Chapter 311

Chapter 311:

Gracie set her fork down, her tone calm but firm. “Theo, you’re asking the wrong person. My dad was the last one to see Ellie. I don’t know what he told her or what happened between them. If you want clarity, he’s the one you should be questioning, not me p>

Theo’s face tightened in frustration. “I already did. He said you and Ellie argued at work, and that she left upset. But that still doesn’t explain why she didn’t come home. Am I doing something wrong as her husband p>

“Gracie has said all she needs to,” Brayden said before Gracie could answer. “Where Ellie went was up to her. It was her decision to make p>

“Brayden p>

“Don’t start,” Brayden said, cutting Theo off. “If you’re worried, then go look for her or wait for her to show up. But stop bothering Gracie with this p>

Aiden, sitting quietly to the side, lowered his eyes, hiding a small, knowing smirk. So the polite front between the two men had finally cracked.

Valeria stepped in immediately. “That’s enough. Eat your food and stop causing a scene. Have you forgotten your manners p>

Then she turned to Gracie. “Eat a little more. If there’s anything else you want, I’ll have the chef make it p>

“This is more than enough, thank you. I like everything that was served,” Gracie replied with a warm smile.

After dinner, everyone drifted off in different directions.

Left with Brayden, Gracie said quietly, “I want to talk to Kevin. You go ahead first p>

“You don’t want me to come along?” Brayden asked, frowning slightly. “I haven’t spent much time with him lately. We could speak to him together p>

. com is your storytelling hub

Gracie’s thoughts raced as she scrambled for an excuse.

Kevin stepped in just in time. “Brayden, go keep your mom company. You both get home late, and she barely has anyone to talk to p>

“Yes, Grandpa.” Brayden stood, but not before giving Gracie a long, searching look.

He knew she was hiding something.

Kevin waved toward the hallway. “Come to the study p>

Gracie followed him into the study.

Once he settled into a chair, he looked up at her intently. “All right. What’s important enough that you had to send Brayden elsewhere p>

Gracie placed her phone on the table. “I found something by accident. Lia faked the entire situation to make it look like she saved Brayden p>

Kevin’s expression grew darker with every second he listened to the recordings.

“Incredible. So young, and already this scheming. She’s been guilt-tripping him for years,” Kevin said. “If you hadn’t uncovered this, she would’ve kept tugging on that thread. But why can’t Brayden know? What are you holding back p>

Gracie took a breath. She couldn’t hide it. “That incident wounded him deeply. He’s lived with guilt for so long, believing he owes her his life. If he suddenly finds out he’s been deceived all this time… I don’t know how he’ll react p>

Triggering another episode would only make things worse.

Kevin looked genuinely baffled.

Brayden was the grandson he counted on most. Could he really be that vulnerable?

Before he could ask more, Gracie pressed on. “And about Lia, what should we do? Even though her story was fake, Brayden’s gratitude was real. If he confronts her himself, he might hesitate or soften. And someone like Lia… she doesn’t deserve leniency p>

“Handle her however you see fit. I don’t want to hear her name again,” Kevin said, his tone turning frosty. “And don’t let any of this fall back on Brayden p>

“Understood,” Gracie said as she stood. “That’s all I needed from you. I’ll take care of everything else p>

Once she was gone, Kevin lingered in the quiet study, a faint smile softening his expression. “With you around, I’ve got nothing to worry about p>

Back in Brayden’s villa, there was still no sign of him—he was likely still with Valeria.