Nyla lifted her tear-streaked face, eyes full of sorrow. She choked out, "Andy… my dad… he's forcing me… He wants your formulas. He's making me steal them and bring them back to him." She broke down into sobs. "Andy, Dr. Aicker, you should fire me. I don't deserve to stay at Moonlit Apothecary anymore. I don't even have the face to show up here!" The words poured out of her as the tears fell. She had finally revealed everything because her trust in Andrew and Francesca was unconditional. Her loyalty to them ran deeper than blood, and when it came to Dominic, the man who was supposed to be her father, she felt nothing but heartbreak and betrayal. She had come to see that the man who once called her his daughter had turned into someone cold, greedy, and unrecognizable. He wanted her to betray Andrew—to steal from someone who had only ever been kind to her. Nyla realized she simply could not do it. She would rather tell the truth than live with that kind of guilt. Francesca
Nyla quickly waved her hands and shook her head. "I can't, Andy. I appreciate your kindness, but I really can't accept it. I'm too young, and honestly, I don't have what it takes to run the Goth family." Andrew chuckled. "Nyla, I know exactly what you're worried about. You have no one backing you, no powerful connections, and you're not a man—so you feel like leading a family just isn't in the cards for you. "On top of that, you're terrified of your father, Dominic, and even more afraid of Camilla. You're convinced they wouldn't approve, right?" Nyla let out a bitter smile. "It's not even about whether they'd approve or not. The moment I show the slightest interest in becoming head of the family, Camilla would probably find a way to kill me quietly. "She warned me herself, the day she married into this family. She said the Goth family would belong to her children and that I should forget about having a place in it." Francesca scoffed coldly. "Andrew, you know what? I'm on boa
Camilla giggled and said, "Honestly, I think that's the best decision too. But Dominic, don't you think Nyla might resent you for it? Her mom passed away so early—right now, you're all she has left." Dominic's voice turned cold. "Her mother's been gone for years. To be honest, I barely feel anything about it anymore. Sure, Nyla's my biological daughter, but if I'm being blunt, I never felt much for her emotionally. "Now that you're carrying my heir—and it's confirmed to be a boy—once he's born, you and our son will be the most cherished members of the Goth family." Both of them wore blissful smiles, completely lost in their fantasy of a perfect future. Suddenly, two guards rushed into the garden, completely out of breath. "Mr. and Mrs. Goth, Ms. Goth 's back!" Dominic frowned with displeasure. "Back already? That was quick. Don't tell me she failed?" His tone turned vicious as he clenched his jaw. "If she screwed up, I'll make sure she pays. I won't let that ungrateful br
Camilla stepped forward and backed him up. "That's right! Andrew, you may be the head of Moonlit Apothecary and have quite some power right now, but the Goth family is still one of Jayrodale's founding families! "And the White family still holds plenty of influence around here. If you go too far, and the two of us join forces, don't think we'll just sit back and take it!" Andrew let out a cold laugh. "I don't usually bully the weak just because I can. But Mr. Goth, you said your family never wronged me. Are you really going to stick to that story?" Dominic's eyes shifted, but he doubled down. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I? You gonna tell me when exactly we ever crossed you?" Andrew's voice turned sharp. "You're still trying to play dumb at a time like this? Really? You became Quinton's lapdog and tried to steal the formula for my miracle pills. You're not getting out of that one, are you?" Dominic's eyes blazed with fury as he shot a murderous glare at Nyla. That little tr
Camilla glared at Nyla with eyes full of venom. "You little bitch—this is all your fault! The Goth family fed you, clothed you, gave you everything. And this is how you repay us? By betraying your own blood? You just wait. I swear, I'll make you regret it." Nyla burst into tears. "Dad… Camilla… we were the ones in the wrong. If we all apologize to Andy together, I know he'll forgive us!" However, Dominic roared and pointed toward the door. "Get out! Get out of the Goth residence right now! From this moment on, you have no place here. You are no longer one of us." Nyla turned pale and dropped to her knees, ready to beg. Francesca rushed over and pulled her into her arms. Her voice was cold. "Nyla, don't waste your tears. Instead, be thankful. Because now, you finally see them for who they really are. These people are not parents—they're monsters." Andrew casually patted Dominic's cheek, a half-smile on his face. "You think I can't touch you, don't you? Mr. Goth, maybe we haven
Dominic believed there was a limit to how much someone could bluff. The Goth family might have kept a low profile, but they'd always been stable. Unless they were completely self-destructed, thinking someone could wipe them out from the outside was just a fantasy. Right then, Dominic's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and grinned before answering. "Mr. Jenner! Haha, I'm guessing the permit finally came through for our project, right? I knew it'd get approved!" The voice on the other end exploded. "Permit my ass, Dominic! Have you completely lost your damn mind? That project's main contract went through Rhodes Corporation, and you had the nerve to piss off their director, Mr. Lloyd? They already booted us off the deal! You absolute dumpster fire of a partner. I must've been blind to ever work with you!" The call ended in a furious hang-up before Dominic even had a chance to respond. He stood there frozen, still holding his expensive phone as if it had just slapped him across t
