"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
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
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
Amidst the flurry of bodyguards, a young girl was rushed into the hospital on a stretcher. By her side, a tall, stunning woman with long flowing hair and legs clad in black stockings clutched the girl's hand desperately. Her voice trembled with emotion as she spoke, "Cece, please be okay. I'm right here, and I promise I'll save you, no matter what." Despite the urgency of the situation, many onlookers immediately recognized the woman. She was Lauren Rhodes, the heiress of the prestigious Rhodes family and widely regarded as the most beautiful woman in Jayrodale. In the city's fashion industry, Lauren was often described as a femme fatale. "Ms. Rhodes, please don't worry. Our hospital will do everything in our power to save your sister," Bernard Hackett, the hospital's deputy chief, rushed to assure her. Lauren's status and the Rhodes family's influence in Jayrodale were unparalleled. Hence, their presence demanded nothing but the utmost dedication and respect from the hospita
Lauren's face paled instantly. "What did you say? Where's Dr. Hackett? What's going on?" Bernard and Philip approached, looking apologetic. "We're sorry, Ms. Rhodes. Ms. Cecelia's condition is critical. We've done all we can." Philip added, his voice filled with frustration, "The initial treatment seemed promising, but suddenly, Ms. Cecelia's breathing weakened dramatically. It's not our lack of skill, Ms. Rhodes. We're simply facing an impossible situation." Before Philip could finish his explanation, Lauren slapped him. "Ms. Rhodes, what was that…" "You idiot!" Lauren seethed, her body trembling with rage. "Didn't you just boast about your ability to save Cece?" Philip stood there, speechless and humiliated, his cheek stinging from the blow. Then, Lauren turned to Bernard, her voice dripping with venom. "Dr. Hackett, I'll ask you one last time. Is there anyone else in this hospital who can help? If anything happens to her, you and your incompetent son will face severe
Andrew nodded. He was surprised by Bernard's unexpected insight. Philip, behaving like an idiot, asked his father, "Dad, what's this pressure-point technique? It doesn't seem like a big deal to me." Bernard's face darkened instantly, wishing he could slap some sense into his dimwitted son. He hissed, "You fool, just shut up already! Haven't you embarrassed us enough? The pressure-point technique is a legendary skill in medicine. It's said that some reclusive ancient healers could even take or save lives instantly using this method, controlling a person's very life force with a single touch." Lauren was quite knowledgeable and had seen it all. Even so, she was genuinely amazed by Andrew's skill from the moment he began as she realized this man, rumored to be Christina's boy toy, possessed genuine medical expertise. She wondered why someone so talented was mistaken for a freeloader. The treatment did not take long. Ten minutes later, the blood transfusion was complete. Andrew b
Andrew's voice was calm, showing no sign of arrogance. Meanwhile, the scarred man and his thugs were stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Ha! Did this pretty boy just tell me, Scarface, to get lost?" "Idiot, you've been watching too many superhero movies. Trying to play the knight in shining armor, huh?" "Boss, why waste time talking? Let's just take him out!" Another thug swung a steel pipe viciously at Andrew's head. Lauren sighed inwardly, thinking she would have to step in to protect this brave but foolish man. Suddenly, she heard a piercing scream. The thug who had attacked first was on the ground, clutching his stomach. Somehow, Andrew had taken the steel pipe from him. Then, in a blur of motion, Andrew swung the pipe. A series of thuds followed as the attackers fell to the ground, groaning in pain. Yet, no one could see how he moved as he was moving too fast. Scarface roared in anger, leaping at Andrew with a vicious kick. At the same time, Andrew
Just then, Lauren's phone rang. After answering, she turned to Andrew and said, "Dr. Lloyd, feel free to look around. I need to take care of something. See you in a bit!" Andrew nodded. "Of course, Ms. Rhodes. Don't let me keep you." There was still some time before the fundraiser officially began. More influential figures, all eyeing the orphanage's valuable property, continued to arrive. Before long, the parking lot was already filled with luxury cars. A sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled up, drawing everyone's attention. As the door opened, a stunning woman in a pure white cocktail dress stepped out, her legs as fair as snow. Her appearance drew gasps of admiration from the crowd. "What a beauty! Her grace is truly unparalleled!" "I'd risk jail time just for a moment with a woman like that!" "That's the famous CEO of Stevens Corporation. Not only is she gorgeous, but her business insight is extraordinary. She'll probably snag this prime real estate tonight." Another luxury
