Atlas' mocking laughter echoed from a distance. "Before you came to Jayrodale, Northern District was already a dominant force. With or without you, it makes no difference. Also, Finley—I've been putting up with your nonsense for way too long!" "Get lost, you pathetic son of a bitch!" he added with a sneer. Left standing alone, Finley burned with murderous rage. Atlas had slapped him, severed their partnership, and humiliated him publicly. If that was the case, Finley decided there was no point feeling guilty anymore. Atlas, the so-called crime lord of the Northern District, was nothing more than a shortsighted fool. He thought someone as petty as Atlas never deserved his full support anyway, especially since everything was happening because of a woman. Meanwhile, Natasha and Dylan exchanged glances, their mutual excitement impossible to hide. The Northern District's two pillars, Atlas and Finley, had finally gone their separate ways. Now, it was their turn to take the stage.
Andrew, Natasha, and Dylan returned to West End with their respective entourages. Andrew said, "Dylan, I don't think I need to handle the rest of Madam Vostokoff's business." The chaos he had stirred up was more than enough, and he had no intention of meddling further in the underworld. Dylan nodded. "Mr. Lloyd, you've already done far more than enough for us. Madam Vostokoff and I can handle the rest without troubling you further." Natasha chuckled. "Darling, you even managed to divide Atlas and Finley for us. Why not see it through to the end? How about taking Atlas out entirely for us?" Andrew shook his head without hesitation. "You know my rules, Natasha. I've already done more than enough, far exceeding the value of that so-called medicinal herb you offered me. Isn't it a bit excessive to keep asking for more?" Dylan quickly agreed. "Madam Vostokoff, Mr. Lloyd has gone above and beyond for us. Asking him for anything more wouldn't just break the rules—it would make us
Dylan shrugged casually, clearly indifferent. He had already tried to warn Natasha, but if she refused to listen, there was not much he could do. It was obvious that Andrew was cutting her some slack—if someone like Michael had dared to act up, they would have been slapped into submission long ago. By the time Andrew returned to Moonlit Sanctuary, the sun was setting. He pushed open the door to the small house on the hill and found Marvin lounging under the tree at a stone table, sipping leisurely on some liquor. The table held not just Andrew's prized bottle of aged whiskey but also a few snacks that were perfect for drinking. Andrew walked over and smirked. "When did you start getting into the finer things in life, old man?" Marvin chuckled and raised his glass. "Sir, you're giving me too much credit. These fancy little snacks? Definitely not my handiwork." He gestured toward the house with a knowing look. Andrew frowned in confusion. "Who else would be here?" Just as
Lauren's words caught Andrew off guard, and he stammered, "W-What? No, you…" He had assumed Lauren had uncovered some hidden truth or had some brilliant insight. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect her to come up with such an absurd and melodramatic theory. Meanwhile, Lauren looked utterly confident, her face glowing with satisfaction. "Mr. Yates is nearly 60 now and has never married—that's no secret in Jayrodale's elite circles! Everyone finds it strange that a man with such immense wealth hasn't taken a wife, or even had a mistress, second wife, or a random fling." She leaned in conspiratorially. "There's been plenty of speculation that Mr. Yates must've had a secret family hidden away somewhere. But because he's never said anything publicly, no one dares to gossip too much." Lauren paused dramatically and grinned. "I used to think Mr. Yates was just really good at keeping his private life private. But after getting to know you, and the more I've learned about you…"
Lauren had talked so much that her mouth had gone dry. She grabbed her glass of water and downed it in large gulps. Andrew watched her, his lips twitching harder with every passing second. He was almost certain now—Lauren's wild assumptions resulted from reading too many trashy romance novels or binge-watching overly dramatic soap operas. Everyone knew how deeply these kinds of shows could corrupt their audiences, especially when it came to women with overactive imaginations. After finishing their meal, they cleaned the kitchen together, washing the dishes until everything sparkled. It was not even seven yet, so Andrew thought briefly before suggesting, "Ms. Rhodes, since it's your first time visiting, how about I show you around?" Lauren hesitated, looking conflicted. "Maybe another time, Dr. Lloyd. I really need to head back." Noticing how her fingers were fidgeting as if torn between staying and leaving, Andrew raised a brow in surprise. "It's still early, Ms. Rhodes. Y
The next morning, Andrew arrived at Jayrodale General Hospital bright and early. As the deputy chief, his workload was typically light, and he often joked that his role was more symbolic than hands-on. Though the hospital was the largest in Jayrodale, it was privately owned, granting Andrew significant freedom. Unless there was a particularly complex case or a challenging surgery, he rarely had to step in, thanks to Francesca and Lauren's help managing the load. "Good morning, Dr. Lloyd!" The vibrant and cheerful nurses greeted him warmly as he walked through the corridors. Andrew smiled back and replied, "Good morning, everyone!" The most beautiful nurse in the hospital was Nyla, widely regarded as the belle of the department. When she saw Andrew, her face turned bright red, and she quickly lowered her gaze, clearly flustered. Andrew gave her a polite smile before stepping into the elevator to head to his office. Hospitals were known for being breeding grounds for gos
Andrew stayed silent for a moment, then glanced over at Francesca. Her face was flushed red all the way to her neck, and the moment she noticed his gaze, she quickly turned away and muttered, "Andrew, don't listen to my grandpa's nonsense. He's just a hopeless old man." Andrew chuckled lightly and said, "Dr. Aicker, as I've mentioned before, the age gap between us is far too wide. Accepting you as my apprentice wouldn't be appropriate, so there's no need to bring this up again." Cedric looked visibly disappointed as he nodded and sighed. "Fair enough, I understand. It was a bold request, after all." He then brightened up and added, "But, Dr. Lloyd, I didn't come here just to ask about becoming your apprentice. There's something else I wanted to discuss with you." Andrew tilted his head curiously. "Oh? I'm all ears." Cedric stroked his beard and explained, "Today is the Antiquities Showcase hosted by Radiant Group. Experts and collectors from Jayrodale, Blumedale, and even B
In the car, Francesca called Lauren and spent several minutes chatting in hushed tones. When she hung up, her face showed clear disappointment. She said with a sigh, "It's a shame Lauren can't join us. We had planned to attend the showcase together with you, Andrew, but the Rhodes family has been keeping a close eye on her lately. She'll have to skip it this time." Andrew could not help but think back to Jerry and the others from the day before. While they claimed to be there to pick Lauren up, their behavior seemed more like they were monitoring her. Cedric chimed in, "The Rhodes family recently had an important guest arrive from the Blumedale. Lauren is probably tied up entertaining them, which is why she couldn't come along." The three of them chatted casually as they drove, eventually arriving at Jayrodale's most famous antique district. The streets were already packed with people, forcing Andrew to park the car several blocks away. Cedric glanced around at the bustling c
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