Someone mocked, "Heh, the sign says, [No entry for anyone from Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division or dogs.] Doesn't that mean people from Rhodes Corporation are worse than dogs? Hahaha!" Another commented, "Mr. Brunner of Glorious Pharmaceuticals is a real entrepreneur here in Jayrodale. Rhodes Corporation may have a big name, but Mr. Brunner clearly doesn't care about that!" "Without a doubt, Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division must have offended Mr. Brunner. Sure, Rhodes has a huge reputation in Jayrodale, but in front of Mr. Brunner, they're nothing. They have to come crawling and begging!" Glorious Pharmaceuticals employees, as well as others passing by, stopped to watch and gossip about Andrew and Marcus. The employees, especially, could not hide their contempt, their expressions dripping with disdain. Marcus turned to the security guard, his voice cold. "We haven't done anything to offend Mr. Brunner, have we? Why would he pull something like this witho
One of the men said, "Marcus, you're the head of Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division, and we're giving you face today. Hurry up and take this fool and get out of here. We at Glorious Pharmaceuticals won't entertain trash like this!" Laughing, the employees of Glorious Pharmaceuticals, including the security guard, were all enjoying the moment. They acted as though they had won something, looking at Andrew like he was nothing. Marcus gritted his teeth and said, "Kenneth, we may not have gotten the visit we wanted, but we still have our dignity. Are you really planning to cut ties with Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division over this?" Kenneth sneered. "Marcus, don't get ahead of yourself. Right now, Mr. Brunner has already secured a big deal. The mysterious VIP guest is negotiating with him as we speak. Rhodes Corporation? Maybe they were relevant in the past, but now? We at Glorious Pharmaceuticals don't owe you anything." Marcus looked at Andrew and muttered, "M
Kenneth never expected Andrew to actually fight back. After all, this was Glorious Pharmaceuticals' territory, and Andrew was supposedly just a small fry from Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division. Who gave him the audacity? Armed with plastic batons, dozens of security guards rushed forward to surround Andrew. Meanwhile, a few Glorious Pharmaceuticals executives backed away in fear, shouting insults. "How dare this punk hit Mr. Mudge? You're dead!" "Mr. Mudge, hang in there! We'll take care of this little brat right now!" "Security, what are you waiting for? Beat him to death, teach him a lesson!" Andrew stamped on Kenneth's head, forcing his face into the ground. Kenneth's mouth and nose were filled with blood and teeth, spraying out in a horrific mess. "One more move, and I'll crush his skull," Andrew said calmly, not even looking at the dozen or so guards. Marcus was frozen in shock. Meanwhile, the security guards and the remaining executives of Glorious Pharma
Marcus was at a loss for words from Andrew's unconventional approach and thinking. It was unlikely that those at Glorious Pharmaceuticals embraced the martial spirit, but rather were fearful of Andrew. After all, he had slapped Kenneth so hard his blood was all over the placeโnow they have no choice but to obey. Marcus had gained a new level of respect for Andrew, thinking the director of the group was absolutely a force to be reckoned with. "You think you'll do anything to Mr. Brunner? You've hit Mr. Mudge, and you won't be leaving Glorious Pharmaceuticals in one piece today." "Yeah, you should release him and pay a few hundred thousand in medical fees, or you'll be dead before you know it." "Mr. Mudge is Mr. Brunner's right-hand man. Slapping him is the same as slapping Mr. Brunner's face. If Mr. Brunner doesn't deal with you today, I'll eat my shoe!" The executives leading the way were fuming, constantly threatening Andrew. Usually, they were the ones being treated
The elevator chimed, and the doors opened, leading them to the entrance of Stephen's office. Before they could even step inside, Andrew heard a loud voice along with two female voices from within the room. "Ms. Aspen, Ms. Christina, well then, let's toast to a successful partnership and making a fortune together! Oh, the two beauties from Stevens Corporation are really making waves here in Jayrodale. It's truly my luck to meet such heavenly ladies like you." The person continued, "If we could sit down and chat over some wine, that would make it even more enjoyable!" Aspen laughed. "Well, Mr. Brunner, since you're offering, it'll be rude to decline you!" Christina's voice also sounded cheerful. "Then let Aspen and I raise a glass to you, Mr. Brunner. We hope you'll take good care of Stevens Corporation's pharmaceutical business." Andrew let go of Kenneth, speaking calmly, "Open the door." Kenneth felt like he had been granted mercy, and he scrambled to open the door and rush
Stephen puffed on his cigar slowly, then scoffed, "Kid, you hear that? The two ladies don't even care about your life anymore. Now, if you come over here, kneel, and clean my shoes until they shine, and then pay Kenneth half a million in medical fees, I might let you live." Andrew, with Marcus at his side, walked into Stephen's office slowly, not rushing. He glanced around and casually sat on the left side of the couch. "Mr. Brunner, that's a bit much," he said coolly. "I hit him because he deserved it. Besides, he started it, and I only defended myself. Also, Mr. Brunner, you insulted people from Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division. I came here to ask for an apology. Is that really too much to ask?" Stephen froze for a second as if he could not believe his ears. Then he sneered, "What? You came here to ask me for an apology? Are you serious? You want to ask me for an apology?" Then, Stephen burst out laughing, like he had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
