Aspen's face darkened, and she could not help but step in. "Andrew, let it go. Think about it—Mr. Kelce is someone of his age and stature, and you're… well, you're not. Forcing him to kneel is just risking your own life." Andrew's tone was calm as he replied, "I'm not worried. I'm built tough. I'd gladly accept it if he kneels and begs before me." Aspen clenched her fists in anger and retorted, "Andrew, do you realize what you're risking? Mr. Kelce commands the loyalty of thousands in Bridgefields. Not only is he respected in the antique community there, but he also has powerful connections in martial arts circles. Are you ready for the retaliation that's bound to come your way if you force him to kneel today?" Andrew let out a cold laugh. "Aspen, I see what you're trying to do. You're just trying to get him off the hook. And you're threatening me with Bridgefields' big shots and antique tycoons? Whether I'm afraid or not is one thing, but do you think these Jayrodale folks here
Orion staggered to his feet, his bloodshot eyes glaring at Andrew as he roared, "Andrew, you insolent brat! This isn't over between us!" Andrew barked, "How dare you use that tone with me! Do you have a death wish?" Covering his face in humiliation, Orion, supported by his followers, scrambled toward the exit of the antiques fair. He did not want to stay even a second longer, fleeing down the bustling street with his pride in shambles. Christina hesitated and turned to Aspen. "Aspen, no matter what, Mr. Kelce is still one of the most prominent figures from Bridgefields. Are you really not going to check on him after such a humiliating defeat?" Aspen's tone was icy. "Check on him? Not a chance. It doesn't matter. Mr. Kelce's fury will be something Andrew absolutely can't handle. Just wait—Mr. Kelce will definitely come back to settle the score, and Andrew's the one who's in real trouble now." Christina frowned. She could not help but feel that Andrew had gone too far. Winning
Andrew smiled. "Don't mention it. I didn't do much for Dr. Aicker anyway. That relic just seemed to have a natural connection with him." Elsie stood quietly to the side, observing Andrew with subtle interest. Her thoughts churned as she wondered to herself, 'Could a man like this truly exist? Someone so composed, charming, and effortlessly skilled in everything he does?' From his demeanor and words to his charisma and even his looks, Andrew checked every box for Elsie. She had to admit he had a magnetic pull on her, yet she felt a pang of disappointment. No matter what she did, her charm did not catch his attention at all. Just then, a staff member whispered something in Elsie's ear, and she hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Mr. Lloyd, the Jayrodale Antiques Association would like to invite you to join as a member. Are you interested?" Andrew instinctively wanted to decline. He was never one to care about club memberships, VIP titles, or committee positions. Those
Elsie chuckled and said, "It's not as exaggerated as it sounds, Ms. Aicker. True experts at stone gambling know how to play smart—they're looking for a jackpot. All it takes is uncovering one rare gemstone worth millions, and they're set for life. Why wouldn't they take the risk?" She leaned in slightly, adding, "The most famous case in modern history is the 'King of Emerald' discovery from an overseas quarry. That guy, as if blessed by luck itself, unearthed a gemstone worth over a billion dollars from an unassuming stone. The news caused a worldwide sensation, even catching the attention of royalty from across the world." Francesca's eyes sparkled with excitement, completely captivated by the story. "A billion-dollar gemstone? That's incredible! Andrew, we should definitely try our luck with a few stones later, don't you think?" Andrew smirked and teased, "Didn't you just say that the risks were too high, and we shouldn't play?" Blushing, Francesca laughed awkwardly. "Well, w
The cutter straightened his posture and nodded firmly. "Miss, don't worry. With over a decade of experience in stone cutting, I'll make sure not to damage your stone." Aspen smiled confidently. "Good. Then follow my instructions and make the cut." The man carefully brought the blade down, following Aspen's precise directions without a single deviation. As the outer layers were stripped away, the crowd collectively gasped as the interior was revealed. "It's a high-quality translucent emerald! Aspen's got an incredible eye for this." "That piece alone is worth far more than 200 thousand dollars. She's definitely made a great call on this one." "Man, what a sharp woman. Her skill at stone gambling isn't something ordinary people can match." The crowd was awestruck, their admiration for Aspen growing. However, she remained unimpressed. In her mind, this was only a warm-up. "Cut this one next," Aspen instructed, pointing to another stone. "And those three over there—open them
"Wow, Aspen truly lives up to her name as Bridgefields' Stevens family's golden girl. She's got more guts and precision than most men out here!" "She's in a league of her own—no one in Jayrodale could match her confidence and skill in this game." Aspen's boldness and undeniable charm captured everyone's attention. Some men could not help but look at her longingly, practically ready to bow down at her feet. She scanned the area with a sharp gaze but did not see Andrew anywhere. She smirked and mumbled, "Looks like someone finally realized they're out of their depth. He must've decided to hide rather than embarrass himself in front of me." The master gem cutter began working on the third gemstone. With years of experience behind him, he carefully shaved away the outer layers without making any bold cuts. Two-thirds of the stone was removed, yet nothing remarkable was revealed. A tense silence fell over the crowd. Could Aspen actually fail this time? Even so, her calm and c
"It's a shame there's no real competition," Aspen said lazily, stifling a yawn. "Let's open two more stones for fun, and then we'll head out." She lifted a finger, casually signaling the gem cutter to begin again. Her every movement captivated the crowd, who watched eagerly, anticipating another jaw-dropping display of her talent. Before the cutter could start, a calm but distinct voice cut through the chatter. "Excuse me, could you help me cut this stone?" Though the voice was not particularly loud, it seemed to pierce through the noise, drawing everyone's attention. Instantly, the crowd erupted in irritation. "Who's this clown? Can't they see Ms. Stevens is about to make her move?" "Ms. Stevens is playing at the highest level—why waste time with someone else cutting a stone that's probably worthless?" "Whoever it is, they need to leave. Today's show belongs to Ms. Stevens, and no one else should get in the way." The disgruntled murmurs turned into curious stares as
Aspen smirked and said, "Ms. Santana, you sure are devoted to Mr. Lloyd. From the beginning, you've been protecting this so-called expert at every turn. Aren't you worried that the rest of us collectors might feel a little neglected?" Elsie responded calmly, "I'm not sure I understand what you mean, Ms. Stevens. Mr. Lloyd is a distinguished guest of Radiant Group, and it's my job to assist him. Is there an issue with that?" Aspen let out a disdainful laugh. "For someone to earn such exceptional treatment from you, Ms. Santana, they must be quite the expert. So, Mr. Lloyd, how about it? Are you brave enough to take me on? Don't chicken out now after all your earlier bravado." All eyes turned to Andrew, their curiosity piqued. His earlier confrontation with Orion had been impressive, earning him widespread admiration, but gemstone cutting was an entirely different challenge. Someone encouraged, "Mr. Lloyd, your expertise in antiques is remarkable. Surely you can hold your own in
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