Andrew Lloyd supported Christina Stevens for years and allowed her to achieve her dream. She had the money and status, even becoming the renowed female CEO in the city.

Yet, on the day that marked the most important day for her company, Christina heartlessly broke their engagement, dismissing Andrew for being too ordinary. 

Knowing his worth, Andrew walked away without a trace of regret. While everyone thought he was a failure, little did they know…

As the old leaders stepped down, new ones would emerge. However, only one would truly rise above all!

"I'm sorry, Andrew, but I can't marry you!" Christina Stevens declared coldly in the CEO's office of Stevens Corporation. She sat behind her desk, looking elegant in a black lace dress, her demeanor icy and aloof.

Across from her sat a handsome man in modest attire. Andrew Lloyd could not believe what he was hearing and asked, "Christie, what do you mean? What happened to the promise between us?"

They had agreed to tie the knot on the day Stevens Corporation went public, marking the end of their three-year courtship.

"Since we've been dating each other, I'll be frank," Christina replied, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her stunning features exuded grace and beauty with every movement.

"Andrew, don't you think the gap between us has grown too wide? It's like we're from different worlds now. Forcing this relationship won't do you any good. For me, it would be… a burden."

A burden?

Andrew was stunned, never expecting Christina to say such a thing. If it had not been for his help, the Stevens family would have gone bankrupt long ago, let alone gone public. In fact, he had shaped Christina's success with his own hands.

"I know this decision is hard for you to accept. How about this? Consider it a debt I owe you. After we cancel the wedding, I'll give you a settlement—cash, a villa, and a luxury car. That should be enough for you to live comfortably."

Christina pulled out a pen and checkbook from her designer purse as she spoke.

Andrew watched in silence as she wrote down the figure: 1.2 million. He felt as if he was looking at a stranger.

"Is this all our years together are worth to you? Just a string of numbers?" Andrew asked.

Christina's perfect features flickered with complexity for a moment before settling back into indifference. "If you think it's not enough, I can add more. Name your price."

Andrew stared at her, pain evident in his eyes at how Christina had mistaken his question for thinking it was not enough.

"So, you're dead set on backing out of this marriage?"

Christina pressed her lips together and turned to look out the window. "If that's how you want to see it, I have nothing more to say," she replied.

She was a female CEO with a net worth of over 150 million dollars, with countless admirers in Jayrodale. Andrew, from any angle, did not fit into her world anymore. Not even on an intellectual level.

This marriage was not what Christina wanted—it was too ordinary for her tastes.

"I never thought years of love, countless nights together, and all those breakfasts and dinners I made would ultimately lose to the fear of being ordinary. It's no surprise—you're now the CEO of Stevens Corporation, Jayrodale's golden girl, with countless admirers. And me? I'm just a nobody, clearly not worthy of the outstanding Ms. Stevens."

Andrew chuckled bitterly, feeling utterly disheartened.

Christina's brow furrowed as she glanced at him. "Andrew, I admit you've done a lot for me, but this… it's not what I want. Forget it. I know you won't understand, no matter how much I explain. Take the money. Consider it compensation for your efforts over the years," Christina said as she pushed the check toward him.

Andrew did not even look at the check. "A 1.2 million dollars breakup fee? How generous of you, Ms. Stevens. But I don't need it."

He stood up and walked toward the door.

Seeing Andrew about to leave, Christina's frown deepened. "Andrew, I strongly advise you to take this money. Don't be a fool for the sake of pride. A small-time doctor like you could never earn this much in a lifetime."

Andrew ignored her words. In truth, 1.2 million dollars was not a sum he particularly needed.

"Hold it right there," a voice called out. A woman dripping in jewelry and wearing flashy makeup strode into the room.

Andrew immediately recognized her. "Aunt Irene!"

It was Christina's mother, Irene Cowell—who would have been Andrew's mother-in-law.

"Hmph, drop the 'Aunt Irene', we're not that close! If you're leaving, take your things with you. Our mansion has no room for your junk," Irene barked.

She pulled a small box and a credit card from her purse and tossed them at Andrew. The warmth that had briefly appeared on his face was instantly replaced by a cold expression.

It was the engagement ring he had carefully chosen for Christina, along with the money he had saved for their wedding. Even if the marriage was broken off, there was no need to hurt his feelings.

"Aunt Irene, you wanted this too? I thought I've always treated you with respect."

Irene let out a harsh laugh, her voice grating. "What's the matter, Andrew? Did I hit a nerve?"

"Mom, watch your mouth!" Christina snapped, her brow furrowing.

