Aspen was absolutely stunned. All Andrew did was throw out a few bold, borderline-offensive remarks, and Derek rewarded him for it. She started to question whether she was dreaming. Since when did the world start handing out favors for calling people fake? Christina's face turned a shade darker as she exchanged a look with Quinton. He gritted his teeth and muttered, "Don't rush. Let's just wait and see. Mr. McCormick's decision isn't something we can challenge outright. Damn it… this kid really stumbled into the jackpot." Andrew straightened his suit jacket at the center of it all and stood up with a bright, unbothered grin. "Well then, thank you, Mr. McCormick, for the trust. In that case, Supreme Capital Group is honored to accept the offer!" He added, "Don't worry—we'll make sure the job gets done right." Before Derek could respond, one of the old family heads shot up from his seat, clearly displeased. "Mr. McCormick, with all due respect, I really don't understand why y
Aspen was over the moon, watching Andrew with genuine admiration. This guy really had not made a single wrong move—every step had been calculated and strategic—he totally hit the jackpot. Between Derek's full support and that massive project approval, this was worth way more than just a measly 50 million dollars. Aspen felt like he was finally starting to understand why this devil of a man always ended up on the winning side. Quinton's expression was hard to read, but suddenly, he raised his voice and said, "Mr. McCormick, we at the Wrights propose that this matter be voted on!" Derek frowned and said, "Quinton, are you questioning my decision?" Quinton's face was tense as he replied, "I wouldn't dare, sir. I just believe this project is far too important to settle without consensus. A show of hands will do—if more than half agree, then even if the project goes to Supreme Capital Group, we'll respect the outcome." Derek glanced around at the others and scoffed coldly. "So the
Quinton's face darkened, and it looked like he was ready to kill someone. He could not believe what was happening. Did Andrew come with some kind of main character plot armor? Even Richard, a heavyweight in the game, was leading the charge to back him—actually rallying support on his behalf. Moreover, no one was bringing up the fact that Elon literally ate crap because of him. Was the Golding family's public vendetta just meaningless now? Quinton could not wrap his head around it, not even a little—none of it made sense to him. Christina frowned and said, "Mr. Wright, what if there's another possibility? "What if Mr. Golding Senior and the others don't actually know that Andrew is the same guy from Jayrodale—the one who humiliated his son and triggered the Golding family's bounty in the first place?" Quinton's eyes burned with hatred as he hissed, "I already warned him, but Richard still didn't believe me. You saw it yourself. I honestly don't know what kind of spell Andr
Meanwhile, Quinton's face twisted in fury as he gritted his teeth, nearly shouting, "Mr. Golding Senior, you've completely lost your judgment! That guy from Supreme Capital Group? He is Andrew Lloyd from Jayrodale—the owner of Moonlit Apothecary. "Everything that happened to Elon in Jayrodale, and even the humiliation Winston suffered there—every last bit of it was thanks to that bastard! He's the exact same man your family's bounty was targeting. That's the guy!" Richard's eyes burned with rage as he roared, "Quinton, are you absolutely certain about what you're saying?" Quinton shouted right back, "Dead serious! Every damn word! If I'm lying, do whatever you want to me, Mr. Golding Senior—hell, if you want to kill me right now, I won't fight it!" Richard stumbled a step, barely staying on his feet as disbelief crashed over him. "So, that little punk was lying to me from the very start? He didn't just steal my money—he fooled my heart, tricked my trust?" Quinton let out a sh
At that moment, the other big shots who had also handed over their money to Andrew finally realized just how deep they had been played. Their faces turned green with fury, and they exploded in rage. Someone shouted, "Kill him! Hunt him down across the entire city—chase him to his relative's house if you have to, but don't you dare let him get away! Arrogant, reckless, completely out of control… damn it, I'm going to burst a vein!" Another chimed in, "We've seen all kinds of deception in this business, but this? This is by far the most outrageous betrayal we've ever faced!" Quinton let out a cold laugh and walked away. He silently mocked them for being a bunch of idiots of idiots for only figuring it out now. After all, regret and rage were useless at this point. Christina looked completely stunned. "So you're saying Andrew even tricked Mr. Golding Senior? And those billionaires too?" Quinton sneered, "He didn't just take their money—he played with their emotions. Mr. Golding
