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Chapter 525
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Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 526
Ruby's smile widened as she thought, 'The fish has taken the bait. Troy is just as predictable as I expected.' However, as the grin lingered, a sudden itch below made her uncomfortable, dampening her excitement. Her mood instantly darkened as she wondered if that disease was coming back again. Meanwhile, Troy's car sped out of the Rhodes Corporation parking garage, rushing toward its destination. Andrew and Lauren, already in their SUV, quickly followed. "Dr. Lloyd, just as you predicted—Troy leaving work during office hours is definitely suspicious," Lauren said with a cold smirk. Andrew, keeping his eyes on the road, replied, "A spy like Ruby will always look for the easiest way to infiltrate a company, and her best target is someone she can easily manipulate from the inside. Since she's already slept with Troy, it's no surprise she's using him as her pawn." Lauren frowned. "Dr. Lloyd, you mentioned earlier that both Troy and Ruby have the same foul smell. What exactly did
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 527
After confirming the formula was legitimate, Ruby handed it back to Troy, her face lighting up with a seductive smile. She said, "So this is one of Rhodes Corporation Pharmaceutical Division's legendary formulas? "I heard they're worth more than gold, but honestly, it's not as impressive as I imagined. Compared to Amberpeak Corporation's products, well, let's just say it falls short." Troy, now completely naked and clutching Ruby's feet, laughed nervously, too infatuated to notice her subtle jab. "Of course, baby, you're right. Rhodes Corporation's products are decent in Jayrodale, but Amberpeak Corporation sets the industry standard. We could never compare." Ruby's lips curved into a silent sneer, thinking, 'This fool has no idea I've already memorized the formula.' With a practiced move, she shifted her body slightly, dodging Troy's slobbering kisses. Ruby was a master of the game, seasoned in dealing with men like him. She knew better than to let him have everything at once.
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 528
Though the time was short, Troy had managed to satisfy Ruby to some extent. Those brief bursts of intense effort had at least brought her a flicker of enjoyment. However, just as they were reaching the peak of the moment, Troy's phone rang loudly. Neither of them paid attention at first—they were too caught up to care. The phone refused to stop. It kept ringing persistently, over and over again, as if determined not to give up until someone answered. Troy let out a sudden yelp of frustration, his face contorting with both anger and despair. Ruby, startled, asked, "What's wrong?" Troy's expression was a mix of fury and helplessness as he gestured downward. "See for yourself!" Ruby glanced down and immediately froze, disbelief spreading across her face. Troy had completely deflated—his once enthusiastic presence reduced to a soft, limp failure. The repeated phone calls had dealt a devastating blow, killing the mood entirely. Grabbing his phone with a vengeance, Troy answered,
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 529
Ruby's gaze lingered on Troy with a mix of pity and ridicule. She said, "Mr. MacAfee, some things can't be forced. A man's body doesn't lie. Once age catches up with you—and especially if you've overindulged in wine and women—it's no use pretending. When it stops working, it stops working." Troy roared in frustration. "No! My heart still burns with passion! I'm still ready for battle!" Ruby let out a light laugh. "Ah, but your weapon is rusted and brittle. It's no longer fit for combat. Tell me, how can a knight without a proper sword hope to ride onto the battlefield?" Troy slumped on the bed, looking like the life had been drained out of him. He could not stand it—he was sitting in front of a feast, yet his body refused to let him enjoy it. No matter how much his pride resisted, his body's limits were absolute. Pulling his clothes on hastily, Troy muttered, "Baby, give me a few days to recover, and we'll go again. I promise—I'll make you beg for mercy next time." Ruby, exha
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 530
As Troy hurried away, his thoughts churned in turmoil. He told himself that Ruby was no ordinary woman—she was the representative of Amberpeak Corporation—a business elite, not some streetwalker or barfly. That image of Ruby, so perfect in every way—her explosive figure, sharp intellect, and prestigious position—was precisely what had captivated him. Sleeping with someone like her made him feel like he was on top of the world, better than even Michael. Lauren watched Troy retreat and then turned to Andrew, her expression playful yet curious. "Dr. Lloyd, if someone does catch something from sleeping around, what kinds of diseases are we talking about? Are they as terrifying as people say?" Andrew's tone turned serious, his face grim. "Terrifying? Absolutely. These diseases can ruin lives. Common ones include gonorrhea, syphilis, and other infections that cause ulcers or discharge. "But the deadliest, of course, is HIV/AIDS. In its early stages, the symptoms are often subtle—th
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 531
Lauren let out a giggle. "Dr. Lloyd, you practically scared Troy half to death." Andrew shook his head. "I wasn't just trying to scare him. There's genuinely a faint odor of decay on him. It's not as strong as Ruby's, but it's there, which means he's already infected with something." Lauren looked stunned. "You think that horny fool might actually have HIV?" Andrew chuckled lightly. "HIV is terrifying, but its spread is relatively well-controlled these days. As for Troy, we'll need a hospital checkup to confirm. Whether it's HIV or something else, his situation doesn't look good." With that, the two did not linger and returned to Rhodes Corporation. Over at the Pharmaceutical Division, preparations for the Amberpeak Corporation collaboration were in full swing. Michael was beaming with energy, treating the project as his crowning achievement since becoming CEO. In his mind, the successful conclusion of this deal would solidify his position in the family, earning him applause
