LOGINShare
Chapter 675
Related chapters
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 676
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 677
Aspen thought for a moment, then let out a cold, satisfied laugh. She decided to wait a little longer before calling Gordon again. Now that Andrew was finally out of the picture, the suffocating frustration she had been feeling for weeks seemed to lift, and she was in a much better mood. … Meanwhile, Christina was on a call with Owen Maloney from Wealthroller Investments. "Mr. Maloney, this is Christina Stevens. I was wondering if I could possibly speak with Mr. Yates… if he has a moment?" Her voice was cautious, almost nervous. Wealthroller Investments was a powerhouse, and she knew she had to tread carefully. Owen had overseen the South City Orphanage project and had previously liaised with the Stevens family, but his tone remained indifferent. He asked, "What do you need to speak with Mr. Yates about, Ms. Stevens?" Christina hesitated, gripping the phone tighter. "I-I'd like to ask him something about Andrew." There was a pause on the other end. When Owen spoke ag
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 678
The line went dead as Marvin hung up without giving Christina the chance to say another word. She sat there, the phone still pressed to her ear, her mind utterly blank. Marvin's parting words echoed through her skull like a relentless drumbeat. "Christina, by giving him up, you didn't just lose a relationship—you lost everything." "No," she whispered to herself, gripping the phone tighter. "No, my judgment wasn't wrong. Andrew was lazy. He had no ambition. We didn't match anymore—I made the right decision… I did the right thing." Yet, no matter how many times she repeated the words, the doubts gnawed deeper. Denial was always the first response when confronted with a painful truth. People instinctively clung to their own version of events, unwilling to admit they had misjudged, unwilling to face the consequences of their choices. Her breath quickened, and before she could think twice, she dialed another number. This time, she called Mark's office. "Hello, this is Mark Thatc
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 679
With a dull thud, Christina's phone slipped from her trembling hands and hit the floor. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground, her body drained of all strength. Everything was true, which meant she had been blind. Completely, utterly blind. But how? She had thought she knew Andrew inside and out and had been convinced he was an unambitious man who did not deserve to stand beside her. Yet, in the end, it was she who had been standing outside the gates of the truth, unable to see what was right in front of her. Was she really as foolish as Andrew had claimed? A storm of thoughts spiraled through her mind, and she cried out as she clutched her head, overwhelmed by the unbearable realization. Irene and Leroy rushed to her side, their faces stricken with alarm. "Christie! What's wrong? You're scaring me!" Irene cried, gripping her daughter's arms. "Are you feeling sick? Let's go to the hospital!" "Christie, you look awful!" Leroy added, his voice filled with c
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 680
Christina let out a deep breath; her expression strained with unease. "I just hope I didn't make the wrong decision back then." Aspen did not bother to answer. Whether Christina admitted it or not, the truth was already clear. Yet, here she was—desperately clinging to the belief that she had been right all along. It was laughable. No, it was downright pathetic. Aspen found it amusing, but in a way, she was the same. She had been crushed by Andrew time and time again, only to refuse to accept it. She had also kept chasing after her so-called dignity, convinced that she, Aspen of Bridgefields' Stevens family, could never lose. In the end, she and Christina were not so different. … The two women soon arrived at the Weller family estate. Harvey had not seen Christina in a while, but the moment she walked through the door, he smirked. He teased, "Christie, don't tell me you've come to your senses and decided to crawl back to me. If that's the case, I might be willing to give
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 681
Christina completely ignored Harvey's vile words because, at that moment, her mind was in utter chaos. She had no choice but to believe it—whether she wanted to accept it or not. Andrew had helped the Stevens family countless times, and it turned out that her position as CEO, even her very survival, had all been thanks to him. Everything she thought she knew was wrong. It was her arrogance and prejudice that had hurt the one man who should have belonged to her all along. Harvey made no effort to hide his venomous amusement as he mocked, "Christina, are you finally waking up? Do you finally see how amazing Andrew was?" He laughed and added, "Too bad, though. Andrew is already soaring high, and he doesn't feel anything for you anymore. Compared to Lauren or Francesca, don't you think they're all better than you? "They've got better backgrounds, better connections—what do you have left? Nothing. So instead of being stubborn, why not just give in and marry into the Weller family
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 682
Harvey grew even more delighted, bursting into laughter. "What's wrong? Did I strike a nerve? Did I dig into that dark, shameful corner of your heart?" He mocked, "Christina, are you finally realizing what a complete fool you've been? Do you feel like the pathetic woman who brought this all on herself? Andrew treated you well and gave the Stevens family respect, but you were too blind to appreciate it—you pushed him away. "And now, look at you. The Stevens family is struggling at every turn, surviving only because you're clinging to the Bridgefields' Stevens family for dear life. That's why when Aspen was crushed the moment she stepped into Jayrodale, your family had to bite their tongue and endure it." His voice turned colder, eyes glinting with malice as he continued to tear into her. "But if Andrew were still around, things would be different. The Stevens family would have grown much stronger by now, and you wouldn't be in this mess. But too bad—Andrew isn't yours anymore. H
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 683
