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Chapter 667
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 668
One passerby commented, "This kind of sleazy joint should've been shut down ages ago—talk about karma!" Someone replied, "Exactly! My husband used to come here twice a month, dropping thousands every time. No matter how much I tried to talk sense into him, he wouldn't stop. But now? Finally, I can relax!" Another chimed in, "Damn… I have to say, I'm going to miss Number 9 and Number 11. Those nights were legendary! The way they—ugh, never mind. Some memories are just too good to forget!" A few seasoned veterans stood outside the wreckage of Dream Paradise, sighing nostalgically at the club's downfall. Andrew patted Rodney's shoulder and grinned. "Rodney, I owe you one." Rodney quickly waved it off. "Mr. Lloyd, please—this was nothing. It's what I should do." Andrew nodded. "Alright, then take your guys and head back. It's over now." Without hesitation, Rodney gathered the Madblade Martial Academy crew and left. Dylan followed soon after, leaving only Natasha behind. She
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 669
Andrew had Marcus figured out by now. If he had to sum him up in one sentence, it would be—a closet hedonist, through and through. The two were originally planning to head back to Rhodes Corporation together. However, before they could leave, Andrew's phone rang—it was Francesca. "Andrew, where are you? Get to Moonlit Apothecary right now—Nyla's in critical condition!" Her voice was trembling, thick with panic and distress. Andrew's face turned ice-cold. "What happened? Take a deep breath and tell me everything!" Francesca broke down into sobs. "That hunchbacked bastard—Aspen's guy—the one she hired! He hit Nyla, Andrew! Please, hurry! The poison is spreading fast—I can't save her!" Andrew did not waste another second. He hung up, slammed his foot on the gas, and tore through the streets toward Moonlit Apothecary. If Francesca's description was right, Nyla had been struck by Gordon's Plaguebringer's Palm. Andrew had survived it before because he was immune to toxins. Howe
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 670
Nyla's voice was barely above a whisper. "Then… he struck me with his palm… Everything went dark… I wanted to warn you, Dr. Lloyd, but I blacked out before I could." Andrew pressed his hands gently on her shoulders. "Nyla, you don't need to say anything else. Just rest." Nyla shook her head weakly, refusing to stay silent. "Dr. Lloyd, run! That hunchbacked old man is terrifying. He said he'd come back. If he can't find you, he'll kill one person a day… until you show up." Francesca clenched her fists, her entire body trembling with rage. "That psycho!" Andrew's expression turned bone-chillingly cold. "Don't worry. He won't get the chance. Fran, stay here and watch over Nyla. I need to take care of something." There was something in Andrew's voice—something final—that made Francesca's heart skip a beat. She reached for him in panic. "Andrew, where are you going? Please, be careful!" Andrew nodded but did not stop. "I won't be long." His G-Wagon roared to life, tires screec
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 671
Aspen slammed her coffee down and strode toward the front hall. She wanted to see who had the guts to call her by name so brazenly. In the front hall, Leroy clutched his stomach, his face twisted in rage. He spat, "Andrew, you barged into the Stevens mansion and still had the nerve to hit me? You better believe Christie will make you pay for this!" Irene shrieked hysterically, "Andrew, you're nothing but a heartless bastard! No matter what, Christie was with you for so long, and this is how you repay her? How could you go after Leroy like that? Do you even have a conscience?" Andrew cast them both a cold glance and smirked. "Leroy, you know damn well why you got hit! The second I walked in, you charged at me like a mad dog. What was I supposed to do, just stand there and let you take a free shot?" Leroy gritted his teeth, seething. "You've gotten real cocky, Andrew. Don't forget, everything you have today exists because of the Stevens family!" Irene shouted, "Exactly! You owe
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 672
Christina turned to Aspen, her expression uncertain and her voice trembling. "Aspen, did Mr. Woods… really kill someone?" Aspen clutched her throat, her eyes filled with resentment. "Mr. Woods' actions are beyond my control. All I can say is that Andrew brought this on himself!" Christina's face twisted with anger. "Andrew, all of this happened because you provoked Aspen in the first place! I told you long ago—if you'd just apologized to her and returned the money, this whole mess would've been over. But you just had to be stubborn, didn't you? Who do you have to blame but yourself?" Andrew sneered. "Christina, I swear, you've gotten even dumber these days. Can you even tell right from wrong anymore? How the hell are you running Stevens Corporation when you can't see the truth right in front of you?" He let out a cold laugh, shaking his head. "Then again, I shouldn't be surprised. I helped you and Stevens Corporation more times than I can count, but you never appreciated it. In
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 673
"Christie, don't listen to that loser's nonsense. He's just making stuff up to mess with you—none of it is true!" Irene said hurriedly, noticing her daughter's shaken expression. Leroy snorted. "Christie, you're not actually buying Andrew's crap, are you? Come on, he really stood there and claimed he built Stevens Corporation from the ground up. What a joke!" Christina did not respond. Her face had gone pale, her expression hollow and exhausted as her entire worldview began crumbling. Aspen stood quietly, her eyes filled with contemplation. She had always considered Stevens Corporation's rise from a small, struggling workshop to the powerhouse it was today an anomaly. For the longest time, she had assumed Christina was some kind of prodigy, a brilliant businesswoman who single-handedly made it happen. However, after working closely with her for a while, Aspen realized Christina was not as extraordinary as everyone believed. Sure, she was smart enough to handle her CEO duties
