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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 42
In the Rhodes Corporation conference room, Lauren called an emergency executive meeting. After all the executives had entered, Andrew locked the door, drawing immediate disapproval from those present. "Ms. Rhodes, what's the meaning of this?" "First, an unannounced emergency meeting, and now we're locked in? What are you planning?" "Hey, you! Unlock that door now, that's an order!" Andrew returned to Lauren's side, ignoring their protests. When one furious executive tried to speak up, a warning look from Michael silenced him immediately. At the head of the table, Lauren looked over the gathered executives, her tone cold and direct. She began, "I've called this meeting because of an urgent matter. Someone has been trying to poison me for some time, and I've just discovered who it is." The executives' faces changed dramatically with this revelation. "Who could stoop so low? Ms. Rhodes is our CEO—who would do something so despicable?" "Whoever it is should get on their
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 43
Andrew noticed Michael's obvious relief, and their eyes met silently across the room. Andrew flashed Michael with a knowing smile, while Michael's gaze was mocking. To him, even if Andrew had figured out some of his secrets, he was convinced Andrew did not know the identity of the actual poisoner. As long as that person remained unknown, Michael believed he was safe. Lauren might suspect him, but suspicion without evidence was meaningless. "I imagine everyone must be thirsty," Lauren suddenly announced. "There's water in front of each of you to quench your thirst." Michael frowned and said, "Lauren, catching the culprit is more important. Being thirsty isn't a priority right now." Paul chimed in, "Mr. Rhodes is right. Even if we die of thirst, we won't leave until we find the person who tried to harm you, Ms. Rhodes." Lauren smiled gracefully and declared, "I'll be honest with everyone—one of these glasses has been poisoned by me. Everyone must drink their water now. Tho
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 44
Paul's trembling hand reached for the glass but quickly withdrew as if burned by its touch. Andrew watched him with an intriguing smile, remembering how this same executive had loudly proclaimed his loyalty earlier. Yet, here he was, stalling and reluctant to take action. One of the executives urged, "Mr. Clarke, what are you waiting for? We all drank our glasses. You're the only one left." Another executive frowned and chimed in, "We're all fine, so why are you being such a coward? Just down it in one go. What's the worst that could happen?" Paul's trembling only intensified at these words. For such a big, tough-looking man, he looked like he was about to burst into tears. "Mr. Rhodes, it seems you haven't drunk yours either," Andrew suddenly remarked with a smile. Michael scoffed and said, "I'm the Vice CEO of Rhodes Corporation and a member of the Rhodes family. I shouldn't have to participate in these ridiculous games." "If you're too scared to drink, then you must be t
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 45
Michael's hatred for Andrew reached its peak, furious that this pretty boy had completely destroyed his carefully laid plans. Suddenly, there was a loud crash as Paul's glass shattered on the floor. Then, he fell to his knees, begging Lauren for mercy through desperate cries. "Ms. Rhodes, I'm sorry! Please give me another chance! I truly regret what I did!" The other executives were caught off guard, but their surprise quickly turned into anger. "You're the culprit?" "You traitor! We defended you, and this is how you repay our trust?" "You must have lost your mind to try poisoning Ms. Rhodes! Go to hell!" Paul continued kneeling on the floor, sobbing, "Ms. Rhodes, I didn't want to do it… Someone forced me!" The room fell silent again as Andrew asked, "Who forced you?" Paul glanced nervously at Michael, hesitating to speak while Michael's already dark expression turned even more sinister. "Tell me who forced you, and I'll protect you," Lauren commanded icily.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 46
In the conference room, Lauren asked everyone else to leave, leaving only Andrew and Francesca behind. "Lauren, did you know from the start that Paul was the culprit?" Francesca asked eagerly as soon as the room emptied. Lauren rolled her eyes and said, "If I had known it was him, I would've just had him arrested instead of setting up these theatrics." Francesca exclaimed in surprise, "So you didn't know who it was? But you acted like you did!" Lauren smiled and explained, "I didn't know, which was why Dr. Lloyd suggested this trick to force their hand. All I had to do was claim one glass was poisoned, and Paul cracked under the pressure." Francesca stared at Andrew, shocked. "I didn't expect you to be so cunning!" She was impressed by his ability to devise such a trick, which left the culprit with no choice but to surrender. "Although we found out it was Paul, we still fell one step short," Andrew remarked. Lauren's beautiful face hardened as she agreed, "Indeed. Tha
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 47
Finally, Michael understood Andrew's two-part strategy—the trap and the pressure play. Poor Paul had cracked under pressure and confessed, which Michael could understand. After all, anyone would be terrified to drink potentially poisoned water, which was also why Michael refused to drink it. However, he had underestimated Andrew, as none of the water was poisoned, and Lauren did not know who the culprit was. They had simply played a trick to force Paul into confessing. Just as his anger had begun to subside, Michael's face turned ashen as he clenched his fists again. The humiliation was overwhelming. He could not believe a mere gold-digger had played him, a Rhodes family heir, like a fool. Michael pulled out his phone and made a call. "Bane, didn't you say your poison was incurable except by you? Some small-time doctor just cured Lauren—you better explain this!" A sinister voice replied, "How's this possible? Mr. Rhodes, you must be mistaken. In Jayrodale, not even Cedric coul
