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Chapter 596
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Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 597
Gordon, standing on the verge of collapse, seemed to ignore Aspen's frantic words. His face twisted in agony as the grotesque hump on his back began to writhe under his clothing. It was as if something alive were crawling beneath the fabric. A faint but ominous pop echoed as the hump on Gordon's back cracked open slightly, oozing a viscous, toxic pus. The corrosive liquid immediately burned through his clothing and skin, producing smoke and leaving grotesque, pitted scars. It was a horrifying sight, reminiscent of acid eating through flesh. Aspen's eyes widened in shock. "Mr. Woods, what's happening to you?" Gordon raised a trembling hand, shouting through gritted teeth, "Stay back! Don't come near meâif you do, you'll die!" Frantically, he pulled out two pills from a hidden pouch, swallowing them quickly while simultaneously sealing several key acupoints on his body. Taking a deep breath, Gordon glared at Andrew and growled, "Kid, you're lucky today. But ma
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 598
The most sinister aspect of the Plaguebringer's Palm lay in its inescapable poison. Anyone who came into contact with Gordon's palm was guaranteed to be poisoned without exception. But Tiana had seen it with her own eyes: Andrew's hands showed no signs of poisoning whatsoever. Could it be that Gordon's sudden weakness had given Andrew an unexpected advantage, allowing him to escape unscathed by sheer luck? The more Tiana thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. After all, even she wouldn't have been able to completely avoid the poison of the Plaguebringer's Palm. The difference was that her deeper strength allowed her to suppress the toxins, giving her time for treatment and recovery later. "Andrew, you've got to be the luckiest man alive!" Tiana snorted coldly before turning to leave with her entourage. Jerry trailed closely behind her, but as they passed Andrew, he cast him a lingering look. Unlike Tiana, Jerry didn't believe Andrew's survival was p
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 599
The students of the Madblade Martial Academy helped Rodney to his feet and brought him over to Andrew. Ivan clasped his hands in gratitude and said, "Mr. Lloyd, thank you for saving Mr. Sanford." During the fight, Gordon had suddenly fallen back halfway through, which left Ivan with mixed emotions. Though part of him struggled to believe that Andrew had actually managed to suppress Gordon, the fact that Gordon fled spoke volumes about Andrew's strengthâa level far beyond what Ivan could hope to match. Andrew waved dismissively. "No need for thanks. Is Rodney all right?" Rodney struggled to open his eyes, his voice weak but clear. "Thank you, Andrew, for saving my life. That pill you gave me was incredible. Aside from the serious external injuries, the internal wounds that hunchback inflicted on me feel almost fully healed!" Andrew shook his head, half annoyed. "That pill wasn't just incredibleâit was invaluable. You gave me a tray of gold bars; I gave you your life back. See
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 600
Irene and Leroy almost peed their pants out of fear. "AndrewâĶ youâĶ What do you think you're doing?" Irene stammered. She tried to sound tough, but her voice cracked. "I'm warning you, if you dare act out of line, Aspen won't let you get away with this!" Leroy chimed in, equally nervous, "Andrew, don't be rash! Don't forget that Mr. Woods will be back. Aren't you afraid he'll crush you with just one slap?" Despite their bluster, both of them were trembling uncontrollably, cold sweat pouring down their backs. Whether it was Dylan, Natasha, or the rest of the underground leaders present, none of them were people the Stevens family could afford to provoke. And that wasn't even counting the Madblade Martial Academy members still around. If these groups decided to take action, the Stevens family wouldn't stand a chance. What they couldn't understand was how Andrew, of all people, had managed to command such influential figures. Aspen, grinding her teeth, snapped, "A
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 601
Ignoring Aspen's murderous glare, Andrew snorted coldly. "As for you saying that I stood by while you were humiliated at Madblade Martial Academy and didn't come to your aidâĶ Do you even hear yourself? How ridiculous can you be? "Am I your guardian in any way? You get bullied, and I'm supposed to jump in to save you? Sure, fine. Just kneel down right now, acknowledge me as your father, and from today onward, in all of Jayrodale, I, Andrew Lloyd, will have your back!" With a mocking laugh, Andrew stared at Aspen, waiting for her to kneel. It suddenly hit him just how much of a radical feminist she was, expecting him to rescue her when she was in trouble. And if he didn't, she held grudges and sought revenge. Women like Aspen, spoiled beyond belief and incapable of understanding basic decency, were a product of unchecked indulgence. If she didn't deserve a lesson, who did? Aspen's face turned crimson with anger, her teeth clenched. "Fine, Andrew, you're right about
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 602
"Get out!"Andrew's cold command cut through the air like a sharp blade, slicing deeply into Christina's heart. The Andrew she once knew had been a gentlemanâgraceful, mild-mannered, and never raised his voice at her, let alone spoke with such harshness. At that time, she had seen his gentleness as weaknessâa lack of masculinityâand had looked down on him because of it. But now, this cold, ruthless Andrew terrified her. For the first time, she realized just how much she missed the softer version of him. "This is outrageous! That little brat actually dared to order those thugs under Dylan to surround us. This insultâour family must settle this score!" On the ride back, Irene fumed, her voice shrill with anger. Leroy's expression was equally dark. "Andrew's gotten too full of himself. He doesn't even respect our family anymore. Christie, you heard him, didn't you? He had the audacity to command you to leave!" Leroy spat, his tone seething with rage. "Does he thin
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 603
