"Security, arrest him immediately!" came the shouts from around the room. "Take him away and hand him over to the police—use the company's connections to make sure he rots in jail!" Michael's loyal followers on either side of him jumped to their feet, looking at Andrew as if he were already dead. This was their chance to prove their loyalty to Michael, and in their eyes, this foolish young man was nothing but dust to Rhodes Corporation. "Well, well, Rhodes Corporation's executives are supposed to be sophisticated, high-income individuals," Andrew said calmly, not moving an inch. "But right now, all I see is a pack of dogs barking." Marcus nearly fell out of his chair in shock. He figured Andrew had given up and decided to antagonize the entire executive board since he was headed for jail anyway—a reckless and foolish move, in his opinion. "Take him to the police," Michael ordered, his eyes cold as ice. "As CEO, I have only one demand—make him disappear from this world." Ed
Lauren addressed the executives with conviction. "You all remember how the corporation successfully acquired that large plot of land in West End's development zone." Edward frowned. "Ms. Rhodes, bringing up irrelevant matters won't help. We're discussing how to deal with this man right now." "It's not irrelevant," Lauren snapped. "That land deal was secured through Mr. Lloyd's connections, and in return, the corporation granted him a director position." The executives exchanged uncertain glances. If Lauren was telling the truth, they had no right to touch a corporate director. "Have you found anything?" Michael asked darkly. His secretary shifted uncomfortably. "Mr. Rhodes… it's true." Michael grabbed the laptop to check the corporate website himself, and his expression grew increasingly grim. "He owns 1% of the company shares," Michael gritted out. "Now you have nothing to say, do you?" Lauren said coolly. "Mr. Lloyd isn't just my driver—he's a corporate shareholder,
Michael grinned with confidence. "Lauren, I warned you before—if you just quietly played your role as Vice CEO, no one would bother you. But if you challenge my authority as CEO, I'll show you who really runs this corporation." "Michael, do you really want to take it this far?" Lauren asked icily. Michael's eyes turned bloodshot as he remembered how Andrew had humiliated him in the past. "No, you're wrong. This bastard is the one who took things too far, making my life hell. I won't rest until I see him behind bars!" Edward sneered. "The police commissioner is an old friend of mine. With just one call from me, Donald will make sure to give Director Lloyd special treatment." He emphasized "Director Lloyd" mockingly, dripping with sarcasm. The executives continued their taunts. "Your 1% shareholding might save your life, but you won't escape punishment entirely!" Though Andrew's director status was confirmed, Michael and Edward's joint attack gave the executives new hope. Th
Lauren explained, "But according to corporate bylaws, shareholders with higher stakes have more authority and priority than you. Since Michael is both CEO and has more shares than you, he technically can take legal action." "I see," Andrew nodded. "So if I had more shares than Michael and Mr. Hills, I could overrule them?" "That's true, but even if we combined our shares, we still wouldn't match them," Lauren replied. "This is getting complicated—maybe we should call Mr. Yates for help." Andrew appreciated Lauren's suggestion but smiled slightly. "No need for that. If it's just about having more shares than these two, I can simply buy more right now." Lauren's beautiful face showed confusion, while Eunice scoffed. "Andrew, stop pretending. You want to buy more shares? Michael and Mr. Hills together own 20% percent, which is worth about three billion dollars. Do you think this is like shopping at a grocery store?" Marcus could not stay silent anymore and moved next to Andrew.
