Seth yelped in pain, dropping the utility knife with a loud tter.


    Matthew, who had been watching every move, didn''t hesitate for a second. He rushed forward, grabbed Reese, and pulled her behind him, shielding her with his


    body.


    "You''re dead!" Seth shouted, his voice full of rage. He yanked a switchde from his belt and lunged straight at Matthew''s chest.


    Matthew''s eyes sharpened. He blocked Seth''s arm, shoving Reese farther out of harm''s way. The de sliced across his forearm, blood instantly blooming through his ck sleeve.


    Reese''s eyes went wide. She gasped, her voice breaking. "Matthew!"


    But Matthew didn''t flinch. He swung back,nding a punch right on Seth''s face. Blood gushed from Seth''s nose as he staggered back.


    "Go!" Roman barked.


    A group of officers rushed in, tackling Seth to the ground and snapping handcuffs on him. The danger was over.


    Reese ran to Matthew''s side, her eyes brimming with tears as she saw the blood pouring down his arm. "Are you okay? Does it hurt?" She reached out, then hesitated, afraid to hurt him more.


    Matthew reached up and gently ruffled her hair, a faint smile on his lips. "I''m fine, really. Just a scratch." He was a little pale, but his eyes stayed calm and steady, full of warmth and reassurance. That quiet confidence made Reese''s heart skip.


    Roman strode over, his face set and serious as he checked Matthew''s arm. "Let''s get the medics over here."


    Matthew nodded and nced toward the corner where Alex was still frozen.


    Alex stared at Seth being dragged away, then at the blood on Matthew''s sleeve. All the terrible things Grace had said, and the way Seth had just tried to kill him, can crashing down on him. He started shaking.


    It finally hit him. Grace never meant to help him. All her promises, all her talk about protecting him and getting her daughter off the hook, were lies. She just wanted the recording, and once she hadit he was as good as dead. If it werent for Reese, Matthew, and the police, he''d be a corpse already.


    The officers lifted their unconscious colleague onto the ambnce stretcher, while


    the medics rushed to help the others who were hurt.


    Alex stepped slowly out of the shadows, looking pale and shaken. He made his way to Reese and bowed deeply. "Ms. Meyer, I''m so sorry. I believed Grace. I almost got you hurt."


    Reese looked at him, her emotions all tangled up—anger, disappointment, and finally, relief. “It''s over now. You''re safe."


    Alex looked up, took a shaky breath, and finally found his resolve. "Grace wanted me dead. She was never going to let me go. Grace really was involved in your mother''s ident. If you need someone to testify. I will k still have the recording. I made it by ident all those years ago, and I asked my cousin to hide it for me."


    Roman''s eyes lit up with hope. "Where''s your cousin?"


    Alex answered, his voice clear and steady. "He''s in Greenville. The address is..."