Andrew replied flatly, "What's so strange about me being here? If Ms. Stevens can be here, why can't I?" Christina frowned. "Andrew, I'm just warning you that this place is expensive, and you need a member's recommendation to get in." Lauren walked over and linked her arm to Andrew's. "Let's go inside. By the way, I've already arranged a lifetime membership for you. Enjoy yourself however you like!" Christina turned away without saying another word, thinking Andrew was still as pathetic as always—a hopeless case who would never amount to anything. Harvey smirked. "Before returning from abroad, I heard rumors that Lauren had lowered herself to keep a worthless boy toy. I thought it was just gossip, but now…" He shook his head in mock disappointment, implying that having Andrew around diminished Lauren's status. The young man next to Harvey sneered. "Lauren, our circle has so many worthy young men. Why keep such a useless parasite? I really don't understand your thinking."
The so-called "elite sports" these wealthy heirs and heiresses enjoyed were not anything too exotic—just some expensive hobbies like golf, fencing, and indoor climbing. After half an hour, Andrew was already bored and ready to leave. Meanwhile, Dexter, wearing gloves, sparred in a flashy taekwondo match with Harvey. Christina and Dexter's date sat below, snacking and clapping excitedly. Francesca was equally captivated. While she was not exactly smitten with Harvey, she could not deny his allure as a wealthy young man from a prominent family. In contrast, Andrew sat off to the side, looking more like a bystander than a participant. Francesca assumed he probably did not even know what taekwondo was and would just swing wildly if he tried. Worried that he would try to slip away, she reminded him, "Lauren just stepped out to handle something, but she'll be back soon. Even if you're bored, you need to wait for her. Don't you dare leave!" Up on the mat, Harvey and Dexter finishe
Andrew smirked. "Eighth-degree black belt? Is that supposed to impress me?" Francesca gritted her teeth at his ignorance. Harvey had been one of the top young fighters in Jayrodale even before going abroad, training in martial arts since he was a kid. Sure, Andrew had taken down South City's Bobby, but Harvey was in a different league altogether. Dexter taunted from the mat, "Are you that scared, kid? Don't worry, I won't humiliate you too badly—just enough to send you crawling home like a dog!" Francesca pleaded desperately, "Please, Andrew, even if you get beaten, take it like a man. Don't embarrass Lauren and me. Do you want Lauren to seem inferior to Christina?" Andrew sighed, already feeling annoyed. Nonetheless, he gave in and stepped up to the stage with a relaxed stride. He looked at Dexter and said, "Since accidents can happen, let's take things easy and have a friendly match." Dexter was caught off guard by his remark, but he quickly burst out laughing. "You'r
Harvey jumped onto the mat with a dark expression and growled, "Dexter was clearly going easy on you, and you took advantage of his courtesy to hurt him! Andrew, your behavior disgusts me. You've violated the spirit of taekwondo, so I need to teach you a lesson!" Dexter's poor performance surprised Harvey, but that did not matter. He had been waiting for a chance to put this loser in his place. Francesca pleaded anxiously, "You're an eight-degree black belt. Andrew doesn't stand a chance against you! Please don't do this!" Christina added her concern, "Harvey, go check on Dexter instead. Don't hurt anyone!" Harvey smirked at Andrew. "I didn't want to fight you since it would seem like bullying, but you seriously injured Dexter after agreeing to keep it light. Even if Christie and Lauren get angry, I have to teach you about martial arts honor!" Andrew frowned. "I gave him a chance and asked if we were having a friendly match. Yet, he fought dirty and insulted me, so why should
"Harvey, don't you dare bully Dr. Lloyd! If he gets hurt, you'll have to answer to me!" Lauren rushed over, worried that Andrew might be at a disadvantage. Harvey smirked, seizing the chance to back down gracefully. "Alright, I'll let him off this time for your sake," he said with a fake grin. "But don't expect such luck next time! I'm not the type to go easy on just anyone." With a cold snort, Harvey left. Christina and Francesca both thought Harvey had shown Andrew mercy, unaware that Harvey's arm, hidden beneath his jacket, was already swollen and trembling uncontrollably. "If Lauren hadn't arrived in time, you wouldn't have gotten off so easily," Francesca sneered. Andrew replied calmly, "You should say that to him instead. If I'm not mistaken, he's probably rushing to the clinic to get his arm treated right now." Francesca did not believe him, thinking Andrew was just bluffing. After all, there was no way he could easily defeat an eighth-degree black belt like Harvey.
