The thought made her eyes sh with determination. Standing in the doorway of theb, she pulled out her phone and fired off a text to an unfamiliar number.


    [Reese is back with the research team. You said you could ruin her reputation and get her kicked out of ckOak. What do you need me to do?]


    Reese pushed open the door to theb. The room was bathed in the harsh glow of red indicator lights, blinking from every piece of equipment. She paused, her brows drawing together.


    "Is there an intruder?"


    Matthew sat at the table,zily spinning a pen between his fingers. He looked up, a rxed smile ying at his lips.


    "It''s nothing," he said, nodding at another row of terminals where green lights glowed steadily. His voice was low and warm. "The red lights are bait. The real data''s stored on the green ones."


    "So it''s a sting operation?" Reese slid into the chair beside him. Her eyes flicked across the screens, and the tension in her shoulders began to fade.


    "Alright, I''ll leave that to you," she said, fingers finding the keyboard. "I''ll work on thepatibility issues."


    The crisp sound of her typing filled theb.


    Matthew kept watching her. His gaze lingered on her focused profile, then drifted down to her lips. He swallowed, shook his head, and tried to shake off thoughts he shouldn''t be having. Quietly, he slipped out of theb.


    Reese stayed glued to her work,pletely missing Matthew''s strange mood. Her fingers flew over the keys.


    By the time evening rolled around, she''d solved most of thepatibility problems. She let out a breath, stretched her neck, and reached for her water bottle-only to find it already full. There was a note underneath.


    "Grandpa called us home for dinner. I''ll pick up Annie and meet you there."


    Reese took a sip the water was just the right temperature-and smiled before turning back to her screen.


    When she finally left theb, it was already dark outside. She called Matthew to check where he was, then drove out to pick up him and Annie before heading to the family estate.


    The white SUV pulled up to the old house and stopped in the courtyard. Reese immediately noticed a familiar car parked next to the big ginkgo tree.


    Her brows tightened. After everything that had happened, she couldn''t believe her uncle still had the nerve to show up at the Ratcliff house.


    "Auntie, what''s wrong?"


    Reese felt Annie''s small, warm hand in hers and her expression softened. "It''s nothing."


    Dylon must havee at Mr. Ratcliff''s request. Whatever happened, she''d deal with it when it came.


    "Is Great-Grandpa strict?" Annie asked, holding on to Reese with one hand and Matthew with the other as they stepped into the garden together.


    Reese thought for a second. "He really likes kids. I''m sure he''ll be happy to see you."


    "What are you doing here?" Robbie was sitting on the swing under the tree, scowling as he saw Reese and Annie holding hands.


    Sebastian leaning against the house with a cigarette, heard Robbie and nced over. Seeing Reese, Matthew and Annie together, he felt a strange pang. For a second, they looked just like a real family.


    "You just get off work?" His voice was cool and t. "Grandpa''s waiting inside."


    "Okay, I''ll head in." Reese let go of Annie''s hand and tapped her nose. "I''m going


    to see Great-Grandpa. I''lle find you in a bit."


    Annie nodded obediently.


    Reese made her way toward Mr. Ratcliff''s courtyard. Sebastian put out his cigarette, gave Matthew a quick look, then followed her inside without a word.


    Matthew watched them disappear, his expression clouding over. He scooped Annie up, and with the housekeeper leading the way, headed for the main hall.


    Out in the garden, Mr. Ratcliff was


    slowly walking with help from a caretaker. He looked frailer than


    ever needing to stop and catch his breath after just a few steps.


    When Reese walked into the courtyard, his eyes brightened and he smiled.


    "I thought you''d see your uncle''s family and decide to leave me behind," he teased.


    "I had to finish up at work. Sorry to keep you waiting," Reese said, stepping up to help him settle into a lounge chair.


    "You must have had a reason for inviting them here," she said quietly. "I don''t have the right to interfere anymore,"


    After everything that had happened, Reese knew she could neverpletely trust him again.