Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Douglas shot Irene a cold glance and sneered. "You fool. Your brain is filled with nothing but greed and shallow ambition-have you ever thought beyond that? You, Leroy and Christina are all blind to who Andrew truly is and his potential.

"Only I saw it. Your arrogant daughter? She was lucky to be with him-she was the one reaching up, not the other way around. But now, it's too late. You let a wonderful man slip through your fingers.

"The Stevens family had a chance to rise, and you all threw it away. You deserve your downfall"

His voice was filled with regret and disappointment.

Christina clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. "Grandpa, listen to me-Stevens Corporation will still thrive, even without Andrew. I just need time." Douglas scoffed, disinterested, as he stood up and walked toward the door. “Christie, you're just a woman; I know exactly how capable you are. So do me a favor-stop wasting your time fighting meaningless battles and making reckless choices.

"Andrew is gone. He was a dragon in a cage when he was with us, but now? Now he's free, soaring to heights we'll never reach. That's our fate. We

't change it."

"Focus on running Stevens Corporation properly. I don't care if you become rich and powerful-I just want this family to have stability, to stick together, and to live a peaceful life."

There was a deep sadness in his voice, the weight of a missed opportunity he knew would never come again.

Christina gritted her teeth, anger burning in her chest.

Was she really that much worse than Andrew? Even her own grandfather did not believe in her. 2

Irene suddenly collapsed onto the floor, wiping her tears as she sobbed. "Christie... Leroy... we almost died tonight! To be honest, I'm terrified. I don't ever want to go through that again!"

Leroy, still gagging, kept forcing his fingers down his throat, trying to purge himself of the filth. His voice was hoarse as he whimpered, "Mom, I'm scared too... The Stevens family is too weak. If we don't have someone to back us up, we're nothing in front of guys like Finley and the Hidden Dragons."

Irene turned to Christina, her tear-streaked face twisting into a desperate smile. "Christie, we need to go find Andrew. He's the only one who can protect us now."

Christina's face hardened. "Mom, you're not actually thinking of begging him, are you?"

Irene let out a bitter laugh. "Before tonight? No, never would have lowered myself like that. But after what jus happened... I see everything clearly now. Andrew has already risen far beyond us-so high that we can't even look up to him anymore.

"And all this time, I was too blind to acknowledge it. I kept ignoring the truth, refusing to see his worth. That's why the Stevens family has been left to rot-why we almost got destroyed tonight."noveldrama

She added, "I can't live like this

anymore. I won't let this family suffer again. I won't let you be treated like dirt again. So, Christina.... we need to beg Andrew for mercy. For the sake of the past, maybe-just maybe he'll grant us his protection.'

Irene sat there, her plump body trembling uncontrollably, still paralyzed by fear.

Leroy looked up, his eyes hollow. "Christie, listen to Mom. Let's go beg Andrew. Hell, I'll kneel if I have to. I'm really scared. If something like this happens again... the Hidden Dragons won't just humiliate me next time.

*

They'll kill me.

"If we don't have someone strong to protect us, they can do whatever the hell they want to us. They can end us anytime they want-and there won't be a damn thing we can do about it."