Gordon, standing on the verge of collapse, seemed to ignore Aspen's frantic words. His face twisted in agony as the grotesque hump on his back began to writhe under his clothing. It was as if something alive were crawling beneath the fabric. A faint but ominous pop echoed as the hump on Gordon's back cracked open slightly, oozing a viscous, toxic pus. The corrosive liquid immediately burned through his clothing and skin, producing smoke and leaving grotesque, pitted scars. It was a horrifying sight, reminiscent of acid eating through flesh. Aspen's eyes widened in shock. "Mr. Woods, what's happening to you?" Gordon raised a trembling hand, shouting through gritted teeth, "Stay back! Don't come near me—if you do, you'll die!" Frantically, he pulled out two pills from a hidden pouch, swallowing them quickly while simultaneously sealing several key acupoints on his body. Taking a deep breath, Gordon glared at Andrew and growled, "Kid, you're lucky today. But ma
The most sinister aspect of the Plaguebringer's Palm lay in its inescapable poison. Anyone who came into contact with Gordon's palm was guaranteed to be poisoned without exception. But Tiana had seen it with her own eyes: Andrew's hands showed no signs of poisoning whatsoever. Could it be that Gordon's sudden weakness had given Andrew an unexpected advantage, allowing him to escape unscathed by sheer luck? The more Tiana thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. After all, even she wouldn't have been able to completely avoid the poison of the Plaguebringer's Palm. The difference was that her deeper strength allowed her to suppress the toxins, giving her time for treatment and recovery later. "Andrew, you've got to be the luckiest man alive!" Tiana snorted coldly before turning to leave with her entourage. Jerry trailed closely behind her, but as they passed Andrew, he cast him a lingering look. Unlike Tiana, Jerry didn't believe Andrew's survival was p
The students of the Madblade Martial Academy helped Rodney to his feet and brought him over to Andrew. Ivan clasped his hands in gratitude and said, "Mr. Lloyd, thank you for saving Mr. Sanford." During the fight, Gordon had suddenly fallen back halfway through, which left Ivan with mixed emotions. Though part of him struggled to believe that Andrew had actually managed to suppress Gordon, the fact that Gordon fled spoke volumes about Andrew's strength—a level far beyond what Ivan could hope to match. Andrew waved dismissively. "No need for thanks. Is Rodney all right?" Rodney struggled to open his eyes, his voice weak but clear. "Thank you, Andrew, for saving my life. That pill you gave me was incredible. Aside from the serious external injuries, the internal wounds that hunchback inflicted on me feel almost fully healed!" Andrew shook his head, half annoyed. "That pill wasn't just incredible—it was invaluable. You gave me a tray of gold bars; I gave you your life back. See
Irene and Leroy almost peed their pants out of fear. "Andrew… you… What do you think you're doing?" Irene stammered. She tried to sound tough, but her voice cracked. "I'm warning you, if you dare act out of line, Aspen won't let you get away with this!" Leroy chimed in, equally nervous, "Andrew, don't be rash! Don't forget that Mr. Woods will be back. Aren't you afraid he'll crush you with just one slap?" Despite their bluster, both of them were trembling uncontrollably, cold sweat pouring down their backs. Whether it was Dylan, Natasha, or the rest of the underground leaders present, none of them were people the Stevens family could afford to provoke. And that wasn't even counting the Madblade Martial Academy members still around. If these groups decided to take action, the Stevens family wouldn't stand a chance. What they couldn't understand was how Andrew, of all people, had managed to command such influential figures. Aspen, grinding her teeth, snapped, "A
Ignoring Aspen's murderous glare, Andrew snorted coldly. "As for you saying that I stood by while you were humiliated at Madblade Martial Academy and didn't come to your aid… Do you even hear yourself? How ridiculous can you be? "Am I your guardian in any way? You get bullied, and I'm supposed to jump in to save you? Sure, fine. Just kneel down right now, acknowledge me as your father, and from today onward, in all of Jayrodale, I, Andrew Lloyd, will have your back!" With a mocking laugh, Andrew stared at Aspen, waiting for her to kneel. It suddenly hit him just how much of a radical feminist she was, expecting him to rescue her when she was in trouble. And if he didn't, she held grudges and sought revenge. Women like Aspen, spoiled beyond belief and incapable of understanding basic decency, were a product of unchecked indulgence. If she didn't deserve a lesson, who did? Aspen's face turned crimson with anger, her teeth clenched. "Fine, Andrew, you're right about
