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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 157
Andrew scoffed without saying a word. Francesca assumed he was just talking tough since wiping out all of East Side seemed impossible. Well, at least she had never dared to imagine it. Just then, her phone rang with a call from Lauren. As soon as the call was connected, Lauren asked urgently, "Fran, something huge happened. Is Dr. Lloyd with you?" "Yes, he is. What happened?" Lauren's voice was deadly serious. "Ask Dr. Lloyd if he's responsible for eliminating the entire East Side and Tony." The question hit Francesca like a thunderbolt. Forgetting Lauren on the phone, she stared at Andrew in shock. She stammered, "Y-You actually destroyed Tony and all of East Side's criminal empire? How did you do it?" Before Andrew could answer, the hospital room door burst open. Irene rushed in, followed by other members of the Stevens family and Harvey. "Christie, Christie, are you okay? My baby, there's so much blood! How badly are you hurt?" Irene wailed, throwing herself beside th
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 158
Just then, Harvey chimed in, "Andrew, I used to consider you a friend for Christie's sake. But now you've gotten her hurt like this; I'm officially warning you to stay away from her, or else." His posture and tone suggested he was some noble protector, acting as if he would move heaven and earth for Christina's sake. Andrew's response was a cold laugh. "Oh, now you dare show your face? When Christina was in trouble, you were hiding away, acting all cowardly. Now that I've rescued her, you're here running your mouth. Aren't you ashamed?" "Who told you I didn't help when Christie was in trouble?" Harvey snorted. "Do you think Mr. Garner and Mr. Yates stepped in for no reason?" "Now you've got nothing to say, do you?" Irene sneered at Andrew. "It was Harvey who got Mr. Garner and Mr. Yates to deal with Tony." Andrew smiled wryly. "Is that what Harvey told the Stevens family, or just what you've assumed?" "That's none of your business," Irene snapped. "The point is, Christie'
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 159
Nonetheless, Harvey looked at the bright side of the situation. At least with Tony dead, he would never have to repay those millions owed to East Side. Just then, Christina stirred in her hospital bed, her face contorted in pain as she mumbled something. Irene immediately leaned in closer. "What is it, Christie? I'm here." "Help me… Please help me!" Christina whispered faintly. "I'm sorry, Andrew… I'm so sorry!" Though she was just talking in her sleep, Irene turned to Harvey with a smile. "Harvey, she's asking you to save her and calling your name! See? She's thinking of you even in her dreams!" Harvey's heart leaped as he rushed forward to take Christina's hand. "Don't be afraid, Christie. I'm here. I'll protect you from anything. You're my everything." However, as soon as he grabbed her hand, Christina began struggling in her sleep. "You're not Andrew… Let go of me! Andrew, Andrew, where are you? I'm sorry. Can you save me?" Harvey's face darkened instantly. The other
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 160
Andrew quickly removed his hand from Christina's, feeling awkward. Francesca raised an eyebrow and asked, "Ms. Stevens is in such a vulnerable state right now. You're not falling for her again, are you?" "It's not like that at all," Andrew replied wearily. "She got hurt because of me, so it's my responsibility to help her recover." "That better be all it is," Francesca warned. "You know Lauren would be heartbroken if you got back together with Ms. Stevens. I think you know that better than anyone." "Why are you bringing up Ms. Rhodes?" Andrew groaned. "That's completely unrelated." "Don't play dumb—it's totally related," Francesca snapped. "Everyone can see Lauren has feelings for you. If you break her heart, you're nothing but a jerk." Andrew wisely chose not to argue, knowing it would only make things worse. This irritated Francesca even more. "Well? What are your plans with Lauren?" "Ms. Rhodes has helped me a lot, and she's beautiful and kind. I consider her a good f
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 161
Lauren's heart sank, but her face remained cold and distant. She declared firmly, "No one has the right to decide about my marriage except me." Michael let out a scornful laugh. "I knew you'd resist, but it's pointless. This arranged marriage has been approved by the head of the family and the Rhodes Corporation board members. You have no choice in the matter, whether you object or not." With a mocking glance, Michael walked away. Lauren sat back in her chair, feeling helpless as she mumbled, "Even after everything, I still can't escape being another steppingstone for the family's expansion…" Her gaze flashed with determination as she continued, "The Driscoll family might be powerful, but I refuse to accept this arrangement!" However, it did not last long. The light in Lauren's eyes quickly dimmed as she let out a bitter laugh. She wondered aloud, mumbling, "What about his feelings for me? These past few days, he's completely focused on Christina, ignoring me. Perhaps Mic
