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Chapter 567
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 568
Tiana maintained her composure out of respect and nodded slightly. "Please, have a seat," she said, signaling Cedric to join them. Marvin chuckled and chimed in, "Cedric, you're different from Mrs. Rhodes here. Your granddaughter Fran is running around just as much as Lauren, but you don't seem to mind it one bit." Cedric stroked his beard with a content smile. "A little hard work never hurt anyone. Once this medical center gets going, I plan to have Fran here often to lend a hand. Working alongside Dr. Lloyd will be invaluable for improving her medical expertise." Marvin grinned and glanced at Tiana. "See, Mrs. Rhodes? That's what I call vision. Sure, the girls are hustling around and probably exhausted, but they're happy. And frankly, Mr. Lloyd seems to have that kind of charm, doesn't he?" Tiana's jaw clenched as she spat through gritted teeth, "Nonsense!" Both Cedric and Marvin shared an awkward look, knowing how touchy Tiana could be. Despite their equal standing in age
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 569
"Good evening, everyone! Welcome to the grand opening of Moonlit Apothecary," Lauren announced gracefully from the stage. Lauren's beauty was legendary in Jayrodale, and all eyes were instantly drawn to her radiant presence. She smiled warmly and continued, "I'll keep it brief—thank you for coming, and I hope you'll continue to support Moonlit Apothecary. Now, let's get the feast started!" With that, cheers erupted from the crowd as the celebration reached its peak. Over a hundred large banquet tables were packed with guests enjoying the spread of delicious food and drinks. Laughter and conversation filled the air as people dove into the feast. Andrew glanced at the lively scene, unsure how to respond. Francesca, her dimpled smile glowing, approached and teased, "So, Andrew, how did we do? Lauren and I pulled off this banquet pretty well, right?" "You did a great job," Andrew replied, grinning. "Thanks for saving me from spending a fortune." Francesca puffed her chest p
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 570
Tiana smirked, and it was obvious from her tone that she was eager to watch Andrew embarrass himself. She said, "With the way the Madblade Martial Academy operates, it's impossible for this Moonlit Apothecary to get through the day without some trouble. Even with you sitting here, Marvin, I bet Andrew will end up with a few slaps across the face." Marvin chuckled coldly. "If they dare cause trouble, I'll have a word with Vince. We'll see if his academy is tougher than my Wealthroller Investments." Cedric scoffed. "Vince has gone into seclusion to focus on martial arts training. If anyone's leading this charge, it'll be his son, Rodney. That brat is trouble." Vince, the academy's founder and an infamous martial arts master, had long been feared for his domineering presence in Jayrodale's martial arts scene. Tiana's eyes glinted with amusement. "Ah, Rodney, huh? With his temper, bloodshed seems inevitable today." Down among the crowd, many underground figures eyed the academy
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 571
Finley silently cursed his hotheaded men. In Jayrodale, Andrew had become a powerful figure with both Dylan and Natasha at his beck and call. With thousands of underground enforcers present, anyone reckless enough to start trouble would be hacked to pieces. He sighed deeply, recalling his younger days when he had been just as cocky. Back then, fresh from Hidden Dragons, he thought he could take on anyone and anything. Nonetheless, after countless humiliations and close calls in Jayrodale, Finley had learned the harshness of reality. The beatdowns, betrayals, and lures of the underworld had drained his fighting spirit. Recently, he had even sought help from a therapist. "Stay put. Today, we're just here to watch," he muttered, downing his drink. "Right now, Andrew isn't someone we can handle. But don't worry, plenty of others want him gone." The Hidden Dragons' enforcers exchanged uneasy glances. They could not believe how much Finley had changed. He used to be a ruthless tyran
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 572