Aspen's face darkened with anger as she barked, "Christie, you listen to me. You are not any less than Andrew. "The decision you made back then wasn't wrong. You're Christina Stevens, the elegant CEO of the Stevens Corporation. Are you really willing to admit that you were blind, that you misjudged Andrew so badly?" For a moment, Christina hesitated, confusion flickering across her tear-streaked face. She shook her head. "No… of course I don't want to admit that I was blind, that I couldn't see what was right in front of me." She mumbled, "But what's the point in denying it when the truth is so obvious? I was wrong—horribly, irredeemably wrong." A bitter, broken laugh escaped her lips. The proud, confident woman she once was faded like the closing credits of a movie. All that remained was sorrow, regret, and a hollow sense of defeat. Aspen let out a cold snort. "Christie, you're too kind—you always blame yourself for other people's mistakes. Think about it. Andrew's the one s
Latest chapter
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1218
The crowd could not help but wonder if Andrew was just that hurried to die, "Dragon Claw Strike!" With a low, lethal growl, Ellis struck, his eyes full of murder. His hands curled into claws, shooting straight for Andrew's chest and eyes, going for nothing less than a kill shot right from the start. However, Andrew's expression did not change. He stepped back once, then again, calm and fluid. It looked casual, but every move was calculated—just enough to slip right past Ellis's deadly thrusts. "Not bad. That's some decent footwork," Ellis sneered, his tone mocking even as he circled again. Then, his wiry frame lunged low, sweeping toward Andrew with a lightning-fast kick. Andrew's voice remained quiet and steady. "Dragon Claw Strike and Golden Cicada Stance are elite techniques from Silverthorn Monastery. Too bad you only learned the shell, not the substance." He stopped moving. Like a rock in a river, his stance suddenly locked in place. Ellis's sweeping legs, fast as
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1217
The bald man, Ellis, was not some no-name street thug—he was well-known in Blumedale. Among Mosby's apprentices, he was one of the rare few with zero talent in medicine but exceptional prowess in martial arts. Insiders knew the truth—Mosby had not taken Ellis in to pass on his medical legacy or help heal the sick. He wanted muscle, someone who could handle the dirty work behind closed doors. The whispers began almost instantly among the growing crowd. "This is bad. That's Mosby's third apprentice—trained under the monks at Silverthorn Monastery. I heard he's so powerful he can crack stone with his bare hands." Another chimed in, "Genesis Dispensary isn't the kind of place you just stroll into looking for trouble. That young guy's finished." "Well… I don't know. Judging from what I saw earlier, the guy's no amateur either." "Amateur? My ass. Ellis doesn't hold back. People have died under his fists before. That punk's either going to be crippled or dead in minutes..." More a
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1216
Barely two minutes had passed, but every single one of Genesis Dispensary's enforcers lay sprawled on the ground—some unconscious, some writhing in pain, and some not even moving. Janice clutched the edge of her sleeve, her face pale as a sheet. She stared at Andrew in shock, as if not recognizing this man. The Andrew she knew was gentle, refined, eloquent—someone who had won her grandfather's respect the moment they met, a miracle doctor with endless skill. However, the Andrew standing before her now was the complete opposite—ruthless, cold-blooded, and surrounded by a sea of blood from the beatings he had just handed out. Old Hayface's legs trembled as he stared at Andrew like he had seen a ghost, thinking this was beyond insane. How could some young punk wipe out all of Genesis Dispensary's muscle like it was nothing? He shook his head furiously in denial. "Andrew, you've messed up big time—real big. Mr. Lake is on his way and—" Before he could finish, Andrew delivered t
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1215
The red Ferrari screeched to a stop in front of the famous Genesis Dispensary like a streak of lightning. The dramatic entrance instantly caught the attention of pedestrians walking by. "Who the hell do you think you are? Driving that flashy piece of crap like you own the place? Move it before we lock your ass in!" Two burly security thugs stationed at the entrance of Genesis Dispensary stomped over, cursing as they approached. Janice jumped out of the car in a panic and rushed to explain, "I'm sorry, sirs, really sorry! We'll leave right now, please don't—" However, before she could even finish her sentence, Andrew stepped forward and slapped both men across the face. Each blow landed with a crack, and neither man had time to react before their heads slammed into the pavement, completely unconscious. Janice stood frozen, wondering if Andrew had always had such an explosive temper. How had she never seen this side of him before? "You bastard! You think you can hit our guy
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1214
Ronan's Oak Apothecary had built a modest but respected reputation in Blumedale, so having him gather the herbs was a huge time-saver for Andrew. However, the moment Andrew stepped into the shop, Janice Bates came running toward him in tears. "Andrew! My grandpa… he got hurt! Someone beat him up!" she cried, sobbing uncontrollably. Andrew's brows furrowed. "Janice, stop crying for now. Take me to him." In the back room, Ronan was lying on a bed, clearly injured. Two red handprints burned across his cheeks, and his forehead was bruised and bleeding as if someone had shoved him hard against something. "Mr. Lloyd… you came," Ronan said weakly, trying to sit up. "Forgive me, I've failed you." Andrew quickly motioned for him to stop talking. "Don't waste your breath. Let's get you patched up first." After checking him over, Andrew was relieved to find that Ronan had only suffered surface wounds and a badly twisted waist. He worked swiftly, massaging the injured muscles and ap
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1213
The awkward silence lasted for almost half an hour. Eventually, Aspen regained enough strength in her legs to move again. Without a word and her face icy cold, she reached for the car door, desperate to leave. Andrew quickly grabbed her wrist and said, "I'll drive you home so you can change clothes. Especially your skirt and stockings—they're completely soaked." Aspen immediately blushed crimson, embarrassment flooding up her neck and across her cheeks. She ground her teeth angrily and snapped, "No need!" Andrew ignored her protests completely, starting the Ferrari and driving straight back to The Sovereign Residences. Neither said a word during the entire drive. Andrew genuinely did not know what to say. Everything had been perfectly normal until he suddenly crossed the line with Aspen. It was just like those old movies, where the wealthy guy ended up sleeping with his favorite maid. Technically, Andrew had not done anything wrong; Aspen was his slave, after all. Nonethe
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
