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
Ernest was genuinely baffled. He wondered where on earth this brazen kid came from, daring to challenge him over and over. Andrew's eyes glinted coldly as he said calmly, "And what if I said I don't believe you?" Ernest's lips twitched with rage as he turned to Natasha with a scowl. "Natasha, are you going to rein in this punk or not? If you won't, I'll call my men right now and make sure he's left for dead in the street!" Natasha shot Andrew a quick glare. This troublemaker of hers was certainly bold, comparing Ernest to garbage and calling him old and washed up—it was a direct attack on his pride. If Andrew wanted that rare medicinal herb so badly, it would make more sense to hold back and endure a little. Forcing a smile, Natasha turned to Ernest and said, "Ernest, please don't be angry. Mr. Lloyd is young, and sometimes he can be a little impulsive. I'll apologize on his behalf." She gave him a placating smile, trying to diffuse the tension. Yet, Ernest's frustration
Andrew's voice turned cold as he said, "You old pervert, you don't even realize you're terminally ill. If you don't get the right treatment within three days, you'd better start picking out your coffin." Ernest scoffed. "Are you trying to intimidate me? You probably don't know that I've trained in martial arts since childhood—my muscles are harder than steel. Terminally ill? You must be out of your mind." Andrew replied calmly, "Believe it or not, in three days, you'll be suffering horrible pain, wishing you were actually dead." Natasha caught on quickly and chimed in, "Ernest, you might not know this, but Mr. Lloyd is a doctor. If he says something's wrong with your health, there must be a serious issue. You should probably hear him out—what's the harm in that?" Ernest seemed to have wavered. He had initially dismissed Andrew's words as nonsense, but besides his greed, womanizing, and vanity, Ernest had one other defining trait—he was terrified of death. At the slightest he
Ernest's face turned ashen before he forced a cold laugh. He sneered, "Kid, I almost fell for your tricks. You're putting on quite a show, but do you really think I'm that gullible?" Andrew shrugged casually and said, "Whether you believe me or not, Ernest, you'll find out in three days." Ernest's heart pounded as his confidence wavered. When misfortune struck, it usually hit hard and fast, and if what this young man said about a terminal illness was true, he would be in serious trouble. Following the principle of "better safe than sorry", Ernest hastily bid farewell to Natasha and rushed out of West End with his men. Natasha laughed behind her hand. "What a fool to believe such a story! He's probably heading straight to the hospital for a checkup. Darling, you really got him good!" Andrew replied calmly, "You're wrong. I wasn't trying to scare him. Everything I said was true. Ernest really does have a serious illness." Natasha scoffed. "He's gone now, and you don't have to
Ernest left Jayrodale General Hospital with his two personal bodyguards, looking relieved. "Phew, that brat really had me worried for nothing—I almost fell for his trick!" Ernest had just completed a comprehensive checkup at Jayrodale General Hospital. While there were some minor issues, nothing serious, let alone life-threatening conditions, was found. Being cautious about his health, Ernest requested seeing the hospital's best doctor. However, the staff informed him that their top physician, Andrew, was not currently available but could be scheduled for an appointment. Ernest immediately left. He believed that someone of his status should not lower himself to make appointments. The female bodyguard smiled and said, "Mr. Ramsey, you're as healthy a horse. That kid was clearly trying to deceive you." The other bodyguard chimed in, "In my opinion, this hospital isn't that great anyway. They found some minor issues like fatigue and other mild conditions. "Mr. Ramsey, isn't
Francesca smiled and joked, "Smart people tend to like sugar, and you're exceptionally brilliant, so you have an even bigger sweet tooth than I do." "You seem distracted. Has something happened?" Andrew asked while studying her expression. Francesca hesitated before sighing. "It's nothing major, but Grandpa and Simon had a huge fight. Grandpa threatened to expel him from the family practice." Andrew nodded silently, feeling it was not his place to comment on the Aickers' family matters. Francesca continued, "When our whole family rushed to rescue you at the police station earlier, Simon strongly opposed it and kept arguing with Grandpa and me. After you were saved, Grandpa went home and scolded Simon, but Simon's reaction was extreme, which led to their big argument." Andrew responded, "Mr. Aicker has quite a temper—I could tell. Fran, you might not like hearing this, but Simon seems to have questionable intentions." Francesca nodded in agreement. "You're right. I've notice
