Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Francesca let out a startled yelp, nearly swerving the car straight into the manmade lake. “Okay, okay! I'll head home tonight—I won't go to your place! Seriously, though Mrs. Rhodes takes control freak to a whole new level."

In the end, the two went their separate Wave

After dropping Andrew off, Francesca drove back to her own place.

The person trailing them immediately called Tiana to report, "Ma'am, they both went home separately. Nothing suspicious happened."

Tiana scoffed and waved them off. "Hah! And here I thought he was some player. That brat probably wouldn't thought he was some player. That brat probably wouldn't even have the guts, even if Francesca threw herself at him. Men... A bunch of damn cowards."

Meanwhile, Jameson was already sprawled on the bed, lazily reaching out to pull Tiana into his arms. "Tiana, my love, the night is young, and we have important business to take care of!"

Tiana yanked herself free with a sharp snort. "Get lost. I'm not sleeping with you tonight. At dinner, what did you call me again? A mean, old hag? Wow, Jameson. You've really grown a pair, huh?”

Jameson let out an awkward chuckle. "That was just for show, darling! Andrew was there-I had to make myself look like the man of the house. Come on, you run things at home... At least let me pretend I'm in charge when we're out in public."

Tiana rolled her eyes. "Even so, I'm still not sleeping with you tonight. Your performance last night? Disappointing."

Jameson's face twitched slightly, but he did not argue. Instead, he grabbed the small bottle Andrew had given him earlier and popped it open, revealing tiny pills inside.

He muttered, "This kid didn't even tell me how many to take... or how strong they are."

After thinking for a moment, he mumbled, "Well, they're small... If I want immediate, unstoppable results, I'd better take at least three."

Without hesitation, he dumped three pills into his mouth and swallowed them dry. Almost instantly, a fiery heat surged from his stomach, shooting straight through his body.

Jameson's eyes widened in shock-he had not expected Andrew's pills to be this powerful.

A slow grin spread across his face. Tonight, he was going to turn this tigress into a purring kitten!

Feigning nonchalance, he leaned in as Tiana half-heartedly tried to resist. But soon enough, the battle had begun. By the time the night stretched into the early hours, Jameson was still charging forward with relentless energy. Tiana gasped between breaths. "Damn it, Jameson... What the hell did that little punk give you?! This is insane! I- I can't take it anymore. I surrender!"

For once, with Andrew's mysterious pills, Jameson actually won. Holding Tiana's exhausted body close, he smirked. "Now, do you get it? Say it. Call me daddy."

Tiana was caught off guard. They had been together for years, and she never expected Jameson of all people to start pulling this kind of crap.

Under the glow of the moon, Francesca moved with careful quiet steps as she unlocked the fron gate to the villa at Moonlit Sanctuary. Slipping inside, she made her way up to the master bedroom.

Then, without hesitation, she lifted the covers and slid right in-curling up like a cat against Andrew's warmth.

"You came."

"Mhm. I came."

"You shouldn't have come."

"But I still did. Now... let's get straight to it!"

And just like that, Andrew's bedframe creaked all night long.

On the road to Blumedale, Kenny and Michael sat in silence inside a sleek black.car as the city lights blurred past. Without warning, Kenny grabbed the contract Andrew had forced him to sign and tore it into pieces. noveldrama

“Hah! Did that idiot really think a damn piece of paper could make me back off? Andrew, you naïve little fool. You have no idea who you're dealing with."

Michael, his face twisted with hatred, growled, "Dad, no matter what, we have to make that bastard pay for what he's done!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Michael suddenly coughed up a mouthful of black blood. His eyes widened in shock, and his head slumped to the side within seconds. He was dead.

Kenny's mind went blank, his voice trembling with disbelief. He screamed,

"Michael! H-How could this happen?"

Then, a chilling realization hit him. He remembered Andrew saying Michael would

not be returning to Jayrodale, and now, those words had come true.

Michael was gone, and there was no bringing him back. 6