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Chapter 40
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 41
Michael's head buzzed as he felt his blood pressure spike. He could not believe Andrew, whom he deemed a loser, was asking for such an outrageous amount. While Rhodes Corporation was rich, 15 million dollars was not pocket change. "Fine, I'll give you the 15 million," Michael agreed unexpectedly. "But remember—if I find out that you breathed a word of this to Lauren, you'll be dead." After that, Michael rushed back to his office and wrote a massive check, his heart bleeding at all those zeros. Andrew accepted the check happily. Then, as if afraid that Michael would not believe him, Andrew even made an oath, saying, "Mr. Rhodes, you're so generous. I swear on my life I won't tell Ms. Rhodes. May all the poisons in the world strike me if I break this vow!" As Andrew left grinning with the check, Michael sneered. "Idiot, you're playing a game you can't win." He immediately pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Mr. Garner, it's Michael. I need your men to take care of
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 42
In the Rhodes Corporation conference room, Lauren called an emergency executive meeting. After all the executives had entered, Andrew locked the door, drawing immediate disapproval from those present. "Ms. Rhodes, what's the meaning of this?" "First, an unannounced emergency meeting, and now we're locked in? What are you planning?" "Hey, you! Unlock that door now, that's an order!" Andrew returned to Lauren's side, ignoring their protests. When one furious executive tried to speak up, a warning look from Michael silenced him immediately. At the head of the table, Lauren looked over the gathered executives, her tone cold and direct. She began, "I've called this meeting because of an urgent matter. Someone has been trying to poison me for some time, and I've just discovered who it is." The executives' faces changed dramatically with this revelation. "Who could stoop so low? Ms. Rhodes is our CEO—who would do something so despicable?" "Whoever it is should get on their
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 43
Andrew noticed Michael's obvious relief, and their eyes met silently across the room. Andrew flashed Michael with a knowing smile, while Michael's gaze was mocking. To him, even if Andrew had figured out some of his secrets, he was convinced Andrew did not know the identity of the actual poisoner. As long as that person remained unknown, Michael believed he was safe. Lauren might suspect him, but suspicion without evidence was meaningless. "I imagine everyone must be thirsty," Lauren suddenly announced. "There's water in front of each of you to quench your thirst." Michael frowned and said, "Lauren, catching the culprit is more important. Being thirsty isn't a priority right now." Paul chimed in, "Mr. Rhodes is right. Even if we die of thirst, we won't leave until we find the person who tried to harm you, Ms. Rhodes." Lauren smiled gracefully and declared, "I'll be honest with everyone—one of these glasses has been poisoned by me. Everyone must drink their water now. Tho
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 44
Paul's trembling hand reached for the glass but quickly withdrew as if burned by its touch. Andrew watched him with an intriguing smile, remembering how this same executive had loudly proclaimed his loyalty earlier. Yet, here he was, stalling and reluctant to take action. One of the executives urged, "Mr. Clarke, what are you waiting for? We all drank our glasses. You're the only one left." Another executive frowned and chimed in, "We're all fine, so why are you being such a coward? Just down it in one go. What's the worst that could happen?" Paul's trembling only intensified at these words. For such a big, tough-looking man, he looked like he was about to burst into tears. "Mr. Rhodes, it seems you haven't drunk yours either," Andrew suddenly remarked with a smile. Michael scoffed and said, "I'm the Vice CEO of Rhodes Corporation and a member of the Rhodes family. I shouldn't have to participate in these ridiculous games." "If you're too scared to drink, then you must be t
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 45
Michael's hatred for Andrew reached its peak, furious that this pretty boy had completely destroyed his carefully laid plans. Suddenly, there was a loud crash as Paul's glass shattered on the floor. Then, he fell to his knees, begging Lauren for mercy through desperate cries. "Ms. Rhodes, I'm sorry! Please give me another chance! I truly regret what I did!" The other executives were caught off guard, but their surprise quickly turned into anger. "You're the culprit?" "You traitor! We defended you, and this is how you repay our trust?" "You must have lost your mind to try poisoning Ms. Rhodes! Go to hell!" Paul continued kneeling on the floor, sobbing, "Ms. Rhodes, I didn't want to do it… Someone forced me!" The room fell silent again as Andrew asked, "Who forced you?" Paul glanced nervously at Michael, hesitating to speak while Michael's already dark expression turned even more sinister. "Tell me who forced you, and I'll protect you," Lauren commanded icily.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 46
In the conference room, Lauren asked everyone else to leave, leaving only Andrew and Francesca behind. "Lauren, did you know from the start that Paul was the culprit?" Francesca asked eagerly as soon as the room emptied. Lauren rolled her eyes and said, "If I had known it was him, I would've just had him arrested instead of setting up these theatrics." Francesca exclaimed in surprise, "So you didn't know who it was? But you acted like you did!" Lauren smiled and explained, "I didn't know, which was why Dr. Lloyd suggested this trick to force their hand. All I had to do was claim one glass was poisoned, and Paul cracked under the pressure." Francesca stared at Andrew, shocked. "I didn't expect you to be so cunning!" She was impressed by his ability to devise such a trick, which left the culprit with no choice but to surrender. "Although we found out it was Paul, we still fell one step short," Andrew remarked. Lauren's beautiful face hardened as she agreed, "Indeed. Tha
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 47
Finally, Michael understood Andrew's two-part strategy—the trap and the pressure play. Poor Paul had cracked under pressure and confessed, which Michael could understand. After all, anyone would be terrified to drink potentially poisoned water, which was also why Michael refused to drink it. However, he had underestimated Andrew, as none of the water was poisoned, and Lauren did not know who the culprit was. They had simply played a trick to force Paul into confessing. Just as his anger had begun to subside, Michael's face turned ashen as he clenched his fists again. The humiliation was overwhelming. He could not believe a mere gold-digger had played him, a Rhodes family heir, like a fool. Michael pulled out his phone and made a call. "Bane, didn't you say your poison was incurable except by you? Some small-time doctor just cured Lauren—you better explain this!" A sinister voice replied, "How's this possible? Mr. Rhodes, you must be mistaken. In Jayrodale, not even Cedric coul
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 48
Irene beamed at Harvey with obvious approval and commented, "Harvey, please take the seat of honor. Tonight's family dinner is all about you." Harvey maintained perfect etiquette, treating every Stevens family member with utmost politeness and respect. His behavior had everyone glowing with pride, convinced they had found the perfect addition to their family. "Seeing Harvey so popular and capable must be hard for you to watch," Christina remarked, suddenly appearing beside Andrew. Andrew smiled and said, "Congratulations on finding such an exceptional match. You've always dreamed of marrying into high society, and now you've achieved it." Christina's expression grew complex as she sighed. "Andrew, I've always known you're not a bad person. I'm not saying this to rub in your face. I just want you to learn from Harvey's admirable qualities. Even if you can't match his success, you could at least live with dignity." Andrew chuckled. "Are you saying I'll never be as successful as
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 752
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 751
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 750
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 749
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 748
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 747
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
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 745
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 744
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
