Lauren and Michael both fell silent, tension hanging in the air. Tiana gave Lauren a mocking smile. "You really have a knack for siding with outsiders, don't you? What's the matter? Just because Andrew spent a few billion dollars, you feel the need to defend him?" "Listen, Lauren, you're the Rhodes family's heiress. Family interests come before anything else," Tiana continued coldly. "Do you honestly think Andrew threw billions around just because he cares about you? No. He has his own hidden agenda and ambitions." She gave a disdainful scoff. "He wants you. He wants to use you to establish a connection with the Rhodes family. Wake up, Lauren. Don't be so naive." Lauren's face remained emotionless. "I'm fully aware of who truly cares about me. So, I'm sorry, Mom, but I don't agree with you." Tiana's expression hardened. "Whether you agree or not, I don't care anymore. The decision is final. The factories will prioritize Bane and the Pharmaceutical Division's projects. If you
Tiana clenched her teeth. "Andrew, enough is enough. You've already hit him and vented your anger. Don't push your luck." Andrew's face was expressionless as he responded, "I don't care about that. I just want to ask one thing—did Michael deserve to get slapped or not?" Tiana's face darkened as she glared at Michael. Despite being a member of the family, Michael's inability to control his temper had made him an easy target. Andrew had taken full advantage of the situation, and even if she wanted to defend Michael, there was not much she could do. After all, a major shareholder like Andrew demanded a certain level of respect. "Mr. Lloyd," Tiana finally said in a clipped tone, "you've made your point. Let's just end this here. I don't want anyone questioning my decisions." Michael, still holding his swollen face, had no choice but to swallow his anger. He knew he had acted impulsively and now had to suffer the consequences. Quietly, he thanked his luck that Andrew had not hit
"Hello, Mr. Brunner. This is Michael Rhodes. I wanted to ask you about something," Michael said, forcing a polite tone as the call connected. Stephen's voice came across as indifferent. "Oh, it's you, Mr. Rhodes. I'm busy, so just get to the point." Michael hesitated, then asked, "Well, I heard your Glorious Pharmaceuticals is working with Andrew Lloyd. Is that true?" Stephen responded nonchalantly, "Of course it's true. I'm in the middle of overseeing several factories rushing production for Mr. Lloyd as we speak. Now, unless you have something important, don't waste my time." Michael's jaw dropped in shock. "You're not joking, right? You're actually producing for Andrew?" Stephen sighed impatiently. "Michael, do I sound like I'm joking? I told you—I'm busy making sure things get done for Mr. Lloyd. I don't have time for your nonsense." "Wait a second—" Michael stammered, his voice rising with anger. "What the hell is this? Mrs. Rhodes personally reached out to you before,
Michael scowled, his frustration evident. "So what now? If Andrew's formula gets produced by Glorious Pharmaceuticals, does that mean I'll be outperformed?" Tiana's lips curled into a mocking smile. "What's the matter? Don't tell me you have no confidence in yourself." Michael's face flushed. "It's not about confidence. I just don't want things to keep going sideways. I was this close to securing the CEO position, but now I'm worried Andrew will pull some stunt and mess it all up again." Tiana replied calmly, "I'll admit, it surprised me that Andrew could sway Stephen. But without a solid formula—or if what he has turns out to be trash—it won't be enough to compete with you. Bane is a top expert from the Advanced Medical Institute, and I'm putting my faith in him and you to restore the Pharmaceutical Division's standing." Hearing this, Michael's anger faded, replaced by a smug grin. "Thank you for trusting me, Aunt Tiana. Don't worry—Bane will help us achieve great things for t
Lauren hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Since you overheard it, I might as well tell you everything. Joe is the young master of Blumedale's Driscoll family. He's also the most outstanding talent among their generation." She explained, "The Rhodes family originated from Jayrodale but moved to Blumedale to expand. I've only met Joe twice, and after that, he declared he was in love with me and swore he would marry me no matter what. "This news spread quickly within Blumedale's social circles. Later, the Driscoll family formally came to the Rhodes family to propose marriage." Lauren's voice faltered slightly as her expression dimmed for a moment. "It was absurd to me, but my parents and the elders didn't object at all. They were overjoyed and accepted the proposal without hesitation." Andrew spoke softly, sensing her struggle. "So, you're caught in a tough spot, aren't you? On one side, there's me; on the other, there's your parents and your family. If you choose me, you'll
Natasha's mood finally improved after the compliment. She crossed her arms and smirked. "Of course! I never half-ass anything I do. That being said, I have no interest in running a pasta shop. "Unless, of course, the owner is a certain coward who likes to stare but doesn't have the guts to act. Then, I might consider retiring and settling down with him!" Andrew's face darkened. "And who exactly are you calling a coward?" "You!" Natasha shot back without hesitation, even puffing out her chest to taunt him. Andrew immediately raised a white flag. "Okay, fine. You're right about everything. Can we drop this and get to business now?" Natasha ground her teeth in frustration. "Andrew, don't forget—there's something you promised me, and I haven't forgotten!" Andrew feigned ignorance. "Oh? What promise? I don't remember agreeing to anything." Natasha leaned in close, almost biting his ear, her voice cold yet playful. "You promised to make me your woman. Don't even try to deny it
