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Chapter 1038
Kaugnay na kabanata
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1039
Aspen's ears and neck turned bright red as she glared at him. She snapped, "I-I'll never sleep with you, Andrew! You can make me do anything else, but not that. My body is off-limits!" She blurted, nearly shouting, "I'm still a virgin! I made a vow years ago—I'll only give myself to my future husband!" Andrew stared at her like she had just grown wings. After all, she had to be in her late 20s. With how long she had been in the game, always networking, always flirting with powerful men—he never would have guessed. But now? Turned out this wildcat had never been touched. It was like walking into a chicken coop and finding a hidden phoenix—ridiculous, but rare as hell. Aspen noticed the way he was looking at her and instantly blew up. "The hell's that look for? I'm telling the truth, you bastard!" Aspen snapped, misreading his stunned silence. Andrew leaned in and whispered by her ear, voice full of mischief. "All the better. Every man wants to be the first, you know that, ri
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1040
Not long after Andrew and Aspen arrived, a middle-aged man in a formal robe stepped onto the stage and addressed the room. "Thank you all for coming to the capital's official charity event. As always, I'm Derek McCormick. No long speeches—everyone, just show your sincerity. I hope we can all give something back and help those struggling in the poorer regions of Gabo Creek Province." He did not say much—just brief sentences—before setting down the mic and stepping off. And yet, no one had a single complaint. On the contrary, the room erupted into applause, with waves of praise echoing throughout the hall. The reason was simple: the man was Derek McCormick, Governor of Gabo Creek—one of the highest-ranking officials in the province. He was a true regional powerhouse. Andrew nodded with interest. "You can tell. The guy actually seems like a good leader." Aspen rolled her eyes with a half-laugh. "Can you not act like that? Mr. McCormick is way above your league, and you talk like
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1041
Aspen said, "But you're the CEO. So, what do you think? Should we just make a casual gesture and write a check for a million? Or should we step it up a notch, maybe throw in roughly eight million to try and make a name for our company?" Andrew shook his head and said, "Eight million? That's not enough. It lacks impact." Aspen was stunned. "That's still not enough? Come on, this is just a regular charity event. Even those filthy rich legacy families only drop five million tops, just to show some goodwill. And you think even eight million isn't enough? "If we go too high, we'll end up at the top of the donor list and stand out way too much. That kind of attention might actually backfire." She clearly disagreed with Andrew's idea. However, Andrew waved it off. "Don't overthink it. Just spend the money. I'll deal with the consequences. Screw it, let's just go with 50 million." Aspen froze, completely in disbelief. "50 million? Are you out of your mind? If we go that high, ther
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1042
After all the moguls, elites, and legacy families finished flexing their generosity at the charity event, the venue transitioned into a lavish buffet-style dinner. With her stunning looks and classy aura, Aspen turned heads everywhere she went. She held a glass of red wine and chatted gracefully with several older men, most balding and sporting sizable beer bellies. Meanwhile, Andrew looked utterly bored. He had filled a plate with food and was sitting alone, eating away like he had not had a proper meal in days. Aspen caught a glimpse of him across the room and nearly lost it. She was working her tail off trying to network and promote Supreme Capital Group, while this so-called CEO was sitting on the sidelines, stuffing his face and acting like none of it mattered. She could not help but wonder what he was even thinking. Ignoring Andrew's protests, she marched over, grabbed his arm, and dragged him across the room to introduce him to a balding man named Harry Dunham. "Mr. Du
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1043
Nowadays, among the wealthy and the ultra-rich, there were barely any whose fortune came from a spotless, clean slate. Aspen stood frozen, utterly shocked. The same legacy heads and well-known moguls she had always looked up to were now casually spitting out crude, foul-mouthed complaints like street punks. Their behavior was downright disappointing—definitely not what she had imagined of the elite. Just then, Andrew cleared his throat with a light cough. The powerful men instantly went quiet and turned toward him, their faces filled with annoyance. "Sorry, this is a private circle. We don't welcome outsiders," one stern-looking middle-aged man said coldly. Andrew smiled and replied, "My apologies for interrupting. I'm Andrew Lloyd from Supreme Capital Group. It's my first time bringing business to the capital, and I was hoping to have a chat with you gentlemen." The group immediately burst out laughing. "Supreme Capital Group? What kind of backwater scam company is that? N
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1044
Aspen's legs had already gone numb, and she could not even find the strength to move. She thought Andrew was too bold, too outrageous. Talking to those powerhouses in that tone was practically asking to get smacked down. However, the very next second, her ears caught something completely unexpected—eager voices calling out to stop him. "Hey, young man, hold on! We may have been a bit rude just now!" A man said, "Supreme Capital Group, was it? No hard feelings, alright? The name's impressive—I'll have my secretary reach out first thing tomorrow." "Mr. Lloyd, since you're already here, come chat with us. You mentioned partnering up to make money, right? That's exactly the kind of thing we love to hear!" Another chimed in, "You actually secured Jayrodale's Vitality Pill and the legendary Titan Essence Pill? Mr. Lloyd, clearly you're full of surprises. We're impressed!" Two of the bigwigs even rushed forward and grabbed Andrew's arm, afraid he might slip away. Aspen stood the
