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
Seeing Andrew's displeasure, Natasha quickly explained, "Darling, please don't be upset. I've done everything I could." She took a deep breath before continuing, "The person who has the rare medicinal herb is Ernest Ramsey from Blumedale." Then, she added, "The old bastard insists on knowing who needs the herb, or he won't sell it. I know what he's really after—he's trying to leverage this opportunity to network with someone important from Jayrodale!" Andrew's expression softened slightly as he asked, "Who exactly is he?" Dylan spoke up gravely, "Mr. Lloyd, I know about this old man. He's the third son of the Ramseys from Blumedale. He's made quite a name for himself around Gabo Creek, networking with both martial artists and businesspeople. Because of his connections, he often gets his hands on rare items." Natasha scoffed, "Without the Ramseys backing him up, Ernest would be nothing—nobody would give him the time of day. He's notorious for never doing anything unless there'
Natasha felt both ashamed and furious but kept her composure and forced a smile. "Ernest, it's my honor that you'd even consider someone like me, an old widow past her prime. But our personal matters shouldn't mix with Mr. Lloyd's business. Let's stick to discussing the rare medicinal herb you have." Ernes was completely unmoved. He shot a condescending glance at Andrew and sneered, "I've already said it—this kid is a nobody. I would never stoop so low as to do business with someone beneath me. It would ruin my reputation. But if you still want my rare medicinal herb, there's only one option: Natasha, agree to be with me, and I'll hand it over for free." Natasha's beautiful face flushed red, though it was anger, not embarrassment. With her personality, she would have told Ernest to get lost without hesitation. However, since Andrew needed that herb, she had no choice but to hold back. More importantly, Ernest was backed by the powerful Ramsey family of Blumedale, and Natasha did
Hugh hung up the phone and sneered at Andrew. "Your time is up. Rodney's already sent people over. If I don't break both your legs and ruin your woman, I'll change my name from Nasty Hugh to Loser Hugh." Feeling smug, he pulled out a chair, lit a cigarette with a dramatic snap, and took a long drag as if savoring his supposed victory. Fiona, now stripped of all her artificial enhancements, ran over to him, sobbing hysterically. "Hugh, you've got to stand up for me! That woman ruined everything I spent thousands on! I don't care what you do—just kill her for me!" Hugh was still fuming and trying to calm his nerves when he glanced at Fiona, only to recoil in horror. "What the hell are you?!" he shouted, flinging his cigarette to the floor. Smacking her across the face, he barked, "Are you human or some kind of ghost? Get away from me, you hideous thing! How can someone this disgusting even exist?!" Fiona clutched her swelling cheek, crying out in disbelief. "Hugh, it's me! I'm
The other customers and even the restaurant owner stood frozen in place, staring at Andrew and Lauren in shock. Everyone looked stunned. It was as if they were watching something out of an action movie. "Mommy, those two are amazing!" a little boy exclaimed. "Man, that guy knocked Nasty Hugh to the ground with just one slap!" a diner murmured in disbelief. "I thought he was just some skinny dude, but he's clearly hiding some serious strength!" Lauren walked up to Fiona, placing the heel of her stiletto on the woman's face while looking down at her with a cold smile. "A minute ago, you were throwing around insults like it was your hobby. So go on, say something else now." Fiona shrieked as Lauren's heel pressed harder, distorting her nose and mouth. Tears streaming, she cried, "Hugh, help me! Somebody help! She's going to kill me!" Lauren grabbed a fistful of Fiona's hair and sneered, "Your eyelids, nose, lips are fake, and even your chest is fake. Wow, you're a walking pat
Andrew looked at Hugh with a cold smirk and said, "I'll give you a choice. Slap yourself ten times, admit you're a loser, and promise never to show your face in front of me again." He added, "Do that, and I might consider letting you walk out of here." Hugh froze for a moment. However, he soon burst into loud laughter. "Are you out of your damn mind? Fiona, did you hear this moron?!" He howled, "This idiot actually thinks he can give me a choice. What a joke! He's just begging to die." Fiona sneered at Andrew with disdain. "You're gonna regret this. In a minute, Hugh's gonna have you crying for mercy on your knees, begging him to stop!" She scoffed. "And your tramp of a girlfriend? Hugh's gonna deal with her too. Next time, learn to steer clear when you meet a big shot like Hugh." Hugh's face darkened as he pointed at Andrew. "Get on your knees right now. I'm giving you three seconds to decide. If you don't, I'll smash your head open!" The other diners shook their heads
