Dylan threatened, "You'd better release him, or hundreds of my South City boys might pay Mr. Warren's house a visit." Donald exploded with rage, "Mr. Garner, are you threatening me?" Dylan's face suddenly darkened, twisting with menace. He snarled, "That's exactly what I'm doing. What are you going to do about it? You fat pig, others might fear you, but I don't give a damn about your position." He added, "If anything happens to Mr. Lloyd, I'll take you down even if it costs me my life. Am I clear?" The ferocity in Dylan's voice made Donald's face pale as he struggled to maintain his composure. Donald could not wrap his head around it—who the hell was Andrew? Why were even the underground crime lords getting involved? Moreover, Dylan's stance seemed to show that he was ready to go to war over this. Donald said through gritted teeth, "Think carefully about what you're doing. Even if I release him now under pressure, what about later? Not everyone can get away with disresp
"Donald, tell me, am I your 'dead man walking'? Answer me!" Mark roared as he entered, his face livid with rage. Not only did Donald pale in fear, but Natasha, Dylan, Cedric, Francesca, and Lauren were all stunned silent. No one dared to speak, as accompanying Mark was Marvin. Although Marvin had always maintained a low profile in Jayrodale's elite circles, those in the know understood that this billionaire was a tough guy that no one dared to provoke. Not only did he control a massive financial empire that was Jayrodale's economic lifeline, but his background from Chetvine made him even more formidable. Donald's entire body trembled as he nearly burst into tears. "Mr. Thatcher, Mr. Yates, what brings you here? I'm the worthless one—just a blind, stupid piece of trash!" "What's wrong? Is your office now off-limits to me?" Mark's voice was cold. "If I hadn't come personally, were you planning to abuse your power and create an even bigger disaster?" The moment Mark learned a
Clutching his bloody hand, Donald nearly passed out from the pain. Even Dylan and Natasha were shocked by this display of brutality. While they had been willing to threaten Donald and risk their lives against him, they would never dare to actually harm him in his own precinct with armed officers outside. Yet Marvin, the billionaire, had just severed Donald's pinky right there, showing a level of power that far exceeded their underground influence. "Mr. Yates, where's Andrew?" Lauren asked urgently. Marvin smiled. "Go see him, Lauren. He's fine, and he'll be happier with you there." Lauren blushed slightly before heading off with Francesca and the Aickers to find Andrew. "Sir, how should we proceed?" Mark asked respectfully. Marvin snorted. "Jayrodale is your jurisdiction, and Donald is your man. Handle it as you see fit." Without another word, he left, not even bothering to show deference to the mayor. Mark's face twitched—this was exactly what he had feared. Witho
If Jayrodale's wealthiest man could destroy him so easily, Donald shuddered to think about the power level of someone who commanded that kind of authority. The sense of impending doom was overwhelming. Mark said coldly, "Your tears are useless now… It's too late. Tell me, what possessed you to arrest Mr. Lloyd in the first place?" Donald's face crumpled as he explained, "It was Aspen Stevens. She told me Mr. Lloyd committed fraud at the antique appraisal convention, causing her to lose tens of millions, so I—" Mark cut him off with a sneer. "So, you just blindly acted on this woman's word? You didn't follow proper procedure or gather evidence? You just took her baseless accusations at face value?" Donald shrank back, stammering, "I-I didn't think it through. Aspen's my old classmate, and I thought I'd do her a favor." Mark stated indifferently, "What else? You better tell me everything. Otherwise, I won't be able to protect you if Marvin comes back." Donald swallowed hard a
Donald forced a laugh, "Sir, I'm not as noble as you. You know what they say—the grass is always greener on the other side." Donald continued, "Aspen is a brilliant and beautiful woman from the Bridgefields' Stevens family. Wanting her is only natural. And…" When Donald hesitated, Mark pressed, "And what? Tell me everything so I can try to help you find a way out of this mess." Donald shifted uncomfortably before admitting, "And sleeping with someone like Aspen isn't just about the pleasure and the thrill of conquest. I was planning to secretly record it, so I could enjoy it again later. With that kind of video, I could even make her come back for more…" Mark took a deep breath, staring at Donald intently. "Donald, you should have been a porn director elsewhere instead of a chief commissioner in Jayrodale." Donald's eyes lit up excitedly, "Mr. Thatcher, so you're into that too! No wonder you asked so many detailed questions!" "Shut up!" Mark snapped, his face reddening. "Th
Donald nodded vigorously, "Yes, it was Aspen. If she hadn't slandered you, Mr. Lloyd, I would never have made that move." Andrew waved his hand dismissively. "Very well… I believe you know how to handle the situation moving forward." Donald's face turned sinister. "Rest assured, Mr. Lloyd. That bitch nearly got me killed. She won't get away with this." Andrew remarked with a knowing smile, "Yet I heard from Mr. Thatcher that you wanted to sleep with her," "That was just my hormones talking, Mr. Lloyd!" Donald quickly exclaimed. "I've come to my senses now—I just want to cut all ties with that woman and teach her a lesson." After Donald's submissive departure, Lauren smiled. "Dr. Lloyd, I'm relieved you're okay. I should head home while Fran and the others leave too." "Ms. Rhodes, is everything alright with the Rhodes family lately?" Andrew asked with surprise. "You seem unusually busy." Lauren avoided his gaze, smiling. "Just some minor matters. I'll come to see you once
"I've heard that since Natasha has been a widow for so long, she tends to pursue attractive young men," Francesca warned. Andrew chuckled. "Don't worry. She likes pretty boys, which I'm not." "Don't brush this off! I'm serious," Francesca insisted. "Natasha doesn't have the best reputation, and while I can't control your choices, I just don't want to see you get caught up with her." Andrew teased lightly, "With a friend like you looking out for me, how could I get caught up with anyone else?" Francesca's face reddened as she rushed out, reminding herself that Andrew was off-limits as her best friend's love interest. … Dylan and Natasha entered the VIP room shortly after. Andrew, sensing they had important matters to discuss, suggested they move to a more private location. About 20 minutes later, the three arrived at West End headquarters. The members greeted Andrew respectfully, especially Conan, who had previously dismissed him. "Mr. Lloyd, please feel free to visit us
Natasha asked with uncertainty in her voice, "Darling, is this… some kind of miracle pill?" Andrew replied calmly, "Indeed. It's called the Blood Surge Pill, capable of temporarily boosting a fighter's physical and mental strength, allowing them to surpass their normal limits." Dylan exclaimed with excitement, "Mr. Lloyd, aren't these rare items usually only available to elite martial arts academies and old-money families?" Andrew shrugged casually, "It's not that dramatic. While the pills are difficult to create and their formulas are closely guarded by powerful organizations, there are more players in Holtrien than just the academies and old families." Natasha grabbed the small vial eagerly and admired it. "These medicines are practically impossible for regular people to get their hands on. I saw one at an auction once, and a basic one costs nearly a million dollars, with limited availability. Even with money, most people wouldn't know where to buy one." Andrew answered str
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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