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 162
After being hospitalized at the Jayrodale General Hospital for three days, Christina finally regained consciousness. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the luxurious private ward, where a tall figure in a white coat was busy working with his back turned to her. His handsome profile was serious and striking, just as gorgeous as she remembered. Suddenly, Andrew turned around and said, "You're finally awake." Christina quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks flushing. "Yes, I am." Andrew replied. "That's good news. I'll notify your family that you can be discharged." Christina frowned, hurt evident in her voice. "Are you that eager to see me leave now that I'm awake?" Andrew stared at her directly. "What else would you have me do? Am I supposed to beg you to say?" Christina fell silent for a long moment before speaking through gritted teeth. "Andrew, why does every conversation between us have to turn into an argument fill
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 163
After a moment's hesitation, Christina said, "Harvey, I have some questions I'd like to ask you. If you're uncomfortable answering, I won't press the matter." Harvey's heart skipped a beat, but he forced a smile. "Christie, darling, there's nothing you can't ask me. I've always been completely honest with you." Andrew secretly scoffed, realizing Christina had finally noticed some of Harvey's suspicious behavior. However, it was no longer his concern. "Tony mentioned that you owed him millions when he kidnapped me," Christina said carefully. "Harvey, is that true?" Harvey immediately denied it. "Absolutely not. It's completely false. Tony is nothing but a common thug. As a member of the Weller family and one of Jayrodale's elite, I wouldn't even speak with someone like him, let alone owe him money." Irene chuckled. "Christie, you silly girl! The Wellers are old money, and Harvey was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. People owe him money, not the other way around." The
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 164
Andrew's sudden comment instantly darkened the mood for the Stevens family and Harvey. Harvey replied with a scowl, "As I said before—I was busy calling in favors and gathering support the moment Christie was taken. Andrew, what's the point of constantly criticizing me?" "Even if you were gathering support, that wouldn't prevent you from answering your phone," Andrew shot back with a cold smile. "Or was the support story just a cover because you were too scared of Tony to do anything?" Harvey's face darkened even further because Andrew had hit the nail on the head. When Tony had disrespected and mocked him earlier, Harvey had spent hours fuming helplessly. Owing Tony millions, he dared not confront him, let alone demand anything from Tony. "Andrew, you're just a small-time doctor. I'm letting this slide for Christie's sake," Harvey said smoothly. "You may not understand the extent of my family's power from your limited perspective, but those who know, know." Though seething w
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Chapter 1194
Justin instantly sensed something was about to spiral. He rushed forward and tried to defuse the tension. "Mr. Hopkins, please calm down. We're all just here to have a nice dinner—no need for this." Archie clutched his swollen cheek, his face twisted with rage. "Calm down? Get out of my face! If you say another word, I'll end you too!" Justin flinched and quickly backed off, no longer daring to speak. However, as he glanced toward the Rhodes family, his eyes burned with resentment. He cursed them for being foolish. Despite knowing they could not go up against the Hopkins, they still had to throw punches. He could not help but think they were just asking for it. Lauren's voice rang out cold and firm. "Mr. Hopkins, what are you trying to do? Start a war?" Archie bellowed with laughter. "Big mouth on you, you little bitch! With your trashy Rhodes family, you're not even qualified to go to war with the Hopkins!" He sneered, eyes gleaming. "But don't worry—I'm not just gonna tak
Chapter 1193
