The moment Matthew saw the message, the light in his eyes faded a little. He took a slow, deep breath, locked his phone, but when he turned to look at Reese, his face was calm again, almost unreadable.


    "Still nothing?" Reese asked softly. There was a gentle caution in her voice, like she was afraid her words might break the fragile peace between them.


    "No, nothing yet. The first round of checks didn''t turn up anything. West has reached out to some other registries," Matthew replied. He tried to keep his voice even, but a hint of disappointment slipped through. "But it''s okay. This is just the beginning. We still have time."


    Reese stood up and walked over to his bedside. She reached out and wrapped her fingers around his hand, her touch warm and steady. "Whatever happens, I''m here. I''m not going anywhere."


    A soft warmth bloomed in Matthew''s chest. He held her hand a little tighter, his eyes shining with emotion. "Thank you, Reese. Really."


    Night settled over the hospital, pressing in soft and quiet. The only sound was the steady beeping from the monitors, filling the silence with a gentle rhythm.


    Reese had fallen asleep by his bed, her arms folded on the edge of the mattress, her brow drawn together like she was trapped in a restless dream.


    Matthew watched her, his heart aching with guilt. She had barely slept these past few days, running herself ragged between caring for him and trying to untangle Grace''s case. He reached out and gently smoothed the furrow between her brows, his touch light as if she might break.


    Reese, I''m so sorry, he thought, watching her sleep. I swear, I''ll find a match. I''ll get better. I won''t let you down.


    At the Meyer family estate, the air was thick with tension, heavy enough to make breathing feel like work.


    Bailey sat in the middle of the living room on a stiff mahogany sofa, his face stormy and closed off. His


    hand mped around a mug,


    knuckles pale from the pre


    The porcin breaked under his grip. He mmed the cup down on the coffee table, the sound sharp and final. Water sshed over the rim and soaked into the expensive rug, leaving a dark stain.


    "Hank, what''s going on with Reese? It''s been days. Why haven''t we heard a word from her?" Bailey''s voice was clipped and cold, his eyes drilling into Hank as he stood nearby.


    Hank stood straight, his shoulders set, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. He hadn''t gotten a reply from Reese, and deep down, he already knew what that meant. She wasn''t going to drop the case.


    Their mother''s death was the wound Reese could never heal from, the kind of pain that settled into your bones and never left. Grace was the reason for that pain. There was no way Reese would just let her go.


    Giving up on the case was never an option.


    But Hank didn''t want to spell that out for his father. He knew exactly how Bailey operated. If Bailey found out Reese was refusing, he''d do


    her


    whatever it took to for a


    no matter what cost the family. Hank couldn''t let that happen. He already felt guilty enough for not being able to protect her all these years. Thest thing he wanted was to see her pushed even further.


    If there was anything he could do for her now, this was it. Maybe it could help


    make up for all the times he''d let her down before.


    As for the Meyer Group, Hank hadn''t been sitting idle. He''d spent the past few days reaching out to old college friends and every contact he''d ever made turning over every possible solution in his mind. He waso determined to get thepany through this, without forem ng Reese to make a sacrifice she''d never forgive.


    "Dad, Reese just said she needs time. She asked us not to push her," Hank said.


    He kept his tone as neutral as he could and looked down, dodging his father''s hard stare.


    Bailey let out a bitter scoff, clearly unimpressed. "Time to think? That''s her answer?"


    "How long does she need? Until Grace spills everything? Until thepany copses?" Bailey shot up from his seat and strode over to Hank, eyes cold and unblinking. "Do you really think I don''t know how much Grace knows about us? If she starts talking, we''re finished."


    Hank''s heart raced. He understood exactly what was at stake, but he still couldn''t bring himself to push Reese any harder.