At Moonlit Apothecary, the members of Madblade Martial Academy bid farewell shortly after the Stevens family left. Rodney let out a long sigh of relief. He hadn't expected Andrew to order Natasha to give Aspen a beating. Seeing her get put in her place was incredibly satisfying.Aspen was no longer someone Rodney could handle. With Gordon around, Rodney knew he wasn't completely out of danger yet. Watching Andrew deal with Aspen was cathartic, but if it had been him, he wouldn't have dared. The fear Gordon instilled in him was too great. For now, he would stay away from Aspen, though the grudge he held burned deeply. After the last guest left, Andrew, Lauren, and Francesca turned and stepped into the apothecary. Francesca began showing Andrew around the various functional areas of the medical center. Originally owned by the Weller family, the building had been one of the largest upscale clubs in Jayrodale. It was vast and luxurious. After its transformation into a med
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 604
Andrew held Lauren's delicate hand tightly and said with conviction, "Now, I've found someone I truly care about. Everything in the past is behind meâit's gone for good." Lauren's cheeks flushed red in an instant. With Francesca still present, she felt shy and tried to pull her hand away. But Andrew tightened his grip and gave a gentle tug, pulling Lauren toward him. "Ah!" Lauren exclaimed softly, falling into Andrew's arms. Before she could react, he wrapped an arm around her slender waist, holding her close. A shiver ran through Lauren's body like an electric current, leaving her feeling weak and her ears burning red. She stammered softly, "Dr. Lloyd, y-youâĶ don't do this. Fran is still here. Let go!" Andrew chuckled. "No, I don't want to." Francesca, sitting nearby, felt a pang of discomfort as she watched the two of them so intimately close. Her heart felt hollow and uneasy. Yet at the same time, she couldn't help but feel a wave of embarrassment. She no
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Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1170
On the ground, Black Wolf writhed in pain, howling in disbelief. He finally understood why that last squad of heavily armed mercenaries had vanished without a trace after storming Serenity Villa. This place was not just a houseâit was a damn death trap. "Who sent you to kill me?" Andrew asked calmly as he twirled the dagger Black Wolf had dropped. Pinned down by Natasha and Dylan, Black Wolf was drenched in sweat, his shattered legs leaving him gasping in agony. He growled, "Why the hell should I tell you? You should know exactly who you've pissed off. Even if I'm in your hands, kid, if you lay a finger on me, the consequencesâ" Andrew did not let him finish. Instead, he drove the blade straight into Black Wolf's chest. Whatever threat Black Wolf was about to spit out died on his tongue. His eyes bulged in shock before his head slumped to the sideâdead. "If you didn't have the sense to act like a prisoner, then I did you a favor and sent you straight to hell. Next time, try
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1169
Aspen could not help leaning closer to see what Andrew was doing. To her surprise, his breathing was steadyâhe was already asleep. She stared at him, both amused and annoyed as she thought, 'I'm lying right next to him, and he still manages to fall asleep? Am I not attractive enough? Or does this guy just not find me worth the effort?' That split second of realization triggered an unexpected wave of disappointment and frustration in her. âĶ Meanwhile, outside Serenity Villa, a black figure moved silently across the ruined outer wall, climbing with inhuman ease. It was Black WolfâElon's secret weapon, a top-tier assassin with a reputation to match. A matte-finished blade dangled from his lips as he surveyed the building, swiftly memorizing the layout of the damaged villa. He was not alone. At least a dozen other men hid in the dark, surrounding the perimeter and lying in wait. Nonetheless, they were not predators, at least not to him. He scoffed, thinking, 'They're the bait,
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1168
Through the second half of the night, Serenity Villa remained eerily quiet. Chantelle stepped out from her lookout post and announced, "Looks like no one else is coming tonight. Everyone should get some rest." Andrew stopped her. "Hold up. You all stay on watchâI'll go rest." Chantelle narrowed her eyes. "Are you giving me orders like I'm your subordinate?" Andrew responded calmly, "Not at all. I just want to isolate myself and draw the next assassin in alone." Chantelle frowned. "So, you're planning to be alone in a room and give the assassin a shot at you? You're using yourself as bait?" Andrew replied, "Exactly. One mercenary commander from the Srovika Federation is dead, but with the Haywoods and Goldings both after my head, there's no way they'd just send one decent hitter and be done." Chantelle nodded. "ThatâĶ makes sense. But you're injured. What happens if something unexpected comes up? Can you really handle it?" Before Andrew could answer, Aspen blurted, "It's
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1167
Andarov could not care less about anything else and turned to flee, trying to blast through the villa wall and make his escape. However, Andrew's attacks were relentless, like crashing waves, giving him no chance to run. With perfect aim, Andrew struck the center of Andarov's back with a palm strike that exploded like a thunderclap. Bones shattered with a sickening crunch, and nearly two-thirds of Andarov's skeleton was crushed in an instant. Then, blood gushed out from his mouth as he collapsed, his massive eight-foot frame crashing to the floor. Raising his trembling, blood-soaked hand, he pointed at Andrew, gasping, "You're notâĶ not just some ordinary man. You're fromâĶ Holtrien's ChetvineâĶ You're part of the royal faâ" He never got to finish the sentence. Before the final word left his lips, Andarov exhaled his last breath and died on the spot. A single drop of blood fell from Andrew's waist, and part of his shirt had already soaked through with red. Natasha rushed over
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1166
Aspen's scream pierced the night. For a moment, she was certain bullets would tear through her. However, Andrew's arms locked around her, shielding her completely as he kicked the shredded sofa aside. Then, a gold needle flashed from Andrew's fingers. The burly and tall Andarov Markovic snarled as his right wrist erupted in pain, and his Desert Eagle clattered to the floor. Shocked and angry, Andarov quickly raised his other gun, ready to continue firing. Just then, Andrew blurred across the room and crushed an uppercut into his jaw. "You're alive! Good. I'll peel your spine out myself and avenge my subordinates!" Andarov yelled. He dumped his remaining gun, elbows smashing Andrew's strikes. Just like that, the two started fighting in the lobby on the first floor. Srovikan fighters were already brutes, but Andarov was a wrecking ball. Every collision splintered walls, and every missed punch cratered the floor. Before long, the villa, already in ruins, was destroyed further.