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 532
Just as the subordinate finished reporting, he added anxiously, "Mr. MacAfee is saying that as long as Andrew is willing to save him, he's ready to do anything—even be Andrew's lapdog!" Michael's face turned crimson with rage, and he roared, "What did you just say? This useless idiot! I'm his boss, and I'm the one he should be loyal to—not that Andrew!" Seething, Michael barked, "Let's go. I want to see what kind of madness this fool is up to!" With a stormy expression, Michael marched toward Lauren's office, flanked by his entourage. Troy was supposed to be his trusted subordinate, the handpicked Pharmaceutical Division head, to replace Marcus. Yet, here he was, groveling at Andrew's feet like some sniveling dog. The humiliation was unbearable—this betrayal felt like a slap across Michael's face. He could not believe Troy was disrespecting him this way. As Michael hurried to Lauren's office, his mind raced, trying to figure out what could have driven Troy to such an extr
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 533
Troy roared, "Andrew, are you really going to watch me suffer and do nothing?!" Despite prostrating himself repeatedly, Andrew remained indifferent, showing no intention of helping. Troy felt utterly humiliated, thinking this was beyond cruel—it was ruthless! Andrew leaned back with a cold smile. "And what if I am? Who said I'm obligated to save you? You're in this mess because of your own choices. Don't blame anyone but yourself." Troy wailed, "Mr. Lloyd, just tell me! What will it take for you to treat me? I'll do whatever you want—anything!" Normally, Troy was not the type to bow his head, but this was different. His very manhood—and his reputation—were on the line. The mere thought of people discovering his condition, that he was suffering from an incurable disease with a rotting situation, was unbearable. Troy could already imagine the disdainful looks and whispers behind his back. If he did not fix this, his career in the business world would be over. He would be force
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Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1146
Chantelle said with a smirk. "The moment he found out something happened to you, the look on his face could've scared someone to death." Aspen froze for a second, her heart thumping wildly as she glanced at Andrew walking just ahead. She could not help but wonder if Andrew actually cared whether she lived or died. Chantelle gave a half-smile, half-sigh. "Mr. Lloyd sure seems emotionally invested in you, Ms. Stevens. But, if you don't mind me overstepping—there's something off in your head." Aspen blinked. "Excuse me? Ms. Garcia, what do you mean by that?" Chantelle chuckled softly. "I majored in psychology, both undergrad and grad school. Even with just a little observation, I'd say you're showing classic signs of Stockholm syndrome." Aspen's lips parted slightly, but no words came out. Chantelle studied her with a piercing gaze. "And I can tell you're an intelligent woman. You know you're getting deeper and deeper emotionally involved. But deep down… you don't actually want
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1145
"Y-You actually dared to kill someone?" Chantelle stormed up to Andrew, her chest heaving with rage as she shouted, "You do know that murder is a crime, right?" Andrew replied flatly, "Then go ahead and arrest me. But you saw it too—this dead mutt barged into my company with a gang of thugs and trashed the place. He kidnapped my secretary, tortured her, and tried to get away with it." Chantelle fumed. "You had every right to fight back, but you had no right to kill him, do you understand?" Andrew's voice sharpened with impatience. "Ms. Garcia, that's enough! So what if I killed him? The guy came stomping into my space, and I'm supposed to just roll over and play dead?" Chantelle let out a bitter laugh and hissed, "Andrew, Mr. McCormick favored you. You've got incredible medical skills, and in Blumedale, you were this close to making your mark. "You had a bright future ahead of you—respect, success, everything within reach. But why would you throw it all away like this? Don't y
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1144
Andrew hissed, "This third slap? No reason at all. I just don't like the look of your face and feel like beating you to death. And this fourth one's for your parents—since they clearly failed to raise you, I'll handle it for them." After the string of brutal slaps, Seth's head was spinning. His ears rang like sirens, and his vision started going black around the edges. "Andrew… I swear…" he gasped, his voice shaky. "I'll kill you. I'll kill you, you arrogant bastard!" However, just as he spat out his threat, a blood-curdling scream ripped from his throat—Andrew had suddenly snapped five of his fingers. "Keep going," Andrew said coldly, his voice like a death sentence. Seth's mouth bled as he glared up with bloodshot eyes. "You're dead. You're so fucking dead… "How dare you treat me like this? My family—everyone in the Haywoods—they'll never let this slide!" His scream pitched into hysteria as Andrew crushed the remaining five fingers on his other hand, rendering both of Se
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1143
