Elon roared at the top of his lungs. "And another thing, you lying bitch! You're pregnant, but I had to hear it for the first time in this damn room, during a standoff with Andrew? "Not a single word these past few weeks. If today hadn't gone down the way it did, I'd still be in the dark, wouldn't I?" Sherilyn sobbed through her tears. "Elon, please—just listen to me, okay? Just hear me out! It's not what you think! I-I just wanted to surprise you. That's why I didn't say anything!" Andrew clicked his tongue. "Wow. What a surprise, alright. Sherilyn, I'm guessing the moment you found out you were pregnant, you realized the baby wasn't Elon's—and that's when the panic set in. "You kept your mouth shut, hoping to cover it up. And today, in front of everyone, you got cocky and slipped up. You thought carrying a Goldings' baby gave you prestige. Instead, you just tripped over your own lie. "But hey, no need to drag this out, Fatty. Just go to the hospital and get a paternity tes
Sherilyn stammered, "I-I only remember that night at the private club, and we were partying hard. We all got drunk—me and my two girlfriends—and then…" Her voice cracked, but she forced herself to continue. "After that, everything went black. When I woke up, there were eight male escorts in the room with us, along with me and my two besties…" The room collectively sucked in a breath. It was just too much, too shocking, and too outrageous. Even Kenny stared at Sherilyn like she had morphed into some kind of monster. Elon's massive body stumbled back a few steps with loud thuds. He could barely keep his balance, eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at Sherilyn. "So, you, plus your two girlfriends… and eight male escorts? That's… 11 people! You had an eleven-person orgy? That's not just wild—that's straight-up animal behavior!" Two of the Goldings' elite guards rushed forward and caught Elon just in time. They could tell that if they did not hold him up, he was about to collaps
In the blink of an eye, all of the Goldings' people scattered and disappeared. Sherilyn and Kenny were taken away, and anyone could imagine what kind of miserable fate awaited them. The Rhodes family stared at Andrew like he was some sort of freak, completely speechless. The guy had just watched the Goldings retreat, and instead of being satisfied, he actually shouted at Elon, asking if the man looked down on him. They could not help but think his arrogance was off the chart. Tiana rolled her eyes and snapped, "You little punk, will you only be happy if Elon drops dead from rage?" Andrew sighed dramatically and said, "Exactly. If I could piss him off to death right then, that would've been perfect." Jameson gave a bitter smile. "Andy, sure, you're safe for now… but picking a fight with the Goldings like that is not smart." Andrew shrugged and replied, "I didn't have any beef with the Goldings to begin with. Elon's the idiot who decided to back Kenny's family and got dragged i
Andrew leaned back slightly and dodged Lauren's kiss with a teasing smile. Lauren pouted in frustration and said, "It's just a kiss, not like we're sleeping together. Come on, it's been days. Do you know how much I missed you?" Andrew gazed at her flawless face and murmured, "You can have it… but only when I'm the one in control." Then, before she could react, he leaned in and bit her gently, making her squeal in surprise. The two lingered in their intimate bubble for a while before finally, and reluctantly, pulling apart. Lauren's skin was flushed, and her eyes sparkled. "You jerk, you kissed me for so long I could barely breathe! Fran was right… Andrew, you might look like a classy gentleman, but you're just a total perv underneath!" Andrew's face turned red, and he coughed a few times to hide the awkwardness. It had only been a short time apart, but with Francesca gone, no one was around to keep the atmosphere in check. So now, caught up in this moment with Lauren, he ha
Jameson's voice turned serious as he said, "How is this fair? This whole thing should've been the Rhodes family's responsibility. We can't just dump it on Andy. Tomorrow, I'll bring a generous gift and head over to the Driscolls to make things clear." Tiana scoffed coldly. "You really think you can just explain it away? Joe's proud and stubborn—he won't listen to a word. Back when he came over with a proposal, we gave a subtle refusal, remember? But did it work? He left the engagement gifts anyway, completely airtight in his approach." Lauren sneered, "You can call it airtight, or you can call it what it really is—coercion. The Driscolls are one of the Three Titans. They think that just because they've got power, they can do whatever they want in the Gabo Creek region." She continued, "And Joe? He only met me a few times before deciding he wanted to marry me. The whole thing reeks of dominance, of bullying families like ours just because they can." Tiana let out a long sigh. "Y
Andrew raised his knee, blocking her incoming strike with ease. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he threw a punch without hesitation. The air itself trembled, bursting with a sound like a roar. Tiana's face twisted in sheer terror. It felt like an ancient beast—a primal force—was crashing down on her, unstoppable and overwhelming. It was like a helpless insect facing a natural disaster. With a sickening crack, blood filled her mouth and splattered across her chest and blouse. The dagger in her hand snapped, leaving only the hilt as she was thrown violently backward, crashing onto the stone path of the garden. Andrew strode over with a cold, unreadable expression, towering over her. "Talk. Give me one good reason not to kill you right now." Tiana tossed aside the broken hilt and wiped the blood from her lips. To his surprise, she actually laughed. "Impressive. Seriously, that was incredible. Go ahead. If you want to kill me, then do it. But before you strike, let me explai
Fortunately, the garden remained empty the entire time—no one passed by, and no one noticed a thing. If someone had seen what just happened, Andrew felt like even jumping into a river of bleach would not be enough to clear his name. He quickly gave Tiana a healing pill, wiped the blood from her lips, and helped her sit upright on a nearby bench. Only then did he finally exhale, tension easing just a little. "Thanks," Tiana murmured, her eyes reluctantly dragging away from his bare chest. She seemed to realize how reckless and inappropriate her behavior had been, and her cheeks flushed a deep pink. Even though she was well into her 40s and the mother of two daughters, Tiana had kept herself in peak condition. Thanks to her years of martial arts and rigorous discipline, her figure and presence still radiated strength and allure. If one looked past the iciness in her demeanor and the maturity in her gaze, there was no denying—Tiana was the epitome of a seductive, dangerous beauty.
