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
Aspen spoke with unwavering confidence, "You're practically family, Christie's brother and mother. It would be heartless of me to refuse your investment. Besides, the Northern District has been growing rapidly, maintaining steady control over the other two factions. At this rate, Atlas will dominate the underground scene in no time." She continued, "Your investment comes at the perfect moment—you'll be counting profits while sitting back and relaxing!" Leroy expressed his gratitude with excitement. "Thanks, Aspen! Finally, someone's helping me level up in this game!" Irene said hopefully, "At last, my retirement is secured! The last time I trusted that bastard Harvey, he nearly cost me my life savings." Aspen replied contemptuously, "Christie told me all about Harvey's scheme. That manipulative fraud only gained your trust to scam you. Rest assured, the Weller family will pay for every penny they took!" Andrew couldn't stand it anymore and stood up. "Fran, let's go." Before
Christina let out a cold laugh and countered, "Warning me? Since when did you become so caring? Or is this just another attempt to get my attention? Can you honestly deny that?" Andrew's expression grew distant. "I only have one reason for doing this. It's out of respect for Mr. Stevens Senior, and because it would be a shame to see the Stevens Corporation fall apart in your hands." Christina responded with a mocking smile, her silence speaking volumes of her contempt. Leroy sneered. "Andrew, you might be riding high in your G-Wagon and dating rich women now, but do you have any idea who you're dealing with?" Andrew scoffed. "I couldn't care less about your background. All I know is that you're just another sore loser—a wannabe who can dish it out but can't take it." Leroy snapped. "Watch your attitude, Andrew. Let me tell you something—Aspen is from our main Stevens family branch. Do you know how powerful they are? Anyone from our family could make you bow down in an instan
Aspen's tone over the phone was aggressive and accusatory. Meanwhile, Donald sat in his office, still writing his disciplinary report, filled with frustration. Mark had given strict orders that Donald's report needed to show deep reflection and sincere remorse for his actions against Andrew. Hence, when Aspen's call came in, Donald found the perfect outlet for his pent-up anger. Taking a deep breath, Donald unleashed a thunderous roar into the phone, "Aspen, you absolute nightmare!" Aspen winced at the sudden outburst, and she scolded, "Donald, are you insane? Why are you screaming? What did you just say? I couldn't hear you over all that yelling." Donald gritted his teeth and snarled, "I said you're a nightmare! Did you hear me clearly this time?" Aspen frowned, suspecting Donald was insulting her, but she was not quite sure. "Can't you speak properly? I don't understand what you're trying to say!" Donald spat out, "Aspen, you bitch! You've got some nerve calling me. I'm t
Aspen reasoned that if Andrew truly had the power to make Donald submit, he would not be living off rich women. She had witnessed it herself at the appraisal convention—Andrew did not even dare resist when Donald took him away. "Aspen, what's wrong?" Christina asked, noticing her troubled expression. Aspen sneered. "Don't worry, Christie, it's nothing. Andrew just got lucky again—the Jayrodale Police Department decided to let him off the hook." Christina said mockingly, "Try not to let it bother you, Aspen. It's probably Francesca, Lauren, or even Marvin pulling strings for him again. He keeps relying on others to clean up his messes while sinking lower. I'm done caring about him." Aspen gritted her teeth. "I couldn't care less about Andrew. He's just a nobody who got lucky because heaven took pity on him. What really stings is all the money I wasted on those high-grade pieces at the appraisal convention." What she did not mention was how Andrew had humiliated her at the conv
Lauren blinked her big, expressive eyes and asked in confusion, "Why?" Andrew spread his hands and said, "Because I don't think I even went all out." Lauren's expression froze instantly, thinking that Andrew was truly terrifying. Watching as the flirty Lauren quickly turned and fled, her graceful silhouette disappearing in the distance, Andrew felt completely misunderstood. However, he had only spoken the truth. Last night, he had actually held back with Francesca. If he had not, things would have taken a much wilder, more intense turn. … Today was the scheduled delivery day for Stephen's shipment. Andrew and Lauren personally went to oversee the product being sent out. Stephen wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned. "Mission accomplished, Mr. Lloyd. Please check if everything meets your expectations." Andrew clapped his hands and said, "No need. I already looked it over—good work, Mr. Brunner!" Stephen quickly laughed along. "As long as you're satisfied, Mr. L
Andrew packed up and drove to Rhodes Corporation. Right at the entrance, he ran into Marcus, who had just stepped out of his car. The moment Marcus saw Andrew, he gave him a once-over, grinning from ear to ear. He chirped, "Mr. Lloyd, you're looking great—full of energy and in high spirits!" Andrew raised a brow in surprise. "Mr. Chapman, how exactly can you tell I'm feeling good?" Marcus smirked knowingly. "Mr. Lloyd, let's not play dumb. We're both men. That kind of glow? It's obvious you had a very… satisfying night." Andrew was even more surprised. Could Marcus really tell something like that just by looking at him? Then, it clicked. This department head at Rhodes Corporation might appear serious on the surface, but he was a regular at certain high-end clubs. That explained a lot. Lowering his voice, Marcus chuckled. "Every time I spend the night at a club, I see plenty of like-minded gentlemen walking out in the morning with the exact same look as you. "It's the kin