The club's racetrack was packed with thousands of spectators watching the races. Horse racing has always been a favorite pastime of the wealthy, both locally and internationally, with betting being the most talked-about aspect of the sport. Lauren walked arm-in-arm with Andrew to the premium viewing deck, with Francesca close behind. This exclusive area was reserved for lifetime club members, and everyone seated there was either wealthy or influential. In the center of the deck, Jayrodale's mayor, Mark Thatcher, sat surrounded by his staff, intently watching the races below. It was common knowledge that while the mayor had many interests, horse racing was his true passion. "Mr. Thatcher, what a pleasure to see you here!" Lauren stepped forward to greet him. Mark adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Ah, Lauren! How's Mr. Rhodes Senior doing these days?" "Thank you for asking, Mr. Thatcher. Grandpa's doing quite well!" Mark nodded, but his expression changed to surprise whe
After they sat down in a corner, Francesca quickly whispered, "Lauren, that sneaky Bernard is clearly trying to drive a wedge between Mr. Thatcher and your family." Lauren shrugged. "Let him try. He's a nobody. If not for Mr. Thatcher, I would've slapped him for talking about Andrew like that." Francesca turned to Andrew with disgust. "This is all because of you! Thanks to you, Mr. Thatcher probably doesn't think highly of Lauren anymore!" "Is Mr. Thatcher's approval really that important?" Andrew frowned. Francesca sneered. "Are you actually this clueless, or are you just pretending? He's the mayor of Jayrodale! Haven't you noticed all those people waiting with expensive gifts just to curry his favors? One word from him can make or break someone's fortune in this town." Lauren intervened, "Fran, stop it. The Rhodes family isn't going to lose a connection over someone like Bernard." "If maintaining good relations with Mr. Thatcher is so important, I might have an idea,
Lauren clapped her hands excitedly. "Dr. Lloyd, you're amazing! Number Seven actually won!" Her joyful laughter caused Harvey, Bernard, and their group's faces to darken. However, Mark maintained his composure and smiled. "Don't be discouraged, everyone. Such is the thrill of horse racing—you never know who the dark horse will be until the very end!" The mayor's words prompted immediate agreement from the crowd. "Well said, Mr. Thatcher!" "Absolutely, Mr. Thatcher! Anyone could be the dark horse!" "Your insights are truly remarkable!" "Let's get ready for the next round. The game isn't over yet! Stick with Mr. Thatcher, and we'll be in the winner's circle!" For the next race, Mark confidently selected Number Five. Lauren turned to Andrew and asked, "Dr. Lloyd, which horse should we choose?" "Let's go with Number One," Andrew replied casually. Bernard could not resist a sarcastic comment. "Andrew, are you deliberately going against Mr. Thatcher's picks? Can't you
"No, that's not my kink." Chantelle's voice was sharp as she glared at him with clenched teeth. "I just figured that if you were stupid enough to try something on me, I'd finally have a reason to end you myself." Andrew raised a brow, still amused. "Can I ask… have you ever actually dated anyone before?" Her tone went cold. "Once. It didn't last." "Only once?" Andrew said, surprised. "Sounds like the guy couldn't keep up." Chantelle gave a humorless laugh. "He couldn't. Before we got together, I made the rules clear—no touching without permission. But that jerk was even worse than you. "The moment we were official, he tried to grab my chest and whispered disgusting things. So I broke both his arms, shattered his legs, and dumped him into the water." Andrew winced. "So… you killed the guy?" She scoffed. "I wanted to. Unfortunately, he got lucky. Some fishing boat pulled him out of the water before he drowned." Andrew shook his head. "Still can't figure out how Mr. McCormi
"Not many people have legs that can rival yours," Andrew admitted, gaze trailing down. "But as it happens, I know one. Lauren Rhodes—the Rhodes family's eldest daughter. Her legs are… something else." Chantelle narrowed her eyes. "I've heard of her. But you're talking like you've seen them for yourself." Andrew smirked. "Oh, I haven't just seen them. I've felt them." Their back-and-forth continued as Chantelle's layers disappeared one by one until she stood in only her undergarments. She took a deep breath, wanting desperately to disappear. After all, it was the final layer, and her private parts would be exposed. Andrew's voice cut in, calm as ever. "If I may suggest… start with the top." Chantelle glared. "Why?" He replied evenly, "Because if I'm not impressed, I might not ask for anything more." Surprisingly, that made some kind of warped sense. If this shameless man found her average, maybe—just maybe—she would not have to bare it all. Chantelle took a breath, bit
Just the word 'strip' was enough to make Chantelle's face instantly flush a deep red. She never imagined that one day, she would be forced to strip in front of a man, especially one she had always looked down on and dismissed without a second thought. She noticed Andrew adjusting a phone on a stand nearby, and a sudden wave of dread washed over her. "What are you doing? Don't tell me you're planning to record this," she said, her voice sharp with suspicion. Andrew nodded with satisfaction, checking the perfect angle on his phone. "Of course. A beautiful moment like this deserves to be captured. This way, I can replay it whenever I feel nostalgic." Chantelle's eyes flared with anger and embarrassment. "You're lucky I'm even letting you look. Recording it? Forget it." Andrew shrugged casually. "I knew you'd say that. That's why the setup's just for show. Now… your performance, if you would." He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, expression smug. Chantelle's fingers tr
