Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Just as Andrew got into the car, his phone rang-it was Francesca. He chuckled and said, "Fran, I'm on my way back now!"

To his surprise, Francesca sounded frantic. "Andrew, no! Don't come back- whatever you do, don't come back right now!"

Andrew was confused. "Don't come back? Then where am I supposed to go?"

Francesca said urgently, "Aspen left. She's following her parents back to Bridgefields!"

Andrew's face darkened instantly. "When did she leave?"

Francesca shouted, "Just now! You can still catch her if you hurry to the airport! Mr. Stevens was the one who dragged her out-he forced her to go!"

Andrew let out a low, sharp breath. "Got it. I'm going to the airport right now!"

He hung up and immediately told the driver to turn around and head straight to Blumedale Airport.

The driver groaned. "Sir, are you trying to make my life hell? The airport's a nightmare this time of day-traffic's brutal!"

Without a word, Andrew opened his phone and transferred a solid 10,000 dollars into the driver's payment app.

"How about now?" he asked, calm and cold.noveldrama

The driver's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Then, he grinned. "Say no more, sir. If I don't get you to the airport in 20 minutes, I'll let you use my head as a soccer ball!"

"You've got ten minutes," Andrew replied flatly.

"Done! No problem at all!" Inwardly, the driver was still stunned he had clearly just picked up a high roller.

With that, he slammed his foot on the gas, and they roared off like a rocket.

...

Meanwhile, Zephyr and Esther were already leading Aspen through the terminal as the boarding call rang out through the PA system.

"Come on, let's head back to Bridgefields," Zephyr said firmly. "Aspen, it's time for your life to start fresh."

Esther gave her beloved daughter a gentle smile of encouragement, trying to make it easier.

Aspen hesitated, glancing back the way they came. Her steps slowed, her voice soft. "But... Mom, Dad... I still want to stay in Blumedale a little longer."

Zephyr snorted. "Mr. Lloyd has already released you. What reason do you have to stay?"

Aspen opened her mouth, searching for an excuse. "N-Nothing, really. I-I just have a few work-related matters to finish up."

Esther chuckled, shaking her head. "Silly girl. With all the brilliant people around Mr. Lloyd, do you really think he needs you to get things done? Come on now, let's go home. You've been through enough-it's time to rest."

Aspen stopped walking. She drew a deep breath and clenched her fists, then turned to face them. "Dad, Mom... I'll just say it outright. I don't want to go back to Bridgefields."

Neither Zephyr nor Esther looked surprised. Instead, their expressions turned heavy, their eyes deep with emotion.

Esther said softly, "Aspen, you don't want to leave Andrew, do you?"

Aspen's face flushed instantly. She stumbled over her words. "Mom, i-it's not that I don't want to go... Maybe if I stay close to him, I could learn @few more things. Then,

maybe I can build something solid for myself here in Blumedale."

However, Zephyr cut her off with a sharp glare. "Lies! You love Andrew, don't you?

All this talk about work and building something here is just an excuse! What you really want is to be by his side!"

Aspen shrank under his gaze,

panicked. Eventually, she found her

courage and lifted her chin. "Yes, do love him. Dad, Mom—I love Andrew. I don't want to leave him, and can't live without him. Iwant... I want to be his woman. I want to stay with him forever and never leave his side."

There was a long, painful silence.

At last, Esther spoke, her voice filled with sorrow. "Sweetheart, are you really sure about this? Andrew isn't like ordinary men-he's something else entirely. He's a born leader, a force of nature.

"You saw what he did at the Grand Medical Summit-you know exactly what I mean. Men like him aren't meant to be held down. Let me be honest with you, honey—you're just not good enough for Andrew.

"You try to follow him, and your father and I are afraid you'll end up with nothing. That you'll give your heart and soul and be left with empty hands."

Tears shimmered in Aspen's eyes, but she shook her head fiercely. "Mom, I know you're saying all this because you love me. But no matter what happens, I won't regret it. Even if the day comes when he doesn't want me anymore-I still won't regret a thing."