Lauren's teasing voice came through the video call. "Fran, are you at Dr. Lloyd's place right now?" Francesca's cheeks instantly flushed red. She hesitated for a second before mumbling a quiet "Mm-hmm." Lauren gasped dramatically before covering her mouth with a giggle. "Oh, so that means… Fran, you got the full Dr. Lloyd treatment last night?" Francesca gritted her teeth. "Lauren, you better not laugh at me! Do you even know how close I was to being ruined last night? I can barely walk!" Lauren blinked, looking both impressed and mildly horrified. "Wait… you mean Dr. Lloyd is that intense?" Francesca huffed. "You'll find out soon enough. When it's your turn, let's see if you can handle it!" Lauren snickered. "Oh no, no, no—I hate pain. I'll let Dr. Lloyd go wild with you first, and then I'll swoop in once he's all tired out. That way, I can dodge the first wave of his attacks!" Francesca narrowed her eyes and smirked. "Nice try. Next time, you go first—I'll sit back and
Andrew paused for a moment, surprised that she was not ready—not because of hesitation, but because of the location. With a light chuckle, he gave Francesca's soft bottom a playful pat. "Don't move. We'll be home soon." He shifted gears, released the brakes, and stepped on the gas. The G-Wagon roared to life, speeding toward the Moonlit Sanctuary estate at the top of the hill. Francesca's lips curled into a satisfied yet bashful smile. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she leaned forward and bit Andrew's chest playfully. "You big pervert! You jerk!" However, deep down, she was already scheming. 'Lauren, you better not blame me for this. You're the one who told me to take good care of Andrew first. Hehe… once your little purity mark is out of the way, the two of us will make sure Andrew completely surrenders!' And so, that night, the master bedroom of Moonlit Sanctuary's hilltop estate was anything but quiet. Francesca, at first nervous, soon found herself completely imm
Francesca sat there, completely stunned. It felt like all the air had been sucked from her lungs. She thought, 'Did… did this guy just do what I think he did?' She had practically offered him her lips, yet he did not kiss her. All he did was unbuckle her damn seatbelt. Francesca silently cursed Andrew for being an idiot. The perfect moment was right there, and he ruined it. Her face burned with embarrassment as frustration bubbled up inside her. Then, she let out a huff, sulking like a child. Andrew raised a brow. "What's wrong, Fran? Are you feeling sick again?" Francesca let out a sharp laugh. "Nope. Don't worry about it!" Andrew smirked. "Say that again." "I said—don't worry about it! Don't. Worry. About. It. What are you gonna do about it, huh?" Her voice rose in irritation, her temper flaring as she glared at him. Without warning, Andrew's large hand pinched her soft, delicate cheek. He grinned and teased, "Say it one more time." Francesca's eyes widened in shock
With Francesca in the passenger seat, Andrew drove swiftly through the city. Before long, they arrived at Moonlit Sanctuary. Just as they reached the gated community, a loud rumble echoed across the sky, followed by heavy rain. The sudden downpour was intense, with flashes of lightning cutting through the darkness. Francesca hugged herself, her voice soft with unease. "Andrew, it's storming… I don't like being alone when there's thunder. Can you stay with me for a while?" Andrew pulled the car to a stop along a quiet street. Towering trees lined both sides, their silhouettes barely visible in the dim light, while the car's warm interior glowed softly. "Alright, I'll stay until the rain stops." Francesca's face lit up with joy. "Andrew, you know… ever since I was little, thunderstorms have always scared me. But right now, with you here, I don't feel afraid at all. Actually, I feel… safe." Andrew glanced out the window. Raindrops pounded against the glass, the steady drumming
Francesca had enough. She turned to Christina and snapped, "Christina, are you seriously going to stand there and let your mother humiliate herself like this?" Christina's face burned with shame. She was beyond embarrassed, but Andrew's attitude toward her was something she could not accept. So instead, she steeled her voice. "Andrew, there's no denying that my mother was hit. You probably don't want this to escalate, so here's the deal—come back with me to the Stevens mansion, and I won't pursue this any further." Andrew let out a short laugh. "Go ahead. Let her make a scene all she wants. In fact, I have a pretty good relationship with Donald over at Jayrodale's law enforcement division. I'm sure he'd love to look into a case where a crazy old woman is harassing my business." The second Andrew reached for his phone, Irene instantly panicked. She scrambled to her feet so fast it was almost comical—no trace of the poor, battered old lady was left. She shrieked, "Andrew, you b
Leroy sneered. "Andrew, you and Christie had a history. Back when you were struggling, she was the one who helped you! Now that you're successful, it's only right that you repay her. If you refuse, then you're just an ungrateful traitor—and trust me, if you don't cooperate, I'll make sure you're ruined!" Andrew's eyes turned ice-cold as he let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Christina helped me when I was at my lowest? Leroy, the Stevens family really has no shame, huh? When I was living under your roof, did I ever take a dime from you? Did I ever owe you anything? "If anything, it was you—and your greedy, money-grubbing mother—who kept taking from me, milking me for every cent you could get." Ignoring how Irene and Leroy's faces darkened, Andrew turned to Christina and scoffed. "And you, Christina—what is it? Now that I have everything, you think you can just swoop in and claim a piece of it?" Christina opened her mouth, struggling to explain. "I-I'm not the kind of person you th
Leroy said, "You just need to manage Stevens Corporation, make good money, hand over your G-Wagon to me, and introduce Natasha to me as my future wife. That's all!" Andrew burst out laughing—so hard his stomach hurt. He mocked, "Hah! The Stevens sure are straightforward with their demands. And wow, so polite about it too!" However, Irene did not seem to catch the sarcasm in his tone. She beamed. "Of course! Andrew, just come back and patch things up with Christie. You two were meant to be together! Don't worry, as your future mother-in-law, I'll treat you well from now on. Everything that happened in the past? Consider it forgotten!" Leroy stretched out his hand expectantly and smirked. "Andrew, give me the keys to the G-Wagon now. I'll take it for a spin at the club tonight—gotta impress the ladies! And about Natasha, no rush! Just talk to her and let her know that becoming my wife would be an honor. She should be grateful, honestly!" He was already lost in his own fantasy, gr