The senior executives at the pharmaceutical factory who were in the know were arguing fiercely.
One side insisted that the medicine could not be destroyed.
This batch was incredibly expensive, and destroying such a large quantity would surely alert the Drug Administration Bureau. The loss wouldn't just be limited to raw materials, refined ingredients, and processing costs—it could even shake the company's foundation and damage the brand's reputation in the market. The consequences would be immeasurable.
The other side had a simpler stance: if the medicine wasn't up to standard, it absolutely could not be labeled, shipped, or sold—no matter what!
The two sides were in a heated standoff.
Edward sat at the table, his head in his hands, lost in his own thoughts.
[ Why is everything so frustrating?When it rains, it pours. Why is all this misfortune hitting me at once?
This wasn't part of the storyline! What's happening? Can the system just change the plot whenever it wants?
Shouldn't Davis be out of the picture by now?
And what's going on with Elizabeth? Why does she suddenly want to ruin me? ]
At that moment, the doors swung open, and everyone stood up immediately:"Welcome, Boss Lewis!"
The crowd greeted Elizabeth respectfully.
Edward froze in surprise. Why is she here too?
Elizabeth took a seat on the opposite side of the circular table, her smile sharp and unreadable as she looked at Edward.
"Edward, I've been briefed on the situation. How do you plan to handle it?"
"Uh…"
Edward's mind raced.
[This batch of medicine absolutely cannot leave the factory—it must be destroyed!]
Elizabeth's sharp eyes flickered with surprise, as though she no longer recognized the man in front of her. Destroy it? That's his true opinion?
[Got it! Edward's inner voice sneered. I'll propose releasing the batch as usual, knowing she'll oppose me. There's no way she'll let these drugs hit the market. ]
[ If she argues against me loudly enough, we'll have a big falling out. Then I can use that as an excuse to pull out my shares. Yes, that's the plan!]
[Damn, I'm a genius!]
Thinking this, Edward let out an exaggerated laugh and swaggered over to Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth, my dear , here's the thing! The cost of this batch of medicine is sky-high, and yes, reducing the refined ingredients was my idea. The effect might not be perfect, but it's traditional Chinese medicine—it won't kill anyone!"
"But if we destroy it, the Drug Administration Bureau will get involved. We'll have to hold a press conference, and then the factory will be doomed! Our reputation will collapse, our stock prices will crash, and future sales will plummet. We'll lose everything!"
"So, we need to keep everyone quiet, push through the pressure, and focus on the bigger picture! Right?"
He grinned at Elizabeth while his thoughts churned in anxiety:
[Come on, yell at me! Oppose me! Say no! ]
[ I'll pull out my shares, you'll become the majority shareholder, and from now on, we'll go our separate ways. ]
[ You can go cozy up to Davis, be his little mistress or whatever, and we'll never have to cross paths again. ]
But Elizabeth wasn't one to be fooled.
[ This guy has already decided to destroy the batch.But he wants me to be the one to do it?Since when did this guy grow a conscience as a doctor?
And why is he acting like I'm some sort of plague he needs to avoid?
Do I look that pathetic, like I'd really go and be Davis's little sidekick?]
Elizabeth's eyes twinkled with mischief as she smiled. "Edward, I think exactly the same way as you! Truly, this pharmaceutical company can't do without you. At critical moments, it's still you who must take the helm!"
Edward's smile froze instantly.
He stared at Elizabeth as if he were seeing a complete stranger.
"Elizabeth, did you mishear me? I said… we should label, ship, and sell the medicine…"
"Yes!" Elizabeth nodded firmly. "That's exactly what I was thinking!"
Edward shook his head vigorously, feeling like his world had just collapsed.
[What the hell is this?! ]
[ Elizabeth, the righteous and benevolent doctor, how could you agree to something so despicable? Are you out of your mind?]
Forcing a smile, Edward said, "Elizabeth, think carefully. This is medicine! What is medicine for? It's for saving lives! If it's not up to standard, it could delay a patient's treatment. Think about it—thousands of people might suffer because of us… heh heh, you understand, right?"
"I understand, I completely understand," Elizabeth said, her expression unreadable.
This was now a game of who would blink first. Both of them had already made up their minds: this batch of medicine absolutely could not leave the factory.
But neither wanted to be the one to suggest destruction.
The current situation was clear: Elizabeth had already seen through Edward's stance, while Edward was still stumbling in the dark, unable to see through the fog. Elizabeth had already won.
The cunning girl smiled lightly and said, "It's just a batch of medicine—what's the big deal? If it really delays someone's treatment, well, that's just bad luck for them. Who asked them to get sick in the first place? Isn't that right, Edward?"
"But we've already spent a fortune on this. If we can't recover the costs, the company will suffer huge losses. Edward, I support you! Here, I'll sign the release order. This batch of medicine must leave the factory within three days!"
A secretary handed her the pen and contract. Elizabeth grabbed the pen and moved to sign.
Seeing her about to sign, Edward panicked. He slammed his hand down on the signature area and stared at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth blinked her wide eyes innocently at him. "What's wrong, Edward?"
Edward was trembling with anger, utterly disappointed in her.
[God, please! Later don't call me name, maaybe you are my mother!]
"Elizabeth, are you really… sure about this?"
"I'm sure!" Elizabeth said brightly. "I trust you, Edward. Whatever you decide, I'll follow."
Edward lowered his head, nearly bursting with frustration. In a sudden outburst, he snatched the document and tore it into shreds.
With both hands pressed against the table, his head hanging low, he spoke in a deep voice:
"Report this to the Drug Administration Bureau. Tell them we are destroying this batch of medicine immediately and request their supervision."
