Shiloh's voice remained calm as she said, "Neither the Wellers nor the Stevens have grasped what I truly practice. You are all too fixated on appearances." Christina could not help but interject, "Master Shiloh, even if you need money and believe that your teachings should be grounded in reality, then why not come to Stevens Corporation? We're willing to offer an even higher price." Aspen, growing anxious, quickly added, "Master Shiloh, you and I go way back! Just come to the Stevens instead. If it's money you want, Christie and I are willing to offer 50 million—no, 80 million!" However, Shiloh shook her head. "This isn't about money." Aspen and Christina instantly froze. They had refrained from mentioning money earlier, yet Shiloh had chosen to follow Andrew, who had offered payment. But now, when they were willing to pay even more, she suddenly claimed it was not about the money? Their minds felt like they were about to split apart. Why was a revered figure like Shiloh fa
Shiloh's bright eyes flickered with surprise. "You noticed? No wonder Cedric speaks so highly of you, Mr. Lloyd. Your insight is truly remarkable. You're right—I do have a condition. That's why, despite being over 80, I don't look my age." Andrew nodded but did not press further. That was her personal business, and prying any more would have been rude. Meanwhile, Aspen and Christina were fuming. Aspen stepped forward, blocking their path. "Master Shiloh, I just don't understand. Why would you choose to leave with Andrew over a mere 20 million?" Christina gritted her teeth. "Master Shiloh, we already told you—we're willing to offer you a better price. Why won't you accept our offer?" Shiloh's expression remained calm. "It's simple. Mr. Lloyd understands what I actually need, unlike you all, who keep making empty promises without any real grasp of my practice. But most importantly, Cedric told me that Mr. Lloyd is a remarkable physician. So I thought, perhaps he might be able t
Shiloh corrected him immediately. "Just call me Shiloh. I don't like being addressed in a way that makes me sound old. Also, while I once trained at Everglade Mountain, it was a temporary practice. "I never fully took vows—I'm merely a lay disciple, so you don't need to call me 'Master' or anything like that. And one more thing—I see myself as young. So don't call me by addresses that make me sound ancient. I won't remind you again!" Andrew chuckled and nodded. "Got it, Shiloh." He had never expected this woman to have quite a fiery temper. Then again, no woman liked being called old, so Andrew understood. Michael, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with excitement. He could not believe it—Andrew had actually secured an endorsement from the most respected wellness expert in Jayrodale. For Rhodes Corporation's pharmaceutical division, this was nothing short of a miracle. Eager to please, he grinned and stepped forward. "Master Shiloh, this way, please!" Andrew si
Andrew led Shiloh toward the car, with Michael trailing behind. As they walked, Shiloh turned her head for one last look at the worn-down monastery. Her voice was soft as she mumbled, "Perhaps I won't be coming back here again." Andrew chuckled. "If you ever decide to return, I can have the entire place renovated for you. I'll get a team to rebuild it, plant some trees and flowers, and turn it into a beautiful retreat—maybe even a landmark in Jayrodale." Shiloh shook her head. "No need. I have no attachment to this place." Michael, unable to hold back his curiosity, blurted, "Mas—Uh… Shiloh, can you take off your veil?" He had almost called her "Master" again. That would have earned him another slap for sure. Shiloh remained indifferent. "No one is allowed to see my face. Especially men. If any man sees my real face, I'll kill him." Michael frowned. "Seriously? Just one look, and you'd kill someone? What are you, the queen of some ancient empire?" Shiloh cast him a col
Nonetheless, for the Wellers, their rise to power was the only thing that mattered. Harvey might have been a disgraceful excuse for a leader, but he was still the head of the family. One of the elder enforcers spoke in a cold voice. "Andrew, you know too much. That leaves us with no choice—we have to take you out." Andrew smirked. "Of course you do. That way, no one will ever know just how filthy the Wellers' secrets really are, right?" The two Wellers elders roared in unison, "Arrogant fool! Die!" Andrew casually lifted his foot and kicked Michael straight into them, sending him flying toward the two elders. One of the enforcers scoffed, effortlessly swinging a palm and smacking Michael aside like a ragdoll. His body went flying, landing in a heap—his fate unknown. Andrew's face turned cold. "Shiloh, get in the car. I'll handle the Wellers, and then we'll head back to Jayrodale." However, Shiloh stood her ground, completely unfazed. "No need for that. They came here to tak
The two Wellers enforcers exchanged uncertain glances, hesitation flickering in their eyes. "Even if she isn't a full-fledged martial king, she's definitely close—an elite martial artist at an unfathomable level. But something about this doesn't add up. Why would someone that powerful be hiding away in a rundown monastery in the Southern Highlands? "Not to mention, she was practically living in poverty. Someone of her caliber could easily dominate all of Jayrodale, if not the entire southern martial world. She should be one of the top three powerhouses, at the very least." Harvey sucked in a sharp breath. The next second, his jealousy exploded. He yelled, "Are you telling me that a martial king-level master just fell into Andrew's lap for free? Absolutely not! I don't care if I have to throw everything the Wellers have into it—I need to bring Shiloh into our ranks!" One of the enforcers shook his head and sighed. "Mr. Weller, if you don't want to die young, you'd best drop t
