Andrew narrowed his eyes and said, “I suggest you don’t do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life. He may not be your biological father, but he’s definitely a thousand times better than your real dad.
“He’s the one who raised you and brought you up to be the man you are today! Every skill you have and have achieved is all because of him. Only a beast would try to kill the man who gave him everything.”
Eric trembled as pain twisted across his face. Though he hell his weapon tightly, he didn’t strike.
Instead, he dropped to his knees, clutched his head, and began to cry in anguish.
Jerome shook his head and said, “Dr. Lloyd, you should go. Let him do it if he must. I deserve it.”
Andrew snapped, “That’s total bullshit! Look at this ungrateful brat. He turned on his own family, and he’s the one acting like the victim?”
All the rage and frustration Andrew had been suppressing finally exploded in that moment. He remembered how his own father had once got on his knees to beg the three great families for his life, not hesitating to hurt himself just to lower himself.
That same man, who once vowed to conquer the world, ended up trading his pride for his son’s future. The fire in his heart turned into love for his family, and he bowed his head to be treated like a nobody just to protect them.
And now, though Jerome’s situation was slightly different from Reginald’s, they were both fathers who had given everything for their sons.
Andrew growled, “I’m telling you, Eric, your dad doesn’t owe you a damn thing! You can kill him if you want, but I swear, if you touch him, I’ll blow your damn head off!”
His blood boiled as the battle instinct buried in his bones came alive. He had once been the Dragon Prince of the Lloyds, with royal blood flowing through his veins.
How could such blood lack courage and ruthlessness?
Jerome was stunned. “Dr. Lloyd, you…”
Andrew replied firmly, “Don’t worry, Mr. Thornton. I won’t let your ingrate of a son lay a finger on you today.”
Eric glared at Andrew through his long hair, his voice icy. “Move, You know it would only take me seconds to kill you.”
Andrew gritted his teeth and smirked. “Then how about we fight? If I crush you under my feet, you’ll apologize to your father and slap yourself 100 times!”
Eric’s brow furrowed. He was about to agree. Deep down, he was just as proud and brutal. As Jerome’s adopted son, his martial prowess had always dominated his peers. He and Joe from the Driscoll family in Gabo Creek were often seen as the top two of their generation.
Seeing Andrew’s arrogant attitude, he naturally could not tolerate it.
However, Scarlett would not have it and shouted, “Mr. Humphrey, don’t listen to this man’s nonsense! Andrew is a cunning bastard, and you’ll never see the trap until it’s too late. The best solution is to let me kill him. That way, we eliminate the threat once and for all.”
Andrew sneered. “What’s wrong, Eric? Are you scared?”
His provocation landed perfectly, and Eric snapped. “No one interferes! This is a one–on–one fight! I’ll show him what happens when you play the hero! This is between me and my father. Outsiders like him have no right to
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meddle!”
Andrew spread his arms and shouted, “Everyone, step back Today, I’ll do what Mr. Thornton couldn’t: clean house.”
Henry and the others exchanged uneasy glances, but in the end, they stepped aside.
Jerome, still bleeding, grabbed Andrew’s shoulder in a panic. “Dr. Lloyd, no! Don’t hurt Eric. I know he’s blinded by hatred… but deep down, he’s not a bad person.”
Andrew sighed. “I knew it. You don’t have the heart to see me duel your son. Fine then, there’s only one option left.
Jerome instinctively opened his mouth to ask what that was, but before he could finish, Andrew grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him into the air. Then, with a heavy shove, Andrew threw him straight toward the collapsed side hall.
“Stop!”
“Get him!”
Two roars erupted at once.
One came from Henry.
The other, from Scarlett. Like a rabid beast, she lunged at Andrew with raw hatred in her eyes. Her hands clawed the air, razor–sharp nails tearing through the wind as she slashed at his face.
“You little bastard! You’re dead!”
Andrew let out a low grunt. The energy in his core surged into his arms like a flood bursting through a dam. Then, without hesitation, he hurled himself straight into Scarlett’s strike.
The tiles beneath him cracked instantly, and his legs sank deep into the ground.
Even so, Andrew did not retreat. He let out a roar, veins bulging across his face. His inner strength exploded again, this time with even greater force. He took Scarlett’s attack head–on without backing down a single step.
Scarlett felt like her vicious claw strike had slammed into a raging ocean, like an unstoppable force pushing back with terrifying power.
That rebound hit her with full force. She gagged and spat blood violently, her face filled with shock. She could not believe that Andrew had thrown her back. The last time, he had struck first, and it caught her off guard.
So, Scarlett always believed that she would have easily crushed him if she had been ready. But now, even prepared, she lost!
And it was not a simple loss. She was overpowered!
The change came so fast that most onlookers were too slow to react.
Henry moved first, followed closely by Grace and another figure. All three raced toward the collapsing back hall, desperate to reach Jerome.
However, beyond the ruins was Goldridge’s famous Moonveil River. This stretch of river was fast, deep, and deadly.
As Jerome fell through the air, he twisted and pushed with all his might, landing straight in the roaring current.
Henry skimmed across the water, scanning for any sign of him. Then, he shot toward the opposite bank. However,
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Jerome had vanished, swallowed by the river.
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The Moonveil’s waves slowly settled, leaving nothing but deep, dark water. No trace of him remained.
“What on earth…” Grace, gaunt and pale, stood frozen on the river’s surface.
Scarlett finally tore her stunned gaze away from the river and glared at Andrew. Her expression twisted with rage. “You’ve ruined everything today. If you don’t die for this, then justice means nothing!” d
