Leslie knew the Ratcliff family inside out. Jane was selfish to the core, always pretending everything she did was "for everyone''s good." She was impulsive and not the brightest, but the second things got real, she was the first one to run for


    cover.


    So when Jane came storming in today, Leslie was sure it had everything to do with Reese.


    Just thinking about how Reese had wrecked her ns over and over made Leslie''s eyes sh with anger.


    "Let me guess, Reese put you up to it today?


    "There''s no reason for us to be enemies. You can''t stand Reese, and I want to deal with her too. Why don''t we work together?"


    Jane tensed, instantly suspicious. "Work together? Forget it. I''ll never agree to let you marry Sebastian."


    "Marry into the Ratcliff family?" Leslie let out augh, shaking her head like she''d just heard a joke. "Jane, you give your family way too much credit. I''ve never wanted to marry Sebastian.


    "I''m only going after Reese for something she has. Once I get it, I''m leaving the country, for good. I''m noting back.


    "Why would I give up a great life overseas just to marry Sebastian?"


    Jane stared at her, clearly conflicted and uncertain.


    Sensing her hesitation, Leslie leaned in, her tone suddenly sharp. "Take your time


    to think about it, but you''d better decide soon. I can''t promise I won''t let something slip if you wait too long."


    "And before you make up your mind, don''t do anything stupid. I don''t want a repeat of today."


    Jane felt Leslie''s cold, snake-like stare and shivered. The chill seemed to seep right into her bones. She couldn''t stand to stay in the room another second, so she turned and hurried out, nearly stumbling as she left.


    After leaving the hospital, Reese headed straight back to ckOak. She''d barely stepped into her office when n came rushing over.


    "Reese, I''ve got some good news," he said, handing her a folder. "Vista Tech wants to work with us. They''re aiming to get the civilian contract for the de project."


    "I did my homework-they check out. The lead on their sidees from a family with serious business connections and plenty of clout."


    Reese flipped through the file while n filled her in. "They''ve reached out several times, and they seem genuinely interested. They even offered to cover thirty percent of the initial R&D costs, and they''ll give us fifteen percent of the future profits as a tech share."


    "That''s a pretty sweet deal," Reese said, tapping her fingers on the folder. Her brow furrowed. "But the


    de project involves


    vtech


    So it''s not just up to us. We''ll need


    higher-up approval."


    She nced at n. "You can start talking to them, but I''m swamped right now."


    The divorce hearing was in three


    days. She still needed answers


    about her mom''s ident. She was also keeping an eye on thepany''s research. Until after the hearing, she wouldn''t have a moment to spare.


    "See if you can schedule the meeting for three days from now," she said.


    "No problem. I''ll set it up," n replied. "They said they''re willing to work around your schedule-whatever works for you."


    After n left, Reese stood there for a moment, lost in thought. Then she picked up her phone and called.


    "Ms. Meyer, is there something you need?" Roman''s voice came through the line. "Mr. Sanchez, I was wondering. Is there any update on the investigation into the car ident? The one where someone deliberately rammed me?”


    Roman''s tone turned serious. "It''s not going well."


    "I checked the surveince footage. He was definitely tailing you, and he hit you on purpose when you stopped at the light.


    "But the driver''s not talking. Without proof, we had to let him go. We did find an overseas wire transfer to his ount right before the crash, though. We''re tracking where it came from.


    "Does that make you think of anyone?"


    Reese was silent for a moment, her suspicions swirling. Then she said quietly, "I don''t think Leslie was the only one behind this. Maybe she wasn''t behind it at all."


    She took a deep breath, then told Roman about the forged recording Grace had produced after her mother''s ident.


    "If it hadn''t been for that recording back then, I always felt like Grace was involved somehow."


    "Grace?"