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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 103
After leaving the mayor's mansion, Cedric rushed home with obvious excitement. Lauren turned to Andrew with a knowing smile and explained, "The Aicker family's business isn't huge, and their reputation mainly comes from Mr. Aicker's medical expertise." "It seems Mr. Aicker is ready to make his big move and capitalize on this opportunity," she added thoughtfully. Andrew nodded in understanding. "It's definitely a golden opportunity." Mark had essentially handed both the Rhodes and Aicker families a silver platter of opportunities, and even a fool could see what a precious chance this was. Lauren gazed at Andrew intently. "Dr. Lloyd, Mr. Aicker and I both benefited because of you. While Mr. Thatcher has good relationships with our families, he wouldn't normally hand out opportunities like this so freely. I really need to thank you properly." Andrew recognized that Mark had shared this privileged information solely out of respect for him. Nonetheless, he simply smiled and sai
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 104
Lauren pouted as she glared at Andrew and whispered shyly, "Dr. Lloyd, we haven't even established a relationship yet, so touching is definitely… inappropriate," She thought momentarily and added, "However, if you really want to, we could… maybe share a kiss?" It was Andrew's turn to be flustered. He never expected Lauren to say something so bold, especially with that soft, bashful expression. Andrew had always regarded Lauren as a confident and outspoken woman. Hence, her delicate demeanor and shy, alluring gaze completely stunned him. She looked like a gentle, elegant beauty straight out of a painting. For a moment, Andrew felt his heart skip a beat. Just as the atmosphere grew thick with tension, Andrew's phone rang, abruptly breaking the moment. Lauren covered her mouth, giggling softly. "Go ahead and take your call, Dr. Lloyd. I'm in no hurry!" When Andrew answered, Christina's cold voice came through. "Mr. Lloyd, do you remember what we discussed before? Please com
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 105
Nelson's eyes gleamed with lust as he pointed to the chair beneath him. "You don't need Stevens Corporation to shoulder anything. Just spread those beautiful legs and take a seat right here, Ms. Stevens. How about it?" Christina's face darkened immediately. "Mr. O'Connor, what exactly do you mean by this?" "Isn't it obvious? You want the loan, and I want to sleep with you in return," Nelson stated bluntly, dropping all pretense of professionalism. "You're shameless!" Christina growled in anger. Nelson sneered and leaned back, patting his thighs as he mocked her. "Let's not kid ourselves, Christina. You're the one coming to me for help, not the other way around. I've wanted to see what Jayrodale's 'Ice Queen' is really like for years now." His tone turned cruder as he continued, "Let me have my fun tonight, and I'll approve the funds. You'll walk out of here with everything you came for." "You disgusting pig!" Christina cursed at him and turned to leave. How
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 106
Blood dripped from the corner of Christina's mouth, and panic gripped her heart. She was alone in Nelson's office, and no one could hear her cries for help. Tears streamed down her face as fear overwhelmed her. In that critical moment, she did not think of her fiance, Harvey. Surprisingly, it was Andrew instead. Suddenly, the office door crashed open with a thunderous bang. Both Christina and Nelson turned in shock as Andrew strode in with a cold expression. Without hesitation, Andrew delivered a powerful kick to Nelson's chest, sending his heavy frame flying backward into his desk with a loud thud. Christina stood frozen, her eyes wide as she stared at Andrew's swift and powerful move. "W-What are you doing here?" she stammered, the red mark on her face still stinging. Andrew's eyes were ice-cold. "Ms. Stevens, did you forget? You called me over." "No, I mean... h-how did you get past security?" she stuttered. "That's not important right now," Andrew snapped. "What we
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 107
The security guards and employees stood frozen, stunned by the audacity of someone who dared to storm into Nelson's office, given his position in the bank. Christina felt her blood run cold, wondering why Andrew would escalate the situation when they were so heavily outnumbered. "What are you idiots waiting for? Get them!" Nelson screamed from the floor, his rage boiling over. Since becoming the bank manager, he had never faced such humiliation. Just then, two cars suddenly screeched to a halt outside the bank. Irene and Leroy rushed in with Stevens Corporation security as backup. "Christie, are you alright?" Irene asked frantically. "Mom, I'm fine. Andrew saved me," Christina explained. Irene scoffed. "Saved you? Then why are you hurt?" "Mom, don't be unreasonable!" Christina retorted, her frustration rising. "If Andrew hadn't come, who knows what could've happened to me!" Irene snorted dismissively. "If he had gotten here sooner, you wouldn't be injured at all. An
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 108
