Camilla let out a desperate scream and clutched her pregnant belly as she dropped to her knees, trying to beg Andrew for mercy. "Mr. Lloyd, I'm pregnant… please, I'm begging you—for the sake of my baby, spare us! Please, just give us a second chance!" However, Andrew stepped to the side, refusing her plea without a second thought. "Sorry, but begging now is a little too late." He turned to Alfred and asked calmly, "Alfred, I'm thinking of appointing Nyla as the new head of the Goth family. Do you believe she's fit for the role?" Alfred did not hesitate for a second. "Mr. Lloyd, absolutely. No question—she's more than qualified. But… if I may add just one small condition…" Before he could even finish, Andrew cut in with a cool tone. "I already know what you're trying to say. You want me to spare the Goth family, right? Don't worry. As long as Nyla takes the leadership role and you support her properly… "I'll personally make sure the Goth family bounces back. In fact, I'll help
For a split second, Nyla hesitated. She had once truly loved her father. However, seeing Dominic sobbing on the floor, pathetic and pitiful, she finally saw him for what he really was. The so-called fatherly authority he used to carry was nothing more than fear-based dominance—he was no different than any other coward clinging to survival. She said calmly, "You don't have to worry. I won't pursue charges against you or Camilla." Nyla turned her head away, refusing to look at him again. "But whatever bond we had as father and daughter… ends here." Dominic's face twisted in disbelief. "Nyla, what are you saying? You're seriously going to steal my position as family head?" Nyla shook her head and let out a soft scoff. "I'm not stealing anything. But tell me—do you really think you're still fit to be the head of this family?" Dominic opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His throat locked up like someone was physically choking the words from him. Francesca stepped forward w
Alfred added coldly, "This was Mr. Lloyd's order. Satisfied now?" Dominic's body went stiff as his heart sank completely. He knew that crossing Andrew meant ruin deep down, but now he was sure of it. This was not just a fall from grace; it was a freefall straight into hell, and there was no coming back. Camilla shrieked, clinging to Dominic's arm. "How are we supposed to survive in some small county town? They don't even have shopping malls, no luxury boutiques, not even a damn proper restaurant! What about my friends? My lifestyle? What the hell am I supposed to do?" Dominic tried to comfort her. "It's okay. These smaller towns have developed a lot recently. The Goth family owns several properties down there. Once we settle in, we'll still live comfortably. "As for luxury stores and proper restaurant chains—come on, let's be real. Do you think we'll ever be buying designer bags again?" Camilla shouted, "I don't care! I'm pregnant, and I can't live without the things I love.
Meanwhile, Quinton lowered his phone, his face clouded with rage. Shawn sneered. "I told you Dominic was unreliable. You should've known he'd let you down." Quinton scoffed. "Anyone can throw shade after the fact. If he was worthless, then what exactly could you have done better?" Shawn looked like he had swallowed poison. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. "Damn it," Quinton growled. "Dominic didn't just screw up—he lost his position as family head. Find out exactly what happened. I want details, and I want them now!" He had invested serious hopes in Dominic, and to watch it all collapse this fast felt like a drop from heaven straight into hell. Christina spoke up, her voice cool and calm. "No need to investigate. I already know what happened." Quinton turned toward her. "Ms. Stevens, go ahead. I'm listening." Christina said plainly, "Everything started with Andrew. He pulled strings and leveraged his connections to rally over half of Jayrodale's powerhouses. T
Quinton did not speak, his brow furrowed tightly. Meanwhile, Christina's side suddenly let out a mocking laugh. Shawn's face flushed red with anger as he snapped, "Christie, what's so funny? Do you think my suggestion is a joke?" Christina gave him a cold glance, her voice dripping with disdain. "That wasn't a suggestion—it was idiocy. A suicide mission." Shawn clenched his fists, his temper flaring. "Christina, don't think just because Quinton favors you now, you can talk down to me." He leaned in, his voice low and threatening. "Mark my words, one day, you'll be mine." Christina's lips curled into a sneer, her eyes filled with contempt. "Shawn, did you forget how you slunk out of Jayrodale like a beaten dog after Andrew humiliated you?" She tilted her head, her gaze icy. "Look at you now. What do you think you are in my eyes?" Shawn exploded with rage. Christina had not spelled it out, but her look said everything—to her, he was nothing more than a pathetic mutt. Quin
At that point, Christina paused and swept a cold glance toward Shawn before letting out a sarcastic laugh. "Shawn, you've been out of Jayrodale for a while, haven't you? Clearly, you have no clue what the situation is like now. "Let me tell you—if Andrew wanted to, he could crush your little Fields family with the snap of his fingers. So if you're the one encouraging Quinton to go head-to-head with him, your family would be the first to get wiped out." Shawn stood there frozen, stammering, "I-I was just… you know, just talking big!" Meanwhile, he quickly rolled up his sleeve to wipe away the cold sweat dripping down his forehead. Quinton let out a cold snort. "Even if Andrew has every advantage—timing, location, and support on his side. If the Wrights really go all in, Christie, do you seriously think he could stop us?" Christina frowned. "If you come in full force, maybe Andrew wouldn't be able to handle the Wrights' top fighters. But have you thought about what that really
The Goth family had set up over a dozen banquet tables and held a modest celebration in Andrew's honor. Aside from Andrew and Francesca's group, the Goths had also invited several of their own guests. Sure enough, everyone who came up for a toast made a point to personally approach Andrew with respect. At the same time, whispers were already spreading—many privately congratulated the Goth family for managing to connect with the head of Moonlit Apothecary. Still clueless about the full scope of her family's affairs, Nyla looked a little lost. That was when Alfred stepped up and took charge of the event. However, he knew his place and never overstepped his bounds. He remained mindful at all times of the difference in status between himself and Nyla. After all, the one calling the shots in the Goth family now was not him—it was that young girl. If Andrew had not been backing her, Alfred would have definitely fought for the family seat himself. Nonetheless, as long as Andrew rema
"Underground king of Jayrodale? Ha! Never heard of him. What kind of trash title is that?" The two guards did not just ignore them—they started throwing out sleazy insults. Showing up at the Fields family estate and demanding to see the head without even setting foot inside? That was suicide. Francesca's face instantly turned cold as she looked at Andrew with an exaggerated pout. "Andrew, these dogs are seriously disrespecting me. You better make this right, or you're not getting anywhere near my bed tonight." Andrew sighed with a slight headache. When Francesca put on a show, she really committed to the role. He stepped forward and said to the two guards, "I'll give you one shot. Tell your boss that Andrew Lloyd from Moonlit Apothecary is here and wants a word." The guards sized him up, and one of them asked, "You're her man?" Andrew replied coolly, "That's right. Got a problem with that?" The other guard grinned nastily. "Come on, man, quit pretending. We've seen plen
"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