From the moment Shiloh first mentioned she was over 80, Andrew had suspected she suffered from a rare condition—one commonly known as the "ageless syndrome". As the name suggested, those affected by it never aged beyond a certain point. Looking at Shiloh, even with her veil on, Andrew could tell she had likely stopped aging in her early 20s—still in the prime of youth. To the outside world, ageless syndrome sounded like a blessing—eternal youth. Yet, in reality, for many who suffered from it, it was a nightmare. Some stopped growing as infants, toddlers, or even newborns, forever trapped in a child's body. On the other hand, Shiloh was one of the lucky few—she had at least matured into adulthood before her aging had frozen. Nonetheless, the ageless syndrome was not as wonderful as it seemed. Certain conditions—cold, extreme heat, or even specific lunar phases—could trigger unbearable pain, or worse, episodes of mental instability. In Shiloh's case, she was not just dealing wi
They chatted idly on the way back. Before long, they arrived in downtown Jayrodale, and Andrew drove straight to the Rhodes Corporation building, pulling up in front. A security guard jogged over with a big smile. "Mr. Lloyd, you're back!" As Andrew and Shiloh stepped out of the car, he handed over the keys to the guard and said, "Park it for me." The company's security guards practically worshiped Andrew now. Their respect for him was just as strong compared to Tiana's. "Of course, Mr. Lloyd, don't worry! I'll take good care of your car!" Just then, a weak knocking sound came from the trunk, along with what sounded like muffled cursing. However, with the noise of traffic all around, it was hard to make out. The security guard frowned and asked, "Uh… Mr. Lloyd, I think something's moving in the trunk." Andrew waved it off. "We picked up a wild boar on the way back. The kind that roams the mountains—mean as hell." The security guard's eyes widened. "A wild boar? Oh man,
Andrew shook his head slowly and said, "No, you're not like some middle-aged lunatic, and you're definitely not trash or a hooker. You look like a cute little bunny rabbit, just begging to be eaten up. You forced my hand, Aspen!" As soon as he finished speaking, Aspen's eyes widened in sudden panic, realizing what was about to happen. She struggled fiercely, desperate to escape Andrew's grasp. Her voice trembled with tears as she pleaded, "No, no, no! Andrew—Mr. Lloyd—I'm sorry, I admit it, I was wrong! I swear, I won't do it again, please don't do this—please, no!" Her frantic protests ended abruptly with a soft, electric whimper as Andrew silenced her, pressing his mouth firmly onto hers. What followed was a hungry, unstoppable kiss, intense and overwhelming. Aspen's clear eyes widened, her expression first filled with shame and anger, then disbelief, and finally melting into a dazed, dreamy blankness. Their rapid breathing mingled in the confined space of the Ferrari, th
Andrew let out a cold laugh as he stared at the trembling Aspen right in front of him. "What am I doing? What do you think I'm doing? When you were trying to suppress Christina and Davon earlier, you used my presence to scare them off. Don't tell me you forgot that?" Aspen flushed, both embarrassed and angry. "I didn't forget! But what I said—was any of it wrong?" Andrew snorted. "No, it wasn't wrong. But you did get one thing messed up: your grudge with Christina has nothing to do with me, so don't drag me into it just to make yourself look good. You used your own boss as a pawn. That takes some guts, Aspen." Aspen instantly felt a chill. She shrank back and begged, "I-I-I… I won't do it again, okay? Andrew, just let me down first. My butt's right up against the window, and if someone walks by and sees this, how the hell am I supposed to live that down?" The corner of Andrew's lips curved into a teasing grin. "Isn't that perfect? You're my little secretary. This? This is very
Someone joked loudly, "But we get it… I mean, with a secretary like that, why would you even look at anyone else?" The others burst into raucous laughter, not bothering to hide it even in front of Aspen's increasingly dark expression. "Exactly!" another chimed in. "Mr. Lloyd is living the dream. Damn, I look at my office girl and suddenly feel dead inside!" "Mr. Lloyd's not just talented—he's got the best of both worlds. That little secretary of his is a top-tier beauty!" A bespectacled executive chuckled crudely and added, "Mr. Lloyd, let me give you a piece of advice: when there's work, let the secretary handle it; when there's no work, handle the secretary! That line fits you perfectly!" The entire room erupted in laughter as Aspen's face flushed deep red, her cheeks burning. Furious, she shot Andrew a murderous glare, then stormed out of the room in her heels without a word. Andrew, looking utterly unbothered, leisurely followed behind. He even muttered to himself, "Han
