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Chapter 656
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 657
Just then, another message from Francesca came through. [Andrew, I want to sleep with you!] She was not being coy anymore—just cutting straight to the point. Andrew sighed and replied with two simple words, [Goodnight, Fran.] Yet, Francesca was not giving up so easily. [I can't sleep. Talk to me for a bit!] Andrew chose to ignore the message, knowing full well how dangerous late-night conversations with her could be. If he responded, there was a good chance she would show up at his place. And if that happened, he was not sure how much temptation he could resist. Just then, another message popped up. [Andrew, you jerk! What's with the silent treatment? Are you really gonna ditch me after getting what you wanted?] Francesca texted, clearly annoyed. Andrew groaned and typed back quickly. [Fran, it's not what you think!] [Oh, please,] she retorted. [I may have been a bit out of it that night, but my body doesn't lie. You took my virginity, Andrew! You stole my first time!]
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 658
After getting ready, Andrew headed to Rhodes Corporation. On the way, he tried calling Francesca, but the line was busy. He called a few more times with the same result and quickly realized she had probably blocked him out of spite. Knowing her temperament, Andrew figured she was just sulking and would get over it soon. He decided not to dwell on it any further. "Mr. Lloyd, I've been waiting here for you!" Marcus greeted Andrew with a wide smile the moment he arrived. Andrew smiled back. "Mr. Chapman, you seem to be in a great mood today. What's the good news?" Marcus chuckled knowingly. "Don't tell me you forgot! I mentioned yesterday that I wanted to take you out for some relaxation—a small thank-you for all the help you've given me." Andrew laughed. "Sounds good to me! Let's go. Let me just tell Lauren real quick." "No need," Marcus said with a wink. "I've already informed the vice CEO on your behalf." Andrew raised an eyebrow, surprised by Marcus' thoughtfulness. With
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 659
"I'm just here for a massage," Andrew said casually. "And you'd better watch yourself. Even Harvey knows better than to mess with me now." He shot Dexter a brief glance before continuing down the hall. Dexter, with an Eastonia girl on each arm, chuckled mockingly. "Oh, come on, Andrew. Do you really expect me to believe you're just here for a massage? We're both men, after all." "And Harvey's the head of the Weller family now. If anyone should be keeping their head down, it's you, not me." Dexter sneered, annoyed that Andrew did not even spare him a proper look. Andrew did not break his stride. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let this slide. But if you keep running your mouth, I'll make sure you experience the taste of swallowing your own teeth." Dexter's face darkened as he watched Andrew disappear around the corner. The nerve of that bastard! Once, Dexter had been on top of the social hierarchy as one of Jayrodale's Four Most Eligible Bachelors. Yet, Andrew—a man he had
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 660
Dexter hesitated for a moment before smirking coldly. "Alright. Go ahead and teach that bastard a lesson. If you do well, with Harvey's and my recommendation, you might just become Jayrodale's fifth most eligible bachelor. You'd be the talk of the town." Sean's face lit up with excitement as he chuckled slyly. "Thank you, Mr. Combs. You gentlemen head back to your rooms and enjoy yourselves. I'll take care of everything. If I don't make Andrew regret stepping into this place, I don't deserve the title." Dexter gave him a playful grin. "Just don't go overboard. We don't need a corpse on our hands—that wouldn't be good for business. But make sure he suffers enough to wish he'd never been born." Sean slapped his chest confidently. "Don't worry, Mr. Combs! Good deeds aren't my specialty, but when it comes to underhanded tricks, I'm a natural-born expert." Dexter laughed heartily. "Now that's the kind of guy I like!" Sean made his way to the front desk and summoned the manager. Hi
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 661
Andrew quickly realized that in Dream Paradise, the so-called foreign masseuses that everyone raved about were not actually imported at all. They were just local girls wrapped up in fancy packaging, and they only knew a handful of common phrases. Yet, somehow, their broken Eastonian still managed to charm young men into emptying their wallets just for a chance to be here. Sighing, Andrew muttered, "Man, ignorance is a scary thing." The woman on his left immediately switched gears, dropping her fake accent and blurting out in a thick, local dialect, "Oh, come on, big guy! Are you looking down on us or what? Once you get a massage, you have to pay up—our boss will mess you up if you don't!" The one on his right chimed in, her accent just as heavy, "Exactly! You're acting all stingy and won't even go for the premium options—what's up with that?" "You're the first guy I've ever seen who came here just for a plain old massage. Are you sure it's not a performance issue?" Andrew d
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 662
Bryce let out a cold chuckle. "Sorry, but Mr. Sean doesn't have time for this. Feel free to file a complaint if you're unhappy with the price. But first, you need to pay the bill." As he spoke, he snapped his fingers, and within seconds, about five massive bodyguards stepped forward, surrounding Andrew. These guys were not just for show—broad shoulders, thick beards, and the kind of dead-serious expressions that screamed they had seen blood before. Marcus had just finished his business, buckling his belt as he walked into the lobby. The moment he saw Andrew surrounded by muscle-bound enforcers, his face darkened with rage. He growled, "What the hell is this? Dream Paradise, what do you think you're doing?" Bryce gave him a smirk that did not reach his eyes. "Mr. Chapman, your friend here doesn't seem to understand how things work. "He agreed to pay, but once he saw the total, he suddenly decided he couldn't afford it. Looks like he's trying to skip out on the bill. "Heh, m
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 663
Marcus immediately caught on—Sean was deliberately looking for trouble with Andrew. Nonetheless, since Andrew was his guest, he was responsible for stepping up and handling the situation. He said, "Sean, if you keep this up, I'll be taking this straight to Raymond!" Sean snorted. "Go ahead. I'm his only son—do you really think he'd scold me over some outsider?" Marcus' anger flared even more as he realized Sean was really a piece of work. Before he could respond, Andrew raised a hand, cutting him off. "Mr. Chapman, I'll handle this. It's just a scam joint—either they want your money, or they want your life. Since they're so eager for cash, I'll play along." Marcus gritted his teeth. "Mr. Lloyd, don't worry. Dream Paradise won't get away with this—I'll make sure they give us an explanation!" Andrew smirked. "An explanation? That's not even worth a dime. They just want money, right? Fine, I'll give it to them." Marcus was stunned. "Mr. Lloyd, you…" Andrew had already pul
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 664
The other rich kids burst into laughter, mocking Andrew without restraint. One mocked, "Kid, you're way too full of yourself. You'll be watching your own blood spill across the floor in no time!" Others joined in, saying, "Sean, stop wasting time with him—just beat the crap out of him and make him wash dishes in the back for a week!" "You really thought you could get away with paying a single dollar? And that crap about buying us water? If you don't die today, I'll change my last name to yours!" Andrew's expression darkened, the amusement in his eyes vanishing. "This is what I'm willing to pay. One dollar. Take it or leave it. If not, then I'm walking out." Sean's face twisted with rage, and he roared, "Lock the doors! If this piece of trash doesn't pay up the way I want, then he's not leaving here alive!" Dexter sneered. "Andrew, your luck just ran out. The last guy who tried skipping out on a bill at Dream Paradise is already buried six feet under." The bodyguards moved
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1152
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1151
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1150
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1149
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1148
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1147
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?"
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1146
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1145
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1144
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
