Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Tiana did not say much more. Instead, she quietly warned, "Andy, you'd better be careful when it comes to the Peck family."

Andrew waved it off. "There's nothing to be careful about. Right now, I don't even need to take the Peck family seriously."

Tiana shook her head. "I'm not talking about the Peck family itself. I'm talking about Calvin's wife."

Andrew raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Peck Senior's wife? Liliana's mom? Why would I need to watch out for her?"

Tiana gritted her teeth. "That Caroline I smacked around earlier? She has a senior, who was my old arch-rival back in the day. That woman is ruthless, colder than I ever was. She's a venomous snake with no soul and no conscience.

"And what's worse? She's a stronger fighter than I am and way more dangerous than Calvin, who's all bark and no bite."

Andrew blinked. "Wait... Mrs. Rhodes, are you talking about the matriarch of the Peck family? Calvin's wife?"

Tiana's expression turned stormy. "Exactly. That bitch, Victoria Sanchez. This time, you humiliated the entire Peck family. Calvin got beaten down, and Victoria? She's the petty, vengeful type. She won't let this slide. She'll come knocking, believe me."noveldrama

Andrew shrugged. "I don't like hitting women, especially not elders. But if she pushes me, then I won't have a choice."

Tiana let out a cold laugh. "If Victoria really shows up, you can't lay a finger on her. You probably don't know this yet, but she used to be one of Reginald's 'special friends'. Two-thirds of the grudge she holds against me is because of him."

Andrew groaned. "Mrs. Rhodes, just be straight with me. How many 'special friends' did my dad have in Blumedale?"

Tiana's cheeks turned red, and she muttered, "Just me, okay? The rest were all desperate women throwing themselves at him. Reginald got bored and tossed them aside like trash. Anyway, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. I'm leaving now. Keep a close eye on Laufen for me."

Walking down the stairs, Tiana's face turned frosty, every step elegant and sharp as she headed for the door. Only in front of Andrew did this fearsome mother-in-law drop the cold and holy facade. With her icy demeanor, she kept people at arm's length most of the time.

Shiloh sat sprawled on the couch with her legs spread apart, watching Tiana head toward the door.

Tiana frowned and turned back, approaching her. "Young lady, if you're going to live here with Andrew and others, you should learn proper etiquette and posture. For a young lady, your complete lack of proper standing and sitting posture is really unsightly."

Shiloh pointed at her own face. "Excuse me? What did you call me? Young lady? And who are you anyway? What gives you the right to lecture me?"

Tiana's eyebrows shot up in fury. "I'm teaching you how to behave. And yes, I'm calling you a young girl. Do you have a problem with that?"

Shiloh jumped up instantly. "Hell yes, I have a problem with that, old hag! Let me tell you, I'm old enough to be your great-great-grandmother's great-great- grandmother! What's with that stare? If you're unhappy about it, let's take this outside!"

Ten seconds later, Tiana was planted headfirst in the flower bushes outside Serenity Villa by the flower bed, looking thoroughly disheveled.

Shiloh dusted off her hands and headed back inside. "If it weren't for Lauren's sake, I would've given you a real beating! How dare you call me a 'young girl'!"

Upstairs, Andrew and the others quickly retreated to their respective rooms. What they had just witnessed was absolutely amazing, but they knew better than to discuss it. Given Tiana's temperament, she might burst in to silence them permanently.

Only the reckless, fearless, and utterly unbothered Shiloh had the guts to take Tiana down a notch.