Leroy nursed his stinging cheek in angry silence, looking daggers at Andrew. Meanwhile, Christina's face turned pale at the mention of canceling the partnership. She quickly said, "Mr. Maloney, I'm very sorry for Leroy's behavior and disrespect." Owen just sneered. "Your apology means nothing to me. Mr. Lloyd has the final say." Christina was torn at the thought of apologizing to Andre. However, Owen's furious expression made her realize the orphanage deal could slip through their fingers if she did not. After a moment of internal struggle, she forced out the words, "I'm sorry, M-Mr. Lloyd." Andrew smirked. "Ms. Stevens, I'd never thought you'd actually bow to someone." Christina hissed, "Does it feel good to use Mr. Yates' influence to humiliate me?" Andrew's expression remained cold, thinking how stupid she was being. If he really wanted to deal with the Stevens family, he could do it with a snap of his fingers—he did not need anyone's help. Only then did Andrew re
"This doesn't make sense. Mr. Thatcher is in his prime, and my team monitors his health constantly. How could he fall ill so suddenly?" Bernard muttered. As Mark's personal physician, the incident weighed heavily on his shoulders. Harvey confidently announced, "I've already called Dr. Aicker, and he can surely help with Mr. Thatcher's illness." Someone remarked, "Smart move, Mr. Weller. If Dr. Aicker saves Mr. Thatcher, the Wellers will certainly gain his favor." Another person nodded. "Exactly. If Mr. Thatcher recovers, the credit will surely go to Mr. Weller and his family." Even though he was secretly pleased with himself, Harvey maintained a serious expression. "Mr. Thatcher is our mayor, and it's only natural for me to help. I wouldn't dare have any ulterior motives." The mayor's family expressed their sincere thanks to Harvey, while Bernard watched with a cynical smile. He could see right through the young Weller's scheme—everyone wanted to earn the mayor's gratitude b
Harvey scoffed, annoyed by Lauren's naivety. She was once a brilliant, captivating woman, but she lost her sense ever since she started seeing Andrew. Not only that, but she even dared to challenge him. As Cedric finished his examination, Harvey rushed forward with a smile. "Dr. Aicker, while Mr. Thatcher's condition might stump others, surely it's no challenge for someone of your expertise?" Cedric remained silent, his brows deeply furrowed, which made Harvey's heart skip a beat. "Dr. Aicker, please say something. How is Mr. Thatcher's condition?" Cedric shook his head, sighing. "I've identified the illness, but I'm afraid it's beyond my skills to treat him." The room fell into shocked silence. Harvey refused to accept this. "Dr. Aicker, don't say that about yourself. Mr. Thatcher's life is on the line. Please, do whatever you can!" Cedric replied sharply, "If I could treat him, I would have done so already. Mr. Thatcher's condition affects his entire system, and it's term
Someone questioned, "Is the Rhodes family so desperate for Mr. Thatcher's favor, just like the Wellers?" "It's absurd to let a random doctor experiment when even Dr. Aicker is uncertain." Harvey's grin deepened as the complaints grew. If the Weller family could not benefit from this situation, he would make sure the Rhodes family would not either. "Everyone, quiet down," Cedric interrupted. "Who said no one can treat Mr. Thatcher? I'll call my mentor right away." The room fell silent in surprise. Cedric was already Jayrodale's top medical expert, and they were all stunned to hear he had a mentor. Besides, Cedric was already quite old, and his mentor must be even older. At that age, could the miracle doctor still treat others? "Dr. Aicker, who is this mentor of yours?" Harvey asked skeptically. Cedric snorted, "That's none of your concern, but I guarantee if my mentor can't cure Mr. Thatcher, no one can." As Cedric reached for his phone, he suddenly stopped and frowned
Meanwhile, Andrew did not waste time on the South City Orphanage project. He quickly left with Mark's driver, immediately heading toward the Thatcher residence. "I can't believe it. This loser suddenly has people picking him up now?" Irene muttered under her breath with obvious jealousy. "That was Mr. Thatcher's driver just now, wasn't it?" Leroy pondered aloud. "And that license plate looked like Mr. Thatcher's personal one. I wonder why they'd pick up someone like him." "Nonsense! Why would Mr. Thatcher's driver come for him?" Irene scoffed dismissively. "He's a nobody! And let me tell you, for someone so young, your eyesight is worse than mine!" Christina was the only one who was genuinely stunned, as she was sure that the driver was indeed Mark's personal driver, and that luxury car was definitely Mark's private vehicle. She wondered if Andrew had somehow become Mark's honored guest, though she quickly dismissed the thought as impossible, believing there must be some ot
Bernard felt a chill running down his spine when he saw Andrew appear, as he realized that this man might actually be capable of curing Mark's condition. Andrew completely ignored the ongoing debate outside and proceeded to take out his silver needles, working swiftly to target several major pressure points around Mark's body. Cedric watched intently from the side, hoping to learn something from Andrew's technique. 'Such masterful needlework! He instantly identified Mr. Thatcher's condition and acted without hesitation. This young man truly has the skills of a legendary healer,' he thought to himself, his desire to become Andrew's apprentice growing stronger with each passing moment. After a few minutes of Andrew's treatment, Mark regained consciousness. "There are two conflicting energies remaining in Mr. Thatcher's body," Andrew explained while continuing the treatment. "If I'm not mistaken, this was caused by an attack from a martial arts master, and based on how deepl