"Seth, what the hell are you doing?!" Aspen had not expected the Haywoods to show up at their company, let alone that Seth would bring the family's private security team to block the entrance. Furious and stunned, she shouted, "Get your people out of here right now—we're done! From this moment on, there's nothing between us!" Seth let out a cold laugh. "Aspen, I gave you my heart, and this is how you repay me? Don't you see? Everything I've done, I did it for you. Just trust me—I'll save you from that devil and set you free!" Aspen's voice turned ice cold. "Seth, you've got this all wrong. Maybe I didn't exactly choose to become Andrew's slave… but I'm sorry, I don't need rescuing either." Seth's face twisted, and he ground his teeth as he snapped, "I saw it last time, Aspen. You've got some twisted feelings for Andrew, don't you? You act like you're trapped, but deep down, you like it, don't you?" Aspen's cheeks flared red—part rage, part something she could not quite name
Aspen was speechless. Andrew had shamelessly milked Derek for all he was worth, then turned around and declared himself the man's loyal sidekick like it was nothing. She honestly had to admit—even she could not compete with that level of shamelessness. "Even if you did call Mr. McCormick for backup," she said uncertainly, "do you really think someone that high up would bother helping us?" Andrew stayed calm. "If he does, great. That saves me the trouble of handling this myself. If he doesn't, then it's no big deal. I'll just kill every single one of these Haywood thugs myself." Aspen opened her mouth, but no words came out. This was the Andrew she knew—the devil himself. Ruthless, cold, and always ready to shed blood. Nonetheless, these were not just any thugs. This was the elite private force of the Haywoods, one of the Five Apex Families. Could Andrew really take them on alone? Just then, Seth sneered and stepped forward. "Andrew, last time you smashed a bottle over m
At the last second, a government-issued sedan screeched to a halt beside them. "Stop right there!" A woman in a perfectly tailored business suit stepped out, her presence immediately commanding attention. Though her clothing was modest and loose-fitting, there was no hiding her striking figure—an impossibly full chest and legs that seemed to go on forever. Still, what stunned people most was not her body, but her face—icy cold, flawlessly beautiful, and chilling to the core. She had the kind of beauty that made jaws drop at first glance, but the longer you looked, the colder your spine felt. It was a strange contradiction—stunning and unapproachable—but on her, it somehow blended perfectly. The moment she appeared, Seth's expression shifted. He stepped forward immediately, respectful and even a little nervous. "Ms. Garcia…" Yet, Chantelle Garcia did not even look at him. She walked straight toward Andrew, her face emotionless as she said, "You must be Mr. Andrew Lloyd from
Justin instantly sensed something was about to spiral. He rushed forward and tried to defuse the tension. "Mr. Hopkins, please calm down. We're all just here to have a nice dinner—no need for this." Archie clutched his swollen cheek, his face twisted with rage. "Calm down? Get out of my face! If you say another word, I'll end you too!" Justin flinched and quickly backed off, no longer daring to speak. However, as he glanced toward the Rhodes family, his eyes burned with resentment. He cursed them for being foolish. Despite knowing they could not go up against the Hopkins, they still had to throw punches. He could not help but think they were just asking for it. Lauren's voice rang out cold and firm. "Mr. Hopkins, what are you trying to do? Start a war?" Archie bellowed with laughter. "Big mouth on you, you little bitch! With your trashy Rhodes family, you're not even qualified to go to war with the Hopkins!" He sneered, eyes gleaming. "But don't worry—I'm not just gonna tak
Justin's face twisted in discomfort, but before he could say anything, a loud voice boomed across the entrance. "Mr. McGrath, you can step back! If Mrs. Rhodes wants to dine in our Celestial Suite, then she's more than welcome!" As the voice faded, a burly man with a thick beard strode over. The giant crystal ring on his hand and the heavy gold chain across his chest made it clear—this man was rich, but absolutely tasteless. Jameson snorted coldly. "The Hopkins family sure has some nerve, snatching up someone else's reservation like it's nothing." Archie Hopkins cracked a wide grin, revealing a mouth full of blackened teeth, and laughed without a care. "Mr. Rhodes, you sound way too naive!" Archie shrugged and said, "In this world, it's all about money and muscle. The Hopkins family's got both. So stealing a little dining room from the Rhodes family? It's nothing." Tiana's voice turned icy. "Since you're admitting it's theft, then do us a favor and get the hell out." Arch
The place Jameson picked for dinner was one of the most well-known upscale restaurants in Blumedale—The Palace. "Andy, you might not know this, but around here, this spot is top-tier," Jameson said as he adjusted his tailored suit and smiled. He added, "It's not like I'm trying to flaunt my wealth or anything. But sometimes, even if you don't care for appearances, you've still got to show up with style!" Andrew chuckled and replied, "Mr. Rhodes, I get what you're saying." Tiana spoke up coolly, "Jameson, no need to put on this kind of show in front of Andrew. Otherwise, you'll just end up looking ridiculous. This guy probably poops in places you haven't even dreamed of stepping into." Jameson froze for a second, clearly shocked. "Well now, Tiana, you're really singing Andy's praises today. Could it be… the classic case of a mother-in-law who's starting to really like her son-in-law?" Tiana gave a snort. "This has nothing to do with liking him. I'm just telling the truth."