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 48
Irene beamed at Harvey with obvious approval and commented, "Harvey, please take the seat of honor. Tonight's family dinner is all about you." Harvey maintained perfect etiquette, treating every Stevens family member with utmost politeness and respect. His behavior had everyone glowing with pride, convinced they had found the perfect addition to their family. "Seeing Harvey so popular and capable must be hard for you to watch," Christina remarked, suddenly appearing beside Andrew. Andrew smiled and said, "Congratulations on finding such an exceptional match. You've always dreamed of marrying into high society, and now you've achieved it." Christina's expression grew complex as she sighed. "Andrew, I've always known you're not a bad person. I'm not saying this to rub in your face. I just want you to learn from Harvey's admirable qualities. Even if you can't match his success, you could at least live with dignity." Andrew chuckled. "Are you saying I'll never be as successful as
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 49
Indeed, Andrew's wine looked unimpressive in its unlabeled bottle, lacking the luxurious packaging that fine wines typically boasted. Naturally, no one could take such plain presentation seriously. Irene snapped, "Andrew, you're such a fool. We're already generous by letting you join us for dinner, but Dad's too distinguished to drink your cheap wine. Take that embarrassment away from our table!" Andrew remained composed, saying, "I'll say it again—this is an exceptional wine. I've brought it to Mr. Stevens Senior many times, and it's been beneficial for his health." Leroy clicked his tongue and mocked, "Exceptional wine? You're really full of it, Andrew. Harvey, you should show him what real premium wine looks like." Harvey smiled, speaking modestly. "It's fine. Mr. Stevens Senior seems to enjoy Andrew's wine." Irene chuckled. "Harvey, you're too humble. Some people don't even come close to your class." Another family member chimed in, "Harvey's wine is absolutely top-s
Latest Chapter
Chapter 1018
From that day forward, Mosby imagined he could ride the waves of influence across Gabo Creek, and maybe even all of southern Holtrien—just by mastering that miraculous acupuncture technique. Just then, a calm voice broke through the tension. "Dr. Lake, I suggest you show some respect." Luna had quietly appeared and spoke coldly. "Andrew saved my grandfather's life. And my grandfather personally told me to look after him from now on while he's in the capital." Mosby gave an awkward chuckle. "Well, if Ms. Luna says so, I won't give this young man any trouble." Nonetheless, he was already secretly scheming. The moment he got the chance, he would have Andrew captured and tortured until he coughed up everything he knew about the Ninefold Needles. Luna gave a curt nod, then turned to Andrew. "Come with me. The Phelan family has a reward for you." When it came to rewards, Andrew was not planning to be polite. The Phelan family was one of the most powerful in the region, and if the
Chapter 1017
Luna leaned in with concern. "Grandpa, how are you feeling?" Montgomery lay back on the bed and gently touched his chest, smiling with relief. "Much better… It felt like a hard lump inside me just vanished." Ever fair and direct, Luna pointed toward Andrew and said, "Grandpa, it was Andrew Lloyd—the one Marvin introduced—who cleared out the calculi from your system." Montgomery looked over at Andrew, ready to offer his thanks. However, as his eyes settled on the young man's face, he suddenly froze. He stared at Andrew for a long moment before murmuring in disbelief, "No… it can't be… but…" Luna blinked, startled. "Grandpa, what do you mean, 'can't be'?" She had rarely seen such a shaken expression on Montgomery's face. However, the latter simply shook his head and gave a small, bitter smile. "It's nothing. Just… some old memories suddenly came to mind." After that, he exchanged a few words of gratitude with Andrew. Clearly, the old man was exhausted, so Andrew wisely exc
Chapter 1016
Mosby stepped forward, his tone righteous and stern. "Kid, do you realize your needles nearly killed Mr. Phelan Senior?" Andrew, clearly irritated, snapped, "Bunch of backwoods mutts. You don't know anything, so get the hell out of my way!" The insult made Mosby and his crew fume with rage, their faces turning red with fury. Luna interjected quickly, "Andrew, forget about them for now. Just focus on my grandfather—what's going on with him?" Andrew pressed two fingers to Montgomery's chest with rapid precision. Two breaths later, the old man's color stabilized and stopped fading. Only then did Andrew carefully remove all the needles and finally speak. "The point of the needles was to dissolve the stones in his system, but at the same time, they temporarily sealed off his internal energy flow, so it was normal for him to feel a bit unwell during the process. "But an idiot pulled one out, which basically leaked his vital energy and essence. It's not life-threatening, but now h
Chapter 1015