Andrew replied calmly, "Simon has always had issues with me, so I'm not surprised he brought me up. I'm guessing he complained about me to Cedric and you?" "He didn't complain because I wouldn't let him speak ill of you," Francesca answered awkwardly. "He just asked if you were the reason I wouldn't be with him, and what our relationship was like." Andrew found himself momentarily at a loss for words. Looking at Francesca's innocent face, he smiled and asked, "So what do you think about all this?" Francesca stammered, caught off guard by his directness. "W-What do you mean?" "I'm asking what you think about the situation. We could use this to help solve your problem with Simon," Andrew clarified with a gentle laugh. Francesca turned away, pretending to look at the riverside scenery to hide her flustered expression. Her heart was racing as she tried to calm her breathing. Andrew explained carefully, "You misunderstand. I'm not asking if you have feelings for me. In fact, I h
Andrew checked the time—it was already 8.30 p.m. He wondered if Natasha and Dylan had made their move yet, though he knew he would hear about it in the morning. Just then, a group of people sat down nearby, their laughter carrying across the space. "Aspen, you're absolutely brilliant! I can't believe you managed to strike a deal with Atlas Giordano, the king of the Northern District!" "Yes, yes! Aspen, you're truly worthy of being from the main Stevens family branch. Even here in Jayrodale, you're already dealing with all the major players as equals. I'm truly impressed!" The fawning voices sounded familiar to Andrew. Glancing over, he recognized Leroy and Irene. At their table sat the two beauties, Aspen and Christina. Aspen replied with practiced modesty, "Please, Leroy, Aunt Irene, you're too kind. Atlas is just a street thug—anyone with enough money can work with him. Though I'm new to Jayrodale, with Christie's help and the Stevens family influence, most people are w
"No, that's not my kink." Chantelle's voice was sharp as she glared at him with clenched teeth. "I just figured that if you were stupid enough to try something on me, I'd finally have a reason to end you myself." Andrew raised a brow, still amused. "Can I ask… have you ever actually dated anyone before?" Her tone went cold. "Once. It didn't last." "Only once?" Andrew said, surprised. "Sounds like the guy couldn't keep up." Chantelle gave a humorless laugh. "He couldn't. Before we got together, I made the rules clear—no touching without permission. But that jerk was even worse than you. "The moment we were official, he tried to grab my chest and whispered disgusting things. So I broke both his arms, shattered his legs, and dumped him into the water." Andrew winced. "So… you killed the guy?" She scoffed. "I wanted to. Unfortunately, he got lucky. Some fishing boat pulled him out of the water before he drowned." Andrew shook his head. "Still can't figure out how Mr. McCormi
"Not many people have legs that can rival yours," Andrew admitted, gaze trailing down. "But as it happens, I know one. Lauren Rhodes—the Rhodes family's eldest daughter. Her legs are… something else." Chantelle narrowed her eyes. "I've heard of her. But you're talking like you've seen them for yourself." Andrew smirked. "Oh, I haven't just seen them. I've felt them." Their back-and-forth continued as Chantelle's layers disappeared one by one until she stood in only her undergarments. She took a deep breath, wanting desperately to disappear. After all, it was the final layer, and her private parts would be exposed. Andrew's voice cut in, calm as ever. "If I may suggest… start with the top." Chantelle glared. "Why?" He replied evenly, "Because if I'm not impressed, I might not ask for anything more." Surprisingly, that made some kind of warped sense. If this shameless man found her average, maybe—just maybe—she would not have to bare it all. Chantelle took a breath, bit
Just the word 'strip' was enough to make Chantelle's face instantly flush a deep red. She never imagined that one day, she would be forced to strip in front of a man, especially one she had always looked down on and dismissed without a second thought. She noticed Andrew adjusting a phone on a stand nearby, and a sudden wave of dread washed over her. "What are you doing? Don't tell me you're planning to record this," she said, her voice sharp with suspicion. Andrew nodded with satisfaction, checking the perfect angle on his phone. "Of course. A beautiful moment like this deserves to be captured. This way, I can replay it whenever I feel nostalgic." Chantelle's eyes flared with anger and embarrassment. "You're lucky I'm even letting you look. Recording it? Forget it." Andrew shrugged casually. "I knew you'd say that. That's why the setup's just for show. Now… your performance, if you would." He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, expression smug. Chantelle's fingers tr
"Dr. Lake, if you want to add more, go ahead," Richard replied coldly over the phone. "Money talks—and the more you offer, the faster that punk dies." … "Andrew, going up against Mosby brings you nothing but trouble," Chantelle said with a frown as they drove. Andrew's tone turned sharp. "He's the one who keeps provoking me—I didn't ask for this." Chantelle shook her head. "Even so, you should've handled it with more discretion. Mosby's been in Blumedale for years. His connections, his influence—you can't just sweep that aside. "Even if you want to challenge his reputation in the medical field, it doesn't have to happen overnight." Andrew scoffed. "Mosby? A respected authority? Let me be blunt, Ms. Garcia—you won't believe me, but to me, Mosby's just another loudmouthed nobody." Chantelle blinked, then let out a laugh, though it was laced with anger. "You're right. I don't believe you." Sure, Andrew had performed brilliantly today by saving George, and it was indeed an i
