Harvey grew even more delighted, bursting into laughter. "What's wrong? Did I strike a nerve? Did I dig into that dark, shameful corner of your heart?" He mocked, "Christina, are you finally realizing what a complete fool you've been? Do you feel like the pathetic woman who brought this all on herself? Andrew treated you well and gave the Stevens family respect, but you were too blind to appreciate it—you pushed him away. "And now, look at you. The Stevens family is struggling at every turn, surviving only because you're clinging to the Bridgefields' Stevens family for dear life. That's why when Aspen was crushed the moment she stepped into Jayrodale, your family had to bite their tongue and endure it." His voice turned colder, eyes glinting with malice as he continued to tear into her. "But if Andrew were still around, things would be different. The Stevens family would have grown much stronger by now, and you wouldn't be in this mess. But too bad—Andrew isn't yours anymore. H

Aspen gave a satisfied nod. "That's the spirit. That's the Christie I know. Don't worry. With me by your side, Stevens Corporation will rise stronger than ever." Christina forced a weak smile. "Yeah… at this point, the only way I can reclaim my dignity is through my career. I'll make Andrew see that I'm not a quitter. I'll catch up to him—and surpass him." Aspen's eyes gleamed with a cold, twisted amusement. In her mind, Andrew was probably already rotting six feet under, completely unaware of the foolish Christina's self-pity. Still, she could tell that Andrew's brutal truth had shattered Christina's confidence. Well, killing Andrew had at least served the purpose of giving Christina a sense of closure. … Meanwhile, Andrew had no idea that Christina was drowning in regret and disbelief, teetering on the edge of an emotional breakdown. Then again, why would he care? To him, whether Christina's well-being was none of his concern anymore. He strolled into the Moonlit Apothec

Aspen was in disbelief. After all, she thought Gordon was supposed to have already killed Andrew. Hence, there was no way Andrew could still be alive. Aspen's mind spiraled into chaos. Her breathing grew ragged, and her thoughts twisted in every possible direction. She even wondered if it were Andrew's ghost, a vengeful spirit coming back from the grave. Her trembling fingers fumbled for her phone as dread coiled tighter around her chest. She quickly called Gordon's number, only to find that his phone had been turned off. Aspen's heart skipped a beat. She already knew it would not go through, but she kept dialing anyway—again and again. She tried more than a dozen times, and each time, she was met with the same automated response that the number was unavailable. Frustration exploded within her, and she screamed, "Gordon! What the hell is going on? Are you dead or alive? Can't you give me a damn sign?" The silence that followed was deafening. Nothing about this made sense. A

Aspen did not say a word. Her lips trembled as she crouched down, reaching toward the skeleton. Her fingers found the metal ring resting on the bony remains of a hand. She pulled it free, her breath catching in her throat. It was a signet ring—made of reinforced alloy, untouched by the decay around it. Etched into the surface was a single word: Woods. Aspen's mind went blank for a moment before a wave of dread crashed over her. She mumbled, "Mr. Woods… is dead." Her heart pounded erratically as the truth she had tried so hard to deny solidified into cold, undeniable reality. That ring was Gordon's—a personal item he never went anywhere without. Yet, here it was, buried with this broken, rotting corpse. The implications were crystal clear. Jackie stumbled back, his face deathly pale. "W-Who the hell did this? Who the hell in Jayrodale is capable of taking him down?" Bruce sucked in a sharp breath. "Miss, t-this has to be Mr. Woods. There's no mistake. We need to inform the f

Andrew smiled warmly. "Fran, you've really thought this through. What does Mr. Aicker think about it?" Francesca nodded. "Grandpa agreed, but he asked me to check with you first. The Moonlit Apothecary is yours, after all. He doesn't want to come here uninvited and cause trouble." He continued, "He's also worried people might start gossiping that the Aickers are trying to take over your medical center." Andrew's expression turned serious. "If Mr. Aicker feels that way, he's being way too polite. Tell him the doors of the Moonlit Apothecary will always be open to him. Anytime he wants to come by, he's more than welcome. He won't just be a guest—he'll be part of this place." Francesca's eyes lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, Andrew! Honestly, Grandpa's always wanted to run a medical center like this—something prestigious and respected. But our family's been struggling for years. Grandpa's been saving every penny for Simon and us younger ones. He couldn't bear to spend the money