Mosby and the others looked at each other, clearly baffled. "What a load of hocus pocus," someone muttered. "Mr. Phelan Senior has always been healthy as a horse, and now this guy's saying he's got lithiasis? He's clearly trying to stir up trouble." Another chimed in, "Ninefold Needles may look fancy, but in reality, there are very few situations where it's useful. And now this kid's using it to treat lithiasis? Honestly, it just looks like a performance piece to me!" As the group murmured in growing suspicion, Francis turned to Luna with doubt in his eyes. He asked, "Ms. Luna, you're not actually buying into this guy's nonsense, are you? "Dr. Lake's explanation made perfect sense—Mr. Phelan Senior's just got a mild cold and some digestive buildup. Some medicine to clear it out would've done the trick. There was no need for acupuncture or that ridiculous Ghostroot soup. Andrew's clearly just trying to show off and claim credit!" Francis looked visibly annoyed, his expressio
Chapter 1014
Francis spoke in a panic. "Ms. Luna, Mr. Phelan Senior isn't some average Joe—how could you let a complete nobody treat him out of nowhere?"Luna did not respond. Instead, her eyes stayed locked on Andrew's hands as he worked the needles. Every single needle landed with incredible precision, striking the right acupoints even through Montgomery's clothes. What really shocked her was how fast Andrew moved. Not only was he fast, but every needle hit exactly where it should. Luna did not know much about medicine, but her martial arts skills were exceptional, and she knew the human body like the back of her hand. To be able to locate such precise pressure points through clothing and do acupuncture quickly took some real skill. 'Maybe this guy actually knows a thing or two about medicine,' she thought to herself. Mosby and the others did not interrupt anymore. Instead, they all stared at Andrew's every move. "Dr. Lake, that acupuncture technique looks familiar, doesn't it?" asked
Chapter 1013
"Apologize?" Andrew sneered, scanning the room of so-called capital experts. "I wasn't wrong, so why should I apologize?" His words ignited the assembled professors and specialists who had been currying favor with the Phelan family. One shouted, "How dare you question Dr. Lake's diagnosis!" Another snapped, "Young man, don't think your superficial knowledge qualifies you to challenge us. Our combined medical expertise would take you lifetimes to learn!" "Young upstarts like you always lack patience," a third added with condescension. "Come back after ten years of serious study if you want to be taken seriously!" The group erupted in mocking laughter, as if debating Andrew was beneath them. Francis growled, "Ms. Luna, let me throw this trash out. He's completely unworthy to examine the Mr. Phelan Senior." Luna barely glanced at Andrew. To her, such mediocrity was not worth her attention. She decided to simply explain to Marvin later how hopeless his recommendation had been.
Chapter 1012
Someone joked, "Let's clear the room. With Dr. Lake here, the rest of us are just background decor." "Once Mr. Phelan Senior takes Dr. Lake's medicine, he'll recover in no time!" The chorus of flattery made Mosby smile. He tried to maintain his dignified image, but the praise still went to his head. He said, "You're all too kind. I just had a few extra years of study. Medicine is a vast field, and I'm sure you'll all reach greatness someday." His humble reply earned another round of admiration. Luna stepped forward, and she was actually smiling for once. "Dr. Lake, thank you for tending to my grandfather." Mosby flushed with pride. "Ms. Luna, it's my honor. Keeping Mr. Phelan Senior healthy is my privilege." The others quickly bowed to Luna as well. After all, she was the Phelan family's prodigy, the capital's undisputed genius—her military rank of major-general at such a young age rivaled even Chetvine's elite. Her status made her the capital's brightest star, outshining
Chapter 1011
Back when Montgomery was in Chetvine, he ran into trouble. In the end, it was Marvin who stepped in to help, and that was how the bond between their families began. Walking ahead, Luna asked, "How is Marvin doing these days?" Andrew replied, "Perfectly fine. He still puts away full plates at every meal. What worries me is his refusal to find a wife and settle down." Luna frowned. "You're his junior, and your flippant attitude displeases me. Moreover, an elder's affairs are none for you to casually judge." Andrew said flatly, "I'm speaking within reason. No issue here." Luna stopped walking and turned, her face icy. "Marvin once saved my grandfather's life. That's why I respect him. But you? All you've done is cause trouble and pick up bad habits. "Out of respect for Marvin, the Phelan family is willing to give you a place in the capital. But if you keep this lazy, hopeless attitude, we don't take in trash." Luna was never one to argue. After all, no one around her was wo
Chapter 1010
Luna said, "He's a guest Marvin personally recommended to the family—we can't treat him with disrespect. Francis grumbled as he lowered his hand. He clenched his jaw and said, "You're lucky Miss is composed and gracious. Otherwise, with that arrogant mouth of yours, you'd be in serious trouble by now." Andrew curled his lip. "Save the lecture. Just take me to see Mr. Phelan Senior. I've got more important things to do afterward." Luna's voice came quietly, cool as deep water. "Not so fast. You said my garden lacks elegance and composure. I'm curious—were you just trying to get attention, or do you actually know what you're talking about?" Andrew replied without hesitation. "I was totally bluffing. Don't know a thing, really. So let's not waste time. Take me to Mr. Phelan Senior already." Francis scoffed. "Miss, there's no point arguing with someone so half-baked. Just report back to Mr. Phelan Senior, then toss him out of the estate." Luna narrowed her eyes and said calmly,
