Francesca's expression hardened as she delivered the news to Ernest. She said coldly, "Our deputy chief has a message for you." Ernest was desperate, willing to do anything to save his life. "What is it? Tell me quickly!" he demanded before another violent bout of blood-coughing seized him. He clamped his mouth shut afterward, trying to minimize his speech to reduce the bleeding. "He can't return to the hospital," Francesca stated professionally, softening the harsh message out of her medical duty to do no harm. "You should prepare yourself—this mysterious condition could be fatal." The news hit Ernest like a ton of bricks, and he nearly passed out from shock. A terrible realization dawned on him as he turned to his bodyguards with a blood-stained snarl. "What are you idiots standing around for? Get me back there to find that guy, hurry!" Ernest could feel his life force draining away with each passing moment. The taste of death was upon him, making his head spin with g
"Well, Mr. Ramsey, now do you believe what I told you earlier wasn't a lie?" Andrew asked with an exaggerated sigh, shaking his head. Ernest wanted to kill him—here he was at death's door, and this kid was making small talk. However, his body had no strength left as the blood loss had nearly drained him completely. Ernest wheezed, "I was blind before, unable to see your true capabilities. I'm thoroughly convinced now, so please, Andrew, show some compassion and save me!" Andrew nodded reluctantly. "Fine. Since you've recognized your mistakes, I'll help you." Ernest's eyes lit up with joy as hope returned, but Andrew suddenly slapped his forehead. "No, wait—I still can't save you." The light in Ernest's eyes immediately died out. His heart was screaming, but all he could manage was a weak cry: "W-Why?" If he had the strength, he would have strangled this kid who kept toying with him between life and death. Andrew said with feigned concern, "Well, Mr. Ramsey, you haven't ag
Despite his bruised and swollen face, Ernest was beaming with joy as he felt his body recovering. After checking himself thoroughly to confirm he was really okay, he burst into laughter. "I'm alive! I actually made it!" The bodyguards looked at him in disbelief before turning to Andrew. They could not comprehend how a few kicks could save someone's life—was this guy some kind of miracle worker? Andrew explained clinically, "Mr. Ramsey's main problem was blocked pressure points causing blood congestion. My kicks cleared those blockages and restored proper circulation, which naturally resolved the issue." "But Andrew, why do I feel so weak even though the pain is gone?" Ernest asked groggily, holding his head. "I feel like I'm about to pass out." Andrew smiled knowingly. "That's normal. Most people would have died from losing that much blood. You survived only because of your strong constitution and all those supplements you take." Ernest's face turned pale. "Are you saying
"Actually, things aren't as bad as you think, Mr. Ramsey," Andrew explained casually. "You can return to Canraville and rest quietly for a few years—with proper restraint and the right supplements, your body will recover." Ernest immediately perked up at this suggestion. "Yes, yes, you're right! I may be weak now, but it's temporary. I just need some time to recuperate." "However, Mr. Ramsey, there's one crucial rule," Andrew warned. "You must absolutely avoid any intimate relations with women." Ernest's face fell dramatically as though he had just received news of a death in the family. He could handle giving up fine food and drinks, but this restriction was one he just couldn't bear. Andrew added gravely, "Don't take this lightly, Mr. Ramsey. In your condition, any intimate activity will instantly drain what little life force you've managed to rebuild. When that happens, you'll become nothing but an empty shell—not even the world's best doctor could save you then." Ernest's
Natasha glanced at him and turned away, her voice filled with frustration as she said, "I used to be obsessed with power and martial arts, always wanting to be above others. But now, I don't care about any of that anymore—if you just say the word, I'd give up my position as the head of West End right away to serve you." Andrew was stunned. "What did you just say?" "I said I'd give up everything just to be with you," Natasha replied irritably. Andrew's heart skipped a beat as he realized the widow had developed feelings for him. As he wondered if he really had to sleep with Natasha, anger washed over him. Just then, the pouting Natasha burst into laughter and looked at him triumphantly. "You fool, couldn't you tell I was just messing with you?" "You think this is funny?" Andrew asked, slightly annoyed. Natasha stood tall and challenged him, "It is funny… Unless you're man enough to take control of the situation." "Your provocations won't work on me," Andrew said with a smi
Seeing that everything was settled, and Natasha had no objections, Andrew asked, "Is there anything else? If not, I need to head back." Natasha replied seriously, "Oh, darling, there's one more thing. Although Atlas' Northern District has fallen apart, several of his top fighters have gathered over 100 followers and are starting to gain influence again." "When it comes to eliminating threats completely, you and Dylan are more skilled than I am," Andrew replied calmly. "From now on, you don't need my approval for these matters—just discuss it between yourselves." Natasha flashed a seductive smile. "Perfect, that's exactly what I wanted to hear." Andrew shook his head, thinking how Natasha truly lived up to her Black Widow nickname. With him, she was charming and submissive, even offering to warm his bed, but as a crime lord, she definitely had blood on her hands. It was necessary though. How else could a beautiful widow establish her position and protect her West End territory
