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Chapter 163
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Andrew's sudden comment instantly darkened the mood for the Stevens family and Harvey. Harvey replied with a scowl, "As I said before—I was busy calling in favors and gathering support the moment Christie was taken. Andrew, what's the point of constantly criticizing me?" "Even if you were gathering support, that wouldn't prevent you from answering your phone," Andrew shot back with a cold smile. "Or was the support story just a cover because you were too scared of Tony to do anything?" Harvey's face darkened even further because Andrew had hit the nail on the head. When Tony had disrespected and mocked him earlier, Harvey had spent hours fuming helplessly. Owing Tony millions, he dared not confront him, let alone demand anything from Tony. "Andrew, you're just a small-time doctor. I'm letting this slide for Christie's sake," Harvey said smoothly. "You may not understand the extent of my family's power from your limited perspective, but those who know, know." Though seething w
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 165
"Mom, please stop it with the flattery—there are people here," Christina said uncomfortably. Then, she asked, "Harvey, has the paperwork on the East Side redevelopment investment you mentioned earlier been approved? What's the status?" Harvey immediately broke into a confident smile. "You're right, Christie. The documents have been officially approved. I was planning to surprise you when you woke up, but you beat it to me." "Does this mean my 15-million-dollar investment return is coming?" Irene asked excitedly. Leroy chimed in eagerly, "Harvey, don't forget about me! I'm not as greedy as Mom—just a few million will do. I'll immediately buy a Bugatti, and it'll make someone's cheap car look like trash." He shot a deliberate smirk at Andrew as he spoke. Andrew ignored the fool who was counting on the East Side investment money to buy a luxury car. In fact, these two idiots would be lucky if they had enough money left to buy even a meal when this was all over. Harvey said
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 166
Harvey shot Andrew a cold smirk, determined to put him in his place. "Andrew, I kindly offered to let you in on this investment opportunity to help you make some money. Too bad you didn't take advantage of it. Are you having regrets now?" The Stevens family members joined in with mocking laughter, eager to curry favor with Harvey. One mocked, "Don't waste your time on lost causes, Mr. Weller. Some people are destined to stay poor forever." "Next time there's easy money to be made, count me in, Mr. Weller! Unlike certain idiots, I won't turn down free money," another chimed in. "Exactly, Mr. Weller! You should just tell us and not waste time on those losers!" "Remember how you called us all fools, Andrew?" Irene gloated. "How does it feel now? Jealous?" Andrew let out a mocking laugh. "Jealous of you all losing everything by falling for this scam?" Leroy taunted, "Classic sour grapes. Just wait until the money comes in—I'll make sure to drive my new Bugatti past you so yo
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 167
Harvey stated confidently, "You just mentioned the new development zone. If it's not East Side, where else could it be? Let's turn on the TV and watch the news. I'm sure the media will be calling me, the biggest winner, for interviews any minute now!" Then, he lounged back, feeling smug. Leroy rushed to turn on the TV like an eager puppy, and the Stevens family watched intently, brimming with excitement. Someone muttered, "Wait… that doesn't look like the East Side!" "It's not East Side. It looks more like West End." "Yeah, it's definitely West End—that run-down area with all the cheap land around it. The city tried to sell it before, but no one was stupid enough to take it," another commented. The Stevens family members quickly realized something was wrong. The payments being discussed on TV were not for the East Side at all, but for the West End—the complete opposite side of town. Cold sweat broke out on Harvey's forehead, though he tried to maintain his composure. "Ah, W
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 168
Harvey stood frozen, muttering, "How could this happen? This isn't right… This can't be right…" He was completely floored by the news as he had invested everything he had, even borrowing money and convincing the Stevens family to contribute their savings. He had planned to pay them back a token amount from the payout money and keep the lion's share for himself. Yet, he was in an even worse financial position than before. For a fleeting moment, Harvey genuinely thought about just ending it all. "Harvey, what's going on?" Christina asked, her voice heavy with disappointment. "Did your family's inside information turn out to be wrong, or were you just gambling blindly?" Harvey's attempt at a smile looked more like a grimace. "Christie, please believe me, we really did have inside information. I wouldn't have—" "I don't believe anything you say anymore," Christina cut him off. "Mr. Thatcher made it clear—we've lost everything." Irene shouted, "Harvey, I don't care what it t
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 169
Meeting Christina's disappointed gaze, Harvey backed down from his rage. He could not let his prize slip away—he wanted both Christina and Stevens Corporation in his grasp. Then again, there was nothing he could do now. All the money was gone, lost in a terrible investment. In a way, he had nothing left except his status as the Weller family heir. Christina said, "Mom, stop pressuring Harvey. What's done is done, and we'll find another way to deal with the money situation." Despite her words, Harvey's pathetic, impotent rage made her realize for the first time that perhaps he was not as perfect as she had imagined. Meanwhile, Francesca seemed entirely indifferent to everyone's mood. With a bright smile, she turned to Andrew and said, "Dr. Lloyd, did you know Lauren bought you a big chunk of land in West End during the planning phase?" Her eyes sparkled as she added, "Congratulations! You're officially a millionaire now." Andrew was surprised that Lauren had allocated so mu
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 170
Francesca snapped, "Let go of Dr. Lloyd right now, Harvey. You blindly led the Stevens family into disaster. How's that his fault? If you're so tough, why don't you take it out on them instead?" Harvey gritted his teeth. "You must've used some underhanded methods to get lucky with West End, right?" Andrew replied mockingly, "Wow, Harvey, you've got me all figured out. Yes, we used some so-called 'clever tricks'—that's how we made bank while you got left in the dust." Harvey roared, "You're just a powerless, insignificant doctor! Where did you get your information about the West End?" Andrew chuckled. "Oh, you know, just asked around town. Everyone knew about it. I'm surprised you didn't, Harvey—you must be losing your touch." "Are you messing with me? Do you have a death wish?" Harvey snarled, waving his fist threateningly in front of Andrew's face. "Harvey!" Francesca barked, stepping forward. "If you dare lay a finger on our deputy chief, I'll make sure you don't leav
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 171
Harvey was completely helpless in Andrew's hands, defeated without any real effort. The scene left Christina completely stunned, as Harvey had always been her ideal prince charming—someone who could handle both intellectual and physical challenges with grace. She had grown accustomed to Harvey's name carrying weight wherever she went. Yet, she watched in disgust as Andrew put him in his place, beating him miserably. With his messy hair and gritted teeth, Harvey's appearance made Christina's stomach turn, and for the first time, she saw just how ugly he could be. "Andrew, how dare you slap me?!" Harvey clutched his cheek, pointing at Andrew with bloodshot eyes. "I'll kill you for this. The Weller family's elite fighters will rip you to shreds." Christina frowned and said, "Harvey, that's enough. I saw everything clearly—you threw the first punch. You couldn't beat him, and Andrew taught you a lesson. That's no one's fault but your own." "Christina, whose side are you on—mine o
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1182
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1181
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1180
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1179
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1178
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1177
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1176
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1175
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1174
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