"Internally, conduct a thorough investigation into our operational processes. Every related department must review their procedures."
"Hold all procurement personnel responsible for the raw materials accountable. Revoke their professional certifications and hand them over to the judicial authorities for prosecution."
Elizabeth smiled—she had won.
Jon was on the verge of losing his mind. "Boss Astor! This batch of medicine is worth over six hundred million! Six hundred million! Please reconsider! You and Boss Lewis have already…"
"Get out!" Edward exploded, venting all his anger on Jon and deliberately putting on a show for everyone else.
"Who the hell do you think you are? You're just a security captain—what right do you have to interfere with company decisions? Do I not have enough authority around here?"
"This is medicine! Medicine! It's meant to save lives!"
"Listen up, all of you. If even a single box, a single bottle, or a single pill of this batch leaves the factory, I'll personally rip the culprit's head off and use it as a football!"
"Not just today, but from now on, if anyone tries to cut corners with raw materials, I'll make sure they rot in prison for the rest of their lives!"
"Six hundred million? Six billion? Sixty billion? I don't care! I'd rather let it all rot here in the factory than let a single contaminated product leave!"
Edward turned to Elizabeth. "What do you think, Boss Lewis?"
Elizabeth smiled.This time, it was a smile of genuine satisfaction.
For the first time, she felt like she didn't fully understand Edward.
[ This man was completely different from the person she had imagined.
Were those stories about him being ruthless, domineering, and greedy really true? Could they have been exaggerated or even false?
And honestly… that display of anger just now was kind of impressive. ]
"Edward, like I said, you're the boss here. I'll follow whatever you decide."
Looking at Elizabeth's victorious expression, Edward was hit with sudden realization.
[This cunning girl knew from the start that I wouldn't let this batch leave the factory?! ]
[Has she never heard of my reputation? I'm supposed to be a greedy, ruthless villain! How dare she play this game with me?! ]
[No, something must be off. Where did things go wrong?]
Elizabeth stood up and smiled. "Edward, it's my birthday next week. You're invited to my party. As for this mess here, I'll leave it in your hands."
She turned and walked away, completely at ease.
She had fully understood Edward and no longer had to worry about him acting recklessly at the factory.He simply didn't have it in him.
Sitting in her car, Elizabeth couldn't calm her thoughts.
When she had pretended to agree to ship the batch, the look of disappointment in Edward's eyes… it was as if he was the righteous hero and she was the villain.
But honestly, he was pretty impressive today.
Thinking about how she had cornered him, made him spin in circles, rack his brains, and nearly fall apart—it was just too entertaining!
Elizabeth couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Her team of secretaries exchanged bewildered glances. The chief secretary cautiously asked, "Boss Lewis, is everything okay?"
"Oh, nothing," Elizabeth said, straightening her face.
But the image of Edward's flustered face popped into her mind again, and she couldn't help but laugh once more.
......
Evening had fallen, and the city lights were beginning to glow.
Victoria had been distracted all day.
There was something incredibly strange about Edward.
Why could she suddenly hear his inner thoughts?
And how was he able to predict Davis's actions so accurately?
He seemed terrified of Davis, but the two of them had never even met!
Among everyone present today, only she knew how formidable Davis's combat skills were.How had Edward sensed the danger emanating from him so keenly?
There were too many unanswered questions.
Was everything from the past three years—his so-called love, affection, and relentless pursuit—just an act?
Did he retreat and give up so easily just because Davis appeared?
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. A secretary poked her head in. "Boss Feng, are we wrapping up for the day?"
"Hm? Oh."Victoria snapped out of her thoughts. "Yes, let's call it a day."
But something still felt off. Something… was missing.
Right. Someone was missing.
For the past three years, every day at this hour, a clingy suitor would stubbornly wait at the entrance. He'd be wearing a flamboyant suit, holding a bouquet of flowers, and reciting nauseatingly cheesy pickup lines.
Every day, she had to endure his pestering and hollow flattery, making her lose face in front of her entire office building.
But today, he wasn't there. The empty doorway felt strangely hollow in her heart.
Walking down the hallway, the sound of her high heels echoed coldly.
One secretary muttered, "Huh? Why does it feel so quiet today?"
Another secretary blurted out, "Boss Astor didn't come today!"
"Oh, that explains it! Usually, he'd already be at the door by now, talking endlessly."
Victoria glared at them. "Do you two not have enough work to do?"
The secretaries immediately fell silent, walking quietly to the elevator.
Victoria felt increasingly uncomfortable.
What was this feeling?
Hadn't she always wished for Edward to stay away from her?
Hadn't she prayed for him to disappear from her life entirely?
But now that he was gone… why did she feel so unsettled?
Frustration bubbled up inside her.
At the building's entrance, a young girl, whose job was to pick up discarded flowers every evening, was already waiting. She looked at Victoria walking out empty-handed and froze for a moment.
She glanced behind Victoria, searching for any sign of Edward.
Her face filled with confusion.
Victoria glanced at her. "He didn't come today."
Sitting in her car,Victoria felt even more agitated.
Without Edward's presence, it felt as though her life had inexplicably changed.
The irritation gnawed at her for a long time before she finally grabbed her phone and dialed.
"Hello? I need to see you."
The background noise on his end was deafening. "Huh? What? Speak louder, I can't hear you!"
A girl's voice floated through the phone. "Boss Astor, drink with me!"
"Hold on, I'm on the phone!" Edward said before speaking into the receiver again. "Boss Windsor, I'm a bit busy right now. Let's talk another day!"
Beep beep… The call disconnected.
Victoria was furious. She turned to the driver and snapped, "Find out where Edward is. Take me to him immediately!"