Behind the scenes, Marvin maintained his respectful demeanor. He knew better than to take liberties when speaking privately with Andrew. Meanwhile, Tiana's expression was dark as thunderclouds. She had fully expected the Madblade Martial Academy to crash the party and humble Andrew. Yet, to her dismay, Rodney and his crew had shown up not to fight, but to deliver an elaborate gesture of goodwill. Tiana struggled to comprehend why the academy, known for its pride and arrogance, would humble themselves before Andrew. "Mr. Sanford, you're quite a rare visitor. I don't recall sending an invitation to the Madblade Martial Academy," Andrew remarked with a faint, mocking smile, his tone distant. The crowd gasped. Many thought Andrew was pushing his luck. The Madblade Martial Academy had come to show respect, yet here he was, giving them a cold shoulder. It seemed reckless, even suicidal. Rodney, visibly embarrassed, chuckled awkwardly and replied, "You're absolutely right, Dr. Lloyd
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 573
Holy! It's a whole platter of solid gold bars. Madblade Martial Academy sure knows how to make a statement!" "Seriously, how much would all that gold be worth? Must be at least a few million dollars." "Are they really trying to cozy up to Moonlit Apothecary that hard?" The extravagant gift had everyone buzzing. Even Francesca and Lauren were momentarily stunned. "Mr. Sanford, this is way too much. You're just here for a meal. There's no need for such a grand gesture. Please, take it back," Francesca said, extending the tray toward Rodney. While she was pleased with Andrew receiving gifts, this level of generosity was overwhelming. Her kind-hearted nature made her feel awkward accepting so much gold. Rodney waved it off with a smile. "Ms. Aicker, please, just accept it for Dr. Lloyd's sake. It's really not that much." There was no way Rodney intended to take back the gift. However, his grand gesture was not just about generosity—it had a deeper motive. Though Madblade Ma
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 574
Andrew could not help but chuckle to himself—he definitely was not going to refuse that entire tray of gold. Rodney had brought it straight to him, so why not take advantage of it? He carefully handed the gold off to Francesca, who grinned brightly as her dimples deepened. "Mr. Sanford, you and your team should sit down before all the food's gone!" Francesca said warmly. Rodney waved his hand, polite as ever. "No need to worry about us, Ms. Aicker. We'll just grab a spot anywhere." After that, he quickly led the Madblade Martial Academy members to an empty table, keeping things humble despite their earlier fanfare. Dean subtly nudged Rodney and whispered, "Mr. Sanford, look over at the VIP section." Rodney followed his gaze and immediately tensed up. His heart skipped a beat when he realized sitting at the head table were Jayrodale's top power players: Marvin, the wealthiest man in Jayrodale; Tiana, the matriarch of the Rhodes family; Cedric, the famous doctor; and Mark, the
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 575
Lauren raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Who else? You're not seriously going to ask Mr. Thatcher for money, are you, Dr. Lloyd?" Andrew grinned and gestured toward the corner where Finley sat sulking. "Not Mr. Thatcher. It's our good friend, Mr. Moore. His uncle's the leader of Hidden Dragons, so he's got deep pockets." The mention of Finley made Lauren and Francesca's eyes sparkle with anticipation. If anyone was perfect for fleecing, it was that unlucky fool. With playful determination, the two women followed Andrew, their heels clicking with purpose as they headed straight for Finley. Finley was busy drowning his sorrows in liquor when he noticed someone standing beside him. He frowned in irritation. "What now? Can't a guy drink in peace? Beat it!" Andrew chuckled softly. "Drink all you want, Mr. Moore, but how about paying your tab first?" Finley froze for a moment before his face twisted in disbelief. He looked up and saw Andrew standing there, smiling casually. His eyes
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1212
