Bailey''s eyes grew red as memories of the past crashed over him. There was a


    hard edge in his voice. "Grace killed Marie. How could I ever let her get away with that?"


    “But... but thepany is under a microscope right now. If the police really bring charges and this gets out, we''re done for!" He looked at Hank, desperation flickering in his eyes. "Hank, I''m the chairman. I''m responsible for the wholepany, for every single person who works for us. This can never get out.


    "Don''t worry. As soon as Grace leaves the police station, we''ll send her straight back to Brookfield. She won''t get peace, not for a second."


    "And Reese... we''ll bring her home again. We will give her whatever she wants."


    Hank''s brow knitted together, torn up inside. As the family''s heir, he understood why Bailey was so desperate to protect the Meyer name. But just letting Grace walk free? He also couldn''t ept that.


    "Reese won''t go along with this," Hank said quietly, lowering his head. If he were in her shoes, he wouldn''t either.


    It was one thing to get why Bailey made this decision, but emotionally, he just couldn''t swallow it. The thought that Grace had yed the perfect mother for years, all the while hiding her part in his mother''s death, made him want to tear everything apart.


    "She has to agree," Bailey said, his grip tightening on Hank''s arm. His voice was soft but there was no room for argument.


    "Hank, do you think I don''t want Grace to pay for what she did to Marie? But this is bigger than us. The Meyer family is the work of generations. We finally got this far with me in charge. I can''t let it fall now.


    "Call Reese. Talk to her. Help her see what''s at stake.


    "If the Meyer family goes down, her shares will be worthless. Even if she doesn''t care about herself, she should at least think about her future."


    Hank closed his eyes, heart aching so much it hurt to breathe. After a long pause, he finally said, "Alright. I''ll call her."


    "That''s my good son." Bailey patted Hank''s arm, not noticing the distant look in his son''s eyes.


    When Hank left Bailey''s office, the weight in his chest felt almost unbearable. He took out his phone, found Reese''s number, and stared at it for a long time before finally pressing call.


    The phone rang again and again, but no one picked up.


    Hank let out a long sigh. He typed a message, exining that Grace kad confessed, that Bailey wanted her to drop the charges. At the end, he'' added, "Dad says he''ll make it right with you." He hit send.


    Afterward, Hank leaned against the wall, eyes closed. A single tear slid down his cheek.


    He could already picture Reese''s reaction. She wouldn''t just refuse to drop the case From now on he and Bailey would be strangers to her nothing more.


    So be it. By sending that message, he''d done all he could for Bailey.