Rising from the Ashes (Andrew) novel Chapter 2627

Andrew went to see Donovan.

Gesturing him to sit down, Donovan said with a smile, "Andy, have a seat!"

However, Andrew did not sit. Instead, he glanced around the room and noticed that more than a dozen elders from the Lloyd family were present.

These old-timers had never been particularly kind to Andrew. The Lloyd family could only have one direct heir, and back in the day, everyone, including Reginald, had chosen Sheena for that role.

The outdated notion of "sons over daughters" did not exist in the Lloyd family. According to the previous patriarch's arrangements, Andrew had been groomed to be the family's shadow operative, while Sheena was meant to be the next head of the Lloyd family.

One in the light, one in the shadows, working hand in hand.

Yet, Andrew had broken that balance. He had walked away from the organization, ignoring both the family's orders and even the pressure and persuasion from Philip and other national leaders.

From that moment, the Lloyd family's upper ranks had turned cold toward him. They all believed that a man who strayed off course had no right to the family's resources or their goodwill.

Yet now, things were different. Andrew had returned to Chetvine, and his strength was nothing to scoff at. More importantly, he was not going head-to-head with the Lloyd family anymore. Instead, he kept a low profile, staying in a small old cabin on family grounds.

That made it hard for the family's various department heads to criticize him. They wanted to find fault, but they had no reason to do so. As a result, they all felt frustrated and helpless.

Donovan lifted his teacup and took a small sip. He smiled and began, "Your trip to the Eastern Regions was a tremendous service to the family. You practically saved Sheena's life with your own hands. She told me everything you did at Swordhaven Keep. Andy, you possess the decisive judgment, wisdom, and courage that many Lloyd family members lack."

An elderly man with a graying beard and eyes like a vulture's coldly interjected, "Patriarch Donovan, I think that's a bit of an exaggeration. Any Lloyd family member who wouldn't step in when their own kin was being slaughtered would be a spineless coward."

Donovan smiled and turned to Andrew. "Andy, do you agree with Merlin's assessment?"

In truth, many of the Lloyd elders had barely interacted with Andrew. He had joined the organization when he was just a teenager, then turned his back on the path they had laid out for him.

Back then, he was every elder's nightmare: a talented but rebellious youth who would not play by the rules. Merlin and the others often felt he had thrown away an incredible future.

Meanwhile, Sheena had always been the family's golden child. She was disciplined, gifted, and every bit the leader they wanted.

But now that Andrew was back among them, they saw something different. He still had not chosen the path they had hoped for, but he had carved out one entirely his own. And at the end of that road, he might very well become someone who could speak to the Lloyd family as an equal.

At that point, a middle-aged man spoke up in a deep voice, "Andrew, that small but famous business in Chetvine, the Medicine God's Covenant… That's yours, isn't it?"

Andrew nodded. "Yeah, it's mine."