Alfred's furious outburst stunned everyone in the Goth family. "The entire city of Jayrodale is closing ranks against us right now!" he shouted, his face red with rage. "I spent over 30 years building our network—30 years of sweat, deals, and favors—and you destroyed it in a single day! You want me to stay away? Fine. But what now? You expect me to sleep on the streets like some washed-up nobody?" Alfred was shaking with rage as he slapped Dominic across the face again—and again, and again, delivering a flurry of brutal smacks. Given his seniority and power in the family, Alfred's authority was on par with Dominic's, if not stronger. In fact, Dominic's mediocrity had long been hidden behind Alfred's efforts—he was the one who kept the family's reputation intact. So, inside the Goth family, Alfred's word always carried more weight than Dominic's. After that vicious barrage of slaps, Dominic's face was covered in blood. Even one of his ears had started to bleed. Camilla shrie
Camilla let out a desperate scream and clutched her pregnant belly as she dropped to her knees, trying to beg Andrew for mercy. "Mr. Lloyd, I'm pregnant… please, I'm begging you—for the sake of my baby, spare us! Please, just give us a second chance!" However, Andrew stepped to the side, refusing her plea without a second thought. "Sorry, but begging now is a little too late." He turned to Alfred and asked calmly, "Alfred, I'm thinking of appointing Nyla as the new head of the Goth family. Do you believe she's fit for the role?" Alfred did not hesitate for a second. "Mr. Lloyd, absolutely. No question—she's more than qualified. But… if I may add just one small condition…" Before he could even finish, Andrew cut in with a cool tone. "I already know what you're trying to say. You want me to spare the Goth family, right? Don't worry. As long as Nyla takes the leadership role and you support her properly… "I'll personally make sure the Goth family bounces back. In fact, I'll help
"No, that's not my kink." Chantelle's voice was sharp as she glared at him with clenched teeth. "I just figured that if you were stupid enough to try something on me, I'd finally have a reason to end you myself." Andrew raised a brow, still amused. "Can I ask… have you ever actually dated anyone before?" Her tone went cold. "Once. It didn't last." "Only once?" Andrew said, surprised. "Sounds like the guy couldn't keep up." Chantelle gave a humorless laugh. "He couldn't. Before we got together, I made the rules clear—no touching without permission. But that jerk was even worse than you. "The moment we were official, he tried to grab my chest and whispered disgusting things. So I broke both his arms, shattered his legs, and dumped him into the water." Andrew winced. "So… you killed the guy?" She scoffed. "I wanted to. Unfortunately, he got lucky. Some fishing boat pulled him out of the water before he drowned." Andrew shook his head. "Still can't figure out how Mr. McCormi
"Not many people have legs that can rival yours," Andrew admitted, gaze trailing down. "But as it happens, I know one. Lauren Rhodes—the Rhodes family's eldest daughter. Her legs are… something else." Chantelle narrowed her eyes. "I've heard of her. But you're talking like you've seen them for yourself." Andrew smirked. "Oh, I haven't just seen them. I've felt them." Their back-and-forth continued as Chantelle's layers disappeared one by one until she stood in only her undergarments. She took a deep breath, wanting desperately to disappear. After all, it was the final layer, and her private parts would be exposed. Andrew's voice cut in, calm as ever. "If I may suggest… start with the top." Chantelle glared. "Why?" He replied evenly, "Because if I'm not impressed, I might not ask for anything more." Surprisingly, that made some kind of warped sense. If this shameless man found her average, maybe—just maybe—she would not have to bare it all. Chantelle took a breath, bit
Just the word 'strip' was enough to make Chantelle's face instantly flush a deep red. She never imagined that one day, she would be forced to strip in front of a man, especially one she had always looked down on and dismissed without a second thought. She noticed Andrew adjusting a phone on a stand nearby, and a sudden wave of dread washed over her. "What are you doing? Don't tell me you're planning to record this," she said, her voice sharp with suspicion. Andrew nodded with satisfaction, checking the perfect angle on his phone. "Of course. A beautiful moment like this deserves to be captured. This way, I can replay it whenever I feel nostalgic." Chantelle's eyes flared with anger and embarrassment. "You're lucky I'm even letting you look. Recording it? Forget it." Andrew shrugged casually. "I knew you'd say that. That's why the setup's just for show. Now… your performance, if you would." He leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, expression smug. Chantelle's fingers tr
