Bailey hung up and tried to shake off what Hank had said, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he got.


    "How dare she!" He muttered.


    His hand shot out, knocking his mug off the desk. It smashed on the floor, tea sttering everywhere, mixing with the stains already on the carpet.


    He stood and started pacing the study, hands tucked behind his back, brow drawn tight. Hank''s wishy-washy attitude had finally worn him down. If he wanted Reese to drop thewsuit, he''d have to take matters into his own hands.


    Bailey marched back to his desk, snatched up the phone, and punched in a number. "It''s me. I need you to pull together everything we have on Dylon from his time at Ramos Corporation. Every bit of shady business. I want it all here before noon tomorrow."


    "Understood, Mr. Meyer. I''ll take care of it right away. You''ll have everything first thing in the morning."


    "Good."


    He ended the call, his expression turning cold and sharp.


    Reese, don''t me me for this. You are too stubborn, and you leave me no choice. To keep the Meyer family safe, someone has to make sacrifices.


    He went to the window and stared into the lit-up courtyard. For a second, doubt flickered in his chest. It vanished just as quickly, reced by steely resolve.


    The Meyer family was built over generations. He''d protect it, whatever it took.


    ***


    Across town, every light was on in Sebastian''s apartment.


    The living room was a mess of scattered documents. The ashtray was


    overflowing, and smoke hung heavy in the air.


    Sebastian sat on the couch, still in his suit from earlier, tie loose around his neck. He red at the divorce settlement on the table.


    Reese''s demands wereid out in ck and white. She wanted a divorce, and as the victim of his surrogacy plot, she was asking for more than half of everything they owned.


    It made his blood boil.


    She really thought she could just cut him off and walk away?


    "Reese, you think you can just leave me and run off with Matthew?" His voice was a low growl. "Not a chance."


    He mmed the folder down, sending papers flying, then grabbed his phone.


    "Get me everything on Vivian, Reese''s assistant. I want all the details."


    "Yes, Mr. Ratcliff. May I ask why you''re "


    "Just get it done."


    There was a twisted edge to Sebastian''s voice. No way was he letting Reese go without a fight.


    He ended the call, a cold smile tugging at his lips.


    He walked over to the window, looking out at the city lights. They had been


    married for 7 years. Reese was his wife. She belonged to him.


    Now she wanted to betray him for Matthew, that bastard. He couldn''t tolerate it.


    ***


    At dawn, Patrick


    arrived at the


    airport with a team of twenty bodyguards. They split into four groups, covering the exits, parking lot VIne, and other critical spots, on the lookout for anything out of ce.


    Patrick himself held a photo of the stem cell candidate, checking every face that passed. He refused to let his guard slip.


    Meanwhile, in the hospital''s VIP suite, Reese watched Matthew carefully straighten his shirt.


    He felt her eyes on him and gave her a soft look, but the thought of that anonymous text made his gaze cloud over.


    Reese, thinking he was worried


    about the surgery, tried to reassure him. "Don''t worry. Even if this match


    doesn''t work out, we stiff


    options." She masked her own


    anxiety for his sake.


    Matthew nodded. "I know."


    He trusted West. The man had military experience, and Patrick was there too. Security should be tight.


    At half past nine, West sent a message. "The candidate hasnded and ising through the VIP channel. All clear."


    Relieved, Matthew and Reese got up to head to the airport.


    But just then, Matthew''s phone rang. It was Patrick, and his voice was tight with panic.


    "Matthew, he''s missing."


    Matthew''s face darkened. "What do you mean, missing? Weren''t you following him?"


    "He came out of the VIP channel and


    said he needed the restroom. We


    sent someone in after him, but after


    ten minutes, still no sign. We


    checked and he was gone. The bathroom window was open He must have slipped out."


    West''s voice was thick with guilt. "I''m sorry. I let my guard down."


    Reese was right beside Matthew when the call came in. Hearing West''s words, she felt the world tilt under her feet.


    The candidate was gone? How could that happen?


    Did he get cold feet and run?


    Matthew steadied Reese as she swayed, keeping his own voice calm. "It''s fine. West will find him. Even if he doesn''t, we have time."


    He spoke firmly into the phone. "Lock down the airport. Get every bit of security footage around the restroom. Work with airport security and track him down."


    "And check if he bought any other tickets or booked a hotel."


    "Got it. I''ll take care of it now."


    After hanging up, Matthew helped Reese sit.


    "Don''t worry, we still have time. They might find him soon."