Chapter 50

Chapter 50:

The atmosphere in the study was utterly still, heavy enough to feel suffocating.

Gracie had long anticipated that Brayden would take issue with Theo’s behavior during the auction, yet she hadn’t imagined he would bottle up his resentment until this moment—or worse, begin to question her identity.

“You’re perceptive enough to understand what I mean,” Gracie replied evenly, her gaze steady on his. “It’s natural to put faith in your brother over me, but remember—those who stand closest are often the ones who leave the deepest wounds.” She let a beat of silence pass before continuing, her tone cutting through the quiet. “I wasn’t familiar with Theo in the past, but I’ve come to understand his cunning, manipulative, and venomous nature far more than most p>

Brayden’s brows knitted together, but Gracie leaned back in her chair, unflinching. “He orchestrated that so-called assassination attempt himself, just to win Mr. Lawson’s funding. And you still think a man capable of such cruelty has a tender heart? Don’t delude yourself p>

“You mean to tell me Theo was behind the attack at the conference?” Brayden’s voice was low, controlled, yet edged with disbelief.

Gracie rose to her feet, her expression composed. “You can verify it yourself. His friendliness toward me has nothing to do with personal interest. His target is my project. Time will expose everything. And when it does, you’ll finally see me for who I am p>

Without waiting for a response, she turned and left the room.

Brayden remained in his chair, elbows resting on the armrests, his fingers pressed against his chin. His eyes were shadowed with conflict and thought.

Gracie was sharp—calculating, even—but never reckless with accusations.

After a long pause, he reached for his phone and called Clive. “Clear tomorrow’s calendar,” he instructed. “And set up a breakfast meeting with Mr. Lawson p>

is your destination for fiction

Back in her own quarters, Gracie leaned against the closed door, a faint tremor in her chest. She pressed a palm over her heart and whispered, “Don’t disappoint me, Mr. Lawson p>

There was no point in fabricating lies for Brayden. Deceit would crumble the moment it left her lips.

The cleverer tactic was to anchor her deception in fragments of truth—harmless on their own, but potent together.

Jeffrey was the ideal linchpin for this. His long-standing rapport with Brayden ensured that, even if questioned directly, the man would reply with the guarded diplomacy of a veteran businessman—never offering too much, yet enough to confirm what needed confirming and quell Brayden’s suspicions.

That hint of credibility was all Gracie required.

She sank onto her bed, phone in hand, fingers flying across the screen as she documented every pivotal moment from her former life.

“Did my rebirth speed up the chain of events?” she mused coldly. “They’re exposed while I’m still unseen. That gives me the advantage p>

The next morning, before leaving the house, Brayden’s eyes flicked toward the dining table—most of the dishes already cleared. “Has Gracie gotten up?” he asked calmly.

The butler beside him inclined his head. “Yes, she has already left for the company p>

Without further comment, Brayden stepped into his Maybach and instructed the driver to head straight to the restaurant where he was to meet Jeffrey.

Inside the private suite, Jeffrey poured him a cup of steaming coffee. “It’s been a while. What brings you here so early p>

Brayden accepted the cup, turning it idly in his hand. “We’ve worked together long enough for me to check in. I heard about the conference incident. Was everything resolved? Did the authorities find the culprit p>

Jeffrey’s eyes flickered briefly, though he quickly recovered. “They did,” he replied, exhaling softly. “The police claim it was just a desperate man lashing out at the world. Hard times push people toward madness p>

Brayden placed his cup back on the saucer with deliberate calm. “Good to hear no harm came to you. I also heard Theo approached you about a joint project. Have you made your decision? If it’s solid, I might consider investing as well p>

The coffee pot in Jeffrey’s hand paused midair. “It’s an interesting proposal, but I’m not sure it’s right for me. My daughter’s condition is still unstable, and I’d rather spend my time on smaller ventures—and with my family p>

Brayden’s gaze lowered slightly, thoughts stirring behind his steady demeanor.

They both knew what wasn’t being said. In the corporate world, polite refusals often carried heavy subtext.

Jeffrey glanced at his wristwatch, feigning surprise. “Ah, I nearly forgot—I’ve got an urgent meeting coming up. We’ll talk again soon p>