Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Andrew said coolly, "I'm not a patient man, and since you clearly can't give me a straight answer, then goodbye. The next time you see your dear son, trust me, he'll be a corpse."

Kenny's face turned pale as he roared, "Wait! I agree! As long as you let Michael go, I'll do whatever you want!"

Andrew chuckled. "Good. Then it's a deal. Remember your words."

Andrew hung up, not wanting to waste another second on useless chatter or give Kenny any chance to speak further.

Over in Blumedale, Kenny stared at the disconnected call, his eyes gradually turning bloodshot, burning with a savage fury. "That naive little bastard... does he really think I'd bow to his threats?

"Ha! Dream on! The moment Michael is rescued, Phantom Eye will tear him to pieces for me! And after that, I'll dig up his entire family history, find every single one of his bloodline, and burn them to the ground!"

Kenny's voice dripped with murderous intent as he snarled into the empty room.

Back in West End's underground cell, Andrew lifted his foot off Michael's head.

Michael gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with pure hatred. "Andrew, your death is coming soon!"

Andrew looked down at him with amusement. "Don't worry. You'll die before I do."

Michael sneered. "Do you seriously think you can go up against my father and the Golding family?"

Andrew let out a cold laugh. "You're mistaken. From the very beginning, I never gave a damn about your father or that so-called Golding family. I'm screwing with you just because I don't like you."

Michael nearly choked in rage. His entire body trembled. "Y-You're a lunatic! A damn lunatic with a death wish!"

Andrew ignored him and walked out of the cell, locking the door behind him.

Francesca turned to him and asked, "Andrew, do you really think Kenny will keep his end of the deal? He's been waiting for years to take the Rhodes family for himself. If you let Michael go and Kenny goes back on his word, that'll be a huge problem."

Andrew smirked, a mocking curve forming on his lips. "Relax. Of

course, Kenny will break his

promise. th fact, everything he just said was just an act-to stall for time until Phantom Eye arrives ino Jayrodale."

Francesca blinked in surprise. "Then why did you even bother negotiating with him?"

Andrew shrugged. “Because I'm

walking him like a dog. He thinks he's stringing me along, but he has no idea-I never planned on letting Michael go in the first place.

"This is a game of deception, Fran. He's trying to fool me, and I'm fooling him. Let's see who wins in the end."

A sudden chill ran down Francesca's spine. She pouted and muttered, "Andrew, you're getting more and more cunning... and honestly, kinda terrifying."

Andrew just chuckled, saying nothing. If anything, he wanted to tell Francesca-he was not becoming more cunning, and that he had always been like this.

Back when he was the prodigious heir of the Lloyds, he had clawed his way out of the hellhole that was Chetvine,

surviving against all odds. If he had not been ruthless and cunning, he would have died a hundred times over by

now.

Andrew turned to Antonio. "Natasha and Dylan should've reached the airport by now, right?"

Antonio straightened up, his respect

evident. "Yes, Mr. Lloyd. I just got

word that they've arrived and are in

on. Now, we just wait for the to take the bait."

Andrew nodded, then turned to Francesca with a playful smile. "How did you

know Shiloh would help me fight my enemies?"noveldrama

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