Seth shook his head and said, "Mr. Parks, this happened on my turf, so naturally, I'll take full responsibility. But Aspen is off-limits, as she's my woman. I can promise you this—I'll cripple Andrew and make him crawl to you on his knees to beg for mercy. You can do whatever you want to him then, how about that?" Davon growled, "Not a chance! That punk Andrew beat me up mercilessly. As the Vice CEO of Phoenixdream Enterprises, there's no way I'm letting him off the hook. But more importantly, if I don't get Aspen in my bed soon, I'll lose my damn mind." Seth's expression darkened. "Mr. Parks, you're pushing it. By rights, since the fight happened in my club, I'm offering to take care of Andrew for you. But as for Aspen, it's fair game. May the better man win. Whoever has the power to claim her, gets to keep her. Isn't that fair?" Davon's face twisted. "Mr. Haywood… you too? You're into that woman?" Seth replied without hesitation, "Of course. I'm not just interested—I'm dead s
"But your club better line up ten beautiful women to serve me around the clock for a full week—no interruptions!" Davon demanded. Seth replied coolly, "Not just ten. I can give you 20 if you think you can handle it. Anytime you want." Inwardly, Seth was disgusted by the bloated pig in front of him. If Davon had not been a longtime VIP client, Seth would have kicked him out a long time ago. This loser wanted to compete with him for Aspen? Not a damn chance. He would not even let anyone kiss the ground Aspen walked on, let alone touch her. From the moment he first laid eyes on her, he had already decided—Aspen would be his and his alone. Davon sneered, "One more thing, Mr. Haywood—you better be careful. I saw Andrew fight with my own eyes. He took down Rufus without breaking a sweat. You better bring your A-team to that hotel." Seth pointed at himself and scoffed. "Please. I am the A-team. Every single direct descendent of the Haywoods could end that little punk 100 different
"I'm telling you, those two are in serious trouble," Leroy muttered. Christina said blandly, "They've made too many enemies, and now they're targets of a bounty from the Goldings. As long as Andrew stays in the capital, it's only a matter of time before someone takes him out." Irene let out a cold laugh. "Good! He had it coming. Didn't he strut around like a king back in Jayrodale? Now look at him—tail between his legs, hiding like a mutt in the capital!" Right then, someone pounded violently on the suite door. Irene shouted, "Who the hell is banging on the door like that? Leroy, see who it is. This hotel's got some nerve—I'm filing a complaint and charging them for my emotional trauma and stress damages!" Leroy was just as annoyed. Cursing under his breath, he stomped toward the door. However, before he could reach for the handle, the entire door flew inward with a deafening crash—kicked clean off its hinges. The heavy panel smashed straight into his face, knocking him dow
The underling who had led the way rushed to explain, "I swear, Mr. Haywood, I personally saw Andrew and Aspen enter this exact room!" Seth's face twisted with fury, his voice low and cold. "Damn it all… We've been played. Andrew lured us here on purpose. That bastard set us up." Davon, meanwhile, had his eyes locked on Christina with a hungry grin. "Mr. Haywood, forget Andrew and Aspen. This might've been a screw-up, but I call it a lucky one. Look at this beauty—she's no less than Aspen, maybe even hotter. You wanted Aspen? Fine, I'll take this one for myself!" Seth glanced at Christina and had to admit—she was stunning. "My apologies, Miss," he said, adjusting his tailored suit with practiced charm. "My men got a little overzealous just now. Please don't worry—I'll take full responsibility for the injuries your family suffered." Christina was not having any of it. Her fury erupted. "Take responsibility? You psychos broke my brother's legs! What the hell does an apology me
Quinton said firmly. "Don't worry. Dr. Lake is already on the way. Your mom and Leroy will be okay." Christina looked at her family, broken and bleeding on the floor, and fury surged through her chest. She said coldly, "I don't blame you for this, but the fact remains—these people attacked us out of nowhere. There has to be consequences." Quinton spun around and slapped Davon hard across the face twice. Davon hit the floor, blood pouring from his nose and lips as he screamed in pain. Even so, he did not dare fight back, not against Quinton. However, with venom in his voice, he growled, "Andrew, you bastard! This isn't over!" Seth's eye twitched. Quinton was the most respected heir in the capital among the Five Apex Families. Seth was not even close to his level, so all he could do was force a smile and mutter, "Quinton, I take full responsibility for this mess. I'll personally make it right with this young lady." Quinton snorted. "There's only one way you make it right.
While Andrew and Aspen did not witness Christina's family's tragic ordeal, it did not matter. They knew it could not have been pleasant. The two of them had arrived at the Supreme Capital Group's corporate office building. "Like I said, that family had it coming!" Aspen scoffed as she propped her long legs, clad in sheer black tights, right on the table. She had been running around all day and was seriously worn out. Andrew chuckled. "I didn't expect you to be this good at holding a grudge." Aspen's expression turned frosty. "I've always been petty. You should know that better than anyone." Andrew nodded like he was reminiscing. "Oh, I know. Back then, the great Stevens girl from Bridgefields looked down on the world like royalty. But look how things turned out. Now, you're my personal servant, obedient to every whim. If I tell you to strip, you wouldn't even dare cover up!" Aspen sneered. "Of course, I'll follow your orders. But you try telling me to strip? I'd rather die t
Aspen wondered how Andrew could be so cruel and heartless as to humiliate her like this in front of others. Tears welled in her eyes, but her resolve hardened. Even if she had to endure this monster's savagery, she would never surrender. The moment she was free again, she would end it all. Andrew, oblivious to the storm raging in her mind, brought the belt down hard across her backside. The leather split the air with a vicious snap, blooming fire across her skin. "This is for your defiance," he snarled, striking again. "For your arrogance. For still thinking you're above this!" Each lash seared like acid, pain radiating to her bones. A scream clawed at her throat, but pride choked it back. Instead, a stifled moan escaped, trembling and low. Andrew froze, belt raised. That sound—soft, almost pleasured—was not the cry of pain he had expected. On the other hand, Aspen was horrified when she realized it too. Her gasp had curled into something wanton. Something that betrayed not
Andrew had not expected things to get this awkward. Nonetheless, he swore that despite the torn stockings, Aspen's pencil skirt had covered everything. There were no scandalous views or nosebleed-inducing reveals. However, Aspen clearly disagreed. She changed into a fresh pair immediately, then fixed him with a glare sharp enough to flay skin. "Quit staring. We're leaving. I booked a property viewing. We need a place to live, after all," Andrew said, eager to escape. As the capital city, prime real estate was not hard to find in Blumedale. Yet, Andrew was not just looking for luxury—he needed somewhere even the Goldings' assassins and the Haywoods' schemers would not dare touch. That was how they ended up at The Sovereign Residences. Aspen, who had been fuming in silence, finally spoke. "We can't afford a broom closet here, let alone a house. This isn't about money—it's about power and connections. The kind we don't have." "Which is why I called in a favor," Andrew said.
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