Stephen, growing impatient, said, "Your name's Andrew, right? I'll give you one last chance. Crawl over here, kneel, and clean my shoes. Otherwise, you won't be leaving the gates of Glorious Pharmaceuticals today." Andrew raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me I won't leave? Are you, Mr. Brunner, going to carry me out?" The room went silent as Kenneth inhaled sharply. He thought Andrew was seriously out of his mind, asking for trouble. Aspen and Christina, furious, could not help but laugh. Andrew's defiance had clearly infuriated Stephen, and his outcome would be disastrous. "You've got a death wish, don't you? I gave you a chance, but you didn't take it. Now you'll pay the price!" Stephen sneered, taking a long drag from his cigar. Then, he shouted, "Someone, get rid of him." A group of bodyguards in suits stormed into the room, filling the space with menace. Stephen looked at Aspen and Christina. "Ladies, give me a minute. I'll take care of this brat, then we can go win
Stephen said, "By the way, I had a drink with Mr. Garner recently. I've asked him to look out for things concerning my business in South City, and Mr. Garner didn't hesitateโhe agreed right away." His words were dripping with arrogance as if he thought being friends with Dylan made him a big deal. Kenneth sneered, "Andrew, do you see just how powerful Mr. Brunner is? He controls both the legal and underground worlds. He's on a first-name basis with underground bosses. What do you have in front of Mr. Brunner? What are you going to play at? The only thing you can play is with your life!" Andrew did not respond to him, but instead, he looked at Stephen and smiled. "Mr. Brunner knows Dylan, huh? You and Dylan are friends, right?" With a puff of pride, Stephen responded, "That's right. Mr. Garner and I are that close. But you, little punk, you're just someone I'll deal with. You're not even worth my time to call him for." Andrew replied, "That's perfect, then. Since you two are c
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 oversteppingโthere'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 downโฆ 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 tooโthis 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 youโrespect, 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 parentsโsince 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. "Andrewโฆ I swearโฆ" 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 throatโAndrew 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 deadโฆ "How dare you treat me like this? My familyโeveryone in the Haywoodsโthey'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
"You're asking for death!" One of the older Haywood enforcers snarled and launched a palm strike toward Andrew's head. "Get out of my way," Andrew growled without even sparing the man a glance, throwing a punch sideways in one smooth motion. The man, a peak senior grandmaster, flew backward, his face contorted in shock and disbelief. His arm, which had met Andrew's punch, shattered instantly. He hit the ground hard, screaming in agony while clutching the mangled remains of his limb. That brief moment of destruction was enough to jolt Seth out of his daze. He started stumbling backward and screamed, "All of you, attack him now! Kill that bastard!" Yet, no one moved. The Haywood men froze, their faces pale with fear, looking at Andrew like they were staring at a monster. They backed away instinctively, their courage completely drained. It was not just fearโit was terror that ran bone-deep. Andrew's strikes were lethal and merciless, each blow either killing or disabling instan
Aspen said through gritted teeth, "I'll never submit to any men. If you try to force yourself on me, I swear I'll die before I let that happen!" Seth's temper flared. "Even now, you're still rejecting me? Still looking down on me?" Aspen shot him a cold glare. "Damn right I am. Seth, if you weren't part of the Haywoods, what the hell would you even be worth?" Seth roared, "You think I'm worthless?! Then what about Andrew? That bastardโwhat the hell is he supposed to be?" Aspen let out a scornful laugh. "You clearly have no idea how terrifying Andrew really is. You wanna know what he is? Let me tell youโwhen it comes to combat, to medicine, to tactics, he's way out of your league. You're not even in the same universe." Seth's lips twisted into a manic grin. "Yeah, yeah, he's amazing. Sure, he's got skills. But no matter how good he is, he's still just a bug to me! This is Blumedaleโwe play by my rules here. And I don't care if that bastard has nine lives, he's dying tonight!"
Aspen's hands were bound tightly behind her back, with the ropes crossing in front of her chest, pushing her curves into full display. "Seth, you're absolutely insane," she shouted, her voice full of fury. "Do you even realize we're working for Mr. McCormick right now?" She struggled hard, but the ropes did not budge at all. Meanwhile, a dozen enforcers from the Haywoods' private club stormed Supreme Capital Group's office space and smashed everything to pieces. Seth was grinning as he gripped Aspen's chin, his fingers digging in so hard that pain twisted across her face. He sneered, "Save your strength, Aspen. So what if you're working for Mr. McCormick? Let's be realโAndrew is just that man's lapdog." "Remember when you first got to Blumedale, the day we met?" His voice dropped low as he leaned closer. "From the second I saw you, I made up my mindโI was going to make you mine." Then, without warning, he slapped her across the face, hard. "But you little bitch, you just d
"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 askโฆ 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 clearโno 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. "Soโฆ 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 Rhodesโthe Rhodes family's eldest daughter. Her legs areโฆ 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 suggestโฆ 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, maybeโjust maybeโshe 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. Nowโฆ your performance, if you would." He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, expression smug. Chantelle's fingers tr