Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

On a quiet street, inside a plain-looking tea lounge, a man in a tailored teal shirt walked in with a man and a woman trailing behind him.

All three carried a calm but commanding presence as they stepped through the door.

The tea house owner rushed over with a beaming smile and a deep bow. "Sir, you've arrived!"

The man in teal gave a light smile. "Mm. Has the person I'm meeting shown up?"

The owner nodded repeatedly. "Yes, Mr. Ulrich is already inside, waiting at your usual spot, Mr. Byrne."

Marcelo nodded and walked toward the private rooms with his two trusted aides.

The woman beside him sneered. "Mr. Byrne, Mason is nothing but a spineless coward. Total dead weight. Teaming up with him is honestly beneath us."

Marcelo replied with a warm smile. "Using people isn't about status, it's about suitability. Sure, Mason is nothing more than an insect to me. But if he can help lure Andrew into the trap, then he's done his job."

The man behind them chuckled. "Springflow, we should take Mr. Byrne's words to heart. Even a single sentence might benefit us for the rest of our lives."

Springflow, now humbled, nodded respectfully. "You're right, Highmist. I'll pay more attention to what Mr. Byrne says from now on."noveldrama

Marcelo smiled, pleased with the caliber of talent surrounding him. He believed that taking care of Andrew would be effortless. Nonetheless, he had far bigger plans in motion for what would come after that.

Mason and Ryder were already waiting inside the secluded VIP room. Both stood up immediately with respectful expressions.

Marcelo waved his hand. "No need for formalities. Sit."

Mason carefully took his seat, his posture rigid and proper. Ryder remained standing quietly beside him, eyes lowered.

The woman, Springflow, spoke coldly. "Mr. Ulrich, what's the meaning of this? This was supposed to be a private meeting. Why did you bring an outsider?"

Mason quickly explained, "This is my son. He's not an outsider. And you may not know this, but he's currently working directly under Andrew. Anything Andrew does, he reports back to me."

Marcelo's sharp gaze immediately turned to Ryder. "Oh? You're working under Andrew?"

Ryder answered respectfully, "Yes, Mr. Byrne."

Marcelo gave a slow nod and smiled. "Not bad. Earning Andrew's trust is no small feat. So, what's he been up to lately?"

Ryder replied at once, "He's trying to manage the public backlash from the Ulrich family scandal. But that's all for show. Honestly, he doesn't care much about the Ulrich name. Behind the scenes, he's been staying

alert.

alert.

"He suspects you might make a move on him, so he's rushing to train his people. He's also trying to deepen his ties with the Keller family for extra protection. And at the same time, he's actively working on government connections, hoping for some political cover."

Marcelo nodded slowly. "Mm, that lines up pretty well with what I've already heard. Looks like you really are in Andrew's inner circle, and a sharp one at that, if you've uncovered this much."

Ryder exhaled quietly in relief. Everything he said had been fed to him by Andrew in advance.

Andrew had already predicted Marcelo would ask about his movements and gave Ryder the exact script to follow.

In that moment, Ryder's feelings toward Andrew deepened, part awe, part fear.

He thought Andrew's foresight was terrifying. He even knew what Marcelo was planning.

If Ryder ever truly ended up working under Andrew, he would have to be damn careful.