"Dr. Lake, if you want to add more, go ahead," Richard replied coldly over the phone. "Money talks—and the more you offer, the faster that punk dies." … "Andrew, going up against Mosby brings you nothing but trouble," Chantelle said with a frown as they drove. Andrew's tone turned sharp. "He's the one who keeps provoking me—I didn't ask for this." Chantelle shook her head. "Even so, you should've handled it with more discretion. Mosby's been in Blumedale for years. His connections, his influence—you can't just sweep that aside. "Even if you want to challenge his reputation in the medical field, it doesn't have to happen overnight." Andrew scoffed. "Mosby? A respected authority? Let me be blunt, Ms. Garcia—you won't believe me, but to me, Mosby's just another loudmouthed nobody." Chantelle blinked, then let out a laugh, though it was laced with anger. "You're right. I don't believe you." Sure, Andrew had performed brilliantly today by saving George, and it was indeed an i
"Andrew, do you even realize you're playing with fire right now?" Chantelle, just about to start the car, froze and turned to him with furious eyes. Andrew raised a brow with a smirk. "What's wrong? Is the great Ms. Garcia—the darling of Mr. McCormick—planning to go back on her word now?" Chantelle stiffened, her face darkened, clearly ready to argue back. Before she could, a crowd had already gathered around the vehicle. "Dr. Lloyd, please wait—we have some medical puzzles we'd love your insight on!" Someone said, "Your skills today were extraordinary, Dr. Lloyd. I'd be honored to call myself your student!" "Who would've thought that someone like you would appear in Blumedale? One day, Dr. Lloyd, you'll be leading all of Gabo Creek Province's medical field!" Even Andrew had not expected this wave of praise. These elite doctors had specifically come to celebrate his success, and he was rather amused. "Please, everyone, make way. My medical skills really aren't anything sp
"So I had to take a different approach to get the medicine into his system," Andrew said calmly. As he spoke, he picked up the large bowl of herbal decoction Chantelle had prepared and placed it over the flame. The concoction soon began to boil, releasing a rich herbal aroma as steam filled the room. The medicated vapor slowly rose and enveloped George's entire body. Mosby scoffed. "And here I thought it was some groundbreaking technique—turns out it's just herbal steaming! Even I can do that." Everyone could tell he was just trying to stay relevant. Normally, his usual entourage of bootlickers would have chimed in with praise. But this time, no one said a word. Mosby turned to look behind him, only to see that the doctors who once flocked around him were now focused entirely on Andrew, their expressions full of admiration. They had already dismissed Mosby completely as if he were no longer in the room. "You'll need to do this treatment once every three days," Andrew instruc
Logan was stunned. He rushed forward in shock. "Father, you're awake?" George forced a small smile. "Not only am I awake, but I've never felt this clear-headed before. It even feels like my martial cultivation just had a breakthrough!" The crowd of expert doctors, including Chantelle and Mosby, was frozen in place, completely dumbfounded. No one could utter a single word, as they were too stunned to react. Andrew gestured for Logan to help George onto the couch, smiling as he said, "Mr. Keller Senior, the energy corruption has already been cleared from your system. Now you'll just need some medication to aid your recovery, and your body should return to normal. "However, your vitality and spiritual energy were badly depleted—it'll take a few months to fully recover." George looked at Andrew with genuine admiration. He asked Logan to help him sit up, then turned solemnly and said, "I'm already grateful just to be alive. But to come out of this without losing an ounce of my life
Mosby explained, "But undoubtedly, his mind must be utterly exhausted and his spirit completely drained! Whether or not he wakes up will be the real challenge. If he doesn't regain consciousness, he'll become nothing more than a hollow shell." As he spoke, he cast a deliberately sinister glance at Andrew. If George remained in a vegetative state, then Andrew would not just be blamed—he would probably be executed on the spot by the Keller family. Yet right then, Logan turned to Andrew with genuine sincerity and said, "Andrew, all of us in the Keller family saw what you did for my father. Don't worry—even if he doesn't wake up, you'll still be honored as a benefactor of our family." Mosby could not believe what he was hearing. "Mr. Keller, how can you say that? If Mr. Keller Senior doesn't wake up, Andrew should be held accountable for a grievous crime!" Logan, however, had already seen through Mosby's jealousy and hostility toward Andrew. He responded calmly, "Mr. Lake, this is
Andrew ignored all the shouting around him without batting an eye. Once everything he requested had been brought in, he began the treatment without delay. "Mr. Keller Senior, brace yourself for some pain," he warned calmly. With that, he slowly inserted golden needles into the top of George's head. Chantelle's voice turned serious. "Andrew, the head is the most delicate part of the human body. It's where the nerves are most complex—what you're doing could have serious consequences." Andrew replied evenly, "Mr. Keller Senior's condition stems from a mental collapse, and the mind resides in the thoughts—the thoughts in the brain. So, treatment has to start there." As he explained, his hands moved with precision. Soon, the crown of George's head, right in GV20, was covered in golden needles. Then, he pressed two acupoints on George's chest with careful control. A flicker of relief finally appeared on George's agonized face. Logan asked cautiously, "Andrew, why did you target