Sofia''s fingers trembled on the doorknob, barely able to hold on. Her heart was racing, her mind spinning.


    "Who are you?" she asked again. Her voice was shaky, fear bleeding through every word.


    The man in the hallway didn''t even blink. His faint smile stayed perfectly in ce. "My name is Nathaniel."


    "Maybe Grace never mentioned me. But the reason she could marry Bailey, the reason she has any standing in the Meyer family, is because of me."


    Sofia felt like she''d been struck by lightning. Because of him? She pressed her eye to the peephole, studying the man outside. The hallway light caught on his expensive suit, making the fabric shimmer. Behind him, two bodyguards stood so still they looked like they''d been carved out of stone. Sofia noticed the suspicious bulges under their jackets and swallowed hard.


    "Grace already confessed. You really think you can help?" There was a sharp edge of doubt in her voice. The chill of the metal doorknob crept up her arm and made her shiver.


    Nathaniel''s dark eyes met hers, steady and unblinking. "So what if she confessed? You are still here, right?"


    He leaned in, his gaze intense. "Are you really going to just sit here, waiting for the Meyer family to throw you away?"


    It was like he''d reached in and twisted something inside her. That was her biggest fear. If Grace went down, Bailey and Hank would turn on her next.


    Carefully, Sofia opened the door just a crack. Cold air rushed in, carrying a faint hint of cedar from Nathaniel''s cologne. Sensing her nerves, Nathaniel gestured, and his bodyguards backed off down the hallway.


    "What can you do for me?" Sofia kept her eyes on him, wary. The dim light finally let her see his face clearly. He looked surprisingly young for a man his age, his skin barely touched by time. But a thin scar shed from his jaw up to his ear, giving his smooth features a dangerous edge.


    Nathaniel smiled, warm but unsettling. "I can get you home. I can help you win back your ce in the Meyer family."


    He said it quietly, but every word dug deep. It was like he could see the things she tried to hide. The things she wanted most.


    Sofia stared hard at him, searching for any trace of a lie. But Nathaniel''s eyes were steady, calm, almost bored, as if he was just stating a fact.


    "Why would you help me?" Her words came out slow and careful. "What do you want? Nobody does something for nothing.”


    Nathaniel gave a little shrug, twisting his fingers together. For a moment, something wistful flickered in his eyes. "Bailey has something want. need you to get it for me."


    "What is it?" Sofia''s mind spun. If whatever he wanted would hurt the Meyer


    family, she''d be destroyed right alongside them.


    Nathaniel saw the worry in her face and offered a small, reassuring smile. "Rx. It''s nothing that will hurt the Meyer family.


    "You give me what I want, and I''ll make sure you never have to worry again.”


    Sofia''s heart pounded so hard it was almost painful. Logic screamed at her not to trust this man. But what choice did she have? Grace was in prison The Meyer family had cut her loose. She felt like a kite with


    snapped string, drifting with


    nowhere tond.


    Nathaniel was all she had left. Even if he was dangerous, she had to take the risk.


    "Okay. I''ll do it." She Seth in a


    steadying breath, her eyes cold and


    determined. But you better keep


    your promise. If you lie to me, l make you pay for it. I''ve got nothing left to lose."


    Nathaniel''s smile grew, just a little. There was something mocking in his eyes, but


    he covered it quickly. "I always keep my word."