Lauren said, "Funny thing, Andrew—you probably don't know this, but my mom's been all about dressing up lately. For the longest time, I only ever saw her in simple outfits. She never really cared about appearances. "But now, she's all glammed up and polished! If you didn't know better, you'd think she was dating someone!" Andrew did not know how to respond, so he stayed quiet. He had a pretty good idea why Tiana suddenly started caring about her looks. It was probably because his presence reminded her of her first love—his father. Even though he was not the man himself, they were still father and son. Much like Aspen, Tiana clearly had something not quite right going on in her head. Only someone like her could project her feelings for a man onto his son. Nonetheless, no matter how he looked at it, Andrew just could not shake the weirdness of it all. After all, this woman was supposed to be his future mother-in-law, and yet, she was just a little off. Not that Tiana acted c
"Andrew, my mom didn't give you a hard time, did she?" Lauren asked as they stepped into the Rhodes residence's front parlor. She had noticed right away that Andrew did not look so great. "It's fine. Your mother was… gracious enough," Andrew said with a small smile. There was no need to bring up Tiana's moment of madness—it was better buried. Jameson chuckled. "Andy, sorry to trouble you again! But today wasn't just about getting your help with her condition." Lauren beamed. "That's right, Andrew. Now that you're part of the family, you're not an outsider anymore. So, Dad planned a little family dinner. We thought we'd introduce you to some people too, help you make some connections around Blumedale." Jameson added, "Exactly! And I heard from Lauren that you've been looking for some rare medicinal herbs. Well, turns out, I know some folks who might be holding on to a few." Andrew nodded thoughtfully. "I am looking for rare herbs, that's true. But as for opening doors, Mr.
Truthfully, Tiana was by far the most challenging woman Andrew had ever dealt with. He could not hit her or offend her. To make things worse, she was Lauren's mother and Jameson's wife. No matter what insanity she pulled, Andrew could not actually do anything to her. Seeing Andrew so obviously trapped, Tiana felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. She chuckled smugly. "Andrew, you're the Dragon Prince of the Lloyds. There's no way I could ever win against you—not in a million years. "But you lost the moment you started dating my daughter. I'm your mother-in-law. That means I can mess with you, tease you, and you won't be able to lift a finger." Andrew replied evenly, "You're right—I can't fight you. But if I can't win, I can still walk away." Tiana waved her hand. "Alright, alright. Let's stop arguing. Just promise me one thing—what happened here today stays between us. Lauren can never find out." Andrew let out a dry laugh. "You're only worried about Lauren? What ab
It felt to Tiana like she had fallen into a vast, unfamiliar net—one she had never experienced before. She was sinking, drifting, wanting to break free. Yet, she was addicted to the thrill of it all. All these conflicting emotions passed through her in the blink of an eye, though they were layered and complex. Meanwhile, Andrew was completely unaware of the chaotic thoughts swirling inside her. To him, this was just another straightforward medical procedure. He was careful and respectful. He only touched what he had to, avoiding sensitive areas entirely. As a doctor, Andrew had no sense of guilt about what he was doing. Illness knew no gender; treatment was treatment. That was how he saw it. Whether others saw it the same way was not his concern. He calmly explained, "Stimulating your pressure points with needles and smoothing the meridians with massage helped your condition today. "But in the end, to restore proper balance, you'll still need a medicinal remedy to regulate
Tiana flinched, both shocked and furious, but she had no chance of dodging him. Under Andrew's hand, she did not stand a chance. However, the loud smack that followed was not across her face—it landed squarely on a pressure point along her waist. A wave of sharp pain shot through her body like a crashing tide. She gasped, "Ah… Andrew, you… stop, that hurts…" A strange moan escaped her lips, echoing awkwardly in the quiet room. Andrew muttered under his breath, cursing her madness. Without wasting time, he lifted her up and laid her down across the bed. Tiana stared up at him in disbelief, her eyes wide—until he pulled out a slim, metallic object. A gleaming golden acupuncture needle. "Mrs. Rhodes, your speech is erratic, your energy's spiking. I'll give you a few needles to stabilize your condition," Andrew said calmly. With that, he plunged the first needle into a targeted spot on her body. Tiana's breath hitched as her lips parted, and her reaction was a mix of pai
"If you called me here just to ask something this ridiculous, Mrs. Rhodes, then I'll be going now," Andrew said flatly as he turned toward the door. He did not dare stay a second longer, worried Tiana might start acting crazy like she did last time. If things spiraled out of control and someone like Jameson walked in on them, not even a hundred confessions could clear his name. "Stop right there!" Tiana snapped, her brows raised in defiance. "What's the matter? Are you that scared of being alone with me?" Andrew paused and looked back, his brows still tightly furrowed. "Mrs. Rhodes, you and I both know this isn't appropriate." Tiana stepped forward with a graceful sway, a trace of perfume trailing in her wake as she stopped right beside him. Her lips curled in a playful smile. "What's not appropriate? Can't a mother-in-law spend a little one-on-one time with her future son-in-law?" Andrew fell silent, exasperated. "You said you weren't feeling well. If you need help, I'll tak