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Chapter 284
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 285
Andrew shook his head. "Madam Vostokoff, despite what you say, I'd like to confirm this myself. I have my own principles, and if my plan ends up harming innocent people, I wouldn't be able to live with that." Natasha chuckled. "I understand you're kind-hearted, Mr. Lloyd. Actually, after your insights, I already have a plan to create conflict between Finley and Atlas. Tomorrow, as West End's leader, I'll host a gala here. Atlas's attention-seeking mistress will definitely show up uninvited, and as our honored guest, you can see for yourself if what I said is true." "That works. I'll come see for myself tomorrow," Andrew agreed. Dylan grinned. "It's a great plan. At the gala, you can set the stage for that pervert Finley to make his move on Atlas' mistress. Sparks will fly for sure." Natasha smirked. "Knowing Finley's nature, he won't be able to resist her. And that woman's no saint either—they'll hit it off immediately." Andrew checked his watch. "It's getting late, Dylan. We
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 286
Antonio trembled in anger as he exclaimed in disbelief, "That pretty boy is stick thin! How could he possibly take down Griffin? It must be Dylan spreading smoke and mirrors." Natasha smirked with a shake of her head. "I doubt it. Andrew has already proven himself at the Weller residence. He faced off against their senior fighter and walked away unscathed. How many people do you think could manage that?" Antonio fell silent, his brow furrowing in thought. Someone spoke up, "But Madam, the Northern District is incredibly powerful. We were better off staying neutral—allying with Dylan's South City is practically declaring war on Atlas." "I thought the same way before," Natasha replied. "But Andrew was right—Atlas is ambitious and cunning. If we do nothing while he takes down Dylan, West End will be next on his list." Antonio voiced his concerns, "That's true, but Northern District isn't just Atlas—there's also Finley. How confident can we be even with South City's help?" Nata
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 287
Natasha yawned lazily and said, "Alright, get some rest—I'm tired too. We have important business tomorrow, and Andrew will be there. I'll see if I can get him to warm up to me then." Antonio and the others could only force awkward laughs before quickly departing. They knew Natasha treated her subordinates well and was fiercely loyal. Combined with her exceptional combat skills and leadership, she maintained firm control over West End, but she was still a woman—and a straightforward one at that, sometimes even more straightforward than the toughest men. This often left older members like Antonio at a loss for words. … Meanwhile, in the Northern District, a subordinate entered Atlas's office to report. "Mr. Giordano, our men watched until dawn, but Dylan and Andrew never left West End's headquarters." Atlas extinguished his cigar and scoffed. "Natasha must have let them out through the secret tunnels. Damn it, it looks like Andrew has convinced her to ally with Dylan." "S
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 288
Atlas' mistress was overjoyed, showering him with sweet words over the phone. "Thank you, baby! I'll dress up beautifully for when you come. Oh, I've bought several sets of sexy lingerie—come rip them off me soon!" Atlas laughed happily. "Don't worry, baby. Once I handle these important matters, I'll keep you busy for days." After hanging up, Atlas felt deeply satisfied. His empire was rising, with Northern District at its peak, and soon, he would devour both Natasha's West End and Dylan's South City. Then, he would rule Jayrodale's underworld as its sole king, crushing Marvin, the Wellers, and Rhodes beneath his feet. … Meanwhile, in Andrew's office at Jayrodale General Hospital, Francesca walked in to find Andrew in a sharp suit. "Do you have a meeting or event?" she asked with a smile behind her hand, admiring his tall, elegant figure. "Neither—just attending a gala," Andrew replied with a smile. Francesca's eyebrows furrowed with concern. "Are you going to a gala? Do
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 289
Meanwhile in Scarlet Lounge, West End. Natasha had rented out the entire luxury resort for the event. When Andrew and Dylan arrived, they saw that the entrance was lined with high-end cars. Stunning women in designer dresses and sharp-looking men in tailored suits moved in and out of the venue, all exuding power and wealth. Dylan leaned closer and whispered, "Mr. Lloyd, you might not know this, but Natasha's not as conventional as she seems. "She's been keeping West End in check for years, but behind the scenes, she's got ties with several high-ranking officials and wealthy benefactors in Jayrodale. A lot of the men here might just be her… admirers." Andrew adjusted his crisp suit and replied casually, "It was obvious last night—Natasha knows how to use her charm to her advantage." Dylan smirked. "No doubt about it. Those legs of hers? God knows how many men she's brought to their knees with them, willing to do anything for her." Andrew smiled faintly. "Smart women always
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 290
Dylan said, "Atlas would never lower himself to be seen publicly with Yvonne, no matter how much fun she was behind closed doors." Andrew nodded. "Let's head inside and meet with Madam Vostokoff." Dylan was just about to agree when he suddenly stopped and let out a sharp, "Huh? Mr. Lloyd, check that out—another attention-seeking diva just showed up." Andrew followed Dylan's gaze and frowned. "She looks familiar." Dylan smirked. "That's Serena Halbert, the widow of the late Kane. She's got quite a reputation." Andrew's expression turned curious. "You seem to know quite a lot about these women." Dylan scratched his head awkwardly, blushing slightly. "Well, I wouldn't say I know them, but I've heard the gossip." He continued, leaning in conspiratorially. "Take Serena, for instance. She's nearly 20 years younger than Kane, making her about 32 now. She was at her prime, but Kane was already a frail, sickly old man. There's no way he could keep up with her." Lowering his voic
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 291
Andrew frowned as he glanced at the arrogant woman before him. Though attractive, her superiority complex was something he could not stand. "I suppose this is Aspen Stevens from the Bridgefields' Stevens family?" Dylan asked in surprise. Aspen smiled condescendingly and replied, "Mr. Garner, I'm surprised you know who I am. I didn't realize my reputation had spread so far into Jayrodale." "You're indeed well-known for both your business acumen and martial arts skills," Dylan said coldly. "However, this isn't Bridgefields—it's Jayrodale, and such a high-profile attitude might not serve you well here." Aspen responded with unwavering confidence, "Mr. Garner, you should worry about yourself first. I hear South City is about to fall into Mr. Giordano's hands from the Northern District." She paused before adding, "As it happens, I have quite a good relationship with Mr. Giordano. If you ask nicely, I might put in a good word for South City." Dylan scoffed. "Who do you think you
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 292
Aspen said, "I've just arrived in Jayrodale, but I've already investigated everything thoroughly. You helped Stevens Corporation, and then Mr. Stevens Senior spoke up for you at the family dinner, trying to get you and Christie back together. Tell me, is this true or false?" "The event happened, but I had no prior knowledge of Mr. Stevens Senior's intentions," Andrew replied coldly. "Excuses!" Aspen laughed mockingly. "The truth is clear—you used your favor to manipulate Mr. Stevens Senior into speaking up for you, all to get back with Christie. Your help to the family wasn't genuine; you had ulterior motives. Christie would be blind to choose someone like you." Andrew shook his head and clapped sarcastically. "Aspen, though this is our first meeting, I must say I'm truly impressed with you." "What? Impressed that I exposed your true colors?" Aspen sneered. Andrew smiled. "Yes, genuinely impressed! I never thought I'd meet someone as idiotic as you. It's truly rare—I can't he
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1194
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1193
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1192
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."
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1191
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1190
"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.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1189
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1188
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1187
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1186
"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
