Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Aspen's eyes never left Andrew as she asked nervously, "Andrew, do you need my help?"

Andrew calmly replied with just two words, "No need."

With a casual motion, he slapped a thug holding a machete so hard the man flew back. Without even looking, he threw his elbow backward, smashing into another guy swinging a steel pipe like he was volunteering to get wrecked. The blow crushed his nose flat, and he howled in pain.

Andrew's expression did not change-no anger, excitement, just pure calm. To him, these guys were not even worth warming up for.

Then, he raised his hand and collided directly with Rufus.

Rufus looked shocked. "You actually caught my Haywood Strike? Kid, I gotta admit, you've got some skill."

Andrew smirked coldly. "Only 'some'?"

"Fine, try this next strike and see what happens!" Rufus tossed aside his jacket, revealing a tight shirt stretched over rippling muscles and a solid chest.

Andrew scoffed. "Bring it on. You think I'm scared of you?"

Rufus sneered, "Kid, you clearly don't know who you're dealing with. I was a special forces soldier, and I come from the Haywood family. You're way out of your leag―"

Before he could finish the word, Andrew's fist rocketed straight for his face.

Rufus grinned and lifted his arm to block, but in the next second, his entire arm snapped with a sickening crunch. It was like getting hit by a freight train.

His face twisted in horror, not even having time to scream before Andrew sent him flying through the cement wall in the hallway. He crashed to the ground, coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, and blacked out instantly.

The remaining thugs looked like their souls had just left their bodies. To them, Rufus was a legend of this club-untouchable, unbeatable. Yet, Andrew had dropped him with just one punch.

Andrew swung again, slapping down thugs like he was slicing through butter. More than a dozen of them cried out in agony, holding

heads and writhing on the floor. Thenoveldrama

rest of them froze, then met

slowly backing away with wide, terrified eyes.

Andrew stood tall, face blank, as he growled, "If you don't want to die, get the hell out of here."

Instantly, the remaining men

scrambled and bolted out of the club. Sure, they worked under the Haywoods, but they were not about to die for them-not with a killing machine like Andrew standing in their path.

Aspen finally exhaled, her gaze filled with complicated emotion. He was terrifyingly strong, so strong that she did not even have the will to fight back.

At this rate, how was she ever going to escape his grasp?

Davon looked like he was about to

piss himself. He stammered, "D-Don't come any closer! I'm warning you! Phoenixdream

Enterprises has a serious influence in the capital. If you touch me, you're as good as dead!"

This was the first time in his life he had ever seen a man like Andrew.

Even with over 100 thugs, armed with all kinds of weapons, backed by someone like Rufus-none of it mattered.

Who the hell was this guy? Was he even human?

Andrew's face remained cold as he stepped forward and slapped Davon across the face. "I must've gone deaf. Say that again?"

Shaking with fear and rage, Davon clutched his face and shouted, "I said, I'm the Vice CEO of Phoenixdream Enterprises! If you lay another finger on me, I swea

Two more slaps landed clean, making Davon's vision blur. Blood streamed from his nose as he cried, "I-I'm sorry! I give up! Please, sir... stop hitting me! I was wrong, okay?"

Andrew sneered. "Go on, keep name-dropping. Keep acting like you're some big shot."

Davon's chubby body trembled all over. "I won't! I swear I won't! W-We were negotiating, right? I'll sign the contract! I'll sign it now! Just please don't hit me anymore!"