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
Seth glared at Andrew, his face twisted with hatred. He growled, "This isn't over, Andrew. I swear, one day, you'll be the one crawling at my feet!" He had stormed in like a king, ready to crush his enemy, only to leave humiliated and powerless. The sting of defeat burned deep in his chest. Chantelle glanced at Andrew and said coldly, "Mr. Lloyd, favors from Mr. McCormick aren't something you can just use at will. Let me give you a piece of advice: a man needs to be strong on his own. "If you keep hiding behind connections, always clinging to others to survive, this little streak of good fortune you're enjoying will run out fast. Mr. McCormick is upright and fair. He takes care of his people. "But if you turn out to be a spineless liability, someone who can't stand on his own… he'll lose patience with you sooner or later." Aspen's expression shifted. She thought, 'What was that supposed to mean? Was Ms. Garcia calling Supreme Capital Group a burden?' Andrew, however, smiled
Andrew's eyes turned icy as a cruel grin curled at the corner of his lips. "Ms. Garcia, you saw it yourself. It was the Haywoods who started this mess. When I kill every last one of them, I expect you to testify to Mr. McCormick that I acted in self-defense, and I'm completely innocent." Chantelle's face darkened. "Hold it. No one moves a muscle. Mr. Lloyd, what the hell are you talking about? Why would I testify for you when you're clearly the one provoking this fight?" Andrew snorted. "Provoking? How am I the one looking for trouble? You saw it too. That Haywood moron brought an armed squad to corner me—he started all this." Chantelle clenched her jaw. "Yeah, I know they came here first. But they didn't touch you—you hit him first. How does that make sense?" Andrew flashed a mocking smile and replied calmly, "Sure, I struck first. But I acted out of instinct. To put it bluntly, their presence posed a serious threat, and I couldn't control my response. I reacted on impulse, fo
Just as Chantelle started her car and was about to hit the gas, she suddenly stalled. She did not even get the car moving before she killed the engine—so pissed off by Andrew's parting shot that she nearly choked on her own fury. Andrew chuckled. "Ms. Garcia, looks like your driving test didn't go so well, huh? If you've got time, I can teach you how to balance the clutch and hit the gas properly for a clean start." Chantelle fired up the engine again, and the car shot off like a rocket. Through the rush of wind came her flat, icy voice. "Get lost!" Aspen could only shake her head with a helpless sigh. She said, "I really don't know why you keep provoking that woman. Ms. Garcia is known to be fierce in the capital—Mr. McCormick's personal chief secretary, personal bodyguard, and official enforcer." She added, "She's also a beast in martial arts. Some say she's on par with Luna from the Phelan family." Andrew scoffed. "And? Does that mean I should bow down to her? I don't ca
Andrew said, "Perfect timing. I'm here to take Lauren with me, and while I'm at it, I'd like to ask her hand in marriage." Tiana's face twisted in shock and fury the moment he said those words. The rest of the Rhodes family instantly turned toward Andrew with blazing eyes, their expressions filled with outrage. "Kid, who the hell do you think you are? You think you're worthy of asking Lauren for her hand in marriage?" "Get lost already. Lauren would never end up with someone like you. Joe is the only one truly fit to marry our Lauren!" Another chimed in, "I've heard about you for a while now—Andrew Lloyd from Jayrodale, right? Let me give you a piece of advice: if you value your life, turn around and leave. But if you're set on dying, then by all means, keep acting like a fool!" Voices filled with scorn and rage came crashing down on Andrew from all directions, relentless and merciless. Jameson walked over with a helpless look and stood in front of Andrew, trying to calm
Andrew stood quietly, his gaze cold as he observed everything unfold. Kenny and Sherilyn's attention was locked on Jameson and Tiana, and they did not even notice Andrew standing at the back of the crowd. Tiana's voice was like ice as she snapped, "Kenny, what's the meaning of this? If you've got something to say, we could've handled it behind closed doors as a family. Was it really necessary to bring outsiders?" Kenny looked pale, clearly still exhausted from handling Michael's funeral, and his energy was visibly drained. Even so, his words were sharp and venomous. "Tiana, you f*cking bitch. You're still trying to sway me through familial ties?" He scoffed and added, "Where were you when Michael died? You said nothing then. Today, I'm taking the position of the head of the family. As for you and Jameson… You'll spend the rest of your lives on your knees at Michael's grave!" Jameson's face was red with rage as he shouted, "Kenny, can't you think straight for once? I've told
Tiana felt a chill run down her spine, but she still sneered, "Sherilyn, you married into the Goldings and made a name for yourself. I just didn't expect that all this time, you've still been eaten up with jealousy and hatred for your own family. "But you've clearly overestimated yourselves. Even if Jameson and I fall today, Lauren will be just fine. She's set to marry into the Driscolls, and one day, she'll use their power to make you and Kenny pay for everything you've done—blood for blood." Kenny scoffed. "You're the one dreaming, Tiana. That little tramp you raised will never marry into the Driscolls. She's already lost her purity, messing around with that street rat Andrew. Do you seriously think the Driscolls would ever accept her? "No! The second they learn the truth, they won't just reject Lauren—they'll join me in wiping out you two and your shameless daughter." Tiana's expression changed again and again. It was clear—there was no peaceful way out of this. Her anger to