After spinning his web of lies, Nelson smirked smugly at the Stevens family. He thought they were foolish for trying to go against him. His employees chimed in obediently, one of them saying, "That's right, we all saw Ms. Stevens come in to request a loan. When negotiations failed, she called for backup and resorted to violence." "Have you no shame?" Christina shouted in rage. Nelson's expression turned sinister. "This, Ms. Stevens, is the price for defying me. You're not even close to being in my league." Irene snapped back, "You disgusting low life! We'll just pull the surveillance footage to prove the truth!" Nelson laughed dismissively. "Did you think I wouldn't think of that, you old hag? All our surveillance cameras are conveniently malfunctioning today." Christina clenched her fists, her fury barely contained. Nelson had clearly planned this, covering his tracks completely. The bank employees stared at the Stevens family with contempt. One female employee in a r
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 109
Mark's commanding presence filled the air as he demanded, "What's going on here?" Nelson pointed accusingly at the Stevens family. "Mr. Thatcher, when I denied Stevens Corporation's loan request, they turned violent. Ms. Stevens even tried to blackmail me with a setup!" Mark's expression darkened as he turned his cold gaze toward the Stevens family. "Is this true?" Christina spoke up firmly, "Mr. Thatcher, that's not what happened at all. This man abused his position and tried to take advantage of me, so I defended myself." Nelson gestured at his injuries. "You're the CEO of Stevens Corporation, yet you dare lie to the mayor's face? Look at my injuries—this is what her thug did to me when I refused her advances!" Mark's eyes narrowed as he took in Nelson's visibly broken hand. Fury overtook him. "Officers, arrest the Stevens family immediately! Who gave you the right to assault someone?" The Stevens family members trembled with fear, but Christina pleaded, "Mr. Thatcher, p
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 110
"Mr. Lloyd, I assure you this matter will be resolved satisfactorily," Mark declared earnestly. His deferential tone stunned everyone, including Christina. She could not believe the mayor's unusually respectful attitude toward Andrew. Andrew remained unfazed. "Mr. Thatcher, you'd better give me an explanation for this. If not, breaking his hand will be the least of my actions." Mark inwardly cursed Nelson's stupidity. Of all the people to provoke, this fool had to pick someone even he himself needed to treat with respect. Nelson, a mere branch manager, clearly had a death wish. Mark's frustration boiled over. He glared at Nelson and snapped, "Mr. O'Connor, step forward and explain yourself. If Mr. Lloyd isn't satisfied with your explanation, I won't be able to protect you." Nelson's face paled, and he protested in disbelief, "Mr. Thatcher, he's the one who attacked me! Why should I have to explain myself to him?" Mark exploded in anger. "You idiot! Would Mr. Lloyd have
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Chapter 1090
"Since you're already here, why not stay?" Andrew's voice was icy. A chilling smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he lunged forward, moving with ghostly speed. The two assassins barely reached the second-floor window, desperately trying to break it open. Before their fists even made contact, Andrew's brutal punches smashed into their backs. The impact was deafening—like lightning striking hard and heavy. The windows shattered instantly, exploding outward as the two assassins flew through them. Just like that, their bodies crashed onto the lawn below, shards of glass mixing with blood and flesh. They lay lifeless, eyes wide with terror, frozen forever in their final moments. Andrew's expression was terrifyingly cold. "Aspen, if you're still alive, you can come out now," he called out softly, his voice echoing through the silent villa. Silence answered him. It seemed he was alone, the villa devoid of any other living soul. A rare sense of urgency surged through him
Chapter 1089
Scattered chairs, overturned tables, and shattered glass from the back window completed the chaotic scene. Andrew's eyes sharpened as he stepped toward the staircase and barked coldly, "Come out." After three seconds, a masked man stepped into view at the bend of the stairs. He was holding a gun in one hand, a combat knife sheathed at his waist, and eyes sharp as a hawk's. "You noticed something was wrong, but instead of running, you walked right in like you owned the place. You must be real confident in your skills." The man sneered as he raised the gun, aiming directly at Andrew's head. Then, he pulled the trigger without a hint of hesitation. He wasted no time on speeches, eager to end the situation. After all, unnecessary chatters were the reason many villains died. Even so, deep down, the assassin was surprised. He was told that the target on the Goldings' hit list was supposed to be some minor nobody. Yet somehow, this guy had spotted him instantly—despite a perfect hid
Chapter 1088
Back inside the Rhodes residence's living room, both Jameson and Lauren looked utterly baffled by what they saw. Jameson asked, "Andy, Tiana, what the heck happened to you two?" Tiana's clothes were disheveled, her face pale, and there were traces of blood on her blouse. Andrew looked even more outrageous—his entire upper body was bare, showing off lean muscle and perfect definition, while his arm still supported Tiana as they walked in. The way it looked… well, let's just say it could be wildly misunderstood. Tiana's cheeks flushed, and she said casually, "Jameson, are you just going to stand there? Help me to my room. My injury from when Aidan attacked me flared up again. Thankfully, Andrew helped me back." Jameson blinked. "Oh… right. That makes sense. Alright, Andy, hand her over to me. I'll take her to lie down." Andrew nodded and gently passed Tiana into Jameson's care. "Mrs. Rhodes, it's not too serious. With rest and a few days of care, you'll recover just fine."
