"Ms. Meyer, please keep quiet for now." The interrogator rapped his knuckles on the table, giving Reese a pointed look. "We need you to tell us the truth. It''s in your best interest."


    Reese leaned back in her chair, feelingpletely drained. Where did it all go wrong?


    The door swung open. Matthew strode in, dressed in a crisp ck suit, every inch the calm professional, but his eyes gave him away. The second he spotted Reese, his worry was obvious.


    He didn''t hesitate. He crossed the room to her side, gently resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Then he turned to the interrogators and handed over a USB drive. "Everything''s on here-proof that Leslie stole the ssified data and tampered with the IP address. The files include surveince videos and the technical reports. Reese is innocent. She and I have been working with your team to catch Leslie from the very start."


    The agents took the drive, plugging it in and scanning the files. As the evidence piled up, their stern expressions softened. The lead interrogator finally realized what''s happening, and reached out his hand to Reese, a little sheepish. "I apologize, Ms. Meyer. We made a mistake. Thank you for everything you''ve done for national security."


    Reese nced at Matthew, standing tall and steady beside her. Her emotions tangled up inside-relief, gratitude, something more.


    He caught her looking and gave her a gentle smile. "Sorry I got here sote," he said quietly. "I stopped by your ce first..." He shot a nce at the agents, leaving something unsaid he must have seen the note she left behind. "When you weren''t home, I came straight here to check on the Leslie situation. This was all top secret. Most people here weren''t cleared for the details."


    Sunlight filtered in through the interrogation room window, outlining Matthew''s profile in a warm glow. There was so much kindness in his eyes, it almost made Reese forget where she was.


    Her heart stuttered. Just minutes ago, when she''d heard there was no record of Leslie''s arrest, she''d actually doubted him. But seeing him now; hearing his exnation, it was like finding solid ground after a storm. She realized she could trust him, no matter what.


    The tension left her body all at once and her knees nearly gave out. Matthew noticed right away, slipping his arm around her before she could fall.


    "It''s over," he murmured. "Let me take you home."


    She nodded, letting him guide her out of the room.


    They had just reached the lobby when a group of agents marched someone inside. The woman''s hair was wild, her clothes wrinkled and dirty, her face smudged. It''s Leslie.


    She spotted Reese and Matthew immediately, her re venomous. She tried to break free from the agents, lunging at them.


    "Reese! You bitch! This is all your fault!" Leslie''s voice was raw, almost feral. "You stole data too! You sent it out of the country why arent you in. trouble? Did Matthew cover for you?"


    She was desperate, clinging to the hope that the agents would find something on Reese. If she went down, she wanted to drag Reese with her. After all, she still had Sebastian''s promise backing her up. He wouldn''t let the government convict her so easily. At least, that''s what she told herself.