However, Irene was on a roll. "Why should I? He's nothing but a dreamer chasing the impossible. Does he think he can marry into our family? Not a chance!"

"Oh, Andrew, there's one more thing you should know. Christina will soon be engaged to Harvey Weller once he returns from abroad. You're not in the same league as Harvey, got it?" Irene's face was full of mockery as she said those.

Andrew looked at Christina icily. He was shocked at her audacity to find someone new before she even ended things with him.

Christina avoided Andrew's cold gaze, but her words were firm. "The Weller family is a powerhouse in Jayrodale, with influence across military, political, and business sectors. They've worked for generations to become one of the city's unshakeable pillars. Harvey will inherit it all one day. An alliance between our families is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For me, it's a chance to transform my life."

At those words, Andrew finally let go. He smiled and replied, "Is that so? Well then, allow this poor nobody to wish you and the Stevens family all the best in your social climbing endeavors."

With that, he walked out without another glance, showing no trace of attachment.

As she watched Andrew's retreating figure, Christina felt a whirlwind of emotions. She had expected him to explode with anger or beg her to reconsider when he heard about Harvey. Yet, throughout it all, Andrew had remained unnervingly calm, even indifferent at the end.

"Mom, do you think I went too far?"

Irene scoffed. "Too far? That good-for-nothing thinking he could marry you—now that's going too far!" She chuckled with a gleam in her eye. "Just wait until Harvey gets back, sweetie. Once you two are engaged, the Stevens family will skyrocket to the top tier of Jayrodale society. As for Andrew, he's nothing. Thankfully, he knows better than to mess with me and is cooperative. Otherwise, I would've taught him a lesson he'd never forget!"

Christina remained silent, feeling an inexplicable emptiness in her chest. It was as if something irreplaceable had suddenly vanished from her life.

In the elevator, Andrew opened the modest ring box. A dazzling pink diamond immediately caught the light, its brilliance filling the small space. This 7.5-million-dollar luxury ring was once known as the "King of Diamonds" of Jayrodale, truly one of a kind.

Andrew did not know exactly how much money was on the bank card, but he was sure it was enough to buy Stevens Corporations ten times over. Moments ago, Christina and Irene had not even bothered to look at these treasures, with Irene dismissing them as junk.

As the elevator doors opened, Andrew stepped out.

"Well, well, if it isn't Andrew! You don't look so good," a mocking voice greeted him.

Andrew calmly looked up to see a man in a tailored suit, his hair slicked back, holding a bouquet of blue roses. It was Shawn Fields, Jayrodale's infamous trust fund baby and one of Christina's most persistent admirers.

Not wanting to talk to him, Andrew tried to sidestep him, but Shawn moved to block his path again. Andrew's eyes turned cold as he stared directly at Shawn.

"Do you need something? If not, please move."

Shawn flashed an exaggerated grin. "Look, everyone, Christina's lapdog is actually barking at me! Let me guess, the Stevens family finally kicked you to the curb, huh?"

As he taunted Andrew, Shawn noticed the ring box in his hand. "This is probably some cheap trinket! As if Christina would ever want that. Let's all have a look!"

With a sneer, Shawn knocked the box from Andrew's hand, sending it clattering to the floor. The lid popped open, revealing a stunning pink diamond that rolled onto the floor.

Shawn's eyes widened in disbelief. "Isn't that… the famous pink diamond from Radiant Jewelers? The one they call the Jayrodale's King of Diamonds?"

He gasped and questioned, "It's a 7.5-million-dollar diamond? How the hell did you get your hands on that?"

The commotion drew the attention of Stevens Corporation employees and passersby. They gathered around, gawking at the jewel that had been the fantasy of countless women in Jayrodale, a dream gift from a Prince Charming that no one could afford.

Andrew calmly picked up the box and closed it, a cold glint in his eye. With things being over with Christina, he no longer felt the need to be polite to the parasites around her.

Shawn barked at his bodyguards, "Grab him! Make him tell us where he got that diamond. A nobody like him has no right to even touch it."

Yet, before the bodyguards could make a move, Andrew spun around and delivered a resounding slap across Shawn's face.

Shawn grunted, spitting out blood and a tooth as he flew back several meters, landing like a rag doll. His bloodshot eyes bulged in disbelief. He could not fathom how this former nobody had dared to lay a hand on him.

The two bodyguards were momentarily stunned by Andrew's strength, but they quickly regained their senses and charged forward with angry shouts. However, with just two swift punches, Andrew knocked them out cold before they could even make a sound.

