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
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
Christina glanced at Aspen and asked, "Are you heading out for something important, Aspen?" Aspen smirked coldly. "Haven't you noticed the commotion in Jayrodale today, Christina?" Christina frowned. "Are you referring to the opening ceremony of Andrew's medical center?" Aspen's tone turned icy. "Exactly. Since early this morning, people have been hyping it up, making a big scene in the streets, as if they're desperate for attention. He's celebrating his grand opening, right? Well, I'm in a good mood—I'll head over and turn it into a grand closing!" Christina shook her head with a hint of disdain. "Aspen, it's just some low-level marketing. Why even bother paying attention to it? Andrew has the backing of Lauren, Francesca, and, apparently, even Marvin now. So yes, his career is starting to gain traction, and he finally managed to open a medical center of his own. "But at the end of the day, it's just a small medical center—a place for treating patients and making s
The name of Andrew's new medical center was "Moonlit Apothecary". The moment Andrew saw the sign, he could not help but chuckle and ask Francesca, "Fran, how did you and Lauren come up with such a name?" Francesca replied as if it were obvious, "Because it's fitting and perfect!" Andrew sighed and shook his head. "Fitting? Don't you think this name is a little too pretentious, like it's asking for trouble?" Though Andrew was not a low-key person by any means, even he found the name a bit too showy for a medical center. Francesca laughed, unfazed. "It's fine, Andrew. Everyone knows how exceptional your skills are," she said confidently. Cedric, standing nearby, chimed in with a grin. "Dr. Lloyd, you absolutely deserve a name like this. You're a miracle doctor, after all!" Before Andrew could respond, a cold chuckle interrupted the moment. Simon, Cedric's senior disciple, spoke up with a hint of sarcasm. He said, "That's right, Dr. Lloyd. A name like this is tailor-made f
In Simon's eyes, Andrew was nothing more than someone trying to show off beyond his means. The presence of Natasha and Dylan at the grand opening of "Moonlit Apothecary" surely came at a hefty price. To him, it was clear—Andrew had spent a fortune just to get these big shots to show up and boost his event. Without the money, Simon believed they would not even glance in Andrew's direction. Feeling like he had figured everything out, Simon grew more dismissive, even letting out a cold laugh. However, his smirk faded when he saw the Rhodes family delegation arrive, led by Tiana herself, a woman with a legendary reputation. If that was not shocking enough, Simon's jaw dropped further as Jayrodale's mayor, Mark, stepped out of his car with his secretary, grinning warmly, he walked over to congratulate Andrew. "Unbelievable," Simon muttered to himself, his jealousy and frustration rising. "Have these big shots really stooped so low to show up here for Andrew? Don't they care about
Cedric had silently observed the entire heated exchange between Francesca and Simon. He said nothing until Francesca stormed off in anger, leaving him to fix Simon with a stern glare before finally speaking. "Simon, why do you insist on tormenting yourself over Fran?" Cedric asked, his voice calm but firm. Simon's face flushed with both embarrassment and rage. "Mr. Aicker, it's not that I want to bother her! She lied to me—she made me think she was with Andrew when she wasn't. How is that not a direct insult to me?" Cedric let out a cold snort. "You're my top apprentice, Simon. If you have nothing to hide, why would someone's words be enough to humiliate you?" Simon gritted his teeth. "It's not just that! I'll inherit everything from you one day, and the Aickers don't have any male heirs to carry on the legacy. If you promise Fran to me, the Aickers will have a secure future—and so will she!" Cedric was so furious he actually chuckled. "You ungrateful fool! Do you even hear y
Cedric was shaking with rage. He raised his hand, ready to strike Simon, who sneered in defiance. "Mr, Aicker, look around. So many people are watching. Are you sure you want to cut ties with me right here?" Simon's voice dripped with arrogance. He continued, "If you do, by tomorrow morning, every major and minor power in Jayrodale will know that the Aicker family has splintered. Do you really think you can handle the consequences of that scandal? Without me, the Aickers won't even be relevant anymore!" Simon's bitter words were laced with hatred and conceit. Cedric quivered with fury and hissed through gritted teeth, "You've gone mad! You're blinded by greed and ambition. As soon as we return to the Aicker residence, you'll pack your things and leave. From this day forward, you are no longer my apprentice!" Simon's face contorted with rage. "Fine! You want me gone? Then give me Fran as my wife, and pass the leadership of the Aickers to me. Otherwise, I won't leave!" "Do y
On the stage, Cedric grabbed the microphone and spoke coldly, "Apologies to Dr. Lloyd and all the guests. I've come up here to announce something important. From this moment forward, my eldest apprentice, Simon Gaal, is expelled from my family and teachings!" Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by a flurry of heated discussions. "Cedric just made a public announcement like that at Moonlit Apothecary's grand opening. The Aickers must have some serious internal conflict!" "Simon is Cedric's top apprentice and is also a well-known figure in Jayrodale. What could have happened to make Cedric cast him out?" "I've heard Simon's been infatuated with Francesca for years, but she's never been interested. Maybe that's the real reason Cedric lost his temper?" After making his declaration, Cedric walked off the stage without giving further explanation. Francesca rushed over, clutching his arm with teary eyes. "Grandpa, what happened? Why did you drive Simon away? What's going on?
