"Can''t you just give it a rest with that woman and let Reese have a peaceful pregnancy? Everything else can wait until after the baby is born.


    "If you need someone with skills, why not just have her work at yourpany?


    "I heard she''s been working on a traffic management system at ckOak and it''s getting some pretty good reviews.


    "She''s obviously talented. If you hadn''t kept her cooped up at home thesest few years and cut her off from her studies, she probably could''ve gone a lot further.


    "And right now is a critical moment for thepany''s transition. I''ve heard ckOak has connections with the military. You could use her to get a foot in the door."


    Sebastian took a sip of tea, his voice cold and indifferent. "You''re giving her too much credit, Grandpa."


    "That system was already in development before she even joined ckOak. n just let her take the spotlight because of our family''s name.


    "She might have had some real skills in school, but it''s been years. She''s out of practice.


    "She''s not going to be able to rece Sofia."


    Just then, Sebastian''s phone rang. He nced at the screen, a glint of sarcasm in his eyes as he handed the phone to Mr. Ratcliff.


    "See? She''s just bluffing. Now that she sees we''re not begging her to stay, she calls."


    He got up and walked out to the balcony, only picking up at the veryst second.


    "Yeah?"


    "Sebastian, I''m not selling my mom''s house. Don''t even bother," Reese said, her voice edged with anger. Sebastian raised his eyebrow, just barely.


    "I''m not buying it for myself. I''m doing a favor for someone else. Name your price. Sell it to me, and I''ll buy you something even better."


    Before Reese could say anything, he hung up. The busy tone buzzed in her ear, making her frown.


    A favor for someone else? Who could order him around like that? Sofia? Or... Grace?


    Of course it had to be her.


    Grace always said she loved that house. She must have known Reese would never agree to sell, so she asked Sebastian to step in.


    Reese bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before dialing a number she hadn''t called in years.


    She set up a meeting with Grace.


    Reese got there ten minutes early, only to find Grace already waiting. Grace was dressed to the nines, all smiles from the second Reese walked in.


    "What do you really want?" Reese asked as she sat down and ordered a coffee. "You know I''m not selling that house."


    Grace stirred her coffee slowly. "Back when Marie was picking a ce to live, I had my eye on that house. But Bailey picked her over me."


    "Now that Sofia''se back and wants to settle down by Bridger Lake, I need to set her up with a few ces."


    Hearing her mom''s name, Reese gripped her mug, fighting the urge to throw her coffee at Grace. She could tell Grace was determined to get that house.


    "If you want the house, have Bailey ask me himself."


    Grace''s smile faded as Reese stood up to leave. She knew Bailey felt guilty about his daughter. If Grace pushed, not only would he refuse, he''d probably tell her to stop bothering Reese altogether.


    As Reese walked away, Grace''s eyes turned cold. She took out her phone and made a call.


    For the next few days, neither Sebastian nor Uncle Dylon reached out to Reese about the house. She figured they''d finally dropped it. After all, Grace would never have Bailey know she''de to Bridger Lake.


    Reese pulled two all-nighters to finish the prototype for the project n had given her.


    When n saw the model on herptop, he nodded. "Nice work. It''s just about what we expected. They want to integrate this system with Ratcliff Global''s ''The Vault''."


    n already knew about Reese''s messy history with Sebastian and hesitated. "Of course, if you''re notfortable, we can always partner with someone else."


    He pushed a stack of folders toward her. "Here-check these out. These are the alternatives we''re considering."