Tiana's sudden move left everyone stunned. Even Andrew's brows furrowed tightly as disbelief flickered across his face. Jameson shot to his feet, his voice shaking. "Tiana, you—" Tears streamed down Tiana's face as she shouted, "Don't even try, Jameson. You're nothing but a coward—weak and useless. What? You want to know why I did this? Fine, I'll tell you—I don't want to die! I'm not letting you drag me down, and I won't let Lauren die alongside you!" From the crowd, one of the Rhodes family elders, Bruno Rhodes, roared with fury. "Shameless! Tiana, as the lady of the Rhodes family, how could you throw away all dignity like this? Stand up right now! I said, get up!" He shouted, "Kneeling to a violent brute like that? You've disgraced our family!" With rage boiling over, Bruno stormed toward her and reached out to yank her to her feet. Aidan's expression darkened as he growled, "How dare you? Calling me a brute—what, you think I'm beneath you? Well, let me send you off, fre
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
Andrew finally paid a visit to the Rhodes family. "Andy, you're here! Come in, have a seat," Jameson greeted warmly, his tone unusually enthusiastic. The way he looked at Andrew was not just the admiration of a family elder—it was the hopeful gaze of someone eyeing a perfect son-in-law. Lauren giggled behind her hand. "Andrew, you've become quite the welcome guest around here. Everyone in the Rhodes family is thrilled you came." Andrew glanced around casually and noticed several of the Rhodes family's core members smiling and nodding in greeting. A few girls around Lauren's age were sneaking glances his way, their cheeks tinged pink. Cecelia, the youngest among them, blurted out, "Andrew, when are you marrying Lauren?" Andrew laughed and replied, "Anytime works for me." Cecelia clapped her hands excitedly. "Great! Let's do the wedding today and the honeymoon tonight!" Jameson's eyes widened. "Cece! Stop saying nonsense!" His youngest daughter was a wild one—always blu
Logan nodded and smiled. "Andrew's medical skills really are rare. Medicine is a deep and complex field, and among the younger generation in Blumedale, hardly anyone has any decent understanding of it. "Even top talents like Joe Driscoll or Luna Phelan from the three major families are focused on martial arts. When it comes to healing, there's nothing to talk about." George beamed. "What makes Andrew truly special is that he's not only exceptional in medicine, but his martial prowess is also extraordinary. Just the fact that he's survived the joint manhunt from two powerful families already tells me he's not to be underestimated." Logan frowned. "There's a rumor going around that Andrew survived only because someone powerful is secretly protecting him." George scoffed. "That's just idle gossip from nobodies parroting what they hear. If Andrew were weak, no amount of backing could keep him alive. Logan, remember this—life throws us many challenges, but there's one hurdle you mus
Elon's face turned red from the scolding, and he muttered bitterly, "I mean, I might not be great, but I'm still better than Andrew, right? Are you really saying that in your eyes, your own son is worth less than that guy?" Richard let out a cold snort. "You really care about comparing yourself to him? Fine then—do you want the truth or a lie?" Elon shrank back at his father's sarcastic smile and mumbled, "The lie… I guess." Richard scoffed, "Alright. If it's lies you want, then sure—you're way more promising than Andrew. That guy doesn't even deserve to be compared to you." Elon's face twitched. He wanted to laugh, but the words tasted bitter in his mouth. The lie was that he was better than Andrew. But the truth? The truth was that compared to Andrew, he was absolutely nothing. The more he thought about it, the more he realized—either way, he came up short. So what was the point in choosing? He silently cursed, 'Damn it!' Richard folded his hands behind his back, his
"He's my sworn brother, then standing up for him—no matter the cost—is only right," Logan said firmly. Elon's face instantly darkened, and deep inside, a gnawing jealousy bubbled up. Despite being the most low-key of the Five Apex Families' younger generation, Logan was arguably the most terrifying. He was about to take over the Keller family, a rising powerhouse. The Haywoods had Xavier—young, sharp, and fierce in combat. The Wrights had Quinton—manipulative, cunning, and notorious for his ruthlessness. But Elon? He was… just Elon. He was overweight, lacked presence, and had just been publicly humiliated when word spread that his wife had cheated on him. His reputation was already slipping, and now he had become the joke of Blumedale's elite circle. Still, no matter how pathetic things seemed, Elon believed he was far better than the man Andrew was. In his eyes, they were not even in the same league. So, it burned him even more to see Logan—someone he had always tried to i
"Logan, don't you know Andrew killed my younger brother?" Xavier shouted furiously. It was understandable for Luna to speak up. After all, the Phelans owed Andrew a small favor—but now even the Keller family was interfering. If this continued, Andrew would not just remain unharmed; he would likely rise to prominence in Blumedale. Andrew's rise would be a direct slap in the face to the Haywoods, humiliating them beyond redemption. Roy spoke grimly, "Logan, you're set to lead the Keller family. You should know better than to blur right and wrong. Andrew repeatedly humiliated the Haywoods and even murdered Seth. Do you expect us to swallow such a huge insult?" Logan replied calmly, "Mr. Haywood Senior, you know exactly why things turned out this way. I hate to say it, but Seth brought his death upon himself. Andrew may be impulsive, but he's done nothing wrong in my eyes." "I'll say this only once: if the Haywoods continue their vendetta against him, the Keller family won't stan
Xavier said, "Uncle Jude, you're in charge of internal discipline. My request is simple—either throw those losers out of the Haywoods and make them manage some backwater branch, or I'll kill them myself. And I doubt anyone in the family would object." Jude's eyelids twitched violently as he cursed the brats under his breath. Out loud, though, he nodded quickly and replied, "Don't worry, Xavier. I'll make sure they're kicked out of the family for good. They won't even get close to the front gate again." Xavier snorted and walked off, leaving Jude staring at his back, shaking his head. Jude muttered to himself, "Xavier… you really are the pride of the Haywoods. But you're spoiled by your status. With your father as the family head and all the elders favoring you, you've always kept the other branches under your heel. "That's understandable since you're the future heir and our strongest fighter among the younger generations. But the fact remains—you made a public promise and faile