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1165
Aspen's face burned crimson as she instinctively crossed her arms over her chest. Damn itâher habit of going braless after showers had become second nature, and Andrew had seen her in this state. Humiliated, she spat, "Fine! Since my kindness is wasted on you, I'm going to bed!" She turned to stomp upstairs in a huff. However, Andrew suddenly sprang from his chair and tackled her to the ground. His arm locked around her slender waist as they rolled across the floor. Aspen's shock quickly turned to fury, wondering what the hell this bastard was doing. Was he actually trying to take advantage of her in the dark? She silently cursed herself for being dumb and wandered around practically naked in front of this pervert. She was basically giving him a chance to pounce at her. Just as she began struggling in earnest, Andrew's growl cut through the night. "Stop moving unless you want to die!" The next moment, a hail of gunfire erupted, muzzle flashes lighting up the darkness as b
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1164
As evening fell, Aspen and Dylan returned to Serenity Villa. The front gate stood wide open, and Andrew sat squarely in a chair in the middle of the first-floor lobby. Aspen frowned as she stepped inside. "Why are you sitting here?" Andrew replied, "Waiting for guests." "Who?" "Assassins from the Haywoods and the Goldings." Her face darkened when she heard his words. She could not help but think Andrew had lost his damn mind for leaving the front door wide open for killers. He glanced at her and asked, "Weren't you meeting a client? How'd it go?" Aspen's voice turned icy. "Turns out, Christina was the one looking for investors." Andrew raised a brow. "So? You turned her down?" She sneered as she said, "More than that. I made sure all three of them left humiliated. That old hag Irene even got a slap from me." Andrew simply shrugged. Aspen had never been the merciful type, and none of this surprised him. He simply ordered, "Go make something to eat. I'm hungry." Asp
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1163
Dylan explained, "But you're a proud woman. You never used to bow to anyone, especially not to Mr. Lloyd. Now, you're just clinging to that same pride and defiance. "But the truth is, that pride of yours? It's already been worn down by Mr. Lloyd, completely. As for what's leftâĶ well, you know it better than anyone. You just don't want to admit it."Aspen grew frustrated. "I don't need you psychoanalyzing me. I just need someone to tell meâwhat do I have to do to break out of this mess? This constant confusion and misery?"Dylan shrugged. "Isn't it obvious? You're just as stunning as Ms. Aicker or Ms. Rhodes. Those two didn't mind letting Mr. Lloyd take what he wanted. So, why not follow their lead? Let's be real, Aspenâyou've already fallen for Mr. Lloyd, and there's no shame in that. "Mr. Lloyd has that effect on women. I've been around him long enough to stop being surprised. You, Natasha, Francesca, LaurenâĶ even that girl Nyla Goth from the Moonlit Apothecary in Jayrodaleâif Mr
Rising from the Ashes   Chapter 1162
After leaving the cafe, Aspen stepped into the restroom. She splashed a few handfuls of icy water on her face, trying to calm the storm inside her. She said, "Mr. Garner, could you do me a favor and not tell Andrew about what just happened?" Dylan leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, and chuckled. "Ms. Aspen, you really gave her a piece of your mind. If it felt good, why not let Mr. Lloyd know?" Aspen's expression darkened with self-mockery. "Because I didn't stand up for myselfâI used Andrew's name to intimidate her. Christina was right about one thingâI am pathetic. "Andrew nearly destroyed my family, and yet here I am, throwing his name around like it means something. Even worse, I shamelessly implied I'd offer myself to him!" Dylan smirked. "So you're ashamed of yourself? You think less of yourself now?" Aspen stared at her reflection. Her face was as cold as ever, but her eyes no longer held their usual arrogance. Instead, they were clouded with something unrea
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