Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

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Andrew had already left Nova Fight Club. He exited the same way he came, calm

and unbothered.

No one even dared to stop him.

Liliana said angrily, "Joe, why? With your personality, there's no way you'd tolerate

such an insignificant bug acting so arrogantly! You could have crushed him with a

single slap!"

Joe's eyes were deep and thoughtful as he shook his head. "Liliana, none of you

really understand me. Everyone thinks I'm the Driscoll family heir, a peerless

genius, an untouchable golden boy!

"Maybe the old me enjoyed all that vanity and those titles. But my excellence and

talent don't need other people's applause to validate them. My path in life doesn't

need my family's background to prop me up so I can bully others and lord over

them."

He added, "Andrew has every right to compete with me for Lauren. So I'll defeat

him fair and square, openly and honestly, and tear him apart! I won't look down on

him just because he's a nobody. This is the insight my recent martial arts

breakthrough has given me."

When Liliana heard this, her face immediately filled with adoration, practically

swooning. "Joe, you're the most amazing and charming guy I've ever met! You

know what? Seeing how incredible you are makes me half proud and happy, but

the other half of me feels so sad."

Joe smiled, and he looked incredibly handsome. "Why would you feel sad? You're

my good friend, and I want you to be happy for me!"

Liliana bit her red lips, looking pitiful and vulnerable. "Because I like you, and

seeing you suffering over Ms. Rhodes breaks my heart. I can't help but wonder if

I'm really so much worse than her?"

Joe shook his head seriously. "I'm sorry, Liliana. I know how you feel about me,

but Lauren is different... no, she's absolutely unique. She's the only person who

has ever won my heart."

Jealousy and hatred flashed in Liliana's eyes. But in the end, she said nothing and

ran downstairs with tears streaming down her face.

Gary laughed awkwardly. "Mr. Driscoll, aren't you going to go after her?"

Joe's expression remained ice-cold. "No, I'm not going after her. Running after a

woman I don't love would be cruel to myself."

Leon could not help but speak up.

"Mr. Driscoll, honestly, with your

status as the Driscoll family heir,

Andrew isn't even qualified to share

a stage with you. If the media or

other elite families found out about

this, they might mock you for

lowering yourself and degrading

your position."

Joe frowned. "That is a problem, so none of you are allowed to mention that

Andrew and I will be facing off in three days! Not a word to anyone!"

Gary and the others nodded repeatedly. "Understood! Three days from now, that

bastard's as good as dead!"

"Hey, you, stop right there!" Andrew had just walked out of the club's front

entrance when he heard an angry female voice behind him.

He turned, surprised, and saw Liliana storming toward him, her eyes still rimmed

with red.

Andrew mocked, "What's wrong? Are you crying because your precious Mr.

Driscoll doesn't seem so godly anymore?"

Liliana stopped right in front of him,

face full of hatred. "Andrew,

compared to Joe, you're nothing but

a bug! The only reason I called out to

you is to tell you not to bite off morenoveldrama

than you can chew. He only has

room in his heart for one

woman-Lauren. If you dare get in

their way, I will make you pay!"

Andrew did not get mad. Instead, he

looked genuinely puzzled. "Liliana,

are you okay? Did you hit your head

or something? It's obvious you're

head-over-heels for Joe. You

practically worship the guy! So why

are you suddenly acting like some

noble peacekeeper?"

Liliana pressed her lips together, and a bitter smile tugged at the corner of her

mouth.

"I love him. But unfortunately, sometimes love is one-sided. To Joe, no one else

matters. It's Lauren or nothing."

Andrew looked even more confused and could not help but blurt out, "A rich guy

like Mr. Driscoll doesn't strike me as someone loyal. I'd be more inclined to believe

he's a player who enjoys toying with women!"

Liliana scoffed. "If that's really what you think, then you're just projecting your own

petty mindset onto a gentleman. Joe's excellence is perfect and flawless.

Otherwise, I never could have fallen so deeply in love with him."

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