Chapter 279

**Summer's POV**

I was about to ask him what Jeffrey wanted when his phone rang.Brandon glanced at the screen, then answered immediately.

"James," he said simply, his voice low.

I couldn't hear what James was saying, but Brandon's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Mr. Stark," James's voice came through clearly enough for me to catch, "Jeffrey Sinclair lingered outside your private room for several minutes before leaving!"

"I know," Brandon replied calmly, taking another bite of his food.

"So what should we do now, Mr. Stark?" James asked.

Brandon set down his fork, his expression shifting into something colder."Hold position for now. Tomorrow morning, I want you to find Jeffrey and take him to see Elle."

I started to spoon more rice onto his plate, but he subtly shook his head,stopping me.

"And increase her dosage," he added, his voice completely emotionless."Then let Jeffrey see her."

The entire table fell silent. Everyone had heard him. Ruby and Scarlett exchanged alarmed glances, clearly wondering what kind of conversation they'd just witnessed. I felt my own stomach tighten at Brandon's casual cruelty.

Ethan Kennedy and Edward Lee barely reacted, their expressions remaining neutral. Whatever Brandon was doing, they'd obvíously seen it

coming.

Dr. Sean, however, looked genuinely disturbed. "Brandon, have you lost your mind?" he hissed. "You're messing with her meds now? At my hospital? Are you trying to get my license revoked?"

Brandon's lips curved into a cold smile. "Jeffrey needs a lesson in consequences," he said simply. "He doesn't respond to anything else."

"What are you talking about?" Sean demanded.

"Jeffrey is predictable," Brandon explained, setting his phone down. "Elle is his playing piece. As long as she's a viable option, he'll never stop pushing. But if his piece is... compromised..." He let the implication hang in the air.

"You're basically suggesting we make her appear more mentally unstable to scare him off," Sean translated, running a hand through his hair. "Jesus Christ."

"I'd prefer not to directly engage the Sinclair family unless absolutely necessary," Brandon continued, his tone clinical. "They've been fixtures in Washington DC for over a century. That's not a battle I'm looking to start right now."

Sean threw up his hands. "Fine. Whatever. I've gotta hand it to you though-you really do think of everything."

"I don't like wasting effort," Brandon replied.

James cleared his throat. "Mr. Stark. The staff monitoring Elle mentioned she's been muttering strange things lately. Keeps saying 'go away'and something about a child."

Brandon's head snapped up. "A child?"

"Yes. sir," James confirmed.

Brandon's eyes darted to Sean, something unspoken passing between them.

"Do psychiatric patients typically talk in coherent patterns?"

Sean's face paled as he caught Brandon's meaning. "You can't possibly think-"

"Brandon, you..." I started, the implication hitting me like a truck.

Brandon turned to Edward. "Edward, looks like I'll need your assistance again."

Edward nodded, his expression grim. "Don't forget what you promised me.

"Within the next few days," Brandon assured him. "I'll arrange the meeting. What happens after that is up to you."

"Agreed," Edward replied simply.

I glanced around the table. Ruby and Scarlett looked completely lost,while Ethan and Arya maintained their stoic expressions. Only I seemed to understand part of what was happening-Brandon was using Elle to manipulate Jeffrey, but there was clearly more going on than he was letting on.

After dinner,Sean offered to take Ruby and Scarlett home. Edward and Ethan left separately with Arya, while Brandon and I headed to his car.

Once we were alone, I turned to him. "What exactly did you mean by increasing Elle's dosage? Don't tell me her current breakdown is somehow connected to you?"

Brandon glanced at me, one eyebrow raised. "What do you want to know.

exactly?"

"Nothing," I said quíckly, shaking my head. But deep down, I was worried.Was Brandon doing terrible things for my sake? The thought made my stomach churn.

"Stop overthinking," Brandon said softly, reaching over to smooth the wrinkle between my brows. "Your face gives away everything you're thinking. Do you really believe your husband is that incompetent?"

His confidence was reassuring. Whatever Brandon was doing, he clearly had every angle covered. I relaxed slightly, leaning into his touch.

"What were you and Edward talking about earlier?" I asked, changing the subject. "It seemed serious."

"Grace," Brandon replied simply.

"Grace?" The name sounded vaguely familiar.

"Her birth name is Grace Stark, though she later changed it to Katniss Kennedy," Brandon explained. "She's Gavin Stark's biological daughter."

"Your uncle's daughter?" I asked, surprised. "What's her connection to Edward?"

"Grace and Edward met before anyone knew who she really was,"Brandon said, "They were together for a while. I knew about their relationship, but at the time, I had no idea she was my cousin."

"So how did everyone find out?"

"Gavin's wife, Meave, got sick and needed a bone marrow transplant."Brandon continued. "That's when they discovered the daughter they'd raised for over twenty years wasn't biologically theirs. They eventually tracked down Grace."

"So the Starks brought her back into the family?" I asked.

Brandon shook his head. "Not exactly. By then, she was already with Edward, and they seemed happy together. Gavin and Meave didn't want to disrupt that."

"So what happened?"

"There was... a misunderstanding between Grace and Edward," Brandon said carefully. "Grace left afterward. That was three years ago. She hasn't been back since."

"Three years?" I gasped. "Why didn't he go looking for her?"

Brandon gave me a pointed look. "Who said he didn't?"

"Oh." Realization dawned. "He's been searching all this time?"

Brandon nodded. "Without pause. That's why I'm helping him. Grace isn't just my cousin-she's precious to Gavin and Meave."

"What's your plan?" I asked. "I imagine it's complicated, since Grace is their daughter, and Edward and Grace's misunderstanding is still unresolved."

"I'm going to start with Meave," Brandon replied.

"But isn't her health fragile?" I worried.

Brandon smiled. "Meave is stronger than she appears. But for now.we need to keep this from Gavin."

"Gavin doesn't approve of Edward?" I guessed.

"He hadreservations from the beginning," Brandon confirmed."Gavin was overjoyed to find his long-lost daughter, only to see her hurt by someone from the Lee family."

"Is that why Stark Group hasn't collaborated with Lee Enterprises in years?"I asked,connecting the dots.

Brandon chuckled. "Gavin acts tough, but he can be childish sometimes.If keeping away from Lee makes him feel better, so be it."

"But doesn't Edward need the Stark Group's support?" I asked. "For Lee Enterprises?"

"That's where you're wrong," Brandon replied. "Everyone assumes Edward's primary concern is Lee Enterprises, but it's not. It never has been."

"How do you know?"

"Edward has his own company," Brandon revealed. "One with enough resources to absorb Lee Enterprises entirely if he wanted to."

"Then why hasn't he done it?"

"Because Edward's priorities lie elsewhere," Brandon said simply. "He's done a lot for Grace. That's why I'm willing to help him now."

I leaned back against the seat, trying to process everything Brandon had shared. The world he moved in was so much more complex than I'd ever imagined-filled with old grudges, family secrets, and hidden agendas.But as complicated as it all seemed, one thing was clear: in Brandon's world,loyalty and love were worth fighting for, no matter the cost.