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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 131
Those in the know understood that Andrew could easily fill the deputy chief position at Jayrodale General Hospital. With his exceptional medical skills, he could even handle being the chief doctor without breaking a sweat. Standing in his newly renovated office, Andrew sighed and said, "Ms. Rhodes, Dr. Aicker, I honestly have no interest in the deputy chief position." Lauren beamed with joy as she replied, "Dr. Lloyd, we know you don't care about these titles. However, Jayrodale General Hospital is our privately owned hospital, and leadership positions are based on ability, not seniority. The position of deputy chief suits you perfectly." Francesca chimed in with a smile, "If you want, I'll even hand over my position to you. I could step down as chief doctor and assist you instead." "Please, I'm already overwhelmed with the deputy chief role, let alone being the chief," Andrew replied with a wry smile. Lauren flashed a mischievous grin and teased, "Fran, why are you being so
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 132
Watching Bernard storm away as angrily as he had arrived, Francesca frowned. "Lauren, it seems Bernard still can't let go of his prejudice against Andrew." Lauren scoffed. "Who cares about him? Anyone who goes against Dr. Lloyd is bound to fail sooner or later." Francesca's expression turned serious. "Lauren, Mr. Bozzelli backs Bernard, and he has never really seen eye to eye with our families." "If Mr. Bozzelli is smart, he won't oppose us just to support someone like Bernard," Lauren said with a cold snort. The entire morning was quiet for Andrew. Since becoming deputy chief, he found himself less busy than when he was an attending physician, and both Lauren and Francesca had given him considerable autonomy. Unless the hospital encountered cases that were too challenging even for Francesca, Andrew only needed to step in during emergencies despite being Jayrodale General Hospital's ace. Christina called at noon, her tone notably distant as she said, "Mr. Lloyd, do you hav
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 133
An uncomfortable silence fell between them in the car. Finally, Christina broke the silence and asked, "Do you still hate me after all this time?" Andrew chuckled. "You're overthinking it, Ms. Stevens. Why would I hate you? I'm happy that you're getting married into such a prestigious family." Christina murmured, looking lost. "I can't tell what it is, but I don't feel any joy at all from Harvey's return and proposal." "That's your business, Ms. Stevens. It has nothing to do with me," Andrew replied coldly. "Can't you just listen to me?" Christina snapped in frustration. Andrew fixed her with an icy stare until she nervously looked away. "Look, I spent years listening to you, through your happiness and sadness, always quietly supporting you. But you chose another man's arms because you thought I was too ordinary for you. You made your choice, so whether it works out or not is your problem, not mine." Christina took a deep breath, her eyes regaining their determination. "No
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 134
Finally owning his own car, Andrew did not need Christina's help anymore. He stepped on the gas and headed straight for the South City project site, leaving Christina staring at the disappearing Porsche in frustration. Since their breakup, Andrew has shown less and less regard for her. His luxury car, the position as deputy chief at Jayrodale General Hospital, and the trust of billionaire Marvin, who made him an executive at Wealthroller Investments—all these titles combined made him seem just as impressive as her role as CEO of Stevens Corporation. 'Did I really misjudge him?' Christina could not help but wonder, her feelings mixed. Nonetheless, she quickly dismissed the thought, convincing herself that Andrew's success was due to others' help. Such a man could never be worthy of her, Christina Stevens. She needed someone who could genuinely impress her with genuine talent and ability, not someone riding on others' coattails. Christina and Andrew arrived at the South City pr
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 135
Andrew said dismissively, "I simply don't want useless people interfering with our partnership. Ms. Stevens, don't forget that I control half of this project." Irene and Leroy were fuming but did not dare speak up. They had hoped to profit from the project through Christina, their capable daughter and sister. However, they would have to back off if Andrew disagreed. "Mr. Lloyd, rest assured that my mother and brother won't receive any special treatment on the South City project," Christina stated firmly. "I know how to separate business from personal matters! Though I must say, your narrow-mindedness is quite disappointing," she added before walking into the office with a cold expression. Irene smirked. "Andrew, Christie is my daughter and Leroy's sister. An outsider like you can never compete with family, so give it up!" Andrew remained unfazed and smiled. "I finally understand why Christina can be so foolish sometimes—it runs in the family. You're all cut from the same clo
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 136
