At Moonlit Apothecary, Andrew had just returned from the West End headquarters. The moment he stepped inside, he saw Lauren, now awake, sitting up in bed. Nyla and Francesca were by her side, chatting with her. Nyla greeted him with a smile, "Dr. Lloyd, you're back! Ms. Rhodes is awake!" Andrew nodded and walked over, lightly touching Lauren's forehead. After checking her temperature, he smiled. "No fever. You still look a little pale, but you'll be fine." Lauren hesitated before asking, "Dr. Lloyd, what's happening with the company right now?" Francesca huffed in frustration. "Lauren, look at yourself! You're still recovering, and you're already worrying about Rhodes Corporation? Mrs. Rhodes and Michael can handle it—you don't have to keep pushing yourself!" Lauren shook her head. "It's not about them. I'm worried about my father's position in Blumedale. Right now, a huge portion of our family's operations over there rely on Rhodes Corporation. If the company collapses, Dad
Andrew stood up and said calmly, "If he dares to come with bad intentions, then I'll make sure he never leaves." Michael led the way, forcing a smile. "Andrew, Lauren, I'm here to take you both back to the company." Andrew raised a hand. "Hold it right there. Moonlit Apothecary doesn't let stray dogs just wander in." Michael's smile froze instantly, his expression darkening. "Andrew, don't push it too far." Behind him, the group of executives also looked uncomfortable. The first thing Andrew did was put him in his place—this guy really had no shame. Andrew tilted his head. "What? Do you think calling you a dog is too much? Look at your attitude—does this look like you're here to ask someone for help? Get on your knees before you speak to me." Michael's temple throbbed with rage. "Andrew, I already came here in person. That should be enough. If you push things too far, it won't end well for anyone!" Andrew chuckled. "Oh no, I'm not pushing anything—I'm simply stating the t
Michael roared in fury, thrashing violently as the group of executives pinned him down. Like a pack of butchers restraining a wild hog, they forced him into a deep bow. One by one, they followed suit, completing the bowing and begging for mercy. Michael's forehead slammed into the floor with each bow, the impact echoing through the room. Within moments, his forehead was red and swollen. Lauren and Francesca stood frozen, staring in utter disbelief. Seeing Michael, of all people, humiliated like this felt almost surreal. Lauren finally turned to Andrew. "Dr. Lloyd, was this your doing?" Andrew replied calmly, "How could I possibly arrange something like this? Mr. Rhodes simply had a change of heart. He realized he owed you an apology, so he's making amends in the most respectful way possible—by personally inviting you back to take charge." Lauren narrowed her eyes at Michael. "Is that really what you're thinking?" Michael's lips trembled as he held back tears. "Y-Yeah… Tha
If Lauren was not willing, then Rhodes Corporation could crash and burn, and Andrew would not spare it another glance. Tiana hesitated before stepping forward. "Lauren, are you alright?" There was a flicker of guilt in her eyes—pain and regret flashing for just a moment. She was still tormented by the fact that she had slapped Lauren, and no matter how much time passed, she could not shake the guilt. However, this kind of pain—Tiana could not bring herself to express it. Lauren's face remained emotionless. "Why the act, Mrs. Rhodes? Do you actually care whether I'm fine or not? "Would it really matter to you?" Tiana was at a loss for words. Andrew, sensing the tension between the mother and daughter, cut in. "Mrs. Rhodes, we can take over this mess. But there's one condition—you need to step back and give up control." Tiana quickly nodded. "As long as you can clean this up, you can run the company however you want!" Andrew's tone sharpened. "I don't just need everyone e
Lauren furrowed her brows, about to ask why. However, before she could, Andrew had already waved over the head of the public relations department. "You're Mr. Brown, right? Come here. I need a word with you." Jay Brown strode over, his face ice-cold. "Mr. Lloyd, what do you want to talk about?" Andrew's tone was calm yet sharp. "I want to discuss how you blatantly disobeyed the CEO's orders and what consequences you should face for it." Jay's eyes widened in shock before he snapped in fury. "Andrew, stop acting like you have real authority! Do you think I'm scared of you?" Andrew did not waste time arguing—his face remained cold as he delivered a brutal slap. Jay did not even have time to grunt before blood gushed out from his mouth, and he was sent flying. The moment he hit the ground, he passed out cold. The effect was immediate—several of Michael's lackeys, who had been acting tough just moments ago, shut their mouths tight. One by one, they lowered their heads and kept
