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Chapter 1
Chapter 1
"I'm sorry, Andrew, but I can't marry you!" Christina Stevens declared coldly in the CEO's office of Stevens Corporation. She sat behind her desk, looking elegant in a black lace dress, her demeanor icy and aloof.Across from her sat a handsome man in modest attire. Andrew Lloyd could not believe what he was hearing and asked, "Christie, what do you mean? What happened to the promise between us?"They had agreed to tie the knot on the day Stevens Corporation went public, marking the end of their three-year courtship."Since we've been dating each other, I'll be frank," Christina replied, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her stunning features exuded grace and beauty with every movement."Andrew, don't you think the gap between us has grown too wide? It's like we're from different worlds now. Forcing this relationship won't do you any good. For me, it would beโฆ a burden."A burden?Andrew was stunned, never expecting Christina to say such a thing. If it had not been for his help, the Stevens family would have gone bankrupt long ago, let alone gone public. In fact, he had shaped Christina's success with his own hands."I know this decision is hard for you to accept. How about this? Consider it a debt I owe you. After we cancel the wedding, I'll give you a settlementโcash, a villa, and a luxury car. That should be enough for you to live comfortably."Christina pulled out a pen and checkbook from her designer purse as she spoke.Andrew watched in silence as she wrote down the figure: 1.2 million. He felt as if he was looking at a stranger."Is this all our years together are worth to you? Just a string of numbers?" Andrew asked.Christina's perfect features flickered with complexity for a moment before settling back into indifference. "If you think it's not enough, I can add more. Name your price."Andrew stared at her, pain evident in his eyes at how Christina had mistaken his question for thinking it was not enough."So, you're dead set on backing out of this marriage?"Christina pressed her lips together and turned to look out the window. "If that's how you want to see it, I have nothing more to say," she replied.She was a female CEO with a net worth of over 150 million dollars, with countless admirers in Jayrodale. Andrew, from any angle, did not fit into her world anymore. Not even on an intellectual level.This marriage was not what Christina wantedโit was too ordinary for her tastes."I never thought years of love, countless nights together, and all those breakfasts and dinners I made would ultimately lose to the fear of being ordinary. It's no surpriseโyou're now the CEO of Stevens Corporation, Jayrodale's golden girl, with countless admirers. And me? I'm just a nobody, clearly not worthy of the outstanding Ms. Stevens."Andrew chuckled bitterly, feeling utterly disheartened.Christina's brow furrowed as she glanced at him. "Andrew, I admit you've done a lot for me, but thisโฆ it's not what I want. Forget it. I know you won't understand, no matter how much I explain. Take the money. Consider it compensation for your efforts over the years," Christina said as she pushed the check toward him.Andrew did not even look at the check. "A 1.2 million dollars breakup fee? How generous of you, Ms. Stevens. But I don't need it."He stood up and walked toward the door.Seeing Andrew about to leave, Christina's frown deepened. "Andrew, I strongly advise you to take this money. Don't be a fool for the sake of pride. A small-time doctor like you could never earn this much in a lifetime."Andrew ignored her words. In truth, 1.2 million dollars was not a sum he particularly needed."Hold it right there," a voice called out. A woman dripping in jewelry and wearing flashy makeup strode into the room.Andrew immediately recognized her. "Aunt Irene!"It was Christina's mother, Irene Cowellโwho would have been Andrew's mother-in-law."Hmph, drop the 'Aunt Irene', we're not that close! If you're leaving, take your things with you. Our mansion has no room for your junk," Irene barked.She pulled a small box and a credit card from her purse and tossed them at Andrew. The warmth that had briefly appeared on his face was instantly replaced by a cold expression.It was the engagement ring he had carefully chosen for Christina, along with the money he had saved for their wedding. Even if the marriage was broken off, there was no need to hurt his feelings."Aunt Irene, you wanted this too? I thought I've always treated you with respect."Irene let out a harsh laugh, her voice grating. "What's the matter, Andrew? Did I hit a nerve?""Mom, watch your mouth!" Christina snapped, her brow furrowing.However, Irene was on a roll. "Why should I? He's nothing but a dreamer chasing the impossible. Does he think he can marry into our family? Not a chance!""Oh, Andrew, there's one more thing you should know. Christina will soon be engaged to Harvey Weller once he returns from abroad. You're not in the same league as Harvey, got it?" Irene's face was full of mockery as she said those.Andrew looked at Christina