Justin's face twisted in discomfort, but before he could say anything, a loud voice boomed across the entrance. "Mr. McGrath, you can step back! If Mrs. Rhodes wants to dine in our Celestial Suite, then she's more than welcome!" As the voice faded, a burly man with a thick beard strode over. The giant crystal ring on his hand and the heavy gold chain across his chest made it clear—this man was rich, but absolutely tasteless. Jameson snorted coldly. "The Hopkins family sure has some nerve, snatching up someone else's reservation like it's nothing." Archie Hopkins cracked a wide grin, revealing a mouth full of blackened teeth, and laughed without a care. "Mr. Rhodes, you sound way too naive!" Archie shrugged and said, "In this world, it's all about money and muscle. The Hopkins family's got both. So stealing a little dining room from the Rhodes family? It's nothing." Tiana's voice turned icy. "Since you're admitting it's theft, then do us a favor and get the hell out." Arch
Chapter 1192
The place Jameson picked for dinner was one of the most well-known upscale restaurants in Blumedale—The Palace. "Andy, you might not know this, but around here, this spot is top-tier," Jameson said as he adjusted his tailored suit and smiled. He added, "It's not like I'm trying to flaunt my wealth or anything. But sometimes, even if you don't care for appearances, you've still got to show up with style!" Andrew chuckled and replied, "Mr. Rhodes, I get what you're saying." Tiana spoke up coolly, "Jameson, no need to put on this kind of show in front of Andrew. Otherwise, you'll just end up looking ridiculous. This guy probably poops in places you haven't even dreamed of stepping into." Jameson froze for a second, clearly shocked. "Well now, Tiana, you're really singing Andy's praises today. Could it be… the classic case of a mother-in-law who's starting to really like her son-in-law?" Tiana gave a snort. "This has nothing to do with liking him. I'm just telling the truth."
Chapter 1191
Lauren said, "Funny thing, Andrew—you probably don't know this, but my mom's been all about dressing up lately. For the longest time, I only ever saw her in simple outfits. She never really cared about appearances. "But now, she's all glammed up and polished! If you didn't know better, you'd think she was dating someone!" Andrew did not know how to respond, so he stayed quiet. He had a pretty good idea why Tiana suddenly started caring about her looks. It was probably because his presence reminded her of her first love—his father. Even though he was not the man himself, they were still father and son. Much like Aspen, Tiana clearly had something not quite right going on in her head. Only someone like her could project her feelings for a man onto his son. Nonetheless, no matter how he looked at it, Andrew just could not shake the weirdness of it all. After all, this woman was supposed to be his future mother-in-law, and yet, she was just a little off. Not that Tiana acted c
Chapter 1190
"Andrew, my mom didn't give you a hard time, did she?" Lauren asked as they stepped into the Rhodes residence's front parlor. She had noticed right away that Andrew did not look so great. "It's fine. Your mother was… gracious enough," Andrew said with a small smile. There was no need to bring up Tiana's moment of madness—it was better buried. Jameson chuckled. "Andy, sorry to trouble you again! But today wasn't just about getting your help with her condition." Lauren beamed. "That's right, Andrew. Now that you're part of the family, you're not an outsider anymore. So, Dad planned a little family dinner. We thought we'd introduce you to some people too, help you make some connections around Blumedale." Jameson added, "Exactly! And I heard from Lauren that you've been looking for some rare medicinal herbs. Well, turns out, I know some folks who might be holding on to a few." Andrew nodded thoughtfully. "I am looking for rare herbs, that's true. But as for opening doors, Mr.
Chapter 1189
Truthfully, Tiana was by far the most challenging woman Andrew had ever dealt with. He could not hit her or offend her. To make things worse, she was Lauren's mother and Jameson's wife. No matter what insanity she pulled, Andrew could not actually do anything to her. Seeing Andrew so obviously trapped, Tiana felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. She chuckled smugly. "Andrew, you're the Dragon Prince of the Lloyds. There's no way I could ever win against you—not in a million years. "But you lost the moment you started dating my daughter. I'm your mother-in-law. That means I can mess with you, tease you, and you won't be able to lift a finger." Andrew replied evenly, "You're right—I can't fight you. But if I can't win, I can still walk away." Tiana waved her hand. "Alright, alright. Let's stop arguing. Just promise me one thing—what happened here today stays between us. Lauren can never find out." Andrew let out a dry laugh. "You're only worried about Lauren? What ab
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