"You're asking for death!" One of the older Haywood enforcers snarled and launched a palm strike toward Andrew's head. "Get out of my way," Andrew growled without even sparing the man a glance, throwing a punch sideways in one smooth motion. The man, a peak senior grandmaster, flew backward, his face contorted in shock and disbelief. His arm, which had met Andrew's punch, shattered instantly. He hit the ground hard, screaming in agony while clutching the mangled remains of his limb. That brief moment of destruction was enough to jolt Seth out of his daze. He started stumbling backward and screamed, "All of you, attack him now! Kill that bastard!" Yet, no one moved. The Haywood men froze, their faces pale with fear, looking at Andrew like they were staring at a monster. They backed away instinctively, their courage completely drained. It was not just fear—it was terror that ran bone-deep. Andrew's strikes were lethal and merciless, each blow either killing or disabling instan
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1142
Aspen said through gritted teeth, "I'll never submit to any men. If you try to force yourself on me, I swear I'll die before I let that happen!" Seth's temper flared. "Even now, you're still rejecting me? Still looking down on me?" Aspen shot him a cold glare. "Damn right I am. Seth, if you weren't part of the Haywoods, what the hell would you even be worth?" Seth roared, "You think I'm worthless?! Then what about Andrew? That bastard—what the hell is he supposed to be?" Aspen let out a scornful laugh. "You clearly have no idea how terrifying Andrew really is. You wanna know what he is? Let me tell you—when it comes to combat, to medicine, to tactics, he's way out of your league. You're not even in the same universe." Seth's lips twisted into a manic grin. "Yeah, yeah, he's amazing. Sure, he's got skills. But no matter how good he is, he's still just a bug to me! This is Blumedale—we play by my rules here. And I don't care if that bastard has nine lives, he's dying tonight!"
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1141
Aspen's hands were bound tightly behind her back, with the ropes crossing in front of her chest, pushing her curves into full display. "Seth, you're absolutely insane," she shouted, her voice full of fury. "Do you even realize we're working for Mr. McCormick right now?" She struggled hard, but the ropes did not budge at all. Meanwhile, a dozen enforcers from the Haywoods' private club stormed Supreme Capital Group's office space and smashed everything to pieces. Seth was grinning as he gripped Aspen's chin, his fingers digging in so hard that pain twisted across her face. He sneered, "Save your strength, Aspen. So what if you're working for Mr. McCormick? Let's be real—Andrew is just that man's lapdog." "Remember when you first got to Blumedale, the day we met?" His voice dropped low as he leaned closer. "From the second I saw you, I made up my mind—I was going to make you mine." Then, without warning, he slapped her across the face, hard. "But you little bitch, you just d
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1140
"No, that's not my kink." Chantelle's voice was sharp as she glared at him with clenched teeth. "I just figured that if you were stupid enough to try something on me, I'd finally have a reason to end you myself." Andrew raised a brow, still amused. "Can I ask… have you ever actually dated anyone before?" Her tone went cold. "Once. It didn't last." "Only once?" Andrew said, surprised. "Sounds like the guy couldn't keep up." Chantelle gave a humorless laugh. "He couldn't. Before we got together, I made the rules clear—no touching without permission. But that jerk was even worse than you. "The moment we were official, he tried to grab my chest and whispered disgusting things. So I broke both his arms, shattered his legs, and dumped him into the water." Andrew winced. "So… you killed the guy?" She scoffed. "I wanted to. Unfortunately, he got lucky. Some fishing boat pulled him out of the water before he drowned." Andrew shook his head. "Still can't figure out how Mr. McCormi
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1139
"Not many people have legs that can rival yours," Andrew admitted, gaze trailing down. "But as it happens, I know one. Lauren Rhodes—the Rhodes family's eldest daughter. Her legs are… something else." Chantelle narrowed her eyes. "I've heard of her. But you're talking like you've seen them for yourself." Andrew smirked. "Oh, I haven't just seen them. I've felt them." Their back-and-forth continued as Chantelle's layers disappeared one by one until she stood in only her undergarments. She took a deep breath, wanting desperately to disappear. After all, it was the final layer, and her private parts would be exposed. Andrew's voice cut in, calm as ever. "If I may suggest… start with the top." Chantelle glared. "Why?" He replied evenly, "Because if I'm not impressed, I might not ask for anything more." Surprisingly, that made some kind of warped sense. If this shameless man found her average, maybe—just maybe—she would not have to bare it all. Chantelle took a breath, bit
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1138
Just the word 'strip' was enough to make Chantelle's face instantly flush a deep red. She never imagined that one day, she would be forced to strip in front of a man, especially one she had always looked down on and dismissed without a second thought. She noticed Andrew adjusting a phone on a stand nearby, and a sudden wave of dread washed over her. "What are you doing? Don't tell me you're planning to record this," she said, her voice sharp with suspicion. Andrew nodded with satisfaction, checking the perfect angle on his phone. "Of course. A beautiful moment like this deserves to be captured. This way, I can replay it whenever I feel nostalgic." Chantelle's eyes flared with anger and embarrassment. "You're lucky I'm even letting you look. Recording it? Forget it." Andrew shrugged casually. "I knew you'd say that. That's why the setup's just for show. Now… your performance, if you would." He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, expression smug. Chantelle's fingers tr
