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Chapter 728
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 729
Grabbing Lauren's delicate hand, Andrew said, "Let's go. We need to make a trip to Glorious Pharmaceuticals and check with Mr. Brunner to see when the first batch of products will be ready for release." Lauren frowned. "The timeline is too tight. I'd say it'll take at least another two weeks." Andrew shook his head. "No, I'm only giving him two days at most." … The two of them quickly drove over to Glorious Pharmaceuticals. As soon as they arrived, Stephen came rushing out with a bright smile as soon as they arrived. "Mr. Lloyd, Ms. Rhodes, welcome!" Lauren returned his smile politely. "Sorry to bother you again, Mr. Brunner." Stephen waved his hands. "Oh, come on, Ms. Rhodes, no need to say that! Being able to work with Mr. Lloyd is an honor. I should be thanking you!" Andrew did not hesitate to walk straight over to Stephen's office chair and sit down, leaving Stephen standing there awkwardly with nowhere to sit. After glancing around helplessly, Stephen finally resigne
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 730
Stephen said, "But Mr. Lloyd, you should know that pharmaceutical-grade precision equipment costs a fortune. Most of it is imported, and a single machine alone could easily cost over 100 million!" Andrew nodded. "The equipment has already been taken care of. Once Ms. Rhodes and I leave, you need to head straight to the factory and inspect it." Stephen blinked in disbelief, thinking he must have misheard. "Mr. Lloyd, what did you just say? The equipment is already handled?" Andrew responded calmly, "Yes. It's done. You'll be dealing with a vice CEO from Wealthroller Investments—a major investor in the pharmaceutical industry. He'll be there to assist you and ensure everything runs smoothly." Stephen froze in shock. "Mr. Lloyd, you actually got someone from Mr. Yates' company involved?" Andrew remained indifferent. "No, I didn't ask for help. I gave an order." Stephen's heart skipped a beat. He was smart enough to stop questioning, but internally, his mind was racing. He wond
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 731
Andrew and Lauren wasted no time. After handling everything at Glorious Pharmaceuticals, they rushed back to Rhodes Corporation. On the drive back, Lauren could not hold back her curiosity. She asked hesitantly, "Dr. Lloyd, I know I shouldn't pry, but I still want to ask… Was it Mr. Yates who helped with the machine?" Andrew nodded. "You could say that. I already realized that Stephen's factory, even though it's the best in Jayrodale, isn't all that impressive. To put it bluntly, they couldn't even get a single advanced piece of equipment. So, I gave Marvin a heads-up in advance and had him figure something out." Lauren fell silent for a moment before whispering, "If Mr. Yates helped you like this, there must be a price, right? For example, maybe he wants to use you to take control of Glorious Pharmaceuticals. And from there, he could monopolize Jayrodale's entire pharmaceutical industry. It's not impossible." Andrew glanced at her, surprised. "Lauren, how did you come up with
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 732
Lauren's voice was sharp with anger. "Who hit you? Eunice, tell me—who did this to you?" Tears welled up in Eunice's eyes as she shook her head. "Miss, I'm fine. You don't have to worry about me." Lauren's fury only grew. "I'm asking you—who did this? Tell me, and I promise I'll make sure they pay for it!" Eunice sobbed. "Miss, please don't ask anymore. I don't want to cause you trouble." Just as Lauren was about to explode, Andrew gently pulled her back and reassured her. "Don't get upset. Trust me—I'll make sure Ms. Brooks gets justice." Then, he turned to Marcus. "Mr. Chapman, explain—what happened here?" Marcus let out a sigh before responding. "Ms. Brooks went to the Pharmaceutical Division to get the approval documents, just as you instructed. Michael's lackeys not only refused to process it, but they also ran their mouths and insulted you, Mr. Lloyd. Ms. Brooks couldn't stand it and argued back, but in the end…" Andrew's expression darkened into a cold smirk. "So,
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 733
The man in suspenders lifted his chin arrogantly. "Yeah, I hit her. What are you gonna do about it, Mr. Lloyd?" Andrew's expression remained calm. "Why did you hit her?" The man scoffed. "The Pharmaceutical Division belongs to Mr. Rhodes. Some lowly secretary waltzing in here demanding approval documents? Please. Who does she think she is?" Andrew's eyes narrowed. "Since when did the Pharmaceutical Division become Michael's territory? As far as I know, the director here is still Mr. Chapman, isn't it?" The man let out a mocking laugh. "Does it even matter? Mr. Rhodes is about to become the company's CEO. Once that happens, the entire corporation will be his. "And me? I'm the head of sales for the entire Pharmaceutical Division. Just so you know, that two-million-dollar performance boost? That was all my doing! "So, Mr. Lloyd, my advice? Stop wasting your time. Just step aside and quit dreaming about competing with Mr. Rhodes, or you'll end up with nothing but a mess to cle
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 734
Michael's lackeys stood there, completely stunned. Then, their shock turned into fury. One shouted, "Andrew, you son of a—" Andrew threw another slap, knocking one of them out cold on the spot. "A low-level manager talking back to his superiors—who gave you the courage to bark like a dog?" Without missing a beat, Andrew turned and slapped another man so hard that a tooth flew out. "You think just because I've been quiet, I'm easy to push around? Let me remind you—I'm a board member, not some sickly kitten. If you cross the line, I will make you regret it." Two more slaps rang out, sending the last two executives flying. "A bunch of nobodies daring to insult a department head, a vice CEO, and a board member. I'll let you off this time, but if any of you try this again, I'll make sure you know exactly what it feels like to be paralyzed from the waist down." Andrew moved fast—too fast. In a matter of seconds, Howard and his four high-ranking colleagues were sprawled across th
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 735
Howard was completely terrified, looking at Andrew as if he were some kind of demon. His voice trembled as he stammered, "No… I'm not that impressive. Mr. Lloyd, I was wrong—please, I beg you, let me go!" Tears and snot ran down his face, making him look utterly pathetic. Andrew's tone was ice-cold as he spat, "If begging for mercy worked, then what if I just kill you right now and beg Mrs. Rhodes for forgiveness afterward? Would that make it okay?" Howard's entire body shuddered, and he immediately burst into loud sobs. "No, no, no—Mr. Lloyd, I swear, I was wrong! Please don't kill me; I don't want to die!" The feeling of suffocation just moments ago had taught him a brutal lesson—Andrew was not bluffing. He was the kind of man who would actually do it. Howard had always felt untouchable because of his connection to Tiana. That name alone gave him the confidence to be arrogant, to throw his weight around even as a lowly sales manager. However, none of that mattered when f
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 736
Andrew let out a dry chuckle. "Forgiveness? Mrs. Rhodes, I think you're mistaken. I didn't do anything wrong, so why would I need your forgiveness?" Tiana's eyes burned with fury as she pointed at Howard's battered face. "You didn't do anything wrong? Look at him! Do you see what you did? Andrew, don't think that just because Marvin backs you, you can run wild on Rhodes Corporation's turf!" Andrew frowned. "So what you're saying, Mrs. Rhodes, is that I wasn't allowed to hit Howard? Why? Because he's your nephew? Because the Lambert family is untouchable?" Lauren felt a pang of anxiety—Andrew was being far too aggressive with Tiana. Howard was not just another employee; he was part of the Lambert family. At a time like this, it would be better to give Tiana some leeway to de-escalate things. She whispered, "Dr. Lloyd, that's enough." Andrew simply scoffed and glanced at the other lackeys he had beaten down. His voice was laced with disdain. "Listen up—all of you. If you screw
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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
