Eaton instinctively waved a hand in front of Theo’s face. “You… have you been under too much stress lately? Are you starting to hallucinate? How could something like a ‘rebirth’ project even exist? That’s no longer within the realm of science. You’ve always been an atheist.”

“I was. But not anymore,” Theo replied calmly. “It sounds absurd, I know, but I’ve personally witnessed someone being reborn. So will you invest? Think of it as backing me, if nothing else.”

Eaton frowned slightly.

An investment like this involved the company as a whole. Even if he felt tempted, there was no guarantee the other shareholders would agree.

Seeing his hesitation, Theo continued, “We’re friends. I wouldn’t drag you into something reckless. This round of funding is only necessary because my real estate assets can’t be liquidated right away. Treat it as a personal loan. If you ever need the money back, I’ll return it immediately.”

He leaned forward, his voice low and intent. “This research means everything to me. I’ve already poured all I have into it.”

Suddenly, the office door swung open, and Brayden walked in without warning.

His eyes swept over the two men seated on the sofa. “Theo, you really are hard to track down.”

“Brayden? How did you find out I was here?” Theo rose to his feet, clearly startled. “You should have called; I wouldn’t have made you come in person.”

Brayden stopped in front of them, his tone flat. “Finding someone isn’t difficult for me.”

Tilting his head slightly, he looked straight at Theo. “I want the surveillance footage from Theoria Sciences.”

“Brayden… Theoria Sciences conducts chemical pharmaceutical research. Our surveillance recordings are confidential. Gracie and I are competitors in the same field, so I can’t show you that footage,” Theo replied, looking displeased. “Did Gracie send you?”

Eaton, who had been sitting quietly, frowned.

Only now was he beginning to believe that Theo’s position was far more unstable than he had realized.

Brayden’s face hardened. “What exactly are you hiding in that footage? Dad’s disappearance… You’re involved, right? If you refuse to hand it over, I’ll cut off your monthly dividends. Without that income, can your company really continue operating?”

“Are you threatening me?” Theo’s eyes flushed red at once.

Eaton had been silent the whole time, but now he abruptly stood up. “That’s crossing a line.”

He met Brayden’s stare head-on. “Every company treats its surveillance footage as confidential. On what grounds do you think you’re entitled to it? You’re brothers by blood, yet you’re using financial pressure to corner him?”

Without hesitation, Eaton pulled out his phone and dialed the finance department. “Transfer fifty million to Theoria Sciences immediately. Register it as my personal investment.”

Theo looked down, the faintest trace of a smile flashing across his face.

With narrowed eyes, Brayden fixed Eaton with an ice-cold stare.

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