Tony let out a sinister laugh. "What's the matter? Getting scared now? Weren't you acting tough just a minute ago?" Andrew smiled. "I'm not scared. I'm just suggesting we could resolve this peacefully. What do you think?" Tony laughed, his tone mocking. "Resolve this peacefully? This isn't over until you're in pieces! Get on your knees, cripple yourself, and beg for Juan's forgiveness. Maybe then we'll talk." Tony relaxed back in his chair, lit a cigar, and began blowing smoke rings. Lauren frowned. "Mr. Madden Senior, you're being unreasonable. We can treat Juan's injuries and discuss this like civilized people." "Tony, it's better to end feuds than escalate them," Dylan added gravely. "The three of us are willing to make amends. Isn't that enough?" Tony scoffed. "This loser dared to come to my territory and challenge me. Do you think I'll let him walk out of the East Side alive? That's ridiculous." Andrew chimed in, "I agree. I gave you a chance for peace, but you're t
Andrew sneered. "Well, are we doing this the hard way?" Tony was on the verge of losing it. He barked, "Shut up and let go of Juan! If you do, I'll let you walk out of here. Now, get lost! All of you!" Andrew said calmly, "Ms. Rhodes, Dylan, Dr. Aicker—let's go." Dylan did not move. "Mr. Lloyd, don't trust Tony. The moment we leave, he'll order his men to surround us." Andrew turned to Tony with a smile. "You'd better not try that. I've hit a pressure point in Juan's body that could be fatal." He continued, "If we can't leave safely, believe me, your idiot son will be the first to die." Tony's expression fell again. He had indeed planned to order his hundreds of thugs to beat up these bastards the moment Andrew released Juan. However, he had not expected Andrew to be one step ahead. "Are we really going to let this punk walk away just like this?" one of his trusted men shouted in frustration. "When has East Side ever taken such a huge loss?" Tony replied grimly, "What
Lauren said with disgust, "Last time at the racetrack, it was that bastard who pushed Juan to start trouble. While the Wellers may be one of Jayrodale's elite families, Harvey is nothing but a scheming snake." Dylan snorted. "Mr. Lloyd, would you like me to arrange something and teach that little punk Harvey a lesson?" Andrew responded calmly, "Not yet. If he continues to act foolishly and crosses my path one day, I'll make sure he understands the meaning of regret." Lauren's eyes sparkled as she smiled at Andrew. Her man was becoming more commanding by the day. Without making a show of it, he had both the legendary Aicker family and Dylan's people on his side. She could not help but wonder how Christina could have ever let go of someone with such capabilities. … That night, Tony was destined for a sleepless night. As he massaged his throbbing forehead, he asked, "Well? Have they figured out how to fix Juan's condition?" His trusted man replied anxiously, "Mr. Madden Seni
Tony muttered, "Andrew Lloyd, Andrew Lloyd…" Then, he slapped Bernard so hard it sent him flying across the room. He spat, "Are you out of your damn mind? You think you can mess with me?" Bernard was stunned and protested, "Mr. Madden Senior, I'm telling the truth! Why are you hitting me?" He tried to be helpful, but Tony was not only ungrateful, but he was also violent. Bernard wanted to leave and just let Juan die. Tony snarled, "Why am I hitting you? You idiot, that bastard Andrew is the one who put Juan in this condition!" "What? He did this to Mr. Madden?" Bernard's jaw dropped as he finally understood why Tony had slapped him. He had unknowingly poked at Tony's fresh wound, so maybe he deserved that slap after all. "Mr. Madden Senior, if Mr. Madden's condition was really caused by him, then we're in serious trouble," Bernard said gravely after collecting himself. Tony snorted. "What do you mean trouble? With my connections and power, do you think I'm just going to
Those in the know understood that Andrew could easily fill the deputy chief position at Jayrodale General Hospital. With his exceptional medical skills, he could even handle being the chief doctor without breaking a sweat. Standing in his newly renovated office, Andrew sighed and said, "Ms. Rhodes, Dr. Aicker, I honestly have no interest in the deputy chief position." Lauren beamed with joy as she replied, "Dr. Lloyd, we know you don't care about these titles. However, Jayrodale General Hospital is our privately owned hospital, and leadership positions are based on ability, not seniority. The position of deputy chief suits you perfectly." Francesca chimed in with a smile, "If you want, I'll even hand over my position to you. I could step down as chief doctor and assist you instead." "Please, I'm already overwhelmed with the deputy chief role, let alone being the chief," Andrew replied with a wry smile. Lauren flashed a mischievous grin and teased, "Fran, why are you being so
Watching Bernard storm away as angrily as he had arrived, Francesca frowned. "Lauren, it seems Bernard still can't let go of his prejudice against Andrew." Lauren scoffed. "Who cares about him? Anyone who goes against Dr. Lloyd is bound to fail sooner or later." Francesca's expression turned serious. "Lauren, Mr. Bozzelli backs Bernard, and he has never really seen eye to eye with our families." "If Mr. Bozzelli is smart, he won't oppose us just to support someone like Bernard," Lauren said with a cold snort. The entire morning was quiet for Andrew. Since becoming deputy chief, he found himself less busy than when he was an attending physician, and both Lauren and Francesca had given him considerable autonomy. Unless the hospital encountered cases that were too challenging even for Francesca, Andrew only needed to step in during emergencies despite being Jayrodale General Hospital's ace. Christina called at noon, her tone notably distant as she said, "Mr. Lloyd, do you hav
An uncomfortable silence fell between them in the car. Finally, Christina broke the silence and asked, "Do you still hate me after all this time?" Andrew chuckled. "You're overthinking it, Ms. Stevens. Why would I hate you? I'm happy that you're getting married into such a prestigious family." Christina murmured, looking lost. "I can't tell what it is, but I don't feel any joy at all from Harvey's return and proposal." "That's your business, Ms. Stevens. It has nothing to do with me," Andrew replied coldly. "Can't you just listen to me?" Christina snapped in frustration. Andrew fixed her with an icy stare until she nervously looked away. "Look, I spent years listening to you, through your happiness and sadness, always quietly supporting you. But you chose another man's arms because you thought I was too ordinary for you. You made your choice, so whether it works out or not is your problem, not mine." Christina took a deep breath, her eyes regaining their determination. "No
Finally owning his own car, Andrew did not need Christina's help anymore. He stepped on the gas and headed straight for the South City project site, leaving Christina staring at the disappearing Porsche in frustration. Since their breakup, Andrew has shown less and less regard for her. His luxury car, the position as deputy chief at Jayrodale General Hospital, and the trust of billionaire Marvin, who made him an executive at Wealthroller Investments—all these titles combined made him seem just as impressive as her role as CEO of Stevens Corporation. 'Did I really misjudge him?' Christina could not help but wonder, her feelings mixed. Nonetheless, she quickly dismissed the thought, convincing herself that Andrew's success was due to others' help. Such a man could never be worthy of her, Christina Stevens. She needed someone who could genuinely impress her with genuine talent and ability, not someone riding on others' coattails. Christina and Andrew arrived at the South City pr