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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 44
Paul's trembling hand reached for the glass but quickly withdrew as if burned by its touch. Andrew watched him with an intriguing smile, remembering how this same executive had loudly proclaimed his loyalty earlier. Yet, here he was, stalling and reluctant to take action. One of the executives urged, "Mr. Clarke, what are you waiting for? We all drank our glasses. You're the only one left." Another executive frowned and chimed in, "We're all fine, so why are you being such a coward? Just down it in one go. What's the worst that could happen?" Paul's trembling only intensified at these words. For such a big, tough-looking man, he looked like he was about to burst into tears. "Mr. Rhodes, it seems you haven't drunk yours either," Andrew suddenly remarked with a smile. Michael scoffed and said, "I'm the Vice CEO of Rhodes Corporation and a member of the Rhodes family. I shouldn't have to participate in these ridiculous games." "If you're too scared to drink, then you must be t
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 45
Michael's hatred for Andrew reached its peak, furious that this pretty boy had completely destroyed his carefully laid plans. Suddenly, there was a loud crash as Paul's glass shattered on the floor. Then, he fell to his knees, begging Lauren for mercy through desperate cries. "Ms. Rhodes, I'm sorry! Please give me another chance! I truly regret what I did!" The other executives were caught off guard, but their surprise quickly turned into anger. "You're the culprit?" "You traitor! We defended you, and this is how you repay our trust?" "You must have lost your mind to try poisoning Ms. Rhodes! Go to hell!" Paul continued kneeling on the floor, sobbing, "Ms. Rhodes, I didn't want to do it… Someone forced me!" The room fell silent again as Andrew asked, "Who forced you?" Paul glanced nervously at Michael, hesitating to speak while Michael's already dark expression turned even more sinister. "Tell me who forced you, and I'll protect you," Lauren commanded icily.
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 46
In the conference room, Lauren asked everyone else to leave, leaving only Andrew and Francesca behind. "Lauren, did you know from the start that Paul was the culprit?" Francesca asked eagerly as soon as the room emptied. Lauren rolled her eyes and said, "If I had known it was him, I would've just had him arrested instead of setting up these theatrics." Francesca exclaimed in surprise, "So you didn't know who it was? But you acted like you did!" Lauren smiled and explained, "I didn't know, which was why Dr. Lloyd suggested this trick to force their hand. All I had to do was claim one glass was poisoned, and Paul cracked under the pressure." Francesca stared at Andrew, shocked. "I didn't expect you to be so cunning!" She was impressed by his ability to devise such a trick, which left the culprit with no choice but to surrender. "Although we found out it was Paul, we still fell one step short," Andrew remarked. Lauren's beautiful face hardened as she agreed, "Indeed. Tha
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 47
Finally, Michael understood Andrew's two-part strategy—the trap and the pressure play. Poor Paul had cracked under pressure and confessed, which Michael could understand. After all, anyone would be terrified to drink potentially poisoned water, which was also why Michael refused to drink it. However, he had underestimated Andrew, as none of the water was poisoned, and Lauren did not know who the culprit was. They had simply played a trick to force Paul into confessing. Just as his anger had begun to subside, Michael's face turned ashen as he clenched his fists again. The humiliation was overwhelming. He could not believe a mere gold-digger had played him, a Rhodes family heir, like a fool. Michael pulled out his phone and made a call. "Bane, didn't you say your poison was incurable except by you? Some small-time doctor just cured Lauren—you better explain this!" A sinister voice replied, "How's this possible? Mr. Rhodes, you must be mistaken. In Jayrodale, not even Cedric coul
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 48
Irene beamed at Harvey with obvious approval and commented, "Harvey, please take the seat of honor. Tonight's family dinner is all about you." Harvey maintained perfect etiquette, treating every Stevens family member with utmost politeness and respect. His behavior had everyone glowing with pride, convinced they had found the perfect addition to their family. "Seeing Harvey so popular and capable must be hard for you to watch," Christina remarked, suddenly appearing beside Andrew. Andrew smiled and said, "Congratulations on finding such an exceptional match. You've always dreamed of marrying into high society, and now you've achieved it." Christina's expression grew complex as she sighed. "Andrew, I've always known you're not a bad person. I'm not saying this to rub in your face. I just want you to learn from Harvey's admirable qualities. Even if you can't match his success, you could at least live with dignity." Andrew chuckled. "Are you saying I'll never be as successful as
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 49
Indeed, Andrew's wine looked unimpressive in its unlabeled bottle, lacking the luxurious packaging that fine wines typically boasted. Naturally, no one could take such plain presentation seriously. Irene snapped, "Andrew, you're such a fool. We're already generous by letting you join us for dinner, but Dad's too distinguished to drink your cheap wine. Take that embarrassment away from our table!" Andrew remained composed, saying, "I'll say it again—this is an exceptional wine. I've brought it to Mr. Stevens Senior many times, and it's been beneficial for his health." Leroy clicked his tongue and mocked, "Exceptional wine? You're really full of it, Andrew. Harvey, you should show him what real premium wine looks like." Harvey smiled, speaking modestly. "It's fine. Mr. Stevens Senior seems to enjoy Andrew's wine." Irene chuckled. "Harvey, you're too humble. Some people don't even come close to your class." Another family member chimed in, "Harvey's wine is absolutely top-s
