Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

By the time Andrew walked back into the grand hall of the Stevens mansion, he was pretty satisfied with what he saw. Just as expected, not a single member of the Bridgefields Stevens family was still standing.

One enforcer was dead, and the other was gravely injured. As for Zephyr-the once proud head of the family-he had been forced onto the ground, his face pressed against the floor, humiliated beyond measure.

"Andrew, if you want to kill me, then do it!" Zephyr roared, his voice filled with defiance. "I won't beg!"

Andrew scoffed. "Zephyr, I gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it."

Dylan spoke up. "Mr. Lloyd, why don't we just finish Zephyr off? Then we can head north overnight and wipe out the entire Bridgefields Stevens family!"

Natasha smirked cruelly. “I agree! Once we flatten Bridgefields Stevens family, we'll kill all the men and sell the women overseas as prostitutes."

Andrew fell silent. Not because he was hesitating, but because he was not used to how ruthless his people were. It was a bit too much for him, definitely not for the weak.

Zephyr's body trembled violently, his voice breaking as he Howled, "Andrew, you can kill me if you want! But my family has no personal grudge against you-how can you be so heartless?"

Andrew's voice was calm as he answered, "There's nothing heartless' about it. To stop something from happening again, it's best to eliminate it completely. You came to Jayrodale looking for trouble, and if I let this slide, people will think I'm weak."

He continued, "Besides, if our positions were reversed-if i were the one on the ground-tell me, Mr. Zephyr, would you have shown mercy?"

Zephyr could not respond, and a bitter chill spread through his heart.

This was all his fault-his recklessness, his arrogance. His stubbornness had doomed the entire Bridgefields Stevens family. At this moment, he regretted not listening to Aspen and charging in like this.

He had never imagined that Jayrodale had someone like Andrew lurking in the shadows. Over the years, he had studied all the major players in Jayrodale-yet he had never even heard of Andrew.

Around him, the remaining Stevens family fighters lay trembling on the floor, too scared to move.

As for Christina and her family, their souls had practically left their bodies. Irene and Leroy were so terrified that they had collapsed completely, unable to even get up.

Irene, in particular, had lost control of herself-literally. A foul stench spread across the hall.

Christina pressed her lips tightly together, staring at Andrew like she was seeing him for the first time.

He was not shouting, nor was he making a threatening expression. Yet, every word he spoke felt like a noose tightening around their throats, suffocating them.

That was the pressure of a true leader.

And in that instant, Christina understood that even if the entire Bridgefields Stevens family fought with everything they had, they still would not be able to shake Andrew.

Had he truly become this terrifying?

Christina did not want to think about it-because the more she thought, the more afraid she became, and the

more she regretted it.

"Andrew, please-I beg you, don't kill my

desperate cry rang through the hall as Aspen ran in, her face drenched in tears.

de Don't kill my family!" Ane

Before Andrew even said anything, she dropped to her knees before him.

Zephyr shut his eyes in pain and turned his face away. "Aspen, I did this to you. I should've listened to you."

Aspen sobbed. "No, Dad, I was the

one who made the first mistake. I was reckless and arrogant, and I kept provoking Mr. Lloyd again and again was too proud, clinging to my fragile ego, refusing to admit when I was wrong."

She continued, "I was blind, and because of my foolishness, I doomed our entire family!"

Tears streamed down her face as she knelt before Andrew. There was no trace of the arrogance she once carried- only deep regret and fear.

She had known they would lose, but she never imagined it would be this horrible.

And the scariest part? Andrew had not even personally made a move.

ww

more she regretted it.

"Andrew, please-I beg you, don't kill my father! Don't kill my family!" A desperate

cry rang through the hall as Aspen ran in, her face drenched in tears.

Before Andrew even said anything, she dropped to her knees before him.

Zephyr shut his eyes in pain and turned his face away. "Aspen, I did this to you. I should've listened to you.'

Aspen sobbed "No, Dad, I was thenoveldrama

one who made the first mistake. I was reckless and arrogant, and Iè kept provoking Mr. Lloyd again and again was too proud, clinging to my fragile ego, refusing to admit when I was wrong."

She continued, "I was blind, and because of my foolishness, I doomed our entire family!"

Tears streamed down her face as she knelt before Andrew. There was no trace of the arrogance she once carried— only deep regret and fear.

She had known they would lose, but she never imagined it would be this horrible.

And the scariest part? Andrew had not even personally made a move.

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