With a sickening snap, several bones shattered under Logan's brutal kick, and Archie let out a bloodcurdling scream that made everyone's scalp tingle. "Mr. Keller, please, stop! I'm begging you! I was wrong! I was talking shit! I apologize—I apologize!" Archie flailed on the ground like a dying animal, completely stripped of his earlier arrogance. His body trembled violently, his face twisted in agony, but he did not dare show the slightest bit of temper as he groveled before Logan, crying and pleading. Logan casually strolled over and slapped him twice more across the face, with ruthless, bone-jarring force. Archie's head snapped to the side so hard it almost seemed like his neck would break, and his screams grew even more pitiful. Yet, not a single Hopkins fighter moved to help him. All of them stood frozen, faces pale with fear, too terrified to even breathe loudly. Logan's voice was calm but icy. "Tonight, if Andrew doesn't accept your apology, not a single one of you
"Andy, I'm here!" In the midst of the tense, frozen atmosphere, only Logan and Andrew seemed relaxed, chatting like old friends without a care in the world. Andrew chuckled. "Logan, you're acting way too friendly!" For once, Logan's face flushed slightly red with embarrassment. Truth be told, he and Andrew were not actually that close. However, orders were orders—George had made it clear that they had to secure Andrew's favor no matter what it took. If Andrew did not show much enthusiasm toward the Keller family, then Logan had no choice but to make up for it by being overly enthusiastic himself. "If you don't like it, how about you be the older brother and I'll be the younger one?" Logan's attitude was ridiculously accommodating as if he had no pride left to defend. No matter how awkward it felt, Andrew was someone the Keller family absolutely had to win over. Watching all this unfold, Tiana, Jameson, and the Hopkins crowd were even more stunned. It almost seemed like Loga
By some twisted stroke of luck, Archie's manhood—though bruised and swollen—had not been completely destroyed. While he silently thanked the heavens, his hatred for Tiana grew even deeper. That seductive married woman? He was determined to have her tonight, no matter what it took. Just then, Jerry and a dozen of the Rhodes family's top fighters finally arrived on the scene. Jameson, seeing that his people were in place, narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Mr. Hopkins, you really want to keep pushing this?" Archie let out a twisted laugh. "Mr. Rhodes, your wife hit me. That punk by your side hit me too! Do you really think someone like me, who cares this much about his reputation, is just going to let that go?" Tiana scoffed. "So what if we don't let it go? Mr. Hopkins, you're nothing more than a disgusting maggot. What are you going to do about it?" Archie screamed, his face flushed with rage. "Tiana, you filthy bitch! Do you think you're better than me? Tonight, I'll make
"This way, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Rhodes, Mrs. Rhodes, and Ms. Rhodes—please!" Justin had completely changed his attitude, now grinning with over-the-top enthusiasm. He was practically bowing, a world apart from the snobby arrogance he had shown earlier. Tiana smiled faintly and said, "We'll be dining in the Celestial Suite now. That won't be a problem, right?" The manager nodded so fast it looked painful. "No problem at all, Mrs. Rhodes. Please, right this way!" Jameson patted Andrew's shoulder reassuringly and whispered, "Andy, don't worry. I already called our people. Jerry and the others are on their way." Andrew chuckled lightly. "Mr. Rhodes, there's no need to mobilize the whole family.The Hopkins? I can handle them myself." Jameson shook his head, thinking Andrew was just putting on a brave face. He believed Andrew, being new to Blumedale, could not possibly fend off the Hopkins on his own. Meanwhile, Andrew casually excused himself during dinner to make a quick call to
Everyone could tell Andrew was no ordinary martial artist. After all, he had taken down the Hopkins men like it was nothing. Nonetheless, the fact that he kept going and even dared to lay hands on Archie was pure suicide. "That little bastard is dead meat! Archie's gonna skin him alive!" someone hissed. "Yeah! It's one thing to slap us around, but hitting Mr. Hopkins? Does he think he's untouchable?" "Just wait. This fool's been used like a pawn by Mrs. Rhodes. Once the real Hopkins heavy hitters show up, he's gonna get slaughtered right here at The Palace!" Meanwhile, Archie caught another few brutal slaps from Andrew. Chunks of his thick beard went flying through the air. Archie howled, "You little punk! You've pushed it too far! If I don't kill you tonight, I'll change my damn last name to yours!" Grimacing with rage, Archie pulled out his phone and snarled into it. "I just got attacked at The Palace. Bring the whole crew over—now! "Yeah, you heard me. Tonight, I'm w
The others around them sneered and snickered. "Kid, you're all skin and bones. Do yourself a favor and get lost." Another chimed in, "Mr. Hopkins doesn't even take the entire Rhodes family seriously. What makes you think you stand a chance, you low-level nobody?" "Heh, did you all hear it earlier? Tiana said they are his in-laws. Damn, this kid hit the jackpot. Tiana and her daughter? Both absolute knockouts." One remarked, "No kidding. That lucky punk, I envy him like hell. If it were me, I'd be laughing in my sleep. Bagging a mother-daughter pair? That's the dream, man… pure heaven." A few filthy-mouthed degenerates let loose with their vulgar fantasies, and the air instantly grew more volatile. The tension between both sides was now on the brink of exploding. Tiana let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Looks like Mr. Hopkins isn't the only one talking shit tonight. Some of you have even more sewage coming out of your mouths." She turned to Andrew, her smile sharp as ice. "Come
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
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
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."