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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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 50
Andrew calmly stated, "This isn't just some local wine, nor something any winery could produce." His statement only angered Irene, and she barked, "Andrew, would it kill you to stop bragging? If it's not local wine, what is it—some mythical elixir?" "Actually, yes, that's exactly what it is," Andrew replied, causing the entire Stevens family to freeze before erupting in laughter. They thought he was making a complete fool of himself with such an outrageous claim. Even Harvey could not help but smirk, feeling insulted that such a nobody would dare compare himself to someone of his status. Douglas gently patted Andrew on the shoulder and tried to comfort him. "Andy, even if our wine isn't the best, there's no need to compete. Remember: if you're truly exceptional, others will naturally recognize it." Andrew nodded. "Wise words, Mr. Stevens Senior. I'll keep them in mind." Christina shook her head, thinking how pathetic it was that Andrew could not even understand her grandfat
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Chapter 1048
"Mr. McCormick would like to see you both. Please come with me," the man said politely. Andrew's smile froze for a second, and he silently cursed, 'Damn it.' Aspen quickly covered her mouth, nearly bursting into laughter. This guy thought he could just pocket the cash and sneak out? Not a chance. Just when one wave had passed, another one hit. Derek himself had extended the invitation, and there was no way Andrew could slip away now. "Well then, if Mr. McCormick is asking, of course we'll go. Please, lead the way," Andrew said with a suave smile, his composure quickly returning. Aspen shot him a sideways glare, part irritated, part amused. She thought, 'Keep pretending, Mr. Calm-and-Collected.' … Inside a spacious and stately conference room, Derek sat at the head of the long table, observing everyone entering. Andrew and Aspen were the last to walk in. Once seated, Derek smiled and said, "There's nothing urgent. I just wanted to speak to you all briefly. The government
Chapter 1047
Andrew chuckled as he waved at the group. "Mr. Golding Senior, gentlemen—if you'll excuse me, I need to step away for a moment." Richard and the others chuckled and quickly gestured for him to go ahead, assuring him he did not need to be formal. However, the moment Andrew walked away, all their smiles vanished. "Now that kid's taken our money, he better move heaven and earth to get us those miracle pills. I don't care what it takes." "Exactly. Our money doesn't come easy. He better not get cocky." "Relax. From my perspective, Mr. Lloyd actually knows his stuff. Most people wouldn't have such detailed insight into those two pills." That last comment came from Richard himself. He looked calm and confident, completely in control. Since someone as influential as Richard was this certain, the other moguls finally smiled as well. Truth be told, none of them had been willing to hand Andrew money so casually at first. However, because Richard made the first move, they followed. A
Chapter 1046
It was not that Richard and the others were gullible or easy to fool. It was just that the offer Andrew had laid on the table was simply too tempting to resist. These two miracle supplements were not just on the radar of the Five Apex Families—even the Three Titans of the capital were probably drooling over them. Meanwhile, Andrew was not just a middleman—he was the one holding the cards. If his words did not stir the room, then nobody else's would even matter. "Mr. Golding Senior, transferring funds this early? Isn't that a little too soon?" Andrew said, looking hesitant. Richard waved it off with a generous tone. "What's the problem? Mr. Lloyd, don't worry. This 100 million isn't about the deal—it's simply my way of building friendships. Even if you end up not working with the Golding family, just consider this a goodwill gift between friends." As head of one of the Five Apex Families, Richard's words and actions naturally carried extra weight. Andrew gave a warm smile. "We
Chapter 1045
Andrew spoke with ease and confidence. "To be honest with you all, the Vitality Pill and Titan Essence Pill are hot commodities around Jayrodale. "From what I know, both miracle supplements came from a medical institute called Moonlit Apothecary. Ever since they hit the market, they've exploded in popularity, and it's no surprise a lot of people have been trying to get their hands on them. "Hidden Dragons was the first to make a move, and as for the capital, those shameless Wrights were the quickest to act—but from the looks of it, they walked away empty-handed." While speaking, Andrew intentionally glanced at Richard, who was smiling politely. Richard immediately nodded. "Mr. Lloyd is right. These two miracle drugs indeed came out of a place called Moonlit Apothecary." The other tycoons chimed in quickly after. "Mr. Lloyd sure knows a lot of behind-the-scenes details. He even knew the Wrights tried to swoop in early on those pills." "Right now, there's no bigger business
