Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

The others around them sneered and snickered. "Kid, you're all skin and bones. Do yourself a favor and get lost."

Another chimed in, "Mr. Hopkins doesn't even take the entire Rhodes family seriously. What makes you think you stand a chance, you low-level nobody?"

"Heh, did you all hear it earlier? Tiana said they are his in-laws. Damn, this kid hit the jackpot. Tiana and her daughter? Both absolute knockouts."

One remarked, "No kidding. That lucky punk, I envy him like hell. If it were me, I'd be laughing in my sleep. Bagging a mother-daughter pair? That's the dream, man... pure heaven."

A few filthy-mouthed degenerates let loose with their vulgar fantasies, and the air instantly grew more volatile. The tension between both sides was now on the brink of exploding.

Tiana let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Looks like Mr. Hopkins isn't the only one talking shit tonight. Some of you have even more sewage coming out of your mouths."

She turned to Andrew, her smile sharp as ice. "Come on, dearest son-in-law, I don't want to see anyone who just spewed filth still standing. You know what to do."

Andrew's face turned cold, and without a word, he stepped forward and started slapping people left and right. He did not bother sorting who said what-if they had been vulgar, they were getting hit.

Anyone who had made nasty comments a moment ago was knocked straight to the ground. Andrew had already been fed up with Tiana's earlier antics, but these dirtbags had crossed a line in front of Jameson, and that was something he could not let slide.

Archie froze for a second before letting out an enraged, barking laugh, "You little bastard, you really got guts, huh? Tiana tells you to hit people, and you just start swinging? You must have no idea just how close you are to dying right now!"

Andrew shot him a look. "You talk too damn much, you trash."

Before Archie could even react, Andrew lifted his leg and kicked him square in the chest. Archie went flying, crashing into another giant vase near The Palace entrance, and smashing it to pieces.noveldrama

"Kill him! Now! All of you, get him!" Archie's voice cracked with fury as he screamed, completely out of his mind.

He could not even focus on the pain in his chest anymore. He was too blinded by rage.

Getting slapped by Tiana was one thing, but now some punk just kicked the crap out of him in public.

Did they think he was a paper tiger?

Andrew moved like lightning, fists,

cutting through the air like blamet

He charged straight into the Hopkins family's muscle and unleashed a

brutal onslaught.

The Hopkins might not have been one of the Five Apex Families, but they were not far behind either. They had real power in Blumedale, a top-tier legacy filled with trained fighters and influence.

Yet, in the stunned silence of the crowd, under the pale restaurant lights, Andrew took down over 30 of them in less than a minute.

Tiana clapped with glee. "Now that's what I call a powerful son-in-law!"

Lauren and Cecelia beamed with admiration, their eyes sparkling like stars. They were practically swooning.

Only Jameson looked uneasy. He muttered, "Tiana, you've gone too far this time. You're dragging Andy into your mess. Now he's made enemies for no reason!"

Tiana snorted. "You worry too much. This kid's not even afraid of the Apex Families—what are these small fries compared to that?"

Andrew, meanwhile, kept walking forward, eyes locked on Archie. The man was scooting back on his butt, scrambling to get away.

He stammered, "Y-You stay back! I'm from the great Hopkins family. If you lay a finger on me, you're dead by morning!"

Andrew said nothing. He simply raised his hand and slapped him across the face. Archie's head- snapped to the side, his vision spinning as his skull buzzed from the blow.

Justin stood frozen in shock, his eyeballs nearly popping out. He wondered who the hell this lunatic was.

Even the bystanders who had just mocked Andrew for being weak now looked at him with stunned disbelief.