Andrew spoke casually, "I'm not in a great mood today, so I'd advise you not to push your luck." Bobby's eyes gleamed dangerously. "What did you just say? Repeat that." Andrew chuckled. "I said, get lost. I'm not in the mood, and I'd hate to hurt you if things get out of hand." Francesca thought Andrew had lost his mind. "Andrew, shut up! Don't you know Bobby is Mr. Garner's best fighter from South City? I can't protect you if you keep running your mouth." She turned to Bobby, her voice tense. "Bobby, this guy's a friend of mine and Lauren's. Can we talk this out later? Maybe you could let him off the hook today?" Bobby laughed. "I'm afraid that's not possible. This punk messed with Mr. Garner's business yesterday. The boss wants him taken care of personally." He continued, "Ms. Aicker, please tell Ms. Rhodes it's nothing personal. This guy not only screwed up Mr. Garner's plans, but he’s also acting all high and mighty even with my knife on the table. That's disrespecting
"Bobby, put the knife down please, for my sake," a calm voice interrupted just as Bobby was about to strike. Bobby turned with a cold smirk, ready to dismiss whoever dared interfere. However, his demeanor instantly changed when he saw the elegant Harvey approaching. "Mr. Weller, what brings you here?" Bobby asked with a forced smile. Harvey, with Christina by his side, walked over gracefully. They looked like a prince and princess, drawing everyone's attention. "Dylan and I are great friends. I'm vouching for this man today, and I'll talk to Dylan personally later," Harvey stated with a smile as if it were a trivial matter. He glanced at Andrew, his eyes flashing mysteriously. Bobby hesitated. "But Mr. Weller, this guy hurt over a dozen of Mr. Garner's men yesterday. He really disrespected the boss…" Harvey calmly replied, "I said I'd handle it. Don't worry about Dylan; I'll explain everything to him. Besides, I heard your men tried to harm my fiancée yesterday. I haven't
"Mr. Weller just saved your life. Don't you think you owe him a thank you?" "I bet he's just jealous of Mr. Weller's status and influence!" The crowd's attitude toward Andrew turned even more disdainful. Some even considered teaching Andrew a lesson to impress Harvey. Christina frowned. "Andrew, Harvey's intervention calmed things down with Mr. Garner. Is it so hard to show gratitude for helping us both?" Before Andrew could respond, Harvey waved his hand dismissively. "Christie, there's no need to force him. You know I don't do favors expecting anything in return." He turned to Andrew with a smile. "Andrew, right? Christie has told me about you. I should thank you for looking after her these past three years." The crowd was impressed by Harvey's graciousness, further highlighting the contrast with Andrew. "Mr. Weller's is such a classy man. That loser can't match him!" "Ms. Stevens made the right choice dumping this petty jerk." "This loser must be feeling pretty use
Harvey glanced at Andrew, shaking his head with a smile. "I apologize if my words offended you, Andrew. I simply meant that a lady from a prestigious family like Fran should be accompanied by a gentleman befitting her status." Though not overtly insulting, Harvey's words dripped with upper-class superiority and dismissiveness toward Andrew. Andrew grinned. "I'm impressed. Also, didn't you say earlier that you'd cover all expenses at Oakridge Club today?" Harvey nodded, surprised by the question. "That's right. Whatever you want to drink or do, it's on me." "Well, since you offered, I'd be rude to refuse," Andrew replied, his smile widening. Harvey chuckled and walked away with Christina, not bothering to respond further. He had hoped to have some fun with this nobody, but Andrew did not even pique his interest. Christina was already eager to leave. Her disappointment in Andrew had turned to disgust. It seemed he knew he could not compete with Harvey and was shamelessly tryi
Andrew grabbed and lifted Bobby with one swift motion, then taunted, "I said I'd beat the shit out of you, but you wouldn't believe it!" Bobby let out a fierce roar and drove his knee toward Andrew's chest. The impact made a dull thud, but Andrew did not budge, even flashing a confident smile. Bobby was stunned—that kick would have shattered an ordinary person's ribs. Yet, this guy was still grinning. Suddenly, Andrew wrapped an arm around Bobby's head and slammed it across the nearby tables like a rag doll. Plates shattered, glasses broke, and bottles smashed everywhere. With blood streaming down his face, Bobby shouted, "I'll kill you and your whole family!" Then, he quickly pulled out a knife and stabbed at Andrew's waist. "Not bad, Bobby. You've got some skills!" Andrew praised mockingly. After that, he moved at an unbelievable speed and snatched the knife away. With a swift motion, the blade pierced Bobby's palm and drove deep into the table. Immediately after, a
That night, in a private hospital in Jayrodale, Dylan stormed in with over 100 of his men dressed in black. The hospital staff and visitors trembled in fear, wondering who had earned the wrath of South City's most notorious crime lord. Dylan, usually sporting a buzzcut and friendly demeanor, was oddly absent of smiles. When the doctor emerged from the ward, Dylan extinguished his cigarette and asked, "How's Bobby?" The doctor's face was grave as he shook his head, replying, "It doesn't look good." "What does that mean? Explain!" "H-He's in a vegetative state," the doctor said carefully, casting a wary glance at Dylan. Surprisingly, Dylan showed neither rage nor murderous intent. "Mr. Garner, we must get our revenge!" "Let us tear this punk into pieces for daring to touch one of our own!" "Just say the word, Mr. Garner; I'll take care of this clueless punk right now!" Dylan raised his hand. "Keep it down. Don't disturb Bobby's rest." "But Mr. Garner…" Dy
Marvin chuckled and said, "Dylan, let me give you two choices!" Dylan's eyes lit up instantly. "Please, Mr. Yates, I'm listening!" He thought this might work in his favor—after all, getting an offer from Jayrodale's wealthiest man could mean millions in compensation for losing his best fighter. Marvin continued, "First choice: we forget this ever happened." Dylan immediately shook his head. "That's impossible. I'll take the second option!" Marvin laughed again. "The second choice is this: Jayrodale's four crime lords go down to three, and I'll display your head on South City's highest wall for all to see!" Dylan's smile froze as he stared at the seemingly gentle old man. "Mr. Yates, I know better than to offend you. But may I ask why you're treating me this way?" Dylan was known for his ruthlessness. Yet, he found himself nearly in tears before Marvin. Marvin grinned ominously. "Why? Because that man is someone far beyond both you and me! Honestly, if you hadn't been
After examining Eunice, Andrew immediately confirmed it was the same poison used on Cecelia. The method was sophisticated, and most people would not have seen it coming. "Dr. Lloyd, can you treat her?" Lauren asked anxiously. Andrew nodded confidently and said, "It shouldn't be too difficult." Then, he reached for his silver needles and was ready to start the detoxification process. Suddenly, a cold voice called out, "Stop right there!" A group entered the room, led by a man in a suit with an air of smug entitlement. Lauren turned with a frown. "Michael, what are you doing here?" It was Michael Rhodes, her cousin and one of Jayrodale's four most eligible bachelors. He replied, "Lauren, isn't it obvious from Eunice's poisoning that someone's targeting Rhodes Corporation? You can't be that blind." "And?" Lauren's face remained expressionless. "And it's time to get rid of your pretty boy doctor here. My people will handle this, so stay out of it!" Michael shot Andrew a di
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