Andrew nodded thoughtfully and said, "It's not guaranteed that conflict will happen, but planning ahead is always smart. Here's what I propose—we allocate some operational funds from both West End and South City to procure a selection of rare medicinal herbs." Natasha raised a brow in surprise. "Medicinal herbs? What are you planning? Making more medicines?" Andrew chuckled and shook his head. "Not quite. I'm going to prepare a special solution to help warriors refine their bodies, strengthen their muscles, and boost their physical capabilities. This formula could significantly enhance the strength of your people in West End and South City." Natasha blinked in shock before her eyes lit up with excitement. "Wait a second! Are you talking about the kind of concoction that only elite families use to train their personal guards?" "Something like that," Andrew said calmly. "Except mine will be even more effective than what those upper-class families use." Natasha practically glowe
"Mr. Lloyd, I get that Natasha can warm your bed, but you can't just openly play favorites," Dylan complained, obviously dissatisfied. "West End's got it good, but don't you dare turn a blind eye to South City. We deserve our share too!" It was clear from Dylan's tone that he was here to shamelessly demand the same special formula for his crew. Natasha chuckled seductively and said, "Dylan, please, how can you even compare yourself to me? I'm always on call for my darling, ready to make sure he's satisfied in every way—so satisfied that he's too blissed out to get out of bed the next morning." She narrowed her eyes teasingly. "And you? You're just a roughneck who knows nothing but fighting. Can you offer what I can?" Dylan snorted. "True enough. That thing between your legs is famous for locking a man's soul right out of his body. I can't compete with that. But just because I can't doesn't mean South City doesn't have its own perks. If Mr. Lloyd needs, I can arrange premium '
"He's my sworn brother, then standing up for him—no matter the cost—is only right," Logan said firmly. Elon's face instantly darkened, and deep inside, a gnawing jealousy bubbled up. Despite being the most low-key of the Five Apex Families' younger generation, Logan was arguably the most terrifying. He was about to take over the Keller family, a rising powerhouse. The Haywoods had Xavier—young, sharp, and fierce in combat. The Wrights had Quinton—manipulative, cunning, and notorious for his ruthlessness. But Elon? He was… just Elon. He was overweight, lacked presence, and had just been publicly humiliated when word spread that his wife had cheated on him. His reputation was already slipping, and now he had become the joke of Blumedale's elite circle. Still, no matter how pathetic things seemed, Elon believed he was far better than the man Andrew was. In his eyes, they were not even in the same league. So, it burned him even more to see Logan—someone he had always tried to i
"Logan, don't you know Andrew killed my younger brother?" Xavier shouted furiously. It was understandable for Luna to speak up. After all, the Phelans owed Andrew a small favor—but now even the Keller family was interfering. If this continued, Andrew would not just remain unharmed; he would likely rise to prominence in Blumedale. Andrew's rise would be a direct slap in the face to the Haywoods, humiliating them beyond redemption. Roy spoke grimly, "Logan, you're set to lead the Keller family. You should know better than to blur right and wrong. Andrew repeatedly humiliated the Haywoods and even murdered Seth. Do you expect us to swallow such a huge insult?" Logan replied calmly, "Mr. Haywood Senior, you know exactly why things turned out this way. I hate to say it, but Seth brought his death upon himself. Andrew may be impulsive, but he's done nothing wrong in my eyes." "I'll say this only once: if the Haywoods continue their vendetta against him, the Keller family won't stan
Xavier said, "Uncle Jude, you're in charge of internal discipline. My request is simple—either throw those losers out of the Haywoods and make them manage some backwater branch, or I'll kill them myself. And I doubt anyone in the family would object." Jude's eyelids twitched violently as he cursed the brats under his breath. Out loud, though, he nodded quickly and replied, "Don't worry, Xavier. I'll make sure they're kicked out of the family for good. They won't even get close to the front gate again." Xavier snorted and walked off, leaving Jude staring at his back, shaking his head. Jude muttered to himself, "Xavier… you really are the pride of the Haywoods. But you're spoiled by your status. With your father as the family head and all the elders favoring you, you've always kept the other branches under your heel. "That's understandable since you're the future heir and our strongest fighter among the younger generations. But the fact remains—you made a public promise and faile
