LOGINShare
Chapter 693
Related chapters
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 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 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 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 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 1
"I'm sorry, Andrew, but I can't marry you!" Christina Stevens declared coldly in the CEO's office of Stevens Corporation. She sat behind her desk, looking elegant in a black lace dress, her demeanor icy and aloof. Across from her sat a handsome man in modest attire. Andrew Lloyd could not believe what he was hearing and asked, "Christie, what do you mean? What happened to the promise between us?" They had agreed to tie the knot on the day Stevens Corporation went public, marking the end of their three-year courtship. "Since we've been dating each other, I'll be frank," Christina replied, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her stunning features exuded grace and beauty with every movement. "Andrew, don't you think the gap between us has grown too wide? It's like we're from different worlds now. Forcing this relationship won't do you any good. For me, it would be… a burden." A burden? Andrew was stunned, never expecting Christina to say such a thing. If it had not
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 2
In the elevator, Andrew opened the modest ring box. A dazzling pink diamond immediately caught the light, its brilliance filling the small space. This 7.5-million-dollar luxury ring was once known as the "King of Diamonds" of Jayrodale, truly one of a kind. Andrew did not know exactly how much money was on the bank card, but he was sure it was enough to buy Stevens Corporations ten times over. Moments ago, Christina and Irene had not even bothered to look at these treasures, with Irene dismissing them as junk. As the elevator doors opened, Andrew stepped out. "Well, well, if it isn't Andrew! You don't look so good," a mocking voice greeted him. Andrew calmly looked up to see a man in a tailored suit, his hair slicked back, holding a bouquet of blue roses. It was Shawn Fields, Jayrodale's infamous trust fund baby and one of Christina's most persistent admirers. Not wanting to talk to him, Andrew tried to sidestep him, but Shawn moved to block his path again. Andrew's eyes turn
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 3
Meanwhile, Andrew had already settled into a Rolls-Royce, heading toward Jayrodale General Hospital. His phone rang, and to his surprise, it was Christina calling. Since their relationship was over, Andrew saw no reason to answer. Yet, the phone kept ringing, seemingly urgent. Frowning, Andrew finally decided to pick up. "Andrew, listen to me. Turn yourself in immediately!" Christina's voice blared through the speaker, catching Andrew off guard. "That King of Diamonds is worth 7.5 million dollars, Andrew. Have you lost your mind? I know you did this to make me happy, but have you considered the legal consequences? Turn yourself in now, while there's still time. Don't worry, with Stevens Corporation's influence in Jayrodale, I'll do my best to keep you out of jail!" Christina's voice was filled with righteous indignation, feeling disappointed in Andrew. Andrew finally understood—she thought he had stolen the King of Diamonds. "You've got it wrong. I didn't steal it," he said sim
Latest chapter
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
