Christina said, "I was trying to give you friendly advice, but if you won't listen, forget I said anything. I understand you might not have access to Mr. Yates, which is why you're pretending not to need his help." "Don't worry though. You helped me once, so even if you can't get Mr. Yates to speak up for you, I'll stand up for you if Mr. Huxley causes any trouble," she added. Andrew chuckled dismissively. "That won't be necessary. Stevens Corporation should focus on its own problems." Irene snorted. "What problems? Our company is thriving. Don't you dare spread rumors." Andrew gave a cold smile. "From what I hear, Harvey's drowning in debt and barely staying afloat. Stevens Corporation's investment is probably going down the drain. If I were you, I'd try to get that money back now to minimize losses." "That's bullshit!" Irene snapped. "Andrew, just admit you're jealous. Harvey just confirmed everything's on track. Once the paperwork comes through, Stevens Corporation will be

"You're making too big a deal out of this. Why bring me in for such a minor player?" Bane remarked. Michael scoffed. "Bane, you're oversimplifying things. To inherit Rhodes Corporation, I need to get rid of Lauren. With your help, eliminating her would have made my path to leadership smooth sailing, but then Andrew showed up and ruined everything. I can't even enjoy messing around with women anymore with this rage burning inside me." Bane nodded. "Fair enough. He has sparked my curiosity too. The fact that he could neutralize my poison shows more skill than that old fool Cedric—I'd like to meet him myself." Michael smiled coldly, confident in his plan. "With Lauren protecting him, I couldn't touch him directly. But now that Tony's involved, that punk is as good as dead." … Later that evening, Christina was preparing to leave the South City project office after a long day's work. "Christie, please buy me a Porsche. I'm begging you," Leroy pleaded, following behind her. Chr

Harvey knew exactly what kind of man Tony was, but there was a problem—he owed Tony millions and had no right to challenge East Side's crime boss. "Mrs. Stevens, don't worry. I'll handle this. How dare that old bastard touch Christie! He'll regret it for sure!" Despite his fear, Harvey's tone was full of bravado, acting as if Tony was beneath him. "I knew it!" Irene's tears turned into smiles. "With you stepping in, Harvey, even Tony will have to release her." "You can rest assured, Mrs. Stevens. Tony will have to respect the Weller family name, whether he likes it or not," Harvey promised confidently. After hanging up, Harvey's expression was replaced with, his previous confidence completely gone. "Tony, Christina is my woman. Do you actually think you can get to her before I do? That's not how this works!" Growing angrier by the second, Harvey's face contorted as he dialed Tony's number. "Mr. Madden Senior, even if I owe you money, you didn't have to take my woman. Pleas

Tony chuckled. "Of course, Mr. Blackwood. Even just having you here is worth every penny." Even though he said that, his heart ached at the cost. These martial arts masters had extraordinary skills but were also arrogant and greedy. Each job they took was like an excuse to extort the clients, draining them dry with every outrageous demand. Nonetheless, Tony's thoughts turned cold as he remembered the rumors circulating in Jayrodale's underworld—that he, the East Side crime lord, was a useless old man, and Juan was equally worthless. Both father and son had been humiliated by some nobody, tarnishing the reputation of East Side's ruler. The shame was simply unbearable, and Tony believed the only way to salvage his reputation was to eliminate Andrew. By doing so, he would restore his image as the unshakable ruler of the East Side. Just then, Christina was brought in. Her face turned pale at the sight of the hundred-plus thugs and the martial art masters seated at the front. "

Tony angrily shouted, "Are you making the call?" Christina's face was already drained of all color, her mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood. Even so, she stood her ground, weakly shaking her head. "No… I won't let Andrew walk into a… death trap because of me. You might as well… give up!" "Keep hitting her! Beat her to death if you have to!" Tony roared, his fury boiling over. The whip struck her back again and again, each lash more merciless than the last. Christina's body soon became a canvas of blood, her dress torn and stained as her skin broke under the relentless assault. She wailed in pain before passing out. Sitting beside Tony, Herman Blackwood, an elderly man with streaks of white in his hair, chuckled darkly. His voice was laced with malice as he said, "This one's got some backbone; I'll give her that." "But for someone like her, brute force alone won't break her spirit. I've got an idea that'll make her submit instantly." Tony was intrigued. "Wh