Tiana had already been urging Andrew to make a trip to the Rhodes residence. With his current matters finally settled, Andrew made his way there. … Meanwhile, back at the Haywood residence, the funeral was underway. The place was shrouded in white—the last rites for Seth. It should have been a major event, but the atmosphere among the Haywoods was lifeless. No one looked remotely interested, and many of the younger members were outright slacking off, hiding in corners, smoking, drinking, and chatting. Someone whispered, "Xavier's the eldest son of the Haywoods and a damn colonel in the military, yet he couldn't even bring back Andrew's head? What a letdown." Another chimed in, "No kidding. Seth got taken out like that, which is a direct slap to the Haywoods' face." "Honestly, I've never seen our family this humiliated. Xavier even said he'd kill Andrew within three days or take his own life. Big talk for someone who came back empty-handed…" After just a few gulps of alco
Aspen and Chantelle both gasped in disbelief. They could not believe that Andrew had just toyed with Luna like she was some puppy. He offered her a treat, dangled it right in front of her face, and then yanked it back when she reached for it. Anyone with an ounce of pride would have snapped—and Luna Phelan was not just anyone. "Playing games on a razor's edge… Andrew, I'll be watching," Luna said coldly. "I'll watch how you destroy yourself." Her expression turned colder than it had been even when confronting Xavier.With one sharp step, she kicked up a gust of wind and vanished into the air. It was a clear sign that she was not just leaving, she was unleashing her fury. "That footwork was terrifying," Chantelle muttered. Even Aspen looked shaken. "Keep acting like this, Andrew, and someone's gonna hack you into pieces one day!" Chantelle snapped. After one last angry glare, she stormed off too. Aspen did not have quite the same fire in her. This demon of a man was hear
Luna turned around, clearly reluctant to even look at Andrew, and said flatly, "I can save you once, maybe even twice—but not a third time. To be precise, the only reason I stepped in at all was because you've done favors for the Phelans… and for Marvin. "But next time? Your life or death will have nothing to do with me. So, here's my advice—tone it down. This is Blumedale, not Jayrodale. You could show off back there, and no one cared, but here? Power and politics clash every second. Dying young might be the only fate you're headed for." Andrew frowned. "Luna, are you sick or something? Did I ask you to save me?" That one line did not just offend Luna—it also lit a fire in Chantelle. "Andrew, what the hell is wrong with you? General Phelan just saved your damn life. You didn't even say thank you, and now you're blaming her? Are you even a man?" She was speechless, thinking the guy was seriously unbelievable. Andrew shot her a cold glare. "Shut your mouth. No one asked for
Yet, of all the fearless, reckless men they had encountered, neither Aspen nor Chantelle had ever seen anyone as stubbornly arrogant as Andrew. Both women were completely stunned, wondering where he even got the guts to say things like that. In this world, commoners fear officials—but officials? They fear the men with guns—the military. However, here was Andrew, treating a colonel like Xavier as if he were worthless weeds. It was utter madness—like a sparrow challenging an eagle, a lamb taunting a wolf. It was sheer recklessness bordering on suicide. With a thunderous swoosh, Xavier's massive broadsword came crashing down with enough force to split boulders and level trees. Just the murderous pressure from that swing made Chantelle's face go pale. She was starting to doubt if she could even stand up to Xavier herself. After all, Andrew looked like he was about to be torn in half by that blade. What infuriated her even more was that, at the height of danger, Andrew just st
"Colonel Haywood, you know full well that with your rank and position, you can't just go around killing people on a whim," Chantelle warned coldly. She added, "Besides, your friend Andarov used banned weaponry on Holtrien soil, which is a serious offense. You can be sure Mr. McCormick won't just let that slide." Left with no other option, Chantelle had to drop Derek's name to try to rein Xavier in. However, Xavier was not intimidated at all. His voice dripped with venom as he said, "Ms. Garcia, I respect Mr. McCormick—he governs this province, and I'll give him that. But do you think the Haywoods' name should be trampled like dirt? Especially by some no-name punk who doesn't know his place? "I'll chop him into pieces, and if I have to, I'll apologize to Mr. McCormick myself. But with the military accolades I've earned, the Haywood family's backing, and my deep ties in the defense department, killing this bug wouldn't even cause a blip on the radar." Chantelle's stomach twiste
Chantelle sneered, "All in all, you're just an ordinary man, a slave to your desires with a pathetically mediocre mind." She had finally caught an opening to hit Andrew where it hurt, and she was not about to waste it. Andrew chuckled. "Ms. Garcia, you really do live up to your title as a master of psychology. You got most of it right. But you still missed one tiny detail—like the fact that, right now, I've got a very clear image of your naked body in my mind." The bluntness of that line stunned Chantelle, and her expression twisted in outrage. She snapped, "Andrew! That was in the past—how dare you bring it up like it's nothing? Aren't you worried I'll kill you?" The usually cold woman was genuinely furious now. Andrew shrugged lazily. "I'm sitting right here, wounded and unarmed. Go ahead, kill me. But even if you did, you still wouldn't erase the fact that you once stripped bare in front of me." Chantelle raised her hand in fury but forced herself to lower it again with