"I'm not just saying you and Lauren can't be together," Tiana snapped, her voice cold as ice. "I have to kill you, then hunt down that bastard Reginald and make sure he regrets everything!" Andrew sighed, completely speechless. "Mrs. Rhodes, come on… that's a bit much, don't you think? If you've got beef with my dad for what he did back then, fine. But take it out on him, not me—I didn't do anything." Tiana let out a dark laugh. "You're his son. Since I can't find him, of course, I'm going to take it out on you!" Andrew watched her cycle from smug satisfaction to explosive rage, then fall into wounded nostalgia again. He could not even stay mad anymore—there was no point. Honestly, she was not evil. She was just a woman trapped in the past, tormented by a love that never got closure. He asked, "Mrs. Rhodes, when you attacked me earlier, you weren't really trying to kill me, were you?" Tiana snorted. "I said it already—you saved our family; I'm not ungrateful. I struck fi
The crowd could not help but wonder if Andrew was just that hurried to die, "Dragon Claw Strike!" With a low, lethal growl, Ellis struck, his eyes full of murder. His hands curled into claws, shooting straight for Andrew's chest and eyes, going for nothing less than a kill shot right from the start. However, Andrew's expression did not change. He stepped back once, then again, calm and fluid. It looked casual, but every move was calculated—just enough to slip right past Ellis's deadly thrusts. "Not bad. That's some decent footwork," Ellis sneered, his tone mocking even as he circled again. Then, his wiry frame lunged low, sweeping toward Andrew with a lightning-fast kick. Andrew's voice remained quiet and steady. "Dragon Claw Strike and Golden Cicada Stance are elite techniques from Silverthorn Monastery. Too bad you only learned the shell, not the substance." He stopped moving. Like a rock in a river, his stance suddenly locked in place. Ellis's sweeping legs, fast as
The bald man, Ellis, was not some no-name street thug—he was well-known in Blumedale. Among Mosby's apprentices, he was one of the rare few with zero talent in medicine but exceptional prowess in martial arts. Insiders knew the truth—Mosby had not taken Ellis in to pass on his medical legacy or help heal the sick. He wanted muscle, someone who could handle the dirty work behind closed doors. The whispers began almost instantly among the growing crowd. "This is bad. That's Mosby's third apprentice—trained under the monks at Silverthorn Monastery. I heard he's so powerful he can crack stone with his bare hands." Another chimed in, "Genesis Dispensary isn't the kind of place you just stroll into looking for trouble. That young guy's finished." "Well… I don't know. Judging from what I saw earlier, the guy's no amateur either." "Amateur? My ass. Ellis doesn't hold back. People have died under his fists before. That punk's either going to be crippled or dead in minutes..." More a
Barely two minutes had passed, but every single one of Genesis Dispensary's enforcers lay sprawled on the ground—some unconscious, some writhing in pain, and some not even moving. Janice clutched the edge of her sleeve, her face pale as a sheet. She stared at Andrew in shock, as if not recognizing this man. The Andrew she knew was gentle, refined, eloquent—someone who had won her grandfather's respect the moment they met, a miracle doctor with endless skill. However, the Andrew standing before her now was the complete opposite—ruthless, cold-blooded, and surrounded by a sea of blood from the beatings he had just handed out. Old Hayface's legs trembled as he stared at Andrew like he had seen a ghost, thinking this was beyond insane. How could some young punk wipe out all of Genesis Dispensary's muscle like it was nothing? He shook his head furiously in denial. "Andrew, you've messed up big time—real big. Mr. Lake is on his way and—" Before he could finish, Andrew delivered t
The red Ferrari screeched to a stop in front of the famous Genesis Dispensary like a streak of lightning. The dramatic entrance instantly caught the attention of pedestrians walking by. "Who the hell do you think you are? Driving that flashy piece of crap like you own the place? Move it before we lock your ass in!" Two burly security thugs stationed at the entrance of Genesis Dispensary stomped over, cursing as they approached. Janice jumped out of the car in a panic and rushed to explain, "I'm sorry, sirs, really sorry! We'll leave right now, please don't—" However, before she could even finish her sentence, Andrew stepped forward and slapped both men across the face. Each blow landed with a crack, and neither man had time to react before their heads slammed into the pavement, completely unconscious. Janice stood frozen, wondering if Andrew had always had such an explosive temper. How had she never seen this side of him before? "You bastard! You think you can hit our guy
