Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

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Lauren looked at Andrew and spoke quickly, "I won't be staying at Moonlit Apothecary for now. I'll need you and Mr. Aicker to discuss the endorsements for the two miracle drugs!"noveldrama

Andrew replied, "If you're heading back, there's no way I'm letting you go alone. Come on, I'll go with

you and check things out."

Lauren hesitated. "But Dr. Lloyd... you know how my mother and Michael feel about you. You really don't have to care about what happens to Rhodes Corporation!"

Andrew sighed. "I don't care about Rhodes Corporation's fate, but I do care about yours-how could I not?"

Lauren's eyes welled up with tears, and she nearly broke down.

Andrew's voice softened. "Come on. No matter what happens, I'll face it with you." Francesca immediately chimed in, "Lauren, Andrew, I'm coming with you!"

Cedric nodded and said, "Dr. Lloyd, you three go ahead and handle things at Rhodes Corporation. As for those two miracle drugs-you mentioned needing endorsers, right? I happen to have the perfect candidate in mind. When you have time, we can pay them a visit together."

Andrew had not expected Cedric to be this efficient, and he chuckled. "That would be ideal. Mr. Aicker, I'll have to leave Moonlit Apothecary in your hands for now."

Cedric laughed heartily. "No trouble at all! We're family-no need for formalities."

Andrew raised an eyebrow, thinking, 'Family? When did I become family with the Aickers?'

Nonetheless, it was not the time to argue over Cedric's wording. Lauren was visibly shaken, and her anxiety over Rhodes Corporation was written all over her face.

Without further delay, Andrew grabbed the keys and rushed off with Lauren and Francesca.

Ten minutes later, the three arrived at the Rhodes Corporation headquarters. To their shock, a massive crowd of reporters had already swarmed the entrance, completely blocking the doors.

Banners were stretched across the

scene, plastered with furious

slogans condemning Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division as heartless criminals

Vel

Some even labeled them as crooked frauds.

Francesca was stunned. "H-How did it get this bad?"

Andrew remained calm. "Michael's fire didn't just destroy a warehouse-it ignited

public

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outrage across Jayrodale. And these reporters, along with some of the people here causing a scene, were definitely instigated by someone. If I had to guess, they were sent to fuel the fire and crush Rhodes

hove

Corporation even further."

Francesca gritted her teeth. "Harvey, or one of our other competitors, must be behind this. They're taking advantage of Rhodes Corporation's crisis and pushing things to the extreme!"

Andrew's expression remained indifferent. "It's the classic 'kick them while they're down' strategy. Nothing new-this has happened throughout history."

Lauren's face was ashen as she tried to push through the crowd, her voice trembling. "I don't care about anything else! Even if the

pharmaceutical division collapses, I couldn't care less! But I need to make sure my mother is okay!"

Andrew's eyes narrowed slightly at her words. It dawned on him that Lauren and Tiana's relationship was not as simple as it seemed.

On the surface, they appeared distant-cold, even. Deep down, they clearly cared about each other more than anyone realized.

Lauren struggled to get through the crowd, but she could not move an inch. The more she tried, the more desperate she became, and soon, tears streamed down her face.

Seeing her distress, Andrew stepped forward, pulling her behind him. He shoved his way through the mob without hesitation, forcing a path open with sheer strength.

"Move aside! If you want to yell, fine, but at least show some basic decency-don't block the entrance!"

Several men who had been cursing Rhodes Corporation suddenly found themselves pushed aside. Furious, they turned around, and without hesitation, one of them swung a fist straight at Andrew.