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Chapter 1023

Author: Only For You
"Starting trouble at Aroma Exchange? Do you have a death wish?"

A sharp, commanding voice sliced through the room. Striding in at the center of a group of men in fitted black suits was a tall woman in a crimson designer dress, a lit cigarette delicately balanced between her fingers. Her wavy hair and cold expression made her presence impossible to ignore.

Behind her, the men stood like trained operatives—buzz cuts, sharp eyes, and temple veins slightly bulging—the kind of guys you just knew were professionals.

Seth pointed at Andrew and barked, "Ms. Sinclair, I know the restaurant's rules! But I'm not the one who started anything—it was him, this crazy bastard! Just look at me! He beat me like an animal!"

Ruth Sinclair's gaze darkened as she turned toward Andrew. "So you're the one who smashed Mr. Haywood's head open?"

Before Andrew could respond, Aspen stepped in. "Ms. Sinclair, we were just having dinner when Seth barged into our private room and disrupted everything. As pe
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  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1024

    Ruth turned her head slightly, voice sharp and cool. "Mr. Haywood, is it true—what Ms. Aspen said? Did you barge in and stir things up first?" Seth growled, "I only said a few words. I never crossed the line! But that lunatic just snapped and attacked me out of nowhere! Ms. Sinclair, the Haywoods and your establishment have always had a good relationship. You have to stand up for me!" Aspen quickly countered, "Ms. Sinclair, that's not how it happened at all! He came into our private suite without permission and kept throwing insults at Andrew, calling him names over and over again. If you don't believe me, check the surveillance footage!" Seth sneered coldly. "Aspen, everything I did—I did for you. I was trying to save you from this nightmare, and this is how you repay me?" Aspen scoffed. "Mr. Haywood, are you really going to pretend your intentions were noble? Let's be honest—you had your own motives. I've told you before, I'm not one of those starry-eyed girls who fall for a

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1025

    "Let's go! What the hell are you doing? Move!" Aspen was so pale she looked like she might pass out, and she shoved Andrew hard—twice. She could not understand why he was being so reckless. Why could he not lower his ego and let this slide? After all, this was not Jayrodale. This was the capital, a place crawling with power players and hidden sharks. Even Seth had the sense to shut up, and back down in front of Ruth, yet Andrew was still out here picking a fight. Was he trying to get them killed? Andrew suddenly pulled her into his arms, his gaze sharp and cold. He said flatly, "Don't worry. I've got you tonight. If anything happens to you, I'll make sure this trash excuse of a restaurant gets wiped off the map." Aspen's mind went completely blank, and her body went numb. They were in trouble—deep, terrifying trouble. Ruth let out a slow, furious laugh and snapped, "You've got a sharp mouth for someone so young! Do you really think you're untouchable? One word from me, an

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1026

    Some guests watched on with smug amusement. Ruth bit down her rage and gave a chilling command to the man at her side. "Wait until they finish their meal and leave the restaurant. I want that punk's tongue." With that, she turned and walked away, the contempt on her face thick enough to cut through glass. What a joke—he actually thought he could touch her? Ruth was beautiful, yes, but she was also powerful. In a place like this, people did not just treat her with courtesy—they treated her with reverence. No one had ever dared to say something so disrespectful to her, and the reason was simple. Behind her stood a monster of a man, a silent force that kept Aroma Exchange untouchable. He was the one who made this restaurant sacred ground. … Back in the private suite, the food was served again, freshly plated. A new bottle of Celestial Reserve had also been opened. Andrew ate happily, completely unbothered. Meanwhile, Aspen sat stiff as a board, her face pale and tense, an