Settling back into the sofa, Conan smirked. "I'll let this slide since you're Ms. Stevens's brother, but let me give you a piece of advice, kid—don't judge people by appearances. Do you think I'd be this confident without backing?" Irene defended Leroy, saying, "Aren't you just another social climber? What's the big deal?" Conan snorted. "Old hag, you're just as blind as your son, aren't you? Why don't you ask Ms. Stevens if I'm worth the trouble? Without me, this South City project won't even get off the ground—I'll bet on that." Irene and Leroy glared at him, full of resentment and anger. Before they could respond, Christina snapped, "Mom, are you trying to ruin everything? Thrive Enterprise is our only reliable supplier for the materials we need. Or would you rather find me another supplier yourself?" Irene and Leroy fell silent, shrinking back. Conan smiled with satisfaction. "Ms. Stevens, you truly are a gem of our business world. Smart, capable, and beautiful—a rare
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 137
"Aren't your demands getting excessive, Mr. Huxley?" Christina's voice was strained with barely contained anger. Conan smiled, seemingly unfazed. "Don't get upset, Ms. Stevens. It pains my heart to see a beauty like you become Mr. Weller's woman soon. Can any of you imagine wanting something so badly, yet knowing it's forever out of reach?" Leroy snapped impatiently. "Just get to the point, Mr. Huxley. And remember, no one except Harvey is worthy of Christie." Conan chuckled. "You're absolutely right. Ms. Stevens and Mr. Weller are a perfect match. I'm not asking for much—I just want to share one intimate toast with Ms. Stevens, our faces close together. That's not too much to ask, is it?" Under the Stevens family's icy stares, Conan continued shamelessly, "Foreigners even kiss on the lips as a greeting, don't they? I'm just asking for one toast. I promise, just one." Christina was disgusted that after all his circling, his intentions were so crude. Without hesitation, she re
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 138
Christina felt utterly helpless. Even her position as CEO of Stevens Corporation meant little when dealing with shameless thugs like this. However, she was reluctant to call Harvey because she did not want to appear helpless and dependent on him for everything. Yet here she was, watching her mother and brother get assaulted right in front of her while their material supply deal evaporated. Stevens Corporation had lost on all fronts, gaining nothing but humiliation. As Conan reached the door, Andrew, who had remained silent until now, blocked his path. "Mr. Huxley, you can't just assault people and walk away like nothing happened." Conan raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "And who the hell are you? If you don't want to get hurt, I suggest you get out of my way." Andrew met his gaze without flinching. "I'm the other project manager. You're free to refuse our business, but attacking people on my turf crosses a line." Conan burst into exaggerated laughter. "Your turf? I crossed a l
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Chapter 1188
It felt to Tiana like she had fallen into a vast, unfamiliar net—one she had never experienced before. She was sinking, drifting, wanting to break free. Yet, she was addicted to the thrill of it all. All these conflicting emotions passed through her in the blink of an eye, though they were layered and complex. Meanwhile, Andrew was completely unaware of the chaotic thoughts swirling inside her. To him, this was just another straightforward medical procedure. He was careful and respectful. He only touched what he had to, avoiding sensitive areas entirely. As a doctor, Andrew had no sense of guilt about what he was doing. Illness knew no gender; treatment was treatment. That was how he saw it. Whether others saw it the same way was not his concern. He calmly explained, "Stimulating your pressure points with needles and smoothing the meridians with massage helped your condition today. "But in the end, to restore proper balance, you'll still need a medicinal remedy to regulate
Chapter 1187
Tiana flinched, both shocked and furious, but she had no chance of dodging him. Under Andrew's hand, she did not stand a chance. However, the loud smack that followed was not across her face—it landed squarely on a pressure point along her waist. A wave of sharp pain shot through her body like a crashing tide. She gasped, "Ah… Andrew, you… stop, that hurts…" A strange moan escaped her lips, echoing awkwardly in the quiet room. Andrew muttered under his breath, cursing her madness. Without wasting time, he lifted her up and laid her down across the bed. Tiana stared up at him in disbelief, her eyes wide—until he pulled out a slim, metallic object. A gleaming golden acupuncture needle. "Mrs. Rhodes, your speech is erratic, your energy's spiking. I'll give you a few needles to stabilize your condition," Andrew said calmly. With that, he plunged the first needle into a targeted spot on her body. Tiana's breath hitched as her lips parted, and her reaction was a mix of pai
Chapter 1186
"If you called me here just to ask something this ridiculous, Mrs. Rhodes, then I'll be going now," Andrew said flatly as he turned toward the door. He did not dare stay a second longer, worried Tiana might start acting crazy like she did last time. If things spiraled out of control and someone like Jameson walked in on them, not even a hundred confessions could clear his name. "Stop right there!" Tiana snapped, her brows raised in defiance. "What's the matter? Are you that scared of being alone with me?" Andrew paused and looked back, his brows still tightly furrowed. "Mrs. Rhodes, you and I both know this isn't appropriate." Tiana stepped forward with a graceful sway, a trace of perfume trailing in her wake as she stopped right beside him. Her lips curled in a playful smile. "What's not appropriate? Can't a mother-in-law spend a little one-on-one time with her future son-in-law?" Andrew fell silent, exasperated. "You said you weren't feeling well. If you need help, I'll tak
Chapter 1185