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 50
Andrew calmly stated, "This isn't just some local wine, nor something any winery could produce." His statement only angered Irene, and she barked, "Andrew, would it kill you to stop bragging? If it's not local wine, what is it—some mythical elixir?" "Actually, yes, that's exactly what it is," Andrew replied, causing the entire Stevens family to freeze before erupting in laughter. They thought he was making a complete fool of himself with such an outrageous claim. Even Harvey could not help but smirk, feeling insulted that such a nobody would dare compare himself to someone of his status. Douglas gently patted Andrew on the shoulder and tried to comfort him. "Andy, even if our wine isn't the best, there's no need to compete. Remember: if you're truly exceptional, others will naturally recognize it." Andrew nodded. "Wise words, Mr. Stevens Senior. I'll keep them in mind." Christina shook her head, thinking how pathetic it was that Andrew could not even understand her grandfat
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 51
Andrew calmly brought out the remaining Divine Elixir, and Gerald's breathing quickened with excitement. He fought the urge to snatch the bottle from Andrew, exclaiming, "Oh my, there's still at least 250ml here! This would fetch nearly a million dollars on the market. You're quite generous!" "Uncle Gerald, is this cheap wine really as amazing as you're claiming?" Leroy asked skeptically. Gerald glared at him and scolded, "Foolish boy, don't speak about things you don't understand! The Divine Elixir is made from hundreds of rare medicinal herbs, fermented for seven days and nights in a private distillery. That's just the first step. It then needs to age in a cellar for at least 30 years before it can be opened. This particular bottle appears to be aged 80 years, so calling it liquid gold is an understatement!" Douglas laughed heartily and said, "I knew Andy wouldn't bring me anything but the best!" The Stevens family members stared greedily at Andrew's wine. "What an inc
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Chapter 1176
Yet, of all the fearless, reckless men they had encountered, neither Aspen nor Chantelle had ever seen anyone as stubbornly arrogant as Andrew. Both women were completely stunned, wondering where he even got the guts to say things like that. In this world, commoners fear officials—but officials? They fear the men with guns—the military. However, here was Andrew, treating a colonel like Xavier as if he were worthless weeds. It was utter madness—like a sparrow challenging an eagle, a lamb taunting a wolf. It was sheer recklessness bordering on suicide. With a thunderous swoosh, Xavier's massive broadsword came crashing down with enough force to split boulders and level trees. Just the murderous pressure from that swing made Chantelle's face go pale. She was starting to doubt if she could even stand up to Xavier herself. After all, Andrew looked like he was about to be torn in half by that blade. What infuriated her even more was that, at the height of danger, Andrew just st
Chapter 1175
"Colonel Haywood, you know full well that with your rank and position, you can't just go around killing people on a whim," Chantelle warned coldly. She added, "Besides, your friend Andarov used banned weaponry on Holtrien soil, which is a serious offense. You can be sure Mr. McCormick won't just let that slide." Left with no other option, Chantelle had to drop Derek's name to try to rein Xavier in. However, Xavier was not intimidated at all. His voice dripped with venom as he said, "Ms. Garcia, I respect Mr. McCormick—he governs this province, and I'll give him that. But do you think the Haywoods' name should be trampled like dirt? Especially by some no-name punk who doesn't know his place? "I'll chop him into pieces, and if I have to, I'll apologize to Mr. McCormick myself. But with the military accolades I've earned, the Haywood family's backing, and my deep ties in the defense department, killing this bug wouldn't even cause a blip on the radar." Chantelle's stomach twiste
Chapter 1174
Chantelle sneered, "All in all, you're just an ordinary man, a slave to your desires with a pathetically mediocre mind." She had finally caught an opening to hit Andrew where it hurt, and she was not about to waste it. Andrew chuckled. "Ms. Garcia, you really do live up to your title as a master of psychology. You got most of it right. But you still missed one tiny detail—like the fact that, right now, I've got a very clear image of your naked body in my mind." The bluntness of that line stunned Chantelle, and her expression twisted in outrage. She snapped, "Andrew! That was in the past—how dare you bring it up like it's nothing? Aren't you worried I'll kill you?" The usually cold woman was genuinely furious now. Andrew shrugged lazily. "I'm sitting right here, wounded and unarmed. Go ahead, kill me. But even if you did, you still wouldn't erase the fact that you once stripped bare in front of me." Chantelle raised her hand in fury but forced herself to lower it again with
Chapter 1173
