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Chapter 565
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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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 571
Finley silently cursed his hotheaded men. In Jayrodale, Andrew had become a powerful figure with both Dylan and Natasha at his beck and call. With thousands of underground enforcers present, anyone reckless enough to start trouble would be hacked to pieces. He sighed deeply, recalling his younger days when he had been just as cocky. Back then, fresh from Hidden Dragons, he thought he could take on anyone and anything. Nonetheless, after countless humiliations and close calls in Jayrodale, Finley had learned the harshness of reality. The beatdowns, betrayals, and lures of the underworld had drained his fighting spirit. Recently, he had even sought help from a therapist. "Stay put. Today, we're just here to watch," he muttered, downing his drink. "Right now, Andrew isn't someone we can handle. But don't worry, plenty of others want him gone." The Hidden Dragons' enforcers exchanged uneasy glances. They could not believe how much Finley had changed. He used to be a ruthless tyran
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 572
Behind the scenes, Marvin maintained his respectful demeanor. He knew better than to take liberties when speaking privately with Andrew. Meanwhile, Tiana's expression was dark as thunderclouds. She had fully expected the Madblade Martial Academy to crash the party and humble Andrew. Yet, to her dismay, Rodney and his crew had shown up not to fight, but to deliver an elaborate gesture of goodwill. Tiana struggled to comprehend why the academy, known for its pride and arrogance, would humble themselves before Andrew. "Mr. Sanford, you're quite a rare visitor. I don't recall sending an invitation to the Madblade Martial Academy," Andrew remarked with a faint, mocking smile, his tone distant. The crowd gasped. Many thought Andrew was pushing his luck. The Madblade Martial Academy had come to show respect, yet here he was, giving them a cold shoulder. It seemed reckless, even suicidal. Rodney, visibly embarrassed, chuckled awkwardly and replied, "You're absolutely right, Dr. Lloyd
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 573
Holy! It's a whole platter of solid gold bars. Madblade Martial Academy sure knows how to make a statement!" "Seriously, how much would all that gold be worth? Must be at least a few million dollars." "Are they really trying to cozy up to Moonlit Apothecary that hard?" The extravagant gift had everyone buzzing. Even Francesca and Lauren were momentarily stunned. "Mr. Sanford, this is way too much. You're just here for a meal. There's no need for such a grand gesture. Please, take it back," Francesca said, extending the tray toward Rodney. While she was pleased with Andrew receiving gifts, this level of generosity was overwhelming. Her kind-hearted nature made her feel awkward accepting so much gold. Rodney waved it off with a smile. "Ms. Aicker, please, just accept it for Dr. Lloyd's sake. It's really not that much." There was no way Rodney intended to take back the gift. However, his grand gesture was not just about generosity—it had a deeper motive. Though Madblade Ma
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 818
Tiana said coldly, "And these last two are from Rhodes Corporation. Aspen, do you have any idea how much damage you've caused? Because of you, Rhodes Pharmaceutical has taken hit after hit. We're barely hanging on! "Now get lost. Go back to Bridgefields, and don't ever set foot in Jayrodale again. Otherwise, if I'm ever in a bad mood, I'll make sure to slap you every time I see you!" Exuding pure dominance, Tiana let out a disdainful scoff before turning on her heel and walking away with her entourage. Aspen collapsed to the ground like a pile of broken rubble. Her whole body trembled as tears streamed down her face. The pain was unbearable—not just physically, but mentally. "W-why… why did it come to this?" she choked out. "Why, of all people, is it me? First, Andrew torments me, and now Tiana! Why?" She lay there, shoulders shaking violently as sobs racked her body. Tiana had completely destroyed her face, but that was not the worst part—the worst part was that her spirit w
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 817
Christina gritted her teeth, refusing to say a word. She hated the idea that anyone could think she was beneath Andrew. Deep down, there was a dark, bitter part of her that would never accept that he was doing better than her. After all, admitting it would mean that leaving him had been a monumental mistake—one of the dumbest decisions she had ever made. Christina was too proud to ever acknowledge that. Even if she said it out loud, she would never truly believe it in her heart. Tiana scoffed. "Forget it. I only said all that because I found you incredibly irritating. But I'm actually here for Aspen." As she spoke, her icy gaze shifted to Aspen. Aspen, already trembling, started shaking even harder. She stammered, "M-Mrs. Rhodes, what can I do for you?" Tiana took two slow steps forward, her smile sharp and merciless. "I never expected the Stevens family to produce someone like you, nor did I think Zephyr would raise such a thieving daughter!" Aspen swallowed her anger an
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 816
Christina said flatly, "Let's grab a bite first. We can deal with everything else after. Andrew is even taking the people I set my sights on now. Fine. If he wants to force my hand, then I have no choice but to go against him." Aspen hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Christie, have you considered that maybe Andrew really isn't on the same level as us anymore?" Failing time and time again, getting crushed by Andrew repeatedly—it had shattered Aspen's once-proud and confident heart. Whenever she faced him, she found herself losing the drive to compete. Instead, she just wanted to keep her distance. Aspen did not want to admit it, but deep down, she knew she was scared of him now. Christina's voice was icy. "No. I don't think he's that impressive. I'll admit, he's changed. He's become more powerful and holds much more influence now. But I'll never bow to him. I'll prove to him that if he can thrive, I can do even better." Aspen parted her lips, about to say something when
