "Andrew! My grandpa… he got hurt! Someone beat him up!" she cried, sobbing uncontrollably. Andrew's brows furrowed. "Janice, stop crying for now. Take me to him." In the back room, Ronan was lying on a bed, clearly injured. Two red handprints burned across his cheeks, and his forehead was bruised and bleeding as if someone had shoved him hard against something. "Mr. Lloyd… you came," Ronan said weakly, trying to sit up. "Forgive me, I've failed you." Andrew quickly motioned for him to stop talking. "Don't waste your breath. Let's get you patched up first." After checking him over, Andrew was relieved to find that Ronan had only suffered surface wounds and a badly twisted waist. He worked swiftly, massaging the injured muscles and ap
The awkward silence lasted for almost half an hour. Eventually, Aspen regained enough strength in her legs to move again. Without a word and her face icy cold, she reached for the car door, desperate to leave. Andrew quickly grabbed her wrist and said, "I'll drive you home so you can change clothes. Especially your skirt and stockings—they're completely soaked." Aspen immediately blushed crimson, embarrassment flooding up her neck and across her cheeks. She ground her teeth angrily and snapped, "No need!" Andrew ignored her protests completely, starting the Ferrari and driving straight back to The Sovereign Residences. Neither said a word during the entire drive. Andrew genuinely did not know what to say. Everything had been perfectly normal until he suddenly crossed the line with Aspen. It was just like those old movies, where the wealthy guy ended up sleeping with his favorite maid. Technically, Andrew had not done anything wrong; Aspen was his slave, after all. Nonethe
Andrew shook his head slowly and said, "No, you're not like some middle-aged lunatic, and you're definitely not trash or a hooker. You look like a cute little bunny rabbit, just begging to be eaten up. You forced my hand, Aspen!" As soon as he finished speaking, Aspen's eyes widened in sudden panic, realizing what was about to happen. She struggled fiercely, desperate to escape Andrew's grasp. Her voice trembled with tears as she pleaded, "No, no, no! Andrew—Mr. Lloyd—I'm sorry, I admit it, I was wrong! I swear, I won't do it again, please don't do this—please, no!" Her frantic protests ended abruptly with a soft, electric whimper as Andrew silenced her, pressing his mouth firmly onto hers. What followed was a hungry, unstoppable kiss, intense and overwhelming. Aspen's clear eyes widened, her expression first filled with shame and anger, then disbelief, and finally melting into a dazed, dreamy blankness. Their rapid breathing mingled in the confined space of the Ferrari, th
Andrew let out a cold laugh as he stared at the trembling Aspen right in front of him. "What am I doing? What do you think I'm doing? When you were trying to suppress Christina and Davon earlier, you used my presence to scare them off. Don't tell me you forgot that?" Aspen flushed, both embarrassed and angry. "I didn't forget! But what I said—was any of it wrong?" Andrew snorted. "No, it wasn't wrong. But you did get one thing messed up: your grudge with Christina has nothing to do with me, so don't drag me into it just to make yourself look good. You used your own boss as a pawn. That takes some guts, Aspen." Aspen instantly felt a chill. She shrank back and begged, "I-I-I… I won't do it again, okay? Andrew, just let me down first. My butt's right up against the window, and if someone walks by and sees this, how the hell am I supposed to live that down?" The corner of Andrew's lips curved into a teasing grin. "Isn't that perfect? You're my little secretary. This? This is very
Someone joked loudly, "But we get it… I mean, with a secretary like that, why would you even look at anyone else?" The others burst into raucous laughter, not bothering to hide it even in front of Aspen's increasingly dark expression. "Exactly!" another chimed in. "Mr. Lloyd is living the dream. Damn, I look at my office girl and suddenly feel dead inside!" "Mr. Lloyd's not just talented—he's got the best of both worlds. That little secretary of his is a top-tier beauty!" A bespectacled executive chuckled crudely and added, "Mr. Lloyd, let me give you a piece of advice: when there's work, let the secretary handle it; when there's no work, handle the secretary! That line fits you perfectly!" The entire room erupted in laughter as Aspen's face flushed deep red, her cheeks burning. Furious, she shot Andrew a murderous glare, then stormed out of the room in her heels without a word. Andrew, looking utterly unbothered, leisurely followed behind. He even muttered to himself, "Han