Andrew had Marcus figured out by now. If he had to sum him up in one sentence, it would be—a closet hedonist, through and through. The two were originally planning to head back to Rhodes Corporation together. However, before they could leave, Andrew's phone rang—it was Francesca. "Andrew, where are you? Get to Moonlit Apothecary right now—Nyla's in critical condition!" Her voice was trembling, thick with panic and distress. Andrew's face turned ice-cold. "What happened? Take a deep breath and tell me everything!" Francesca broke down into sobs. "That hunchbacked bastard—Aspen's guy—the one she hired! He hit Nyla, Andrew! Please, hurry! The poison is spreading fast—I can't save her!" Andrew did not waste another second. He hung up, slammed his foot on the gas, and tore through the streets toward Moonlit Apothecary. If Francesca's description was right, Nyla had been struck by Gordon's Plaguebringer's Palm. Andrew had survived it before because he was immune to toxins. Howe
Nyla's voice was barely above a whisper. "Then… he struck me with his palm… Everything went dark… I wanted to warn you, Dr. Lloyd, but I blacked out before I could." Andrew pressed his hands gently on her shoulders. "Nyla, you don't need to say anything else. Just rest." Nyla shook her head weakly, refusing to stay silent. "Dr. Lloyd, run! That hunchbacked old man is terrifying. He said he'd come back. If he can't find you, he'll kill one person a day… until you show up." Francesca clenched her fists, her entire body trembling with rage. "That psycho!" Andrew's expression turned bone-chillingly cold. "Don't worry. He won't get the chance. Fran, stay here and watch over Nyla. I need to take care of something." There was something in Andrew's voice—something final—that made Francesca's heart skip a beat. She reached for him in panic. "Andrew, where are you going? Please, be careful!" Andrew nodded but did not stop. "I won't be long." His G-Wagon roared to life, tires screec
Aspen slammed her coffee down and strode toward the front hall. She wanted to see who had the guts to call her by name so brazenly. In the front hall, Leroy clutched his stomach, his face twisted in rage. He spat, "Andrew, you barged into the Stevens mansion and still had the nerve to hit me? You better believe Christie will make you pay for this!" Irene shrieked hysterically, "Andrew, you're nothing but a heartless bastard! No matter what, Christie was with you for so long, and this is how you repay her? How could you go after Leroy like that? Do you even have a conscience?" Andrew cast them both a cold glance and smirked. "Leroy, you know damn well why you got hit! The second I walked in, you charged at me like a mad dog. What was I supposed to do, just stand there and let you take a free shot?" Leroy gritted his teeth, seething. "You've gotten real cocky, Andrew. Don't forget, everything you have today exists because of the Stevens family!" Irene shouted, "Exactly! You owe
Christina turned to Aspen, her expression uncertain and her voice trembling. "Aspen, did Mr. Woods… really kill someone?" Aspen clutched her throat, her eyes filled with resentment. "Mr. Woods' actions are beyond my control. All I can say is that Andrew brought this on himself!" Christina's face twisted with anger. "Andrew, all of this happened because you provoked Aspen in the first place! I told you long ago—if you'd just apologized to her and returned the money, this whole mess would've been over. But you just had to be stubborn, didn't you? Who do you have to blame but yourself?" Andrew sneered. "Christina, I swear, you've gotten even dumber these days. Can you even tell right from wrong anymore? How the hell are you running Stevens Corporation when you can't see the truth right in front of you?" He let out a cold laugh, shaking his head. "Then again, I shouldn't be surprised. I helped you and Stevens Corporation more times than I can count, but you never appreciated it. In
"Christie, don't listen to that loser's nonsense. He's just making stuff up to mess with you—none of it is true!" Irene said hurriedly, noticing her daughter's shaken expression. Leroy snorted. "Christie, you're not actually buying Andrew's crap, are you? Come on, he really stood there and claimed he built Stevens Corporation from the ground up. What a joke!" Christina did not respond. Her face had gone pale, her expression hollow and exhausted as her entire worldview began crumbling. Aspen stood quietly, her eyes filled with contemplation. She had always considered Stevens Corporation's rise from a small, struggling workshop to the powerhouse it was today an anomaly. For the longest time, she had assumed Christina was some kind of prodigy, a brilliant businesswoman who single-handedly made it happen. However, after working closely with her for a while, Aspen realized Christina was not as extraordinary as everyone believed. Sure, she was smart enough to handle her CEO duties
Leroy snorted. "Christie, go ahead and get to the bottom of it. I can't wait to see that bastard's face when you expose him for the fraud he is." Not wanting to get dragged into the Stevens family's drama, Aspen slipped away to her room and dialed Gordon's number. She warned him, "Mr. Woods, you should be careful. Andrew might come looking for you." Gordon's voice came through the phone, cold and dismissive. "If that kid wants to come die at my doorstep, I'll gladly help him with that." Aspen replied, "Still, you should stay alert. I'm worried Andrew might show up with some of the underground forces in Jayrodale to ambush you." Gordon scoffed. "Numbers mean nothing against someone at my level. If they come swarming like ants, I'll just retreat and pick them off one by one later. It's nothing but a waste of my time." Aspen's voice turned icy. "I'll wait for your good news, Mr. Woods." Gordon chuckled darkly. "Relax. Once I clean up the mess here in Jayrodale, I'll be heading
Andrew glanced at his palm, where a faint black mark had appeared—the toxic imprint of Gordon's Plaguebringer's Palm. However, with a slight shift of his internal energy, the venomous mark dissolved into nothing, as though it had never existed. "Your so-called Plaguebringer's Palm feels more like an itch," Andrew stated coldly. "It's not even worth mentioning." With that, he lunged forward. His voice dropped to a frigid growl as he taunted, "That was just a warm-up, Gordon. So what if you're a peak senior grandmaster? Killing you will be child's play!" In the blink of an eye, the two of them exchanged over a dozen ferocious blows. "You insolent brat!" Gordon bellowed, enraged. "I swear I'll crush you under my palm!" However, Andrew pressed the attack relentlessly, forcing Gordon to retreat with every strike. On the other hand, Gordon's anger flared. He was supposed to be the dominant one here, the predator toying with his prey. He had expected Andrew to cower, maybe beg fo
Gordon staggered backward, his eyes wide with fear as he gasped out, "Why don't we just end this here? Let's call it even. If you push me too far, I'll fight to the death—and I guarantee you won't walk away unscathed." He was retreating frantically now, his voice trembling beneath the bravado. Survival, not pride, was his priority. Facing Aspen's disappointment was one thing—but losing his life was another matter entirely. More than that, Gordon was struggling to process the reality in front of him. Jayrodale was supposed to be a stagnant backwater town. How had a terrifying powerhouse like Andrew emerged from this place? He thought returning from Bridgefields after years in hiding would allow him to dominate this city easily. Instead, he had stumbled into a nightmare—a young monster who dismantled him with brutal efficiency. The realization gnawed at his sanity. His entire worldview, built on decades of superiority, was collapsing. Andrew's voice cut through the tension, col
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