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
Aidan stared down at the beautiful woman kneeling at his feet, and something dark flickered in his eyes. His throat moved, and a twisted chuckle escaped his lips. "You really mean every word you just said?" Tiana raised her hand and vowed, "Every word I just spoke was true. If I'm lying, then may you tear me limb from limb, right here and now." Aidan burst into loud laughter, his eyes gleaming with greedy heat. His voice turned sleazy, laced with disgusting desire. "Wonderful—just perfect! Tiana, you were famous for your beauty in the martial world back in the day. "But back then, I was obsessed with training and had no interest in… other pleasures. Now that I'm older and wiser—and looking at you still so ripe, still so stunning—I've got to say, it's hitting me all at once. Honestly, I'd feel bad wasting a woman like you." Tiana's cheeks turned slightly red, but there was no sign of embarrassment or shame. Instead, her mature allure only intensified, like a perfectly ripened pe
Butch and Spike immediately rushed to Aidan's side, their faces filled with panic. "Mr. Haywood Senior, are you alright?" "Please, hang in there, sir!" Meanwhile, Kenny and Sherilyn both looked horrified—if Tiana’s sneak attack had actually taken down Aidan, this whole day would have become the ultimate joke. "That filthy bitch couldn't hurt me even if I handed her the opportunity," Aidan growled. He did not even glance at the small patch of blood on his chest. However, his old face twisted into a storm of fury and darkness. Jameson stared at Tiana in disbelief. "Tiana, so you weren't really—" Tiana cut him off with a snap. "You idiot! Did you seriously think I'd stoop that low? Do you think I'd ignore a handsome man like you just to kiss up to that wrinkled sack of rot? You think I could stomach that?" Jameson was hit with a rush of surprise and relief, but it quickly turned into frustration. "If you were going to strike, why didn't you tell me first?" "No time for t
"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
Tiana had already been urging Andrew to make a trip to the Rhodes residence. With his current matters finally settled, Andrew made his way there. … Meanwhile, back at the Haywood residence, the funeral was underway. The place was shrouded in white—the last rites for Seth. It should have been a major event, but the atmosphere among the Haywoods was lifeless. No one looked remotely interested, and many of the younger members were outright slacking off, hiding in corners, smoking, drinking, and chatting. Someone whispered, "Xavier's the eldest son of the Haywoods and a damn colonel in the military, yet he couldn't even bring back Andrew's head? What a letdown." Another chimed in, "No kidding. Seth got taken out like that, which is a direct slap to the Haywoods' face." "Honestly, I've never seen our family this humiliated. Xavier even said he'd kill Andrew within three days or take his own life. Big talk for someone who came back empty-handed…" After just a few gulps of alco
Aspen and Chantelle both gasped in disbelief. They could not believe that Andrew had just toyed with Luna like she was some puppy. He offered her a treat, dangled it right in front of her face, and then yanked it back when she reached for it. Anyone with an ounce of pride would have snapped—and Luna Phelan was not just anyone. "Playing games on a razor's edge… Andrew, I'll be watching," Luna said coldly. "I'll watch how you destroy yourself." Her expression turned colder than it had been even when confronting Xavier.With one sharp step, she kicked up a gust of wind and vanished into the air. It was a clear sign that she was not just leaving, she was unleashing her fury. "That footwork was terrifying," Chantelle muttered. Even Aspen looked shaken. "Keep acting like this, Andrew, and someone's gonna hack you into pieces one day!" Chantelle snapped. After one last angry glare, she stormed off too. Aspen did not have quite the same fire in her. This demon of a man was hear
Luna turned around, clearly reluctant to even look at Andrew, and said flatly, "I can save you once, maybe even twice—but not a third time. To be precise, the only reason I stepped in at all was because you've done favors for the Phelans… and for Marvin. "But next time? Your life or death will have nothing to do with me. So, here's my advice—tone it down. This is Blumedale, not Jayrodale. You could show off back there, and no one cared, but here? Power and politics clash every second. Dying young might be the only fate you're headed for." Andrew frowned. "Luna, are you sick or something? Did I ask you to save me?" That one line did not just offend Luna—it also lit a fire in Chantelle. "Andrew, what the hell is wrong with you? General Phelan just saved your damn life. You didn't even say thank you, and now you're blaming her? Are you even a man?" She was speechless, thinking the guy was seriously unbelievable. Andrew shot her a cold glare. "Shut your mouth. No one asked for
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
"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
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