Michael's face darkened as he cursed Andrew in his mind. 'That bastard… Like hell I'd want to die with him!' Lauren barely held back a laugh, secretly loving Andrew's antics. She was touched, knowing that Andrew was going after Michael just to stand up for her. She continued methodically, addressing each urgent matter one by one. "Last two things—do everything possible to win back the business partners we lost," she instructed. "They only cut ties with us because they were misled by the online smear campaign. If we can convince them otherwise, we can restore those partnerships." Toward the end, she hesitated, her brows slightly furrowed, as if struggling with something. Andrew chuckled. "You're stressing over handling the Wellers' warehouse fire, aren't you?" Lauren nodded. "Dr. Lloyd, you really do get me. Most of our other problems can be dealt with through PR, advertising, and strategic business moves. But the Wellers' warehouse fire is already a national scandal. To be
No one paid any attention to Michael and his twisted comments. Everyone was waiting for Andrew and Lauren's next instructions. Andrew said, "Lauren, I don't think we should go head-to-head with the Wellers over the warehouse fire." Lauren nodded. "I was thinking the same. Right now, the public is on their side, and the internet is flooded with support for them. If we try to argue our case directly, people will just see Rhodes Corporation as the villain." Andrew smirked. "Which is why we should shift the focus." Lauren thought for a moment before her eyes lit up. "You mean we create a new media storm—one big enough to replace the warehouse fire scandal and divert public attention?" Andrew gave her an approving look. "That's my girl—always quick on the uptake." Excited, Lauren's mind raced, quickly coming up with possible solutions. "Dr. Lloyd, I swear, you're a lifesaver. The moment you pointed it out, everything just clicked. If we create a bigger national talking point, th
Cedric said, "When it comes to holistic medicine and wellness, this person has made quite a name for herself. In fact, in the entire Gabo Creek region, she's renowned for her expertise in health and longevity." He added, "Many high-society women from Jayrodale line up just to seek her advice on beauty and anti-aging remedies whenever they get the chance." Andrew's face lit up. "A wellness expert? That's perfect—getting her to endorse our miracle drug would be an ideal fit." Cedric, however, frowned. "It's a good idea, but there are two major obstacles." "First, my old friend isn't very social—she prefers solitude and spends most of her time in The Southern Highlands. Over the years, plenty of wealthy elites and high-ranking officials have tried to meet her, but most never even get past her front door. "Second, her background is rather unique—she isn't exactly someone from 'our world.' If you wanted to consult her for wellness knowledge, I could arrange that, but getting her t
Justin instantly sensed something was about to spiral. He rushed forward and tried to defuse the tension. "Mr. Hopkins, please calm down. We're all just here to have a nice dinner—no need for this." Archie clutched his swollen cheek, his face twisted with rage. "Calm down? Get out of my face! If you say another word, I'll end you too!" Justin flinched and quickly backed off, no longer daring to speak. However, as he glanced toward the Rhodes family, his eyes burned with resentment. He cursed them for being foolish. Despite knowing they could not go up against the Hopkins, they still had to throw punches. He could not help but think they were just asking for it. Lauren's voice rang out cold and firm. "Mr. Hopkins, what are you trying to do? Start a war?" Archie bellowed with laughter. "Big mouth on you, you little bitch! With your trashy Rhodes family, you're not even qualified to go to war with the Hopkins!" He sneered, eyes gleaming. "But don't worry—I'm not just gonna tak
