In Simon's eyes, Andrew was nothing more than someone trying to show off beyond his means. The presence of Natasha and Dylan at the grand opening of "Moonlit Apothecary" surely came at a hefty price. To him, it was clear—Andrew had spent a fortune just to get these big shots to show up and boost his event. Without the money, Simon believed they would not even glance in Andrew's direction. Feeling like he had figured everything out, Simon grew more dismissive, even letting out a cold laugh. However, his smirk faded when he saw the Rhodes family delegation arrive, led by Tiana herself, a woman with a legendary reputation. If that was not shocking enough, Simon's jaw dropped further as Jayrodale's mayor, Mark, stepped out of his car with his secretary, grinning warmly, he walked over to congratulate Andrew. "Unbelievable," Simon muttered to himself, his jealousy and frustration rising. "Have these big shots really stooped so low to show up here for Andrew? Don't they care about

Cedric was shaking with rage. He raised his hand, ready to strike Simon, who sneered in defiance. "Mr, Aicker, look around. So many people are watching. Are you sure you want to cut ties with me right here?" Simon's voice dripped with arrogance. He continued, "If you do, by tomorrow morning, every major and minor power in Jayrodale will know that the Aicker family has splintered. Do you really think you can handle the consequences of that scandal? Without me, the Aickers won't even be relevant anymore!" Simon's bitter words were laced with hatred and conceit. Cedric quivered with fury and hissed through gritted teeth, "You've gone mad! You're blinded by greed and ambition. As soon as we return to the Aicker residence, you'll pack your things and leave. From this day forward, you are no longer my apprentice!" Simon's face contorted with rage. "Fine! You want me gone? Then give me Fran as my wife, and pass the leadership of the Aickers to me. Otherwise, I won't leave!" "Do y

Andrew responded calmly, "Mrs. Rhodes, you're quite funny. Guests like these don't come just because of money!" Tiana glanced around the scene, taking in the notable faces. "Hmm, impressive. Dylan and Natasha, the two ruling powers of Jayrodale, are here. Cedric and Francesca showed up too. Even Mr. Thatcher made an appearance. Mr. Lloyd, you certainly have influence." Lauren beamed with pride and interjected, "Dr. Lloyd has a wide network. He once saved Mr. Thatcher's life." Tiana's smile quickly faded, and she sneered. "It's all because of Marvin's connections. They're just here to keep up appearances. You might not see it, Lauren, but that doesn't mean I'm blind to what's really going on." Just then, a sleek Rolls-Royce quietly pulled up by the curb. An elderly man dressed in a distinguished robe stepped out, immediately drawing a stir from the crowd. "Is that Mr. Yates? Wow! Even the wealthiest man in Jayrodale showed up to support Moonlit Apothecary." "Yeah, and Mrs. R

Tiana maintained her composure out of respect and nodded slightly. "Please, have a seat," she said, signaling Cedric to join them. Marvin chuckled and chimed in, "Cedric, you're different from Mrs. Rhodes here. Your granddaughter Fran is running around just as much as Lauren, but you don't seem to mind it one bit." Cedric stroked his beard with a content smile. "A little hard work never hurt anyone. Once this medical center gets going, I plan to have Fran here often to lend a hand. Working alongside Dr. Lloyd will be invaluable for improving her medical expertise." Marvin grinned and glanced at Tiana. "See, Mrs. Rhodes? That's what I call vision. Sure, the girls are hustling around and probably exhausted, but they're happy. And frankly, Mr. Lloyd seems to have that kind of charm, doesn't he?" Tiana's jaw clenched as she spat through gritted teeth, "Nonsense!" Both Cedric and Marvin shared an awkward look, knowing how touchy Tiana could be. Despite their equal standing in age

Tiana smirked, and it was obvious from her tone that she was eager to watch Andrew embarrass himself. She said, "With the way the Madblade Martial Academy operates, it's impossible for this Moonlit Apothecary to get through the day without some trouble. Even with you sitting here, Marvin, I bet Andrew will end up with a few slaps across the face." Marvin chuckled coldly. "If they dare cause trouble, I'll have a word with Vince. We'll see if his academy is tougher than my Wealthroller Investments." Cedric scoffed. "Vince has gone into seclusion to focus on martial arts training. If anyone's leading this charge, it'll be his son, Rodney. That brat is trouble." Vince, the academy's founder and an infamous martial arts master, had long been feared for his domineering presence in Jayrodale's martial arts scene. Tiana's eyes glinted with amusement. "Ah, Rodney, huh? With his temper, bloodshed seems inevitable today." Down among the crowd, many underground figures eyed the academy