Andrew chuckled. "This is nothing to me!" Then, he pressed his palm against Mark's main pressure points while his right hand swiftly inserted three silver needles with a skillful flick. Instantly, two distinct energies surged from Mark's body. He winced in pain but soon let out a deep breath, feeling an incredible lightness. "Is it over already?" Mark asked Andrew in disbelief. "Yes, it's done," Andrew replied with a smile. Mark stared at Andrew intently and stated, "What remained in my body was energy left by a grandmaster. An ordinary person would be completely destroyed just by touching it, yet you handled it without breaking a sweat. If I'm not mistaken, you must be a martial arts master yourself?" Instead of answering directly, Andrew simply smiled and said, "Mr. Thatcher, you should rest now. I'll write two prescriptions, and with two months of recovery, you'll be completely healed." After leaving the prescriptions, Andrew walked out of the room. Immediately, Laure
The invited guests would undoubtedly receive Mark's favor and shower of gratitude. Even after all his scheming, Harvey had absolutely nothing to show for it, which left him seething with frustration. What angered him most was Andrew, that loser, somehow managed to steal his spotlight. He was supposed to be Jayrodale's golden boy, the rising star of the younger generation destined for greatness. Harvey growled through gritted teeth, "Andrew, you've stolen my thunder one too many times. Just wait—I'll find a way to take you down!" Burning with anger and resentment, he stormed out of the Thatcher residence. Just then, Christina called and asked, "Harvey, how's Mr. Thatcher doing?" Harvey forced a laugh, trying to keep his voice steady as he replied, "Everything's fine now. He's cured." Christina exclaimed in surprise, "That's wonderful news! But who managed to heal him? Was it Dr. Aicker, the one you invited?" "Of course," Harvey lied smoothly, not showing an ounce of sh
Even Tiana was surprised by herself. She never expected that her view of Andrew had changed so drastically. She hated to admit it, but she had misjudged him—her perspective had been too narrow. Andrew was not just some reckless upstart. He was exceptional. Andrew remained calm. "Mrs. Rhodes, I appreciate your compliments but don't need them. What I do need is an explanation. Otherwise, know that I wasn't joking earlier." Tiana scoffed, her expression darkening. She looked at him coldly and said, "Just because I appreciate you doesn't mean I approve of you. You spoke out of turn earlier, disrespecting me. You even had the audacity to threaten Rhodes Corporation itself." She asked, "Do you have any idea how close I was to putting you in your place right then and there?" Andrew smirked. "Well, Mrs. Rhodes, I'd say you were very lucky you didn't. Because if you had, you wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation with me." Tiana narrowed her eyes. "What are you trying to
Before long, Andrew arrived outside Tiana's office. Jerry and his men stood at the door, guarding the entrance. The moment they saw Andrew approaching, they tensed up. "Mr. Lloyd, why are you back?" Andrew's voice remained calm. "Move aside. I need to speak with Mrs. Rhodes." Jerry frowned and took a step forward to block the door. Andrew barely spared him a glance—just one look. Yet, in that instant, Jerry felt like he had been struck by lightning. A wave of cold terror washed over him as if he had just been locked in the sights of a predator. His entire body froze, and he mumbled, "M-Mr.Lloyd…" Jerry pointed at Andrew, his heart pounding violently. He had only experienced this feeling once before. It had come from a grandmaster, a legendary figure in the southern martial arts world. That man's strength had already surpassed the senior grandmaster level ten years ago, and his name alone commanded fear across all of Holtrien. Could it be that Andrew had reached that sam
Andrew said coldly, "If this ever happens again, then you and the Rhodes family will be done!" Tiana's rage was palpable, but she was not the only one stunned. Everyone around them stared at Andrew in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief. They could not believe that Andrew had just openly threatened Tiana. Moreover, it was not just her, but all of the Rhodes family. He did not even try to hide it—this was a blatant, unfiltered warning. The sheer audacity of it was beyond anything anyone had ever seen. Even Donald felt a shiver crawl down his spine. This was a war between giants, and in a battle like this, bystanders could be crushed just by standing too close. If Tiana truly decided to attack Andrew, what side could he even take? Not that it mattered—no matter which side he chose, he was powerless here. Tiana was from the Lamberts, a name that carried immense weight in Gabo Creek. Additionally, she was also backed by the Rhodes family. With both powerhouses supporting he