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 674
Leroy snorted. "Christie, go ahead and get to the bottom of it. I can't wait to see that bastard's face when you expose him for the fraud he is." Not wanting to get dragged into the Stevens family's drama, Aspen slipped away to her room and dialed Gordon's number. She warned him, "Mr. Woods, you should be careful. Andrew might come looking for you." Gordon's voice came through the phone, cold and dismissive. "If that kid wants to come die at my doorstep, I'll gladly help him with that." Aspen replied, "Still, you should stay alert. I'm worried Andrew might show up with some of the underground forces in Jayrodale to ambush you." Gordon scoffed. "Numbers mean nothing against someone at my level. If they come swarming like ants, I'll just retreat and pick them off one by one later. It's nothing but a waste of my time." Aspen's voice turned icy. "I'll wait for your good news, Mr. Woods." Gordon chuckled darkly. "Relax. Once I clean up the mess here in Jayrodale, I'll be heading
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 675
Andrew glanced at his palm, where a faint black mark had appeared—the toxic imprint of Gordon's Plaguebringer's Palm. However, with a slight shift of his internal energy, the venomous mark dissolved into nothing, as though it had never existed. "Your so-called Plaguebringer's Palm feels more like an itch," Andrew stated coldly. "It's not even worth mentioning." With that, he lunged forward. His voice dropped to a frigid growl as he taunted, "That was just a warm-up, Gordon. So what if you're a peak senior grandmaster? Killing you will be child's play!" In the blink of an eye, the two of them exchanged over a dozen ferocious blows. "You insolent brat!" Gordon bellowed, enraged. "I swear I'll crush you under my palm!" However, Andrew pressed the attack relentlessly, forcing Gordon to retreat with every strike. On the other hand, Gordon's anger flared. He was supposed to be the dominant one here, the predator toying with his prey. He had expected Andrew to cower, maybe beg fo
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 698
Stephen said calmly, "It's not that I've lost my edge or nerve. It's just that sometimes, you need to read the room and know when to pick your battles." He continued, "There's a saying—A wise man adapts to the times. No matter how strong you are, when a true powerhouse shows up, you still have to bow your head if you want to survive." Raymond waved him off with an irritated snort. "Cut the crap. What you're really saying is that you're scared of Andrew, right? You've already given in to him. Either way, it doesn't matter. My stance is crystal clear. "If that kid shows up, kneels, toasts me, and pays for all the damages, I'll be merciful and let him walk away with his life. But if he dares not to show, then tough luck. I'll make sure he learns exactly what regret feels like." Stephen's expression darkened, and he let out a cold chuckle. "Getting Mr. Lloyd to kneel and toast you? That's never going to happen. I can't say much more, but I'm telling you—you're underestimating him.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 697
News of Raymond hosting the Reckoning Toast at the Jayrodale Grand Hotel spread like wildfire. In no time, the entire city was buzzing with speculation and heated discussions. Someone commented, "Seriously? Who in their right mind would dare mess with Dream Paradise? You'd have to be either insane or have a death wish." "Once a Reckoning Toast is set, you either show up, drink, and apologize, or you wait for Mr. Chapman Senior to go ballistic and take you down. There's no third option!" Another said, "Lately, this guy Andrew has been making a bit of a name for himself in Jayrodale. A lowlife nobody from the bottom of the barrel, and now he thinks he can take on Mr. Chapman Senior? This is pure suicide!" "Well, you can't say that for sure. Word is, Andrew's gotten close with the Rhodes family and has ties to that legendary Dr. Aicker. Even Harvey, the head of the Weller family, couldn't put him down. If he and Raymond really go at it, who knows how it'll turn out?" "Yeah, righ
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 696
Stephen hesitated for a moment before forcing out a strained smile. "Mr. Lloyd, the Reckoning Toast at the Jayrodale Grand Hotel officially started today. Raymond plans to host it for three days straight, inviting all the major players in Jayrodale to witness it." He explained, "If, by the end of the third day, you haven't shown up, it will be taken as a refusal to apologize. At that point, Raymond, backed by the Wright family, might decide to make a move against you. Please, think this through." Andrew's eyes darkened with indifference. "I'll go on the third day and settle it then. But until then, I don't have the time—or the interest—to entertain them." Stephen quickly nodded. "Of course, Mr. Lloyd. I'll pass the message along to Raymond." Andrew gave a casual wave. "Do whatever you think is best." He turned and left the office with Lauren beside him. "Dr. Lloyd," Lauren said softly, glancing at him with concern, "I really think you should take the Wright family seriously
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 695
