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Chapter 694
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 695
Andrew let out a cold laugh. "So, Raymond's confidence comes from the Wright family?" Stephen gave a firm nod. "Exactly. Without the Wright family's backing, Raymond wouldn't even be qualified to shine your shoes, let alone set up the ridiculous 'Reckoning Toast'." Andrew's eyes glinted with curiosity. "Mr. Brunner, enlighten me—what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Stephen straightened in his chair and explained, "The Reckoning Toast is an old tradition in certain circles. It's essentially a public apology disguised as a show of respect. "If two sides have a conflict but don't want an all-out war, or if one side wants to back down without losing face, they'll arrange a Reckoning Toast. You'd pour a glass of wine, offer it to Raymond, and apologize while acknowledging his supposed grievance." He explained, "If he takes the glass and drinks, it means he accepts the apology, and the matter is settled. But if he refuses or smashes the glass, that's a declaration of war. It mea
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 696
Stephen hesitated for a moment before forcing out a strained smile. "Mr. Lloyd, the Reckoning Toast at the Jayrodale Grand Hotel officially started today. Raymond plans to host it for three days straight, inviting all the major players in Jayrodale to witness it." He explained, "If, by the end of the third day, you haven't shown up, it will be taken as a refusal to apologize. At that point, Raymond, backed by the Wright family, might decide to make a move against you. Please, think this through." Andrew's eyes darkened with indifference. "I'll go on the third day and settle it then. But until then, I don't have the time—or the interest—to entertain them." Stephen quickly nodded. "Of course, Mr. Lloyd. I'll pass the message along to Raymond." Andrew gave a casual wave. "Do whatever you think is best." He turned and left the office with Lauren beside him. "Dr. Lloyd," Lauren said softly, glancing at him with concern, "I really think you should take the Wright family seriously
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 697
News of Raymond hosting the Reckoning Toast at the Jayrodale Grand Hotel spread like wildfire. In no time, the entire city was buzzing with speculation and heated discussions. Someone commented, "Seriously? Who in their right mind would dare mess with Dream Paradise? You'd have to be either insane or have a death wish." "Once a Reckoning Toast is set, you either show up, drink, and apologize, or you wait for Mr. Chapman Senior to go ballistic and take you down. There's no third option!" Another said, "Lately, this guy Andrew has been making a bit of a name for himself in Jayrodale. A lowlife nobody from the bottom of the barrel, and now he thinks he can take on Mr. Chapman Senior? This is pure suicide!" "Well, you can't say that for sure. Word is, Andrew's gotten close with the Rhodes family and has ties to that legendary Dr. Aicker. Even Harvey, the head of the Weller family, couldn't put him down. If he and Raymond really go at it, who knows how it'll turn out?" "Yeah, righ
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 698
Stephen said calmly, "It's not that I've lost my edge or nerve. It's just that sometimes, you need to read the room and know when to pick your battles." He continued, "There's a saying—A wise man adapts to the times. No matter how strong you are, when a true powerhouse shows up, you still have to bow your head if you want to survive." Raymond waved him off with an irritated snort. "Cut the crap. What you're really saying is that you're scared of Andrew, right? You've already given in to him. Either way, it doesn't matter. My stance is crystal clear. "If that kid shows up, kneels, toasts me, and pays for all the damages, I'll be merciful and let him walk away with his life. But if he dares not to show, then tough luck. I'll make sure he learns exactly what regret feels like." Stephen's expression darkened, and he let out a cold chuckle. "Getting Mr. Lloyd to kneel and toast you? That's never going to happen. I can't say much more, but I'm telling you—you're underestimating him.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 699
Stephen left without saying a word, his face dark and grim. Raymond sneered as he watched him go. "Spineless coward. You cave the moment someone shows a bit of strength. That's the difference between you and me, Stephen. You're weak, and I've always been a man of action. Success takes guts and relentless effort. Only those who push through, no matter the odds, can create a bright future." Feeling rather pleased with his own words, Raymond stood up and pushed open the door behind him. The room inside was a lavish, neon-lit paradise, packed with state-of-the-art entertainment systems. A dozen women, barely dressed and practically flaunting their bodies, circled around a scrawny young man, giggling and playfully teasing him. "Come on, Mr. Wright, have a drink with me. Let's share a glass, hmm?" "How about you take me on a date tonight? I promise to make you feel like you're on cloud nine." "Mr. Wright, you're so bad… always grabbing my chest. But if you want, there are plenty
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 700
Bane waved a hand dismissively. "Let me make one thing clear—I'm not helping Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division out of pure goodwill. I expect to get what I want when the time comes. I trust you won't be stingy when that moment arrives." Tiana chuckled softly. "Don't worry. You'll have access to all the resources and funds you need." The meeting room was filled with Rhodes Corporation executives. Besides Bane and Michael, Andrew, Lauren, and Marcus were also present. However, the three of them sat on the sidelines, largely ignored. Nobody came over to chat or engage with them. Meanwhile, Michael stood at the center of attention, surrounded by a crowd of managers, all enthusiastically congratulating him. They were not there just for idle flattery—they were hedging their bets. After all, the ongoing power struggle between Michael and Lauren would decide who got the CEO seat. Judging by the current situation, Michael seemed like a guaranteed winner. And in corporate
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 701
Bane clenched his jaw, forcing himself to suppress his anger. He growled, "Fine. You've got a sharp tongue, I'll give you that. But what makes you so sure my products don't meet the standards you're talking about?" Andrew looked at him like he was the village idiot and let out a mocking chuckle. "I might not have seen your formulas, but I've seen the raw materials you're using." He said, "The recent budget reports from the Pharmaceutical Division? The massive procurement lists? Even just skimming through those documents was enough for me to tell you that your three new products are doomed to fail. "Because the production costs are ridiculously high—even I was shocked when I saw the numbers. You're basically bleeding Rhodes Corporation dry!" Bane gave a dismissive snort. "Cost is not my concern. My job is to produce results." Michael sneered. "Andrew, the Pharmaceutical Division has more than enough capital to handle those costs. Why are you so worried? Feeling jealous already
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 702
Michael beamed with pride at the praise and quickly responded with false humility. "Aunt Tiana, you flatter me. What I shared just now is only the tip of the iceberg. I'll prepare a detailed market analysis for you later—a summary of everything I've learned during my time at the company. It's the least I can do." Lauren shook her head and let out a quiet snort. "Showboating. I bet that 'research' was just copy-pasted off the internet. You're not fooling anyone." Michael, unfazed, grinned smugly. "So what if it was? Everything's on the internet these days. I learn from what I find there, and I think it's brilliant!" Lauren's lips twitched into a cold smile. "Learning? Is that what you call hiding in your office watching Eastonian adult films all day?" Michael's face turned beet red. He clenched his fists and snapped, "Lauren, this is a professional meeting. I'd appreciate it if you stuck to relevant topics!" Tiana's gaze shifted to Andrew, her expression amused. "Mr. Lloyd,
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1188
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1187
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1186
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1185
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1184
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1183
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1182
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1181
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1180
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
