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Chapter 540
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 541
Andrew smiled faintly and said, "Mrs. Rhodes, your wisdom is admirable. Allow me to elaborate further on what it truly means to uphold fairness and justice with clear rewards and punishments." "First," Andrew continued, "the punishment for Michael is far too lenient. Given the gravity of his mistake, there's no need for further deliberation—he should be immediately reassigned to a lower department. Making him a department manager or supervisor would suffice. Letting him keep a supervisory role is already plenty generous." Michael's anger flared, barely restrained. He felt as though Andrew was stabbing him in the heart. A department manager or supervisor? That was a massive demotion, pushing him miles away from ever reaching the CEO position. The audacity of Andrew to suggest such a punishment felt like a public flogging. Tiana, with a cold sneer, interjected, "You've spoken about punishments. Now, isn't it time to talk about the rewards you think are warranted?" Andrew, unfazed
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 542
Andrew snorted coldly. "I said I'd help you get justice, and I always keep my word." Turning to Tiana, Andrew continued, "The former director of the Pharmaceutical Division was Mr. Chapman. But Michael, using a fabricated excuse, removed Mr. Chapman from his position and replaced him with one of his cronies. "With tactics like that, it's no surprise that Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division ended up in such a mess. There's only one phrase for this: they deserved it." Michael's face contorted with rage. "Andrew, instead of thinking about how to help the company recover its losses, are you going to just stand here and make sarcastic remarks?" Andrew glanced at him dismissively. "Trash is trash. If you can't handle criticism after making a mistake, you might as well just end it all by smashing your head against the wall." Tiana smirked playfully. "You've said all that, so you're implying you want me to give the position of director of the Pharmaceutical Division back to
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 543
Andrew maintained his composure and said, "I wouldn't call it singing my own praises, but if there's merit, then rewards must follow. Troy's leak of the formula, and the Weller family's previous schemes against Rhodes Pharmaceutical—if I may say so, I contributed significantly to resolving those issues." Pausing briefly, Andrew dropped a bombshell, "I don't dare ask for much, but Madam, why not make me the CEO of Rhodes Corporation?" The moment those words left his mouth, it wasn't just Michael and his loyal supporters who were stunned—Lauren herself was left speechless. Andrew wanted to be the CEO of the corporation? Wasn't that an ambition far too bold? Michael's face twisted in fury. "Andrew, you really have no shame, do you? CEO of Rhodes Corporation? Why not go all the way and just rename the company to Lloyd Corporation while you're at it?" Andrew replied earnestly, "Mr. Rhodes, while that idea is brilliant, it doesn't align with ethical principles. So I'm afraid I must
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 544
"I'm an outsider, so it's fine if Mrs. Rhodes doesn't reward me, Ms. Rhodes hasn't even been promoted in the slightest. It seems the corruption within Rhodes Corporation is quite thorough," Andrew said. Tiana was truly enraged this time. "Andrew, watch your tongue! Do you even realize that not even Marvin, the man behind you, would dare speak to me like this?" Andrew replied indifferently, "If Mrs. Rhodes can do as she pleases, why can't others speak their minds? If you want to shut me up, then just go ahead and distribute the rewards fairly. Give Ms. Rhodes what she deserves without delay." Tiana, clearly exasperated, gritted her teeth. "Lauren is my biological daughter. What she's due, I'll never withhold from her. Fine. I'll satisfy your little scheme. Lauren will be the first priority candidate for the CEO position. Is that enough for you now?" Andrew smiled. "Mrs. Rhodes is fair and just, as expected from the matriarch of Rhodes Corporation. I'm impressed." Tiana snorted
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 545
Tiana let out a laugh, though it was a cold and disdainful one. "So stubborn, refusing to admit your weakness, hiding behind a facade of apparent strength. This is one of Marvin's old tricks, and you've learned it well." Andrew frowned. Tiana kept bringing up Marvin, and he couldn't figure out what her intent was. Her words implied she viewed Andrew as Marvin's pawn or lackey, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Andrew couldn't understand her logic. His relationship with Marvin was nothing like what she imagined. In fact, they were completely unrelated. With a flick of her sleeve, Tiana turned away and instructed, "The Pharmaceutical Division's issues—whoever can solve them will earn the CEO position." "Michael, Lauren, you're both outstanding members of the Rhodes family. Let's not dwell on the past. From now on, it'll be a fair competition between the two of you." Fair? What a joke! Andrew felt a chill in his heart and nearly exploded in anger. What was Tiana
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 546
"But now, you're my woman, Lauren, and I won't let you be treated unfairly like this," Andrew declared firmly. Lauren's eyes brimmed with tears, and she suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to cry. "Dr. Lloyd, you're so kind." Without warning, she hugged Andrew tightly. Andrew felt increasingly uneasy. Was Tiana's presence truly such a significant threat to Lauren? He had never seen Lauren cry before. A discreet cough came from behind them. Lauren quickly let go of Andrew, wiped her tears in a hurry, and shot him a shy glare. Andrew turned around, completely unbothered, and smiled. "Oh, my apologies, Mr. Chapman. I didn't realize you were here." Marcus scratched his nose and chuckled awkwardly. "It's fine. I should be the one apologizing for interrupting Ms. Rhodes and Mr. Lloyd's moment." Andrew waved a hand. "No worries. I take it you're here to discuss the Pharmaceutical Division?" Marcus nodded solemnly. "Yes, Mr. Lloyd. I truly owe both you and Ms. Rhodes a debt of g
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 547
Lauren shook her head. "The development of formulas is incredibly costly and time-consuming. Just looking at the history of our Pharmaceutical Division at Rhodes Corporation, after decades of effort, we've only managed to develop a few formulas with good market reception. "Mr. Chapman, while your proposal is excellent, the manpower, resources, finances, and, most critically, the time needed to implement it are like insurmountable mountains." Marcus replied seriously, "Resources and finances won't be an issue. I've been managing the Pharmaceutical Division for years, so I'm confident in our foundation. We can reallocate tens of billions as an initial budget without any problems! "As for time, with the current market share of our thirty-plus products, the department can hold on for a while longer without being completely overtaken by the Weller family or other competitors. But manpower—that's the real challenge. Mr. Lloyd, Ms. Rhodes, I'm sorry, but that's where I'm stuck." Laure
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 548
Lauren couldn't help but think back to when she first met Andrew. Back then, he was nothing more than a man everyone dismissed—a so-called freeloader, introduced as Christina's live-in boyfriend. Had Andrew grown this much in such a short time, or had he been hiding his true abilities all along? Andrew smiled and said, "Don't worry. Think of it as my dowry for you. And besides, what's yours is mine—it's all the same." Marcus was at a loss for words. Using pharmaceutical formulas as a dowry? If Mr. Lloyd presented this kind of gift to marry a princess from one of Vestra's lesser-known royal families, it would be more than enough! At fifty billion per formula in today's market, even the seemingly untouchable royal families with their noble bloodlines would line up for such a proposal. Not only could he marry a princess, but he could even pick and choose from the most beautiful among them. Fifty billion! That was an astronomical figure! Some of Vestra's sma
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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