Chapter 1044
Aspen's legs had already gone numb, and she could not even find the strength to move. She thought Andrew was too bold, too outrageous. Talking to those powerhouses in that tone was practically asking to get smacked down. However, the very next second, her ears caught something completely unexpected—eager voices calling out to stop him. "Hey, young man, hold on! We may have been a bit rude just now!" A man said, "Supreme Capital Group, was it? No hard feelings, alright? The name's impressive—I'll have my secretary reach out first thing tomorrow." "Mr. Lloyd, since you're already here, come chat with us. You mentioned partnering up to make money, right? That's exactly the kind of thing we love to hear!" Another chimed in, "You actually secured Jayrodale's Vitality Pill and the legendary Titan Essence Pill? Mr. Lloyd, clearly you're full of surprises. We're impressed!" Two of the bigwigs even rushed forward and grabbed Andrew's arm, afraid he might slip away. Aspen stood the
Chapter 1043
Nowadays, among the wealthy and the ultra-rich, there were barely any whose fortune came from a spotless, clean slate. Aspen stood frozen, utterly shocked. The same legacy heads and well-known moguls she had always looked up to were now casually spitting out crude, foul-mouthed complaints like street punks. Their behavior was downright disappointing—definitely not what she had imagined of the elite. Just then, Andrew cleared his throat with a light cough. The powerful men instantly went quiet and turned toward him, their faces filled with annoyance. "Sorry, this is a private circle. We don't welcome outsiders," one stern-looking middle-aged man said coldly. Andrew smiled and replied, "My apologies for interrupting. I'm Andrew Lloyd from Supreme Capital Group. It's my first time bringing business to the capital, and I was hoping to have a chat with you gentlemen." The group immediately burst out laughing. "Supreme Capital Group? What kind of backwater scam company is that? N
Chapter 1042
After all the moguls, elites, and legacy families finished flexing their generosity at the charity event, the venue transitioned into a lavish buffet-style dinner. With her stunning looks and classy aura, Aspen turned heads everywhere she went. She held a glass of red wine and chatted gracefully with several older men, most balding and sporting sizable beer bellies. Meanwhile, Andrew looked utterly bored. He had filled a plate with food and was sitting alone, eating away like he had not had a proper meal in days. Aspen caught a glimpse of him across the room and nearly lost it. She was working her tail off trying to network and promote Supreme Capital Group, while this so-called CEO was sitting on the sidelines, stuffing his face and acting like none of it mattered. She could not help but wonder what he was even thinking. Ignoring Andrew's protests, she marched over, grabbed his arm, and dragged him across the room to introduce him to a balding man named Harry Dunham. "Mr. Du
Chapter 1041
Aspen said, "But you're the CEO. So, what do you think? Should we just make a casual gesture and write a check for a million? Or should we step it up a notch, maybe throw in roughly eight million to try and make a name for our company?" Andrew shook his head and said, "Eight million? That's not enough. It lacks impact." Aspen was stunned. "That's still not enough? Come on, this is just a regular charity event. Even those filthy rich legacy families only drop five million tops, just to show some goodwill. And you think even eight million isn't enough? "If we go too high, we'll end up at the top of the donor list and stand out way too much. That kind of attention might actually backfire." She clearly disagreed with Andrew's idea. However, Andrew waved it off. "Don't overthink it. Just spend the money. I'll deal with the consequences. Screw it, let's just go with 50 million." Aspen froze, completely in disbelief. "50 million? Are you out of your mind? If we go that high, ther
Chapter 1040
Not long after Andrew and Aspen arrived, a middle-aged man in a formal robe stepped onto the stage and addressed the room. "Thank you all for coming to the capital's official charity event. As always, I'm Derek McCormick. No long speeches—everyone, just show your sincerity. I hope we can all give something back and help those struggling in the poorer regions of Gabo Creek Province." He did not say much—just brief sentences—before setting down the mic and stepping off. And yet, no one had a single complaint. On the contrary, the room erupted into applause, with waves of praise echoing throughout the hall. The reason was simple: the man was Derek McCormick, Governor of Gabo Creek—one of the highest-ranking officials in the province. He was a true regional powerhouse. Andrew nodded with interest. "You can tell. The guy actually seems like a good leader." Aspen rolled her eyes with a half-laugh. "Can you not act like that? Mr. McCormick is way above your league, and you talk like
