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Chapter 402
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Andrew was taken aback and said, "I have no intention of interfering with the Rhodes family's marriage arrangements. I just think it's unfair to force her into something she doesn't want." Marcus smiled knowingly. "No need to explain so quickly. I understand your feelings—you want to be the hero who saves the damsel, right? But think about it: even though you're accomplished and young as the deputy chief of Jayrodale General Hospital, the Rhodes family is in a completely different league." Marcus continued earnestly, "Your concern for Ms. Rhodes isn't wrong, but you need to recognize the vast gap between your worlds. Lauren is like a rare diamond, and having had her attention should be enough for a lifetime. If you push your luck, you might end up getting seriously hurt." Andrew could only smile wryly at Marcus's well-meaning advice. Clearly, Marcus saw him as someone trying to climb the social ladder. While the Rhodes family had expanded to Blumedale and their prestige grew da
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 404
"My old flame?" Andrew asked, puzzled. Francesca scoffed, "Yes, the perfect CEO Christina and her family, along with that annoying Aspen." Andrew walked to the hospital lobby with curiosity, where he found Irene lying on a gurney being wheeled to admission, wailing dramatically about her losses. "My money! All my life savings! My retirement fund—it's all gone! God, why must you give me the hardest battle?" Her desperate cries drew sympathetic looks from passersby. Andrew could not help but smile, realizing that Irene had been hospitalized due to the shock of losing her investment. This money-obsessed woman was truly having the worst luck. Christina and Aspen stood nearby, their faces dark with embarrassment. When Aspen spotted Andrew, she immediately stormed over to him with a rigid expression. "Andrew, let me ask you something," Aspen demanded. "You said the Northern District would fall soon and that my investment would be like jumping into a fire pit, right?" Andrew sm
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 405
"No matter how many failures I face, Andrew, I'll never stoop to being a gold digger like you," Aspen said venomously. She continued, "Natasha and Dylan might be fooled by you now, but tell them this—I won't let Atlas's death go unpunished. If they don't return my billion dollars, they'll face the same fate as the Northern District!"Andrew replied calmly, "Let me warn you one last time, Aspen. This is Jayrodale, not Bridgefields, and certainly not your Stevens family territory. You should learn to be more modest away from home. Not everyone will coddle you like your parents. If you try to cause trouble for Dylan and Natasha, you'll only be destroying yourself." Christina laughed coldly and said, "Andrew, you're acting like you represent these two underground leaders. Why put on such an act?" "You're actually right," Andrew smiled. "I do represent them. In fact, I now control Jayrodale's underground world." Aspen scoffed, "Come on, Christie. Let's go. It's a waste of time t
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 406
Lauren's good mood instantly vanished as her face darkened. She snapped, "Why don't you just have me killed then?" "What did you say?" Tiana raged. Lauren took a deep breath and confronted her mother, who had always been extremely strict with her. "Since you want to control my thoughts and freedom, why not just have someone kill me? Then, you won't have to look at me anymore!" Tiana raised her hand to slap Lauren but stopped herself at the last moment. "Lauren, I may not be able to control you, but remember this—you're a Rhodes heiress, not some common street girl." She added icily, "If you continue this entanglement with Andrew, you won't just destroy yourself, you'll end up destroying him too!" Lauren's heart skipped a beat as she laughed coldly. "Mom, I've said this before—you can take away my CEO position and keep me under house arrest, but the one thing you can't touch is the only person I care about and love. If anything happens to Andrew, you won't see me in a wedding
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 407
Lauren cried hard, but her resolve remained unshaken. She declared firmly, "No. If I choose to comply now, that's when I'll truly regret it. I've told the family countless times—Andrew isn't ordinary. He's a hidden gem, and he deserves not just me, but any exceptional woman!" The momentary softness in Tiana's eyes vanished instantly. "So you're still blindly obsessed with him?" she asked coldly. Lauren trembled as she felt the invisible barrier between mother and daughter, which had briefly narrowed, suddenly grew wider than ever. She slowly wiped away her tears and said expressionlessly, "Call it a blind obsession or say I'm degrading myself—either way, it has to be Andrew." Tiana sneered. "Fine. You've always made this boy sound extraordinary. Let's see how exceptional he really is. Do you think he's better than Joe?" Lauren scoffed. "Joe has his family's backing, of course, people look up to him. But when it comes to true excellence, he doesn't even deserve to be compared
