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Chapter 62
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 63
The so-called "elite sports" these wealthy heirs and heiresses enjoyed were not anything too exotic—just some expensive hobbies like golf, fencing, and indoor climbing. After half an hour, Andrew was already bored and ready to leave. Meanwhile, Dexter, wearing gloves, sparred in a flashy taekwondo match with Harvey. Christina and Dexter's date sat below, snacking and clapping excitedly. Francesca was equally captivated. While she was not exactly smitten with Harvey, she could not deny his allure as a wealthy young man from a prominent family. In contrast, Andrew sat off to the side, looking more like a bystander than a participant. Francesca assumed he probably did not even know what taekwondo was and would just swing wildly if he tried. Worried that he would try to slip away, she reminded him, "Lauren just stepped out to handle something, but she'll be back soon. Even if you're bored, you need to wait for her. Don't you dare leave!" Up on the mat, Harvey and Dexter finishe
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 64
Andrew smirked. "Eighth-degree black belt? Is that supposed to impress me?" Francesca gritted her teeth at his ignorance. Harvey had been one of the top young fighters in Jayrodale even before going abroad, training in martial arts since he was a kid. Sure, Andrew had taken down South City's Bobby, but Harvey was in a different league altogether. Dexter taunted from the mat, "Are you that scared, kid? Don't worry, I won't humiliate you too badly—just enough to send you crawling home like a dog!" Francesca pleaded desperately, "Please, Andrew, even if you get beaten, take it like a man. Don't embarrass Lauren and me. Do you want Lauren to seem inferior to Christina?" Andrew sighed, already feeling annoyed. Nonetheless, he gave in and stepped up to the stage with a relaxed stride. He looked at Dexter and said, "Since accidents can happen, let's take things easy and have a friendly match." Dexter was caught off guard by his remark, but he quickly burst out laughing. "You'r
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 65
Harvey jumped onto the mat with a dark expression and growled, "Dexter was clearly going easy on you, and you took advantage of his courtesy to hurt him! Andrew, your behavior disgusts me. You've violated the spirit of taekwondo, so I need to teach you a lesson!" Dexter's poor performance surprised Harvey, but that did not matter. He had been waiting for a chance to put this loser in his place. Francesca pleaded anxiously, "You're an eight-degree black belt. Andrew doesn't stand a chance against you! Please don't do this!" Christina added her concern, "Harvey, go check on Dexter instead. Don't hurt anyone!" Harvey smirked at Andrew. "I didn't want to fight you since it would seem like bullying, but you seriously injured Dexter after agreeing to keep it light. Even if Christie and Lauren get angry, I have to teach you about martial arts honor!" Andrew frowned. "I gave him a chance and asked if we were having a friendly match. Yet, he fought dirty and insulted me, so why should
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 66
"Harvey, don't you dare bully Dr. Lloyd! If he gets hurt, you'll have to answer to me!" Lauren rushed over, worried that Andrew might be at a disadvantage. Harvey smirked, seizing the chance to back down gracefully. "Alright, I'll let him off this time for your sake," he said with a fake grin. "But don't expect such luck next time! I'm not the type to go easy on just anyone." With a cold snort, Harvey left. Christina and Francesca both thought Harvey had shown Andrew mercy, unaware that Harvey's arm, hidden beneath his jacket, was already swollen and trembling uncontrollably. "If Lauren hadn't arrived in time, you wouldn't have gotten off so easily," Francesca sneered. Andrew replied calmly, "You should say that to him instead. If I'm not mistaken, he's probably rushing to the clinic to get his arm treated right now." Francesca did not believe him, thinking Andrew was just bluffing. After all, there was no way he could easily defeat an eighth-degree black belt like Harvey.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 67
The club's racetrack was packed with thousands of spectators watching the races. Horse racing has always been a favorite pastime of the wealthy, both locally and internationally, with betting being the most talked-about aspect of the sport. Lauren walked arm-in-arm with Andrew to the premium viewing deck, with Francesca close behind. This exclusive area was reserved for lifetime club members, and everyone seated there was either wealthy or influential. In the center of the deck, Jayrodale's mayor, Mark Thatcher, sat surrounded by his staff, intently watching the races below. It was common knowledge that while the mayor had many interests, horse racing was his true passion. "Mr. Thatcher, what a pleasure to see you here!" Lauren stepped forward to greet him. Mark adjusted his glasses and smiled. "Ah, Lauren! How's Mr. Rhodes Senior doing these days?" "Thank you for asking, Mr. Thatcher. Grandpa's doing quite well!" Mark nodded, but his expression changed to surprise whe
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 68
After they sat down in a corner, Francesca quickly whispered, "Lauren, that sneaky Bernard is clearly trying to drive a wedge between Mr. Thatcher and your family." Lauren shrugged. "Let him try. He's a nobody. If not for Mr. Thatcher, I would've slapped him for talking about Andrew like that." Francesca turned to Andrew with disgust. "This is all because of you! Thanks to you, Mr. Thatcher probably doesn't think highly of Lauren anymore!" "Is Mr. Thatcher's approval really that important?" Andrew frowned. Francesca sneered. "Are you actually this clueless, or are you just pretending? He's the mayor of Jayrodale! Haven't you noticed all those people waiting with expensive gifts just to curry his favors? One word from him can make or break someone's fortune in this town." Lauren intervened, "Fran, stop it. The Rhodes family isn't going to lose a connection over someone like Bernard." "If maintaining good relations with Mr. Thatcher is so important, I might have an idea,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 69
Lauren clapped her hands excitedly. "Dr. Lloyd, you're amazing! Number Seven actually won!" Her joyful laughter caused Harvey, Bernard, and their group's faces to darken. However, Mark maintained his composure and smiled. "Don't be discouraged, everyone. Such is the thrill of horse racing—you never know who the dark horse will be until the very end!" The mayor's words prompted immediate agreement from the crowd. "Well said, Mr. Thatcher!" "Absolutely, Mr. Thatcher! Anyone could be the dark horse!" "Your insights are truly remarkable!" "Let's get ready for the next round. The game isn't over yet! Stick with Mr. Thatcher, and we'll be in the winner's circle!" For the next race, Mark confidently selected Number Five. Lauren turned to Andrew and asked, "Dr. Lloyd, which horse should we choose?" "Let's go with Number One," Andrew replied casually. Bernard could not resist a sarcastic comment. "Andrew, are you deliberately going against Mr. Thatcher's picks? Can't you
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 70
Lauren covered her mouth to suppress a laugh, suddenly realizing that these so-called Jayrodale elites were not much different from the social climbers they claimed to mock. "Andrew, I challenge you on behalf of Mr. Thatcher!" Harvey declared. "Don't get cocky. Your first two wins were just beginner's luck. Fortune won't keep favoring a fool forever!" Bernard chimed in, "Well said! Those two wins were nothing but dumb luck. No one in Jayrodale can match Mr. Thatcher at horse racing, especially not some junior doctor!" Mark waved them off with a chuckle. "Come now, we're not sore losers. Dr. Lloyd, if you can win this one too, you'll definitely earn my respect!" "If we're playing by the same rules, Mr. Thatcher, then I won't lose," Andrew replied with a calm smile. The crowd erupted immediately. "Such arrogance!" "This young man doesn't know his place!" "How dare he speak to Mr. Thatcher like that!" Francesca's heart was racing. She could not believe Andrew dared to sp
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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