A man in a suit and glasses stepped forward with a sneer. "Let me tell you just how impressive Mr. Rhodes is—he has complete control over Rhodes Corporation now, and he's as powerful as any other head of the prominent family in Jayrodale." Another executive rushed forward to brown-nose Michael, looking down at Andrew with contempt. "Young man, in this business, ignorance is a sin. The fact that you don't know how powerful Mr. Rhodes is just proves you're a small fry who can't see beyond your own limited view—you're less than an insect in his eyes." Marcus, who had been standing quietly in the back, stepped forward to mediate. "Sir, it's time for the noon meeting, and Ms. Rhodes is here today. Perhaps we should head up." Michael scoffed. "Ah, right, I forgot Lauren was coming to the company today. Fine, let's meet her, but remember what I said earlier—choose your sides carefully. I don't want my blade catching any foolish bystanders in the crossfire." After that, Michael swept h
Michael adjusted his designer suit with an air of superiority. He said, "Andrew, I'm done playing games with a nobody like you. Watch yourself—if you're foolish enough to side with Lauren, I might have to eliminate you along with her." With a contemptuous smirk, Michael led his group of executives through the corporate entrance. Marcus, who was the last to leave, looked at Andrew with a sympathetic smile. "Didn't I tell you to stop coming to see Ms. Rhodes? You not only showed up openly but also challenged our CEO—aren't you just digging your own grave?" He was particularly concerned about Andrew's bold declaration to take Michael's position. Marcus felt that Andrew was still naive about how the real world worked. With Michael's current position, all it would take was a nod of his head for his lackeys to destroy this young deputy chief's life. "Thanks for trying to help back there, Mr. Chapman," Andrew said with a smile. Marcus waved his hand dismissively. "I did what I co
"Please, just give me one more chance! I promise to turn over a new leaf and lead the Weller family responsibly," Harvey pleaded, his forehead nearly touching the floor. The two elders exchanged glances, their eyes burning with a desire to punish him severely. However, there was no escaping the reality—Harvey was Kane's only heir. If they removed him, the Weller family would need to choose a new head, and frankly, there was not anyone else who seemed even remotely suitable. Though Harvey was reckless and immoral, he had proven competent as the family leader. The recent surge in profits from their wellness products was his doing, helping to pull the family out of a dire financial crisis. "Fine, get up," Ian said in frustration. It was as if he speaking to an utter disappointment. "Having someone like you as head of the family is a disgrace, but it's our misfortune, not yours." Ted gritted his teeth. "But listen carefully, you pathetic fool. You may remain as the family head,
Serena's piercing scream echoed from behind, forcing Harvey to whip around in shock. To his horror, he saw Ian and Ted, two of the most respected elders of the Weller family, dragging Serena across the ground by her hair, pulling her out from hiding. "You two old bastards! Let go of me! I command you, as the family matriarch, to release me immediately! Are you really going to defy your master?" Serena shrieked. Her disheveled hair and furious expression made her look like a vengeful ghost. Half of her face was bruised and swollen, evidence of a slap. Harvey rushed forward, alarmed. "Elders, what are you doing? Let Serena go, now!" However, before he could say more, one of the elders kicked him square in the stomach, sending him flying backward. Harvey tumbled to the ground, rolling over several times before coming to a stop, gasping for air, and almost spitting blood. As he staggered to his feet, dazed and clutching his burning abdomen, he roared, "You old fools! What do
"Sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about," Harvey said calmly. He added in a steady tone, "As far as I know, the one responsible for such an appalling act in our family is my uncle, Brad, and he's already been taken into custody by your department. Now you're here again—so I have to ask, do you even have evidence?" Harvey forced himself to remain composed, ensuring he did not give anything away. After all, he had only issued orders and stayed in the shadows. As long as no one caught him red-handed, his position as the head of the Weller family would shield him from arrest. One of the officers spoke coldly, "We do have evidence. According to the kidnappers' confessions, they were hired by your family's butler." The officer continued, "So, we'll be taking Mr. Alfie Daves, your butler, into custody. You don't have any objections to that, do you, Mr. Weller?" Harvey clenched his teeth and said nothing, though rage boiled inside him. Suddenly, with a loud thud, Alfie dr
