Lauren exclaimed urgently, "Dr. Lloyd, you can't do this! Mr. Chapman is emotionally unstable—we should wait for the rescue team." She did not need to elaborate further, as Andrew already understood her meaning. She feared that if he tried to save Marcus and was not careful enough, Marcus might actually jump, and Andrew would have to bear that devastating consequence. Andrew smiled reassuringly and said, "Ms. Rhodes, trust me. I will bring Mr. Chapman back safely." "Andrew, are you trying to be the hero again? Are you looking for more trouble?" Eunice snapped angrily. "Do you understand what will happen if you fail to save Mr. Chapman?" "If I can't bring him back, I'll take full responsibility," Andrew replied coldly, which silenced everyone as they watched him slowly approach Marcus. Breaking out in a cold sweat, Eunice turned to Lauren and said, "Miss, how can you just stand there and let him act so recklessly? In this situation, whoever tries to save Mr. Chapman takes on t
Marcus gave a bitter smile as tears glistened in his eyes. He said, "Mr. Lloyd, you're a good man, and an even more open-minded one. Though we haven't known each other long, I truly admire and respect you!" He continued, "Unfortunately, even saints can't save everyone, and I'm just a poor soul trapped in quicksand with no way back!" Standing at the rooftop's edge for so long had taken its toll on Marcus' body and mind. He swayed more noticeably now, looking as if he might fall at any moment. A gasp rippled through the crowd behind him, and a few female employees started crying. Amidst the chaos, several angry voices cursed at Andrew, their words sharp and cutting. Andrew ignored all the distractions and focused solely on Marcus. He called out, "Mr. Chapman, I want to tell you something. You say even saints can't save everyone, but let me make one thing clear—if they can't, I can. If they can't bring someone back from despair, then I, Andrew Lloyd, will." Marcus blinked in con
The crowd watched in amazement as Andrew's arm swung like a pendulum, launching Marcus back onto the rooftop. Then, with seemingly effortless strength, Andrew pulled himself up and flipped back over the safety barrier. "Mr. Chapman is safe! Mr. Lloyd made it back up too!" The Rhodes Corporation employees on the rooftop erupted in joy and relief. Several medical staff quickly secured Marcus and carried him away while Lauren rushed to Andrew's side, circling him anxiously as she asked, "Dr. Lloyd, are you alright?" Andrew brushed off his suit and smiled, saying, "I'm fine!" Lauren threw her arms around him and said tearfully, "You scared me! When I saw you jump, I thought… well, if you were going to make such a dramatic gesture, it should have been for me!" Her comment broke the solemn atmosphere, causing the gathered employees to burst into laughter. "Mr. Lloyd, I have nothing but admiration for you!" one employee exclaimed. "You've shown us what true courage looks like. I
Andrew raised an eyebrow and said, "Well, anything less than a few million dollars would be an insult, don't you think, Mr. Rhodes?" "A few million? Andrew, has money made you lose your mind?" one of the executives beside Michael snapped angrily. Michael raised his hand to silence his subordinate and smiled, saying, "Lauren, Mr. Lloyd, I'll be going now—would you mind stepping aside?" Lauren did not budge an inch and asked coldly, "What were you doing when Mr. Chapman was about to jump?" Michael tilted his head thoughtfully and replied, "As the CEO, I'm extremely busy. I was working in my office, of course." "More like busy doing inappropriate things with your secretary. How disgusting!" Lauren mocked. Michael's face darkened as he snarled, "Lauren, watch your words. I'm the CEO—who are you, a mere subordinate, to question my actions? Besides, what proof do you have about these so-called inappropriate activities?" Andrew laughed and commented, "There's plenty of proof. Th
Andrew's face grew stern as he said, "If you can't handle this alone, you need to speak up instead of worrying about dragging me into it. Remember what I told you on the rooftop—you thought no one could help you, but I'm not just anyone." "Mr. Chapman, let Dr. Lloyd help you," Lauren urged. "I can personally guarantee that his capabilities go far beyond what you and I can imagine!" Marcus wavered at her words, glancing at Andrew uncertainly before asking, "Mr. Lloyd, you're not just the deputy chief of Jayrodale General Hospital, are you?" "Of course not," Andrew smiled. "To be frank, I now control the entire underground network of Jayrodale. Whether Lucy's situation involves old money families or other complications, I'm confident I can resolve it." "Mr. Lloyd, do you really mean that?" Marcus asked, his eyes wide with shock. Andrew chuckled. "Why would I lie about something like this?" Marcus studied Andrew intently, his mind racing as he processed this revelation. This m
"Searching blindly would be like looking for a needle in a haystack," Andrew remarked thoughtfully. Lauren snorted and said, "Let's go straight to the Weller residence and demand Lucy back. If Harvey refuses, we'll tear their whole empire down." Andrew chuckled wryly. "Ms. Rhodes, your approach is too aggressive. If we knew for certain Lucy was at the Weller residence, we could confront them directly. But as we heard, Harvey played it smart—Lucy isn't with the Weller family. She's with the masked man, so we need another approach." Lauren sighed, feeling frustrated. "But the Weller family is our only lead, and everything else is a dead end. What else can we do if we don't confront them?" Andrew turned to Marcus and asked, "Mr. Chapman, think carefully about that masked man—did you notice any distinguishing features?" Marcus racked his brain, trying to recall the incident. "He even disguised his voice, clearly being extremely careful not to reveal his identity. I studied him wh