Andrew let out a cold laugh. "So, Raymond's confidence comes from the Wright family?" Stephen gave a firm nod. "Exactly. Without the Wright family's backing, Raymond wouldn't even be qualified to shine your shoes, let alone set up the ridiculous 'Reckoning Toast'." Andrew's eyes glinted with curiosity. "Mr. Brunner, enlighten me—what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Stephen straightened in his chair and explained, "The Reckoning Toast is an old tradition in certain circles. It's essentially a public apology disguised as a show of respect. "If two sides have a conflict but don't want an all-out war, or if one side wants to back down without losing face, they'll arrange a Reckoning Toast. You'd pour a glass of wine, offer it to Raymond, and apologize while acknowledging his supposed grievance." He explained, "If he takes the glass and drinks, it means he accepts the apology, and the matter is settled. But if he refuses or smashes the glass, that's a declaration of war. It mea
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 694
"She told me everything," Lauren said with a sly smile. "She was really happy about what you supposedly did to her. But if she finds out it never actually happened, she'll definitely feel disappointed." Andrew's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Hold on a second. The way you're talking… it almost sounds like you're trying to sell me off to your best friend. You wouldn't actually do that… would you?" Lauren burst into laughter. "Wouldn't? I already did! Fran's all yours whenever you want. I won't mind." "But," she added with a teasing grin, "you better make sure you treat us both equally. No playing favorites!" Andrew slammed on the brakes in front of Glorious Pharmaceuticals and turned to Lauren. "Glad you're both having fun… but has anyone thought about what this will do to my health?" Lauren doubled over, laughing so hard she nearly choked. Andrew sat there for a moment, sighing with a mixture of amusement and dread. He wondered if he was really supposed to take responsibility f
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 693
Before long, Lauren and the proud, pouty Francesca stepped out from around the corner. Both of their faces were flushed pink, and Andrew could not help but wonder what they had been whispering about. Francesca cast a shy, lingering glance at Andrew, her eyes shimmering with a soft, embarrassed sparkle. "Well, Nyla, you be sure to rest up, okay? I'll visit you again soon." Then, she turned to Andrew, gave a small wave, and said, "Andrew, I'm heading back to the hospital. Bye!" With that, she swished her ponytail and walked off, leaving Andrew to watch her retreating figure. He shifted his gaze toward Lauren and asked, "What were you two gossiping about back there?" Lauren giggled. "Oh? Do you really want to know? Lean in." Andrew bent down slightly, and Lauren cupped her hand beside his ear, whispering, "I was telling Fran to go ahead and give herself to you… so you can enjoy yourself." Andrew's expression froze as black lines practically formed across his forehead. "Excuse
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 692
Lauren sighed and said, "At the end of the day, it all comes down to my family's alliance with the Driscoll family in Blumedale. Anyway, Fran, I can't sleep with Dr. Lloyd right now. But you don't have that restriction, so you can go ahead and give him what he needs." Francesca bit her lip, looking embarrassed. "Forget it. How could I take Andrew before you do? I'd rather wait for you… maybe we can figure it out together." Lauren's face turned bright red as she squirmed in her seat. "What? If we do it together, wouldn't that mean all three of us in bed? Like… a threesome?" Francesca's cheeks flushed even deeper. "I-I don't know either." She took a shaky breath and added, "But Lauren, since you've been so good to me, I should be honest, too. I need to tell you something… or else I'll feel guilty." Lauren covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. "Don't tell me… you've already slept with Dr. Lloyd?" Francesca's face turned ghostly pale. Her eyes filled with guilt as she whispered,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 691
Lauren said with a playful smile, "Of course not! If anyone's doing the bullying, it'll be me bullying Dr. Lloyd!" Francesca rolled her eyes and said, "Lame. Then why did you drag me over here? Just to flaunt your sweet, lovey-dovey moments and make me jealous?" Lauren gave her a mock glare. "Francesca, we've known each other for years. When have I ever done something disloyal to you?" Francesca thought for a moment and realized she was right. With a laugh, she said, "Okay, fine. What is it then? You've got that mischievous smile, so spill it already!" Lauren stared at her intently, so long that Francesca started to feel uncomfortable. Finally, Lauren asked, "Fran, tell me the truth… do you like Andrew?" Francesca gasped, eyes wide as she quickly lowered her head. "I-I don't know what you're talking about. Of course not! I mean… obviously not!" Lauren huffed in exasperation. "Fran, do you really think you can fool me? I know you like the back of my hand, so stop with the aw
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 690
Andrew smiled warmly. "Fran, you've really thought this through. What does Mr. Aicker think about it?" Francesca nodded. "Grandpa agreed, but he asked me to check with you first. The Moonlit Apothecary is yours, after all. He doesn't want to come here uninvited and cause trouble." He continued, "He's also worried people might start gossiping that the Aickers are trying to take over your medical center." Andrew's expression turned serious. "If Mr. Aicker feels that way, he's being way too polite. Tell him the doors of the Moonlit Apothecary will always be open to him. Anytime he wants to come by, he's more than welcome. He won't just be a guest—he'll be part of this place." Francesca's eyes lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, Andrew! Honestly, Grandpa's always wanted to run a medical center like this—something prestigious and respected. But our family's been struggling for years. Grandpa's been saving every penny for Simon and us younger ones. He couldn't bear to spend the money
