Every word of Sebastian and Reese''s conversation carried clearly into the observation room.


    Matthew stood at the one-way ss, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Thinking about everything Reese had gone through made his chest ache, but his eyes only grew colder, anger simmering just beneath the surface.


    "You all heard what Sebastian said," Matthew said, taking a deep breath that barely smoothed out the rage in his voice. He swept his gaze over the group, still visibly furious. "Sebastian admitted it himself. The decision to vouch for Leslie was his alone. Reese had nothing to do with any of it. And let''s not forget-Reese was against the Big X partnership from the start. Mr. Sanchez can back me up on that."


    He nced at Peter Sanchez, standing right next to him.


    Peter''s expression was sour as he nodded, a note of regret in his voice. "That''s right. Sebastian convinced me. He said Big X was trustworthy and Leslie was an old friend. That''s why I agreed. Honestly, after what we just heard... this could ruin him." Peter let out a heavy sigh. "Back then, I figured, de is a joint project between ckOak and Ratcliff Global, Sebastian''s rmendation should be reliable. When Reese, as co-lead, disagreed, I invited her to the equestrian club to talk it over."


    Peter paused, reying those memories. "Because Reese objected, Sebastian, Leslie, and their friends actually humiliated her in public. They told her that if she had doubts about Leslie, she should prove it. Reese said it was just a gut feeling and gotughed at for it. Turns out, her instincts were spot on. We were the ones who got it wrong."


    n, who had rushed over after Matthew''s call, nodded. "Leslie approached ckOak about working together right at the start of the de project. Reese immediately gged Leslie as a risk, so we turned down the offer to y it safe. It was onlyter..."


    n nced at Peter, then shifted the conversation. "Even after Big X and ck Qak did start working together, Reese never let her guard down around Leslie. And when the de data leak happened, it was Reese and Matthew who figured it out. Everyone on the de team went through the strictest background checks. Reese''s record is spotless. She''d never do anything to put national security at risk."


    Matthew stepped forward. "It''s true, thest leak involved Sofia and Tara, and yes, they both have a history with Reese, but it''s not what people think. Reese left the Meyer family when she was just six because Sofia and her mother tore her parents apart. When her own mom died at nine, Reese cut ties for good. While they were both at ckOak, Sofia even tried to hurt Reese There''s no way they''d team up to steal des data. As for Tara and her family, they''ve been gunning for Reese for years over business disputes with Ramos Corporation. All of this is on record."


    He shot a scathing look at Sebastian through the ss. "And let''s not forget, Sebastian''s mother Jane once nted a data device in


    Reese''s pocket. If Reese were Really behind any of this, she wouldn''t have bothered faking data to mislead Leslie, and she definitely wouldn''t have worked with us to take down Big X''s overseas exec. Even her recent resignation from ckOak was part of her n. Jane was trying everything to force Reese into having a baby, and Reese only pretended to go along so she could catch Leslie off guard. Leslie has always resented Reese. Now, with all the evidence stacked against her, she''s just trying to drag Reese down with her."


    The lead agent from the security bureau nodded as he listened. Someone beside him immediately handed over a file containing the evidence they''d just discussed.