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1045
Andrew spoke with ease and confidence. "To be honest with you all, the Vitality Pill and Titan Essence Pill are hot commodities around Jayrodale. "From what I know, both miracle supplements came from a medical institute called Moonlit Apothecary. Ever since they hit the market, they've exploded in popularity, and it's no surprise a lot of people have been trying to get their hands on them. "Hidden Dragons was the first to make a move, and as for the capital, those shameless Wrights were the quickest to act—but from the looks of it, they walked away empty-handed." While speaking, Andrew intentionally glanced at Richard, who was smiling politely. Richard immediately nodded. "Mr. Lloyd is right. These two miracle drugs indeed came out of a place called Moonlit Apothecary." The other tycoons chimed in quickly after. "Mr. Lloyd sure knows a lot of behind-the-scenes details. He even knew the Wrights tried to swoop in early on those pills." "Right now, there's no bigger business
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1046
It was not that Richard and the others were gullible or easy to fool. It was just that the offer Andrew had laid on the table was simply too tempting to resist. These two miracle supplements were not just on the radar of the Five Apex Families—even the Three Titans of the capital were probably drooling over them. Meanwhile, Andrew was not just a middleman—he was the one holding the cards. If his words did not stir the room, then nobody else's would even matter. "Mr. Golding Senior, transferring funds this early? Isn't that a little too soon?" Andrew said, looking hesitant. Richard waved it off with a generous tone. "What's the problem? Mr. Lloyd, don't worry. This 100 million isn't about the deal—it's simply my way of building friendships. Even if you end up not working with the Golding family, just consider this a goodwill gift between friends." As head of one of the Five Apex Families, Richard's words and actions naturally carried extra weight. Andrew gave a warm smile. "We
Pinakabagong kabanata
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1206
Aspen knew that Ronan charged a reasonable medical fee, and his medical skills were also quite good. Andrew started the car and sped off while answering casually, "I met Mr. Bates by chance. Showed him a few tricks, and he was so impressed by my skills that he practically worships me now. He even offered to introduce me to his granddaughter." Aspen let out a sharp laugh. "Just met by chance, and he's ready to hand over his granddaughter? Come on, if you're going to brag, at least make it believable!" Andrew just smiled, not bothering to argue with her. He and Ronan had bonded over their shared passion for medicine—it was nothing unusual. In truth, after witnessing Andrew's medical skills firsthand, Ronan nearly dropped to his knees, begging to become his disciple, though Andrew firmly refused. And yes, Ronan did have a granddaughter who was currently attending college. Ronan had hinted that if Andrew did not already have a girlfriend, he should consider his granddaughter.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1205
After breakfast, Andrew, the ever-hands-off boss, got strong-armed by Aspen into actually going to work. Otherwise, Supreme Capital Group, a company sitting on billions in investments, would end up being nothing more than a shiny nameplate. Aspen's exact words were, "If you keep ignoring everything and leave me to worry about it alone, I'd rather go sell myself on the street than keep slaving away for you! At least if I'm selling, I'll make some money. Meanwhile, I'll probably die broke working for you—or just die!" Andrew winced when he heard that. Realizing that his little maid was seriously holding some grudges, he quickly agreed to tag along to the office. "Give me a minute. I'm gonna change," Aspen said before disappearing into her room. A few minutes later, she strutted out—black stockings, high heels, and a sleek blue business suit that shimmered slightly under the light. She was absolutely stunning, and even Andrew had to admit it. Aspen smirked inwardly. 'Yep, the
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1204
Whenever Andrew was alone with Tiana, he could not help but feel a little uneasy. Seeing that Tiana had nothing more to say, he quickly took the chance to excuse himself. However, Tiana hesitated. Then, she smiled slyly and asked, "Hold on, let me ask you—have you and Lauren… done it?" Andrew blinked, confused. "Done what?" Tiana rolled her eyes and snapped, "Don't play dumb, Andrew. You know exactly what I'm asking." Andrew finally caught on and answered honestly, "Lauren and I have done pretty much everything, but we haven't crossed the final line." Tiana nodded approvingly. "Good. You need to remember that you can't go that far until you're married. I made sure to tell her that too, and she understands." Andrew's face darkened a little. "Mrs. Rhodes, seriously? This isn't the Dark Ages anymore. We're in a real relationship, and sometimes things get a little… heated." Tiana shook her head firmly. "It's not about being old-fashioned. There are other reasons, but I can't
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1203