Natasha laughed, saying, "Mr. Warren, we're just following orders. If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with our superior!" Donald snorted. "Who's your superior? Even if it's God himself, he can't let you run wild in my jurisdiction." Dylan replied calmly, "He's someone you should know, Mr. Warren—the one you arrested last time." Natasha added with an unrestrained laugh, "That's right. We're talking about And—I mean, Mr. Lloyd. Bye!" After hanging up, Donald wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his expression completely dumbfounded. He shivered and muttered, "So that's who's directing Dylan and Natasha—thank God I didn't interfere too much!" He decided then and there to stay out of it completely. After all, even Mark showed respect to Mr. Lloyd, and if Mark had not raised any concerns, then this definitely was not his business. Having found a convenient excuse, Donald relaxed with a chuckle. He wondered which poor soul had managed to anger someone as power
Harvey said smugly, "It's simple supply and demand—everyone wins. We're making money faster than my father ever did. Too bad he's not alive to see how I've made the Weller family more prosperous than ever!" Serena beamed as she walked over to Harvey's chair, settling down beside him. She purred, "Once you've built up the Weller family empire, don't forget my contribution." At that moment, Brad Weller, Harvey's uncle and a senior member of the family, walked into the living room. His face darkened immediately at the scene before him. "What do you think you're doing? Have some decency—you're bringing shame to the Weller family name!" Brad exclaimed angrily. Harvey and Serena barely reacted to his outburst. Harvey simply smiled and said, "Uncle Brad, don't act so shocked—this isn't the first time you've seen us together." Brad warned him, "Harvey, do you realize how disgraceful this behavior is? You're an educated man—how can you act so inappropriately?" Harvey replied coldly,
"Heh, Mr. Yates, your money might be able to move mountains, but Aspen's threat is right here and now!" Tiana said with a cold smirk, clearly annoyed. "Once they deal with the Madblade Martial Academy fighters, Aspen will turn his sights on Andrew." She continued, "Even if you throw a fortune around right now, by the time your reinforcements show up, your prized pawn will already be on his knees, begging for mercy!" Cedric frowned. "If Gordon gets too out of hand, aren't you going to step in?" Tiana gave a playful but sharp smile. "Why would I? The Bridgefields' Stevens family has done me no harm. Why should I get involved in their business?" Cedric's voice became more serious. "You're still from Jayrodale, Mrs. Rhodes. Are you really going to stand by and watch Gordon run wild in your own city? And what about Dr. Lloyd? He and Lauren are close. Surely, for their sake, you'd lend a hand?" Tiana gave an icy snort. "Mr. Yates is right here. He's the boss around here, and he has
Andrew spoke calmly, "Ivan has solid expertise in hard martial techniques. With his aggressive internal boxing style, he might hold his ground against that hunchback for a while. But if the fight drags on, that old man will use his superior stamina to gain the upper hand—he's adept at controlling internal energy flow." On the VIP platform, Tiana said flatly, "That Madblade Martial Academy guy is going to suffer today." Marvin chuckled. "Not many know this, but Cedric and I are well aware of your talents, Mrs. Rhodes. You've always been a martial arts genius. Who do you think that girl from Bridgefields is relying on?" Cedric nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed. Back then, you were one of Jayrodale's most celebrated women. Even Kane from the Weller family admired you. We'd appreciate your insights." Tiana smiled arrogantly. "Those days are long gone now that I'm a wife and mother. But since you asked, I'll share what I know." She turned her gaze toward Gordon and explained, "That man
"Dr. Lloyd, Aspen and Christina seem prepared for something serious. We need to be cautious," Lauren warned, her voice tinged with concern. Francesca nodded in agreement, her brows furrowed. "Aspen's always been proud and arrogant. She wouldn't dare show up here and threaten to ruin Moonlit Apothecary unless she had absolute confidence in her backing." Andrew smiled faintly. "Her confidence comes from that hunchbacked old man standing behind her. His skills are decent. In Jayrodale, there might not be many who could stand against him." Lauren's eyes widened in surprise. "That old man? He looks so frail he can barely walk. I didn't think he'd be a master fighter!" Francesca's worry deepened. "That just makes it worse, Andrew. Aspen's failures here have already filled her with resentment. I'm worried that after dealing with Madblade Martial Academy, she'll turn her attention to you." Andrew snorted, a hint of disdain tugging at his lips. "Sure, he might be formidable to others