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 408
Though Tiana claimed she wanted to see if Andrew was as exceptional as Lauren described, she inwardly dismissed the possibility. In her mind, Jayrodale was just a backwater pond full of small fish—no hidden talent could emerge from such a place. … Meanwhile, today was Andrew's appointment with Ernest. He had to get his hands on the Aurora Lotus, and since Ernest had been unreasonable and thrown his weight around, Andrew decided he would not be polite either. Andrew, the prince of the Lloyd dynasty who survived until today, was never a pushover. Sometimes, it took a villain to deal with another villain. Driving his G-Wagon to Natasha's place in West End, Andrew was surprised to find Ernest already there. He had brought two bodyguards—a man, and a woman. "Hey kid, didn't you say I'd be fatally ill and dying today?" Ernest taunted with disdain, puffing on his cigar with his feet propped up on the table in a show of dominance. "But look at me now—aren't I alive and kicking?" Er
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 409
Ernest exhaled a cloud of smoke and laughed heartily. "Kid, you're still young. There are things in life you just can't appreciate yet." He leaned back, smirking. "I'm feeling generous today, so I'll share a little wisdom with you—listen up. Women are best when fresh and youthful but being too young isn't ideal either. Aside from being fresh, there's another factor—experience. A widow like Natasha? She's got both. Her skin is smoother than an 18-year-old's, and let's not even start on the experience she brings. Trust me, a widow like her is a rare gem, an absolute treasure!" His shameless speech was so over the top that even Natasha, seasoned as she was, felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. Andrew could not help but marvel at Ernest's brazenness. For someone so openly lecherous, his argument almost made sense. Andrew's gaze involuntarily flicked toward Natasha, studying her with curiosity. Noticing this, Natasha's eyes narrowed in annoyance. She wanted to punch him but set
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 410
"So, you were just trying to scare me with empty threats," Ernest snarled. "Do you understand how serious the consequences will be?" Before Andrew could respond, Ernest pointed at Natasha and commanded, "My patience with you has worn out. This kid is your man, and since he's been disrespectful, you'll have to pay the price!" "Ernest, how have we offended you?" Natasha asked angrily. "If you don't want to sell the Aurora Lotus, fine—we'll just forget about it." Ernest sneered. "You think you can just walk away and make me look like a fool? I have my pride. Now, regardless of what you want, you'll face the consequences. Otherwise, I'll deal with this kid first, then settle scores with West End." Natasha's expression changed as she realized Ernest had completely abandoned any pretense of courtesy. Meanwhile, she wondered about Andrew's prediction that Ernest was supposed to be gravely ill today. Seeing Natasha's troubled expression, Ernest thought he had the upper hand. He smirk
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 746
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
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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
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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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 743
"Alright, it's getting late. Let's lock up and head home," Andrew said with a smile after taking a few sips of the tea Nyla had prepared. Cedric chuckled. "I'll head back to the Aicker residence Fran, you and Dr. Lloyd can go back to Moonlit Sanctuary." Francesca rolled her eyes playfully. "I got it, Grandpa! You don't have to spell it out!" The two of them locked up Moonlit Apothecary and were just about to leave when a luxury car pulled up, stopping right in front of the store. "Sorry, we're closed for the night. If you need a doctor, come back tomorrow," Francesca said politely. However, as soon as she saw who was stepping out of the car, her expression turned strange. "Well, Andrew, what's this? You're not going to welcome me?" The one speaking was none other than Irene, accompanied by her entire family—including Christina in a sleek white dress—and Aspen, their driver. Andrew ignored her completely, his gaze settling on Christina instead. He asked indifferently, "
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 742