Andrew was sitting on the lawn outside Serenity Villa, watching the crew from The Sovereign Residences repair his home. After the attack last night, it was a miracle the place was still standing—if the villa had not been built to the highest security standards, it would have been reduced to nothing but ash and rubble by the Srovika Federation mercenaries. Felix Daughtry, the security captain from The Sovereign Residences, a semi-martial king-level fighter, walked over with a grim expression and reported, "Mr. Lloyd, Serenity Villa took quite a hit. Full restoration might be difficult." Andrew glanced at him and said coldly, "I want it restored exactly as it was, and not just that—The Sovereign Residences will need to compensate me for all damages, including emotional distress. If that's too much, then I don't want the house anymore. I'll go to the press and let the world know just how useless your brand really is." Felix's face darkened, turning almost pitch black with anger. H
Chapter 1172
Since the night before, Xavier had been fully suited in military attire, standing vigilant and sleepless. He gripped a massive broadsword, and when the butler spoke, his voice was ice-cold. "Don't worry. Andarov won't fail me. That bastard Andrew is as good as dead." Though those were his words, doubt lingered in Xavier's mind. After all, Andarov never took this long to finish a kill. Nonetheless, the sun was rising—he should be back any minute now. Andarov, commander of the Blood Wolf Mercenaries, was ruthless and battle-hardened. Xavier met him while stationed overseas, and after several missions together, they became close allies. "With the entire Blood Wolf squad under him, it doesn't matter if Andrew has bodyguards. He won't last five minutes," Xavier sneered, confident. He was already planning the next steps—hold Seth's memorial as soon as Andarov returned, then introduce him to Luna to score even more clout. Having a famous international mercenary as a personal friend? E
Chapter 1171
At the Golding family estate, Elon exclaimed in disbelief, "What did you just say? Black Wolf is dead?" The butler, face tight with unease, replied, "Yes, sir. Early this morning, his body was found dumped in the sewer. The cause of death matched the last group of assassins perfectly. There's no doubt that it was Andrew who killed him." Elon's expression darkened instantly. "Even Black Wolf failed and ended up dead? Andrew... you've clearly been hiding more strength than we thought." The butler nodded gravely. "Sir, that man is definitely not some pawn on the board. Not only is Black Wolf gone, but the Srovika Federation mercenary commander the Haywoods brought in also died at Serenity Villa." Elon gasped. "Even Xavier's overseas hitman got wiped out? Are you absolutely sure?" The old butler's brow twitched. "Completely sure. This morning, both bodies—Black Wolf and the mercenary captain—were found side by side in the sewer on Blumedale's main street." Elon clenched his ja
Chapter 1170
On the ground, Black Wolf writhed in pain, howling in disbelief. He finally understood why that last squad of heavily armed mercenaries had vanished without a trace after storming Serenity Villa. This place was not just a house—it was a damn death trap. "Who sent you to kill me?" Andrew asked calmly as he twirled the dagger Black Wolf had dropped. Pinned down by Natasha and Dylan, Black Wolf was drenched in sweat, his shattered legs leaving him gasping in agony. He growled, "Why the hell should I tell you? You should know exactly who you've pissed off. Even if I'm in your hands, kid, if you lay a finger on me, the consequences—" Andrew did not let him finish. Instead, he drove the blade straight into Black Wolf's chest. Whatever threat Black Wolf was about to spit out died on his tongue. His eyes bulged in shock before his head slumped to the side—dead. "If you didn't have the sense to act like a prisoner, then I did you a favor and sent you straight to hell. Next time, try
Chapter 1169
Aspen could not help leaning closer to see what Andrew was doing. To her surprise, his breathing was steady—he was already asleep. She stared at him, both amused and annoyed as she thought, 'I'm lying right next to him, and he still manages to fall asleep? Am I not attractive enough? Or does this guy just not find me worth the effort?' That split second of realization triggered an unexpected wave of disappointment and frustration in her. … Meanwhile, outside Serenity Villa, a black figure moved silently across the ruined outer wall, climbing with inhuman ease. It was Black Wolf—Elon's secret weapon, a top-tier assassin with a reputation to match. A matte-finished blade dangled from his lips as he surveyed the building, swiftly memorizing the layout of the damaged villa. He was not alone. At least a dozen other men hid in the dark, surrounding the perimeter and lying in wait. Nonetheless, they were not predators, at least not to him. He scoffed, thinking, 'They're the bait,
Chapter 1168
Through the second half of the night, Serenity Villa remained eerily quiet. Chantelle stepped out from her lookout post and announced, "Looks like no one else is coming tonight. Everyone should get some rest." Andrew stopped her. "Hold up. You all stay on watch—I'll go rest." Chantelle narrowed her eyes. "Are you giving me orders like I'm your subordinate?" Andrew responded calmly, "Not at all. I just want to isolate myself and draw the next assassin in alone." Chantelle frowned. "So, you're planning to be alone in a room and give the assassin a shot at you? You're using yourself as bait?" Andrew replied, "Exactly. One mercenary commander from the Srovika Federation is dead, but with the Haywoods and Goldings both after my head, there's no way they'd just send one decent hitter and be done." Chantelle nodded. "That… makes sense. But you're injured. What happens if something unexpected comes up? Can you really handle it?" Before Andrew could answer, Aspen blurted, "It's
