Herman's face contorted with rage as he spun around and slapped Tony, sending him flying across the room. He screamed, "Get away from me, you idiot! Don't you realize the trouble you've gotten us into?" He continued, "Instead of standing there clueless, you should get on your knees and beg for mercy!" Tony clutched his swollen face, his mind completely blank. Beg for mercy? What was happening? Nothing was making sense for Tony. Suddenly, about 200 men in black suits rushed into the building, quickly subduing all of East Side's remaining thugs. The suited men parted to make way as two figures walked in. Dylan walked in, immediately stunned. Meanwhile, leading the way was an elderly man with a cane, dressed in a style suit, radiating an air of authority so powerful it silenced the chaos around him. "M-Mr. Yates, why… why are you on my turf?" Tony stammered. Marvin, the wealthiest man in Jayrodale, ignored Tony completely and respectfully approached Andrew. "Mr. Lloy
"Please, help me beg for mercy and spare my life," Herman pleaded. Marvin responded coldly, "Given the Crimson Alliance's influence in Gabo Creek, I might have considered showing you mercy, Herman. Unfortunately, you didn't offend me—you offended Mr. Lloyd. Do you honestly think that even the reputation of a Crimson Alliance elder is enough to earn forgiveness in this case?" Herman's face turned ashen as he laughed bitterly. "You're right… I don't deserve mercy. This is my fate, my terrible luck." "Mr. Blackwood, who the hell is Andrew?" Tony demanded through gritted teeth. "Stop wallowing and explain! He can't possibly be that important!" Herman's expression grew lifeless as he sighed. "Since even Mr. Yates has acknowledged the truth, I might as well tell you, you ignorant fool." He continued, "He's not just important—even the most powerful would bow before him. He's a Lloyd and has the Blood-Eyed Black Dragon on his chest. Do you know what the tattoo signifies?" Tony gulp
With a sudden burst of movement, Herman struck Tony's head with his palm. Tony was stunned, muttering, "Mr. Blackwood, you… you…" Blood sputtered from his mouth and nose, and he did not even finish his sentence before collapsing. With a blank face, Herman said, "The moment we provoked Mr. Lloyd, we were already set to be buried six feet under. Don't worry. I'll join you soon." Dylan watched the scene unfold with chills running down his spine. Without any physical force or coercion, Andrew's mere identity had driven both a martial arts master like Herman and a crime lord like Tony to their deaths. He could not comprehend just how powerful Andrew's true identity was. "Mr. Yates, after I'm gone, please don't bring trouble to Crimson Alliance or my family," Herman begged, still kneeling. "Can you promise me this?" "Mr. Lloyd never harms the innocent," Marvin replied coldly. "Rest assured, the Crimson Alliance and your family will be safe." Herman sighed in relief before bit
Andrew scoffed without saying a word. Francesca assumed he was just talking tough since wiping out all of East Side seemed impossible. Well, at least she had never dared to imagine it. Just then, her phone rang with a call from Lauren. As soon as the call was connected, Lauren asked urgently, "Fran, something huge happened. Is Dr. Lloyd with you?" "Yes, he is. What happened?" Lauren's voice was deadly serious. "Ask Dr. Lloyd if he's responsible for eliminating the entire East Side and Tony." The question hit Francesca like a thunderbolt. Forgetting Lauren on the phone, she stared at Andrew in shock. She stammered, "Y-You actually destroyed Tony and all of East Side's criminal empire? How did you do it?" Before Andrew could answer, the hospital room door burst open. Irene rushed in, followed by other members of the Stevens family and Harvey. "Christie, Christie, are you okay? My baby, there's so much blood! How badly are you hurt?" Irene wailed, throwing herself beside th
Just then, Harvey chimed in, "Andrew, I used to consider you a friend for Christie's sake. But now you've gotten her hurt like this; I'm officially warning you to stay away from her, or else." His posture and tone suggested he was some noble protector, acting as if he would move heaven and earth for Christina's sake. Andrew's response was a cold laugh. "Oh, now you dare show your face? When Christina was in trouble, you were hiding away, acting all cowardly. Now that I've rescued her, you're here running your mouth. Aren't you ashamed?" "Who told you I didn't help when Christie was in trouble?" Harvey snorted. "Do you think Mr. Garner and Mr. Yates stepped in for no reason?" "Now you've got nothing to say, do you?" Irene sneered at Andrew. "It was Harvey who got Mr. Garner and Mr. Yates to deal with Tony." Andrew smiled wryly. "Is that what Harvey told the Stevens family, or just what you've assumed?" "That's none of your business," Irene snapped. "The point is, Christie'
Nonetheless, Harvey looked at the bright side of the situation. At least with Tony dead, he would never have to repay those millions owed to East Side. Just then, Christina stirred in her hospital bed, her face contorted in pain as she mumbled something. Irene immediately leaned in closer. "What is it, Christie? I'm here." "Help me… Please help me!" Christina whispered faintly. "I'm sorry, Andrew… I'm so sorry!" Though she was just talking in her sleep, Irene turned to Harvey with a smile. "Harvey, she's asking you to save her and calling your name! See? She's thinking of you even in her dreams!" Harvey's heart leaped as he rushed forward to take Christina's hand. "Don't be afraid, Christie. I'm here. I'll protect you from anything. You're my everything." However, as soon as he grabbed her hand, Christina began struggling in her sleep. "You're not Andrew… Let go of me! Andrew, Andrew, where are you? I'm sorry. Can you save me?" Harvey's face darkened instantly. The other
Andrew quickly removed his hand from Christina's, feeling awkward. Francesca raised an eyebrow and asked, "Ms. Stevens is in such a vulnerable state right now. You're not falling for her again, are you?" "It's not like that at all," Andrew replied wearily. "She got hurt because of me, so it's my responsibility to help her recover." "That better be all it is," Francesca warned. "You know Lauren would be heartbroken if you got back together with Ms. Stevens. I think you know that better than anyone." "Why are you bringing up Ms. Rhodes?" Andrew groaned. "That's completely unrelated." "Don't play dumb—it's totally related," Francesca snapped. "Everyone can see Lauren has feelings for you. If you break her heart, you're nothing but a jerk." Andrew wisely chose not to argue, knowing it would only make things worse. This irritated Francesca even more. "Well? What are your plans with Lauren?" "Ms. Rhodes has helped me a lot, and she's beautiful and kind. I consider her a good f
Lauren's heart sank, but her face remained cold and distant. She declared firmly, "No one has the right to decide about my marriage except me." Michael let out a scornful laugh. "I knew you'd resist, but it's pointless. This arranged marriage has been approved by the head of the family and the Rhodes Corporation board members. You have no choice in the matter, whether you object or not." With a mocking glance, Michael walked away. Lauren sat back in her chair, feeling helpless as she mumbled, "Even after everything, I still can't escape being another steppingstone for the family's expansion…" Her gaze flashed with determination as she continued, "The Driscoll family might be powerful, but I refuse to accept this arrangement!" However, it did not last long. The light in Lauren's eyes quickly dimmed as she let out a bitter laugh. She wondered aloud, mumbling, "What about his feelings for me? These past few days, he's completely focused on Christina, ignoring me. Perhaps Mic
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