Finley scoffed, shocked that Andrew was actually trying to fleece five million out of Aspen. He could not help but think Andrew's greed was going to be the death of him. Irene stood with her hands on her hips, smirking. "Andrew, you've got quite a show going today, but let me tell you something—our family may not have brought a large crowd, but we're not someone you can push around!" Leroy puffed up his chest and added, "Yeah! Aspen's got top family fighters with her. You're in for a world of pain soon!" "Shut up, both of you!" Christina snapped, her brow furrowed in frustration. "Why should we?" Irene huffed. "With Aspen backing us, I've got every right to show off a little!" She crossed her arms and scowled. "Besides, look at this fancy medical center Andrew's opened. It's practically a luxury resort. I can't stand the thought of him living it up like this!" Leroy nodded eagerly. "Exactly! Andrew dumped you, and now he's thriving—first buying that fancy Mercedes, and now
"Mr. Moore, that hunchbacked old man looks like he's reached the level of a senior grandmaster," one of the Hidden Dragons experts whispered. "No, not just senior grandmaster—he's probably at the peak, capable of taking lives with a mere flick of his finger!" "Hah, Moonlit Apothecary is in big trouble now. I've been saying that Andrew can't go around making enemies without someone eventually coming to settle the score." The Hidden Dragons experts exchanged smug glances, their eyes gleaming with schadenfreude. Finley sneered, his jaw tightening. "Just wait. Today, not only will Moonlit Apothecary be wrecked, but that loser Andrew will probably be lucky to survive this." Finley sensed the overwhelming danger emanating from Gordon. Although he could not pinpoint who the man was, his instincts screamed that Gordon was not someone to provoke. If Finley had been in Andrew's shoes, he would have run without a second thought. Natasha's voice sliced through the tension. "Aspen, tak
Aspen strode confidently to the center of the banquet, her expression cold and unforgiving. She swept a glance over the gathered crowd and sneered. "Looks like today's a good day. Jayrodale's most prominent figures are all here. Perfect timing—I'll make sure everyone knows that the Stevens family from Bridgefields always collects their debts." However, Christina and her family looked increasingly nervous. Christina whispered urgently, "Aspen, you might want to reconsider. Even Jayrodale's wealthiest man is here today. You're playing with fire!" Irene glanced around nervously. "How on earth did that loser Andrew manage to gather such a crowd? These people aren't ones to mess with!" Leroy clutched Irene's arm, his legs shaking. "Mom, I feel like fainting. Oh my God, look! Even Natasha and Dylan are here—those two are killers, legends in the underground world of Jayrodale!" Their initial confidence quickly evaporated. They had arrived intending to support Aspen and demand rev
Andrew sighed dramatically. "I can't believe it. You have a Hidden Dragons boss as your uncle, yet you can't even manage 50 million. Fine, I'll lower it to 30 million." "30 million? Forget it! If you're going to keep pushing, then do it. I'd rather risk my life!" Finley snapped. Andrew chuckled. "Alright, alright, you look like you're about to pass out. Let's settle on five million. Honestly, you're the poorest and stingiest of all the guests today, Mr. Moore." In the end, after some intense back-and-forth, Finley begrudgingly transferred five million to Andrew. He stared at his phone screen, watching his balance drop, and felt his heart bleed. Five million gone over a single simple banquet—it was a humiliation he could not swallow. The moment the transfer came through, Francesca promptly confiscated it. "This isn't some secret fund, Andrew. It's part of the collection, so I'll keep it for proper accounting," Francesca said with a playful grin. "You're not getting it back!
Finley's eyelid twitched violently. "What do you mean by that? I'm warning you—don't go spreading rumors!" Andrew chuckled. "Oh, it seems Mr. Moore values his reputation quite a bit. But here's the thing—this is my Moonlit Apothecary. You've eaten and drunk here without paying, and that's just unacceptable." He leaned in a little and added with a smirk, "All it takes is one loud announcement from me, and soon, everyone in Jayrodale will know you're nothing more than a broke freeloader. Think about your uncle's reputation!" Finley's expression darkened further as Andrew casually said, "So, Mr. Moore, why not save face and swipe that card? Or perhaps consider applying for a loan?" At the mention of Hidden Dragons' reputation, the faces of the other gang members grew serious. They could tolerate embarrassment, but their leader's reputation? That was sacred. "Mr. Moore, just pay something. It's not worth the fallout." "Yeah, if word gets out that Hidden Dragons can't even cover
Finley crossed his arms, sneering. "Sorry, Andrew, but if you want more, tough luck! We're out of cash. If you're that desperate, go rob a bank." He was not broke, but he had limits. He would not be bullied into emptying his wallet just for this. Andrew raised an eyebrow and replied calmly, "Mr. Moore, don't push me." Finley snapped, "Push you? You're the one pushing me!" He was in disbelief at how shameless Andrew was. Andrew simply smiled. "No worries. You can pay by card, or maybe Venmo or PayPal?" Finley's temper exploded. "Andrew, don't test me! You've got some nerve." Ignoring his outburst, Andrew continued casually, "And if you're low on funds, no problem! You can always take out a quick loan. I'll wait." Finley's hands trembled in fury, his eyes blazing red with barely restrained rage. He had never been so publicly humiliated. Meanwhile, his Hidden Dragons crew watched in stunned disbelief. "Damn… Mr. Moore wasn't exaggerating," one muttered. "This Andrew guy