Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Michael threw his head back and let out a cruel, triumphant laugh. He taunted, "Lauren, I told you-you never beat me! Whether it's Aunt Tiana or the entire Rhodes Corporation board, they're all on my side.

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"They favor me because they know I am the future of this company. So what if you and Andrew keep defeating me over and over? At the end of the day, you will always be beneath me!"

A sharp gurgle sounded, and Lauren suddenly coughed up mouthful of blood. The pain in her heart was unbearable-it felt like someone had carved a hole straight through her soul.

She looked at Tiana and let out a hollow, bitter laugh, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. She whispered, "I see now... you never loved me. You're still the same person-always saying it's for my own good, always pretending to care, but it's all a lie."

Marcus and the others clenched their fists, their eyes burning with fury as they glared at Tiana. What she had just done to Lauren-her own daughter-was beyond cruel.

Francesca's tears had already spilled over. She could not hold back anymore and cried out, “Mrs. Rhodes, Lauren is your daughter-your own flesh and blood! How could you hurt her like this for Michael? Are you really willing to destroy your own child just to protect him?"

Tiana's body tensed, her fingers twitching slightly. No one else noticed, but Andrew did.

Her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms. When she finally spoke, her voice remained cold and emotionless.

"She defies me at every turn and refuses to listen to me. A daughter like that is not worthy of being called mine," she spat.

It was as if she had completely given up on Lauren.

Then, the room gasped as Lauren's body suddenly gave out. She collapsed, crashing to the floor. Even as she lost consciousness, tears continued to stream down her face.

Andrew caught her in time and gently passed her into Francesca's arms.

Francesca sobbed. "Andrew, is she okay? Please, let's get her out of here-I don't want to stay in this place a second longer!"

Andrew's face remained emotionless. "I'll take her away. But first, I have something to do."

Without another word, he turned and walked toward Tiana.

Jerry and the other guards immediately tensed, cold sweat forming on their brows.

Jerry barked, "Andrew, what are you doing?! Stay away from Mrs. Rhodes-don't do anything reckless!"

Even Marcus could feel it-the violent, simmering rage emanating from Andrew. If anything happened to Lauren, there was no question that Andrew would be the first to explode.

Marcus pleaded, "Mr. Lloyd, please-calm down! Mrs. Rhodes is Lauren's mother! If you do anything to her, it'll only put Lauren in a worse position!"noveldrama

Andrew suddenly stopped three steps away from Tiana. Without hesitation, he lifted his foot-and stomped Michael's head into the ground.

Michael did not even have time to scream. Blood splattered from his mouth as he blacked out on the spot, completely unconscious.

Tiana's pupils shrank, her

expression flickering for the first

time. Her lips curled into a sharp,

almost crazed smile. "Andrew,

you've got guts. Do you really think I

won't end you right now?"

Her heart was racing-faster than it should have been. No one else could tell, but she could feel it.

That instinctive, gut reaction that only surfaced when standing before a true threat. Still, she refused to believe that Marvin's pawn-this so-called 'Andrew Lloyd'-could actually challenge her.

She thought there was simply no way.

Andrew met her gaze, his voice eerily calm as she growled, 'I'll end whoever dares to hurt my woman. don't care what kind of schemes

you're running or what het

you're hiding, Mrs. Rhodes. But listen tome carefully-this is the first and last time I let this slide."

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