Harvey shook his head and said, "Sorry, Mr. Wright, I appreciate the offer, but the Weller family truly can't help you. I can only express my regrets." Quinton clenched his jaw and snapped, "So you're admitting you're just as spineless as the others? No different from that bunch of cowards who just walked out?" Harvey's face darkened—he had not expected Quinton to speak so bluntly and with such blatant disrespect. Harvey said coldly, "Heh, coward or not, call me whatever you want. But the Weller family is staying out of this. Because I have no interest in throwing myself into a pit I can't climb out of." It was a direct declaration, and Harvey clearly was not holding back anymore. He had already learned his lesson the hard way from crossing Andrew—he had paid for it, suffered for it, and was not about to make the same mistake again. Unless he had the power and a surefire win, Harvey was not going to make a single move. Quinton turned to glance at Christina, but she looked a
Quinton glanced over, not thinking much of Dominic since the latter was just another small-time family head. He replied flatly, "Speak, Mr. Goth. If you really have a way to get me what I want, then I'll make you a promise right here. The Goth family will become the number one family in Jayrodale, and I'll personally make it happen." Dominic lit up with excitement. "Mr. Wright, you might not know this, but my daughter is currently working at Moonlit Apothecary. If you want the formulas for those two miracle pills, I just might be able to get them—through her." Quinton's eyes widened, and a look of shock turned into overwhelming joy. "What did you say? Your daughter works at Moonlit Apothecary?" "What's her name? How much does Andrew trust her? Is she part of the inner circle or just another employee?" He fired off questions without pausing, his mind spinning. It would not be useful if she was just a background worker or someone sweeping floors. He needed someone Andrew actual
Harvey stood up and said, "Mr. Wright, since the Weller family can't be of help, we'll be taking our leave." However, Quinton raised his hand. "Hold on. I've got something to discuss with you, Mr. Weller. Shawn, Christina—go on ahead. I just need a private word with Mr. Weller." Christina did not think twice and left right away. However, Shawn frowned. He wondered why Quinton was pulling Harvey aside instead of discussing it with him, his most trusted man. He felt slighted, but he did not dare show it. With a tight expression, he quietly walked out. Once everyone else had gone, only Harvey and a few of the Weller family's elders remained with Quinton. Harvey crossed his arms. "Alright, Quinton. Now that it's just us, what is it you need? If you're still trying to drag the Weller family into a fight with Andrew, then forget it. That's not happening." He locked eyes with Quinton, clearly on guard. Quinton shook his head, his face cold and composed. "Relax, Harvey. I don't
Quinton muttered, "Christina's a tough one. She's still on guard and clearly doesn't trust me fully yet. So before I can truly get her under my thumb, I need to hit her with something big—something she won't see coming." Harvey chuckled coldly. "Fine, Quinton. I'll play along. I've been itching to make a move on the Stevens family anyway." Quinton nodded. "Good. Then wait for my signal, and act when the moment's right." … Meanwhile, over at Moonlit Apothecary, closing time had arrived. "Dr. Aicker, Dr. Lloyd, I'm heading home for the night!" Nyla said cheerfully. It was as if Camilla stealing her paycheck had never happened. Andrew smiled warmly. "Alright, Nyla. Get home safe." Nyla gave him a bright smile and walked out with her bag swinging gently by her side. Francesca watched her go and scoffed. "I can't believe how naive that girl is. She's being walked all over and doesn't even make a sound. Honestly, I don't get her." Andrew spoke softly, "Nyla's a kind girl. S
Andrew chuckled mockingly. "Looks like Harvey and the rest have finally learned their lesson." After hanging up the phone, Andrew did not spare another thought for Quinton. Right now, in Jayrodale, it did not matter whether it was Quinton or even his father—the head of one of the Five Apex Families—if Andrew did not feel like showing respect, he would not even blink. Meanwhile, Francesca was in the shower, her curvy silhouette faintly visible behind the frosted glass. Andrew saw it every day, so he was completely unfazed by now. Before the busty little troublemaker came out and started clinging to him again, Andrew made another call—this time to Aspen. "What do you want?" Aspen snapped the moment she picked up. "Calling at this hour—don't you think that's incredibly rude?" Andrew smirked. "It's barely past eight—how is that rude? Or wait… are you with some pretty boy over in Blumedale right now? You two in the middle of something?" Aspen was furious and shouted, "You're dis
Aspen silently swore that she was going to escape his clutches one day. The instructor, Lily Williams, replied calmly, "Yoga is a practice that helps you relax. It's about becoming one with nature and your own body and mind. What it values is harmony between humanity and nature—letting things flow naturally. "Ms. Stevens, your mind is clearly unsettled today. I think it's best we end your session here." Aspen thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Thank you, Ms. Williams. I'll come back tomorrow." Lily smiled, then suddenly pointed outside the studio and said, "That gentleman is waiting for you again with flowers, Ms. Stevens. It's pretty obvious—he really likes you." Aspen turned her gaze toward the glass doors at the front of the studio. There stood Seth, holding a bouquet, dressed sharply and polished like a spoiled, wealthy heir straight out of a TV drama. His eyes glowed as he looked at her. His expression was calm and elegant, with a refined sort of charm. If sh
Aspen could not help but laugh to herself. Men in Blumedale really were something else—being a player here took skill, and this one clearly had it down to an art. Seth spouted romantic lines like a pro, sounding so sincere it was almost believable. Compared to him, Andrew might have been a brute with zero charm who only knew how to exploit her, draining every ounce of energy she had left. Nonetheless, at least Andrew was not fake—what you saw was what you got. Meanwhile, this charming heir from the Haywood family was starting to feel downright repulsive. "Mr. Haywood, I've told you more than once—there's no chance between us," Aspen said, her voice firm. "You should know I'm not even free right now. Honestly, my body doesn't even belong to me. While I appreciate your feelings, you're just wasting your time." She let out a sigh as if she was tired of repeating herself. Seth's face turned cold as he said with conviction, "Aspen, tell me—who's the bastard? The one controlling yo
Tyler said plainly, "Seth? To be honest, I don't know you, and I definitely don't remember ever having a drink with you. So please, don't make up stories like that." He was still polite about it, but the message was loud and clear. Seth's face flushed with heat. Tyler had not yelled at him, but his tone made it obvious—he wanted Seth gone. He was not even acknowledged, let alone remembered, and the drink? A total lie. His attempt to show off had backfired hard, and the shame burned worse than any public embarrassment. Nonetheless, Seth did not have the guts to argue back. All he could do was step aside awkwardly, watching as Tyler turned his full attention to Aspen. Tyler said respectfully, "Ms. Stevens, your new company in Blumedale recently opened a corporate account with our bank, correct? A transaction just hit that account earlier today, and I felt this matter was serious enough that I needed to confirm it with you personally." Aspen frowned, thinking it over. The new
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