Chapter 398

Chapter 398:

Brayden gave a single nod, his expression steady, his words clipped with resolve. “That safe matters to you. I gave my word, and I’ll make sure nothing stands in your way p>

A sudden shiver rippled through Gracie’s chest, her heart tightening before she could stop it. Was this what it meant to be protected without hesitation, to be put first without conditions?

From the side, Averi stepped in and lifted a hand, neatly inserting himself between them. “Can we move this along?” he said, his tone brisk and unmistakably impatient. “I don’t have the luxury of lingering. The faster we’re done, the faster I get to leave p>

Impatience crept into his voice despite his professionalism. Anyone would be irritated after being yanked out of bed in the dead of night, rushed straight to the airport, and shoved onto the first available flight without so much as a warning.

Gracie jolted back into the moment, then inclined her head with quiet resolve. “The safe’s at home. We should head back p>

One by one, they filed out of the hotel lobby, piling into the car and driving straight home.

From his vantage point near Brayden’s villa, Aiden caught sight of Brayden stepping out, and his gaze tightened in shock. “Wasn’t he supposed to be on an overseas business trip? How did he make it back this fast? What did he know? Or was it the safe he was worried about?” The more importance Brayden seemed to place on it, the stronger Aiden’s curiosity burned.

Approaching without hesitation, Aiden cut straight toward them and offered a quick greeting. “Brayden, who exactly do you have here p>

His eyes drifted briefly to Averi, cold and assessing.

With a subtle gesture, Brayden directed Gracie to escort Averi toward the villa ahead of them, leaving him to deal with the rest.

“So,” he drawled lightly, his voice edged with irony, “my guest caught your interest p>

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Aiden forced a polite, slightly stiff smile. “We don’t often see strangers around here. Watching you and Gracie treat him with such care, I assumed he must be someone important, so I thought I’d greet him p>

A short, humorless laugh slipped from Brayden’s throat. His gaze sharpened. “Aiden, stick to enjoying your free ride and stop poking into things that don’t concern you. Otherwise…” He paused just long enough for the warning to settle. “No one can promise your days will remain comfortable p>

That casual threat sent a chill straight through Aiden’s chest, his heartbeat stuttering.

Unlike Theo, who shared Brayden’s blood and patience as a full brother, Aiden knew all too well that, as an illegitimate child, he had never been afforded the same tolerance. If not for the family’s long-standing reputation, Brayden would have already ensured he never survived another day in the country.

Forcing a placating smile, he lifted both hands slightly. “Brayden, I truly meant no offense. I apologize for the interruption. You have a guest to entertain—I’ll take my leave p>

With those words, he pivoted and retreated without looking back.

Silence lingered as Brayden watched him go, his expression cooling inch by inch. “Learn when to stop before you regret it,” he said flatly, the warning razor-sharp.

Turning away, Brayden headed back into the villa and climbed straight to the second floor. He pushed open the master bedroom door and immediately spotted Averi crouched before the safe.

Carefully brushing his fingers along the intricate surface, Averi murmured, “This really was my dad’s craftsmanship. I never imagined it would still be this well-preserved p>

Gracie’s voice wavered, as though she were fighting back the rush of hope swelling in her chest. “Averi, can you open it without damaging anything? This safe belonged to my mother, and whatever’s inside means everything to me p>

“Give me a moment—I need to check something.” Averi drew a weathered notebook from his bag and skimmed through the pages with quick, practiced fingers.

Standing just behind his shoulder, Gracie craned forward, catching glimpses of dense notes and meticulous sketches scattered across the notebook.

The notebook was clearly a work journal left behind by Averi’s father, recording in detail the construction logic, hidden mechanisms, and disassembly methods of every piece he had ever crafted.

After a brief search, Averi paused on a specific page, then lifted his gaze to compare the reference photo with the safe again and again, his expression sharpening. “There’s no doubt about it,” he said at last, his voice steady with certainty. “This is the one—purchased thirty years ago by a wealthy businessman from your country p>

The wealthy businessman mentioned in the records could only have been Gracie’s grandfather.

Opening the toolbox with measured care, Averi spoke without looking up. “This has to be unlocked in sequence, exactly as the blueprint shows. One wrong move could trigger a self-destruct. It’s precise work, and it won’t be fast, so I need absolute quiet p>

Even with years of training, he knew he still fell short of his father’s mastery.