Read Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Novel by Only For You Updated 2025 -26 - Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Chapter 3244

Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren) Chapter 3244

Andrew left the Cunningham residence and walked alone down the long street.

As he passed through the familiar alleys, memories from childhood surfaced—days spent running through these same lanes. Back then, the Lloyd and Cunningham families had still been close. Conrad had been the undisputed big brother of their circle. He led a pack of kids around Chetvine, sneaking into places they shouldn’t, stirring up trouble, rarely doing anything remotely responsible.

Every time they were caught, they were beaten soundly.

Except Andrew.

The clever little kid always found a way to slip away.

Over time, within that small group and narrow world, Conrad naturally became the leader—he was the oldest and the boldest. Andrew, though younger and smaller, became the second-in-command without anyone formally saying it. Whenever they were about to do something reckless, the others would glance at Andrew first, waiting to see if he approved. Even Conrad gradually developed the habit of asking for Andrew’s opinion when things got tricky.

Those were carefree days.

But somewhere along the way, as they grew older and entered the organization, something changed.

Andrew excelled at everything. Wherever he went, he adapted quickly, built connections, and became the center of attention. The quiet competitiveness Conrad had buried since childhood slowly resurfaced. Jealousy crept in. Resentment followed.

Eventually, it drove a wedge between them—so deep that they could no longer even call each other friends.

Later, when Conrad was defeated, Andrew chose not to kill him. Conrad went overseas and trained under Reginald. Years passed. When they both returned home, Conrad was already past thirty. The fiery ambition of youth had cooled. He no longer envied Andrew, no longer tried to chase him. He accepted reality, listened to his heart, and chose to stand behind him.

But Andrew’s hatred toward the Cunningham family had always been real.

For years, Otto had dreamed of killing Andrew. The conflict between the two families had been inevitable. And today, it had finally reached its conclusion.

Andrew had crushed the Cunningham family with absolute dominance.

Conrad felt gratitude toward Andrew and Reginald for everything they had done. Yet the Cunningham family was still his blood. He was caught between loyalty and gratitude, torn in both directions.

In the end, he offered his own life in exchange for Otto and Wyatt, asking Andrew to kill him instead.

Andrew could have done it.

For a moment, he had truly wanted to.

But he didn’t.

Because Andrew had changed.

His true enemies now stood far beyond Chetvine—stronger, more terrifying, operating on an entirely different level. Without realizing it, the Cunningham family and Conrad had already been left far behind in Andrew’s rise.

It was like childhood rivalry. You might spend years fighting some buzz-cut neighborhood kid, secretly swearing that one day you’d crush him beneath your feet. But once you grew up and saw how vast and endless the world truly was—once you became powerful in your own right—

Looking back, that rivalry would feel small.

Petty.

Would you still want revenge?

No.

At most, you would feel boredom. Maybe even a hint of pity.

You were no longer on the same level. Not even in the same realm.

So Andrew chose to let the past drift away with the wind.

Wyatt and Otto had already paid their price.

Wyatt’s thirty years of seclusion and patience had been destroyed in a single strike. Andrew had shattered his martial foundation. From now on, Wyatt’s strength would only decline, day by day, until death inevitably claimed him.

It might have looked like mercy.

But in truth, it was no different from a death sentence.