"Get out!"Andrew's cold command cut through the air like a sharp blade, slicing deeply into Christina's heart. The Andrew she once knew had been a gentleman—graceful, mild-mannered, and never raised his voice at her, let alone spoke with such harshness. At that time, she had seen his gentleness as weakness—a lack of masculinity—and had looked down on him because of it. But now, this cold, ruthless Andrew terrified her. For the first time, she realized just how much she missed the softer version of him. "This is outrageous! That little brat actually dared to order those thugs under Dylan to surround us. This insult—our family must settle this score!" On the ride back, Irene fumed, her voice shrill with anger. Leroy's expression was equally dark. "Andrew's gotten too full of himself. He doesn't even respect our family anymore. Christie, you heard him, didn't you? He had the audacity to command you to leave!" Leroy spat, his tone seething with rage. "Does he thin
At Moonlit Apothecary, the members of Madblade Martial Academy bid farewell shortly after the Stevens family left. Rodney let out a long sigh of relief. He hadn't expected Andrew to order Natasha to give Aspen a beating. Seeing her get put in her place was incredibly satisfying.Aspen was no longer someone Rodney could handle. With Gordon around, Rodney knew he wasn't completely out of danger yet. Watching Andrew deal with Aspen was cathartic, but if it had been him, he wouldn't have dared. The fear Gordon instilled in him was too great. For now, he would stay away from Aspen, though the grudge he held burned deeply. After the last guest left, Andrew, Lauren, and Francesca turned and stepped into the apothecary. Francesca began showing Andrew around the various functional areas of the medical center. Originally owned by the Weller family, the building had been one of the largest upscale clubs in Jayrodale. It was vast and luxurious. After its transformation into a med
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
The elderly patients continued showering Cedric and Francesca with gratitude. In Jayrodale, the Aicker family had long earned a stellar reputation in the medical field. When Nyla spotted Andrew walking in, her eyes lit up with excitement. "Dr. Lloyd—no, Andrew, you're here!" Under Andrew's firm insistence, she had finally stopped addressing him so formally. Andrew smiled. "Yeah, I'm here. How's your health? Are you feeling better?" Nyla grinned. "Way better! I don't feel any pain at all anymore. The supplements you prescribed worked like a miracle!" Andrew nodded. "Go grab me a chair. I'll take over for Mr. Aicker so he can rest for a bit." Nyla waved her hands frantically. "No way! Andrew, you've already been working all day. You should be the one resting. I'll tell Mr. Aicker to take a break instead!" Andrew shook his head. "I'm fine. Just make sure Mr. Aicker gets some rest—I'll handle the remaining patients so we can close up soon." Seeing that Andrew would not take
Tiana let out a cold scoff. "What do you know? Andrew's strength is far beyond what you and the rest of your generation can even comprehend! If I hadn't stepped in today, he wouldn't have beaten you half to death." Howard clenched his teeth. "Fine, maybe I can't beat him—but our Lambert family isn't afraid of him." Tiana sneered. "Still clinging to your family name for protection? Pathetic. Let me ask you this—when Andrew made his move, who was backing him? Did he have anyone supporting him? He walked in alone, and yet he crushed you—and that useless fool Michael—without breaking a sweat." She shook her head with disappointment. "Watching you weaklings struggle is honestly embarrassing for the Lambert family. But Marvin managed to cultivate someone this powerful. That's something I can't afford to ignore." For once, there was a rare trace of exhaustion in Tiana's voice, as if the weight of the situation was finally getting to her. Howard was too stunned to even be upset at her
Lauren chuckled. "So tell me, how did you figure out that Mom felt guilty?" Andrew smirked. "It's simple—she was furious that Howard let himself get used by Michael. Think about it. Someone as high up as Mrs. Rhodes—would she ever tolerate someone messing with her people? That's a slap to her face." He added, "But she held herself back because someone of her status—someone who practically runs Rhodes Corporation—wouldn't lower herself to go after Michael directly. On top of that, Michael has her trust, at least on the surface. "So, with no other option, she had to swallow her pride. She knew she was in the wrong, so she let me go without another word and just took Howard with her." Marcus nodded thoughtfully. "That actually makes a lot of sense, Mr. Lloyd. If that's the case, then Mrs. Rhodes must be seriously displeased with Michael." Andrew leaned back in his chair, speaking at a leisurely pace. "It's more than just 'displeased'. Think about it—Michael's incompetence is obv
Tiana's voice boomed with authority. "Howard, do you admit to what Mr. Lloyd just said? Did you speak to him disrespectfully?" Howard's eyes darted around as he scrambled for a lie. However, before he could speak, Andrew let out a cold chuckle. "I'd think twice before digging your own grave. Everything you said and did—there are surveillance cameras all over the Pharmaceutical Division." Howard's face turned pale, and he immediately swallowed his words. He quickly changed his tone. "I-I did say some things I shouldn't have, but I—" Before he could finish, Tiana slapped him across the face hard. The impact was so fierce that Howard saw stars, nearly blacking out. Michael stood there, dumbfounded. He could not believe that Tiana was hitting her own family. Even Lauren and Marcus were caught off guard. After all, Tiana had come in looking ready to tear into Andrew, but now she was disciplining her own nephew instead. With blood trickling from his lips, Howard whimpered, "Aunt