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 815
Jamie gasped and immediately shouted for his men to stop. He stepped forward, and what he saw made his scalp tingle—curled up inside the trunk was a man so battered and bloodied that his face was completely unrecognizable. The man was barely clinging to consciousness, struggling to breathe. Jamie asked, "Sir, who are you? And why are you in Mr. Lloyd's car?" He kept his weapon pointed at the man, his tone sharp. "Where's the wild boar? Mr. Lloyd said he brought one back—did you let it escape?" Michael was already half-dead, barely holding on to his sanity. During the ride, he had vomited every last drop of fluid in his stomach, nearly passing out from exhaustion. When the trunk finally opened, he had been ecstatic, thinking he was finally free. Yet, before he could even take a breath, he was met with a brutal, merciless beating—one so bad that he nearly pissed himself. His hatred for Andrew burned so deep it could have swallowed him whole. He clutched his head and let out
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 814
Lauren assured him, "Don't worry, I'll get it done!" Andrew turned to Shiloh and asked, "As for where you'll stay… I have no idea where to put you. How about I just buy you a place?" Shiloh immediately shook her head. "No way! City housing prices are insane. I checked online, and in Jayrodale, it's over 15 grand per square foot. I'm not buying!" Andrew laughed. "Relax, I'll pay for it. You can just live there for free!" Shiloh shook her head even harder. "That's even worse! I don't like owing people!" Andrew felt a headache coming on. "Didn't you just make 20 million? Use your own money to buy a place." Shiloh's eyes burned with outrage. "Absolutely not! I just earned a fortune, and the first thing you want me to do is dump it into real estate? Mr. Lloyd, you've got capitalism running through your veins. Evil, evil, big bad energy—do you get that?" Andrew just stared at her, speechless. He had no counter for that. Meanwhile, Lauren could not hold it in anymore. She doub
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 813
Shiloh nodded. "Fine, I'll give you some leeway. But I act based on my mood. If I'm in a bad mood, even you won't be spared." Andrew raised his hands in surrender and chuckled nervously, saying, "Whatever you say. So please, make sure to stay in a great mood!" Lauren was drowning in work, her stress levels through the roof. However, the moment she saw Andrew walk in, she immediately brightened up and was about to greet him with a kiss. Then, her gaze shifted, and she spotted Shiloh standing behind him. She asked, "Dr. Lloyd, is this the wellness guru, Ms. Shiloh Greene?" Lauren, all warmth and enthusiasm, stepped forward with a bright smile and extended her hand. "Hello, I'm Lauren Rhodes, Dr. Lloyd's girlfriend." Shiloh reached out and shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Rhodes." Andrew noticed something odd—Shiloh did not seem nearly as distant with Lauren as she had with everyone else. That made him curious. "Shiloh, you seem to like Lauren, don't you?" Shiloh answe
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 812
The elevator bell rang, and the doors slid open. Andrew stepped out with Shiloh, walking toward Lauren's office under the employees' curious gazes and polite greetings. On the way, they ran into Tiana. She eyed Shiloh up and down, her gaze carrying a hint of doubt as she asked, "Mr. Lloyd, is this the Master Shiloh you went to recruit?" Andrew nodded. "That's right, this is Ms. Shiloh Greene." He secretly let out a breath of relief—he had almost called her Master again. The last thing he wanted was to end up like Michael, who got slapped across the face for it. Tiana, exuding her usual cold and commanding presence, stepped closer to Shiloh and said, "Take off your veil. Let me see what you look like. If you're going to represent Rhodes Corporation, you can't be someone who doesn't look the part." Shiloh met her gaze calmly and replied, "Wearing a veil won't stop me from endorsing your products." Tiana's brows furrowed, her voice taking on a sharper edge. "Even so, I'd st
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 811
They chatted idly on the way back. Before long, they arrived in downtown Jayrodale, and Andrew drove straight to the Rhodes Corporation building, pulling up in front. A security guard jogged over with a big smile. "Mr. Lloyd, you're back!" As Andrew and Shiloh stepped out of the car, he handed over the keys to the guard and said, "Park it for me." The company's security guards practically worshiped Andrew now. Their respect for him was just as strong compared to Tiana's. "Of course, Mr. Lloyd, don't worry! I'll take good care of your car!" Just then, a weak knocking sound came from the trunk, along with what sounded like muffled cursing. However, with the noise of traffic all around, it was hard to make out. The security guard frowned and asked, "Uh… Mr. Lloyd, I think something's moving in the trunk." Andrew waved it off. "We picked up a wild boar on the way back. The kind that roams the mountains—mean as hell." The security guard's eyes widened. "A wild boar? Oh man,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 810
From the moment Shiloh first mentioned she was over 80, Andrew had suspected she suffered from a rare condition—one commonly known as the "ageless syndrome". As the name suggested, those affected by it never aged beyond a certain point. Looking at Shiloh, even with her veil on, Andrew could tell she had likely stopped aging in her early 20s—still in the prime of youth. To the outside world, ageless syndrome sounded like a blessing—eternal youth. Yet, in reality, for many who suffered from it, it was a nightmare. Some stopped growing as infants, toddlers, or even newborns, forever trapped in a child's body. On the other hand, Shiloh was one of the lucky few—she had at least matured into adulthood before her aging had frozen. Nonetheless, the ageless syndrome was not as wonderful as it seemed. Certain conditions—cold, extreme heat, or even specific lunar phases—could trigger unbearable pain, or worse, episodes of mental instability. In Shiloh's case, she was not just dealing wi
