Sofia could feel his hesitation, so she dropped her gaze, her fingers anxiously gripping the edge of her shirt.
"I just got back yesterday... Dad, did Mom really hurt Marie?"
She didn''t hear Bailey answer right away. When she looked up, her eyes were rimmed red, guilt written all over her face.
"Dad, I''m sorry. I had no idea Mom would do something like that. She hurt Aunt Marie, and I... I want to apologize for her."
"This isn''t your fault."
Bailey had loved Sofia for over twenty years. Now, as he staredat her pale, shaken face, his heart softened. No matter how angry he was at Grace, his daughter''s pain hurt even more.
"I''m just d you''re back."
He tried to sound casual. "Your mom said you were sent abroad for research. How did that go?"
“It''s finished,” Sofia answered. Her eyes flickered with something unspoken. “Dad, I want to help you here. I know what Mom did is unforgivable. I''m not asking you to forgive her, but please, just let me stay at Vista Tech. I want to use what I know to do some good for thepany."
Bailey hesitated, but only for a moment. The de project still needed top Al talent and Sofia was exactly what they were looking for. Besides, she was his daughter, the one he''d spoiled since she was little. He could never really push her away.
"Alright. You''ll be in charge of the R&D department again."
He nodded, then turned to his assistant. "Dous, fill Sofia in on what''s happening at thepany, especially the de project. She needs all the details."
"Yes, Mr. Meyer."
Sofia''s eyes lit up for a split second. "Thank you, Dad."
"Come with me, Ms. Meyer," Dous said, leading her out of the office and toward the secretaries'' area. He gathered up everything they had on the de project and set the files in front of her.
But Sofia didn''t reach for the papers. Instead, she unsped a small pendant from around her neck and handed it to Dous. There was a subtle character P etched on it, almost hidden.
"Dous, I need a favor," she said quietly, her voice calm but firm. “Mr. Phillips wants something, and he said you''d know what it is. You need to help me get it."
Dous''s eyes changed the second he saw the pendant. He nced around to check if anyone was watching, then hesitated, looking genuinely troubled. "Ms. Meyer, I..."
"What? You''re not going to do it?" Sofia''s voice cooled, confusion flickering across her face. Nathaniel had promised her that Dous would cooperate as soon as he saw the pendant.
Dous gave a strained smile. "It''s
not that I don''t want to help, Ms. Meyer. It''s just... that thing was
movedst night. I don''t even know where it is anymore. Mr. Hank went to the old house to take it, but he didn''t get it. Mr. Meyer caught him."
That exined why Bailey had rushed to Ratcliff Global this morning to sign an additional agreement with Joseph.
"Hank?" Sofia was even more confused. "Why would he want it? Where is he now?"
"I don''t know," Dous admitted, shaking his head. "After he left the old house, he just disappeared. No one''s heard from him. I''m guessing he''s trying to find out what really happened to his mom."
Hearing this, Sofia''s fingers dug so hard into her palm that her nails left marks. So Hank believed Reese. He must be convinced that Grace had killed his mother, and now he was determined to find the truth No wonder he hadn''t called her, not even once since Grace was arrested.
It was all Reese''s fault. Reese had turned Hank against her!
The anger tangled in her chest, tightening around her heart. Sofia took a shaky breath, pulled out her phone, and sent Nathaniel a quick update about everything happening with the Meyer family.
Still, she didn''t mention that the box had already been moved. She just told Nathaniel that Hank had taken it and probably passed it to Reese.
Nathaniel stared at his phone, his eyes cold and sharp. "Bailey is still as useless as ever. How could he let something so important slip through his fingers?"