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 '
With a single strike of his bare hand, Andrew shattered the marble table into pieces. Both underground leaders, Natasha and Dylan, froze as their eyes widened in shock. The thought of that level of force hitting a human body was terrifying—organs would be crushed on impact. Even Natasha, who was slightly stronger than Dylan, felt a nervous tension building in her chest. Andrew's display of power far surpassed her capabilities, and the fear coursing through her was palpable. Dylan, on the other hand, could barely maintain his composure. He knew that if Andrew truly wanted to discipline him, he would be shaking in his boots. "What's wrong with you two? Are you part monkey, needing to fight whenever you meet? Or maybe you're like dogs—biting each other just to feel better?" Andrew sneered coldly, his gaze sharp. Dylan remained silent, too scared to speak. Natasha, however, quickly adopted a submissive tone. "Darling, don't be mad. I know I was wrong." Andrew gave her a frosty l
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
Andrew finally paid a visit to the Rhodes family. "Andy, you're here! Come in, have a seat," Jameson greeted warmly, his tone unusually enthusiastic. The way he looked at Andrew was not just the admiration of a family elder—it was the hopeful gaze of someone eyeing a perfect son-in-law. Lauren giggled behind her hand. "Andrew, you've become quite the welcome guest around here. Everyone in the Rhodes family is thrilled you came." Andrew glanced around casually and noticed several of the Rhodes family's core members smiling and nodding in greeting. A few girls around Lauren's age were sneaking glances his way, their cheeks tinged pink. Cecelia, the youngest among them, blurted out, "Andrew, when are you marrying Lauren?" Andrew laughed and replied, "Anytime works for me." Cecelia clapped her hands excitedly. "Great! Let's do the wedding today and the honeymoon tonight!" Jameson's eyes widened. "Cece! Stop saying nonsense!" His youngest daughter was a wild one—always blu
Logan nodded and smiled. "Andrew's medical skills really are rare. Medicine is a deep and complex field, and among the younger generation in Blumedale, hardly anyone has any decent understanding of it. "Even top talents like Joe Driscoll or Luna Phelan from the three major families are focused on martial arts. When it comes to healing, there's nothing to talk about." George beamed. "What makes Andrew truly special is that he's not only exceptional in medicine, but his martial prowess is also extraordinary. Just the fact that he's survived the joint manhunt from two powerful families already tells me he's not to be underestimated." Logan frowned. "There's a rumor going around that Andrew survived only because someone powerful is secretly protecting him." George scoffed. "That's just idle gossip from nobodies parroting what they hear. If Andrew were weak, no amount of backing could keep him alive. Logan, remember this—life throws us many challenges, but there's one hurdle you mus
Elon's face turned red from the scolding, and he muttered bitterly, "I mean, I might not be great, but I'm still better than Andrew, right? Are you really saying that in your eyes, your own son is worth less than that guy?" Richard let out a cold snort. "You really care about comparing yourself to him? Fine then—do you want the truth or a lie?" Elon shrank back at his father's sarcastic smile and mumbled, "The lie… I guess." Richard scoffed, "Alright. If it's lies you want, then sure—you're way more promising than Andrew. That guy doesn't even deserve to be compared to you." Elon's face twitched. He wanted to laugh, but the words tasted bitter in his mouth. The lie was that he was better than Andrew. But the truth? The truth was that compared to Andrew, he was absolutely nothing. The more he thought about it, the more he realized—either way, he came up short. So what was the point in choosing? He silently cursed, 'Damn it!' Richard folded his hands behind his back, his
"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