Chapter 399

Chapter 399:

With a steady breath, he selected several delicate instruments, the faint clicks and taps echoing as he worked over the safe, his focus razor-sharp.

Somewhere along the way, Gracie’s eyes had gone red, her fingers pressed over her lips as she fought back the tears. After all those years of waiting, hope had finally surfaced—the keepsake her mother left behind was on the verge of seeing daylight again.

Stepping closer, Brayden rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder and murmured evenly, “Relax. We’ll get it open p>

A faint nod slipped from Gracie as her fingers twisted tighter around the edge of her clothes, the fabric creasing under her grip.

If even Averi came up empty-handed, then without the password, the safe might remain sealed forever.

Right at that moment, raised voices and hurried footsteps burst from downstairs, shattering the tense quiet.

“Brayden, get down here right now! You’ve really gone as far as threatening your own brother? Is this really the decency you pride yourself on? With conduct like that, how do you deserve to stand as the heir? I’ll personally speak to your grandpa and demand that your position be taken away p>

Erik’s voice cut through the air, unmistakable and simmering with rage.

Startled, Gracie spun toward Brayden at her side. “What’s happening? What did you say to Aiden earlier p>

Offering a calm contrast to the chaos below, Brayden gently patted the back of her hand. “It wasn’t anything serious. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. Stay here with Averi and keep your focus p>

After giving her one last reassuring look, he turned and strode toward the stairs.

Gracie hesitated, her gaze flicking from Averi to the closed door, before she finally stayed where she was.

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Given Brayden’s capabilities, Erik wouldn’t be able to truly hurt him, yet the confrontation had started because of her, and the thought of leaving him to deal with it alone stirred a knot of guilt in her chest.

Still, the safe took precedence above everything else, because even the smallest misstep could not be tolerated. If the internal self-destruct mechanism were triggered, she and Averi would be forced to salvage whatever fragments they could from the wreckage.

“He’s a remarkable husband,” Averi commented casually, his tone edged with admiration. “For you, he flew overseas himself and even dragged me out of my house to the airport in the middle of the night p>

A faint pause followed before he added, almost incredulous, “I’ve honestly never seen a man that devoted p>

That single remark sent a tremor through Gracie’s heart. After all, if Brayden truly didn’t care, how could he have gone that far for her?

Whether this attempt succeeded or fell apart, she still felt deeply thankful to him.

Averi let out a soft laugh, the sound edged with teasing. “Thankful? That’s a strange word to use. I honestly don’t get you women. What he’s after isn’t gratitude—it’s an emotional response, the kind that comes straight from the heart p>

Slowly, Gracie lowered her eyes, teeth catching lightly on her lower lip as her fingers curled in her lap. Romance wasn’t something she knew well, yet Brayden’s sincerity was impossible to ignore; his concern and protectiveness never felt forced.

Still, until her objective was fully secured, distractions were a luxury she couldn’t afford, and love was the most dangerous one of all. Letting their emotions surface would make them vulnerable, handing their enemies an opening they could easily exploit.

Averi fell silent, his attention snapping back to the delicate mechanisms beneath his hands.

Below, Brayden strode into the living room, his presence cutting through the tense air.

At the center stood Erik, his impeccably kept features tightened by a simmering fury.

Lurking just behind him, Aiden’s eyes were rimmed red, his expression crafted to look wronged and pitiful.

“Dad… let’s just leave,” Aiden said softly, his voice catching as if in shame. “You don’t have to fight this battle for me. I was foolish to think I could get close to my brothers. I’m a bastard, and I don’t really have the standing to be near them p>

“That’s absurd,” Erik snapped, turning sharply toward him. “Don’t say that about yourself. You’re my son.” His voice rang through the hall, heavy with authority. “No matter what anyone says, you are part of the family p>

Brayden strode toward them, his expression frozen and unyielding. “Have you said everything you wanted to say p>

Erik’s face darkened as he snapped back, his voice sharp with authority. “Watch that tone—don’t forget I’m your father!” Jabbing a finger forward, he continued angrily, “Just because you’re the heir doesn’t mean you get to brush off my words. Let me be clear—around here, my word is final p>