Chapter 396
Chapter 396:
“I spoke with my parents about it, but my sister didn’t react well at all,” Eaton said with a weary sigh. “She’s always lived on her own terms—carefree and independent. I can’t help wondering… would this marriage actually be good for her p>
Theo lifted his cup and took a sip. “Do you remember Bernie Cooper p>
“How could I forget?” Eaton grimaced. “That fraud nearly took all of us in. I never imagined a con artist would be bold enough to lie and cheat his way straight into our circle. The nerve of him still makes my skin crawl p>
“But I looked at the situation differently,” Theo continued. “Jessie was constantly by Bernie’s side—talking, laughing, spending all her time with him. It almost looked like she’d fallen for him. We were lucky to uncover his real identity in time. But what if she runs into another Bernie someday? One mistake like that could destroy her entire future p>
Eaton froze mid-motion, his fingers tightening around his coffee cup as his face darkened. “Now that you mention it… you’re right. Jessie has been protected from the realities of the business world her whole life. She doesn’t recognize hidden motives or bad intentions p>
“That’s exactly my point. Instead of letting her navigate relationships blindly, wouldn’t it be safer for her to marry someone we already know and trust? With you looking out for her, there’d be no room for deception or manipulation,” Theo said calmly.
His reasoning erased the last trace of doubt from Eaton’s mind. “You’re right. It’s time she settled down properly. I’ll speak with my parents tonight. Still, finding someone of equal standing isn’t easy. Most suitable men in our circle are already spoken for p>
Noticing his troubled look, Theo added, “Actually, I do have someone in mind p>
“Oh?” Eaton’s interest was immediately piqued. “Who is it p>
“Aiden,” Theo replied. “Yes, he’s illegitimate, but he has the full support of my family. Given our relationship, he’d never mistreat Jessie. On top of that, she’s close friends with Gracie. Living under the same roof with someone she trusts would make the transition much easier. A thoughtful decision beats a reckless one every time p>
“Aiden…” Eaton murmured, considering the possibility carefully.
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Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Whenever Gracie had a moment to spare, she checked the surveillance feed trained on the safe.
Only after making sure no one had been inside her bedroom would she go back to work.
After yet another unsuccessful trial, she dismissed the discouraged research team early, telling them to rest, before returning alone to her office.
Phoebe gently pushed the door open. “Everyone’s gone for the day. What are you still doing here p>
“I need to review the previous failures. Understanding what went wrong will help us avoid repeating the same mistakes,” Gracie replied, her eyes fixed on the experimental data.
Phoebe approached her. “You don’t have to shoulder everything alone. Pushing yourself like this isn’t good for you—physically or mentally p>
Gracie glanced up, surprised by the concern in her voice.
Phoebe went on softly, “We’re a team. Let us share the load with you. Since everyone else has already left, I hope you’ll allow yourself to unwind a little too p>
Noticing the concern etched into Phoebe’s eyes, Gracie let out a light laugh. “You’re really quite protective of me, aren’t you p>
She shut the data file and set it aside. “Alright, we’ll call it a day. I’ll head home shortly p>
Gracie slipped out of her lab coat.