Shawn was dumbfounded, wondering when this loser had become such a formidable fighter. The surrounding Stevens Corporation employees backed away in fear, shocked to see the usually gentle man turn so violent.

After casting a cold glance at the whimpering Shawn, Andrew strode away. Shortly after his departure, Christina and Irene arrived on the scene, alerted by the commotion.

"Oh, Shawn! Who dared to hurt you? Do they have a death wish?" Irene rushed to help Shawn up.

Holding his swollen face, Shawn snarled, "It was that loser Andrew! I swear I'll make him pay back tenfold for this!"

Irene immediately flew into a rage. "What? That bastard dared to offend you? I bet he was just bitter about Christina rejecting him. That useless piece of trash, I won't let him get away with this!"

Shawn's face lit up with joy, forgetting his pain. "Christina, is it true? Have you cut ties with that loser?"

Christina was not fond of Shawn and replied coldly, "My personal affairs are none of your concern. Tell me, why did Andrew hit you? He's not one to start fights without reason."

Shawn gritted his teeth. "Who knows what was going through that lunatic's mind? But Christina, you won't believe what I saw. That psycho stole the 'King of Diamonds' from Radiant Jewelers, that 7.5 million pink diamond, to try and impress you!"

Christina was taken aback. "What? Did you say he stole the 'King of Diamonds'?"

This particular gem was legendary in Jayrodale's high society, and Christina had secretly dreamed of wearing it on her wedding day.

Shawn insisted, "I saw it with my own eyes! Ask any of the employees here if you don't believe me. That guy's got a death wish, pulling a stunt like this!"

Christina frowned, skeptical. "As far as I know, Andrew might not be wealthy, but he'd never stoop to theft."

Shawn sneered, "It's precisely because he's poor that he resorted to stealing. Think about it, Christina. How else could a guy like him get his hands on that ring?"

Irene chimed in, "That's right, it must be stolen!"

Inwardly, she was kicking herself for returning that modest black box to Andrew earlier, not realizing it contained such a valuable gem.

Christina called over a few employees to inquire about the incident. Upon confirming that Andrew indeed had the King of Diamonds, her face clouded with anger.

"This is absolutely ridiculous. Andrew, being poor isn't shameful, but trying to impress me through theft only makes me despise you more!" In her anger, Christina pulled out her phone and began dialing.

Meanwhile, Andrew had already settled into a Rolls-Royce, heading toward Jayrodale General Hospital. His phone rang, and to his surprise, it was Christina calling. Since their relationship was over, Andrew saw no reason to answer.

Yet, the phone kept ringing, seemingly urgent. Frowning, Andrew finally decided to pick up.

"Andrew, listen to me. Turn yourself in immediately!" Christina's voice blared through the speaker, catching Andrew off guard.

"That King of Diamonds is worth 7.5 million dollars, Andrew. Have you lost your mind? I know you did this to make me happy, but have you considered the legal consequences? Turn yourself in now, while there's still time. Don't worry, with Stevens Corporation's influence in Jayrodale, I'll do my best to keep you out of jail!" Christina's voice was filled with righteous indignation, feeling disappointed in Andrew.

Andrew finally understood—she thought he had stolen the King of Diamonds. "You've got it wrong. I didn't steal it," he said simply, not wanting to explain further.

Christina's anger flared. "Andrew, are you still trying to deny it? Shawn and the Stevens Corporation employees told me everything."

Her accusatory tone left Andrew feeling cold. "Christina, is that really what you think of me? You trust someone like Shawn over me?"

Christina hesitated, her voice softening slightly. "I'm sorry if I've hurt your pride, Andrew. But this is serious. The owner of Radiant Jewelers is someone even I'm wary of. Don't you understand? I can't protect you from this!"

Andrew could not help but scoff at her misplaced confidence. He replied in an icy tone, "Even now, you still believe that I stole it. Fine, if that's what you want to think, go ahead. You can call the police or tip them off. I'm not afraid."

"Andrew, why are you being so—" Christina's words were cut off as Andrew ended the call.

Christina stared at her phone in disbelief, her lips parted in shock. The old Andrew would never have hung up on her like that. Moreover, he had rejected her well-intentioned advice.

"Andrew, I never realized you could be so stubborn and ungrateful," she muttered. "I guess I was foolish to care. Our relationship is over anyway, so do whatever you want. I won't bother anymore."

As she spoke these words, Christina felt relieved that calling off the wedding had revealed Andrew's true nature to her.

