Lauren let out a bitter laugh and nodded. "Alright, I'll drive you both to the hospital! If we wait any longer, Leroy might not make it!"
Christina was overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you, Ms. Rhodes, thank you so much!"
After hesitating for a moment, she approached Andrew and bowed her head low. "Mr. Lloyd, thank you as well for saving us siblings! If it weren't for you, Leroy might have been beaten to death by that monster Quinton!"
Andrew sneered coldly. "Funny, I remember the Stevens family being all cozy with Quinton not too long ago! Mrs. Stevens regarded him as her son-in-law, and Leroy kept calling him 'brother-in-law'! What happened? Those titles suddenly lose their magic?"
Christina dug her nails into her palms, feeling the sharp pain pierce through her. "Our family was blind and foolish—We deserve everything that's happening to us."
She continued, "Oh, and Mr. Lloyd… Quinton came after me because of you. Looks like he's trying to force your hand. He apparently needs your help with something, but he knows approaching you directly won't work.
"That's why he tried to use me as leverage. He wanted me to help him lure out Ms. Rhodes, Ms. Aicker, or Aspen. He figured if he could grab any one of those three, he could make you comply!"
A cold gleam flashed in Andrew's eyes as he sneered. "So why didn't you do what he asked? Betraying me isn't exactly new territory for you!"
Christina's face turned another shade paler as she smiled bitterly. "Mr. Lloyd, I know you look down on me and think I'm just some stupid woman who's already exhausted your patience!
"But I still remember who helped me when I needed it most! Ms. Rhodes has been good to my family and gave us a chance to rebuild our lives. I'd rather die than harm her!"
Andrew scoffed. "If you'd had this kind of conscience earlier, you wouldn't be in this mess today!"
Lauren walked over and playfully tugged at his arm. "Andrew, enough already, okay? They've suffered enough! How about this—you head back, and I'll take them to the hospital."
Christina fell silent and slowly lowered her head.
Powerful enough to negotiate with the Three Titans families? She could not even comprehend what kind of status that represented, what kind of overwhelming influence and power that required.
All she knew was that she and Andrew now lived in completely different worlds—her on the ground, and him far above the clouds.
Quinton, the heir of the Wright family, who once had complete control over her and Leroy, had been slapped into tears by Andrew right in front of her.
It was the kind of scene Christina never even dared to dream of.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)