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Chapter 328
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 329
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Orion's assistant brought two identical porcelain bowls forward. They were pristine white with delicate blue patterns adorning their surfaces. Elsie's expression turned serious as she warned, "Mr. Lloyd, in authentication, the toughest challenge is the twin test." "What's the twin test?" Andrew asked, which made Elsie sigh helplessly. She could not understand how Andrew seemed to know nothing, yet had spotted that sacred relic earlier. She quickly explained, "The twin test is an authentication term. It refers to two identical pieces—one authentic and one fake—that are so similar, they're impossible to tell apart with the naked eye. These two bowls, for instance, appear identical. Usually, we'd rely on professional knowledge, experience, touch sensitivity, and specialized equipment—but the competition rules prohibit using tools, so you'll need another approach." Orion extended his hand with a smirk. "You have five minutes to identify the authen
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 330
Orion's assistant mocked, "This kid knows nothing about antiques, and as for experience. Hell, he's barely old enough to drive! Just kneel before Mr. Kelce and admit you're wrong, kid. That's how youngsters like you should behave." "These jerks are going too far," Francesca grumbled. Andrew picked up both porcelain bowls, one in each hand, and asked with a smile, "Ms. Santana, these bowls are competition property, right?" Elsie nodded, puzzled by his question. "Yes, Mr. Lloyd. Competition rules state that all antiques and items must be from registered dealers." "Then I'd like to ask the owner of these bowls to step forward," Andrew announced loudly. Orion laughed coldly. "Do you really think the owner would tell you which is real? Stop playing games and just admit you don't know anything." "Patience. You'll be crying soon enough," Andrew replied with a smirk. The bowls owner, an elderly man in a burgundy suit with kind eyes, stepped forward and said politely, "Young man,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 331
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. They could not understand why Andrew had wasted time asking such obvious questions about the bowls' value. "Are you done wasting time? Can you tell which is real now?" Orion asked impatiently. Without answering, Andrew casually tossed the bowl in his left hand into the air. Aspen shouted angrily, "Andrew, what are you doing? Can you afford to replace a million-dollar piece?" Before she finished speaking, the bowl crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces. The spectators stared in disbelief, wondering if the pressure had made him lose his mind. Elsie was overwhelmed and could only manage to stutter, "Mr. Lloyd, you—" "If it were real, I'd have to pay for it, right?" Andrew asked calmly. "Well, that's obvious," Elsie replied, distressed. Andrew let out a relieved sigh. "Good thing I broke the fake one." The crowd was stunned. Some whispered about Andrew's unorthodox authentication method, while others bet he was just bluffing
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 332
"Andrew, Mr. Kelce is a master appraiser. You're getting too cocky challenging him," Aspen taunted. "Let's leave, Andrew. We shouldn't play with these shameless people," Francesca urged. However, Andrew patted her shoulder with a smile. "Don't worry, Fran. I'm definitely making this old man get on his knees today." Andrew raised the remaining bowl high. "Everyone, please witness this! If I can authenticate this bowl, Orion has to kneel and beg me, isn't that right?" The crowd cheered encouragingly. Someone shouted, "Exactly!" "Good luck, kid! We're rooting for you!" "Even if you misidentify the last bowl, you won't lose, because Orion's previous appraisal also ended in failure." "Yes, it's a draw at best. You're already impressive to have tied with Orion, handsome boy." Orion fumed. "Kid, no matter how lucky you get, you'll never figure out if this last bowl is real or fake."' Andrew studied the remaining bowl thoughtfully. Suddenly, he made a motion as if to smash
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 333
When Andrew approached Orion, the latter thought he was ready to give up. Orion said smugly, "Kid, it's time to learn your lesson." Andrew simply replied, "I know whether it's real or fake. Get ready to kneel before me," Orion retorted, "Then prove it. Is it real or fake? Announce it." "Andrew, it's real! This old fox is playing mind games. He wants you to overthink it!" The experts in the crowd agreed. They had faced Orion before and knew his tricky methods. Since the fake was already revealed, they reasoned, this had to be authentic. However, Andrew suddenly smashed the second bowl to pieces. The crowd stood frozen in shock, wondering how he could destroy what might have been a million-dollar piece. "You fell for Orion's trap," Elsie muttered in dismay. Francesca was extremely disappointed. If she had known, she would have tried to dissuade Andrew. Cedric grumbled, "Orion, you're so cruel." Aspen emerged from the crowd, smirking. "Andrew, reaching a tie with Mr. Kel
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 334
In stark contrast, Orion, Aspen, and his followers stood there, furious yet helpless. Meanwhile, Christina stared at Andrew in disbelief. She wondered if he really emerged victorious again. Orion was furious and growled, "How did you know they were fakes? What tricks did you use?" Francesca scoffed. "What a loser—he can't even accept his defeat graciously!" Andrew shrugged. "Does it matter how I knew? What matters is I was right about both bowls, which means you lost. Time to kneel before me." The crowd was shocked by Andrew's unexpected victory. His triumph brought pride to Jayrodale's antique community, and they relished seeing the arrogant Orion get his comeuppance. "You're always talking about rules, Orion," Cedric beamed, finally getting his revenge. "Well, a bet's a bet—kneel!" "Exactly, Mr. Kelce! Are you going back on your words now?" "Mr. Kelce, this is Jayrodale, not Bridgefields. I told you to be less arrogant, but you didn't listen. Now you're being punis
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 335
The crowd, stirred up by Aspen's accusations, began to eye Andrew again with suspicion. If he had really cheated by colluding with the owner, it would be a scandal of epic proportions. Andrew remained unfazed and responded calmly, "I thanked the owner, but not because he told me which piece was genuine." "In fact, I don't even know this man," he continued, his tone light yet firm. "If anything, I'd say this seller is more likely to be Mr. Kelce's acquaintance." Orion's face darkened, his teeth clenched tightly as he stayed silent. Aspen's heart skipped a beat. Could Andrew's claim be true? Was the owner actually on Orion's side? If that were the case, her earlier accusations would make no sense. After all, there was no reason for someone to align with Orion to help Andrew cheat. Elsie stepped forward with a calm but serious expression. "Mr. Cooper, as one of the event organizers, we have access to your background. "You're from Bridgefields, correct? And from what we know,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 336
"However—" Andrew began. Just then, Christina cut in excitedly. "While everyone was nervous, Mr. Cooper remained completely calm! That's how you knew both bowls were fake. He would have been panicking about their safety if they were real." "Exactly." Andrew nodded with approval. Christina felt conflicted. She was smart enough to run Jayrodale as CEO, but she would never have thought of such a brilliantly simple method. It seemed that her intelligence was nothing compared to Andrew's. The crowd erupted in amazement as the mystery was solved. "Incredible! He used psychology to authenticate antiques. Mr. Lloyd, you're truly the best!" Another expert claimed, "This is pure genius! I've been authenticating pieces for 20 years, but today's lesson has shown me I've still got more to learn!" "There's no doubt that Mr. Kelce has lost!" Aspen desperately searched for another angle to refute Andrew's claims but found none. She thought bitterly, 'He really beat Mr. Kelce. As fel
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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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1185
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1184
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1183
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
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