"I told you, Christina. Andrew's nothing but a thief," Shawn chimed in, his voice dripping with disdain. "It's a good thing your relationship is over. Who knows how he might have dragged you down?"

Christina felt irritated. Although she could usually maintain her composure, Andrew's behavior truly disappointed her. Trying to change the subject, she asked, "Shawn, what brings you to Stevens Corporation today?"

Shawn winced as he spoke, his swollen face causing pain with every word. "Christina, don't you remember? Tonight's the fundraiser for the South City Orphanage. Many powerful players in Jayrodale have their eyes on that property. We need to be prepared!"

At the mention of business, Christina snapped back into her role as the sharp CEO. "You're right. The South City Orphanage property is incredibly valuable. We must secure it."

Shawn saw an opportunity and seized it. "I knew you wouldn't let this chance slip by. My family is ready to support Stevens Corporation fully. With our forces combined, it's practically a done deal."

Christina's face lit up with a smile. "Thank you, Shawn. That's very kind. Of course, we'll be sure to return the favor to your family in the future."

Encouraged by her positive response, Shawn beamed. "Oh, Christina, I brought you some flowers—blue roses, your favorite. They're as beautiful as you are!"

As he said this, Shawn reached for the carefully prepared bouquet, only to find it crushed and stained with his own blood from the fight with Andrew. His face fell in embarrassment.

Irene, ever the stuck-up, quickly interjected, "Oh, it's no big deal! It's just a few petals. If Christina doesn't want them, I'll take them. It's been ages since anyone gave me flowers!"

Shawn's face twitched as he silently cursed Andrew, vowing revenge.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of Jayrodale General Hospital, a Rolls-Royce came to a stop. The driver, Marvin Yates, turned to Andrew with a respectful tone.

"Mr. Lloyd, should I take care of this? Say the word, and I can make Stevens Corporation go bankrupt overnight. They'd vanish from Jayrodale without a trace. They're nothing but worthless scumbags."

Andrew, seated in the back, calmly replied, "My relationship with Christina may be over, but I'm not the type to seek petty revenge. That's beneath us, Marvin."

He continued, "By the way, Marvin, you're Jayrodale's wealthiest man now. Try to shake off some of those rough edges from your street days. You don't need to curse all the time."

Marvin grinned sheepishly. "You're right, Mr. Lloyd. I'll try to be more sophisticated. But reaching your level of class? That's going to be tough!"

Andrew shook his head, feeling helpless with Marvin's antics. Then, he quickly made his way into Jayrodale General Hospital after Marvin opened the car door for him. He was currently a doctor at this hospital.

While he moved swiftly, the people passing the hospital entrance were dumbfounded by what they saw.

"Wait, look at that guy getting out of that car. Isn't that Marvin Yates, the richest man in Jayrodale?"

"Holy cow, the wealthiest guy in town is playing chauffeur? Who's that young man?"

"You know, he looks familiar. Isn't that Dr. Lloyd from Jayrodale General?"

"Get real! A mere hospital doctor wouldn't have Marvin opening doors for him. Must be some big shot's son we don't know about."

"You're right. Since Marvin has the say in Jayrodale, it must be someone really powerful and not from around here."

As Andrew changed into his white coat, his colleague Philip Hackett approached him with a smirk.

"Well, well, Andrew. Word on the street is that Christina dumped you," he said, his tone laced with mockery.

Andrew frowned, wondering how news of his breakup had spread so quickly.

Philip, noticing Andrew's reaction, continued with increased glee. "Oh, you haven't heard? Stevens Corporation just dropped a bombshell, announcing her union with Harvey. They're practically telling the world that you've been kicked to the curb, Dr. Lloyd. No offense, I'm just calling it like I see it!"

Andrew regarded Philip indifferently. "I appreciate the straightforwardness. So let me be clear: if you're done talking, would you kindly get lost?"

Philip's face darkened. "Listen here, Andrew. When you were with Christina, no one dared to go against you. But Christina's protection isn't going to save you anymore. Without her backing, you're nothing in this hospital. You get that, right?"

Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Is that what this is about, Philip? Aren't you just jealous?"

Philip's face flushed red, caught off guard by Andrew's bluntness. Indeed, he had always been envious. He could not understand what Christina saw in this pretty boy who always acted so high and mighty.

Suddenly, a commotion in the hallway interrupted their confrontation. A group of men in black suits rushed in as they shouted one after another.

"Excuse us, coming through!"

"We need the best doctor in this hospital. Ms. Rhodes is requesting for immediate assistance!"