The restaurant owner hurriedly retreated into the kitchen, too scared to intervene further. Meanwhile, the other diners cast sympathetic glances at Andrew, their hushed murmurs echoing their shared sentiment of pity. One diner whispered, "Just finish your meal quickly, and let's get out of here. Hugh always throws his weight around because of his ties to the Madblade Martial Academy." "The poor guy over there is doomed—looks like he's too soft to handle a thug like Hugh." Another diner chimed in, "The guy's unlucky, but did you see his girlfriend? She's stunning, like a goddess. Hugh's got a reputation for being a sleaze. He'll definitely try to mess with her." "That handsome guy was too rushed. When he met a mad dog like Hugh, he should've held back for a while, and the situation would've passed. Although our society is a society ruled by law, power is still absolute—we're no one to fight against that." All the diners pitied Andrew, thinking he was unlucky. However, a few a
Unable to take it anymore, Andrew tapped Hugh's shoulder and said politely, "Hey man, could you move your chair a bit? It's really tight back here." Hugh turned around and snapped, "Move your own damn self if you're uncomfortable, you idiot!" As he cursed, he deliberately showed off the tiger tattoo on his chest. This trick usually let him swagger around Jayrodale unchallenged, since most people were easily intimidated by such displays. Fiona Smith leaned forward aggressively and asked, "Hugh, what's wrong? Is this loser bothering you?" Hugh sneered. "Just eat your food, he's nobody. This moron actually asked me to move my chair. Who does he think he is, the king of Jayrodale's underground? He's got a death wish!" Andrew frowned and replied, "Watch your mouth. If you keep spewing trash, I might just help you find out what it actually tastes like." Hugh rolled up his sleeves and pointed at Andrew's face, bellowing, "Do you have any idea who I am? Listen here, you piece of c
"Mr. Warren, as far as I know, what Harvey and Serena did falls under moral issues. Using legal means won't do you any good," Andrew said. Then, he asked, "So, did Brad give you anything useful during the interrogation?" Donald scoffed. "Taking his stepmother to bed and doing something that shameless? Sure, it's a moral issue, but don't you think it's something that deserves divine punishment?" Andrew chuckled. "Mr. Warren, it seems like you're itching to do something to express your outrage, aren't you?" Donald smirked. "Of course! While I was interrogating Brad, there happened to be a few intern reporters present." He continued, "So, my apologies, but tomorrow, Jayrodale's front page will have the Weller family's scandal plastered all over it in the biggest headline. Make sure to subscribe and enjoy it, Mr. Lloyd." Andrew laughed and cursed in jest, "Enjoy it, my ass. I have no interest in this kind of trashy gossip." Donald chuckled mischievously. "Oh, come on, Mr. Llo
Lauren giggled. "You're such a stereotypical guy, Dr. Lloyd." Shopping with a beautiful woman was always exhausting, and it proved no different for Andrew. Lauren's shopping spree quickly loaded Andrew's arms with bags until he could barely carry them all. "I think that's enough. I can barely hold any more," Andrew said, overwhelmed. Lauren tilted her head thoughtfully before saying with disappointment, "Fine… I wanted to look at suits and belts for you too, but I guess that'll have to wait for next time!" Andrew brightened up and asked hopefully, "Can we head back now?" Waggling her delicate fingers, the young heiress laughed playfully. "No way! Shopping is exhausting, and I haven't eaten yet. Come on, this restaurant is amazing. It's my treat!" Andrew could only smile wryly as he followed her into the restaurant laden with shopping bags. Just as they sat down, Donald called him. Andrew found it strange to get a call from Donald at this hour. He answered irritably, "Mr.
After leaving Michael's office, Andrew said, "Ms. Rhodes, Mr. Chapman, don't give up—the game isn't over yet." Lauren turned to Marcus. "Mr. Chapman, you can work in another department temporarily. I'll make sure you get your position back." Marcus waved his hand tiredly and replied, "No need, Mr. Lloyd and Ms. Rhodes—you've both helped me enough. At my age, perhaps it's time to wake up and let go of these ambitious pursuits. Maybe living a simple life as an ordinary person is the right choice for me." Lauren quickly protested, "Mr. Chapman, you don't have to do this!" Marcus shook his head and smiled at them both. "Ms. Rhodes and Mr. Lloyd, when you have children of your own, maybe you'll understand how I feel right now." Lauren blushed and shot Andrew a shy glare. Just then, a bearded man strode over with a grin, saying, "Ah, Ms. Rhodes, Mr. Lloyd, and Mr. Chapman—all together! I just heard Mr. Chapman talking about wanting to live a simple life. What an excellent idea!"
Michael waved dismissively and said, "That was your personal matter. Of course, I couldn't help!" Lauren spat out a laugh and sneered. "Michael, don't you realize how stupid you sound right now? One of our own employees was being harassed by the Weller family, and you have the nerve to say such nonsense! Are you even fit to be CEO?" Michael's face darkened as he replied, "If I'm not fit to be CEO, you think you are? If you were so qualified, why am I sitting in this chair instead of you?" Lauren took a deep breath and retorted contemptuously, "We both know how you got this position. If the family hadn't interfered, you'd still be nothing but a lackey under me." Michael sneered. "You're right, I'll admit that. But what does it matter? You'll soon be married off from the Rhodes family. Lauren, no matter how capable, beautiful, or how many followers you have, there's still no place for you in the Rhodes family. Your only path is to be a sacrifice!" His venomous words struck Laur