Chapter 78

Francesca, still reeling from Juan’s brutal defeat, her face etched with fear, stammered, “Y-you actually beat him up so mercilessly? Do you have any idea what—”

Andrew cut her off with a bored expression. “You’re going to say I’m in big trouble, right?”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Francesca exploded. “Don’t you know who Juan’s father is—”

Andrew interrupted again. “Of course I know. He just told us—his dad’s some East Side Tony, supposedly a big deal.”

“Then why would you attack him?” Francesca demanded.

Andrew’s face darkened. “He was spouting filthy insults and harassing Ms. Rhodes. Should I have applauded him? Besides, I’ve dealt with Dylan’s people before, so what’s one more from the East Side?”

Francesca turned to Lauren in desperation. “Lauren, this is serious trouble. This could bring Tony himself into this!”

“This is just a little scuffle between young people,” Lauren replied calmly. “If Tony gets involved, I won’t let Dr. Lloyd face this alone. The Rhodes family isn’t afraid of Tony.”

Francesca fumed. “Lauren, what are you thinking? Is this loser really worth all this trouble?”

“Of course!” Lauren replied matter-of-factly. “Dr. Lloyd stood up for me. Good men like him are rare these days.”

Francesca’s heart sank. She couldn’t understand why Lauren would risk pitting the Rhodes family against Tony for Andrew.

Suddenly, thunderous footsteps echoed as numerous thugs stormed in. Francesca’s face paled as she mumbled, “That’s Rocco Larsen, Tony’s second-in-command. This is bad.”

Lauren seemed equally troubled, having clearly not expected Juan’s men to arrive so quickly.

“Rocco, this piece of trash beat me up!” Juan screamed, pointing at Andrew through his bruised, swollen face. “Break his limbs and hand him over so I can finish him off! I’ll make him wish he were dead!”

Rocco, a menacing figure with a thick beard, glared at Andrew. “You’ve got some nerve touching Mr. Madden. Get on your knees and beg for forgiveness. That way, maybe Mr. Madden might let you keep your corpse in one piece.”

Lauren yelled, “Back off! The East Side is getting too bold. Nobody’s touching him.”

Rocco’s face remained impassive. “Ms. Rhodes, actions have consequences. Your pretty boy beat up Mr. Madden. Did you think this would end well?”

“Juan started this with his vulgar comments,” Francesca argued. “Andrew wouldn’t have hit him otherwise.”

“Mr. Madden could’ve killed this nobody, and it wouldn’t have mattered,” Rocco mocked.

Francesca was furious. “You’re ridiculous!”

“Say what you like,” Rocco retorted, “but Mr. Madden Senior is furious that his son was beaten. When he’s angry, people suffer—and boy, did you pick the wrong person to mess with.”