Dexter sneered at Andrew. "You've got some nerve. Just because you won a few races and caught Mr. Thatcher's attention, you think you can make up stories about his health to get him to depend on you?" Harvey added with a smirk, "That's pretty low, Andrew. Trying to climb the social ladder by tricking Mr. Thatcher is honestly quite naive." "I'd explain it to you, but honestly, with you, the lights are on, but nobody's home," Andrew replied calmly. "Is he insulting us with some fancy words?" Dexter asked Harvey in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?" Harvey scoffed. "Just meaningless rambling. Let's go!" As Dexter passed Andrew, he strutted arrogantly and said, "Hey, freeloader, I do have my lights on, thank you very much! My electricity bill is proof!" "Dexter, let's go!" Harvey called out, red-faced with embarrassment. Having such an uncultured sidekick was truly embarrassing. Lauren stifled a laugh. "Dr. Lloyd, you should know that while Dexter's family is wealthy
"But if you can't cure my condition, I'll make sure you regret it!" Francesca threatened. Andrew nodded, looking serious. "Indeed, we must cure your condition. If you keep that fiery attitude and let your hormones stay out of balance without any outlet, you'll just snap at everyone at sight." "You bastard! I'll kill you!" Francesca exploded with embarrassment and rage. Just then, a group of flashily dressed young people approached, surrounding a skinny guy. He greeted, "Ms. Rhodes, Ms. Aicker, what a pleasure!" His eyes wandered inappropriately over Lauren and Francesca as he spoke. "Juan, take your men and get lost," Francesca said with disgust. Juan Madden gave a sleazy grin. "Still hot-tempered as ever, Ms. Aicker. How about I help you cool down?" Francesca swung at him in anger, but he dodged easily, licking his lips with a perverted smile. "Feisty… I like that!" Lauren was furious and warned, "Juan, don't think you can act like trash just because your father runs
Francesca exploded with anger. "Juan, what did Andrew ever do to you? Besides hiding behind your father's reputation, bullying seems the only thing you're good at!" Juan flashed a smug grin. "I just can't stand that guy. What makes him so special that all the girls fawn over him? What does he have that I don't?" Lauren let out a cold laugh. "You're not even in the same league as him!" "Everyone's talking about how Ms. Rhodes has fallen for some pretty boy. I didn't believe it at first, but now it's pretty obvious. Given how head over heels you are, you must've done everything in the books with him." Juan spoke as he looked Lauren up and down with a shameless grin. While he would not dare mess with the Rhodes family, he figured he could easily handle some guy who was just living off others. Lauren's face flushed with anger and shame at his crude remarks. Before she could react, Andrew stepped forward. "Ms. Rhodes, let me handle this." Francesca quickly warned, "Andrew, d
With a sickening crunch, Juan's nose broke, spraying blood everywhere. At first, he stared in disbelief as blood streamed down his face. However, Juan's shock quickly turned to fury. "You actually hit me? I'll make you—" Before he could even finish his threat, Andrew slapped him hard across the face over and over again. Just like that, Juan's threats transformed into agonized screams. Juan's gang members finally snapped out of it and charged toward Andrew, shouting to get revenge for him. "What the hell! He actually hit Mr. Madden! Get him!" "Take him down!" Andrew grabbed Juan's hair, exposing his bloodied face, and swept a cold gaze across the approaching gang. "One more move and I'll make sure this dog right here is down for good," he stated calmly. The gang members stumbled to a halt, their confidence shattered. Having gotten used to following Juan's bullying ways, they had never encountered someone as formidable as Andrew, and fear paralyzed them. "Apologize
Francesca finally snapped out of her shock from witnessing Juan's brutal defeat, her face filled with fear. She stuttered, "Y-You actually beat up Juan so mercilessly? Do you have any idea what—" Andrew cut her off with a bored expression. "You're going to say I'm in big trouble, right?" "Isn't that obvious?" Francesca exploded. "Don't you know who Juan's father is—" Andrew interrupted again, "Of course I know. He just told us—his dad is some East Side Tony, supposedly a big deal or whatever." "Then why would you attack him?" Francesca demanded. Andrew's face darkened. "He was spouting filthy insults and harassing Ms. Rhodes. Should I have applauded him instead? Besides, I've dealt with Dylan's people before, so what's one more from East Side?" Francesca turned to Lauren in desperation. "Lauren, this is serious trouble. This could bring Tony himself into it!" "This is just a little scuffle between us young folks. If Tony gets involved, I won't let Dr. Lloyd face this alon
Juan grinned maliciously at Andrew. "Not so tough now, are you? What happened to all that talk about breaking my neck? Get over here and beg me for a quick death!" Andrew stepped forward with a weary sigh. "You East Side lots sure talk a lot of trash, don't you?" Rocco and Juan froze, stunned by his words. In front of hundreds of East Side gang members, this guy was not just unafraid—he was openly mocking them. "If you're going to do something, do it," Andrew said coldly. "I'm tired of listening to you bark like dogs. And Juan, I let you off easy before, but this time, I'll turn that bruised face of yours into something unrecognizable." Anger quickly overwhelmed Juan, and he screamed, "Rocco, tear this bastard apart! I want him in pieces!" He had ruled the streets for over twenty years and never once had anyone pushed him this far. Rocco's eyes turned deadly as he gripped his blade and charged at Andrew. "Kid, you're really asking for death!" Lauren's face turned icy a
Rocco immediately backed down, gritting his teeth. "Mr. Garner, I've never offended you. Isn't this a bit extreme?" "If you'd offended me personally, we could talk this out for Tony's sake," Dylan said coldly. "But you idiots actually threaten Mr. Lloyd, and I'm not okay with that." With that, Dylan kicked Rocco hard in the chest, sending him reeling back as he coughed blood. "Get the hell out of here!" Dylan barked, his gaze murderous. Rocco shuddered, completely baffled by why this notorious Dylan would defend some pretty boy. However, the situation was clear—hurting Andrew was no longer an option. "Let's go!" Rocco commanded, quickly retreating with his East Side crew. Meanwhile, Juan blended into the crowd, shrinking down as he tried to make himself invisible, not daring to make a sound. "Wait!" Andrew called out. Juan trembled and nearly broke into tears. "W-What do you want? My dad is—" Andrew slapped him twice across the face, cutting him off. "Yeah, yeah. Yo
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Someone put him up to it? Who?" "Harvey Weller," Dylan replied simply. Lauren gritted her teeth. "I was wondering why Juan would randomly target Dr. Lloyd. So, it was that sneaky bastard Harvey pulling strings behind the scenes after all." Dylan growled, "Mr. Lloyd, just say the word. I might not be able to touch the Weller family, but I can definitely teach Harvey a lesson." Andrew shrugged it off casually. "Forget it. He failed anyway. But you helped me today, and I don't like owing favors. Give me your hand." Dylan was a bit puzzled by the request but complied, stretching out his hand. Andrew's grip was lightning-fast, his fingers hitting specific pressure points on Dylan's arm and along his meridians precisely. A wave of intense pain shot through Dylan's body, making him break into a cold sweat. Suddenly, the pain transformed into an unprecedented feeling of clarity, and he felt a rush of energy flowing through his entire body. "Did I just…
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