"Mr. Lloyd, d-did you really just invest… five billion dollars in the corporation?" Marcus stammered, his mind reeling from the absurdity of what had just happened. Eunice's previous hostility and condescension toward Andrew instantly vanished, replaced by shock and disbelief. Edward shook his head. "No way! That's absolutely impossible! Even most successful financiers couldn't pull out five billion dollars for an investment without preparation. Check if hackers have attacked our network and caused this data anomaly." Michael's face showed uncertainty as he barked at his secretary, "Verify this immediately!" The sweating secretary worked frantically at her computer and made several urgent calls. Two minutes later, she looked at Michael with a pale face. "Mr. Rhodes, it's confirmed. The stock exchange has verified Mr. Lloyd's purchase of five billion dollars' worth of shares, and…" Michael exploded. "And what? Are you all brainless? This kind of thing only happens in movies
Andrew stood up, and his previously friendly smile had vanished, replaced by an icy demeanor. The shift in his expression sent chills through the boardroom, making everyone uneasy. He stated coldly, "Since my shares now exceed both the CEO's and Mr. Hills', doesn't that give me the greatest authority and priority in today's lunch meeting?" Michael's face twitched. "In principle, yes, that's correct." Edward was not having it, his face contorted with anger. "Kid, I didn't expect you to pull something like this. But five billion in funding—you must have misappropriated it from somewhere. With your position and background, even if your family saved for generations, they couldn't come up with that kind of astronomical sum." Many heads nodded in agreement around the table. Edward's logic seemed sound, as instantly injecting fifty billion dollars to become the fifth major shareholder was suspicious. However, Andrew could not care less about their suspicions. He slowly walked over t
Edward—the company veteran, the CEO's right-hand man, the head of corporate security, and a board member—had just been knocked out cold with a single slap. The shocking display of power left everyone in the boardroom stunned and speechless. "Mr. Lloyd, you…" Marcus' scalp tingled as words failed him completely. Eunice stared in disbelief. She mumbled, "This is terrible. We finally had things under control, and now he's ruined everything. Mr. Lloyd, do you realize how serious it is to assault a board member and disrespect a company veteran?" Even Lauren had not expected Andrew to make such a bold move. Slapping Edward across the room was something she had not dared to consider, even when she was CEO with absolute authority at Rhodes Corporation. Michael jumped to his feet, his face dark with anger. "What the hell are you doing? How dare you assault our company veteran! Are you trying to land yourself in prison?" "Is there a problem with me slapping this old fool?" Andrew ask
Andrew walked back to Lauren's side and sat down with a casual smile. He said, "You're the CEO, it's your call. But please understand, I just joined the Rhodes Corporation today, so I got a bit carried away and gave Mr. Hills quite a shock!" Many people gritted their teeth in silence. Andrew's nonchalant attitude hardly seemed apologetic, and calling it "quite a shock" when Edward had to be rushed to the hospital was a massive understatement. Michael slammed his hand on the table. "Enough! Let's get down to business. Everyone, quiet!" Andrew and Lauren exchanged glances, their expressions innocent. Lauren was secretly delighted, as Andrew's performance deserved full marks. She could only imagine how furious Tiana must have been while watching all of this unfold through the surveillance cameras. "Do we have any updates on the Northern District case?" Michael turned to an executive. "Atlas may be dead, but we haven't recovered a single penny from our two investments in Northern
Nyla lifted her tear-streaked face, eyes full of sorrow. She choked out, "Andy… my dad… he's forcing me… He wants your formulas. He's making me steal them and bring them back to him." She broke down into sobs. "Andy, Dr. Aicker, you should fire me. I don't deserve to stay at Moonlit Apothecary anymore. I don't even have the face to show up here!" The words poured out of her as the tears fell. She had finally revealed everything because her trust in Andrew and Francesca was unconditional. Her loyalty to them ran deeper than blood, and when it came to Dominic, the man who was supposed to be her father, she felt nothing but heartbreak and betrayal. She had come to see that the man who once called her his daughter had turned into someone cold, greedy, and unrecognizable. He wanted her to betray Andrew—to steal from someone who had only ever been kind to her. Nyla realized she simply could not do it. She would rather tell the truth than live with that kind of guilt. Francesca
"But the Three Titans—Driscolls, Phelans, and the most elusive of them all, the Drache family—you'd better be careful around them, Mr. Lloyd," Phantom Eye said seriously. He added, "From what I've heard, those families each have someone far beyond the martial king level hidden in their ranks." Andrew remained unfazed. "If they don't mess with me, I won't mess with them. So what if they're above martial king? The world is vast—no one stays undefeated forever. There's always a higher peak beyond the last, and just because they're the Three Titans doesn't make them invincible." Phantom Eye nodded, still concerned. "Maybe so, but the Three Titans have always held the reins there. So, Mr. Lloyd, it never hurts to stay cautious when you're not on home turf." Andrew understood where Phantom Eye was coming from. Anyone who survived in Blumedale's ruthless martial world had to have a sharp eye and a wide view. Even a semi–martial king could build a reputation and live comfortably, but
A new day had begun. First thing in the morning, Andrew noticed several missed calls from Aspen. However, he did not respond to any of them. He already knew exactly why she was calling—she wanted to ask about the new 40 billion dollar transfer. However, Andrew did not feel the need to explain. As far as he was concerned, as long as Aspen managed the funds properly, that was enough. Francesca stepped out of the bathroom with flushed cheeks, looking irritated and disappointed. "Andrew, my period just started." Andrew chuckled. "It is what it is. Does your stomach hurt? Want me to give you the classic 'get some rest' line?" Francesca clenched her jaw. "Don't. Only emotionally clueless guys with zero tact say stuff like that." Andrew nodded seriously. "I agree. That's why I was going to make you a proper warm tea instead." Francesca waved it off. "No need. I may be on my period, but I'm not cramping or low on energy. Don't forget—I grew up in a traditional medicine family. My