"Michael caused this whole mess, so it's only fair that he makes up for it. Consider it balancing out his sins," Lauren said with a laugh. She added, "Hell, once his horrifyingly ridiculous drag performance hits the internet, it's going to break the internet! People will be so busy gawking at his lingerie fiasco that they'll completely forget about the Wellers warehouse fire. Dr. Lloyd, you're an absolute genius!" Andrew also felt pretty satisfied with his own creativity. However, the usually quiet Shiloh suddenly glanced at him and said, "Mr. Lloyd, it seems to me that you're just as wicked as he is." Andrew's mouth twitched. "Shiloh, I'm literally punishing evil. How does that make me the bad guy?" Shiloh looked at him seriously. "There are many ways to punish someone, but coming up with something this twisted? That's rare. So, I have my doubts about whether you're really a good person." Andrew just chuckled. "Maybe I'm not a good person, but I'm definitely not a bad one
Andrew's smile was cold and menacing. "Mrs. Rhodes has given me full authority, so you'd all better do exactly as I say, or would one of you rather take Michael's place and wear the lingerie yourselves?" The lackeys turned pale, their lips trembling in fear. Andrew was currently in charge of all operations at Rhodes Corporation, and even Tiana had to tread carefully around him. If they defied him, they would not just be out of a job—they would be as good as blacklisted. Under Andrew's increasingly icy stare, the men exchanged looks, their gazes filled with silent agreement. It was every man for himself. Gritting their teeth, they reluctantly began stripping Michael down. They removed his jacket, his shirt, then his shoes and socks. Soon, he was left in nothing but a pair of bright red boxers. Andrew raised an eyebrow and turned to Lauren. "Does he always have a peculiar taste in underwear?" Lauren wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I wouldn't be surprised." Andrew looked back a
Lauren was furious. "I'd like to see who dares!" At that moment, Andrew walked in, his tone calm. "It's fine, Lauren. If he wants to force Shiloh, let him try." Lauren gritted her teeth. "But Dr. Lloyd, look at that disgusting lingerie in his hand! He actually wants to force a woman who's taken vows to wear that—tell me that's not perverted!" Andrew's gaze landed on Michael, his smirk ice-cold. "Didn't you get enough of a beating yesterday? I'd advise you not to push your luck." Michael let out a sinister laugh. "Speaking of yesterday, Andrew, I haven't even settled the score with you yet. Don't get too comfortable—I promise, your days of swaggering around won't last long!" Andrew's expression remained relaxed. "Great. Let's see which one of us goes down first." Michael's face darkened. Instead of ordering his assistants to act, he grabbed the lingerie himself and strode right up to Shiloh. "Here. Put this on and come out so I can get a good look." His Adam's apple bobbed
Andrew had no idea that the Stevens family from Bridgefields had already arrived in Jayrodale, looking for trouble. At the moment, he was at a commercial shooting studio. Lauren was there with Shiloh, discussing some final details with the photographer. When Eunice spotted Andrew approaching, she called out, "Mr. Lloyd, over here!" She wore a bright smile, and any previous complaints she had about Andrew were long gone. Now, all she felt was admiration. After all, Andrew had stood up for Lauren without hesitation, even going against Tiana. That kind of loyalty deeply moved a girl like Eunice. Andrew walked over with a grin and said, "Ms. Brooks, thank you for your hard work!." Eunice quickly waved her hands. "It's nothing! You're the one working hard, Mr. Lloyd!" Andrew glanced toward the photography set and asked, "Are Lauren and Shiloh almost done?" Eunice's expression darkened as she scoffed. "They were about to wrap up, but Mr. Rhodes barged in with his team and deman