Justin's face twisted in discomfort, but before he could say anything, a loud voice boomed across the entrance. "Mr. McGrath, you can step back! If Mrs. Rhodes wants to dine in our Celestial Suite, then she's more than welcome!" As the voice faded, a burly man with a thick beard strode over. The giant crystal ring on his hand and the heavy gold chain across his chest made it clear—this man was rich, but absolutely tasteless. Jameson snorted coldly. "The Hopkins family sure has some nerve, snatching up someone else's reservation like it's nothing." Archie Hopkins cracked a wide grin, revealing a mouth full of blackened teeth, and laughed without a care. "Mr. Rhodes, you sound way too naive!" Archie shrugged and said, "In this world, it's all about money and muscle. The Hopkins family's got both. So stealing a little dining room from the Rhodes family? It's nothing." Tiana's voice turned icy. "Since you're admitting it's theft, then do us a favor and get the hell out." Arch
The place Jameson picked for dinner was one of the most well-known upscale restaurants in Blumedale—The Palace. "Andy, you might not know this, but around here, this spot is top-tier," Jameson said as he adjusted his tailored suit and smiled. He added, "It's not like I'm trying to flaunt my wealth or anything. But sometimes, even if you don't care for appearances, you've still got to show up with style!" Andrew chuckled and replied, "Mr. Rhodes, I get what you're saying." Tiana spoke up coolly, "Jameson, no need to put on this kind of show in front of Andrew. Otherwise, you'll just end up looking ridiculous. This guy probably poops in places you haven't even dreamed of stepping into." Jameson froze for a second, clearly shocked. "Well now, Tiana, you're really singing Andy's praises today. Could it be… the classic case of a mother-in-law who's starting to really like her son-in-law?" Tiana gave a snort. "This has nothing to do with liking him. I'm just telling the truth."
Lauren said, "Funny thing, Andrew—you probably don't know this, but my mom's been all about dressing up lately. For the longest time, I only ever saw her in simple outfits. She never really cared about appearances. "But now, she's all glammed up and polished! If you didn't know better, you'd think she was dating someone!" Andrew did not know how to respond, so he stayed quiet. He had a pretty good idea why Tiana suddenly started caring about her looks. It was probably because his presence reminded her of her first love—his father. Even though he was not the man himself, they were still father and son. Much like Aspen, Tiana clearly had something not quite right going on in her head. Only someone like her could project her feelings for a man onto his son. Nonetheless, no matter how he looked at it, Andrew just could not shake the weirdness of it all. After all, this woman was supposed to be his future mother-in-law, and yet, she was just a little off. Not that Tiana acted c
"Andrew, my mom didn't give you a hard time, did she?" Lauren asked as they stepped into the Rhodes residence's front parlor. She had noticed right away that Andrew did not look so great. "It's fine. Your mother was… gracious enough," Andrew said with a small smile. There was no need to bring up Tiana's moment of madness—it was better buried. Jameson chuckled. "Andy, sorry to trouble you again! But today wasn't just about getting your help with her condition." Lauren beamed. "That's right, Andrew. Now that you're part of the family, you're not an outsider anymore. So, Dad planned a little family dinner. We thought we'd introduce you to some people too, help you make some connections around Blumedale." Jameson added, "Exactly! And I heard from Lauren that you've been looking for some rare medicinal herbs. Well, turns out, I know some folks who might be holding on to a few." Andrew nodded thoughtfully. "I am looking for rare herbs, that's true. But as for opening doors, Mr.
Truthfully, Tiana was by far the most challenging woman Andrew had ever dealt with. He could not hit her or offend her. To make things worse, she was Lauren's mother and Jameson's wife. No matter what insanity she pulled, Andrew could not actually do anything to her. Seeing Andrew so obviously trapped, Tiana felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. She chuckled smugly. "Andrew, you're the Dragon Prince of the Lloyds. There's no way I could ever win against you—not in a million years. "But you lost the moment you started dating my daughter. I'm your mother-in-law. That means I can mess with you, tease you, and you won't be able to lift a finger." Andrew replied evenly, "You're right—I can't fight you. But if I can't win, I can still walk away." Tiana waved her hand. "Alright, alright. Let's stop arguing. Just promise me one thing—what happened here today stays between us. Lauren can never find out." Andrew let out a dry laugh. "You're only worried about Lauren? What ab
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