Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Andrew firmly declined, "Thank you for your kind offer, Mrs. Peck, but I find your proposal absolutely ridiculous!"

He could already see the same madness in Victoria that Tiana had shown before. No doubt, her outrageous request stemmed from two things.

First, like Tiana, if not worse, Victoria was the kind of woman who wielded power without caring about norms or taboos. Keeping a man like a pet was something she did without a second thought.

Second, she clearly saw Andrew as a replacement for his father.

And that was both understandable and utterly twisted.

"So you're saying no to me?" Victoria asked coldly, her smile vanishing.

Andrew's tone remained steady. "Yes, I'm saying no. Mrs. Peck, I'm not the kind of man who does things casually. What you proposed wasn't just inappropriate, but it crossed a line."

He added, "You're a senior. I'm the younger one here. We're generations apart, and we have no emotional connection whatsoever. So with all due respect, I found your suggestion ridiculous."

Victoria scoffed. "Ridiculous? Are you saying I'm too old for you, or is it my looks you find lacking? Or maybe you don't think my power or position is enough to tempt you? You do realize this is the modern world, right? Traditional gender roles don't mean anything anymore."

He added, "Those pretty boys you see on the streets driving luxury cars, wearing designer suits... Well, half of them are being kept by some sugar mommy. Most of the time, they're dating women who are old enough to celebrate their 60th birthdays. You're not that naive... are you?"

Andrew was speechless. He had not expected her to be so persuasive. Her logic, as wild as it sounded, was disturbingly sound.

He finally sighed. "Mrs. Peck, maybe everything you said is true. Men with power keep mistresses. Women with power keep male companions, boy toys, or whatever. But I'm not that kind of man. I don't enjoy being 'kept'; I prefer to conquer."

He continued, "Besides, you're already a mother of two. Miles is someone I actually consider a friend. The last thing I want is for him to confront me one day and say, 'I thought you were my friend, and you tried to sleep with my mom?""

Victoria froze. Then, for the first time, color rushed to her face. "You little punk! You wish! You think being my male companion means sleeping with me? Please. I've had two kids already. You think that's even possible?"

Andrew blinked. "Then why ask me to be your male companion in the first place?"

Victoria let out a laugh, both furious and amused. "Why? To kill time and build influence. I think all men are disgusting, you included. If it weren't for some special reasons, do you really think I'd be here, talking to you so nicely?"

Her tone suddenly shifted, sharp and cold again. "Fine, you don't want to be my companion? Then marry Liliana and become my son-in-law. Work under me and help me expand the Peck family empire. If you do that, I'll let everything go."

Andrew's voice turned icy. "Mrs. Peck, this is coercion! You're basically putting a knife to my back."

Victoria smirked confidently. "If

that's how you see it, I won't argue. The bottom line is: you don't have a еnoveldrama

choice. Tiana believes in your

potential, and so do I. Andrew, you'll be mine-one way or another."

Andrew rubbed his temples, visibly irritated. "Look, I don't mean to offend, but I'll say this from the heart. Mrs. Peck, you're just as overbearing and annoying as Tiana!"

Victoria was startled. Then, she burst out laughing. "I didn't expect you to be so bold! You dare to

offend both Tiana and me! Now net

finally understand why she likes you so much! Your personality really resembles someone we both knew. Both Tiana and I liked him very much."

Andrew sighed, "Was that person Reginald Lloyd?"

Victoria's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing in them, "You know about

this? Did Tiana tell you? Or did you find out from somewhere else?"

Seeing her nervous yet excited expression, Andrew felt increasingly helpless! Mrs. Peck, you don't need to be so paranoid! I know this told me,

person not because Tians

nor because I heard about him elsewhere. It's because Reginald is my father!"

The words dropped like a bomb.

Victoria froze, and her face twisted in disbelief. "What did you just say? Reginald

is your father? You're part of the Chetvine Lloyd royal bloodline? That's impossible!"

Andrew took a single step back just as Victoria erupted. A terrifying wave of energy burst from her body as she lunged toward him, her fingers curled into claws.

"You bastard! If you're lying to me, I'll tear you to pieces right here and now!" With a ripping sound, her hand tore right through his shirt, shredding it to ribbons. "What the hell are you doing?" Andrew snapped, furious.

What was it with these crazy women and their obsession with tearing clothes? Now, his bare chest was exposed, and so was the Blood-Eyed Black Dragon tattoo.

Victoria froze mid-motion, completely stunned. "The same mark... Y-You really are of the Lloyd bloodline. And not just that, you're the Dragon Prince, the prodigious heir of the Lloyds..."

She gasped aloud, and her voice cracked.

Andrew looked down at her with a cold expression. "So? Still want me to be your male companion now?"