Outside the hospital room, Erik turned to Brayden. “This hospital is adequate at best—nothing exceptional. It would be far better to transfer Grandpa to the exclusive facility owned by Theo. He would receive superior care and greater comfort in that private setting.”

“I believe the current hospital is perfectly suitable,” Brayden responded calmly. “While Theo’s institution is undeniably top-tier, I have specific reasons for my choice. There’s no need for you to concern yourself with these arrangements.”

“I’m his biological son—how could I ever intend any harm toward him?” Erik’s frustration mounted quickly. “Don’t pretend I don’t see what’s happening. You’re all treating me with suspicion, as if I’m some kind of threat.”

“With Grandpa’s serious condition, the responsibility for the entire family falls on me now.” Brayden stood his ground resolutely. “This decision isn’t open for debate. Even if you insist on moving him to that private clinic, I won’t permit it.”

He then addressed Charlie, who was positioned near the entrance. “From this moment onward, no visitors are allowed to see my grandfather unless they have my explicit approval—including my father himself.”

Charlie nodded promptly. “Yes, sir. I’ll ensure that’s enforced.”

Overcome with fury, Erik shook visibly, jabbing an accusing finger at Brayden while struggling to speak coherently for several seconds. Eventually, he whirled around and departed in a storm of anger.

Charlie’s expression turned concerned as he turned to Brayden. “Mr. Stanley, would you like me to reach out to Clive? We really should have a dependable person dedicated to overseeing security here at the hospital, but my current responsibilities are pulling me in too many directions…”

“That’s unnecessary.” Brayden shook his head dismissively. “The security personnel under your command are completely reliable. Simply assign a couple more guards to the area, and we’ll avoid any issues.”

Though Charlie appeared ready to protest further, Brayden pivoted and strode away without another word.

Gracie glanced at Charlie sympathetically. “I’m not fully aware of the details behind all this, but Brayden clearly has valid grounds for his actions. As for involving Clive right now… it’s best we leave that alone for the time being.”

“I can’t help but think there’s some kind of mix-up between Clive and Mr. Stanley. After all these years together, and considering how generously Mr. Stanley has always treated us, Clive surely had his own justifications for whatever occurred.” Charlie sighed.

Gracie gently placed a hand on his shoulder in reassurance. “I understand you cherish bonds of loyalty and longstanding camaraderie. However, this situation requires patience—we’ll need to let Brayden resolve it in his own time.”

Charlie bowed his head in quiet acceptance, resigned to awaiting further developments.

Later that evening, upon returning to the expansive Stanley family estate, Gracie hesitated before heading upstairs and turned to Brayden with curiosity. “What exactly went wrong between you and Clive? How did things deteriorate to such an extreme?”

“When someone is truly set on departing, there’s little point in trying to convince them otherwise,” Brayden replied coolly. “Did he assume that his lengthy service entitled him to overstep boundaries and impose outrageous requests?”

A bitter chuckle escaped him, accompanied by a cold, piercing look. “I’ve clearly been overly permissive with him in the past. It allowed him to lose sight of who holds the ultimate authority.”

Gracie’s forehead creased with worry; she sensed a profound shift in his demeanor—something deeply unsettling.

Unbeknownst to either of them, a brief rustle of fabric betrayed a hidden observer lurking just out of sight in the shadowed hallway.

At the headquarters of Theoria Sciences, Theo glanced at the incoming text on his smartphone, a sly grin spreading across his face. He slid the device across the polished desk toward the man seated across from him.

“See for yourself,” he said smugly. “As I mentioned earlier, you don’t hold nearly as much significance in Brayden’s world as you might believe. You’re hardly even regarded as a close confidant.”

Clive scanned the message, his eyes narrowing in shock while his fists tightened involuntarily at his sides. “I simply can’t comprehend it. Both Charlie and I were orphans taken in and supported by the Stanley family from a young age. Why does he treat us so differently? Is my devotion somehow inferior to Charlie’s?”

Theo let out a soft, mocking laugh. “From childhood, you and Charlie were groomed by the Stanleys to serve as Brayden’s most loyal supporters—expected to lay down your lives for him without hesitation if required. Yet the more intelligent individuals often invite greater wariness. Your sharpness makes you less pliable than the straightforward Charlie.”

He paused for effect before continuing. “But my approach differs from Brayden’s—I actually favor collaborating with astute minds.”

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