Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Esther's gaze at Andrew had unknowingly turned cautious. Just as Zephyr had warned, Andrew was not just a small fish in a pond—he was a monster in the deep sea.noveldrama

Zephyr's thoughts ran even deeper. He quickly ran the numbers in his mind, comparing Andrew's assets to those of the Bridgefields' Stevens family.

The Stevens, an established family in their own right, had a combined net worth of around 20 billion. Yet, when stacked against Andrew, it was barely a third.

Sighing, Zephyr raised his glass and offered a toast. "Mr. Lloyd, you're truly remarkable. Even without Aspen as a factor, I'd still have immense respect for you."

Andrew lifted his glass with a relaxed smile. "You're too kind, Mr. Stevens. I've said it before, I owe my success to your precious daughter."

After Zephyr's toast, the rest of the Stevens family quickly followed suit, standing one by one to raise their glasses. None dared be left out, each exchanging warm words and friendly banter with Andrew.

Meanwhile, Oscar, an outsider to this family gathering, sat alone at the edge of the table, his face darkening with each passing moment. He silently cursed, 'Damn it, this isn't how tonight is supposed to go. Andrew was supposed to be the one left humiliated and out of place!'

Yet now, the tables had turned. He, the so-called Hopkins heir, had become invisible—a ghost in a room where Andrew was the center of every conversation, constantly surrounded by clinking glasses and admiring smiles.

No one even bothered to glance his way, leaving Oscar to stare blankly into his glass. His mind drifted to a line from a Green Day song: "I walk a lonely road, the only one I have ever known..."

Of course, it was not that dramatic. Nonetheless, at that moment, he felt every bit like a forgotten figure in a crowded room, walking a lonely road that no one bothered to follow.

Forcing a strained smile, Oscar seized the moment and approached Aspen.

"Hey, Aspen, how about a drink? It's been ages since we last caught up. You've lost some weight since moving to Blumedale. It pains me to see you like this."

Since everyone was ignoring him, he might as well be proactive. Besides, he believed that Aspen might have actually liked him a little back when they were in Bridgefields. So, he rose to his feet, slipping effortlessly into that "boy-next-door" charm.

Aspen offered a polite smile, shaking her head. "Thanks, Oscar, but I think I'll pass."

Oscar pushed a little harder. "Come on, Aspen. We're like family. We should celebrate your upcoming return to Bridgefields. Just one drink for old times' sake."

Aspen's smile remained, but her tone grew firmer. "I might have considered it, but Mr. Lloyd has already had a few. I'll need to drive him home later, so I really can't."

Oscar felt his heart twist, the sharp

sting of rejection cutting deeper than he expected. Aspen was once the untouchable golden girl of Bridgefields, the woman who could outshine every man in the room without breaking a sweat. Yet, she was now playing the perfect,

obedient servant to Andrew.

He downed his own drink in one bitter gulp, his jealousy and resentment turning

into a barely contained rage.

Oscar wondered why such a beautiful woman cared for Andrew and not him.

Why was all her devotion and grace wasted on this arrogant bastard?

After downing a large glass of strong liquor by himself, Oscar could not hold back anymore. He needed to see Andrew on his

knees begging, humiliated, reduced to a pitiful clown. He wanted to show Zephyr's family that he was the one who really commanded respect.

Rising from his seat, Oscar went to the restroom to make a phone call. "Hello, is this Mr. Elon Golding? This is Oscar!

"Yes, that's right, the 'bucket boy' from Bridgefields, Mr. Golding. Thank you for remembering me!"

On the other end of the phone, Elon responded indifferently, "Oh, it's you. What's up?"

Oscar gritted his teeth and said, "It's like this, Mr. Golding. I'm currently in Blumedale, at the Veridian Hotel."