Andrew shook his head slowly and said, "No, you're not like some middle-aged lunatic, and you're definitely not trash or a hooker. You look like a cute little bunny rabbit, just begging to be eaten up. You forced my hand, Aspen!" As soon as he finished speaking, Aspen's eyes widened in sudden panic, realizing what was about to happen. She struggled fiercely, desperate to escape Andrew's grasp. Her voice trembled with tears as she pleaded, "No, no, no! Andrew—Mr. Lloyd—I'm sorry, I admit it, I was wrong! I swear, I won't do it again, please don't do this—please, no!" Her frantic protests ended abruptly with a soft, electric whimper as Andrew silenced her, pressing his mouth firmly onto hers. What followed was a hungry, unstoppable kiss, intense and overwhelming. Aspen's clear eyes widened, her expression first filled with shame and anger, then disbelief, and finally melting into a dazed, dreamy blankness. Their rapid breathing mingled in the confined space of the Ferrari, th
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1211
Andrew let out a cold laugh as he stared at the trembling Aspen right in front of him. "What am I doing? What do you think I'm doing? When you were trying to suppress Christina and Davon earlier, you used my presence to scare them off. Don't tell me you forgot that?" Aspen flushed, both embarrassed and angry. "I didn't forget! But what I said—was any of it wrong?" Andrew snorted. "No, it wasn't wrong. But you did get one thing messed up: your grudge with Christina has nothing to do with me, so don't drag me into it just to make yourself look good. You used your own boss as a pawn. That takes some guts, Aspen." Aspen instantly felt a chill. She shrank back and begged, "I-I-I… I won't do it again, okay? Andrew, just let me down first. My butt's right up against the window, and if someone walks by and sees this, how the hell am I supposed to live that down?" The corner of Andrew's lips curved into a teasing grin. "Isn't that perfect? You're my little secretary. This? This is very
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1210
Someone joked loudly, "But we get it… I mean, with a secretary like that, why would you even look at anyone else?" The others burst into raucous laughter, not bothering to hide it even in front of Aspen's increasingly dark expression. "Exactly!" another chimed in. "Mr. Lloyd is living the dream. Damn, I look at my office girl and suddenly feel dead inside!" "Mr. Lloyd's not just talented—he's got the best of both worlds. That little secretary of his is a top-tier beauty!" A bespectacled executive chuckled crudely and added, "Mr. Lloyd, let me give you a piece of advice: when there's work, let the secretary handle it; when there's no work, handle the secretary! That line fits you perfectly!" The entire room erupted in laughter as Aspen's face flushed deep red, her cheeks burning. Furious, she shot Andrew a murderous glare, then stormed out of the room in her heels without a word. Andrew, looking utterly unbothered, leisurely followed behind. He even muttered to himself, "Han
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1209
"You two went from loving each other to trying to kill each other. Pretty entertaining," Andrew said with a glance at Aspen, smiling faintly. Aspen's face stayed cold. She snapped, "She deserved it, and besides, isn't everything that happened because of you?" Andrew replied calmly, "Had nothing to do with me. I never touched your Bridgefields' Stevens family." Aspen secretly gritted her teeth. Sure, he had not moved against the Stevens family directly. But her? She had been forced to sell herself into slavery, body and soul. Was that not tragic enough? Moreover, who knew when she might completely fall into his hands, devoured, with nothing left? Davon, wiping cold sweat from his forehead, squeezed out a smile. "Mr. Lloyd, Ms. Aspen, I've already taken care of that issue. Should we get down to proper business now?" Andrew nodded. "Okay, let's talk business." Immediately, the business partners who had been waiting nearby all jumped to their feet, smiling brightly and ea
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1208
"And since Mr. Lloyd needs a new target to let off some steam, maybe you should volunteer, Davon," Aspen said sweetly. The moment those words landed, Davon jumped up in pure panic, wailing, "Ms. Aspen, no, no, please! Don't say another word. I'll do exactly what you say—everything, exactly as you want!" After groveling, Davon's plump face darkened in shame. He spun around toward Christina, pointed straight at the door, and roared, "Christina, you worthless tramp, get out! Right now! You heard Ms. Aspen. Get the hell out of Phoenixdream Enterprises!" Christina's eyes widened. She could not believe that Davon was this spineless, that easy to terrify. She hissed, "Davon, you'd better think twice about what you're doing! If you throw me out, do you really think Mr. Wright will let you off afterward?" She barked a bitter laugh, furious to the core, and deep inside, her hatred for Aspen grew even sharper. Being thrown out in front of everyone, this humiliation would haunt her in Bl
