Rising from the Ashes

Chapter 2

In the elevator, Andrew opened the modest ring box. A dazzling pink diamond immediately caught the light, its brilliance filling the small space. This 7.5-million-dollar luxury ring was once known as the "King of Diamonds" of Jayrodale, truly one of a kind.

Andrew did not know exactly how much money was on the bank card, but he was sure it was enough to buy Stevens Corporations ten times over. Moments ago, Christina and Irene had not even bothered to look at these treasures, with Irene dismissing them as junk.

As the elevator doors opened, Andrew stepped out.

"Well, well, if it isn't Andrew! You don't look so good," a mocking voice greeted him.

Andrew calmly looked up to see a man in a tailored suit, his hair slicked back, holding a bouquet of blue roses. It was Shawn Fields, Jayrodale's infamous trust fund baby and one of Christina's most persistent admirers.

Not wanting to talk to him, Andrew tried to sidestep him, but Shawn moved to block his path again. Andrew's eyes turned cold as he stared directly at Shawn.

"Do you need something? If not, please move."

Shawn flashed an exaggerated grin. "Look, everyone, Christina's lapdog is actually barking at me! Let me guess, the Stevens family finally kicked you to the curb, huh?"

As he taunted Andrew, Shawn noticed the ring box in his hand. "This is probably some cheap trinket! As if Christina would ever want that. Let's all have a look!"

With a sneer, Shawn knocked the box from Andrew's hand, sending it clattering to the floor. The lid popped open, revealing a stunning pink diamond that rolled onto the floor.

Shawn's eyes widened in disbelief. "Isn't that… the famous pink diamond from Radiant Jewelers? The one they call the Jayrodale's King of Diamonds?"

He gasped and questioned, "It's a 7.5-million-dollar diamond? How the hell did you get your hands on that?"

The commotion drew the attention of Stevens Corporation employees and passersby. They gathered around, gawking at the jewel that had been the fantasy of countless women in Jayrodale, a dream gift from a Prince Charming that no one could afford.

Andrew calmly picked up the box and closed it, a cold glint in his eye. With things being over with Christina, he no longer felt the need to be polite to the parasites around her.

Shawn barked at his bodyguards, "Grab him! Make him tell us where he got that diamond. A nobody like him has no right to even touch it."

Yet, before the bodyguards could make a move, Andrew spun around and delivered a resounding slap across Shawn's face.

Shawn grunted, spitting out blood and a tooth as he flew back several meters, landing like a rag doll. His bloodshot eyes bulged in disbelief. He could not fathom how this former nobody had dared to lay a hand on him.

The two bodyguards were momentarily stunned by Andrew's strength, but they quickly regained their senses and charged forward with angry shouts. However, with just two swift punches, Andrew knocked them out cold before they could even make a sound.

Shawn was dumbfounded, wondering when this loser had become such a formidable fighter. The surrounding Stevens Corporation employees backed away in fear, shocked to see the usually gentle man turn so violent.

After casting a cold glance at the whimpering Shawn, Andrew strode away. Shortly after his departure, Christina and Irene arrived on the scene, alerted by the commotion.

"Oh, Shawn! Who dared to hurt you? Do they have a death wish?" Irene rushed to help Shawn up.

Holding his swollen face, Shawn snarled, "It was that loser Andrew! I swear I'll make him pay back tenfold for this!"

Irene immediately flew into a rage. "What? That bastard dared to offend you? I bet he was just bitter about Christina rejecting him. That useless piece of trash, I won't let him get away with this!"

Shawn's face lit up with joy, forgetting his pain. "Christina, is it true? Have you cut ties with that loser?"

Christina was not fond of Shawn and replied coldly, "My personal affairs are none of your concern. Tell me, why did Andrew hit you? He's not one to start fights without reason."

Shawn gritted his teeth. "Who knows what was going through that lunatic's mind? But Christina, you won't believe what I saw. That psycho stole the 'King of Diamonds' from Radiant Jewelers, that 7.5 million pink diamond, to try and impress you!"

Christina was taken aback. "What? Did you say he stole the 'King of Diamonds'?"

This particular gem was legendary in Jayrodale's high society, and Christina had secretly dreamed of wearing it on her wedding day.

Shawn insisted, "I saw it with my own eyes! Ask any of the employees here if you don't believe me. That guy's got a death wish, pulling a stunt like this!"

Christina frowned, skeptical. "As far as I know, Andrew might not be wealthy, but he'd never stoop to theft."

Shawn sneered, "It's precisely because he's poor that he resorted to stealing. Think about it, Christina. How else could a guy like him get his hands on that ring?"

Irene chimed in, "That's right, it must be stolen!"

Inwardly, she was kicking herself for returning that modest black box to Andrew earlier, not realizing it contained such a valuable gem.

Christina called over a few employees to inquire about the incident. Upon confirming that Andrew indeed had the King of Diamonds, her face clouded with anger.

"This is absolutely ridiculous. Andrew, being poor isn't shameful, but trying to impress me through theft only makes me despise you more!" In her anger, Christina pulled out her phone and began dialing.