When the call connected, a voice answered, "Who is this?" "Are you kidding me? You don't know who I am?" Harvey exploded. "Kill Marcus's daughter and dump her body at Rhodes Corporation! I want Marcus, Andrew, and Lauren to learn their lesson!" "Sorry, but the Jayrodale Police Department only catches criminals—we don't do murder for hire," the voice replied coldly. "This is Donald, the police commissioner, and I'm ordering you to identify yourself and your location immediately, then turn yourself in." Harvey froze, his heart nearly stopped as the blood drained from his face. It felt like his entire body turned to ice. What the hell just happened? He had clearly dialed the number of those hired thugs, but how on earth did Donald answer the call instead? Donald barked through the phone, "I'll repeat myself: state your identity and address, then surrender at the station. If we have to catch you ourselves, you'll face serious jail time!" Harvey threw his phone down as if it had
Before Harvey could even use his family's influence to suppress the negative online news, he had become Jayrodale's hottest headline. Social media erupted with comments. [What an absolute animal! How could such scum become the head of the Weller family? It's ridiculous!] [Is this a moral failure or a loss of humanity? How could he sleep with his stepmother? Isn't he afraid his father will crawl out of the grave to haunt him?] [Man, the scandals in their circles are wild! Honestly, I'd pay 50 bucks to see a video of Harvey and his stepmother hooking up. Anybody got one? DM me!] [I've seen Serena before, and she's definitely still got it—curvy, voluptuous, and oozing mature charm. When she wears those body-hugging dresses, she could drive any man crazy!] [Honestly, this isn't even surprising. A playboy like Harvey would sleep with anything that moves!] "This is a PR nightmare for the Weller family, though. Let this be a lesson for all of us: keep your pants zipped and you
The Rhodes residence was massive. After leaving Lauren's bedroom, Tiana made her way through various corridors to another wing of the mansion. "Mrs. Rhodes!" Jerry greeted respectfully in the dimly lit hallway. Tiana's expression was indifferent as she asked, "Jerry, is there something you need?" Jerry hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Mrs. Rhodes, there's something I want to say, but I'm not sure if I should." Tiana raised a brow and stated coldly, "If you're here to tell me to stop meddling in Lauren's matters, then save your breath." Jerry carefully chose his words, lowering his voice. "Mrs. Rhodes, I wouldn't dare interfere in Ms. Rhodes' affairs, especially since this involves the family's leadership decisions and Mr. Rhodes' intentions. I wanted to discuss something else—about Andrew." "Oh? What about that boy?" Tiana asked, slightly surprised. "Mrs. Rhodes, he's no ordinary person," Jerry said gravely. "In my opinion, Mr. Rhodes' relationship with him might
"Marvin and Andrew are probably father and son," Lauren said hesitantly. Tiana scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "You're overthinking it. When Marvin escaped from Chetvine, no one even knew the scale of the forces he had crossed. But one thing's certain—he was already in his 50s and gravely injured. Do you really think a man in that condition could father a child?" She continued, "And Andrew is 26, isn't he? There's no way he's Marvin's son. He's just a smoke screen—a decoy Marvin set up to confuse his enemies, or worse, a pawn to execute Marvin's schemes." Tiana paused, her gaze growing colder and more penetrating. "Now, do you finally understand the lengths I've gone to for your sake? I'm not just doing this for you—I'm doing it for the entire Rhodes family. Marvin's criminal past will catch up with him sooner or later." She added, "The forces he angered are unimaginably powerful, far beyond anything you or I can comprehend, and certainly beyond what the Rhodes family
Faced with Tiana's fierce demeanor, Lauren responded in disbelief, "Are you really going to deny everything Andrew has done? How can you be so self-deceptive and blind?" Tiana's tone calmed, but her disdain was evident. "I'm not denying it. I'm just looking at the bigger picture from a wiser perspective. This boy is all show and no substance—everything he's shown you is borrowed from Marvin's influence and power." She continued, "His money comes from Marvin, his influence stems from being tied to Jayrodale's wealthiest man, and even his life has been protected by Marvin. Otherwise, with the enemies he's made, he wouldn't have survived this long." Tiana's relentless questioning completely dismissed all of Andrew's contributions to Rhodes Corporation. Lauren, enraged, responded, "You can criticize me all you want, but what Andrew has done for me and the company are undeniable facts. I absolutely won't let you insult him or someone who's devoted himself to helping me." Lauren, w
"If I wasn't here, were you planning to spend your nights out with Andrew instead of coming home?" Tiana's voice grew sharper with every word, each sentence harsher than the last. Lauren looked at her calmly and asked, "What are you trying to say?" "I want you to show some restraint," Tiana snapped. "Remember, you're the heiress of Rhodes Corporation, not some wild party girl with no self-respect." Lauren let out a cold laugh and said dismissively, "Everything I do appears wrong in your eyes. You even want to control who I date, but what I can't tolerate is—what makes you think being with Andrew means I have no self-respect?" Tiana sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do you think I'm blind? You're out there shopping, holding hands, whispering sweet nothings to each other in public—I know about your every move." Lauren's voice dropped, laced with accusation. "So, you let me go out, but then you spy on me?" "I'm not spying—I'm preventing you from doing something you'll