“Reid Industries Scar-Healing Cream – Trial Sample” Ethan’s expression changed instantly.
A wave of unease rolled through him.
“What the hell is this?” His mind raced. ‘Was this what Waters had been trying to do all along? Had he deliberately left this behind? Was this… a warning? Or something else entirely?’
Ethan’s grip tightened around the bag.
If Reid Industries was already distributing free samples, it meant their product was ready for the market.
And that meant…His eyes darkened.
“Could they have another formula?” His voice was low, almost a whisper to himself. “If their product is already perfected… then what does that mean for us?”
His fingers clenched around the bag.
“No. I need to test this myself.”
With a sudden sense of urgency, he shoved the trial ointment into his pocket and strode directly into the factory, his pace quickening.
A few streets away, inside the sleek interior of a black expensive black car, Mr. Waters sat calmly in the back seat.
His earlier display of frustration? Gone. His supposed humiliation at the factory gates? An act.
His wrinkled hands rested on his lap, but his sharp eyes were locked onto the factory entrance.
And when he saw Ethan pick up the sample and take it inside, a cold smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.
With steady fingers, he pulled out his phone and sent a message.
“Sir, the fish has taken the bait.” A few seconds later, his screen lit up with a reply.
“Well done, Waters. Now let’s sit back and enjoy the show.”
A low chuckle escaped Mr. Waters’ lips as he placed his phone down.
….
Inside the factory, Ethan was already moving.
He found a quiet, isolated spot, away from the prying eyes of workers and executives. His hands moved quickly as he ripped open the sample packet, revealing a small, pristine jar of cream.
It was barely enough for one application, but it would do. His fingers hovered over the jar for a second.
Then, without hesitation, he turned toward the nearest brick wall. His eyes darkened.
“Let’s see if this is the real deal.” Taking a deep breath. He dragged his hand against the rough surface. A Sharp pain came instantly as he did that.
A thin, crimson line appeared across his palm, blood welling up immediately.
Ethan hissed but barely reacted.
“Damn, went too deep…” he muttered under his breath. But this wasn’t the time to hesitate. Ethan Carter sat in his office, staring down at the scar on his arm.
A deep, jagged wound that had once cut straight to the bone.
He had purposely left it untreated, wanting to personally test the effectiveness of the new scar-removal formula his company was about to release.
With careful precision, he applied the cream onto his skin.
Seconds passed. Then a minute. Then two. And right before his eyes… The scar began to vanish.
At first, the red and inflamed tissue softened, blending in with the surrounding skin. Then, the rough, uneven texture smoothed out, as if the wound had never been there in the first place.
By the five-minute mark, his arm was flawless. Not a single mark. Not a single blemish. It was Perfect.
Ethan’s breath hitched. His fingers slowly traced over his skin, feeling nothing but smooth flesh.
The previous formula—the one Lily had stolen from Alex’s company—had been powerful, but it could only fade scars by 80% at best.
But this? This was absolute. He picked up the packaging again, flipping it over. And that’s when his entire body went still.
The price.
$100.
His fingers tightened around the box.
$100?!
Ethan’s heart pounded in his chest.
The scar-removal drug his company had been working on had a raw material cost of nearly is tremendous compared to normal creams.
They had already planned to sell it for at least $1000 just to turn a profit. Of course it may look like the tremendous amount but it all comes down to its effectiveness, many rich people would have bought this in thousands.
While some would have made contracts for its distribution.
And yet… This new drug was ten times more effective and sold for only $100?
Ethan hands trembled. His breathing quickened. His vision tunneled as he realized the full weight of the situation. This wasn’t just competition. This was an execution.
And the one holding the blade to his throat… Was Alex Reid. Ethan shot up from his chair, pacing across his office.
Every single nerve in his body screamed that something was wrong. He rushed to the window and looked down at the factory floor.
Hundreds of workers were moving at full speed.
The assembly lines were running nonstop, processing raw materials into the final product.
Forklifts carried stacks of ingredients, filling up the warehouse with supplies meant to last for months of mass production.
Delivery trucks came and went, transporting massive shipments into storage. The entire operation was working like a well-oiled machine.
And yet… It was all for nothing. Ethan stiffened. If Alex launched his product at the same time. If his drug was not only more effective but also drastically cheaper.
Then Reid Industries would wipe them out instantly.
Their company would be left with mountains of unsellable stock. Millions of dollars investments would vanish overnight.
Their suppliers, their distributors, every connection they had built, would turn against them in favor of the cheaper, superior product.
Ethan’s lips parted as a horrifying realization struck him.
“I walked straight into a trap.” His hands balled into fists. Alex hadn’t just beaten him to the market. He had set him up from the start.
Every move Ethan had made, every investment, every deal, every rushed decision, had played right into Alex’s hands.
His jaw clenched. ‘No. I’m not going to let this happen.’ He turned on his heel and stormed out of the office.
Ethan marched straight into the factory, his voice cutting through the noise.
“STOP EVERYTHING!” The factory froze.
Workers turned, their faces filled with confusion as the assembly line slowed to a halt.
Ethan didn’t waste a second. He spun toward the procurement manager.
“Cancel all incoming raw material shipments!”
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Bonus Chapters on: 500, 1000, 1500 Power Stones.
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(A/N: Soon! Some Golden tickets guys!!!)
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