When Matthew heard those words, something inside him shifted. Nathaniel. That had to be the guy pulling the strings behind Grace. It made sense now. The missing volunteer probably didn''t just vanish; Nathaniel''s people had taken them. Maybe this whole thing was a setup from the start. Was this supposed to scare him off, to warn him not to help Reese go after Grace?


    A faint, amused smile tugged at Matthew''s lips. If they thought a cheap threat would stop him, they really had no idea who they were dealing with.


    The door creaked open. Reese stepped in and spotted Matthew propped against the headboard, a silk nket draped over him as he held his phone to his ear. Whatever he was hearing, it made his eyes narrow, a chill settling over him like a shadow.


    Reese hesitated, thrown off for a second. This side of Matthew was unfamiliar, almost distant. But as soon as he saw her, that cold edge disappeared. He smiled softly, then turned back to his call. "I want more people on this. Search within five kilometers of where the volunteer disappeared, leave nothing unchecked. No mistakes."


    He paused, listening, then added, "Find everything you can on Nathaniel. His entire background, any history with the Meyer family going back twenty years, his business connections, everyone close to him. I want answers in three hours."


    He ended the call. Reese hurried to his side, dropping onto the chair next to his bed. "Did you read my message?" Her voice was tight with urgency.


    "Sofia called. She''s back in the country." Reese swallowed and looked down. "And it sounded like she''s mixed up in the donor''s disappearance."


    Matthew listened as she spilled everything, her words tumbling out. He reached for her hand, fingers warm as he squeezed gently. "It''s alright, Reese. Slow down."


    He told her about the intel he just got, that he''d finally tracked down the guy behind everything-Nathaniel.


    For a moment, the only sound in the room was the soft hum of the air conditioning and the faint scent of antiseptic. Reese felt the guilt settle heavier on her shoulders.


    She hesitated, then told Matthew what Hank had said when they met at the café.


    "Nathaniel must be the one pulling Grace''s strings. Sofia probably came back with him." Reese leaned against Matthew''s shoulder, listening to the steady rhythm of his breath. "I''m sorry. I never meant to drag you into this."


    "Hey. Stop that.” Matthew pressed his chin gently against the top of her head, his voice low but gentle. "This isn''t your fault. It was going to catch up with us sooner orter.


    "Nathaniel''s been working with the Meyer family for twenty years. He''s the reason Grace has a ce with them, why she can use Bailey''s


    1.n


    resources. Their interests with


    tangled together probably deeper than we even know Whatever happened with Grace is just a small piece of a much bigger mess.


    "Grace didn''t kill your mother just because she was jealous. She did it to hide what happened twenty years ago. She''s just the pawn they pushed to the front."


    Reese looked up, pain flickering in her eyes. Matthew always cut straight to the truth. “Hank''s digging into the Meyer family''s old overseas deals. We''re supposed to meet tonight and swap leads."


    Matthew nodded, his fingers tracing soft, soothing circles on her cheek. "Be careful. I''ll make sure someone''s watching your back. If anything feels off, call me right away. No ying hero."


    A little warmth bloomed in Reese''s chest. She nodded, whispering a quiet, “I will," then settled against him, listening to his heartbeat until the fear and worry started to fade.


    Suddenly, her phone buzzed, jolting her out of the moment.


    Reese checked the screen. It was a message from her assistant, Vivian. She tapped it open.


    "Reese, someone''s following me. Just now, a guy pretended to be a stranger and tried to ask about you and Mr. Wiles. I didn''t say much. I''m hiding in a cafe at the mall."


    Vivian had attached a photo she''d snapped in secret. The man in the frame wore a ck suit stood talle and broad shouldered his face cold and unreadable. He was posted at the street corner, staring directly toward Vivian''s hiding ce. One look and you could tell he was a pro.