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Chapter 561
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 562
In Simon's eyes, Andrew was nothing more than someone trying to show off beyond his means. The presence of Natasha and Dylan at the grand opening of "Moonlit Apothecary" surely came at a hefty price. To him, it was clear—Andrew had spent a fortune just to get these big shots to show up and boost his event. Without the money, Simon believed they would not even glance in Andrew's direction. Feeling like he had figured everything out, Simon grew more dismissive, even letting out a cold laugh. However, his smirk faded when he saw the Rhodes family delegation arrive, led by Tiana herself, a woman with a legendary reputation. If that was not shocking enough, Simon's jaw dropped further as Jayrodale's mayor, Mark, stepped out of his car with his secretary, grinning warmly, he walked over to congratulate Andrew. "Unbelievable," Simon muttered to himself, his jealousy and frustration rising. "Have these big shots really stooped so low to show up here for Andrew? Don't they care about
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 563
Cedric had silently observed the entire heated exchange between Francesca and Simon. He said nothing until Francesca stormed off in anger, leaving him to fix Simon with a stern glare before finally speaking. "Simon, why do you insist on tormenting yourself over Fran?" Cedric asked, his voice calm but firm. Simon's face flushed with both embarrassment and rage. "Mr. Aicker, it's not that I want to bother her! She lied to me—she made me think she was with Andrew when she wasn't. How is that not a direct insult to me?" Cedric let out a cold snort. "You're my top apprentice, Simon. If you have nothing to hide, why would someone's words be enough to humiliate you?" Simon gritted his teeth. "It's not just that! I'll inherit everything from you one day, and the Aickers don't have any male heirs to carry on the legacy. If you promise Fran to me, the Aickers will have a secure future—and so will she!" Cedric was so furious he actually chuckled. "You ungrateful fool! Do you even hear y
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 564
Cedric was shaking with rage. He raised his hand, ready to strike Simon, who sneered in defiance. "Mr, Aicker, look around. So many people are watching. Are you sure you want to cut ties with me right here?" Simon's voice dripped with arrogance. He continued, "If you do, by tomorrow morning, every major and minor power in Jayrodale will know that the Aicker family has splintered. Do you really think you can handle the consequences of that scandal? Without me, the Aickers won't even be relevant anymore!" Simon's bitter words were laced with hatred and conceit. Cedric quivered with fury and hissed through gritted teeth, "You've gone mad! You're blinded by greed and ambition. As soon as we return to the Aicker residence, you'll pack your things and leave. From this day forward, you are no longer my apprentice!" Simon's face contorted with rage. "Fine! You want me gone? Then give me Fran as my wife, and pass the leadership of the Aickers to me. Otherwise, I won't leave!" "Do y
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 565
On the stage, Cedric grabbed the microphone and spoke coldly, "Apologies to Dr. Lloyd and all the guests. I've come up here to announce something important. From this moment forward, my eldest apprentice, Simon Gaal, is expelled from my family and teachings!" Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by a flurry of heated discussions. "Cedric just made a public announcement like that at Moonlit Apothecary's grand opening. The Aickers must have some serious internal conflict!" "Simon is Cedric's top apprentice and is also a well-known figure in Jayrodale. What could have happened to make Cedric cast him out?" "I've heard Simon's been infatuated with Francesca for years, but she's never been interested. Maybe that's the real reason Cedric lost his temper?" After making his declaration, Cedric walked off the stage without giving further explanation. Francesca rushed over, clutching his arm with teary eyes. "Grandpa, what happened? Why did you drive Simon away? What's going on?
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 566
Andrew responded calmly, "Mrs. Rhodes, you're quite funny. Guests like these don't come just because of money!" Tiana glanced around the scene, taking in the notable faces. "Hmm, impressive. Dylan and Natasha, the two ruling powers of Jayrodale, are here. Cedric and Francesca showed up too. Even Mr. Thatcher made an appearance. Mr. Lloyd, you certainly have influence." Lauren beamed with pride and interjected, "Dr. Lloyd has a wide network. He once saved Mr. Thatcher's life." Tiana's smile quickly faded, and she sneered. "It's all because of Marvin's connections. They're just here to keep up appearances. You might not see it, Lauren, but that doesn't mean I'm blind to what's really going on." Just then, a sleek Rolls-Royce quietly pulled up by the curb. An elderly man dressed in a distinguished robe stepped out, immediately drawing a stir from the crowd. "Is that Mr. Yates? Wow! Even the wealthiest man in Jayrodale showed up to support Moonlit Apothecary." "Yeah, and Mrs. R
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 567
Andrew had not expected his clinic's grand opening to draw such a large crowd. The flow of congratulatory gifts from different guests kept him busy. Fortunately, Dylan acted as his de facto manager, overseeing the collection of gifts and seating arrangements for the visitors. Meanwhile, Francesca and Lauren threw themselves into hosting duties. They moved gracefully through the crowd, ensuring everyone had enough food and drinks, their faces glowing with joy. Both women were determined to make the event a success. However, Tiana watched all this with a growing scowl. Seeing Lauren, the celebrated heiress of the Rhodes family and the city's most admired beauty—her own daughter—acting like a mere server was more than she could tolerate. "Jerry," Tiana snapped, "go get Lauren. My daughter is not meant for menial tasks like this!" Before Jerry could move, Marvin chuckled from his seat next to her. "Come now, Mrs. Rhodes. They're young and enjoying themselves. Let them have this
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 568
Tiana maintained her composure out of respect and nodded slightly. "Please, have a seat," she said, signaling Cedric to join them. Marvin chuckled and chimed in, "Cedric, you're different from Mrs. Rhodes here. Your granddaughter Fran is running around just as much as Lauren, but you don't seem to mind it one bit." Cedric stroked his beard with a content smile. "A little hard work never hurt anyone. Once this medical center gets going, I plan to have Fran here often to lend a hand. Working alongside Dr. Lloyd will be invaluable for improving her medical expertise." Marvin grinned and glanced at Tiana. "See, Mrs. Rhodes? That's what I call vision. Sure, the girls are hustling around and probably exhausted, but they're happy. And frankly, Mr. Lloyd seems to have that kind of charm, doesn't he?" Tiana's jaw clenched as she spat through gritted teeth, "Nonsense!" Both Cedric and Marvin shared an awkward look, knowing how touchy Tiana could be. Despite their equal standing in age
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 569
"Good evening, everyone! Welcome to the grand opening of Moonlit Apothecary," Lauren announced gracefully from the stage. Lauren's beauty was legendary in Jayrodale, and all eyes were instantly drawn to her radiant presence. She smiled warmly and continued, "I'll keep it brief—thank you for coming, and I hope you'll continue to support Moonlit Apothecary. Now, let's get the feast started!" With that, cheers erupted from the crowd as the celebration reached its peak. Over a hundred large banquet tables were packed with guests enjoying the spread of delicious food and drinks. Laughter and conversation filled the air as people dove into the feast. Andrew glanced at the lively scene, unsure how to respond. Francesca, her dimpled smile glowing, approached and teased, "So, Andrew, how did we do? Lauren and I pulled off this banquet pretty well, right?" "You did a great job," Andrew replied, grinning. "Thanks for saving me from spending a fortune." Francesca puffed her chest p
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 585
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 584
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 583
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 582
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 581
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 580
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 579
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!
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 578
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 577
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
