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Chapter 657
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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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 665
Andrew set his phone down and glanced at Sean. "Rodney's on his way. He said he's coming to tear down your club." Sean and Dexter exchanged looks before bursting into laughter. Dexter clutched his stomach as if he couldn't breathe. "Andrew, you're really putting on a show here! If I didn't already know what a nobody you are, I might've actually believed you!" Rodney was one of Jayrodale's Four Most Eligible Bachelors, and he ranked higher than Dexter. Not only that, but because he trained at Madblade Martial Academy, he was notoriously arrogant. He did not even give guys like Harvey and Michael the time of day, let alone someone like Dexter. So, the idea that Rodney would rush over because Andrew called? That was laughable. If anything, Dexter figured that if Andrew did run into Rodney, he would probably drop to his knees in terror. However, Marcus shot Andrew a deep look, knowing that this underground king was done playing. Dream Paradise—and that idiot Sean—were about to
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 734
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 733
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 732
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,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 731
Andrew and Lauren wasted no time. After handling everything at Glorious Pharmaceuticals, they rushed back to Rhodes Corporation. On the drive back, Lauren could not hold back her curiosity. She asked hesitantly, "Dr. Lloyd, I know I shouldn't pry, but I still want to ask… Was it Mr. Yates who helped with the machine?" Andrew nodded. "You could say that. I already realized that Stephen's factory, even though it's the best in Jayrodale, isn't all that impressive. To put it bluntly, they couldn't even get a single advanced piece of equipment. So, I gave Marvin a heads-up in advance and had him figure something out." Lauren fell silent for a moment before whispering, "If Mr. Yates helped you like this, there must be a price, right? For example, maybe he wants to use you to take control of Glorious Pharmaceuticals. And from there, he could monopolize Jayrodale's entire pharmaceutical industry. It's not impossible." Andrew glanced at her, surprised. "Lauren, how did you come up with
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 730
Stephen said, "But Mr. Lloyd, you should know that pharmaceutical-grade precision equipment costs a fortune. Most of it is imported, and a single machine alone could easily cost over 100 million!" Andrew nodded. "The equipment has already been taken care of. Once Ms. Rhodes and I leave, you need to head straight to the factory and inspect it." Stephen blinked in disbelief, thinking he must have misheard. "Mr. Lloyd, what did you just say? The equipment is already handled?" Andrew responded calmly, "Yes. It's done. You'll be dealing with a vice CEO from Wealthroller Investments—a major investor in the pharmaceutical industry. He'll be there to assist you and ensure everything runs smoothly." Stephen froze in shock. "Mr. Lloyd, you actually got someone from Mr. Yates' company involved?" Andrew remained indifferent. "No, I didn't ask for help. I gave an order." Stephen's heart skipped a beat. He was smart enough to stop questioning, but internally, his mind was racing. He wond
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 729
Grabbing Lauren's delicate hand, Andrew said, "Let's go. We need to make a trip to Glorious Pharmaceuticals and check with Mr. Brunner to see when the first batch of products will be ready for release." Lauren frowned. "The timeline is too tight. I'd say it'll take at least another two weeks." Andrew shook his head. "No, I'm only giving him two days at most." … The two of them quickly drove over to Glorious Pharmaceuticals. As soon as they arrived, Stephen came rushing out with a bright smile as soon as they arrived. "Mr. Lloyd, Ms. Rhodes, welcome!" Lauren returned his smile politely. "Sorry to bother you again, Mr. Brunner." Stephen waved his hands. "Oh, come on, Ms. Rhodes, no need to say that! Being able to work with Mr. Lloyd is an honor. I should be thanking you!" Andrew did not hesitate to walk straight over to Stephen's office chair and sit down, leaving Stephen standing there awkwardly with nowhere to sit. After glancing around helplessly, Stephen finally resigne
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 728
Andrew said, "Isn't it obvious? Lauren's biggest support is me!" Marcus' jaw dropped slightly as if he had just been personally attacked. On the other hand, Lauren felt a mix of embarrassment and warmth, her heart fluttering as she looked at Andrew. For the first time, she realized her composed and gentlemanly Andrew had a bit of a rebellious, streetwise streak. Marcus raised his hands in surrender. "Mr. Lloyd, I have to admit—your confidence is actually pretty damn cool!" Andrew shot him a sharp look. "Mr. Chapman, this isn't just confidence. I'm stating facts. Enough sulking. It's time to do something! Let me make this clear—I'll definitely crush Michael!" Lauren and Marcus exchanged glances, unsure of what Andrew had up his sleeve. Nonetheless, neither of them doubted his words. After all, Andrew had proven anything time and time again that no challenge ever seemed to be a real obstacle for him. … Back in Lauren's office, Andrew immediately began assigning tasks. He
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 727
Lauren's expression turned ice-cold. "Michael, you're a complete idiot. If you keep running the Pharmaceutical Division like this, you'll ruin Rhodes Corporation's reputation sooner or later!" Michael turned to Tiana, gritting his teeth. "Aunt Tiana, they're still talking down on me even now! It seems not everyone appreciates my contributions to this company. Since that's the case, I might as well step down and let Lauren be CEO instead. I'm done putting up with this disrespect!" Lauren sneered. "Playing the victim now? Michael, you're absolutely shameless." Tiana suddenly slammed the table. "Enough! Have you two argued enough?! Lauren, your time is running out. If you want to prove your products are better, then do it! "If you can't show results, I will hand the CEO's seat to Michael. And if that happens, there's no reason for you to stay in Jayrodale anymore. You should return to Blumedale and focus on preparing for your wedding!" Lauren's eyes burned with frustration and r
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 726
Several people in the room who were aware of the senior executive's dirty secrets could not help but chuckle. The man's face flushed with rage as he pointed at Andrew. "You—" However, after sputtering for a while, he did not dare to say another word. The truth was, he already had a deep-seated fear of Andrew. Moreover, Andrew's words hit a little too close to home. He was on the verge of full retirement. With more money than he could ever spend, he had been indulging in his "second youth". Yet, lately, he had been feeling the consequences—blood in his urine was a clear warning sign. He thought maybe it really was time to take it easy. Otherwise, he would end up ruining his reputation in his old age. Tiana scoffed. "Mr. Lloyd, this is a corporate meeting room, not a place for you to run your mouth." Andrew smirked. "Mrs. Rhodes, you're absolutely right. Which is exactly why I don't think it was necessary to hold such a big meeting just to celebrate Bane's three garbage-tier
