Late at night at the Golding family estate, the massive mansion blazed with lights from top to bottom. Strangely, though, the entire place was dead silent, not a single person in sight. Only the grand hall was occupied—several figures stood beneath the towering chandeliers. At the center sat Richard, head of the Golding family, high on the main seat with an icy expression carved into his face. The butler stepped forward and leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Sir, there's an update on the bounty." Richard's eyes flickered. He growled, "Well? Where's Andrew's head?" The butler's face twisted slightly. "We didn't recover Andrew's head, sir… but three members of the assassin group were found dead at the villa. We believe it was Andrew's residence here, but by the time our men arrived, the place had already been cleaned out." The flicker of satisfaction in Richard's eyes disappeared, replaced with pure disgust. He hissed, "How useless." Knowing his place, the butler backed away q
At that moment, Kenny would much rather die than suffer the humiliation. He had fought tooth and nail to get Sherilyn married into the Goldings, thinking it was their one-way ticket to the top—a guaranteed leap from rags to royalty. However, he never imagined that in a family like the Goldings, they would stop treating someone like a human altogether once they lost their worth. They were tossed aside the moment they were no longer useful. Richard looked over at Elon, who still had not made a move, and let out a cold laugh. "If you can't do it, get out of my sight." Elon numbly stepped aside, staring at the weeping Sherilyn as if she were a stranger. His eyes were hollow, and his body did not move. Suddenly, three men and eight women were dragged into the hall and forced to their knees before Richard. Each one wore a look of absolute horror. "So, you're the ones who were fooling around with Sherilyn, right?" Richard asked calmly. None of the group who had participated in the
In the faint light of dawn, Aspen slowly woke up back at the hotel. Her body ached, and a soft groan escaped her lips as she frowned from the soreness. The last thing she remembered before blacking out was Andrew finally arriving at the villa to find her. Everything else after that was a blur. However, she vaguely recalled him treating her wounds and undressing her. When Aspen realized Andrew had undressed her, she bolted upright and flung the covers aside in a panic. Her bare, pale body was fully exposed beneath the sheets, with bandages wrapped around her chest and lower abdomen. She wondered how Andrew helped with the bandage, and if he had touched her. If he did, where did he touch? Did he touch her chest, her thighs, or even her private part? A sharp scream echoed through Room 9527, and Andrew jolted awake on the sofa, looking more irritated than surprised. "What the hell? You moaning from a dream or something?" Aspen scrambled to sit up, her face flushed with fu
"Not bad. You look stunning," Andrew commented with a smirk. Aspen silently cursed him for being a pervert. Though she was fully dressed now, her expression remained dark, and her mind kept flashing back to the thought that he might have touched every inch of her body—especially the most private parts. Her skin crawled just thinking about it. … After a quiet breakfast downstairs, the two returned to the villa they had been staying in. "Pack your things. We're leaving. It's not safe to stay here anymore," Andrew said casually. Aspen frowned, feeling both annoyed and disappointed. "The house was perfect, and it was paid for, too. Such a waste, all thanks to you!" Andrew let out a cold laugh. "Then why don't you stay behind?" Aspen's face went pale in an instant, and she did not dare argue further. At this point, she and Andrew were practically bound together—if she did not stick with him, she was not sure she would live to see the next day. They gathered a few essentia
In one of the rooms inside the private club. "Mr. Parks, I'm still recovering from my injuries, so I truly can't drink. I hope you'll understand," Aspen said politely, her brow tightening. She had come expecting a legitimate business conversation—a contract negotiation. However, judging by the atmosphere and Davon's sleazy expression, it was clear he had other intentions. Fat-faced and beady-eyed, Davon swirled a glass of red wine as he leered at her. He said, "Ms. Stevens, you must be new around here. I guess you're not familiar with how things work in this city. "When you sit down to talk business, drinks and fun go hand in hand. Loosen up. Don't be so uptight. Tell you what—down this bottle, and I'll sign that contract on the spot. Deal done." Aspen replied calmly, "I'm sorry, Mr. Parks. I don't drink at all. But if you sign the deal today, once I've recovered, I'll gladly toast with you to celebrate." Davon's smile faded, and his tone sharpened with irritation. "Aspen,
Aspen's expression fell immediately. If she had not been injured, this group of muscle heads would not have even made her blink. However, her chest wound had just been freshly bandaged by Andrew—if she fought now, the stitches would rip open for sure. Still clutching in pain, Davon was helped to his feet by two of his men. He stared at Aspen with a twisted grin. He taunted, "What, getting scared now, slut? Do you think you're walking out of here after that? Think again. Let me be real clear—the only reason I agreed to meet you today was to screw you. If I don't have you writhing and begging under me tonight, then this deal is far from over." Aspen's face twisted in fury. "Why don't you go home and screw your mother instead, you fat freak?" Davon roared, "Get her! Hold this bitch down for me!" His goons lunged at Aspen like starving wolves. Suddenly, a figure shot in from the side and landed in front of Aspen like a shadow. Then, three kicks flew out in the blink of an eye,
Aspen glared coldly. "Says who? What is this? Are the Haywoods running a den of thugs now? Does no one here know what decency even looks like?" Rufus let out a sinister chuckle. "Sweetheart, did you really think this club was built for a legitimate business? You rookies must be first-timers here. This entire club belongs to Seth Haywood himself. "And what we offer isn't just champagne and contract signings. We provide services that rich men like Mr. Parks truly value. You want logic and fairness? Girl, after you've been taken a few times, you'll realize reason doesn't matter. Power and money are all that do." Aspen's face darkened instantly when she heard that it was Seth, the same man who had once pursued her and paraded around like a golden boy from a noble lineage. She never would have guessed he was secretly running this kind of hellhole. She was glad she never placed any hopes on him. But right now? They were surrounded by over 100 armed guards. Injured or not, there was n
Aspen's eyes never left Andrew as she asked nervously, "Andrew, do you need my help?" Andrew calmly replied with just two words, "No need." With a casual motion, he slapped a thug holding a machete so hard the man flew back. Without even looking, he threw his elbow backward, smashing into another guy swinging a steel pipe like he was volunteering to get wrecked. The blow crushed his nose flat, and he howled in pain. Andrew's expression did not change—no anger, excitement, just pure calm. To him, these guys were not even worth warming up for. Then, he raised his hand and collided directly with Rufus. Rufus looked shocked. "You actually caught my Haywood Strike? Kid, I gotta admit, you've got some skill." Andrew smirked coldly. "Only 'some'?" "Fine, try this next strike and see what happens!" Rufus tossed aside his jacket, revealing a tight shirt stretched over rippling muscles and a solid chest. Andrew scoffed. "Bring it on. You think I'm scared of you?" Rufus sneered,
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