Chapter 545
Tiana let out a laugh, though it was a cold and disdainful one. “So stubborn, refusing to admit your weakness, hiding behind a facade of apparent strength. This is one of Marvin’s old tricks, and you’ve learned it well.”
Andrew frowned. Tiana kept bringing up Marvin, and he couldn’t figure out what her intent was. Her words implied she viewed Andrew as Marvin’s pawn or lackey, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Andrew couldn’t understand her logic. His relationship with Marvin was nothing like what she imagined. In fact, they were completely unrelated.
With a flick of her sleeve, Tiana turned away and instructed, “The Pharmaceutical Division’s issues—whoever can solve them will earn the CEO position.”
“Michael, Lauren, you’re both outstanding members of the Rhodes family. Let’s not dwell on the past. From now on, it’ll be a fair competition between the two of you.”
Fair? What a joke!
Andrew felt a chill in his heart and nearly exploded in anger. What was Tiana even thinking? Lauren was her biological daughter, and yet she refused to help her. But now, when it was clear Lauren was far more suited to lead Rhodes Corporation than Michael, she had to play this twisted game of internal conflict, forcing the two to compete against each other. Sure, this kind of scheme was common in wealthy families, but Tiana’s so-called “fairness” disgusted Andrew. To him, it was the greatest insult to the word “fair.”
“Dr. Lloyd, don’t!”
Noticing Andrew’s rising anger, Lauren grabbed his arm and pleaded with her eyes. It was rare for Andrew to see Lauren look so vulnerable. Thinking back, he realized that since Tiana had arrived at Rhodes Corporation, Lauren had grown uncharacteristically quiet—timid, even. In Andrew’s mind, Lauren had always been bold, decisive, and willing to confront challenges head-on.
“Fine,” Andrew sighed, exhaling his frustration. “I just can’t stand seeing my girl being wronged!” Reluctantly, Andrew held back from confronting Tiana.
Tiana had already left with her entourage, moving swiftly and decisively. Michael lingered behind, pausing to glance back at Andrew with a sinister smirk.
“Andrew, I’ve told you before—no matter how you play, you’ll never be a match for me. So what if you’ve won a round? As long as I’m a man of the Rhodes family, you’ll never surpass me.”
Andrew’s expression remained cold. “Feeling pretty smug, aren’t you? Maybe I should find an opportunity to cut you down to size and see if you can still smile then.”
Michael’s grin froze. Andrew’s icy gaze was so menacing that it genuinely frightened him. Rumor had it that just days ago, a young master named Rodney from the Madblade Martial Academy had a cousin, Nasty Hugh, who offended Andrew. As a result, the poor man had been forced to eat kitchen slop. Apparently, the original punishment had been even worse; Nasty Hugh was supposed to eat actual excrement. But since it was hard to find such foul items in a city, he had been spared.
This devil—Andrew—was utterly ruthless! Michael cursed inwardly, his wariness of Andrew growing day by day.
Back in the office, Lauren spoke softly. “Dr. Lloyd, I’ve decided I don’t want to compete for the CEO position anymore.”
Andrew looked at her. “Lauren, is this because of your mother?”
Lauren let out a bitter laugh. “No matter what, she’s still my mother. But the truth is, I’m a woman. Eventually, I’ll marry and leave the family. Deep down, she’s always seen Michael as the rightful heir to Rhodes Corporation.”
Andrew sneered. “If you were anyone else, you might not have the power to resist this kind of bias. You’d just obediently follow the family’s plan.”