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Chapter 699
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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,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 703
Michael let out a cold snort. "That's right. This is my top-tier business insight. Short and simple. Quality is found in simplicity." He continued, "Take everyone here, for example. None of you are exactly broke. If you see a car you like, are you really going to sit there crunching numbers? No—you'll sign the papers and drive off. "When you go out to eat, does it really matter if the bill's 1000 dollars or even 5000 dollars? As long as the food's good and you're enjoying yourself, you'll happily pay, right?" One of the executives immediately chimed in, "Mr. Rhodes is absolutely right. These days, I don't even look at price tags. If I like something, I buy it." Another manager eagerly added, "Exactly. Wealthy customers don't stress about prices. The only thing that matters is whether they want it." A third executive even went as far as bragging about their extravagant lifestyle, boasting about how easily they spent money without batting an eye. Andrew shook his head and lau
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 704
Andrew sneered. "I call you an idiot, and you're still trying to argue. Amazing. You've got sky-high production costs, and now you're planning to get into a price war with competitors who can undercut you without breaking a sweat. The moment they lower their prices, your so-called strategy will collapse like a house of cards." Michael opened his mouth to respond but came up empty. His face darkened as he struggled to find a comeback. The other executives exchanged uneasy glances. They wanted to defend Michael's point, but they simply did not have the knowledge to counter Andrew's logic. Even Tiana's eyes narrowed slightly as she mentally reviewed the Pharmaceutical Division's current situation. Andrew's analysis had exposed a glaring flaw she had not fully considered before. "All right, Mr. Lloyd," Tiana said, leaning slightly forward. "Since you see the problem so clearly, what would you suggest we do to gain an advantage?" Andrew stretched and gave a lazy yawn. "The solutio
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 705
Andrew remained unfazed as he continued, "And one more thing—true wisdom has nothing to do with age. If you've lived all these decades and still haven't figured that out, then congratulations—you've basically wasted your entire life. Next time you want to learn something, start by showing a little humility." The elderly executive was livid. He shot up from his chair, turning to Tiana with a furious glare, ready to demand justice. However, the sudden surge of anger proved too much. With a guttural groan, his face contorted, and he collapsed with a loud thud under the table. Michael and the others gasped in shock. "Did… did Andrew just argue him into unconsciousness?" Tiana's face remained stone-cold. "Take him to the medical wing. Don't let this disrupt the meeting." A team of security staff quickly entered the room, lifted the unconscious executive, and carried him away. Lauren discreetly gave Andrew a thumbs-up, her eyes glimmering with amusement. She thought, 'Dr. Lloyd, yo
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 706
Michael was furious. After being repeatedly belittled by Andrew today, he was already boiling with rage. He growled, "Alright, we'll see soon enough. I want to see how long you can keep up that arrogance!" He stood up, threw down those harsh words, and stormed out with Bane trailing behind him. "Meeting adjourned!" Tiana announced. The other senior executives followed suit, leaving one after the other. As they walked out, most instinctively kept their distance from Andrew. They had finally realized that Andrew was an unrelenting, shameless troublemaker. He showed no respect for Michael, even though Michael came from a powerful family, and he even dared to openly mock Tiana. That kind of audacity was not something ordinary people could stomach. Tiana was the last to leave. She turned to Andrew with a taunting smile. "Mr. Lloyd, I heard the Jayrodale Grand Hotel has arranged a 'Reckoning Toast' just for you. You act all high and mighty in front of me—I just hope you won't be
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 707
Lauren said, "Dr. Lloyd, I'm going with you to the Jayrodale Grand Hotel tomorrow!" Andrew waved his hand dismissively. "No need. We're at a critical stage with our pharmaceutical product launch right now. You and Mr. Chapman are already swamped, so just stay focused on the product!" Lauren frowned with concern. "But I don't feel comfortable letting you go alone!" Andrew replied calmly, "Relax. I'm going there to reason with Raymond. We've got the facts on our side, so there's nothing to fear, no matter how many people he brings." Lauren could not hold back her anxiety. "Raymond's got Winston backing him up, and they have no intention of playing fair. They're just trying to strong-arm us, Dr. Lloyd. You know that better than anyone!" Andrew's eyes darkened, but his tone remained steady. "In this world, everything should be resolved through reason. But if brute force is the solution, then I prefer it that way." That was his principle: if no one messed with Andrew, he would n
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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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1179
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1178
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1177
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1176
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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1175
"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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1174
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