icily. He was shocked at her audacity to find someone new before she even ended things with him.Christina avoided Andrew's cold gaze, but her words were firm. "The Weller family is a powerhouse in Jayrodale, with influence across military, political, and business sectors. They've worked for generations to become one of the city's unshakeable pillars. Harvey will inherit it all one day. An alliance between our families is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For me, it's a chance to transform my life."At those words, Andrew finally let go. He smiled and replied, "Is that so? Well then, allow this poor nobody to wish you and the Stevens family all the best in your social climbing endeavors."With that, he walked out without another glance, showing no trace of attachment.As she watched Andrew's retreating figure, Christina felt a whirlwind of emotions. She had expected him to explode with anger or beg her to reconsider when he heard about Harvey. Yet, throughout it all, Andrew had remained unnervingly calm, even indifferent at the end."Mom, do you think I went too far?"Irene scoffed. "Too far? That good-for-nothing thinking he could marry youโnow that's going too far!" She chuckled with a gleam in her eye. "Just wait until Harvey gets back, sweetie. Once you two are engaged, the Stevens family will skyrocket to the top tier of Jayrodale society. As for Andrew, he's nothing. Thankfully, he knows better than to mess with me and is cooperative. Otherwise, I would've taught him a lesson he'd never forget!"Christina remained silent, feeling an inexplicable emptiness in her chest. It was as if something irreplaceable had suddenly vanished from her life.
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Rising from the Ashesย ย ย Chapter 1806
Victoria remained completely unmoved by his outburst. "Since you know that Andrew is his son, who gave you the courage to shout at him like that?" Her words carried a hint of subtle mockery. Calvin's face turned bright red as he suddenly straightened his back defiantly. "I can't match that bastard Reginald, and I wouldn't dare cross him! But his son, Andrew? I don't take him seriously at all! If I wanted to, do you really think I couldn't destroy that little bastard Andrew?" For the first time, Victoria's calm expression changed. She began laughing hysterically, doubled over as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the entire world. "Calvin, oh Calvin, you're nothing but a cowardly bully who's all bark and no bite. You think you could actually kill Andrew? Like father, like son. Do you really think Andrew is someone you can mess with? Haven't you learned enough from the lesson he gave you last time?" She continued, "And do you even know his true identity? Let me enlighte
Rising from the Ashesย ย ย Chapter 1805
Back then, the Wright family was also one of the Five Apex Families. Yet, their situation was totally different now. Kevin had died a violent death, while Yara had taken over and was now desperately trying to please Andrew. Since the Peck family was arrogant and looked down on him, why should Andrew try to win their favor? After he left, Miles and Liliana walked into the living room together. "Dad, it's the middle of the day, and you're drunk again?" Liliana pinched her nose in disgust. Calvin tilted his head back and took another swig of alcohol, slurring, "D-Don't tell me what to do! I'm your father and the head of the Peck family! Who the hell dares to lecture me? You're digging your own grave!" Miles's eyes shifted and landed on the porcelain bottle Andrew had left behind. He picked it up and held it out in front of Calvin. "Dad, Mr. Lloyd left this here. It looks like he's actively trying to make peace with our Peck family. You should take it. Maybe it's a good opportuni
Rising from the Ashesย ย ย Chapter 1804
Therefore, Victoria was now the one truly running the Peck family. Any forces that wanted to move against the Peck family were wary of Victoria, not Calvin. It had never had anything to do with him in the first place.Thinking about that, Andrew originally planned to leave right after seeing Victoria, like he had always done. But this time, he paused. He reached into his coat and touched the two bottles of pills he had brought with him, then took the initiative to ask if he could meet Calvin.Liliana sneered. "What game are you trying to play now? My dad is the head of the Peck family. You think you can just see him whenever you want?"Miles, on the other hand, was much more courteous. "Liliana, that's enough. Mr. Lloyd, may I ask what business you have with my father?"Andrew smiled casually. "Nothing too special. I just heard that the Peck family is also sending people to Goldridge this time. So I thought I'd touch base with Mr. Peck Senior, maybe we could travel together."Mil
Rising from the Ashesย ย ย Chapter 1803