"You two went from loving each other to trying to kill each other. Pretty entertaining," Andrew said with a glance at Aspen, smiling faintly. Aspen's face stayed cold. She snapped, "She deserved it, and besides, isn't everything that happened because of you?" Andrew replied calmly, "Had nothing to do with me. I never touched your Bridgefields' Stevens family." Aspen secretly gritted her teeth. Sure, he had not moved against the Stevens family directly. But her? She had been forced to sell herself into slavery, body and soul. Was that not tragic enough? Moreover, who knew when she might completely fall into his hands, devoured, with nothing left? Davon, wiping cold sweat from his forehead, squeezed out a smile. "Mr. Lloyd, Ms. Aspen, I've already taken care of that issue. Should we get down to proper business now?" Andrew nodded. "Okay, let's talk business." Immediately, the business partners who had been waiting nearby all jumped to their feet, smiling brightly and ea
"And since Mr. Lloyd needs a new target to let off some steam, maybe you should volunteer, Davon," Aspen said sweetly. The moment those words landed, Davon jumped up in pure panic, wailing, "Ms. Aspen, no, no, please! Don't say another word. I'll do exactly what you say—everything, exactly as you want!" After groveling, Davon's plump face darkened in shame. He spun around toward Christina, pointed straight at the door, and roared, "Christina, you worthless tramp, get out! Right now! You heard Ms. Aspen. Get the hell out of Phoenixdream Enterprises!" Christina's eyes widened. She could not believe that Davon was this spineless, that easy to terrify. She hissed, "Davon, you'd better think twice about what you're doing! If you throw me out, do you really think Mr. Wright will let you off afterward?" She barked a bitter laugh, furious to the core, and deep inside, her hatred for Aspen grew even sharper. Being thrown out in front of everyone, this humiliation would haunt her in Bl
Davon blinked in confusion and asked, "Ms. Aspen, who exactly are you calling bitch'?" Aspen smirked coldly and pointed straight at Christina. The latter's face darkened as she stood up stiffly. "Aspen, you're going too far!" Christina snapped. "If I had known Supreme Capital Group was the major client here, do you really think I'd have bothered showing up?" Her tone was sharp, but there was a flicker of unease in her eyes. Aspen remained utterly indifferent. "Since you don't care, then do us all a favor and leave. Christina, I told you once that I would make sure your entire family would struggle in Blumedale. And when I say something, I mean it." Christina's face turned from merely unpleasant to downright ugly. She turned sharply to Davon and demanded, "You're the one who invited us here. Now what's your decision?" It was a clever move, throwing the ball back into Davon's court. After all, they were on Phoenixdream Enterprises' turf—surely Aspen and Andrew could not compl
Aspen knew that Ronan charged a reasonable medical fee, and his medical skills were also quite good. Andrew started the car and sped off while answering casually, "I met Mr. Bates by chance. Showed him a few tricks, and he was so impressed by my skills that he practically worships me now. He even offered to introduce me to his granddaughter." Aspen let out a sharp laugh. "Just met by chance, and he's ready to hand over his granddaughter? Come on, if you're going to brag, at least make it believable!" Andrew just smiled, not bothering to argue with her. He and Ronan had bonded over their shared passion for medicine—it was nothing unusual. In truth, after witnessing Andrew's medical skills firsthand, Ronan nearly dropped to his knees, begging to become his disciple, though Andrew firmly refused. And yes, Ronan did have a granddaughter who was currently attending college. Ronan had hinted that if Andrew did not already have a girlfriend, he should consider his granddaughter.
After breakfast, Andrew, the ever-hands-off boss, got strong-armed by Aspen into actually going to work. Otherwise, Supreme Capital Group, a company sitting on billions in investments, would end up being nothing more than a shiny nameplate. Aspen's exact words were, "If you keep ignoring everything and leave me to worry about it alone, I'd rather go sell myself on the street than keep slaving away for you! At least if I'm selling, I'll make some money. Meanwhile, I'll probably die broke working for you—or just die!" Andrew winced when he heard that. Realizing that his little maid was seriously holding some grudges, he quickly agreed to tag along to the office. "Give me a minute. I'm gonna change," Aspen said before disappearing into her room. A few minutes later, she strutted out—black stockings, high heels, and a sleek blue business suit that shimmered slightly under the light. She was absolutely stunning, and even Andrew had to admit it. Aspen smirked inwardly. 'Yep, the
Whenever Andrew was alone with Tiana, he could not help but feel a little uneasy. Seeing that Tiana had nothing more to say, he quickly took the chance to excuse himself. However, Tiana hesitated. Then, she smiled slyly and asked, "Hold on, let me ask you—have you and Lauren… done it?" Andrew blinked, confused. "Done what?" Tiana rolled her eyes and snapped, "Don't play dumb, Andrew. You know exactly what I'm asking." Andrew finally caught on and answered honestly, "Lauren and I have done pretty much everything, but we haven't crossed the final line." Tiana nodded approvingly. "Good. You need to remember that you can't go that far until you're married. I made sure to tell her that too, and she understands." Andrew's face darkened a little. "Mrs. Rhodes, seriously? This isn't the Dark Ages anymore. We're in a real relationship, and sometimes things get a little… heated." Tiana shook her head firmly. "It's not about being old-fashioned. There are other reasons, but I can't