Ronan's Oak Apothecary had built a modest but respected reputation in Blumedale, so having him gather the herbs was a huge time-saver for Andrew. However, the moment Andrew stepped into the shop, Janice Bates came running toward him in tears. "Andrew! My grandpa… he got hurt! Someone beat him up!" she cried, sobbing uncontrollably. Andrew's brows furrowed. "Janice, stop crying for now. Take me to him." In the back room, Ronan was lying on a bed, clearly injured. Two red handprints burned across his cheeks, and his forehead was bruised and bleeding as if someone had shoved him hard against something. "Mr. Lloyd… you came," Ronan said weakly, trying to sit up. "Forgive me, I've failed you." Andrew quickly motioned for him to stop talking. "Don't waste your breath. Let's get you patched up first." After checking him over, Andrew was relieved to find that Ronan had only suffered surface wounds and a badly twisted waist. He worked swiftly, massaging the injured muscles and ap
The awkward silence lasted for almost half an hour. Eventually, Aspen regained enough strength in her legs to move again. Without a word and her face icy cold, she reached for the car door, desperate to leave. Andrew quickly grabbed her wrist and said, "I'll drive you home so you can change clothes. Especially your skirt and stockings—they're completely soaked." Aspen immediately blushed crimson, embarrassment flooding up her neck and across her cheeks. She ground her teeth angrily and snapped, "No need!" Andrew ignored her protests completely, starting the Ferrari and driving straight back to The Sovereign Residences. Neither said a word during the entire drive. Andrew genuinely did not know what to say. Everything had been perfectly normal until he suddenly crossed the line with Aspen. It was just like those old movies, where the wealthy guy ended up sleeping with his favorite maid. Technically, Andrew had not done anything wrong; Aspen was his slave, after all. Nonethe
Andrew shook his head slowly and said, "No, you're not like some middle-aged lunatic, and you're definitely not trash or a hooker. You look like a cute little bunny rabbit, just begging to be eaten up. You forced my hand, Aspen!" As soon as he finished speaking, Aspen's eyes widened in sudden panic, realizing what was about to happen. She struggled fiercely, desperate to escape Andrew's grasp. Her voice trembled with tears as she pleaded, "No, no, no! Andrew—Mr. Lloyd—I'm sorry, I admit it, I was wrong! I swear, I won't do it again, please don't do this—please, no!" Her frantic protests ended abruptly with a soft, electric whimper as Andrew silenced her, pressing his mouth firmly onto hers. What followed was a hungry, unstoppable kiss, intense and overwhelming. Aspen's clear eyes widened, her expression first filled with shame and anger, then disbelief, and finally melting into a dazed, dreamy blankness. Their rapid breathing mingled in the confined space of the Ferrari, th
Andrew let out a cold laugh as he stared at the trembling Aspen right in front of him. "What am I doing? What do you think I'm doing? When you were trying to suppress Christina and Davon earlier, you used my presence to scare them off. Don't tell me you forgot that?" Aspen flushed, both embarrassed and angry. "I didn't forget! But what I said—was any of it wrong?" Andrew snorted. "No, it wasn't wrong. But you did get one thing messed up: your grudge with Christina has nothing to do with me, so don't drag me into it just to make yourself look good. You used your own boss as a pawn. That takes some guts, Aspen." Aspen instantly felt a chill. She shrank back and begged, "I-I-I… I won't do it again, okay? Andrew, just let me down first. My butt's right up against the window, and if someone walks by and sees this, how the hell am I supposed to live that down?" The corner of Andrew's lips curved into a teasing grin. "Isn't that perfect? You're my little secretary. This? This is very
Someone joked loudly, "But we get it… I mean, with a secretary like that, why would you even look at anyone else?" The others burst into raucous laughter, not bothering to hide it even in front of Aspen's increasingly dark expression. "Exactly!" another chimed in. "Mr. Lloyd is living the dream. Damn, I look at my office girl and suddenly feel dead inside!" "Mr. Lloyd's not just talented—he's got the best of both worlds. That little secretary of his is a top-tier beauty!" A bespectacled executive chuckled crudely and added, "Mr. Lloyd, let me give you a piece of advice: when there's work, let the secretary handle it; when there's no work, handle the secretary! That line fits you perfectly!" The entire room erupted in laughter as Aspen's face flushed deep red, her cheeks burning. Furious, she shot Andrew a murderous glare, then stormed out of the room in her heels without a word. Andrew, looking utterly unbothered, leisurely followed behind. He even muttered to himself, "Han