The man stood still, not even turning around, and said, "Your name is Griffin Soare, and you work for Atlas Giordano in the Northern District. You're ruthless and have killed many innocent people. Am I right?" Griffin did not deny it. He scoffed and replied, "Since I started practicing martial arts, I've killed and maimed so many people, I've lost count. Good, bad, young, old—it's all the same. And you—you sound like you're here to avenge those dead souls. It's a noble thought, but let's see if you can back it up." Finally, the figure by the window turned around. It was Andrew, his face half-hidden in the dim light of the city outside. He nodded and replied, "Since you've admitted it, I'll make your death a quick one." Griffin quickly drew a gun from his waist, aiming it at Andrew with a sneer. "You sure talk big for a guy your size. Do you think you'll get away with it? One shot, and you'll be history." With that, he pulled the trigger. At the same time, Andrew's right hand
The men who had previously doubted Andrew and feared he would not be able to handle Griffin now looked at him with admiration. One of them said, "As expected of Mr. Lloyd—he's truly incredible." Dylan, feeling energized, gave orders, "Our chance has come. Mr. Lloyd has removed Griffin, the thorn in our side. Pass the word: while East City is in chaos, have all our men move out immediately. We'll take over the East City turf and not give Northern District any chance!" "Yes, Mr. Garner!" A chorus of approval rang out, their spirits soaring. That night, the underground forces of North and South City clashed in fierce combat. South City launched a major counterattack, and the Northern District was caught off guard, suffering a terrible defeat. Many people were losing sleep, and the night was full of unrest. Among those unable to sleep was Kane, the head of the Weller family. "Dr. Aicker, how is my condition?" Kane asked carefully in his private study. Kane had urgently
Soon, Harvey and the stunning Serena entered the study, one after the other. Both kept their heads down, afraid to meet Kane's eyes, which were filled with murderous intent. "Honey, w-what's going on?" Serena stammered, her voice trembling as she spoke first. Kane's cold gaze swept over her curvy figure, then landed on Harvey. Then, he ordered flatly, "Get on your knees!" Harvey forced a smile, trying to hide his nervousness. "Dad, what's going on? Why does it feel like you've changed after seeing Dr. Aicker? Has your condition worsened?" Kane roared, "You bastard, I told you to kneel! Didn't you hear me?" Harvey's smile faltered, and reluctantly fell on his knees, his heart pounding rapidly. Kane coughed violently, barely managing to control himself. His shaking finger pointed at both of them. "You have one chance to confess," he said coldly. "Who poisoned me? Was it one of you, or did you both have a hand in it?" At this, Serena almost collapsed to the floor, her body
Harvey sneered. "I know you're angry and confused right now, but don't you think you've deserved this for a long time? You've been sitting on the throne of the Weller family for years, refusing to pass it down to me." Kane's heart burned with fury as he roared, "You ungrateful bastard! Just because you want the title of family head, you think you can do this? Betray your own blood?" Harvey's face twisted into a snarl, his teeth clenched. "Why can't I? Don't you get it, Dad? I've been waiting for this for years. I've had enough of waiting." He added, "If you were healthy and strong, I wouldn't even think about it. But you're not. You're barely hanging on, yet you refuse to pass the title to me. Don't you know how torturous that's been for me?" Kane could not believe his own son wanted him dead. The ridiculousness of it all stung, especially after all the work he had put in. Despite struggling with his illness, he was still trying to pave the path for Harvey for his future. A w
"Is… is he dead?" Serena asked, trembling as she pushed away from Harvey. Harvey's face showed a mix of doubt and hesitation as he cautiously approached. It was not until he placed his hand near Kane's nose and confirmed there was no breath that relief washed over his face. "He's dead. He's finally dead!" Harvey chuckled, his voice manic with joy. "This is it! The Weller family is mine now!" Laughing wildly, he became almost unhinged, waving his arms in celebration in front of Kane's lifeless body. Serena was trembling with fear. "Harvey, his death will fall on us. If anyone finds out it was us, we won't escape punishment." Harvey sneered. "What are you worried about? I've already taken the risk with poison, so why should I be afraid of what comes after?" He reminded her, "You just need to keep quiet, especially when the elders ask. We'll both deny it, understand?" Serena's face turned pale with fear. "But if they really investigate, won't they find out?" Harvey cut her
Andrew asked, "Did the Weller family give any explanation for Kane's death?" Francesca smiled awkwardly and said, "Harvey told the media himself that his father died from overwork." Andrew snorted. "Overwork, huh? What a convenient excuse. I bet the real cause of Kane's death has something to do with him." Francesca stared at him, shocked. "No way. You don't actually think Harvey had anything to do with his father's death, do you?" Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Why is that so hard to believe?" Francesca shook her head. "It just doesn't seem likely. Harvey's still the son of the Weller family head. If his father's death were his doing, Harvey would be a monster." Andrew scoffed. "It's easy enough to figure out how Kane died. But since it's not my business, I'm not interested in looking into it. However, one thing is clear—once Kane is gone, the Weller family will fall into Harvey's hands." He continued, "So, Harvey's the biggest beneficiary of Kane's death. Some people will d
As Andrew left the hospital, he saw Christina and her family standing together. He approached and said casually, "Mrs. Stevens and Leroy are fine now, but it would be best for them to rest for a few more days." Before Christina could respond, Irene cut in, "Andrew, we're fine, and we're not falling for your tricks. We're not going to waste more money at your hospital." Still wrapped in bandages, Leroy added, "Yeah, Andrew, don't think I don't see through your game. You want us to stay longer so you can rack up more charges." Andrew's expression turned cold. "I tried to be polite, but if you don't want to listen, that's on you." He could not believe how ungrateful they were, especially after they nearly let Harvey kill them. His offer to help them heal had been turned into a money grab accusation. Irene smirked, "Go ahead and leave. By the way, our family's experts from the main branch of Stevens Corporation are already in Jayrodale. Pretty soon, the Stevens family will rise u
Two rows of bodyguards in black suits stood at the entrance, welcoming guests with an air of intimidation. As the trio got out of the car, they exchanged odd looks. "Is the Weller family hosting a funeral or a celebration?" Francesca asked, unable to hide a smirk. It was supposed to be Kane's funeral, but with all the fanfare, it felt closer to a celebratory party. Just then, Harvey appeared at the front gates, flanked by two older men who exuded a heavy, intimidating aura. Lauren stepped forward, offering her condolences. "Harvey, my deepest sympathies." Harvey, dressed in mourning attire, did not seem the least bit sad. In fact, he looked vibrant and full of life, almost as if he were attending a celebration instead. "Lauren, Fran, you made it!" He greeted them with a smile, but his grin instantly froze when his eyes landed on Andrew. "Andrew, I can't believe you actually showed up today, of all days. You've got guts!" Harvey sneered, his eyes flashing with cold fury.
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