Michael threw his head back and let out a cruel, triumphant laugh. He taunted, "Lauren, I told you—you could never beat me! Whether it's Aunt Tiana or the entire Rhodes Corporation board, they're all on my side. "They favor me because they know I am the future of this company. So what if you and Andrew keep defeating me over and over? At the end of the day, you will always be beneath me!" A sharp gurgle sounded, and Lauren suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. The pain in her heart was unbearable—it felt like someone had carved a hole straight through her soul. She looked at Tiana and let out a hollow, bitter laugh, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. She whispered, "I see now… you never loved me. You're still the same person—always saying it's for my own good, always pretending to care, but it's all a lie." Marcus and the others clenched their fists, their eyes burning with fury as they glared at Tiana. What she had just done to Lauren—her own daughter—was beyond
Lauren cared about Tiana, but no matter how much she did, her mother still insisted on forcing her into marriage with the Driscoll family. There was no crueler irony in a mother-daughter relationship than this. The moment Tiana appeared, Michael's eyes lit up with hope. He shouted desperately, "Aunt Tiana, I'm innocent! You have to save me!" His plea, however, only drew mocking laughter from the crowd. At this point, it was clear—Michael had set fire to the Wellers' warehouse. This was a major felony, and no matter how powerful Tiana was, even she could not cover for him now. Hence, begging for help was useless. Andrew thought Tiana likely was about to abandon Michael, her puppet, for good. Yet, what happened next shocked everyone. Tiana turned to Donald and said coldly, "Mr. Warren, Michael is part of the Rhodes family. If you want to take him, you'd better show me absolute, undeniable proof!" Donald frowned. "Mrs. Rhodes, don't make this difficult for me." Tiana's voice
Michael's face was swollen from the blows, but he still snarled, "Donald, just you wait! Mrs. Rhodes is still in the building—once she steps in, let's see who the hell dares to touch me!" Andrew strolled over, chuckling. "Michael, it's only been half a day, and you've already switched careers?" Michael gritted his teeth the moment he saw Andrew. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? Are you mocking me?" Andrew shook his head. "Mock you? No way—I admire you! Not everyone can go from being Rhodes Corporation's vice CEO to a convicted felon in less than 24 hours. That takes real talent!" Michael's expression twisted in fury. "Andrew, don't get cocky! With my influence and connections, even if I get locked up, I won't stay in there for long!" Andrew smirked. "Wow, listen to yourself—so impressive! So what, that means you can commit arson and still walk free? The law doesn't apply to you?" Michael sneered. "You're damn right it doesn't. That's what power is—that's what a fami
Marcus kept trying to explain himself, but it was useless. One of the officers snapped the cuffs onto his wrists and said, "Mr. Chapman, as the head of Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division, you're under investigation. The authorities are taking this case very seriously—everyone from Rhodes Pharmaceutical is being detained for questioning, so I hope you understand." Marcus sighed in frustration. He knew there was no way he could talk his way out of this. Michael had caused an absolute disaster, and everyone at Rhodes Pharmaceutical was being treated like high-risk suspects. A few of Michael's close associates, used to being arrogant, started cursing and resisting the officers. That did not last long—each of them took a hard baton strike to the stomach, doubling over in pain before getting cuffed and thrown to the floor. At that moment, Andrew stepped forward. "Officers, Mr. Chapman is one of my people. Can you let him go?" The officers looked up and immediately stra
Andrew let out a cold scoff and lashed out with a series of rapid kicks. Several of the men who had been hurling accusations at Rhodes Corporation cried out in pain as they collapsed to the ground, clutching their injuries. At the building's entrance, the police officers stationed to control the scene noticed the commotion and were about to step in. However, the moment they saw Andrew, their expressions shifted, and they quickly put on polite smiles. "Mr. Lloyd, you're here!" Andrew nodded. "That's right. Would you mind letting us through?" The officers immediately stepped aside, more than happy to comply. Andrew grinned. "I'll treat Mr. Warren and you guys to drinks sometime." The officers beamed, clearly honored, and began thanking him profusely. In Jayrodale, Andrew had become a legend—someone with influence in both high society and the underground. These officers worked under Donald and knew exactly how formidable Andrew was. Across the street from Rhodes Corporation,
Lauren looked at Andrew and spoke quickly, "I won't be staying at Moonlit Apothecary for now. I'll need you and Mr. Aicker to discuss the endorsements for the two miracle drugs!" Andrew replied, "If you're heading back, there's no way I'm letting you go alone. Come on, I'll go with you and check things out." Lauren hesitated. "But Dr. Lloyd… you know how my mother and Michael feel about you. You really don't have to care about what happens to Rhodes Corporation!" Andrew sighed. "I don't care about Rhodes Corporation's fate, but I do care about yours—how could I not?" Lauren's eyes welled up with tears, and she nearly broke down. Andrew's voice softened. "Come on. No matter what happens, I'll face it with you." Francesca immediately chimed in, "Lauren, Andrew, I'm coming with you!" Cedric nodded and said, "Dr. Lloyd, you three go ahead and handle things at Rhodes Corporation. As for those two miracle drugs—you mentioned needing endorsers, right? I happen to have the perfec