"Be good. I'll make us breakfast—get dressed and come eat." Andrew's voice was warm as he pointed to his cheek, waiting expectantly. Francesca's round face was still flushed pink. Seeing his playful gesture, she let out an exasperated huff, pursing her lips as if she were reluctant. Even so, she leaned in and pressed a light kiss against his skin. Andrew grinned. "That's more like it." Francesca shot him an annoyed glare, but he only chuckled before leaving the bedroom. When he first moved into the secluded hilltop villa of Moonlit Sanctuary, he had found the place too big, too empty. However, with Francesca occasionally staying over, the once-lonely space felt pretty good. Actually, scratch that—it felt pretty damn amazing. A house without a woman was not much of a home, after all. A proper balance between men and women made life way more enjoyable. Andrew had never considered himself the kind of man who got carried away with romance, but Francesca and Lauren were not jus
The following day, the morning light streamed through the windows as Andrew woke up feeling completely refreshed. Beside him, a delicate figure lay curled up beneath the sheets, her porcelain skin bearing faint traces of last night's intensity. A soft murmur broke the silence as Francesca stirred awake. She turned her head, meeting Andrew's amused gaze, and immediately pouted in frustration. She grumbled, "You're unbelievable. You kept me up all night again! Look at me—bruises everywhere! Ugh, Andrew, can't you be a little gentler?" Andrew feigned innocence. "Hey, don't blame me! I was being gentle. But you were the one insisting halfway through that I go harder. And honestly, with how easily you bruise, I was holding back." Francesca's face turned beet red as she clenched the sheets. "Y-You're lying! I never said that! You're an absolute jerk!" Andrew casually got dressed and got out of bed, saying nonchalantly, "You were the one asking me to go harder last night, you know t
Tiana said coldly, "And these last two are from Rhodes Corporation. Aspen, do you have any idea how much damage you've caused? Because of you, Rhodes Pharmaceutical has taken hit after hit. We're barely hanging on! "Now get lost. Go back to Bridgefields, and don't ever set foot in Jayrodale again. Otherwise, if I'm ever in a bad mood, I'll make sure to slap you every time I see you!" Exuding pure dominance, Tiana let out a disdainful scoff before turning on her heel and walking away with her entourage. Aspen collapsed to the ground like a pile of broken rubble. Her whole body trembled as tears streamed down her face. The pain was unbearable—not just physically, but mentally. "W-why… why did it come to this?" she choked out. "Why, of all people, is it me? First, Andrew torments me, and now Tiana! Why?" She lay there, shoulders shaking violently as sobs racked her body. Tiana had completely destroyed her face, but that was not the worst part—the worst part was that her spirit w
Christina gritted her teeth, refusing to say a word. She hated the idea that anyone could think she was beneath Andrew. Deep down, there was a dark, bitter part of her that would never accept that he was doing better than her. After all, admitting it would mean that leaving him had been a monumental mistake—one of the dumbest decisions she had ever made. Christina was too proud to ever acknowledge that. Even if she said it out loud, she would never truly believe it in her heart. Tiana scoffed. "Forget it. I only said all that because I found you incredibly irritating. But I'm actually here for Aspen." As she spoke, her icy gaze shifted to Aspen. Aspen, already trembling, started shaking even harder. She stammered, "M-Mrs. Rhodes, what can I do for you?" Tiana took two slow steps forward, her smile sharp and merciless. "I never expected the Stevens family to produce someone like you, nor did I think Zephyr would raise such a thieving daughter!" Aspen swallowed her anger an
Christina said flatly, "Let's grab a bite first. We can deal with everything else after. Andrew is even taking the people I set my sights on now. Fine. If he wants to force my hand, then I have no choice but to go against him." Aspen hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Christie, have you considered that maybe Andrew really isn't on the same level as us anymore?" Failing time and time again, getting crushed by Andrew repeatedly—it had shattered Aspen's once-proud and confident heart. Whenever she faced him, she found herself losing the drive to compete. Instead, she just wanted to keep her distance. Aspen did not want to admit it, but deep down, she knew she was scared of him now. Christina's voice was icy. "No. I don't think he's that impressive. I'll admit, he's changed. He's become more powerful and holds much more influence now. But I'll never bow to him. I'll prove to him that if he can thrive, I can do even better." Aspen parted her lips, about to say something when