Andrew nodded. "This isn't a modern formula—it comes from Holtrien's ancient medical tradition passed down for generations." Cedric was amazed. "That explains everything! The rarity of ancient formulas is beyond measure, and these two are among the best of the best. Their value is simply incalculable." Francesca hesitated. "Andrew, these formulas are priceless… are you really okay with just showing them to us?" Andrew chuckled. "Why wouldn't I be? Do you really think I'd ever be on guard against you, Fran? Besides, I'm showing you because I want you to feel reassured and join me in producing these groundbreaking medicines!" A warm, sweet feeling spread through Francesca's chest, and a rosy blush colored her fair cheeks. So, Andrew trusted her completely—he already considered her one of his own. She wondered if their relationship progressed, she could truly become his woman. Her mind started to wander, imagining all the possibilities. Meanwhile, Cedric smacked the table in
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 741
Andrew looked completely innocent as he said, "It's not like I wanted this to happen! I just wanted to make things easier for Mr. Aicker so he wouldn't have to work so hard!" Francesca let out a huff, flashing her sharp little canine teeth as she smirked. "At this rate, the people of Jayrodale are going to think you're the only doctor around! They'll forget that my grandfather is Cedric Aicker!" Cedric scoffed, giving her a sharp look. "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you really think I care about fame and status? Dr. Lloyd's medical skills are far beyond mine. If patients trust him more, that's because he earned it fair and square." Francesca secretly stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes at Andrew. She was just talking big—deep down, she was actually proud of him. Andrew chuckled. "Mr. Aicker, Fran, come sit down. There's something I want to discuss with the Aicker family." Then, he turned to Nyla and said, "Nyla, could you bring us some tea?" Nyla grinned. "Got it!
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 740
The elderly patients continued showering Cedric and Francesca with gratitude. In Jayrodale, the Aicker family had long earned a stellar reputation in the medical field. When Nyla spotted Andrew walking in, her eyes lit up with excitement. "Dr. Lloyd—no, Andrew, you're here!" Under Andrew's firm insistence, she had finally stopped addressing him so formally. Andrew smiled. "Yeah, I'm here. How's your health? Are you feeling better?" Nyla grinned. "Way better! I don't feel any pain at all anymore. The supplements you prescribed worked like a miracle!" Andrew nodded. "Go grab me a chair. I'll take over for Mr. Aicker so he can rest for a bit." Nyla waved her hands frantically. "No way! Andrew, you've already been working all day. You should be the one resting. I'll tell Mr. Aicker to take a break instead!" Andrew shook his head. "I'm fine. Just make sure Mr. Aicker gets some rest—I'll handle the remaining patients so we can close up soon." Seeing that Andrew would not take
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 739
Tiana let out a cold scoff. "What do you know? Andrew's strength is far beyond what you and the rest of your generation can even comprehend! If I hadn't stepped in today, he wouldn't have beaten you half to death." Howard clenched his teeth. "Fine, maybe I can't beat him—but our Lambert family isn't afraid of him." Tiana sneered. "Still clinging to your family name for protection? Pathetic. Let me ask you this—when Andrew made his move, who was backing him? Did he have anyone supporting him? He walked in alone, and yet he crushed you—and that useless fool Michael—without breaking a sweat." She shook her head with disappointment. "Watching you weaklings struggle is honestly embarrassing for the Lambert family. But Marvin managed to cultivate someone this powerful. That's something I can't afford to ignore." For once, there was a rare trace of exhaustion in Tiana's voice, as if the weight of the situation was finally getting to her. Howard was too stunned to even be upset at her
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 738
Lauren chuckled. "So tell me, how did you figure out that Mom felt guilty?" Andrew smirked. "It's simple—she was furious that Howard let himself get used by Michael. Think about it. Someone as high up as Mrs. Rhodes—would she ever tolerate someone messing with her people? That's a slap to her face." He added, "But she held herself back because someone of her status—someone who practically runs Rhodes Corporation—wouldn't lower herself to go after Michael directly. On top of that, Michael has her trust, at least on the surface. "So, with no other option, she had to swallow her pride. She knew she was in the wrong, so she let me go without another word and just took Howard with her." Marcus nodded thoughtfully. "That actually makes a lot of sense, Mr. Lloyd. If that's the case, then Mrs. Rhodes must be seriously displeased with Michael." Andrew leaned back in his chair, speaking at a leisurely pace. "It's more than just 'displeased'. Think about it—Michael's incompetence is obv