Andrew let out a dry chuckle. "Forgiveness? Mrs. Rhodes, I think you're mistaken. I didn't do anything wrong, so why would I need your forgiveness?" Tiana's eyes burned with fury as she pointed at Howard's battered face. "You didn't do anything wrong? Look at him! Do you see what you did? Andrew, don't think that just because Marvin backs you, you can run wild on Rhodes Corporation's turf!" Andrew frowned. "So what you're saying, Mrs. Rhodes, is that I wasn't allowed to hit Howard? Why? Because he's your nephew? Because the Lambert family is untouchable?" Lauren felt a pang of anxiety—Andrew was being far too aggressive with Tiana. Howard was not just another employee; he was part of the Lambert family. At a time like this, it would be better to give Tiana some leeway to de-escalate things. She whispered, "Dr. Lloyd, that's enough." Andrew simply scoffed and glanced at the other lackeys he had beaten down. His voice was laced with disdain. "Listen up—all of you. If you screw
Howard was completely terrified, looking at Andrew as if he were some kind of demon. His voice trembled as he stammered, "No… I'm not that impressive. Mr. Lloyd, I was wrong—please, I beg you, let me go!" Tears and snot ran down his face, making him look utterly pathetic. Andrew's tone was ice-cold as he spat, "If begging for mercy worked, then what if I just kill you right now and beg Mrs. Rhodes for forgiveness afterward? Would that make it okay?" Howard's entire body shuddered, and he immediately burst into loud sobs. "No, no, no—Mr. Lloyd, I swear, I was wrong! Please don't kill me; I don't want to die!" The feeling of suffocation just moments ago had taught him a brutal lesson—Andrew was not bluffing. He was the kind of man who would actually do it. Howard had always felt untouchable because of his connection to Tiana. That name alone gave him the confidence to be arrogant, to throw his weight around even as a lowly sales manager. However, none of that mattered when f
Michael's lackeys stood there, completely stunned. Then, their shock turned into fury. One shouted, "Andrew, you son of a—" Andrew threw another slap, knocking one of them out cold on the spot. "A low-level manager talking back to his superiors—who gave you the courage to bark like a dog?" Without missing a beat, Andrew turned and slapped another man so hard that a tooth flew out. "You think just because I've been quiet, I'm easy to push around? Let me remind you—I'm a board member, not some sickly kitten. If you cross the line, I will make you regret it." Two more slaps rang out, sending the last two executives flying. "A bunch of nobodies daring to insult a department head, a vice CEO, and a board member. I'll let you off this time, but if any of you try this again, I'll make sure you know exactly what it feels like to be paralyzed from the waist down." Andrew moved fast—too fast. In a matter of seconds, Howard and his four high-ranking colleagues were sprawled across th
The man in suspenders lifted his chin arrogantly. "Yeah, I hit her. What are you gonna do about it, Mr. Lloyd?" Andrew's expression remained calm. "Why did you hit her?" The man scoffed. "The Pharmaceutical Division belongs to Mr. Rhodes. Some lowly secretary waltzing in here demanding approval documents? Please. Who does she think she is?" Andrew's eyes narrowed. "Since when did the Pharmaceutical Division become Michael's territory? As far as I know, the director here is still Mr. Chapman, isn't it?" The man let out a mocking laugh. "Does it even matter? Mr. Rhodes is about to become the company's CEO. Once that happens, the entire corporation will be his. "And me? I'm the head of sales for the entire Pharmaceutical Division. Just so you know, that two-million-dollar performance boost? That was all my doing! "So, Mr. Lloyd, my advice? Stop wasting your time. Just step aside and quit dreaming about competing with Mr. Rhodes, or you'll end up with nothing but a mess to cle
Lauren's voice was sharp with anger. "Who hit you? Eunice, tell me—who did this to you?" Tears welled up in Eunice's eyes as she shook her head. "Miss, I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me." Lauren's fury only grew. "I'm asking you—who did this? Tell me, and I promise I'll make sure they pay for it!" Eunice sobbed. "Miss, please don't ask anymore. I don't want to cause you trouble." Just as Lauren was about to explode, Andrew gently pulled her back and reassured her. "Don't get upset. Trust me—I'll make sure Ms. Brooks gets justice." Then, he turned to Marcus. "Mr. Chapman, explain—what happened here?" Marcus let out a sigh before responding. "Ms. Brooks went to the Pharmaceutical Division to get the approval documents, just as you instructed. Michael's lackeys not only refused to process it, but they also ran their mouths and insulted you, Mr. Lloyd. Ms. Brooks couldn't stand it and argued back, but in the end…" Andrew's expression darkened into a cold smirk. "So,