Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Andrew casually opened the cell door. As the loud thud echoed, Phantom Eye dropped to his knees without hesitation.

"Mr. Lloyd! I will follow your command-anytime, anywhere!" he said, bowing and knocking his head against the ground with utmost submission.

Andrew let out a cold laugh. "Funny... I remember you saying something about snapping my neck once your wounds healed, right?"

Phantom Eye broke into a cold sweat. "No, no, no! I swear-I'd never dare say anything like that! Total misunderstanding!"

Andrew replied coolly, "Relax. You're not even worth arguing with. You're free now. Come on out."

Phantom Eye stood up in disbelief. "Mr. Lloyd, are you really letting me return to Blumedale?"

Andrew looked at him like he was slow. "Which ear of yours heard me say you could leave?"noveldrama

Phantom Eye's face instantly fell. "But... you said I was free?"

Andrew shrugged. "Yeah, I said you were free. I never said you could leave Jayrodale. That's not my problem if you misunderstood."

Phantom Eye swallowed hard and quickly shook his head. "Nope! No problem at all!"

However, in his heart, he was screaming, 'Damn it! I'm about to end up just like Reuben-this guy's personal lackey-stuck taking orders!'

After all, he was supposed to be one of the most feared names in Blumedale's martial world. Yet, he had been reduced to being this devil's lapdog in a backwater town like Jayrodale. Just thinking about it made him want to cry.

Andrew thought for a moment and said, "Reuben's training my people. As for you, you'll work security."

Phantom Eye blinked. Then, trying to stay calm, he said through gritted teeth, "Mr. Lloyd, I mean... I am kind of a big deal. I'll do anything you ask, but security detail? Isn't that a bit beneath me?"

Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You think working security is beneath you?"

Phantom Eye protested, "Of course it is! I'm a semi-martial king! Are you seriously asking someone like me to work the front door? Even the top-tier families in Blumedale wouldn't be that extravagant!"

Andrew snapped, "Then quit whining and do what you're told. And for the record, I'm not sending you to just any place. You'll be working security at Moonlit Apothecary. Shiloh lives there now. You'll be guarding the place and if she's in a good mood, she might even make you her sidekick."

Phantom Eye's eyes lit up at the mention of her name. "Shiloh? Are you talking about that woman? The one who beat me senseless?"

Andrew nodded. "That's the one."

Instantly, Phantom Eye's sour attitude vanished. He grinned and said, "Well, if it's her door I'm guarding, then I guess it's not such a bad gig after all!"

Shiloh's strength had left a lasting impression on him, and serving under someone powerful enough defeat him did not sound so bad

now. Who knew? Maybe sticking

close to her could lead to some

lucky breakthrough.

The second he realized Shiloh was staying at the Moonlit Apothecary, Phantom Eye was all in.

"Alright then! Let's head over now!"

With Phantom Eye in tow, Andrew immediately set out for Moonlit Apothecary: He thought keeping two semi-martial kings locked up was just wasting potential, and killing them would have been a shame. Hence, he decided to squeeze every last drop of value out of them.

Neither Dylan nor Natasha could handle these two beasts, which was why Andrew personally came down to West End-to get Reuben and Phantom Eye properly stationed.

Soon, he would be heading back to Blumedale. However, Jayrodale was his base of operations, and Moonlit Apothecary especially needed someone powerful to guard the gates.

That was also why he had chosen Phantom Eye to be in charge of the security.

At that exact moment, a small group walked through the front entrance of Moonlit Apothecary. Leading them was a clean-cut young man in a designer suit, radiating upper-class charm.

"Quinton Wright of the Wright family, Blumedale," he announced with a smile. "Here to formally visit the owner of Moonlit Apothecary."