Chapter 1087
Andrew took a deep breath, doing his best to stay calm as he asked, "So, you're telling me Mr. Rhodes knows about you and my dad?" Tiana huffed. "I've never been the type to tiptoe around my past, especially not when it comes to love. I told Jameson everything before he married me—everything. In fact, he even knows I slept with Reginald. And get this—back in the day, your dad and Jameson were actually close friends!" Andrew thought this was pure chaos. He rubbed his temples, feeling a pounding ache behind his eyes. His head throbbed—like, really throbbed. "Please don't tell me…" Andrew said slowly, dread creeping into his voice, "…that Lauren isn't actually Mr. Rhodes' daughter, but my dad's?" The second the words left his mouth, Tiana spat to the side and snapped, "You little punk, what the hell is wrong with you? I may be crazy, but do you really think I'd let Jameson raise another man's kid and not tell him? "Relax. I know what you're thinking. You're worried Lauren might
Chapter 1086
"I'm not just saying you and Lauren can't be together," Tiana snapped, her voice cold as ice. "I have to kill you, then hunt down that bastard Reginald and make sure he regrets everything!" Andrew sighed, completely speechless. "Mrs. Rhodes, come on… that's a bit much, don't you think? If you've got beef with my dad for what he did back then, fine. But take it out on him, not me—I didn't do anything." Tiana let out a dark laugh. "You're his son. Since I can't find him, of course, I'm going to take it out on you!" Andrew watched her cycle from smug satisfaction to explosive rage, then fall into wounded nostalgia again. He could not even stay mad anymore—there was no point. Honestly, she was not evil. She was just a woman trapped in the past, tormented by a love that never got closure. He asked, "Mrs. Rhodes, when you attacked me earlier, you weren't really trying to kill me, were you?" Tiana snorted. "I said it already—you saved our family; I'm not ungrateful. I struck fi
Chapter 1085
Fortunately, the garden remained empty the entire time—no one passed by, and no one noticed a thing. If someone had seen what just happened, Andrew felt like even jumping into a river of bleach would not be enough to clear his name. He quickly gave Tiana a healing pill, wiped the blood from her lips, and helped her sit upright on a nearby bench. Only then did he finally exhale, tension easing just a little. "Thanks," Tiana murmured, her eyes reluctantly dragging away from his bare chest. She seemed to realize how reckless and inappropriate her behavior had been, and her cheeks flushed a deep pink. Even though she was well into her 40s and the mother of two daughters, Tiana had kept herself in peak condition. Thanks to her years of martial arts and rigorous discipline, her figure and presence still radiated strength and allure. If one looked past the iciness in her demeanor and the maturity in her gaze, there was no denying—Tiana was the epitome of a seductive, dangerous beauty.
Chapter 1084
Andrew raised his knee, blocking her incoming strike with ease. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he threw a punch without hesitation. The air itself trembled, bursting with a sound like a roar. Tiana's face twisted in sheer terror. It felt like an ancient beast—a primal force—was crashing down on her, unstoppable and overwhelming. It was like a helpless insect facing a natural disaster. With a sickening crack, blood filled her mouth and splattered across her chest and blouse. The dagger in her hand snapped, leaving only the hilt as she was thrown violently backward, crashing onto the stone path of the garden. Andrew strode over with a cold, unreadable expression, towering over her. "Talk. Give me one good reason not to kill you right now." Tiana tossed aside the broken hilt and wiped the blood from her lips. To his surprise, she actually laughed. "Impressive. Seriously, that was incredible. Go ahead. If you want to kill me, then do it. But before you strike, let me explai
Chapter 1083
Jameson's voice turned serious as he said, "How is this fair? This whole thing should've been the Rhodes family's responsibility. We can't just dump it on Andy. Tomorrow, I'll bring a generous gift and head over to the Driscolls to make things clear." Tiana scoffed coldly. "You really think you can just explain it away? Joe's proud and stubborn—he won't listen to a word. Back when he came over with a proposal, we gave a subtle refusal, remember? But did it work? He left the engagement gifts anyway, completely airtight in his approach." Lauren sneered, "You can call it airtight, or you can call it what it really is—coercion. The Driscolls are one of the Three Titans. They think that just because they've got power, they can do whatever they want in the Gabo Creek region." She continued, "And Joe? He only met me a few times before deciding he wanted to marry me. The whole thing reeks of dominance, of bullying families like ours just because they can." Tiana let out a long sigh. "Y
Chapter 1082
Andrew leaned back slightly and dodged Lauren's kiss with a teasing smile. Lauren pouted in frustration and said, "It's just a kiss, not like we're sleeping together. Come on, it's been days. Do you know how much I missed you?" Andrew gazed at her flawless face and murmured, "You can have it… but only when I'm the one in control." Then, before she could react, he leaned in and bit her gently, making her squeal in surprise. The two lingered in their intimate bubble for a while before finally, and reluctantly, pulling apart. Lauren's skin was flushed, and her eyes sparkled. "You jerk, you kissed me for so long I could barely breathe! Fran was right… Andrew, you might look like a classy gentleman, but you're just a total perv underneath!" Andrew's face turned red, and he coughed a few times to hide the awkwardness. It had only been a short time apart, but with Francesca gone, no one was around to keep the atmosphere in check. So now, caught up in this moment with Lauren, he ha