With their trip to Goldridge coming up tomorrow, Andrew had some free time and decided to head over to the Rhodes residence for a quick visit. After that, he made a stop at the Peck residence to check in on Victoria. Both Tiana and Victoria had reminded him to be cautious during this trip. The Southern Martial Union's main headquarters were located in Goldridge, and it had always been known as a hotbed of drama. This organization oversaw martial artists across all southern provinces, and its leader, Jerome, was nothing short of a powerhouse. Though Gabo Creek province was not far away from Goldridge, bringing Lauren and the other two girls along meant Andrew had to stay even more alert. Jerome held a selection for his inner disciples every year, and chaos followed. The spots for inner disciples were extremely limited. Yet, countless families and martial sects sent their people to compete for Jerome's attention. The competition for these coveted positions often led to intense r
Rising from the Ashesย ย ย Chapter 1802
Andrew looked puzzled. "Which thing?" Chantelle let out a cold laugh. "You have way too many girlfriends, and they all live together! I'm worried your stamina won't hold up, and you'll get completely drained one day. Anyway, I need to head back now." She added, "You better get your body in shape because eventually, I'm moving into Serenity Villa too. I don't care how much time you spend with Lauren, Francesca, and Aspen, but you're going to give me the exact same amount! Otherwise, I'll march straight to the governor's office and tell them you're a con artist who seduces women!" After making this fierce declaration, she yanked open the door and stormed out. Andrew felt completely helpless. These women were all trouble, every single one of them. They were like human vacuum cleaners when it came to draining his energy. They appeared so elegant and refined in public, so gentle and graceful. Yet, once they got into bed, they all turned into wild horses that could not be tamed.
Rising from the Ashesย ย ย Chapter 1801
The climax hit Chantelle like a freight train, completely out of nowhere. She wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. She gritted her teeth so hard that it nearly cracked her molars. "Andrew, I swear, I'm going to hate you for life!" She snapped, "Now go find me something to change into! How the hell am I supposed to face anyone looking like this?" Andrew gave her a helpless smile. "And where exactly am I supposed to find a spare pair of pants for you? Couldn't you have held it in just a little?" Chantelle felt her head buzzing with disbelief. She stared at Andrew in shock. "What did you just say? Hold it in? You jerk, this is all because of you! It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't done that to me! Tell me, how exactly am I supposed to hold it in?" She was completely flustered now, rambling without control. Andrew's comment was unbelievable. Eventually, with a sigh, he went downstairs to search for something. Her build was close to that of Lauren since both were ta
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Prince Afaah
Please make Christina rise small. She did not kill anyone. She just broke a heart that should have been her heaven ticket
Montana Kaily
๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ 1-2600 โโะผัััฮฑgัััโโะผัโโฮนะธโโะผััััะธgัษพษพโโ
Montana Kaily
๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ 1-2600 โโะผัััฮฑgัััโโะผัโโฮนะธโโะผััััะธgัษพษพโโ
Montana Kaily
๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ 1-2600 โโะผัััฮฑgัััโโะผัโโฮนะธโโะผััััะธgัษพษพโโ
Montana Kaily
๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ 1-4700 โโะผัััฮฑgัััโโะผัโโฮนะธโโะผััััะธgัษพษพโโ
Montana Kaily
๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ 1-4700 โโะผัััฮฑgัััโโะผัโโแปะธโโะผััััะธgัษพษพโโ
Onuja Abdulazeez
Of what importance is this review/rating? we lay our complains and you do nothing about it. You make us only access 6 to 8 chapters in a day as the case maybe, that's if one do all the tasks. The funniest thing is the length of the ads, at most the length should not exceed 15 sec. but almost a min?
Wisdom Kartey
okay, you did great by uploading more chapters.
Wisdom Kartey
I always say he just doesn't want us to be reading anymore. You upload just 6 chapters. That's unfair to us, your fans... Besides, we also pay, and yet, you won't bother answering our request..
Sam Sam
please upload more chapters and do away with 6 chapters atleast bring it up to 10 chapters per day. we are also paying..
Ryan Ondiga
Give me more of the Shiloh Greene character, she sure does play her part with perfection, like how she dealt with Tiana for schooling her, ............, absolutely good stuff
Seth Kim
Good one.. Liked reading though the only demerit is chapter inadequate..
Alomatsi Lawrence
This book is very good, this is how I want my protagonist to behave. An apha man not a simp who still beg for ex to accept him. Pls author never deviate from your story line.
Petrous Kobla
Excellent ... book, but am starting to feel bored because of the short chapters their post.At least post 12 chapters every day, that will be better
Nhlanhla Motsamai
The way this book is so super cool, I think you should make a movie series about these book, imagine all this action being put into casting or acting wow......๏ธ...