"Dr. Lake, if you want to add more, go ahead," Richard replied coldly over the phone. "Money talks—and the more you offer, the faster that punk dies." … "Andrew, going up against Mosby brings you nothing but trouble," Chantelle said with a frown as they drove. Andrew's tone turned sharp. "He's the one who keeps provoking me—I didn't ask for this." Chantelle shook her head. "Even so, you should've handled it with more discretion. Mosby's been in Blumedale for years. His connections, his influence—you can't just sweep that aside. "Even if you want to challenge his reputation in the medical field, it doesn't have to happen overnight." Andrew scoffed. "Mosby? A respected authority? Let me be blunt, Ms. Garcia—you won't believe me, but to me, Mosby's just another loudmouthed nobody." Chantelle blinked, then let out a laugh, though it was laced with anger. "You're right. I don't believe you." Sure, Andrew had performed brilliantly today by saving George, and it was indeed an i
"Andrew, do you even realize you're playing with fire right now?" Chantelle, just about to start the car, froze and turned to him with furious eyes. Andrew raised a brow with a smirk. "What's wrong? Is the great Ms. Garcia—the darling of Mr. McCormick—planning to go back on her word now?" Chantelle stiffened, her face darkened, clearly ready to argue back. Before she could, a crowd had already gathered around the vehicle. "Dr. Lloyd, please wait—we have some medical puzzles we'd love your insight on!" Someone said, "Your skills today were extraordinary, Dr. Lloyd. I'd be honored to call myself your student!" "Who would've thought that someone like you would appear in Blumedale? One day, Dr. Lloyd, you'll be leading all of Gabo Creek Province's medical field!" Even Andrew had not expected this wave of praise. These elite doctors had specifically come to celebrate his success, and he was rather amused. "Please, everyone, make way. My medical skills really aren't anything sp
"So I had to take a different approach to get the medicine into his system," Andrew said calmly. As he spoke, he picked up the large bowl of herbal decoction Chantelle had prepared and placed it over the flame. The concoction soon began to boil, releasing a rich herbal aroma as steam filled the room. The medicated vapor slowly rose and enveloped George's entire body. Mosby scoffed. "And here I thought it was some groundbreaking technique—turns out it's just herbal steaming! Even I can do that." Everyone could tell he was just trying to stay relevant. Normally, his usual entourage of bootlickers would have chimed in with praise. But this time, no one said a word. Mosby turned to look behind him, only to see that the doctors who once flocked around him were now focused entirely on Andrew, their expressions full of admiration. They had already dismissed Mosby completely as if he were no longer in the room. "You'll need to do this treatment once every three days," Andrew instruc
Logan was stunned. He rushed forward in shock. "Father, you're awake?" George forced a small smile. "Not only am I awake, but I've never felt this clear-headed before. It even feels like my martial cultivation just had a breakthrough!" The crowd of expert doctors, including Chantelle and Mosby, was frozen in place, completely dumbfounded. No one could utter a single word, as they were too stunned to react. Andrew gestured for Logan to help George onto the couch, smiling as he said, "Mr. Keller Senior, the energy corruption has already been cleared from your system. Now you'll just need some medication to aid your recovery, and your body should return to normal. "However, your vitality and spiritual energy were badly depleted—it'll take a few months to fully recover." George looked at Andrew with genuine admiration. He asked Logan to help him sit up, then turned solemnly and said, "I'm already grateful just to be alive. But to come out of this without losing an ounce of my life
Mosby explained, "But undoubtedly, his mind must be utterly exhausted and his spirit completely drained! Whether or not he wakes up will be the real challenge. If he doesn't regain consciousness, he'll become nothing more than a hollow shell." As he spoke, he cast a deliberately sinister glance at Andrew. If George remained in a vegetative state, then Andrew would not just be blamed—he would probably be executed on the spot by the Keller family. Yet right then, Logan turned to Andrew with genuine sincerity and said, "Andrew, all of us in the Keller family saw what you did for my father. Don't worry—even if he doesn't wake up, you'll still be honored as a benefactor of our family." Mosby could not believe what he was hearing. "Mr. Keller, how can you say that? If Mr. Keller Senior doesn't wake up, Andrew should be held accountable for a grievous crime!" Logan, however, had already seen through Mosby's jealousy and hostility toward Andrew. He responded calmly, "Mr. Lake, this is
Andrew ignored all the shouting around him without batting an eye. Once everything he requested had been brought in, he began the treatment without delay. "Mr. Keller Senior, brace yourself for some pain," he warned calmly. With that, he slowly inserted golden needles into the top of George's head. Chantelle's voice turned serious. "Andrew, the head is the most delicate part of the human body. It's where the nerves are most complex—what you're doing could have serious consequences." Andrew replied evenly, "Mr. Keller Senior's condition stems from a mental collapse, and the mind resides in the thoughts—the thoughts in the brain. So, treatment has to start there." As he explained, his hands moved with precision. Soon, the crown of George's head, right in GV20, was covered in golden needles. Then, he pressed two acupoints on George's chest with careful control. A flicker of relief finally appeared on George's agonized face. Logan asked cautiously, "Andrew, why did you target