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
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
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
Andrew could not help but chuckle to himself—he definitely was not going to refuse that entire tray of gold. Rodney had brought it straight to him, so why not take advantage of it? He carefully handed the gold off to Francesca, who grinned brightly as her dimples deepened. "Mr. Sanford, you and your team should sit down before all the food's gone!" Francesca said warmly. Rodney waved his hand, polite as ever. "No need to worry about us, Ms. Aicker. We'll just grab a spot anywhere." After that, he quickly led the Madblade Martial Academy members to an empty table, keeping things humble despite their earlier fanfare. Dean subtly nudged Rodney and whispered, "Mr. Sanford, look over at the VIP section." Rodney followed his gaze and immediately tensed up. His heart skipped a beat when he realized sitting at the head table were Jayrodale's top power players: Marvin, the wealthiest man in Jayrodale; Tiana, the matriarch of the Rhodes family; Cedric, the famous doctor; and Mark, the
Lauren raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Who else? You're not seriously going to ask Mr. Thatcher for money, are you, Dr. Lloyd?" Andrew grinned and gestured toward the corner where Finley sat sulking. "Not Mr. Thatcher. It's our good friend, Mr. Moore. His uncle's the leader of Hidden Dragons, so he's got deep pockets." The mention of Finley made Lauren and Francesca's eyes sparkle with anticipation. If anyone was perfect for fleecing, it was that unlucky fool. With playful determination, the two women followed Andrew, their heels clicking with purpose as they headed straight for Finley. Finley was busy drowning his sorrows in liquor when he noticed someone standing beside him. He frowned in irritation. "What now? Can't a guy drink in peace? Beat it!" Andrew chuckled softly. "Drink all you want, Mr. Moore, but how about paying your tab first?" Finley froze for a moment before his face twisted in disbelief. He looked up and saw Andrew standing there, smiling casually. His eyes
Finley sneered, his voice laced with sarcasm. "You think using some reverse psychology is going to make me play the sucker and hand over more money?" Andrew shook his head with a serious expression. "You misunderstand, Mr. Moore. I'm not trying to provoke you. This isn't about greed for money." He gestured around them and added, "This is Moonlit Apothecary—Jayrodale's most upscale medical center. We're hosting some of the top figures in the city today. When guests give gifts here, we're talking hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions in cash or more." Andrew glanced pointedly at the cash Finley had handed over earlier. "And yet, you come here and offer a measly 1500 bucks. I mean, really, Mr. Moore, how can someone of your standing think that's enough?" Finley clenched his jaw. "That's on them if they wanna throw money around like idiots! I wasn't even invited here, Andrew. You can't expect me to be held to the same standard!" Andrew chuckled softly. "Oh, if that's the issu
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?"
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
"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
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