"That''s exactly what we want-tight background checks mean they''re really serious about this project!"


    Bailey pped, his eyes lighting up as he talked to Hank.


    "This shows the higher-ups actually care. If we lock down this partnership, our family might finally turn things around.


    "Who knows, maybe even the Ratcliffs will have to start ying by our rules."


    Just thinking about it made Bailey grin so wide he couldn''t stop, and he was still chattering about it with Hank when they met Sofia. He barely noticed anyone else. Sofia listened to them, their voices full of excitement, but inside she was a mess.


    The Meyer family wanted to team up with de?


    Back when she was investigated by Homnd Security, she found out that Reese was one of the main people in charge of de.


    If this partnership went through, and her dad and brother learned what Reese could do, would they finally start to care about her? Would they bring her back into the Meyer family?


    "I guess I really underestimated you all these years." Bailey gave Hank a proud pat on the shoulder.


    "You haven''t even been in Brookfield that long and you''ve already connected with Mr. Marsh and reached the project leader.


    "It''s not just Vista Tech anymore. From now on, I''ll let you handle other Meyer Group business too."


    He pointed at Hank, then looked at Sofia. "With you two backing up the Meyer family, I can finally rx.


    "If only Reese could be more like you both, maybe I wouldn''t have so many headaches."


    Hank puffed up at his father''s praise. When Bailey mentioned Reese, Hank thought of all the things she''d said recently and let out a dryugh.


    "Reese has been spoiled by the Ramos family her whole life. She''s stubborn as anything. Thest time Sebastian called the cops on her and I went to see her, she just made fun of me. She even said Grace faked that old recording."


    Sofia''s hand tightened around her fork, her knuckles turning white. She lowered her eyes, hershes hiding the panic in them.


    She remembered what happened when Reese''s mom died in that crash. She knew exactly how that recording ended up in front of the Meyer men.


    She never thought, after all these years, that it''de up again.


    And if Hank''s right, Reese already suspects something about the recording?


    Sofia nced up, watching Bailey to see how he''d react. "She really said that?"


    Bailey let out a heavy sigh. "Calling Grace aliar? That''s ridiculous. Shee


    only had that recording for at


    minutes. How could she have faked if?"  ?wnovels


    Sofia breathed a little easier when Bailey didn''t believe it, but then Hank went on, "Of course I trust Grace.


    "Now that Reese is set on divorcing Sebastian, I bet she''s saying all this just to get back home."


    Thinking about everything Reese had been through, Hank sounded a little softer. She was still his sister, after all. "Dad, maybe we should―"


    "Hmph." Bailey cut him off, his face turning cold. "She killed her own mother. That''s been eating at me for years.


    "When she married Sebastian, she didn''t tell us a thing. Now she''s determined to get divorced. If we let her back into the family now what about our deal with the Ratcliffs?"


    Bailey squinted, clearly thinking it over.


    No way. If Reese actually left Sebastian, there was no chance she''d get her mother''s shares.


    Sofia''s heart hammered in her chest as she listened to them.


    Even if Bailey didn''t buy Reese''s story now, after he found out she was behind de, he might reopen the whole investigation just to make re nothing messed up the de. partnership.


    She needed to warn her mom, just in case.


    She nced at Bailey and Hank, still deep in their conversation, then quietly


    pulled out her phone and sent Grace a quick message.


    "Mom, Reese is starting to dig into what really happened with her mom''s ident."