Andrew nodded and said, "Go ahead, Mrs. Rhodes. I'm listening." Tiana said seriously, "When you treated me before, I'm sure you noticed how agitated my inner energy was, right? That's actually because of the martial arts method I practice. "I've been stuck at the semi-martial king level for almost five years, and I haven't found a way or opportunity to break through. So, I wanted to ask for your help." Andrew frowned and replied, "Mrs. Rhodes, breaking into the martial king level isn't something to take lightly. If your foundation isn't solid or the timing isn't right, forcing a breakthrough could cause serious problems." Tiana snorted proudly and said, "I'm well aware of the risks, but if I'm asking, it's because I have a level of certainty you don't know about. To be honest, my martial lineage isn't ordinary. "Before I left my sect, my mentor taught me a secret method that could open a shortcut to the martial king level. However, the technique requires external forces and
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1202
Archie knew he had no choice but to swallow his anger and live with the humiliation for the rest of his life. Unless one day, the Hopkins family could surpass the Keller family, he would never have a shot at revenge. But deep down, Archie understood that day would probably never come in his lifetime. … After Andrew and the Rhodes family returned home, he was ready to leave again. However, Lauren stopped him with a look full of longing. Andrew laughed and said, "I almost forgot. There's still something important I haven't done yet." He pulled the mischievous lady into his arms, grabbing her soft waist, and before she could even squeal, he carried her straight into a room. The two of them were wrapped up in each other, kissing passionately without a care in the world. Outside the door, Tiana called out flatly, "Alright, that's enough. If you keep going, your mouths are gonna fall apart!" Lauren huffed back, "Mom, can you give us a minute? We just got started!" Tiana grit
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1201
Andrew ignored Archie's desperate pleas for mercy and turned to Cecelia with a grin. "Cece, what do you think? Should we spare this big, bad guy?" Cecelia pumped her fist excitedly and shouted, "Andrew, I don't think we should! We should string him up and hit him with every torture technique from the Dark Ages! That would be so much more satisfying!" Andrew froze for a moment, thinking to himself that this little girl had quite a vicious streak. Lauren scolded playfully, "Cece, hush! You're a girl! Where do you even come up with such twisted ideas?" Tiana also called out, "Cece, come here, sweetheart! You need to remember that those old, brutal punishments are outdated and barbaric. They have no place in today's world!" Cecelia pouted and muttered, "But Mom, Lauren, don't you even want to see it just once? I saw the drawings in a history book—it looked so bloody and wild!" Jameson's face twitched as he forced a smile and said to Andrew, "Andy, you better take it from here.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1200
With a sickening snap, several bones shattered under Logan's brutal kick, and Archie let out a bloodcurdling scream that made everyone's scalp tingle. "Mr. Keller, please, stop! I'm begging you! I was wrong! I was talking shit! I apologize—I apologize!" Archie flailed on the ground like a dying animal, completely stripped of his earlier arrogance. His body trembled violently, his face twisted in agony, but he did not dare show the slightest bit of temper as he groveled before Logan, crying and pleading. Logan casually strolled over and slapped him twice more across the face, with ruthless, bone-jarring force. Archie's head snapped to the side so hard it almost seemed like his neck would break, and his screams grew even more pitiful. Yet, not a single Hopkins fighter moved to help him. All of them stood frozen, faces pale with fear, too terrified to even breathe loudly. Logan's voice was calm but icy. "Tonight, if Andrew doesn't accept your apology, not a single one of you
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1199
"Andy, I'm here!" In the midst of the tense, frozen atmosphere, only Logan and Andrew seemed relaxed, chatting like old friends without a care in the world. Andrew chuckled. "Logan, you're acting way too friendly!" For once, Logan's face flushed slightly red with embarrassment. Truth be told, he and Andrew were not actually that close. However, orders were orders—George had made it clear that they had to secure Andrew's favor no matter what it took. If Andrew did not show much enthusiasm toward the Keller family, then Logan had no choice but to make up for it by being overly enthusiastic himself. "If you don't like it, how about you be the older brother and I'll be the younger one?" Logan's attitude was ridiculously accommodating as if he had no pride left to defend. No matter how awkward it felt, Andrew was someone the Keller family absolutely had to win over. Watching all this unfold, Tiana, Jameson, and the Hopkins crowd were even more stunned. It almost seemed like Loga
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1198
By some twisted stroke of luck, Archie's manhood—though bruised and swollen—had not been completely destroyed. While he silently thanked the heavens, his hatred for Tiana grew even deeper. That seductive married woman? He was determined to have her tonight, no matter what it took. Just then, Jerry and a dozen of the Rhodes family's top fighters finally arrived on the scene. Jameson, seeing that his people were in place, narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Mr. Hopkins, you really want to keep pushing this?" Archie let out a twisted laugh. "Mr. Rhodes, your wife hit me. That punk by your side hit me too! Do you really think someone like me, who cares this much about his reputation, is just going to let that go?" Tiana scoffed. "So what if we don't let it go? Mr. Hopkins, you're nothing more than a disgusting maggot. What are you going to do about it?" Archie screamed, his face flushed with rage. "Tiana, you filthy bitch! Do you think you're better than me? Tonight, I'll make
