Reese couldn''t help but let out a coldugh when she heard Hank. She already had both a witness and hard evidence. And after all that, he was still trying to talk his way out? "I''m not apologizing to her. And it''s not up to you to decide if she''s involved. The police will figure it out."


    "You called the cops?" Hank''s voice shot up. "Reese, do you even realize what you''ve done? You can''t put this back in the box now. Even if Grace is cleared, this is going to mess up the Meyer family''s reputation. It could ruin everything with Vista Tech and de. We might not pass the background check now."


    He always figured Reese would pull something like this once she knew Vista Tech belonged to the Meyer family. Well, fine. He had Joseph on his side now. That deal was already in the bag.


    His voice turned sharp. "Go to the station and drop the report. If I don''t hear it''s done by tomorrow morning, I''m telling Dad. The share transfer isn''t finished yet. You really want to lose everything Mom left you?"


    Reese guided a shaky Matthew into the elevator. She took a slow breath and pushed down the anger burning in her chest. "I''m not dropping anything. Hank, I''m not like you. I''m not turning my back on my own mother. I''ll find out what happened the day of that crash. I''ll make sure whoever did it pays for it."


    As for the shares... Once the truth was out, who even knew if the Meyer family would still be around. She''d fought too hard to give up now.


    "You!" Hank was so furious he could barely get the words out. "Fine. Have it your way. But if you''re going to be this stubborn, don''te back crying to me me when I cut you off. And don''t be surprised if the Meyer family does the same."


    He hung up on her, leaving nothing but a t dial tone.


    Reese looked at her phone and rolled her eyes. Like they''d ever really treated her as family.


    "Don''t let them get to you." Matthew was leaning against the elevator wall, voice gentle.


    She hadn''t thought she''d cry, but his words made her eyes burn. She blinked fast, refusing to let the tears fall. "I''m not mad. I just... it''s not fair to my mom."


    Her mother had always loved her and Hank, never ying favorites. Even during the divorce, just for Hank to inherit the Meyer name, she''d given up everything but the shares for her kids. She''d even forced Bailey into a vasectomy. Hank had promised he''d never forget his mother, that once he took over, he''d bring her home, make things right. And now, after just a decade, he''d forgotten all of it.


    Matthew watched her trying to hold it together. His heart ached for her. "They''re not worth your pain," he said softly.


    He lifted his hand to wipe the tears from her eyes, but the fever made him sway and suddenly he pitched forward.


    "Matthew!" Reese''s heart stopped. She caught him as he fell, his weight almost knocking her over.


    Matthew tried to straighten, shaking his head. "I''m fine. Just a little tired." But even as he said it, his breathing turned ragged and his eyes rolled back.


    Reese''s hands flew to steady him, panic flooding her chest. His head lolled to the side, lips drained of color, skin paper-white. He was out cold.


    "Matthew! Matthew!" Her voice broke, fear and tears mixing together. She barely remembered how she managed to pull out her phone and call for an ambnce, stammering out their location.


    When she hung up, she grabbed his icy hand and squeezed tight. "Matthew, don''t do this. Please wake up..."


    This time, she couldn''t hold back. The tears she''d swallowed all day finally spilled over, dotting his hand as she cried. She couldn''t even imagine what she''d do if she lost.


    m. What would Annie do


    The ambnce came in a blur of sirens and lights. Paramedics loaded Matthew


    onto the stretcher and Reese climbed in after him, her mind spinning all the way to the hospital.


    The red light above the operating


    room door glowed. Reese sat on a bench in the hallway, her hands clenched so tight her knuckles were white She couldn''t look away from the door. Her heart pounded every second dragging on forever All she could do was pray, over and over, that Matthew would be okay.


    Finally, after what felt like hours, the light went out. A doctor stepped out, pulling down his mask, his face tired and serious.


    Fear twisted in Reese''s chest as she shot to her feet. "Doctor, how is he?"


    "He''s stable for now, but things aren''t looking good," the doctor said.


    Reese''s thoughts jumped to the hereditary illness she knew ran in Matthew''s family. Her stomach dropped. "What do you mean? What happened to him?"


    The doctor nced


    over Matthew''s


    chart. "He has a rare gic


    disorder. His body''s been through a


    lot. Thistest trauma, even though


    we treated it quickly, triggered a severe reaction. The disease red up. It''s very serious."