"Andrew, do you even realize you're playing with fire right now?" Chantelle, just about to start the car, froze and turned to him with furious eyes. Andrew raised a brow with a smirk. "What's wrong? Is the great Ms. Garcia—the darling of Mr. McCormick—planning to go back on her word now?" Chantelle stiffened, her face darkened, clearly ready to argue back. Before she could, a crowd had already gathered around the vehicle. "Dr. Lloyd, please wait—we have some medical puzzles we'd love your insight on!" Someone said, "Your skills today were extraordinary, Dr. Lloyd. I'd be honored to call myself your student!" "Who would've thought that someone like you would appear in Blumedale? One day, Dr. Lloyd, you'll be leading all of Gabo Creek Province's medical field!" Even Andrew had not expected this wave of praise. These elite doctors had specifically come to celebrate his success, and he was rather amused. "Please, everyone, make way. My medical skills really aren't anything sp
"So I had to take a different approach to get the medicine into his system," Andrew said calmly. As he spoke, he picked up the large bowl of herbal decoction Chantelle had prepared and placed it over the flame. The concoction soon began to boil, releasing a rich herbal aroma as steam filled the room. The medicated vapor slowly rose and enveloped George's entire body. Mosby scoffed. "And here I thought it was some groundbreaking technique—turns out it's just herbal steaming! Even I can do that." Everyone could tell he was just trying to stay relevant. Normally, his usual entourage of bootlickers would have chimed in with praise. But this time, no one said a word. Mosby turned to look behind him, only to see that the doctors who once flocked around him were now focused entirely on Andrew, their expressions full of admiration. They had already dismissed Mosby completely as if he were no longer in the room. "You'll need to do this treatment once every three days," Andrew instruc
Logan was stunned. He rushed forward in shock. "Father, you're awake?" George forced a small smile. "Not only am I awake, but I've never felt this clear-headed before. It even feels like my martial cultivation just had a breakthrough!" The crowd of expert doctors, including Chantelle and Mosby, was frozen in place, completely dumbfounded. No one could utter a single word, as they were too stunned to react. Andrew gestured for Logan to help George onto the couch, smiling as he said, "Mr. Keller Senior, the energy corruption has already been cleared from your system. Now you'll just need some medication to aid your recovery, and your body should return to normal. "However, your vitality and spiritual energy were badly depleted—it'll take a few months to fully recover." George looked at Andrew with genuine admiration. He asked Logan to help him sit up, then turned solemnly and said, "I'm already grateful just to be alive. But to come out of this without losing an ounce of my life
Mosby explained, "But undoubtedly, his mind must be utterly exhausted and his spirit completely drained! Whether or not he wakes up will be the real challenge. If he doesn't regain consciousness, he'll become nothing more than a hollow shell." As he spoke, he cast a deliberately sinister glance at Andrew. If George remained in a vegetative state, then Andrew would not just be blamed—he would probably be executed on the spot by the Keller family. Yet right then, Logan turned to Andrew with genuine sincerity and said, "Andrew, all of us in the Keller family saw what you did for my father. Don't worry—even if he doesn't wake up, you'll still be honored as a benefactor of our family." Mosby could not believe what he was hearing. "Mr. Keller, how can you say that? If Mr. Keller Senior doesn't wake up, Andrew should be held accountable for a grievous crime!" Logan, however, had already seen through Mosby's jealousy and hostility toward Andrew. He responded calmly, "Mr. Lake, this is
Andrew ignored all the shouting around him without batting an eye. Once everything he requested had been brought in, he began the treatment without delay. "Mr. Keller Senior, brace yourself for some pain," he warned calmly. With that, he slowly inserted golden needles into the top of George's head. Chantelle's voice turned serious. "Andrew, the head is the most delicate part of the human body. It's where the nerves are most complex—what you're doing could have serious consequences." Andrew replied evenly, "Mr. Keller Senior's condition stems from a mental collapse, and the mind resides in the thoughts—the thoughts in the brain. So, treatment has to start there." As he explained, his hands moved with precision. Soon, the crown of George's head, right in GV20, was covered in golden needles. Then, he pressed two acupoints on George's chest with careful control. A flicker of relief finally appeared on George's agonized face. Logan asked cautiously, "Andrew, why did you target