Matthew parked and nodded toward the main building. "I knew we''d being, so I pulled some strings to make sure it was all clear. This way, no one will know you were here."


    "You really think of everything," Reese said, honestly impressed.


    "It''s all taken care of. Go ahead." Matthew tilted his chin at the lobby. "I''ll wait out here. If you need anything, juste find me."


    Reese nodded. She knew the rules—no phones inside. "Alright."


    After a round of serious security checks, an officer brought Reese to a meeting room. The ce was bare, just a long table and two chairs facing each other. Reese sat down and waited quietly.


    It wasn''t long before the door opened. Leslie came in, nked by two officers. She was still wearing the same clothes from the day she was taken in. Her hair was a mess, her skin looked washed out, and dark circles hung under her eyes. She looked worn out and tense, her gaze wary and sharp.


    "What are you doing here?" Leslie''s voice was cold. "Are you here tough at me? To rub it in that you won?"


    Reese didn''t bite. Instead, she slid a photo of Alex across the table. "Someone asked me to check on you."


    Leslie stared down, and the instant she saw the picture, her whole body stiffened. "I don''t know him," she said, voice shaky.


    Reese didn''t call her out. "He says you''re his daughter. Nicole."


    "Don''t say that name!" Leslie snapped, her voice suddenly shrill. Themotion made the guards outside nce in, but Reese gave a quick look to show it was fine, and they turned away.


    Reese watched Leslie closely. "Alex saw you on the news. He said you look just like your mother."


    "He has no right to talk about my mother!" Leslie practically broke apart at those words. "If he hadn''t been arrested for killing someone while drunk driving, I never would''ve beenbeled the murderer''s daughter! My mom wouldn''t have had to work herself to the bone just to raise me, only to get sick and die for it!"


    If none of that had happened, Mr. Ratcliff wouldn''t have looked down on her. She wouldn''t have been pushed away from Sebastian. She wouldn''t be sitting here now, with everything in pieces.


    Reese closed her eyes for a


    moment. If it hadn''t been for that same ident, her own mother


    would still be alive. She wouldn''t


    have been tricked by her uncle into manying Sebastian, and her dife wouldn''t have spiraled into this mess.


    "I don''t care how you found out about him or how you even tracked him down, Reese You won''t use him


    to threaten me Leste red he anger raw. "Tell him I don''t have a


    father. My father died a long time ago."


    She''d done everything she could to cut ties with him, to break free from the shadow of being a killer''s daughter. She''d even risked everything, stealing de''s data just to get her visa.


    Reese didn''t push any further. She stood up. "Alright."


    She hadn''te for a fight, just to see how Leslie felt about Alex so she''d have something to tell him. That way, she''d get the recording about Grace. Reese gave Leslie onest look, then turned and walked out leaving her sitting alone, st?ring after Reese with aplicated expression.


    Back outside, Reese got in the car. Matthew noticed her face right away. "What''s up? Didn''t go as nned?"


    "No," Reese said, tired, shaking her head. It wasn''t really about sess or failure. It just felt like life had yed a cruel joke. "It doesn''t matter. I saw her. That''s enough to tell Alex."


    She paused, then asked, "Are you busyter?" She wanted to go see Alex as soon as possible.


    "Nothing going on." Matthew shook his head. “Just send me the address. I''ll take you."


    "Alright." Reese forwarded him George''s location, then closed her messages and noticed one from Roman.


    "Ms. Meyer, my colleague already made contact with Alex at the address George sent. We have people watching the area, just in case."


    "Thank you," she replied. She looked out the window. It waste autumn now, and the sun set earlier than before. Even though it was only around five or six, the sky was already turning dark.


    Matthew started the car but didn''t drive straight to Ashbourne Park. He circled the area a couple of times, making sure they weren''t being followed, then picked up speed and headed toward the edge of the city.