“I heard Delia will be there, attending under the banner of her charitable foundation. Word is she’s partnered with multiple research organizations lately.” He continued, “Ever since the public reveal of the alliance between our two families, the Campbells have dropped all pretense and started moving openly again.”

“That was bound to happen,” Gracie replied, a faint, knowing smile touching her lips. “If Delia comes at me again, I won’t pull any punches this time.”

Her eyes hardened, and her fingers tightened in her lap.

Delia’s decision to wed Gifford clearly wasn’t driven by affection. If she chose a quiet life with him, fine—but if she kept scheming, Gracie would respond without restraint.

Yousef’s gaze darkened as he accelerated toward the venue.

The event was hosted at a sprawling estate on the city’s outskirts.

Having visited once before, Gracie recognized the route easily.

After registering upon arrival, the pair headed to the onsite dining hall for lunch.

No sooner had they taken their seats than several recognizable faces appeared across the room.

Theo spotted them immediately and sauntered over with a polished grin. “Gracie, you’re here bright and early. I figured you would roll in much later tonight.”

“She’s the hottest name in the field right now—nobody else comes close. Naturally, she shows up early to bask in all the attention,” Carl interjected with a mocking sneer.

Given the Lawson Group’s long-standing stake in pharmaceuticals, their presence at the gathering was expected.

As the pair continued their thinly veiled performance, Gracie’s attention shifted elsewhere. Her brow creased as she fixed a cold stare on Clive, who stood quietly beside Theo.

“Clive,” she said sharply, a flicker of disbelief in her eyes. “What exactly are you doing here?”

Clive met her gaze steadily. “After handing in my resignation, it’s perfectly reasonable for me to seek new employment. Even if you report this to Mr. Stanley right now, there’s nothing he can do about it.”

Gracie’s expression tightened further. She hadn’t anticipated Clive abruptly jumping ship to Theoria Sciences.

As Brayden’s longtime confidant, he possessed sensitive knowledge about the tangled dynamics between Brayden and Theo—his defection could spell real danger.

Theo’s smile widened smugly. “I have to admit, Clive’s talents are exceptional. Years spent at Brayden’s side honed his expertise and professionalism perfectly. Securing him as my right-hand man has been a real coup.” He cast a pointed glance at Yousef. “Though I’m curious—Yousef, what brings you to an event like this? Suddenly fascinated by drug development?”

Reading the undercurrent of hostility, Yousef responded calmly. “I’ve developed a genuine interest, so I asked Gracie if I could tag along and observe. I’ll stay out of the way and avoid bothering anyone.”

“Since you’re entertaining a guest, Gracie, I won’t impose any longer,” Theo said smoothly. “Mr. Lawson, shall we take that table instead?”

As they walked off, Carl threw one last venomous glare Gracie’s way, still nursing resentment over Reyna’s custody.

Once they were gone, Yousef leaned in. “That assistant next to Theo—doesn’t he seem awfully familiar? Wasn’t he always glued to Brayden’s side?”

“You’re right; it’s definitely him,” Gracie confirmed in a low voice.

She set down her utensils, pulled out her phone, and fired off a quick text to Brayden: “Clive is now working directly for Theo. This could create serious complications.”

Pocketing the device, she exhaled and reclined slightly. “This changes things. Today might get a lot more unpredictable.”

“Gracie, level with me.” Yousef leaned closer, concern etched on his face. “You’ve been on edge since yesterday. What’s actually happening here?”

“Something big is going down tonight,” she revealed quietly. “I’m going to need your help to pull it off. When it’s over, I’ll make sure to repay you properly.”

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