Chapter 535
Lauren crossed her arms, smirking. "Michael, didn't I warn you about Ruby? I told you she couldn’t be trusted, but no–you insisted I was just jealous of that bitch.
"Now look at what’s happened. If those formulas fall into the hands of other pharmaceutical companies, the Pharmaceutical Division won’t just take a hit–it’ll collapse entirely. You might as well prepare to announce its closure."
Michael’s face darkened further, his rage building like storm waves, each one crashing harder than the last. He felt trapped. Troy was his man, and the deal with Ruby was his decision. Now, with such a colossal mistake, he could already imagine the backlash from the Rhodes family’s upper ranks.
The humiliation would shatter any dreams he had of becoming the family head. Worse, he would be remembered as the one who brought disgrace and ruin to the company.
Seething with anger, Michael’s eyes fell on Troy, who was still sprawled on the floor. With a growl, he lunged at him, unleashing a brutal flurry of punches and kicks, each strike aimed at Troy’s face and head.
"Mr. Rhodes, stop! Stop, please!" Troy screamed, his voice hoarse with desperation. "I was wrong, wrong! Please, don’t hit me anymore!"
He shouted, "Ms. Rhodes, help me! Please! I’ll take full responsibility–whatever it takes. Just make him stop!"
Troy’s blood-curdling cries echoed through the entire Rhodes Corporation office floor, drawing the attention of company veterans and department heads alike. Initially, they had rushed over to calm Michael down, but the moment they heard Troy confess to leaking the formulas, they froze, stunned into silence.
For any pharmaceutical company, proprietary formulas were its lifeblood–its most valuable asset. These formulas were not just products; they represented years of research, billions in investment, and exclusive dominance in the market.
Hearing that three formulas had been compromised was not just alarming–it was catastrophic. If these formulas ended up in a competitor’s hands, they could immediately replicate the products, undercut prices, and destroy Rhodes Corporation’s monopoly.
As Michael continued to beat up Troy, the executives exchanged uneasy glances. Some even seemed to silently agree that Troy deserved his punishment.
However, Andrew finally had enough. "That’s enough! Beating him to death won’t fix anything."
Troy was barely conscious, his body limp, his face bloodied and swollen, yet Michael’s fists kept flying.
Andrew stepped forward, his tone sharp and cutting. "Michael, if you keep this up, you’re going to kill him. And then what? Do you think being the CEO gives you a free pass to commit murder?"
Michael’s head snapped toward Andrew, his eyes wild with fury. He shouted, "This isn’t your business, Andrew!"
Andrew’s patience wore out. He grabbed Michael by the collar and yanked him back, glaring at him. "Idiot. Do you even hear yourself right now? If you kill him, this goes from corporate negligence to outright homicide. Is that the legacy you want for yourself?"
Michael froze, Andrew’s words cutting through the haze of his rage like ice water. He staggered back, suddenly realizing the gravity of the situation. If Troy died here, it would not just ruin his career–it would destroy his life.
On the floor, Troy lay curled up in a pitiful heap, barely conscious and covered in blood. He could not even muster the strength to speak.
Andrew grimaced at the sight, muttering under his breath. He turned to Eunice and instructed her to bring the first aid kit. Once it arrived, he crouched beside Troy and began treating his injuries with practiced precision.
Afterward, Andrew scribbled down a prescription and handed it to him. "Take the medicine on this list for six months, and the infection in your body should gradually clear up."
“But,” Andrew added, his tone sharp and unyielding, “remember this: there’s still a high chance of a relapse. If you have even an ounce of sense left, stay away from random flings.”