Donald remained unfazed. He even propped his feet on the desk, completely dismissing the Aickers' presence. "Mr. Warren, please release Andrew," Francesca demanded coldly. "Why should I? A fraud belongs in prison." Donald scoffed. "Where's your evidence?" Francesca snapped. Donald replied, "The evidence is for the judge, not for you. Now, all you Aickers better leave my office immediately, or you won't be able to handle the consequences of obstructing justice." "Mr. Warren, Andrew is not a criminal," Cedric said gravely. "Moreover, he knows Mr. Thatcher personally. You'd better not do anything rash." Donald sneered. "Doctor, don't try to manipulate me. He's just a nobody—even if he's met the mayor once, does that count as knowing him?" "Donald, do you really want this to escalate to the mayor's office?" Cedric pressed. "If it comes to that, no one will be able to protect you." "Cedric, you're being ridiculous," Donald mocked. "As the chief commissioner of Jayrodale's po
Not only Donald, but even the Aickers were shocked by this turn of events. "Lauren, please stop!" Francesca pleaded, her face turning pale. If Lauren actually killed Donald, the situation would escalate beyond control. Lauren kept the gun pressed against Donald's sweating forehead, completely ignoring Francesca's plea. She growled, "You pig, I've been more than courteous with you. Just because you're the head of Jayrodale police department, you think you can get away with arresting my man without cause?" Lauren's eyes were fierce, and her chilling gaze made Donald tremble. However, a surge of anger quickly rose within him—after all, he was one of Jayrodale's top dogs and head of the police department. Donald said coldly, "Ms. Rhodes, if you've got the guts, shoot me right now. If I die in my office, not only Andrew but you and the entire Rhodes family will face severe consequences." Lauren smiled menacingly, "Oh? Do you really think I won't pull the trigger? I'll send you s
Dylan threatened, "You'd better release him, or hundreds of my South City boys might pay Mr. Warren's house a visit." Donald exploded with rage, "Mr. Garner, are you threatening me?" Dylan's face suddenly darkened, twisting with menace. He snarled, "That's exactly what I'm doing. What are you going to do about it? You fat pig, others might fear you, but I don't give a damn about your position." He added, "If anything happens to Mr. Lloyd, I'll take you down even if it costs me my life. Am I clear?" The ferocity in Dylan's voice made Donald's face pale as he struggled to maintain his composure. Donald could not wrap his head around it—who the hell was Andrew? Why were even the underground crime lords getting involved? Moreover, Dylan's stance seemed to show that he was ready to go to war over this. Donald said through gritted teeth, "Think carefully about what you're doing. Even if I release him now under pressure, what about later? Not everyone can get away with disresp
"Donald, tell me, am I your 'dead man walking'? Answer me!" Mark roared as he entered, his face livid with rage. Not only did Donald pale in fear, but Natasha, Dylan, Cedric, Francesca, and Lauren were all stunned silent. No one dared to speak, as accompanying Mark was Marvin. Although Marvin had always maintained a low profile in Jayrodale's elite circles, those in the know understood that this billionaire was a tough guy that no one dared to provoke. Not only did he control a massive financial empire that was Jayrodale's economic lifeline, but his background from Chetvine made him even more formidable. Donald's entire body trembled as he nearly burst into tears. "Mr. Thatcher, Mr. Yates, what brings you here? I'm the worthless one—just a blind, stupid piece of trash!" "What's wrong? Is your office now off-limits to me?" Mark's voice was cold. "If I hadn't come personally, were you planning to abuse your power and create an even bigger disaster?" The moment Mark learned a
Clutching his bloody hand, Donald nearly passed out from the pain. Even Dylan and Natasha were shocked by this display of brutality. While they had been willing to threaten Donald and risk their lives against him, they would never dare to actually harm him in his own precinct with armed officers outside. Yet Marvin, the billionaire, had just severed Donald's pinky right there, showing a level of power that far exceeded their underground influence. "Mr. Yates, where's Andrew?" Lauren asked urgently. Marvin smiled. "Go see him, Lauren. He's fine, and he'll be happier with you there." Lauren blushed slightly before heading off with Francesca and the Aickers to find Andrew. "Sir, how should we proceed?" Mark asked respectfully. Marvin snorted. "Jayrodale is your jurisdiction, and Donald is your man. Handle it as you see fit." Without another word, he left, not even bothering to show deference to the mayor. Mark's face twitched—this was exactly what he had feared. Witho
If Jayrodale's wealthiest man could destroy him so easily, Donald shuddered to think about the power level of someone who commanded that kind of authority. The sense of impending doom was overwhelming. Mark said coldly, "Your tears are useless now… It's too late. Tell me, what possessed you to arrest Mr. Lloyd in the first place?" Donald's face crumpled as he explained, "It was Aspen Stevens. She told me Mr. Lloyd committed fraud at the antique appraisal convention, causing her to lose tens of millions, so I—" Mark cut him off with a sneer. "So, you just blindly acted on this woman's word? You didn't follow proper procedure or gather evidence? You just took her baseless accusations at face value?" Donald shrank back, stammering, "I-I didn't think it through. Aspen's my old classmate, and I thought I'd do her a favor." Mark stated indifferently, "What else? You better tell me everything. Otherwise, I won't be able to protect you if Marvin comes back." Donald swallowed hard a
Donald forced a laugh, "Sir, I'm not as noble as you. You know what they say—the grass is always greener on the other side." Donald continued, "Aspen is a brilliant and beautiful woman from the Bridgefields' Stevens family. Wanting her is only natural. And…" When Donald hesitated, Mark pressed, "And what? Tell me everything so I can try to help you find a way out of this mess." Donald shifted uncomfortably before admitting, "And sleeping with someone like Aspen isn't just about the pleasure and the thrill of conquest. I was planning to secretly record it, so I could enjoy it again later. With that kind of video, I could even make her come back for more…" Mark took a deep breath, staring at Donald intently. "Donald, you should have been a porn director elsewhere instead of a chief commissioner in Jayrodale." Donald's eyes lit up excitedly, "Mr. Thatcher, so you're into that too! No wonder you asked so many detailed questions!" "Shut up!" Mark snapped, his face reddening. "Th
Donald nodded vigorously, "Yes, it was Aspen. If she hadn't slandered you, Mr. Lloyd, I would never have made that move." Andrew waved his hand dismissively. "Very well… I believe you know how to handle the situation moving forward." Donald's face turned sinister. "Rest assured, Mr. Lloyd. That bitch nearly got me killed. She won't get away with this." Andrew remarked with a knowing smile, "Yet I heard from Mr. Thatcher that you wanted to sleep with her," "That was just my hormones talking, Mr. Lloyd!" Donald quickly exclaimed. "I've come to my senses now—I just want to cut all ties with that woman and teach her a lesson." After Donald's submissive departure, Lauren smiled. "Dr. Lloyd, I'm relieved you're okay. I should head home while Fran and the others leave too." "Ms. Rhodes, is everything alright with the Rhodes family lately?" Andrew asked with surprise. "You seem unusually busy." Lauren avoided his gaze, smiling. "Just some minor matters. I'll come to see you once
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