After everything was prepared, at exactly 8:00 PM Eastern Time, Olivia released the finalized investigative report online:
"CloudMode International: A Luxury Empire Built on Lies."
The moment it went live, it detonated like a bomb.
The report was detailed, evidence-heavy, and ruthlessly logical.Every claim was backed by documents, data, and verifiable sources.
Most critically, Olivia deliberately used a sharply provocative line:
"Using American consumer money to funnel profits overseas."
That single sentence ignited public outrage.
The article didn't need paid promotion.It spread organically, reposted thousands of times within minutes.
Comments flooded in.
"So much for 'Italian craftsmanship.' Turns out it's mass-produced in China and sold at insane markups."
"This isn't new. Luxury brands have been doing this for years. People just refuse to admit they're paying for a logo."
"Half the luxury goods out there are made domestically or in Asia, then shipped around once and rebadged."
"If the quality matched the price, fine—but CloudMode's coats fall apart in weeks."
"Same here. Mine faded after two washes. Absolute garbage."
"Mine didn't fall apart, but for that price? Total rip-off."
"Now it makes sense why they sell so well—fake orders, inflated sales, manufactured hype."
"The worst part is profit transfer. Made here, bought here, but the money gets siphoned overseas."
"Never bought CloudMode. Glad I didn't."
CloudMode's problems had existed for years.
They had simply been buried under PR, paid reviews, and media silence.
Now, the dam broke.
Consumers who had been ignored, mocked, or silenced finally found a platform—and they flooded it with firsthand accounts.
By 10:30 PM, when the U.S. stock market opened, CloudMode International's stock started dropping immediately.
And fast.
Olivia hadn't even begun applying real pressure yet.
But panic spreads faster than logic.
At the same time—
Inside a high-end private club.
Ethan and Edward were reclining comfortably, enjoying massages from attractive attendants, drinks resting nearby.
They laughed bitterly as they cursed Jason.
Edward sneered,"That bastard humiliated me."
"Fine," he scoffed."I'll make him pay."
Ethan smirked."When our contract expires, I won't renew. Let him enjoy owning Starlight Fashion while bleeding cash."
Edward nodded."I'll reach out to other luxury brand reps. Smooth things over."
"Once we block Starlight from major fashion shows, he'll be finished."
Ethan laughed softly."Someone new should've kept his head down."
"But he doesn't know his place."
"Once Starlight starts hemorrhaging money, he'll crawl back to us."
Edward's eyes gleamed.
They clinked glasses, convinced Ethan was inevitable.
Outside—
CloudMode's stock chart was already bleeding red.
And neither of them realized—
The knife was already at their throats.
Just then, Ethan's phone began to ring.
He didn't bother to open his eyes.
The female masseuse beside him glanced at the screen and said softly,"Brother Ethan, it's Manager calling."
Ethan waved lazily."Bring it over. Put it on speaker."
He remained reclined, eyes closed, as the masseuse answered and held the phone near his ear.
The moment the call connected, Manager Rick's voice burst out, sharp and panicked.
"Boss! Something big has happened!"
Ethan frowned."Why are you shouting? Calm down. How big could it possibly be?"
Manager Rick forcibly lowered his voice, but the urgency still leaked through every word.
"Someone just published a detailed investigative report exposing CloudMode International's OEM manufacturing, fake orders, and related-party profit transfers. It's exploded online."
"The market just opened. Our stock dropped 3% in the first hour, and it's still falling!"
Ethan's eyes snapped open.
"How much?"
"Three percent—and accelerating."
Ethan sat upright instantly, snatching the phone from the masseuse.He opened the stock app.
Red.
Deep red.
CloudMode International had plunged straight down from the opening bell, the curve sloping like a cliff face.
Ethan's face darkened as he pulled up the report, scanning rapidly.
The deeper he read, the colder his expression became.
Then he saw the publisher information.
The blood drained from his face.
"So it's you," Ethan muttered, fury boiling under his skin.
Beside him, Edward didn't understand English well—but he understood numbers.
He checked his phone too.
The stock was crashing.
And the source… was Jason Carter.
Edward's expression twisted."That bastard again?"
Manager Rick continued urgently,"We've detected massive abnormal trading volume. A fund is aggressively short-selling us and buying large quantities of put options."
"There's strong reason to believe this was premeditated."
"And—"
He swallowed.
"The SEC just contacted us. They want to initiate a financial investigation."
Ethan laughed, but there was no humor in it—only rage.
"Good. Very good, Jason Carter."
"This feud just escalated."
Edward slammed his phone onto the table."We haven't even finished settling scores with him, and he dares to strike first?"
Ethan's eyes were icy."Manager Rick, activate full crisis mode immediately."
"First, public relations. Push the narrative that Jason Carter is fabricating rumors to profit from short-selling."
"Say this report is malicious slander driven by capital manipulation."
"Second, notify our legal team. File lawsuits for market manipulation, dissemination of false information, and malicious short-selling."
"Push the angle that he's violated U.S. securities law. Administrative penalties. Criminal liability. Pressure him from every direction."
Ethan was calm now—but it was the calm of someone who had entered full combat mode.
However—
What Ethan didn't know was that Olivia had already anticipated every move.
Jason's legal team had been briefed in advance.Every line in the report was sourced.Every accusation carefully framed.No absolute claims—only verifiable facts, documented inconsistencies, and publicly obtainable evidence.
At the same time—
Public opinion was being pushed even harder.
Trending topics surged across platforms.
Short videos dissected CloudMode's "Italian craftsmanship."Consumers uploaded photos of damaged coats and receipts.Former models hinted at contract disputes and pressure tactics.
While the first report was still spreading, Olivia was already drafting the second one.
CloudMode's PR team fought desperately.
They issued statements.Bought media silence.Contacted analysts.
For a brief moment, the stock stabilized.
Then—
It resumed its free fall.
The chart plunged again.
Uncontrollably.
And this time—
There was no stopping it.
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