Read Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Novel by Only For You Updated 2025 -26 - Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Chapter 3181

Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Chapter 3181

Meanwhile, back in Holtrien—Chetvine.

Inside Ravencrest Manor, Guillermo stood motionless, still holding the now-silent telephone receiver. His complexion alternated between deathly pale and violently flushed as shock and rage churned through him in waves.

Nearby stood his two most trusted men: Lorenzo of the Owens family, and Jose Castillo—whom Guillermo had forcibly elevated to martial god status over the past six months.

“Mr. Vazquez,” Lorenzo asked cautiously, “what happened to Mr. Topsfield Senior?”

Guillermo’s expression darkened. He spoke through clenched teeth. “That useless fool… seems to be injured.”

Lorenzo’s jaw dropped.

“Injured?” he blurted. “Alfredo is the Sword Saint—a peak martial god. Who in Holtrien could possibly hurt him?”

Guillermo fell silent for a long moment before answering coldly, “Andrew.”

“That little bastard is back.”

His eyes flashed. “I never imagined he’d have the nerve to go after Alfredo the moment he crossed the border. Unless he possessed terrifying martial power—or some lethal trump card—there’s no way he’d dare challenge the Sword Saint.”

Lorenzo’s expression shifted from shock to outright disbelief. “We… received word from overseas that Andrew was returning, didn’t we? But how did he arrive so quickly? And why would he confront Mr. Topsfield Senior directly?”

He hesitated. “Could Reginald have returned with him?”

Guillermo shook his head firmly. “Impossible. Reginald entered the Veiled Paradise. That’s been confirmed beyond doubt.”

Nearby, Jose lounged against a chair, looking utterly bored. “Why are you both so tense?” he said lazily. “So the kid came back. Big deal. What’s he going to do—turn the world upside down?”

“We can’t deal with Reginald, sure,” Jose continued. “But Andrew? He’s no problem at all.”

Guillermo sneered. “That reckless arrogance of yours is going to get you killed one day.”

Unbothered, Jose poured himself a cup of tea, took a slow sip, and set it down with deliberate calm. Only then did he speak again.

“Mr. Vazquez, I don’t appreciate that remark. Since when does a peak martial god in Holtrien just drop dead on command?” He smiled faintly. “I’m standing here today because you personally helped me reach this level.”

“Andrew barely escaped Holtrien two years ago. What could he possibly have achieved in that time?” Jose shrugged. “At most, he broke through some bottleneck and stumbled upon a lucky opportunity.”

He went on casually, “But even heaven-defying opportunities need time to mature. Every time you face that father-and-son pair, you lose your composure.”

He chuckled. “Tell you what—wherever Andrew is, I’ll go meet him myself. I actually kind of like the kid.”

“When I see him, I won’t kill him outright. I’ll just send him back to where he came from. As long as he promises never to return to Holtrien, letting him live seems perfectly reasonable.”

Jose paused, finally noticing Guillermo’s expression.

“…Mr. Vazquez,” he asked slowly, “why do you look like you’ve seen a ghost?”

Guillermo was staring at him as if he were a complete idiot.

Jose stopped talking.

Guillermo spoke icily. “Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear me? Alfredo Topsfield has already been seriously injured—by Andrew.”

He leaned forward. “Do you honestly think you’re stronger than Alfredo?”

Jose shrugged, still unconvinced. “Maybe Alfredo did get hurt. But who actually did it? We don’t know.”

He shook his head. “I refuse to believe Andrew was capable of that. And you shouldn’t believe it either, Mr. Vazquez.”

“It’s absurd. Unrealistic,” Jose added lightly. “Makes people wonder if you’re getting old—and losing your edge.”