Chapter 149

Inside the lab, Sloane watched the thin stream of steam curl upward. She counted silently to ten. Then, precisely on the last beat, she cut the heat and lifted the lid. The air changed instantly. A clean, invigorating herbal scent flooded the room, sharp yet soothing, like the moment after a storm breaks. It didn’t feel medicinal, it felt alive. Ethan forgot how to breathe. The pills had formed. Perfectly. Smooth surfaces. Balanced color. No scorching. No residue. “They say this formulation was once reserved for royal courts,” Ethan said, his voice unsteady with excitement. “Used to stabilize circulation, protect the heart and brain, and reverse exhaustion caused by chronic overwork.” He laughed softly, disbelief edging into wonder. “In other words… it was designed for people who burn themselves out at the top.” Executives. Surgeons. Researchers. Modern workers who lived on caffeine and stress. Sloane nodded as she inspected the batch. “That’s what I read too,” she said. “It was descri