Andrew chuckled and said, "Mr. Giordano, you truly exude an air of authority. Your composure and dominance are impressive." Atlas scowled impatiently. "Cut the flattery, kid. If you've got something to say, just say it." He continued, "I know well that Natasha and Dylan practically follow your lead now. When it comes to scheming, you're the real mastermind here." Andrew quickly waved his hands and replied, "Oh, you're thinking too highly of me." He lowered his voice and added, "I just wanted to let you know, Mr. Giordano, that back in the lounge at West End Manor, I noticed something interesting in Mr. Moore and Ms. Fuller's glasses." He smirked slyly. "It's a rare substance called cantharides. Rumor has it, once a man and woman ingest it, the only way to ‘work it out' is through an intense… physical session to get rid of its effect—" Atlas could not take it anymore and shut Andrew off. "Enough! Shut your damn mouth! Don't say another word!" The fury and humiliation he h

Andrew, Natasha, and Dylan returned to West End with their respective entourages. Andrew said, "Dylan, I don't think I need to handle the rest of Madam Vostokoff's business." The chaos he had stirred up was more than enough, and he had no intention of meddling further in the underworld. Dylan nodded. "Mr. Lloyd, you've already done far more than enough for us. Madam Vostokoff and I can handle the rest without troubling you further." Natasha chuckled. "Darling, you even managed to divide Atlas and Finley for us. Why not see it through to the end? How about taking Atlas out entirely for us?" Andrew shook his head without hesitation. "You know my rules, Natasha. I've already done more than enough, far exceeding the value of that so-called medicinal herb you offered me. Isn't it a bit excessive to keep asking for more?" Dylan quickly agreed. "Madam Vostokoff, Mr. Lloyd has gone above and beyond for us. Asking him for anything more wouldn't just break the rules—it would make us

Lauren's words caught Andrew off guard, and he stammered, "W-What? No, you…" He had assumed Lauren had uncovered some hidden truth or had some brilliant insight. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect her to come up with such an absurd and melodramatic theory. Meanwhile, Lauren looked utterly confident, her face glowing with satisfaction. "Mr. Yates is nearly 60 now and has never married—that's no secret in Jayrodale's elite circles! Everyone finds it strange that a man with such immense wealth hasn't taken a wife, or even had a mistress, second wife, or a random fling." She leaned in conspiratorially. "There's been plenty of speculation that Mr. Yates must've had a secret family hidden away somewhere. But because he's never said anything publicly, no one dares to gossip too much." Lauren paused dramatically and grinned. "I used to think Mr. Yates was just really good at keeping his private life private. But after getting to know you, and the more I've learned about you…"

The next morning, Andrew arrived at Jayrodale General Hospital bright and early. As the deputy chief, his workload was typically light, and he often joked that his role was more symbolic than hands-on. Though the hospital was the largest in Jayrodale, it was privately owned, granting Andrew significant freedom. Unless there was a particularly complex case or a challenging surgery, he rarely had to step in, thanks to Francesca and Lauren's help managing the load. "Good morning, Dr. Lloyd!" The vibrant and cheerful nurses greeted him warmly as he walked through the corridors. Andrew smiled back and replied, "Good morning, everyone!" The most beautiful nurse in the hospital was Nyla, widely regarded as the belle of the department. When she saw Andrew, her face turned bright red, and she quickly lowered her gaze, clearly flustered. Andrew gave her a polite smile before stepping into the elevator to head to his office. Hospitals were known for being breeding grounds for gos

In the car, Francesca called Lauren and spent several minutes chatting in hushed tones. When she hung up, her face showed clear disappointment. She said with a sigh, "It's a shame Lauren can't join us. We had planned to attend the showcase together with you, Andrew, but the Rhodes family has been keeping a close eye on her lately. She'll have to skip it this time." Andrew could not help but think back to Jerry and the others from the day before. While they claimed to be there to pick Lauren up, their behavior seemed more like they were monitoring her. Cedric chimed in, "The Rhodes family recently had an important guest arrive from the Blumedale. Lauren is probably tied up entertaining them, which is why she couldn't come along." The three of them chatted casually as they drove, eventually arriving at Jayrodale's most famous antique district. The streets were already packed with people, forcing Andrew to park the car several blocks away. Cedric glanced around at the bustling c