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1027

    Ruth was breathless, her chest rising and falling rapidly from the long-haired man's teasing touch. Still, she looked thrilled. After punching his chest a few times in mock protest, she giggled and purred, "You're the one who made the restaurant rules, remember? No violence on the premises. If we go after that punk now, aren't we just ruining our own reputation?" The long-haired man scoffed. "Those rules were made for others to follow, not me." Ruth laughed seductively, pressing her chest against him with a flirtatious smirk as they linked arms and headed downstairs. The moment they appeared, every guest in the restaurant stood up, rushing to greet them respectfully. The long-haired man returned each nod with a warm smile, walking with effortless dominance, radiating presence. Ruth, however, wore a wicked smile. Now that her man was involved, that little punk Andrew? He was dead meat. Someone exclaimed, "Look, look! Mr. Fischer's heading toward the private room! That kid's

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1028

    "Zac! Do it! What are you waiting for?!" Ruth shrieked, stamping her heel in a fury. Without a word, Zachary raised his hand and slapped her across the face hard. The force sent Ruth flying, blood trickling from the corner of her lips. Stunned, she clutched her cheek and stared at him in disbelief like she had just seen a ghost. "Why… Why the hell did you hit me?" she stammered. Around them, everyone froze in place. They all could not believe what had just happened, and they could not help but wonder if it was a mistake. After all, they all thought Andrew was the one who should have been hit. Andrew stared at Zachary, shocked. Then, he let out a low, amused laugh. He certainly had not expected to see a familiar face, of all things. Meanwhile, Zachary shuddered. From the moment Andrew had stepped into the light, he had been frozen, like some spell had locked his limbs in place. His legs were shaking as he stammered, "C-Captain, is it really you?" Andrew's lips curled int

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1029

    "Ms. Stevens, please have a seat," Zachary said warmly. Aspen was caught off guard but quickly sat beside Andrew, feeling like she had entered a surreal dream. Never in her life had she imagined someone like Zachary Fischer—a living legend in the southern martial arts world—would personally invite her to sit. "Ruth, go grab the two vintage bottles I've been saving," Zachary added, turning to her with a tone that left no room for negotiation. "Tonight, I'm going all out for Mr. Lloyd." Ruth's face tightened with resentment. Why was her man, always so powerful and untouchable, suddenly acting like a bootlicker? However, when Zachary's icy gaze locked onto her, she shuddered and hurried off to obey without another word. Andrew chuckled, clearly amused. "Zac, you're living large these days. And your woman? Man, she carries herself like she the damn queen." Zachary forced a bitter smile. "I'm sorry, Mr. Lloyd. Ruth's gotten spoiled by me. I'll discipline her better going forward

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1030

    Zachary let out a cold snort. "You better make sure there isn't a next time. Everyone seated here has earned their place—except you. You're just a cheap nobody who doesn't belong at this table." He added, "Get on your knees and pour drinks for Mr. Lloyd and Ms. Stevens." Ruth stared at him in disbelief. Was he seriously asking her to kneel now, all for Andrew? Was he really worth this level of humiliation? Ultimately, she gritted her teeth and dropped to her knees like a servant—silently pouring drinks as ordered. Aspen watched, wanting to say something but stopped herself. She could not help but shoot Andrew a look, annoyed he had not said a word to stop it. Letting someone kneel like that was seriously inhumane. However, Andrew just sipped his drink quietly, as if he had not seen anything. He had no intention of stepping in—not after how Ruth had acted earlier. If anything, this was just karma being served cold. Zachary downed half his glass and looked across the table

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1031

    Aspen could only imagine how terrifying Andrew's real identity was. Everyone knew that Holtrien had no shortage of prodigies, but those who made it onto the Titan List were monsters in human form—true legends among legends. Take Aspen, for example. In her hometown of Bridgefields, she was the pride of the city, admired by everyone. Yet, not a single person from Bridgefields had ever qualified for the Titan List. Even the Underworld Index only had at most two names from there, and they were way at the bottom. Andrew stood up and said, "Alright then, I should head back and get some rest. Thanks for the hospitality, by the way." Zachary stood up right after him, eyes blazing with passion. "Come back with us. Let's rise again together. Once the old crew hears you're back, they'll drop everything and come running!" Andrew chuckled and replied, "Don't exaggerate. I'm just a regular guy, just trying to live a simple, quiet life. All that talk about fighting and war? I'm not into

