Michael stood at the front of the group, his face twisted with rage. "Andrew, answer me—was that viral video your doing? Were you the one who sabotaged me at the studio? "You're going to clear my name today and restore my reputation, or I swear, this won't end well for you!" Andrew glanced at him and let out a chuckle. "Mr. Rhodes, you're looking pretty good. I saw the video, and even I have to admit—you sure know how to move your ass. And those hair on your chest and legs… damn, absolutely sensational." Michael's life had turned into a nightmare. If he was not hiding at his company, he was locked up at home. Going out in public was a disaster—he had to stay fully disguised, making sure not a single inch of his face was exposed. The moment people recognized him, phones came out, cameras flashed, and strangers started whispering and pointing. The worst part? Those outspoken middle-aged women and elderly folks who hated public indecency had no sense of boundaries. They would
Andrew said, "Alright then, let's wait and see who comes out on top in the end!" He ignored Michael's threats and headed upstairs to find Lauren. … The moment Lauren saw him, her face lit up with excitement. She exclaimed, "Dr. Lloyd, Shiloh's influence is even stronger than I expected! You probably haven't checked yet, but Rhodes Pharmaceutical's sales for your two signature pills have been doubling every single day since Shiloh's endorsement!" Andrew was not surprised. The main reason was simple—the Vitality Pill and Titan Essence Pill were high-quality products. Once people understood their benefits, they naturally trusted them and bought without hesitation. On top of that, Shiloh had always maintained a strong and positive reputation online. With her loyal fan base rallying behind her, there was no way the two pills would not go viral. Lauren clenched her fist, brimming with energy. "At this rate, our advantage is growing by the day. As long as we have the Vitality Pil
Ageless syndrome was an even rarer condition—one that delved into the very fabric of cellular genetics. Even with Andrew's near-miraculous medical skills, altering Shiloh's biology was not something he could just do at will. Shiloh exhaled softly. "Sometimes, my memory loss confuses me. I don't know where I came from, where I'm supposed to go, or what I once wanted. But over time, I've learned to live with it. And honestly, the memories I have now? They're enough." Pausing for a moment, she added, "As for the ageless syndrome… other than the unbearable, body-wracking pain that sometimes makes me wish I were dead— "The rest of the time, it's actually not so bad. Once the pain passes, it feels like my body reawakens, like I've been reborn. I feel lighter, freer." Lauren frowned in sympathy. "Even so, I still don't like the idea of you suffering." Shiloh shook her head. "I don't feel like I'm suffering. I have money now, I live in a big house, and I'm way more comfortable than b
It was another beautiful night, the kind with a bright moon and clear skies. Andrew had gone to bed early, hoping to finally get some rest. Honestly, he had not been sleeping well these past few days. Especially last night—after punishing Francesca the entire night, she had begged for mercy, her legs too weak to stand. Andrew was not made of steel either, and the fatigue was starting to catch up to him. Just as he turned off the lights and settled in, he heard the door outside creak open. His ears twitched as he frowned, thinking, 'This is the most high-end private villa in Moonlit Sanctuary—there's no way some random thief would just break in, right?' Then, the light in the outer room switched on, and there was the soft rustling sound of someone changing into slippers. With the sound of another click, the light went off again. A shadow carefully tiptoed across the floor, each step so light it sounded like a cat sneaking around. Andrew smirked in the darkness. 'Wow, a cons
In just a few minutes, Finley and his men had completely wiped out every dish on the table. All that was left were scraps and cold broth—not even a bite worth eating. 'Had these guys not eaten in months?' Irene cursed them in her head, though she forced a polite smile. On the other hand, Christina had not touched her utensils. She could not stand any of them except for Finley, and even he was not much better. One look at the rest of the Hidden Dragons, and it was obvious—they were nothing but brainless thugs, leering at her with disgusting eyes. Leroy let out an awkward laugh. "Mr. Moore, if the food wasn't enough, I'll have the housekeepers whip up some more. Come on, let's drink instead! Tonight, we're drinking until we drop!" Finley smirked. "My boys measure their alcohol in barrels, not glasses. You're Christina's little brother, right? I'd hate to see you end up in the hospital." Leroy was desperate to get on Finley's good side, so there was no way he would back down.
Irene quickly picked up the glass, smiling as she said, "Mr. Moore, no need to get upset. I'll drink in Christie's place." She tilted her head back and downed the entire glass in one go, then turned the empty cup upside down to show Finley. Finley's brows furrowed with clear displeasure. "Impressive drinking, ma'am, but I was asking for Ms. Stevens, not some washed-up old woman." Irene's smile immediately vanished as her face darkened. "Mr. Moore, the Stevens family welcomed you and your men with food and drinks. Is this how you talk to your host? Back in my day, I was quite the beauty. Just because I'm older now doesn't mean I'm some 'washed-up old woman'!" A sharp glint flickered in Finley's eyes as he scoffed. "Lady, just because you gave birth to a stunning daughter doesn't mean you get to bask in the same glory. Let's be real—if it weren't for Christina, do you think I'd waste my time stepping foot into this sad excuse of a mansion?" He added, "Be smart and tell your dau
Christina kept telling herself to stay calm—she had to stay calm. If she panicked, these Hidden Dragons thugs could easily overpower her without breaking a sweat. However, Irene was too furious to think straight. She yanked out her phone and snapped, "Finley, you bastard—are you leaving or not? If you don't get out right now, I'm calling the cops! Let's see how you like spending the night in jail!" Finley let out a mocking laugh. "Call the cops?" Irene clenched her teeth and said coldly, "Damn right, I am. You animals think you can do whatever you want? You're in my house, trying to force yourselves on my daughter—do you have a death wish?" Finley's gaze turned ice-cold. Without warning, he swung his hand across her face. The slap was so brutal that Irene went flying, her phone slipping from her grip and crashing onto the floor, shattering on impact. She did not even have time to cry out—her body hit the ground with a thud, and she passed out instantly. "Mom!" Christina's b
Finley's expression darkened as he sneered, "The Stevens family really doesn't know what's good for them. What's wrong with me taking Christina? I'm a top disciple of the Hidden Dragons. She should consider it an honor!" Leroy's heart pounded with panic. He grabbed Finley's sleeve, forcing a smile as he pleaded, "Mr. Moore, please, listen to me—just hear me out. This is my home. You making a move on Christie is just too much. "Let's take this outside. Whatever kind of fun you're looking for, I'll pay for it. I guarantee you and your men will have a great time." His stomach churned with regret. Just hours ago, he thought befriending Finley and making him his brother-in-law would be smart. Now, he wished he could go back in time and beat some sense into himself. Leroy wanted nothing more than to find the courage to put a bullet in Finley's head. Nevertheless, wanting and doing were two different things—and he simply was not brave enough. His desperate attempt to pull Finley awa
"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
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
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
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
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
"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
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