Leroy nursed his stinging cheek in angry silence, looking daggers at Andrew. Meanwhile, Christina's face turned pale at the mention of canceling the partnership. She quickly said, "Mr. Maloney, I'm very sorry for Leroy's behavior and disrespect." Owen just sneered. "Your apology means nothing to me. Mr. Lloyd has the final say." Christina was torn at the thought of apologizing to Andre. However, Owen's furious expression made her realize the orphanage deal could slip through their fingers if she did not. After a moment of internal struggle, she forced out the words, "I'm sorry, M-Mr. Lloyd." Andrew smirked. "Ms. Stevens, I'd never thought you'd actually bow to someone." Christina hissed, "Does it feel good to use Mr. Yates' influence to humiliate me?" Andrew's expression remained cold, thinking how stupid she was being. If he really wanted to deal with the Stevens family, he could do it with a snap of his fingers—he did not need anyone's help. Only then did Andrew re
"This doesn't make sense. Mr. Thatcher is in his prime, and my team monitors his health constantly. How could he fall ill so suddenly?" Bernard muttered. As Mark's personal physician, the incident weighed heavily on his shoulders. Harvey confidently announced, "I've already called Dr. Aicker, and he can surely help with Mr. Thatcher's illness." Someone remarked, "Smart move, Mr. Weller. If Dr. Aicker saves Mr. Thatcher, the Wellers will certainly gain his favor." Another person nodded. "Exactly. If Mr. Thatcher recovers, the credit will surely go to Mr. Weller and his family." Even though he was secretly pleased with himself, Harvey maintained a serious expression. "Mr. Thatcher is our mayor, and it's only natural for me to help. I wouldn't dare have any ulterior motives." The mayor's family expressed their sincere thanks to Harvey, while Bernard watched with a cynical smile. He could see right through the young Weller's scheme—everyone wanted to earn the mayor's gratitude b
Harvey scoffed, annoyed by Lauren's naivety. She was once a brilliant, captivating woman, but she lost her sense ever since she started seeing Andrew. Not only that, but she even dared to challenge him. As Cedric finished his examination, Harvey rushed forward with a smile. "Dr. Aicker, while Mr. Thatcher's condition might stump others, surely it's no challenge for someone of your expertise?" Cedric remained silent, his brows deeply furrowed, which made Harvey's heart skip a beat. "Dr. Aicker, please say something. How is Mr. Thatcher's condition?" Cedric shook his head, sighing. "I've identified the illness, but I'm afraid it's beyond my skills to treat him." The room fell into shocked silence. Harvey refused to accept this. "Dr. Aicker, don't say that about yourself. Mr. Thatcher's life is on the line. Please, do whatever you can!" Cedric replied sharply, "If I could treat him, I would have done so already. Mr. Thatcher's condition affects his entire system, and it's term
Someone questioned, "Is the Rhodes family so desperate for Mr. Thatcher's favor, just like the Wellers?" "It's absurd to let a random doctor experiment when even Dr. Aicker is uncertain." Harvey's grin deepened as the complaints grew. If the Weller family could not benefit from this situation, he would make sure the Rhodes family would not either. "Everyone, quiet down," Cedric interrupted. "Who said no one can treat Mr. Thatcher? I'll call my mentor right away." The room fell silent in surprise. Cedric was already Jayrodale's top medical expert, and they were all stunned to hear he had a mentor. Besides, Cedric was already quite old, and his mentor must be even older. At that age, could the miracle doctor still treat others? "Dr. Aicker, who is this mentor of yours?" Harvey asked skeptically. Cedric snorted, "That's none of your concern, but I guarantee if my mentor can't cure Mr. Thatcher, no one can." As Cedric reached for his phone, he suddenly stopped and frowned
Meanwhile, Andrew did not waste time on the South City Orphanage project. He quickly left with Mark's driver, immediately heading toward the Thatcher residence. "I can't believe it. This loser suddenly has people picking him up now?" Irene muttered under her breath with obvious jealousy. "That was Mr. Thatcher's driver just now, wasn't it?" Leroy pondered aloud. "And that license plate looked like Mr. Thatcher's personal one. I wonder why they'd pick up someone like him." "Nonsense! Why would Mr. Thatcher's driver come for him?" Irene scoffed dismissively. "He's a nobody! And let me tell you, for someone so young, your eyesight is worse than mine!" Christina was the only one who was genuinely stunned, as she was sure that the driver was indeed Mark's personal driver, and that luxury car was definitely Mark's private vehicle. She wondered if Andrew had somehow become Mark's honored guest, though she quickly dismissed the thought as impossible, believing there must be some ot
Bernard felt a chill running down his spine when he saw Andrew appear, as he realized that this man might actually be capable of curing Mark's condition. Andrew completely ignored the ongoing debate outside and proceeded to take out his silver needles, working swiftly to target several major pressure points around Mark's body. Cedric watched intently from the side, hoping to learn something from Andrew's technique. 'Such masterful needlework! He instantly identified Mr. Thatcher's condition and acted without hesitation. This young man truly has the skills of a legendary healer,' he thought to himself, his desire to become Andrew's apprentice growing stronger with each passing moment. After a few minutes of Andrew's treatment, Mark regained consciousness. "There are two conflicting energies remaining in Mr. Thatcher's body," Andrew explained while continuing the treatment. "If I'm not mistaken, this was caused by an attack from a martial arts master, and based on how deepl
Andrew chuckled. "This is nothing to me!" Then, he pressed his palm against Mark's main pressure points while his right hand swiftly inserted three silver needles with a skillful flick. Instantly, two distinct energies surged from Mark's body. He winced in pain but soon let out a deep breath, feeling an incredible lightness. "Is it over already?" Mark asked Andrew in disbelief. "Yes, it's done," Andrew replied with a smile. Mark stared at Andrew intently and stated, "What remained in my body was energy left by a grandmaster. An ordinary person would be completely destroyed just by touching it, yet you handled it without breaking a sweat. If I'm not mistaken, you must be a martial arts master yourself?" Instead of answering directly, Andrew simply smiled and said, "Mr. Thatcher, you should rest now. I'll write two prescriptions, and with two months of recovery, you'll be completely healed." After leaving the prescriptions, Andrew walked out of the room. Immediately, Laure
The invited guests would undoubtedly receive Mark's favor and shower of gratitude. Even after all his scheming, Harvey had absolutely nothing to show for it, which left him seething with frustration. What angered him most was Andrew, that loser, somehow managed to steal his spotlight. He was supposed to be Jayrodale's golden boy, the rising star of the younger generation destined for greatness. Harvey growled through gritted teeth, "Andrew, you've stolen my thunder one too many times. Just wait—I'll find a way to take you down!" Burning with anger and resentment, he stormed out of the Thatcher residence. Just then, Christina called and asked, "Harvey, how's Mr. Thatcher doing?" Harvey forced a laugh, trying to keep his voice steady as he replied, "Everything's fine now. He's cured." Christina exclaimed in surprise, "That's wonderful news! But who managed to heal him? Was it Dr. Aicker, the one you invited?" "Of course," Harvey lied smoothly, not showing an ounce of sh
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