Lauren crossed her arms, smirking. "Michael, didn't I warn you about Ruby? I told you she couldn't be trusted, but no—you insisted I was just jealous of that bitch. "Now look at what's happened. If those formulas fall into the hands of other pharmaceutical companies, the Pharmaceutical Division won't just take a hit—it'll collapse entirely. You might as well prepare to announce its closure." Michael's face darkened further, his rage building like storm waves, each one crashing harder than the last. He felt trapped. Troy was his man, and the deal with Ruby was his decision. Now, with such a colossal mistake, he could already imagine the backlash from the Rhodes family's upper ranks. The humiliation would shatter any dreams he had of becoming the family head. Worse, he would be remembered as the one who brought disgrace and ruin to the company. Seething with anger, Michael's eyes fell on Troy, who was still sprawled on the floor. With a growl, he lunged at him, unleashing a bruta
Troy, who had been on the verge of losing consciousness, seemed to regain his spirit upon hearing Andrew's words. Trembling all over, he looked up with tears of gratitude. "Thank you, Mr. Lloyd! I can't thank you enough!" Michael's face darkened, and he shot Andrew a questioning glare. "What's going on with Troy? And what's with the prescription you gave him?" Andrew smirked. "Oh, you didn't know? Mr. MacAfee here caught himself a pretty nasty case of an STD—so bad his nether regions have started to rot. He came groveling to me, begging for treatment." Michael's face went pale. "What? That idiot actually managed to catch… that?" As someone who was no stranger to questionable flings himself, Michael suddenly felt an uncomfortable chill. This news hit a little too close to home. Lauren sneered. "He got what he deserved. Messing around with Ruby landed him in this mess. And when it got too bad, he had no choice but to beg Mr. Lloyd for help. "Under Mr. Lloyd's pressure, he c
Andrew's calm yet defiant words caused an uproar among the gathered crowd. Michael, seething with anger, was on the verge of losing his temper. Meanwhile, the senior members of Rhodes Corporation exchanged sneering glances. "Andrew, you're just a lowly board member, yet you dare act all high and mighty in front of Mrs. Rhodes? You must have a death wish!" "Exactly. Forget being the fifth board member—do you remember when the third board member, who also chaired the Jayrodale Chamber of Commerce, dared to cross Mrs. Rhodes? He was nearly beaten senseless and left crawling out of here like a worm!" "In the Rhodes family's company, you bow, or you break. And Mrs. Rhodes isn't just the matriarch—her status is leagues above what you could ever understand." Tiana's frosty gaze locked onto Andrew, her presence radiating silent authority. Lauren's face tensed, and she quickly stepped in front of Andrew. "Mom, Mr. Lloyd just recently joined the company. He's not yet familiar with al
Tiana scanned the room, her icy gaze sweeping over the high-ranking executives, and not one of them dared to meet her eyes. "One final matter—effective immediately, I'll take over the position of CEO at Rhodes Corporation," she announced, her tone devoid of emotion. "And if there are any more incompetents like Troy causing chaos, I won't just send them to prison. I'll make sure they're permanently dealt with." Her cold words sent shivers through the room, leaving the executives visibly uneasy. The ones who had aligned themselves with Michael looked particularly pale, their faces betraying their mounting anxiety. Tiana stepping in as CEO spelled doom for Michael, and if he lost power, they knew they would suffer alongside him. Michael's expression darkened as he forced himself to speak. "Aunt Tiana, if you're taking over as CEO… then what happens to me?" Tiana waved dismissively. "You'll return to your previous role as vice CEO and continue overseeing the departments you've b
Lauren tugged lightly on Andrew's sleeve, her voice low and cautious. "Dr. Lloyd, let it go. She despises anyone questioning her decisions." Michael let out a mocking laugh, his tone dripping with disdain. "Andrew, you've got some nerve! Aunt Tiana isn't just the Rhodes family's matriarch; she now holds absolute authority over this corporation. And you think you can strut in here, questioning her with your puny board member title like it's some golden ticket?" The other executives quickly joined in, eager to pile on. "Mr. Lloyd, it was one thing for you to act high and mighty before, but you're out of line speaking this way to Mrs. Rhodes." "Clearly, Mr. Lloyd doesn't grasp Mrs. Rhodes' power. Let me enlighten you—one word from her, and your precious board position is history." "Mrs. Rhodes shouldn't waste her time on this clown. If not for Ms. Rhodes shielding him, who knows how much trouble he'd have caused by now?" Tiana remained calm, her icy demeanor unshaken as her sh
Michael warned through gritted teeth, "Andrew, Aunt Tiana is gracious enough to let this slide, but you'd better watch your mouth. The first time might be luck, but the second time? Even if she spares you, I certainly won't." Andrew glanced at him with a faint smirk and said, "Michael, you're no longer the CEO, so stop pretending to be someone important in front of me. Let's face it, you're just a washed-up vice CEO now, only capable of managing a few departments. As a board member, I answer to the company, not you." Michael's face turned crimson with anger, but he could not find a rebuttal. Stripped of his CEO title, he no longer had the authority to give Andrew orders. Ignoring Michael's silent fury, Andrew turned his attention to Tiana and said firmly, "Troy made mistakes and deserves to be held accountable. But throwing him into prison at the drop of a hat makes the Rhodes family seem cold and ruthless. After years of loyalty, handling him this way feels unnecessarily harsh a