Andrew finally paid a visit to the Rhodes family. "Andy, you're here! Come in, have a seat," Jameson greeted warmly, his tone unusually enthusiastic. The way he looked at Andrew was not just the admiration of a family elder—it was the hopeful gaze of someone eyeing a perfect son-in-law. Lauren giggled behind her hand. "Andrew, you've become quite the welcome guest around here. Everyone in the Rhodes family is thrilled you came." Andrew glanced around casually and noticed several of the Rhodes family's core members smiling and nodding in greeting. A few girls around Lauren's age were sneaking glances his way, their cheeks tinged pink. Cecelia, the youngest among them, blurted out, "Andrew, when are you marrying Lauren?" Andrew laughed and replied, "Anytime works for me." Cecelia clapped her hands excitedly. "Great! Let's do the wedding today and the honeymoon tonight!" Jameson's eyes widened. "Cece! Stop saying nonsense!" His youngest daughter was a wild one—always blu
Chapter 1184
Logan nodded and smiled. "Andrew's medical skills really are rare. Medicine is a deep and complex field, and among the younger generation in Blumedale, hardly anyone has any decent understanding of it. "Even top talents like Joe Driscoll or Luna Phelan from the three major families are focused on martial arts. When it comes to healing, there's nothing to talk about." George beamed. "What makes Andrew truly special is that he's not only exceptional in medicine, but his martial prowess is also extraordinary. Just the fact that he's survived the joint manhunt from two powerful families already tells me he's not to be underestimated." Logan frowned. "There's a rumor going around that Andrew survived only because someone powerful is secretly protecting him." George scoffed. "That's just idle gossip from nobodies parroting what they hear. If Andrew were weak, no amount of backing could keep him alive. Logan, remember this—life throws us many challenges, but there's one hurdle you mus
Chapter 1183
Elon's face turned red from the scolding, and he muttered bitterly, "I mean, I might not be great, but I'm still better than Andrew, right? Are you really saying that in your eyes, your own son is worth less than that guy?" Richard let out a cold snort. "You really care about comparing yourself to him? Fine then—do you want the truth or a lie?" Elon shrank back at his father's sarcastic smile and mumbled, "The lie… I guess." Richard scoffed, "Alright. If it's lies you want, then sure—you're way more promising than Andrew. That guy doesn't even deserve to be compared to you." Elon's face twitched. He wanted to laugh, but the words tasted bitter in his mouth. The lie was that he was better than Andrew. But the truth? The truth was that compared to Andrew, he was absolutely nothing. The more he thought about it, the more he realized—either way, he came up short. So what was the point in choosing? He silently cursed, 'Damn it!' Richard folded his hands behind his back, his
Chapter 1182
"He's my sworn brother, then standing up for him—no matter the cost—is only right," Logan said firmly. Elon's face instantly darkened, and deep inside, a gnawing jealousy bubbled up. Despite being the most low-key of the Five Apex Families' younger generation, Logan was arguably the most terrifying. He was about to take over the Keller family, a rising powerhouse. The Haywoods had Xavier—young, sharp, and fierce in combat. The Wrights had Quinton—manipulative, cunning, and notorious for his ruthlessness. But Elon? He was… just Elon. He was overweight, lacked presence, and had just been publicly humiliated when word spread that his wife had cheated on him. His reputation was already slipping, and now he had become the joke of Blumedale's elite circle. Still, no matter how pathetic things seemed, Elon believed he was far better than the man Andrew was. In his eyes, they were not even in the same league. So, it burned him even more to see Logan—someone he had always tried to i
Chapter 1181
"Logan, don't you know Andrew killed my younger brother?" Xavier shouted furiously. It was understandable for Luna to speak up. After all, the Phelans owed Andrew a small favor—but now even the Keller family was interfering. If this continued, Andrew would not just remain unharmed; he would likely rise to prominence in Blumedale. Andrew's rise would be a direct slap in the face to the Haywoods, humiliating them beyond redemption. Roy spoke grimly, "Logan, you're set to lead the Keller family. You should know better than to blur right and wrong. Andrew repeatedly humiliated the Haywoods and even murdered Seth. Do you expect us to swallow such a huge insult?" Logan replied calmly, "Mr. Haywood Senior, you know exactly why things turned out this way. I hate to say it, but Seth brought his death upon himself. Andrew may be impulsive, but he's done nothing wrong in my eyes." "I'll say this only once: if the Haywoods continue their vendetta against him, the Keller family won't stan
Chapter 1180
Xavier said, "Uncle Jude, you're in charge of internal discipline. My request is simple—either throw those losers out of the Haywoods and make them manage some backwater branch, or I'll kill them myself. And I doubt anyone in the family would object." Jude's eyelids twitched violently as he cursed the brats under his breath. Out loud, though, he nodded quickly and replied, "Don't worry, Xavier. I'll make sure they're kicked out of the family for good. They won't even get close to the front gate again." Xavier snorted and walked off, leaving Jude staring at his back, shaking his head. Jude muttered to himself, "Xavier… you really are the pride of the Haywoods. But you're spoiled by your status. With your father as the family head and all the elders favoring you, you've always kept the other branches under your heel. "That's understandable since you're the future heir and our strongest fighter among the younger generations. But the fact remains—you made a public promise and faile
