Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Andrew leaned down and patted Leon's face mockingly. "Weren't you acting all tough and badass just a minute ago? What happened to all that attitude? The beef between Mr. Driscoll and me is none of your business, you piece of trash.

"What gives you the right to get involved? Huh? I'm asking you, what makes you think you qualify?"

Leon shouted, "I'm the eldest son of the Mercer family! Our family runs Blumedale, we-"

Before he could finish, Andrew slapped him twice, and blood immediately gushed from Leon's nose and mouth.

Liliana, Gary, and the others stood frozen in shock. They all wondered where Andrew got this kind of nerve, especially with Joe still standing there.

"So what if the Mercer family runs Blumedale?" Andrew growled, yanking Leon up by the collar. "You might be a Mercer, but what does that have to do with me?"

He hissed, "You think you can act tough in front of me, you worthless piece of garbage? Believe me, I could kill you in a heartbeat! If you have a problem with that, call your family's enforcers. Let's see if I even break a sweat dealing with them!"

Leon's mouth went dry, and he stammered weakly, "M-Mr. Lloyd, I-I was wrong. I won't do it again!"

Away from his family's protection, spoiled rich kids like him were nothing but parasites who lived off their family's reputation. When faced with a real killer, Leon's borrowed authority meant absolutely nothing, and he was ready to wet himself with fear.

And Andrew? He was not just a fighter—he was a damn savage. In a place like Blumedale, a family like the Mercers did not even register on Andrew's radar.

Liliana panicked. "Andrew, just save him first! Leon is the Mercer family's only son. If something happens to him, their bloodline ends!"

Andrew chuckled darkly. "And how exactly is that my problem? And you, you stupid woman, weren't you running your mouth pretty loudly just now? Go on then, be a hero and save your precious idiot!"

Liliana's face turned red with rage, and she gritted her teeth, fuming. "If I knew medicine, I wouldn't be asking for your help! And Andrew, you're the stupid one here!"

Andrew looked at her with contempt and kicked Leon square in the chest.

Leon let out a wail and spat up a mouthful of dark blood before flying backward and hitting the ground hard.

"There, you're saved. But next time you see me, I expect you to walk the other way."

Leon clutched his chest, struggling to get up. "M-Mr. Lloyd... I get it now... I'll never cross the line again..."

Andrew's cold stare swept across the room.

Gary and the rest of the little brats swallowed hard and quickly looked away. None of them dared meet his eyes.

Liliana shrieked, "Andrew, you've gone too far! Joe, Leon can't just take this beating for nothing. You have to get justice for him!"

Joe said coldly, "Andrew, there wasn't any arsenic on that needle, was there?"

Andrew

mained calm even whennoveldrama

his bluff was called. "Mr. I

you

e live up to your net

You saw right through that trick."

Joe took a deep breath and spoke indifferently. "Three days from now, right here in this fight club, we'll settle this like men. Whoever loses walks away from Lauren

permanently."

He added, "Don't worry, I won't use my superior martial arts level to bully you.

When the time comes, I'll fight you with just one hand."

Andrew yawned, looking completely bored by the whole situation. "No need for that, Mr. Driscoll. Just give it everything you've got. I'm afraid when you lose, you'll go crying to Lauren and refuse to honor the deal."

When those words left his mouth, Liliana and the others were completely stunned.

Where the hell did this bastard get the confidence to talk trash to a powerhouse from the Titan List?

Joe's expression darkened. "It's a deal then!"

For the first time in his life, someone had challenged not just his power, but his

pride.