A new day had begun. First thing in the morning, Andrew noticed several missed calls from Aspen. However, he did not respond to any of them. He already knew exactly why she was calling—she wanted to ask about the new 40 billion dollar transfer. However, Andrew did not feel the need to explain. As far as he was concerned, as long as Aspen managed the funds properly, that was enough. Francesca stepped out of the bathroom with flushed cheeks, looking irritated and disappointed. "Andrew, my period just started." Andrew chuckled. "It is what it is. Does your stomach hurt? Want me to give you the classic 'get some rest' line?" Francesca clenched her jaw. "Don't. Only emotionally clueless guys with zero tact say stuff like that." Andrew nodded seriously. "I agree. That's why I was going to make you a proper warm tea instead." Francesca waved it off. "No need. I may be on my period, but I'm not cramping or low on energy. Don't forget—I grew up in a traditional medicine family. My
"But the Three Titans—Driscolls, Phelans, and the most elusive of them all, the Drache family—you'd better be careful around them, Mr. Lloyd," Phantom Eye said seriously. He added, "From what I've heard, those families each have someone far beyond the martial king level hidden in their ranks." Andrew remained unfazed. "If they don't mess with me, I won't mess with them. So what if they're above martial king? The world is vast—no one stays undefeated forever. There's always a higher peak beyond the last, and just because they're the Three Titans doesn't make them invincible." Phantom Eye nodded, still concerned. "Maybe so, but the Three Titans have always held the reins there. So, Mr. Lloyd, it never hurts to stay cautious when you're not on home turf." Andrew understood where Phantom Eye was coming from. Anyone who survived in Blumedale's ruthless martial world had to have a sharp eye and a wide view. Even a semi–martial king could build a reputation and live comfortably, but
Nyla lifted her tear-streaked face, eyes full of sorrow. She choked out, "Andy… my dad… he's forcing me… He wants your formulas. He's making me steal them and bring them back to him." She broke down into sobs. "Andy, Dr. Aicker, you should fire me. I don't deserve to stay at Moonlit Apothecary anymore. I don't even have the face to show up here!" The words poured out of her as the tears fell. She had finally revealed everything because her trust in Andrew and Francesca was unconditional. Her loyalty to them ran deeper than blood, and when it came to Dominic, the man who was supposed to be her father, she felt nothing but heartbreak and betrayal. She had come to see that the man who once called her his daughter had turned into someone cold, greedy, and unrecognizable. He wanted her to betray Andrew—to steal from someone who had only ever been kind to her. Nyla realized she simply could not do it. She would rather tell the truth than live with that kind of guilt. Francesca
Nyla quickly waved her hands and shook her head. "I can't, Andy. I appreciate your kindness, but I really can't accept it. I'm too young, and honestly, I don't have what it takes to run the Goth family." Andrew chuckled. "Nyla, I know exactly what you're worried about. You have no one backing you, no powerful connections, and you're not a man—so you feel like leading a family just isn't in the cards for you. "On top of that, you're terrified of your father, Dominic, and even more afraid of Camilla. You're convinced they wouldn't approve, right?" Nyla let out a bitter smile. "It's not even about whether they'd approve or not. The moment I show the slightest interest in becoming head of the family, Camilla would probably find a way to kill me quietly. "She warned me herself, the day she married into this family. She said the Goth family would belong to her children and that I should forget about having a place in it." Francesca scoffed coldly. "Andrew, you know what? I'm on boa
Camilla giggled and said, "Honestly, I think that's the best decision too. But Dominic, don't you think Nyla might resent you for it? Her mom passed away so early—right now, you're all she has left." Dominic's voice turned cold. "Her mother's been gone for years. To be honest, I barely feel anything about it anymore. Sure, Nyla's my biological daughter, but if I'm being blunt, I never felt much for her emotionally. "Now that you're carrying my heir—and it's confirmed to be a boy—once he's born, you and our son will be the most cherished members of the Goth family." Both of them wore blissful smiles, completely lost in their fantasy of a perfect future. Suddenly, two guards rushed into the garden, completely out of breath. "Mr. and Mrs. Goth, Ms. Goth 's back!" Dominic frowned with displeasure. "Back already? That was quick. Don't tell me she failed?" His tone turned vicious as he clenched his jaw. "If she screwed up, I'll make sure she pays. I won't let that ungrateful br
Camilla stepped forward and backed him up. "That's right! Andrew, you may be the head of Moonlit Apothecary and have quite some power right now, but the Goth family is still one of Jayrodale's founding families! "And the White family still holds plenty of influence around here. If you go too far, and the two of us join forces, don't think we'll just sit back and take it!" Andrew let out a cold laugh. "I don't usually bully the weak just because I can. But Mr. Goth, you said your family never wronged me. Are you really going to stick to that story?" Dominic's eyes shifted, but he doubled down. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I? You gonna tell me when exactly we ever crossed you?" Andrew's voice turned sharp. "You're still trying to play dumb at a time like this? Really? You became Quinton's lapdog and tried to steal the formula for my miracle pills. You're not getting out of that one, are you?" Dominic's eyes blazed with fury as he shot a murderous glare at Nyla. That little tr
Camilla glared at Nyla with eyes full of venom. "You little bitch—this is all your fault! The Goth family fed you, clothed you, gave you everything. And this is how you repay us? By betraying your own blood? You just wait. I swear, I'll make you regret it." Nyla burst into tears. "Dad… Camilla… we were the ones in the wrong. If we all apologize to Andy together, I know he'll forgive us!" However, Dominic roared and pointed toward the door. "Get out! Get out of the Goth residence right now! From this moment on, you have no place here. You are no longer one of us." Nyla turned pale and dropped to her knees, ready to beg. Francesca rushed over and pulled her into her arms. Her voice was cold. "Nyla, don't waste your tears. Instead, be thankful. Because now, you finally see them for who they really are. These people are not parents—they're monsters." Andrew casually patted Dominic's cheek, a half-smile on his face. "You think I can't touch you, don't you? Mr. Goth, maybe we haven
Dominic believed there was a limit to how much someone could bluff. The Goth family might have kept a low profile, but they'd always been stable. Unless they were completely self-destructed, thinking someone could wipe them out from the outside was just a fantasy. Right then, Dominic's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and grinned before answering. "Mr. Jenner! Haha, I'm guessing the permit finally came through for our project, right? I knew it'd get approved!" The voice on the other end exploded. "Permit my ass, Dominic! Have you completely lost your damn mind? That project's main contract went through Rhodes Corporation, and you had the nerve to piss off their director, Mr. Lloyd? They already booted us off the deal! You absolute dumpster fire of a partner. I must've been blind to ever work with you!" The call ended in a furious hang-up before Dominic even had a chance to respond. He stood there frozen, still holding his expensive phone as if it had just slapped him across t
"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