Andrew smiled faintly and said, "Mrs. Rhodes, your wisdom is admirable. Allow me to elaborate further on what it truly means to uphold fairness and justice with clear rewards and punishments." "First," Andrew continued, "the punishment for Michael is far too lenient. Given the gravity of his mistake, there's no need for further deliberation—he should be immediately reassigned to a lower department. Making him a department manager or supervisor would suffice. Letting him keep a supervisory role is already plenty generous." Michael's anger flared, barely restrained. He felt as though Andrew was stabbing him in the heart. A department manager or supervisor? That was a massive demotion, pushing him miles away from ever reaching the CEO position. The audacity of Andrew to suggest such a punishment felt like a public flogging. Tiana, with a cold sneer, interjected, "You've spoken about punishments. Now, isn't it time to talk about the rewards you think are warranted?" Andrew, unfazed
Andrew snorted coldly. "I said I'd help you get justice, and I always keep my word." Turning to Tiana, Andrew continued, "The former director of the Pharmaceutical Division was Mr. Chapman. But Michael, using a fabricated excuse, removed Mr. Chapman from his position and replaced him with one of his cronies. "With tactics like that, it's no surprise that Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division ended up in such a mess. There's only one phrase for this: they deserved it." Michael's face contorted with rage. "Andrew, instead of thinking about how to help the company recover its losses, are you going to just stand here and make sarcastic remarks?" Andrew glanced at him dismissively. "Trash is trash. If you can't handle criticism after making a mistake, you might as well just end it all by smashing your head against the wall." Tiana smirked playfully. "You've said all that, so you're implying you want me to give the position of director of the Pharmaceutical Division back to
Before Andrew realized it, Francesca had torn off every piece of clothing, including her underwear. The rough force she used left faint red marks on her smooth, fair skin. Yet, Francesca seemed oblivious to the pain, writhing in his arms as sweat glistened on her flushed body. Andrew knew they were out of time. If she did not find relief soon, the consequences would be dire. Taking a deep breath, he muttered apologetically, "Sorry, Fran!" Then, he scooped her up and hurried toward her bedroom. Francesca's warm breath tickled his ear as her eyes shimmered with desire. "Andrew, I don't blame you… I want this. I want… to give myself to you," she whispered between ragged breaths, her voice filled with anticipation. … Meanwhile, Simon's escape led him to a gated mansion on the outskirts of Jayrodale's wealthy district. He staggered toward the entrance, only to be blocked by a scowling security guard. "Get lost, freak! Who the hell do you think you are?" the guard barked, ey
Simon let out a sharp cry, tumbling across the ground as blood spurted from his mouth. His entire body trembled in fear, his mind on the verge of collapse. He could not believe how vast the difference in strength between him and Andrew actually was. The dark arts he had been so proud of, along with his ambush using deadly poison powder, had not even made a dent. On the contrary, if Cedric had not spoken up on his behalf out of their old ties, Simon was sure he would already be dead by now. As luck would have it, a cab happened to drive by. Simon threw the door open, jumped inside, and barked, "Drive!" The driver stared at him in shock. "Dude, are you practicing for Halloween? Why are you covered in blood?" Simon's face contorted with pain, and he roared, "Are you going or not? One more word and I'll take you out with one strike!" Terrified, the driver slammed on the gas and sped off. … Meanwhile, back at the Aicker residence, chaos erupted. Cedric's apprentices had been r
Simon crossed his arms, fists flying with ferocity, his face twisted with rage. Andrew's eyes, cold and unyielding, locked onto him. With one hand, Andrew intercepted Simon's strike mid-air and grabbed his throat with a vice-like grip. Two powerful punches—one to Simon's nose and another to his crown—left Simon screaming in agony, blood spraying from his face. His nose was broken, and crimson streams poured freely, choking him with every breath. "Andrew, I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" Simon roared in desperation, trying to activate his dark art. But no matter how he tried, his body refused to respond. His meridians felt frozen, immovable, and powerless against Andrew's crushing grip. Andrew sneered. "Aren't you the one who loves stripping and behaving like a beast? Fine, I'll help you fulfill that desire—make you a 'man' who will never stop. Let's see how long you last before you burn out." A cold, glinting silver needle appeared in Andrew's palm. His hand move
