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Chapter 551
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 552
Aspen sneered. "I knew it. Playing around with frogs wouldn't cause an illness. Turns out you wretches went back to men in the end." Ruby ignored the scorn in her words and replied, "I've always wanted to live well. Even in prison, I liked to feel superior to others. "So, I got involved with several male guards. They would do anything for me—buying me anything I wanted from the outside: fancy bags, pretty clothes—everything except my freedom—all with just a crook of my finger. But I didn't expect to end up catching a disease, and it spiraled out of control." Aspen snapped, "Enough! I've heard more than enough of your filthy, disgusting past. Now, hand over the formulas from Rhodes Pharmaceutical, and we'll call it even." Ruby smirked coldly. "Ms. Stevens, don't you think it's shameless to burn the bridge after you've crossed it? If you want the formulas, fine. But first, you'll need to arrange for me to get out of Jayrodale." Aspen scoffed. "Do you think I'm as cheap and sham
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 553
The fact that Gordon Woods, a martial arts master from Bridgefields, had secretly infiltrated Jayrodale went unnoticed by Andrew. Even if Andrew had known, he likely wouldn't have cared. Over the years, Andrew had collected nearly 30 rare medicinal herbs, all of which he had refined into a single golden pill, glimmering like a piece of yellow crystal. The Five Convergence Pill! In the martial arts world, it also went by more illustrious names such as the Ascension Pill or Immortal Pill. As the name suggests, consuming it was said to grant one immortality. Of course, this was merely a romanticized and exaggerated notion within martial circles. While the Ascension Pill was extraordinary, it wasn't a magical elixir that could defy death or wrest control of life from the heavens. If it truly granted immortality, the world would have been overrun with immortals by now. In truth, the pill's effects, while not literally divine, were indeed transformative, cap
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 554
But those who reached the level of an eighth-grade alchemist paid unimaginable prices in effort and hardship. They had faced countless life-and-death crises and needed immense fortune to encounter rare opportunities and profound enlightenment to become an eighth-grade alchemist. Andrew, however, had walked the path others spent their entire lives treading, finishing it over a decade ago. As per the old saying, "The tallest tree in the forest is always the first to be felled." Ten years ago, Andrew had been forced to carve a bloody path out of Chetvine, vanishing into obscurity. Now, seated calmly in his meditation chamber, Andrew took a deep breath and swallowed the Ascension Pill in one go. A surge of immense heat rushed to his head and spread through every part of his body. "Break!" he muttered. Andrew's eyes glowed with a faint golden hue as he clenched his teeth and let out a low growl. The roaring sound of thunder coursed through his twin core merid
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 555
Lauren giggled and said, "Dr. Lloyd, you silly man, you can't even figure out something as obvious as a girl's feelings. I'm not explaining it to you—see you at the medical center later." With that, she hung up. Andrew thought for a moment. Why was Francesca upset? Could it have something to do with Simon? But that didn't seem right. Francesca had mentioned before that Simon had come to terms with her decision and had even offered his blessings. After mulling it over, Andrew decided to call Francesca. "Fran, I'd like to thank you and Lauren for taking care of everything for the medical center. After the opening ceremony, let me treat you to dinner." Francesca's tone was lackluster, almost lethargic. "There's no need, Andrew. I helped you willingly. You don't have to take me out." Andrew chuckled. "Fran, you don't sound well. Are you feeling sick?" Francesca responded softly, her voice subdued. "Yes, I'm sick—very sick." Andrew frowned. "You're a doct
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 556
From Natasha's tone, it seemed like she was even more excited about the medical center's opening than Andrew himself. Andrew chuckled. "It's just a small medical center, nothing as grand as you're imagining. Don't forget to bring your people from West End. Think of it as giving everyone a day off!" Natasha laughed, covering her mouth. "Are you sure you want all of them there? That's several hundred, close to a thousand people. Do you even have space for everyone?" Andrew grinned. "I'm your boss, after all. If I can't even arrange seats for my people, what kind of leader would I be?" Natasha teased, "No way, my darling isn't that incompetent. Alright, I'll let Dylan know, pick out a fitting opening gift for you, and then bring everyone over." Andrew quickly interjected. "No gifts, really. Don't make it too formal. Just come by and join the fun." Natasha huffed. "That won't do. You're our boss, and proper respect must be shown. I'm not just picking any gift—I'm go
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 557
Meanwhile, at Rhodes Corporation. Lauren checked the time. There were still two hours until the grand opening of the medical center. "I'll head to the Pharmaceutical Division first and hand over the two formulas Dr. Lloyd gave me to Mr. Chapman. Then I'll head to the medical center," she muttered to herself. With her plan set, Lauren made her way to the Pharmaceutical Division. Marcus greeted her with a smile. "Ms. Rhodes, what brings you here personally?" Lauren replied, "Let's talk in your office." Marcus immediately realized this must be important and promptly invited her in. Lauren wasted no time, pulling out two sheets of paper and handing them to Marcus with great care. "Mr. Chapman, these are from Dr. Lloyd. The value of these two formulas far exceeds the three we previously lost. In fact, you could say that all the research and development achieved by Rhodes Pharmaceutical over the past decades doesn't even compare to just one of these formulas."
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 558
Michael grinned smugly. "Of course! In front of Mr. Eslinger, even the renowned Dr. Aicker must step aside. Whether it's medical skill or the art of poison, Mr. Eslinger is unparalleled!" Bane ignored Marcus entirely, addressing Tiana instead. "Mrs. Rhodes, you know the price of engaging my services isn't small." Tiana smiled graciously. "Mr. Eslinger, as a highly regarded disciple of the Advanced Medical Institute and a true master of medicine, any price is well worth it." Bane laughed heartily, clearly pleased with her flattery. With an air of arrogance, he said, "Since you've spoken so kindly, consider it done. "Give me at most a month—or as little as ten days—and I will deliver two top-tier formulas to Rhodes Pharmaceutical. They'll restore your department's reputation and bring in immense profits!" Marcus was stunned. "Ten days to develop formulas? That seems impossible!" Bane cast him a disdainful glance and sneered. "The mysteries and prowess of someone lik
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 559
Lauren felt indignant and wanted to say more, but Tiana's cold voice cut her off. "Enough. Mr. Eslinger is a specially appointed consultant for the Pharmaceutical Division. He is the foundation of Rhodes Corporation's efforts to regain a foothold in the medical market and strengthen our competitiveness. "From today onward, Marcus, all resources of the Pharmaceutical Division are to be fully allocated to Mr. Eslinger!" Marcus glanced at Lauren and said gravely, "But Mrs. Rhodes, Ms. Rhodes also needs the Pharmaceutical Division's resources. Dr. Lloyd is fully supporting her and will be developing new formulas. If all resources are given to Mr. Eslinger, it could impact this competition." Although Andrew had already provided formulas, Marcus wasn't foolish. He knew it was wiser to keep things understated for now. The formulas Andrew had given were too valuable—rare ancient formulas, nearly unheard of. Making them public prematurely could lead to serious consequences. Tiana
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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
