"Fran has reached the age where marriage should be a serious discussion," Cedric said with a heavy sigh. He continued, "I was well aware that Simon had been lusting after her beauty for a while now. But since he was my eldest apprentice—the child I raised from a young age—I chose to avoid confronting the issue." He shook his head, his voice filled with regret. "In the end, my avoidance and weakness nearly destroyed Fran. It's all on me… such a cruel twist of fate." Andrew could see the conflict in Cedric's eyes. Despite Simon's betrayal, Cedric still had a deep affection for him. After all, he had begged Andrew to spare Simon's life at the last moment. Andrew offered a comforting response. "Mr. Aicker, you've done more than enough. Simon's downfall was his own doing—he had every opportunity to change but chose to betray you." Cedric remained silent for a long moment before suddenly speaking up. "Tell me honestly, Dr. Lloyd… Have you and Fran become… intimate?" Andrew froze
"Although I can't teach the great healer the way I saved Fran, I do have a few medical prescriptions and techniques from the ancient art of medicine that a healer like you would probably appreciate," Andrew said with a smile. He figured offering something valuable to satisfy Cedric's appetite was better. After all, Cedric had always wanted to become his apprentice, but Andrew had always refused. Even though they could not be mentor-apprentice, Andrew did not mind teaching Cedric a few real skills, especially since he had a good opinion of the Aickers. "If that's the case, then thank you so much, Dr. Lloyd!" Cedric said excitedly when Andrew handed over the items. Cedric had already learned quite a few secret methods from Andrew, and each one left him utterly captivated. With every lesson, his admiration for Andrew's medical skills grew even more. After spending a little more time at the Aicker residence, Andrew returned to the Moonlit Sanctuary. It had been quite a day—he ha
Aspen lay in bed, her eyes glistening with tears, her gaze blank as she said nothing. Meanwhile, Irene and Leroy stood outside the room, peeking in. Irene asked, "Leroy, do you think Aspen's brain was messed up from the hits? She hasn't said a word since she woke up." "Mom, you're overthinking. Aspen just got a few slaps, probably just a concussion. Nothing too serious." The mother and son did not notice their raised voices as they continued to discuss. Christina glanced at them and coldly said, "Mom, Leroy, if you're done, why don't you go do something else? Aspen's in a bad mood, so please, no more of your sarcastic comments." Irene gave a dry laugh and said, "Christie, if Aspen is awake, can she let me know when she will pay me back the money I invested in her?" Christina frowned and said, "Mom, you know that money is gone. Why are you still asking Aspen for it?" Irene pouted, looking displeased. "It's lost, sure, but that's Aspen's loss, not mine. She can't just bully
Gordon's voice was cold as he spoke, "Aspen, I'm having some health issues and can't take action right now. But don't worry, it won't be long before I take care of that brat for you. "If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have almost poisoned myself to death. I'm going to make him pay with a brutal death." Aspen gritted her teeth and said, "Alright, I'll wait for you, Mr. Woods. I have only one request—Rodney and Andrew both need to die." Gordon responded coldly, "Don't worry. Last time, that little punk got lucky. I couldn't deal with him then, but this time, he won't escape." After hanging up, Aspen's face was frozen in anger. She muttered to herself, "Just wait, Andrew. You've made me hate you even more than Rodney now." Christina asked, "Aspen, is Mr. Woods okay?" Aspen sneered, "Don't worry, Christie. Mr. Woods' strength is unmatched. Forget Andrew. He doesn't even care about the Weller family, the Rhodes family, or the Aickers. He doesn't think twice about them!" Christ
Aspen raised her hand to interrupt, "Christie, I know what you're worried about, but let me tell you, there's no need to be afraid. These three formulas have been market-tested, and once we produce them, they'll definitely sell big. "Even if we don't achieve huge sales, it will still be a win for Stevens Corporation. Because you won't need any R&D costs or any time spent, you can just jump straight into the industry. I'm sure you can calculate how much money and time we'll save." Christina was immediately intrigued. As Aspen had said, with three ready-made formulas, Stevens Corporation could just buy the machinery, set up a factory, and start producing. The most difficult and intimidating part of the pharmaceutical industry—research and development—would be skipped entirely. Stevens Corporation could save potentially billions of dollars by bypassing this process. "Aspen, I could have Stevens Corporation start working on it as soon as tomorrow. But I need to ask you again: are t
The day before, Francesca had been suffering from the effects of the Enthralling Essence, almost completely drained of energy. Andrew thought it was shocking that she had enough strength to work so early in the morning. Frowning, Andrew walked into the Moonlit Apothecary, headed straight upstairs, and arrived at his private office. Inside, Francesca was cleaning his desk, clearly struggling. Thanks to her efforts, the desk was spotless. Andrew approached her, placed his hand on her shoulder, and said irritably, "Who told you to do this? Stop. Your body isn't ready for this yet. You need to rest!" Francesca jumped in surprise, quickly dropping the cloth and blushing. "Andrew, when did you come in? You scared me!" Andrew looked at her seriously. "How do you feel? Is anything bothering you?" Francesca shook her head quickly. "No, I've recovered well. I'm just a bit tired, but other than that, I'm fine." Andrew was not convinced. "Come here. I need to check you out. I don't r
Andrew wondered if Francesca still remembered that he had helped her with his hands. He felt a little guilty. He had been in the wrong yesterday. Francesca blushed, hesitating as she said, "Actually, I… I remembered most of it. My body was out of control at the time, but my mind was very clear." Andrew cautiously asked, "Do you remember how I saved you in the end?" He hoped that Francesca did not remember that part. If she did, he would be embarrassed beyond measure. Francesca bit her lip, clearly embarrassed. After a long pause, she murmured, "I remember everything in bits and pieces. It's all kind of fragmented. But the moment when you saved me… I remember that the clearest." Andrew gave a dry laugh, realizing he was at a loss for words. The one thing he had hoped she would not remember was the part she recalled the most vividly. 'It's as if it was all fate,' he thought. "Andrew, don't feel guilty. I know you were only trying to save me, even if you had to resort to tha
Yet, Francesca would not listen. She pouted and grumbled, "Andrew, if you keep talking, I'm going to get mad. I know you don't want anything to do with me, but you don't need to act like we didn't do anything together. Why won't you admit it?" Tears welled up in her eyes, and she glared at him, full of resentment, as she asked, "Am I really so unworthy in your eyes, Andrew?" Andrew stood there, stunned for a moment. He sighed, knowing there was no point in explaining. The more he tried, the worse it would get. He would have to find the right time later to clear things up. He said, "Fran, don't be angry. I didn't mean anything by it." Francesca sniffed and replied, "Don't worry, I won't tell Lauren. I won't bring it up again, so you don't have to feel guilty. Anyway, I need to get to the hospital for my shift. So, I'll leave it at that!" Andrew asked, "Do you want me to drive you? You're still weak!" Francesca blushed and said, "If you want to drive me, I'd appreciate it."
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