"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 gentleman—graceful, mild-mannered, and never raised his voice at her, let alone spoke with such harshness. At that time, she had seen his gentleness as weakness—a lack of masculinity—and 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 insult—our 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
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
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 me—it'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-you… 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
Andrew unexpectedly felt a wet sensation on his hand. For a brief moment, a wave of desire threatened to consume him, but just as quickly, his unwavering self-discipline took over, and he stopped himself. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" Andrew asked softly, withdrawing his hand and planting a gentle kiss on Lauren's forehead. "You're so annoying!" Lauren pouted, playfully hitting Andrew's chest with her delicate fist. Her legs still felt weak, and a strange sensation lingered in the center of her being—a feeling she'd never experienced before. It was unfamiliar but irresistibly enticing. Andrew chuckled apologetically. "Maybe it's because I finally let go of some old emotional baggage. I couldn't help myself. If you weren't ready, I wouldn't have done anything to push you." Lauren's heart swelled with joy. Andrew's desire for her, his willingness to claim her entirely, meant that she was now the only woman in his heart. The shadow of the past—her rival, Christ
If anyone doubted the possibility of someone having such a great talent for flipping skirts and tugging stockings, there was only one answer: Andrew Lloyd, the Dragon Prince of the Lloyd family, could do anything! The Moonlit Apothecary had finally quieted down. Andrew glanced at the sky, deciding against reopening for the day. Shutting the grand doors, he prepared to head back to the Moonlit Sanctuary. "Dr. Lloyd! Thank goodness you're still here. I wouldn't have known where to find you otherwise!" A young boy, out of breath, rushed up to the doors of the medical center. Spotting Andrew, his face lit up with relief. Andrew studied the boy and asked, "Who are you? Do you need something?" The boy, no older than thirteen or fourteen, looked sharp and clever. He quickly responded, "Dr. Lloyd, sir, I'm from the Aicker family. I'm Dr. Aicker's youngest apprentice, and Francesca is my senior." Andrew nodded in realization, smiling. "Ah, so you're Fran's junior. What's
Simon's expression turned dark. "Do you think I wanted this? If I didn't trick you into drinking this Enthralling Essence, would you ever willingly give yourself to me?" Before Francesca could respond, Simon's face twisted with rage as he shouted, "No! Your heart is full of that Andrew Lloyd, that useless pretty boy!" "I just don't get it," he continued, his voice filled with frustration. "Compared to me, your childhood companion, what is Andrew anyway? He's nothing but a pathetic excuse for a man!" Francesca swallowed hard, her throat burning as if flames were licking up from within her. She was wearing a cropped white T-shirt and tight jeans, but under the effects of the Enthralling Essence, she felt an uncontrollable urge to remove her clothes. Yet, in the last moments of clarity, her rational mind forced her to stop. "Andrew would never stoop to your level, doing something so vile and disgusting to his own junior! And now that you've hurt my grandfather, Simon, I swear I'll
Simon retorted with disdain, "What right do I have? It's because I, Simon Gaal, managed to get rid of this useless trash all by myself! "He's nothing but a sweet-talker and pretty face who won over the hearts of young women like Fran and Lauren. Even a hundred Andrews wouldn't be a match for a real man like me!" Simon scoffed and laughed aloud. "As for the so-called skills in medicine that you and Fran claim he has, it's all because of your personal bias toward him that you're willing to make those unbelievable claims! How can a youngster like Andrew achieve anything at his age? Even if he started studying medicine from the moment he was conceived in his mother's womb, it's still far from enough. "Meanwhile, I grew up in a conducive environment since I was a kid and learned in various medical fields. Furthermore, I have learned from the forbidden techniques in your secret chamber. Before me, Andrew is nothing but a bug. He should thank his lucky stars he's not here right now. If
"No, I can't hold it anymore. Francesca, you're mine, and mine alone…" With a guttural roar, like a wild beast, Simon lunged forward. Francesca silently screamed in her mind, "No!" Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. At that moment, she recalled the time when she was still afflicted with her condition, a state that had made her incapable of intimacy. Back then, she had been grateful when Andrew had cured her, giving her the chance to experience love and the hope of family life. But at that moment, she regretted it. If this was how it would all end, Francesca wished she had remained the way she was—untouched, and unable to be violated. Suddenly, the solid wooden wall of the grand hall exploded into splinters. Andrew stepped through the debris, lowering his leg, his face dark and menacing. "Stripping down naked in broad daylight and drugging your junior? Simon, are you performing some avant-garde performance art here?" Andrew sneered as he moved to block Franc
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."
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
"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.
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
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
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
"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