Chapter 140

Irene, embarrassed and angry, snapped, "Who asked you to defend us? Stop acting so high and mighty. If Harvey were here, he could have handled this just as easily."

Leroy added smugly, "Exactly! If Harvey were here, that idiot Conan wouldn't have dared to act so shamelessly."

Deep down, both mother and son felt bitter. Andrew's intervention only highlighted their perceived weakness and uselessness.

Christina, exasperated, scolded them. "Mom, Leroy, can you two just stop?" She sighed. "Andrew helped us, and that's a fact. Thanks to him, the issue with Thrive Enterprise's materials has been resolved perfectly."

Christina turned to Andrew with a complicated expression. "Whether you accept it or not, I need to thank you. If it weren't for you, my mom and Leroy would have been utterly humiliated."

"Christie, why are you thanking him? We didn't ask for his help," Irene muttered resentfully.

"Andrew, please excuse their behavior," Christina said apologetically.

Andrew's tone remained indifferent. "Why would I mind? Besides, I don't need your gratitude. What I did was purely because Mr. Huxley caused trouble on my turf—it has nothing to do with your family."

Christina let out a bitter laugh. "I guess I was wrong to think you helped because of me. Still, I'm grateful."

"See? I knew he wasn't being kind," Irene remarked sarcastically. "We don't need his help anyway."

Christina looked at Andrew with concern. "Mr. Huxley is quite influential in Jayrodale. I doubt he'll let this go easily."

"What would you suggest then, Ms. Stevens?" Andrew asked indifferently.

"Use your connections. You work for Mr. Yates now, even if you're just a department head. If you could get Mr. Yates to intervene, Conan wouldn't dare cause further trouble," Christina suggested promptly.

Andrew shook his head. "That's unnecessary. If Mr. Huxley wants to cause more trouble, he won't be so lucky next time."

Christina thought Andrew was being overconfident. "You have powerful backing now, so don't try to handle everything alone. You've done good work for Mr. Yates; he should help you."

"This small matter doesn't require Mr. Yates's involvement," Andrew replied. "Besides, I'd hate to startle him with my problems."

The Stevens family took his words as bragging. Irene sneered, "You're surely something else, acting like you're above Mr. Yates. Who are you trying to impress?"

Leroy scoffed. "I bet he can't even get a meeting with Mr. Yates. But that's understandable. After all, Andrew's just a small-time employee working for him!"

Christina sighed and shook her head. "I've never understood why you always act so superior, as if everyone else is beneath you."