“This is my last investment. Every damn cent I have is in this project.” His eyes burned with desperation and fury. “If this project fails—” His voice turned chilling. “I don’t care if I have to die. I’ll make sure you go down with me.”
Ethan’s breath hitched. A cold sweat ran down his back. Harold wasn’t bluffing. This was a man at the end of his rope. A man who had nothing left to lose.
And now… All of his rage was directed at him.
Before Ethan could even process what was happening, Harold whirled around and shouted toward the factory floor.
Harold wasted no time.
The moment he was done threatening Ethan Carter, he turned to the stunned factory workers, who had all frozen in place, watching the confrontation unfold.
His voice boomed across the massive production floor—
“LISTEN UP! KEEP WORKING!”
The workers jumped in shock, their hesitation instantly replaced by urgency.
“Get back to your stations! Everything runs as usual! I don’t care what’s happening—this factory DOES NOT stop!”
Immediately… The factory floor roared back to life.
The heavy machinery rumbled, conveyor belts groaned as they started moving again, and workers scrambled back to their tasks.
The forklifts resumed transporting raw materials, their engines growling as they carried the precious ingredients to the production lines.
In less than a minute… The entire factory was back in full operation. As if Ethan’s desperate attempt to shut it down had never happened. Harold turned back to Ethan, his sharp gaze filled with warning.
His finger jabbed directly at Ethan’s chest—hard enough to make Ethan stumble slightly backward.
“Listen here, brat!” His voice was low and dangerous, filled with pure, unfiltered rage.
“If that miracle drug of yours isn’t in our hands by the time production is finished—” His lips curled into a snarl. “I will personally make you regret it.”
Ethan felt a chill crawl up his spine. This was no empty threat. Harold meant every word.
And then… Without giving Ethan a single chance to respond. Harold turned on his heel and stormed out of the factory.
His heavy footsteps echoed against the concrete floor, heavy with finality. Ethan could only watch in silence. His body felt frozen in place. His mind was spinning.
He had spent so much effort trying to stop this disaster. And in the end, everything had spiraled completely out of his control.
Now… Instead of halting production, things were about to move even faster.
Ethan Carter stood outside the factory, his jaw clenched so tightly it felt like his teeth might crack.
His fingers curled into fists, nails digging into his palms, but the pain did nothing to quell the storm raging inside him.
Inside the massive industrial complex, machines roared like a relentless beast, tirelessly churning out product.
Workers moved in a synchronized frenzy, carrying materials, adjusting controls, and overseeing the endless production lines.
His money was flowing into this project like water through a broken dam. And he couldn’t stop it.
His breathing was uneven, chest rising and falling as he struggled to suppress the frustration boiling within him.
He had been so sure of his plan—so convinced that he was in control. But now, as he watched the factory devour resources at an unstoppable pace, he felt the crushing weight of his own helplessness.
This wasn’t just a bad business decision. It was a catastrophe waiting to happen. He had to find a way out before it was too late.
A soft, familiar voice snapped him out of his daze.
“Ethan, what’s wrong? You look really upset.”
Ethan’s head jerked up as if an electric shock had run through his spine. His sharp gaze locked onto the person speaking… Lily.
She stood a few feet away, her brows furrowed in worry, her large eyes searching his face for answers.
For a brief moment, Ethan didn’t respond. His mind was moving too fast, rearranging puzzle pieces that had been scattered all this time.
Then…it hit him all at once. His breath caught in his throat.
“Wait a second… Our formula came from Reid Industries’ vault.” His stomach twisted into knots as realization slammed into him like a freight train.
Every muscle in his body tensed, his heartbeat hammering against his ribs.
“And now they’re about to launch a product that’s cheaper and more effective?” His pupils shrank, an icy chill creeping down his spine.
This wasn’t just bad luck. This was a setup. A whole damn set up from the very beginning. A cold sweat broke out on his skin as he finally understood the full extent of what had happened.
Reid Industries hadn’t simply lost their secret formula. They had given it away on purpose.
And the worst part? Lily had been the one to steal it.
His gaze snapped toward her, his eyes dark with an unreadable emotion. Lily, sensing something was wrong, took a small step back, suddenly feeling uneasy.
“Ethan…? W-Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked hesitantly. Her voice was soft, unsure. Her fingers twitched slightly, gripping the hem of her sleeve.
For the first time since she had met him, Ethan’s presence felt dangerous.
Then just like in a drama a twist happens.
SLAP!
The sharp crack of skin against skin echoed through the air like a gunshot.
Lily’s head snapped to the side, strands of her dark hair flying across her face. A fiery pain bloomed across her cheek, her skin instantly flushing red from the force of the impact.
The world around her seemed to freeze for a moment, her breath caught in her throat, eyes wide with disbelief.
She staggered backward, her legs nearly giving out beneath her. Her trembling fingers slowly reached up, touching her burning cheek.
“E-Ethan…?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, as if she couldn’t believe what had just happened.
Tears welled up in her eyes, her vision blurring as she struggled to process the situation. She had never once thought that Ethan would ever lay a hand on her.
Ethan, on the other hand, looked furious beyond words.
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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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