?Chapter 399:


    His voice carried a cautious tone, aware of the sensitive nature of military projects. If Brenna could share any details, she would have done so by now.


    Braeden responded with augh, “I’m afraid that’s confidential. It’s just a minor project.”


    The Harper family responded with politeughter, but they knew the reality was not as simple as Braeden made it seem. After all, if it were just a small project, Braeden wouldn’t have attended Brenna’s birthday party personally like this.


    Ethan, familiar with military dealings from his two years of service, was unfamiliar with Braeden. Just as he was about to strike up a conversation, Braeden turned to him and said, “You must be Ethan, Kenny’s twin, correct?”


    To Ethan, soldiersmanded respect, but with so many of his own family members in the military, he didn’t view them with the same admiration as the Harper family did. To him, being a soldier was simply another profession.


    “Indeed,” Ethan answered.


    Their conversation flowed easily, with Braeden asking about Vincent’s condition. Brenna asionally joined in, contributing to the discussion. After a while, a secretary who had apanied Braeden handed her a folder.


    With a respectful tone, Braeden said to Brenna, “We’ve held further talks since you left and drafted some proposals. Please, take these as a reference.”


    As the clock struck eight, a majestic five-tiered birthday cake was presented. The crowd gathered around Brenna and Ethan, making this the most borate birthday celebration Brenna had ever had.


    As the birthday song filled the air and everyone’s faces lit up with joy, Brenna couldn’t help but feel happy. She was satisfied to be surrounded by close friends and loving family members.


    Thiago, Ellie, and Patrick stood close together beside Brenna, their smiles brighter than anyone else’s.


    Ethan caught Thiago’s lingering look toward Brenna, something that seemed too intense, stirring a twinge of difort within him.


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    However, seeing Patrick holding the hands of both Ellie and Thiago brought himfort. He believed they looked more like a family.


    As for his friend Jayceon, he was content to let him stay out of the matter for the time being. Recently, Patrick had been keeping his distance from Jayceon because Fay had been clinging to him. He was unsettled by the stories Fay had shared about the cruel ways of stepmothers and didn’t want to be around Jayceon and Fay anymore.


    Jayceon had told Ethan about this.


    Despite Jayceon’s efforts to change Patrick’s mind, Patrick remained distant. Watching the easy connection between Patrick and Thiago, Ethan couldn’t help but notice how genuine their father-son-like bond appeared.


    Besides, Ellie’s behavior toward Thiago was somewhat intimate. Ethan believed they might really be a couple in the future.


    Worried that Jayceon might feel overshadowed by Thiago, Ethan quickly snapped a picture of the trio holding hands amid the crowd’s distraction and sent it to Jayceon, warning him.


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