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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
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 165
"Mom, please stop it with the flattery—there are people here," Christina said uncomfortably. Then, she asked, "Harvey, has the paperwork on the East Side redevelopment investment you mentioned earlier been approved? What's the status?" Harvey immediately broke into a confident smile. "You're right, Christie. The documents have been officially approved. I was planning to surprise you when you woke up, but you beat it to me." "Does this mean my 15-million-dollar investment return is coming?" Irene asked excitedly. Leroy chimed in eagerly, "Harvey, don't forget about me! I'm not as greedy as Mom—just a few million will do. I'll immediately buy a Bugatti, and it'll make someone's cheap car look like trash." He shot a deliberate smirk at Andrew as he spoke. Andrew ignored the fool who was counting on the East Side investment money to buy a luxury car. In fact, these two idiots would be lucky if they had enough money left to buy even a meal when this was all over. Harvey said
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 166
Harvey shot Andrew a cold smirk, determined to put him in his place. "Andrew, I kindly offered to let you in on this investment opportunity to help you make some money. Too bad you didn't take advantage of it. Are you having regrets now?" The Stevens family members joined in with mocking laughter, eager to curry favor with Harvey. One mocked, "Don't waste your time on lost causes, Mr. Weller. Some people are destined to stay poor forever." "Next time there's easy money to be made, count me in, Mr. Weller! Unlike certain idiots, I won't turn down free money," another chimed in. "Exactly, Mr. Weller! You should just tell us and not waste time on those losers!" "Remember how you called us all fools, Andrew?" Irene gloated. "How does it feel now? Jealous?" Andrew let out a mocking laugh. "Jealous of you all losing everything by falling for this scam?" Leroy taunted, "Classic sour grapes. Just wait until the money comes in—I'll make sure to drive my new Bugatti past you so yo
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 167
Harvey stated confidently, "You just mentioned the new development zone. If it's not East Side, where else could it be? Let's turn on the TV and watch the news. I'm sure the media will be calling me, the biggest winner, for interviews any minute now!" Then, he lounged back, feeling smug. Leroy rushed to turn on the TV like an eager puppy, and the Stevens family watched intently, brimming with excitement. Someone muttered, "Wait… that doesn't look like the East Side!" "It's not East Side. It looks more like West End." "Yeah, it's definitely West End—that run-down area with all the cheap land around it. The city tried to sell it before, but no one was stupid enough to take it," another commented. The Stevens family members quickly realized something was wrong. The payments being discussed on TV were not for the East Side at all, but for the West End—the complete opposite side of town. Cold sweat broke out on Harvey's forehead, though he tried to maintain his composure. "Ah, W
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 168
Harvey stood frozen, muttering, "How could this happen? This isn't right… This can't be right…" He was completely floored by the news as he had invested everything he had, even borrowing money and convincing the Stevens family to contribute their savings. He had planned to pay them back a token amount from the payout money and keep the lion's share for himself. Yet, he was in an even worse financial position than before. For a fleeting moment, Harvey genuinely thought about just ending it all. "Harvey, what's going on?" Christina asked, her voice heavy with disappointment. "Did your family's inside information turn out to be wrong, or were you just gambling blindly?" Harvey's attempt at a smile looked more like a grimace. "Christie, please believe me, we really did have inside information. I wouldn't have—" "I don't believe anything you say anymore," Christina cut him off. "Mr. Thatcher made it clear—we've lost everything." Irene shouted, "Harvey, I don't care what it t
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 169
Meeting Christina's disappointed gaze, Harvey backed down from his rage. He could not let his prize slip away—he wanted both Christina and Stevens Corporation in his grasp. Then again, there was nothing he could do now. All the money was gone, lost in a terrible investment. In a way, he had nothing left except his status as the Weller family heir. Christina said, "Mom, stop pressuring Harvey. What's done is done, and we'll find another way to deal with the money situation." Despite her words, Harvey's pathetic, impotent rage made her realize for the first time that perhaps he was not as perfect as she had imagined. Meanwhile, Francesca seemed entirely indifferent to everyone's mood. With a bright smile, she turned to Andrew and said, "Dr. Lloyd, did you know Lauren bought you a big chunk of land in West End during the planning phase?" Her eyes sparkled as she added, "Congratulations! You're officially a millionaire now." Andrew was surprised that Lauren had allocated so mu
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 170
Francesca snapped, "Let go of Dr. Lloyd right now, Harvey. You blindly led the Stevens family into disaster. How's that his fault? If you're so tough, why don't you take it out on them instead?" Harvey gritted his teeth. "You must've used some underhanded methods to get lucky with West End, right?" Andrew replied mockingly, "Wow, Harvey, you've got me all figured out. Yes, we used some so-called 'clever tricks'—that's how we made bank while you got left in the dust." Harvey roared, "You're just a powerless, insignificant doctor! Where did you get your information about the West End?" Andrew chuckled. "Oh, you know, just asked around town. Everyone knew about it. I'm surprised you didn't, Harvey—you must be losing your touch." "Are you messing with me? Do you have a death wish?" Harvey snarled, waving his fist threateningly in front of Andrew's face. "Harvey!" Francesca barked, stepping forward. "If you dare lay a finger on our deputy chief, I'll make sure you don't leav
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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
