Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Zachary turned to Luna with genuine regret in his tone."Ms. Phelan, my sincerest apologies. Had it not been for Mr. Lloyd, I would've been happy to accommodate you with Serenity Villa as a gesture of goodwill."

Luna's expression remained unreadable, her voice frosty. "The villa is yours to sell, Mr. Fischer. I've no interest in petty squabbles over property."

Zachary gave a polite nod and, with Ruth in tow, took his leave. His business here was done-the villa now belonged to Andrew.

The moment he was gone, Luna's mask of indifference shattered into glacial fury.

Xavier, scrambling to salvage the situation, muttered, "Luna, I swear I'll get that villa for you-"

Luna said calmly, "There's no need. Zachary already gave it to Andrew, so naturally, we no longer stand a chance. That's that—I'll be leaving now. Oh, and Colonel Haywood, you and I are in a superior-subordinate relationship. Whether it's on base or out in the field, I expect you to remember that.

"So from now on, I want to hear you call me 'Ma'am' or 'General'-not by my name. My name isn't something you're qualified to say out loud."

With that, the Phelans' stunning prodigy strode off, her tall combat boots hitting the ground with poise.

Xavier stood frozen, his fists gradually tightening. All his efforts to please her were utterly worthless in Luna's eyes, just as he feared.

He knew Luna had her eye on Serenity Villa. Since he finally found a chance this time, he acted swiftly, spending a fortune and pulling strings to secure it. Yet, in the end, some random nobody from a backwater town beat him to it.

"Mr. Haywood, are we really just going to let Serenity Villa fall into someone else's hands?" one of the wealthy heirs asked with an ugly scowl.

The others were just as frustrated, their faces darkening with resentment.

If Serenity Villa had gone to someone powerful, like Derek the Governor, or one of the heads of the Apex Families, they might have stomached it.

It was downright insulting that the most luxurious, prestigious, and coveted estate

in the entire capital had fallen into the hands of some no-name nobody.

Of course, owning what others wanted would only make Andrew a target.noveldrama

Xavier's eyes narrowed, a storm

brewing behind them, and his voice

dropped into a chilling whisper. "There's no rush. After all, there's never been anything I wanted that I couldn't take. That applies to Serenity Villa... and Luna as well."

The heirs around him shivered instinctively. Among all the descendants of the Five Apex- Families, Xavier-the eldest son of the Haywoods-was by far the most terrifying and physically dangerous.

Now that he had risen to the rank of Colonel in the Holtrien military, his influence had skyrocketed. Combined with his elite family background, messing with him was a one-way ticket to ruin.

And right now, there was no doubt that Andrew was walking a very fine line.

The group of heirs stayed by Xavier's side, refusing to leave. They lingered just outside Serenity Villa, waiting for their next move.

Zachary had made his play, and they had lost. Yet, that did not mean Xavier, the apex predator of the elites, could not just take Serenity Villa from Andrew instead.

Compared to wrestling it from Zachary, snatching it from Andrew would be child's play.

...

Despite being called a villa, Serenity Villa was more like a private compound. It had an expansive estate that sprawled across nearly ten thousand square feet.

Though it sat atop Blumedale's highest hill and lacked a full, scenic lake, it still had its own man-made one that shimmered under the sky.

Beneath the blue skies and clear waters, the view was dazzling, and Andrew could not have been more satisfied.