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  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1176

    Yet, of all the fearless, reckless men they had encountered, neither Aspen nor Chantelle had ever seen anyone as stubbornly arrogant as Andrew. Both women were completely stunned, wondering where he even got the guts to say things like that. In this world, commoners fear officials—but officials? They fear the men with guns—the military. However, here was Andrew, treating a colonel like Xavier as if he were worthless weeds. It was utter madness—like a sparrow challenging an eagle, a lamb taunting a wolf. It was sheer recklessness bordering on suicide. With a thunderous swoosh, Xavier's massive broadsword came crashing down with enough force to split boulders and level trees. Just the murderous pressure from that swing made Chantelle's face go pale. She was starting to doubt if she could even stand up to Xavier herself. After all, Andrew looked like he was about to be torn in half by that blade. What infuriated her even more was that, at the height of danger, Andrew just st

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1175

    "Colonel Haywood, you know full well that with your rank and position, you can't just go around killing people on a whim," Chantelle warned coldly. She added, "Besides, your friend Andarov used banned weaponry on Holtrien soil, which is a serious offense. You can be sure Mr. McCormick won't just let that slide." Left with no other option, Chantelle had to drop Derek's name to try to rein Xavier in. However, Xavier was not intimidated at all. His voice dripped with venom as he said, "Ms. Garcia, I respect Mr. McCormick—he governs this province, and I'll give him that. But do you think the Haywoods' name should be trampled like dirt? Especially by some no-name punk who doesn't know his place? "I'll chop him into pieces, and if I have to, I'll apologize to Mr. McCormick myself. But with the military accolades I've earned, the Haywood family's backing, and my deep ties in the defense department, killing this bug wouldn't even cause a blip on the radar." Chantelle's stomach twiste

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1174

    Chantelle sneered, "All in all, you're just an ordinary man, a slave to your desires with a pathetically mediocre mind." She had finally caught an opening to hit Andrew where it hurt, and she was not about to waste it. Andrew chuckled. "Ms. Garcia, you really do live up to your title as a master of psychology. You got most of it right. But you still missed one tiny detail—like the fact that, right now, I've got a very clear image of your naked body in my mind." The bluntness of that line stunned Chantelle, and her expression twisted in outrage. She snapped, "Andrew! That was in the past—how dare you bring it up like it's nothing? Aren't you worried I'll kill you?" The usually cold woman was genuinely furious now. Andrew shrugged lazily. "I'm sitting right here, wounded and unarmed. Go ahead, kill me. But even if you did, you still wouldn't erase the fact that you once stripped bare in front of me." Chantelle raised her hand in fury but forced herself to lower it again with

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1173

    Andrew was sitting on the lawn outside Serenity Villa, watching the crew from The Sovereign Residences repair his home. After the attack last night, it was a miracle the place was still standing—if the villa had not been built to the highest security standards, it would have been reduced to nothing but ash and rubble by the Srovika Federation mercenaries. Felix Daughtry, the security captain from The Sovereign Residences, a semi-martial king-level fighter, walked over with a grim expression and reported, "Mr. Lloyd, Serenity Villa took quite a hit. Full restoration might be difficult." Andrew glanced at him and said coldly, "I want it restored exactly as it was, and not just that—The Sovereign Residences will need to compensate me for all damages, including emotional distress. If that's too much, then I don't want the house anymore. I'll go to the press and let the world know just how useless your brand really is." Felix's face darkened, turning almost pitch black with anger. H

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1172

    Since the night before, Xavier had been fully suited in military attire, standing vigilant and sleepless. He gripped a massive broadsword, and when the butler spoke, his voice was ice-cold. "Don't worry. Andarov won't fail me. That bastard Andrew is as good as dead." Though those were his words, doubt lingered in Xavier's mind. After all, Andarov never took this long to finish a kill. Nonetheless, the sun was rising—he should be back any minute now. Andarov, commander of the Blood Wolf Mercenaries, was ruthless and battle-hardened. Xavier met him while stationed overseas, and after several missions together, they became close allies. "With the entire Blood Wolf squad under him, it doesn't matter if Andrew has bodyguards. He won't last five minutes," Xavier sneered, confident. He was already planning the next steps—hold Seth's memorial as soon as Andarov returned, then introduce him to Luna to score even more clout. Having a famous international mercenary as a personal friend? E