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1207
Davon blinked in confusion and asked, "Ms. Aspen, who exactly are you calling bitch'?" Aspen smirked coldly and pointed straight at Christina. The latter's face darkened as she stood up stiffly. "Aspen, you're going too far!" Christina snapped. "If I had known Supreme Capital Group was the major client here, do you really think I'd have bothered showing up?" Her tone was sharp, but there was a flicker of unease in her eyes. Aspen remained utterly indifferent. "Since you don't care, then do us all a favor and leave. Christina, I told you once that I would make sure your entire family would struggle in Blumedale. And when I say something, I mean it." Christina's face turned from merely unpleasant to downright ugly. She turned sharply to Davon and demanded, "You're the one who invited us here. Now what's your decision?" It was a clever move, throwing the ball back into Davon's court. After all, they were on Phoenixdream Enterprises' turf—surely Aspen and Andrew could not compl
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1206
Aspen knew that Ronan charged a reasonable medical fee, and his medical skills were also quite good. Andrew started the car and sped off while answering casually, "I met Mr. Bates by chance. Showed him a few tricks, and he was so impressed by my skills that he practically worships me now. He even offered to introduce me to his granddaughter." Aspen let out a sharp laugh. "Just met by chance, and he's ready to hand over his granddaughter? Come on, if you're going to brag, at least make it believable!" Andrew just smiled, not bothering to argue with her. He and Ronan had bonded over their shared passion for medicine—it was nothing unusual. In truth, after witnessing Andrew's medical skills firsthand, Ronan nearly dropped to his knees, begging to become his disciple, though Andrew firmly refused. And yes, Ronan did have a granddaughter who was currently attending college. Ronan had hinted that if Andrew did not already have a girlfriend, he should consider his granddaughter.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1205
After breakfast, Andrew, the ever-hands-off boss, got strong-armed by Aspen into actually going to work. Otherwise, Supreme Capital Group, a company sitting on billions in investments, would end up being nothing more than a shiny nameplate. Aspen's exact words were, "If you keep ignoring everything and leave me to worry about it alone, I'd rather go sell myself on the street than keep slaving away for you! At least if I'm selling, I'll make some money. Meanwhile, I'll probably die broke working for you—or just die!" Andrew winced when he heard that. Realizing that his little maid was seriously holding some grudges, he quickly agreed to tag along to the office. "Give me a minute. I'm gonna change," Aspen said before disappearing into her room. A few minutes later, she strutted out—black stockings, high heels, and a sleek blue business suit that shimmered slightly under the light. She was absolutely stunning, and even Andrew had to admit it. Aspen smirked inwardly. 'Yep, the
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1204
Whenever Andrew was alone with Tiana, he could not help but feel a little uneasy. Seeing that Tiana had nothing more to say, he quickly took the chance to excuse himself. However, Tiana hesitated. Then, she smiled slyly and asked, "Hold on, let me ask you—have you and Lauren… done it?" Andrew blinked, confused. "Done what?" Tiana rolled her eyes and snapped, "Don't play dumb, Andrew. You know exactly what I'm asking." Andrew finally caught on and answered honestly, "Lauren and I have done pretty much everything, but we haven't crossed the final line." Tiana nodded approvingly. "Good. You need to remember that you can't go that far until you're married. I made sure to tell her that too, and she understands." Andrew's face darkened a little. "Mrs. Rhodes, seriously? This isn't the Dark Ages anymore. We're in a real relationship, and sometimes things get a little… heated." Tiana shook her head firmly. "It's not about being old-fashioned. There are other reasons, but I can't