Nyla could not believe how Dominic could say something so vile, so cruel, and actually mean it. Dominic let out a furious snort, his tone sharp as a blade. "Listen closely. The Goth family is currently on the verge of locking in a billion-dollar investment deal. Do you have any idea what that kind of money means? "It would launch our family into the elite overnight—we'd finally be one of the top powers in all of Jayrodale. For that kind of future, a small sacrifice like this is nothing. Nyla, you're not a child anymore. It's time you started contributing to this family." Camilla, her belly swollen from pregnancy, was practically trembling with excitement. "Wait—what did you just say? A billion-dollar investment? Oh my god, do you know how massive that is?" She turned to Nyla, her tone sharp and commanding. "Did you hear that? Dominic is doing this because he has no choice—it's all for the family. If you had even a sliver of conscience, you'd agree without hesitation. "So wha
Camilla could not help but sneer. "Dominic, I told you long ago that Nyla isn't loyal to our family. She's always been the type to side with outsiders. "You treat her well, and in the end, she'll never remember what you did for her. If you ask me, raising a stray dog would've been better than raising her." Dominic's voice turned cold. "You're right. I must've been blind to raise such a disgrace. If I'd known she'd turn out like this, I should've let her die with her mother!" The alcohol was clearly taking over. Dominic had downed a couple of drinks, and now his true colors were coming out. His face turned red, his eyes fierce, and a violent temper simmered just under the surface. Nyla was terrified. Before long, her vision blurred as tears welled up. She was used to Camilla being mean to her and trying to push her out of the family, but she never expected her own father to be so cruel. She never imagined Dominic to say something so venomous—something like wishing she had die
It was not that Nyla was some reckless flirt—far from it. She was just under unbearable pressure from her family, and Andrew's sudden appearance had felt like a lifeline. In her heart, she fantasized that if she could marry someone like Andrew, her life would finally feel complete. Nonetheless, it did not take long for reality to set in. Andrew was incredible—kind, brilliant, and respected—and she knew she was not in his league. Gorgeous and confident women like Lauren and Francesca were all vying for his attention, so someone like her did not stand a chance. That thought broke her heart a little, but at the same time, she felt strangely lucky. After all, even though Nyla did not have his love, Andrew and Francesca, not to mention Lauren, were all incredibly kind to her. Especially Andrew. As the head of Moonlit Apothecary, he cared for her and supported her like a mentor. At Moonlit Apothecary, she could already see a promising future ahead of her. "Dad, if there's somethin
Meanwhile, at the Goth family back in Jayrodale. Dominic had been restless since he returned from Quinton's roundtable event. He thought it was the perfect time for the Goth family to rise. If he could impress Quinton, billions of investments would come pouring into the family. With that kind of funding, the Goths could skyrocket and finally stand shoulder to shoulder with the Weller family, the Rhodes family, and other regional powerhouses. Eventually, Dominic could not wait any longer and eagerly waited for Nyla to get home from work. He greeted her with uncharacteristic warmth. "Nyla, come here, sweetheart. You're back a little early tonight, huh? It's been a while since we all sat down for dinner together. Tonight, I want to have a real heart-to-heart with you." Nyla gave him a suspicious look but walked over and sat down beside him. Normally, Dominic was completely consumed by family business. Even when he came home, he only spoke to Camilla and barely acknowledged Nyl
Tyler said plainly, "Seth? To be honest, I don't know you, and I definitely don't remember ever having a drink with you. So please, don't make up stories like that." He was still polite about it, but the message was loud and clear. Seth's face flushed with heat. Tyler had not yelled at him, but his tone made it obvious—he wanted Seth gone. He was not even acknowledged, let alone remembered, and the drink? A total lie. His attempt to show off had backfired hard, and the shame burned worse than any public embarrassment. Nonetheless, Seth did not have the guts to argue back. All he could do was step aside awkwardly, watching as Tyler turned his full attention to Aspen. Tyler said respectfully, "Ms. Stevens, your new company in Blumedale recently opened a corporate account with our bank, correct? A transaction just hit that account earlier today, and I felt this matter was serious enough that I needed to confirm it with you personally." Aspen frowned, thinking it over. The new
Aspen could not help but laugh to herself. Men in Blumedale really were something else—being a player here took skill, and this one clearly had it down to an art. Seth spouted romantic lines like a pro, sounding so sincere it was almost believable. Compared to him, Andrew might have been a brute with zero charm who only knew how to exploit her, draining every ounce of energy she had left. Nonetheless, at least Andrew was not fake—what you saw was what you got. Meanwhile, this charming heir from the Haywood family was starting to feel downright repulsive. "Mr. Haywood, I've told you more than once—there's no chance between us," Aspen said, her voice firm. "You should know I'm not even free right now. Honestly, my body doesn't even belong to me. While I appreciate your feelings, you're just wasting your time." She let out a sigh as if she was tired of repeating herself. Seth's face turned cold as he said with conviction, "Aspen, tell me—who's the bastard? The one controlling yo