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1171

    At the Golding family estate, Elon exclaimed in disbelief, "What did you just say? Black Wolf is dead?" The butler, face tight with unease, replied, "Yes, sir. Early this morning, his body was found dumped in the sewer. The cause of death matched the last group of assassins perfectly. There's no doubt that it was Andrew who killed him." Elon's expression darkened instantly. "Even Black Wolf failed and ended up dead? Andrew... you've clearly been hiding more strength than we thought." The butler nodded gravely. "Sir, that man is definitely not some pawn on the board. Not only is Black Wolf gone, but the Srovika Federation mercenary commander the Haywoods brought in also died at Serenity Villa." Elon gasped. "Even Xavier's overseas hitman got wiped out? Are you absolutely sure?" The old butler's brow twitched. "Completely sure. This morning, both bodies—Black Wolf and the mercenary captain—were found side by side in the sewer on Blumedale's main street." Elon clenched his ja

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1170

    On the ground, Black Wolf writhed in pain, howling in disbelief. He finally understood why that last squad of heavily armed mercenaries had vanished without a trace after storming Serenity Villa. This place was not just a house—it was a damn death trap. "Who sent you to kill me?" Andrew asked calmly as he twirled the dagger Black Wolf had dropped. Pinned down by Natasha and Dylan, Black Wolf was drenched in sweat, his shattered legs leaving him gasping in agony. He growled, "Why the hell should I tell you? You should know exactly who you've pissed off. Even if I'm in your hands, kid, if you lay a finger on me, the consequences—" Andrew did not let him finish. Instead, he drove the blade straight into Black Wolf's chest. Whatever threat Black Wolf was about to spit out died on his tongue. His eyes bulged in shock before his head slumped to the side—dead. "If you didn't have the sense to act like a prisoner, then I did you a favor and sent you straight to hell. Next time, try

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1169

    Aspen could not help leaning closer to see what Andrew was doing. To her surprise, his breathing was steady—he was already asleep. She stared at him, both amused and annoyed as she thought, 'I'm lying right next to him, and he still manages to fall asleep? Am I not attractive enough? Or does this guy just not find me worth the effort?' That split second of realization triggered an unexpected wave of disappointment and frustration in her. … Meanwhile, outside Serenity Villa, a black figure moved silently across the ruined outer wall, climbing with inhuman ease. It was Black Wolf—Elon's secret weapon, a top-tier assassin with a reputation to match. A matte-finished blade dangled from his lips as he surveyed the building, swiftly memorizing the layout of the damaged villa. He was not alone. At least a dozen other men hid in the dark, surrounding the perimeter and lying in wait. Nonetheless, they were not predators, at least not to him. He scoffed, thinking, 'They're the bait,

  • Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1168

    Through the second half of the night, Serenity Villa remained eerily quiet. Chantelle stepped out from her lookout post and announced, "Looks like no one else is coming tonight. Everyone should get some rest." Andrew stopped her. "Hold up. You all stay on watch—I'll go rest." Chantelle narrowed her eyes. "Are you giving me orders like I'm your subordinate?" Andrew responded calmly, "Not at all. I just want to isolate myself and draw the next assassin in alone." Chantelle frowned. "So, you're planning to be alone in a room and give the assassin a shot at you? You're using yourself as bait?" Andrew replied, "Exactly. One mercenary commander from the Srovika Federation is dead, but with the Haywoods and Goldings both after my head, there's no way they'd just send one decent hitter and be done." Chantelle nodded. "That… makes sense. But you're injured. What happens if something unexpected comes up? Can you really handle it?" Before Andrew could answer, Aspen blurted, "It's

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