Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) novel Chapter 1000

Harvey looked both shaken and uncertain. "Andrew, you're really not here to save the Stevens family?"

Andrew replied casually, "Not in the mood. Just don't get in my way. Whatever else you people want to do—knock yourselves out."

Harvey instantly relaxed. Then, he grabbed Leroy by the collar and resumed the beating with even more enthusiasm.

Not satisfied, he nodded at one of the Weller family's goons, who immediately turned and slapped Irene across the face without hesitation.

Irene shrieked in pain, "What the hell are you doing? Hitting a woman now? Harvey, you bastard! Are you even human?"

Her screams fell on deaf ears as slap after slap rang out. Her head spun, her face swelled, and she broke into uncontrollable sobs.

"Christie! Beg Andrew—ask him to help us! Please!" Irene cried out in desperation, her pride now shattered.

Christina clenched her jaw, trembling with fury. Even so, she could not bring herself to lower her head and beg Andrew—not after what had just happened.

She had assumed he showed up as some twisted attempt to impress her. Turned out, he had not even planned to get involved—and that mistake had now cost her family dearly.

Andrew leaned against his car, arms crossed, with an amused look on his face. He thought Christina's furious yet helpless expression was almost entertaining.

This foolish woman had done nothing but dig her own grave, one step at a time.

"You're a damn bastard, Andrew," Christina finally snapped. Her eyes were red, tears threatening to fall as she shouted, "Even if you hate me—even if you can't stand me… Are you seriously okay watching my mom and brother get brutalized? Are you really that heartless?"

Andrew let out a sarcastic laugh. "So now you're blaming me? Ms. Stevens, you were just proudly declaring how your family didn't need me. And now you want to cry about me not helping?"

Christina was so angry she was practically speechless.

She glared at Andrew, her voice trembling with rage. "So it amuses you, doesn't it? Watching us get stomped on?"

Andrew shrugged. "Honestly? Not really. Because I couldn't care less about you anymore, I feel nothing. Whether the Stevens family rises like royalty or gets stepped on like ants—it has nothing to do with me."

Irene's screams grew louder and more pitiful. The Weller family thugs showed no mercy.