LOGINShare
Chapter 562
Related chapters
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 570
Tiana smirked, and it was obvious from her tone that she was eager to watch Andrew embarrass himself. She said, "With the way the Madblade Martial Academy operates, it's impossible for this Moonlit Apothecary to get through the day without some trouble. Even with you sitting here, Marvin, I bet Andrew will end up with a few slaps across the face." Marvin chuckled coldly. "If they dare cause trouble, I'll have a word with Vince. We'll see if his academy is tougher than my Wealthroller Investments." Cedric scoffed. "Vince has gone into seclusion to focus on martial arts training. If anyone's leading this charge, it'll be his son, Rodney. That brat is trouble." Vince, the academy's founder and an infamous martial arts master, had long been feared for his domineering presence in Jayrodale's martial arts scene. Tiana's eyes glinted with amusement. "Ah, Rodney, huh? With his temper, bloodshed seems inevitable today." Down among the crowd, many underground figures eyed the academy
Latest chapter
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1152
Natasha joked, "Aspen, of all times, you could've walked out, you just had to pick the moment I was getting cozy with my darling. You're not jealous, are you? Trying to ruin the mood on purpose?" Aspen let out a cold laugh. "Madam Vostokoff, you're overthinking it. If you two want to flirt or even start going at it right here, it has nothing to do with me. If you think I was interrupting, then I apologize. I'll leave right now so you two can carry on." Natasha chuckled. "Come on now, Snow Queen, we're all on the same side here. I was just teasing. Don't take it to heart." The icy look on Aspen's face finally faded a little. "I'm heading out. A small firm is requesting investment from Supreme Capital Group, so I'm going to check them out and see if they're worth our time." She threw that out to Andrew with zero warmth, then strutted off, her hips swaying confidently as she left Serenity Villa. Andrew immediately instructed Dylan's crew to follow and keep her safe. Natasha sc
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1151
Dylan and Natasha arrived in Blumedale the same night Andrew's orders were sent back to Jayrodale. They were accompanied by none other than the semi-martial king himself—Reuben. "Mr. Lloyd, that opportunity you mentioned… the one that could set me free—what is it exactly?" Reuben asked eagerly the moment he saw Andrew. Andrew waved his hand and said, "No rush. I haven't figured it out yet, but it won't be long." Reuben held back his excitement and simply nodded, saying nothing more. The more time he spent around Andrew, the more he realized just how unfathomable this man truly was. Back when he followed Elon to storm Jayrodale, he had been taught a brutal lesson. Now, there was not a shred of resentment left in him—only fear and awe. After all, a man who dared to kill a direct descendant of the Haywoods would have no problem ending him with a snap of his fingers. Reuben had only martial skills but no powerful family backing him—if Andrew ever wanted him dead, he would not la
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1150
For Quinton, it had never been just about sleeping with Christina. What excited him more was the thrill—the thrill of a top-tier predator closing in on an ice-cold beauty. To him, conquering a woman like Christina would stroke his ego and validate his inflated sense of self-worth. Unfortunately for him, Christina never felt even a flicker of attraction toward him. At best, they could be called business allies—or to put it bluntly, she only saw him as a temporary tool. Quinton wanted power, possession, dominance. Meanwhile, Christina only wanted leverage—specifically, to use him and his connections to push the Stevens Corporation into Blumedale. … Over at the Goldings family estate, word of the Haywoods' bounty hit hard. Both Richard and Elon were momentarily stunned when they heard. "This kid really doesn't know when to stop," Richard growled. "Now he's provoked the Haywoods and even left a body behind. He's practically asking for death! He's so arrogant that it's disgusti
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1149
The Haywoods' bounty order exploded across Blumedale like a thunderclap. Someone exclaimed, "Holy hell—two elite families teaming up to hunt down one man? Who the hell is this Andrew guy?" Another chimed in, "The Goldings offered 300 million, and now the Haywoods are throwing in half a billion. That's 800 million in total. I mean, damn—if I were an assassin, I'd be tempted!" "With both families issuing kill orders? No way Andrew makes it past today." … Elsewhere, Quinton wasted no time finding Christina and her family. "Christie," he said, barely hiding his glee, "things are about to get interesting. Andrew just caused a major disaster!" He looked positively thrilled at the news. Christina's tone remained cold. "I heard. I really don't know where he got the nerve to kill Seth. That's just ridiculous of him." Irene was playing with a new bracelet, her eyes gleaming as she casually said, "Who cares? Andrew's been arrogant long enough. Finally, someone's putting him in hi
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1148
Aspen said, "You're the one who killed Seth. The Haywoods are going to target you first—so you'd better leave now while you still can!" Andrew said nothing. Instead, he walked toward her slowly, one step at a time. Aspen frowned and instinctively took a step back. The space between them was too close for comfort, and it made her uneasy. However, Andrew did not stop—he kept moving in, ignoring her resistance entirely. Aspen soon found herself backed up against the wall. Her expression turned cold as she snapped, "What are you doing?" Andrew leaned in, towering over her. "Aspen, something's off with you." "What are you talking about?" "You are… worried about my safety, aren't you?" Aspen shoved him hard, her face flushing as she barked, "I wasn't joking just now! If you're not taking this seriously, then just forget I said anything!" Her heart was pounding. For a second, she thought Andrew was going to kiss her. If he had, she would have bitten his tongue off without hes
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1147
Andrew could not figure Aspen out, wondering what the hell was wrong with her now. He had just told her she could go, and she still looked upset. Andrew shook his head and stopped thinking about it. Instead, He pulled out his phone and made a call back to Jayrodale. "Gather your men and head to Blumedale immediately. And bring Reuben with you. Tell him—if he wants his freedom, I can offer him a way out." Reuben Davis was that semi–martial king Elon had once brought to Jayrodale. Under Andrew's control, the man had been training Dylan and Natasha in martial arts. Andrew did not know how the Haywoods would react to Seth's death, but he did not care. No matter what move they made, he would not back down. It was time to bring his core team into Blumedale. If these powerful families wanted to raise the stakes, he would play right along. Suddenly, his phone rang again. Andrew glanced at the caller ID and looked mildly surprised—it was Tiana. "Mrs. Rhodes, what can I do for you?"
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