"No, I can't hold it anymore. Francesca, you're mine, and mine alone…" With a guttural roar, like a wild beast, Simon lunged forward. Francesca silently screamed in her mind, "No!" Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. At that moment, she recalled the time when she was still afflicted with her condition, a state that had made her incapable of intimacy. Back then, she had been grateful when Andrew had cured her, giving her the chance to experience love and the hope of family life. But at that moment, she regretted it. If this was how it would all end, Francesca wished she had remained the way she was—untouched, and unable to be violated. Suddenly, the solid wooden wall of the grand hall exploded into splinters. Andrew stepped through the debris, lowering his leg, his face dark and menacing. "Stripping down naked in broad daylight and drugging your junior? Simon, are you performing some avant-garde performance art here?" Andrew sneered as he moved to block Franc
Simon retorted with disdain, "What right do I have? It's because I, Simon Gaal, managed to get rid of this useless trash all by myself! "He's nothing but a sweet-talker and pretty face who won over the hearts of young women like Fran and Lauren. Even a hundred Andrews wouldn't be a match for a real man like me!" Simon scoffed and laughed aloud. "As for the so-called skills in medicine that you and Fran claim he has, it's all because of your personal bias toward him that you're willing to make those unbelievable claims! How can a youngster like Andrew achieve anything at his age? Even if he started studying medicine from the moment he was conceived in his mother's womb, it's still far from enough. "Meanwhile, I grew up in a conducive environment since I was a kid and learned in various medical fields. Furthermore, I have learned from the forbidden techniques in your secret chamber. Before me, Andrew is nothing but a bug. He should thank his lucky stars he's not here right now. If
Simon's expression turned dark. "Do you think I wanted this? If I didn't trick you into drinking this Enthralling Essence, would you ever willingly give yourself to me?" Before Francesca could respond, Simon's face twisted with rage as he shouted, "No! Your heart is full of that Andrew Lloyd, that useless pretty boy!" "I just don't get it," he continued, his voice filled with frustration. "Compared to me, your childhood companion, what is Andrew anyway? He's nothing but a pathetic excuse for a man!" Francesca swallowed hard, her throat burning as if flames were licking up from within her. She was wearing a cropped white T-shirt and tight jeans, but under the effects of the Enthralling Essence, she felt an uncontrollable urge to remove her clothes. Yet, in the last moments of clarity, her rational mind forced her to stop. "Andrew would never stoop to your level, doing something so vile and disgusting to his own junior! And now that you've hurt my grandfather, Simon, I swear I'll
If anyone doubted the possibility of someone having such a great talent for flipping skirts and tugging stockings, there was only one answer: Andrew Lloyd, the Dragon Prince of the Lloyd family, could do anything! The Moonlit Apothecary had finally quieted down. Andrew glanced at the sky, deciding against reopening for the day. Shutting the grand doors, he prepared to head back to the Moonlit Sanctuary. "Dr. Lloyd! Thank goodness you're still here. I wouldn't have known where to find you otherwise!" A young boy, out of breath, rushed up to the doors of the medical center. Spotting Andrew, his face lit up with relief. Andrew studied the boy and asked, "Who are you? Do you need something?" The boy, no older than thirteen or fourteen, looked sharp and clever. He quickly responded, "Dr. Lloyd, sir, I'm from the Aicker family. I'm Dr. Aicker's youngest apprentice, and Francesca is my senior." Andrew nodded in realization, smiling. "Ah, so you're Fran's junior. What's
Andrew unexpectedly felt a wet sensation on his hand. For a brief moment, a wave of desire threatened to consume him, but just as quickly, his unwavering self-discipline took over, and he stopped himself. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" Andrew asked softly, withdrawing his hand and planting a gentle kiss on Lauren's forehead. "You're so annoying!" Lauren pouted, playfully hitting Andrew's chest with her delicate fist. Her legs still felt weak, and a strange sensation lingered in the center of her being—a feeling she'd never experienced before. It was unfamiliar but irresistibly enticing. Andrew chuckled apologetically. "Maybe it's because I finally let go of some old emotional baggage. I couldn't help myself. If you weren't ready, I wouldn't have done anything to push you." Lauren's heart swelled with joy. Andrew's desire for her, his willingness to claim her entirely, meant that she was now the only woman in his heart. The shadow of the past—her rival, Christ
Andrew held Lauren's delicate hand tightly and said with conviction, "Now, I've found someone I truly care about. Everything in the past is behind me—it's gone for good." Lauren's cheeks flushed red in an instant. With Francesca still present, she felt shy and tried to pull her hand away. But Andrew tightened his grip and gave a gentle tug, pulling Lauren toward him. "Ah!" Lauren exclaimed softly, falling into Andrew's arms. Before she could react, he wrapped an arm around her slender waist, holding her close. A shiver ran through Lauren's body like an electric current, leaving her feeling weak and her ears burning red. She stammered softly, "Dr. Lloyd, y-you… don't do this. Fran is still here. Let go!" Andrew chuckled. "No, I don't want to." Francesca, sitting nearby, felt a pang of discomfort as she watched the two of them so intimately close. Her heart felt hollow and uneasy. Yet at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a wave of embarrassment. She no