He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper right by Bailey''s ear. "Mr. Meyer, things are looking really bad for us. The smartest move now is toe clean. If you''re honest, you might get some leniency."


    "If you can give up the names of the others involved and hand over any evidence, that could help you get a reduced sentence."


    Bailey didn''t say a word. He just stared at the table, his eyes nk, lost somewhere


    far away.


    His mind spun back to twenty years ago. Back then, he had just stepped into the Meyer family business and was desperate for a huge sum of money to keep things afloat.


    He''d been out of options when Nathaniel showed up out of nowhere and made him an offer.


    "Bailey, I know you''re strapped for cash. I''ve got a deal for you. It''s big money. If you''re in, you''ll have your footing in Brookfield in less than six months."


    Bailey had hesitated. He knew Nathaniel''s "deal" was sketchy at best, probably illegal. Still, with the promise of easy wealth and his pride stinging from constant humiliation, temptation got the best of him. He said yes.


    That first illegal organ trade made him more money than he''d ever seen. It solved all his problems, and after that, there was no stopping. He just kept going.


    But every time, he saw those desperate eyes-people being treated like things. Guilt gnawed at him, and after he met Marie, it only got worse. He thought about quitting, more than once.


    Nathaniel refused to let him walk away. He threatened to expose everything if Bailey ever tried. So Bailey stayed trapped, tangled up in Nathaniel''s schemes.


    He remembered Marie''s soft smile, how she''d given up her own dreams to support his, how she took care of their home. He thought of her gentle care when she was pregnant, the way she held Reese with such warmth in her eyes.


    She deserved so much better, but because of his greed and fear, her life ended in tragedy.


    The guilt hit him like a wave. He couldn''t stop the tears. They fell, one after another, onto the table, each onending with a quiet tap.


    "I want to see Reese."


    His voice was so faint he had to say it again. "I want to see Reese. If I can talk to her, I''ll tell you everything."


    Roman and the two other officers shared a look. After a long pause, Roman nodded. "Alright. I''ll call her."


    Half an hourter, Reese arrived from the hospital.


    She wore a ck coat, standing tall and straight. She watched Bailey who was just a shell of the man he once was. Heraves were icy, cold as winter. There wasnt even a flicker of pity in her gaze.


    "My mom spent her whole life being gentle, kind, and honest. She never hurt anyone."


    "She gave you everything. She


    by your side and took care of


    but you betrayed her Your


    you


    greed is


    what killed her."


    Bailey looked at Reese-her face so much like Marie''s. The guilt only burned deeper.


    He tried to speak, to apologize, but his throat closed up. He couldn''t get a single word out.


    "You like to think you''re the victim, don''t you? That Nathaniel forced you into this." Reese''s voice was sharp, heavy with contempt.


    "But did you ever think about the people you traded like objects? They had familjes too. People who cared about them. Your greed tore their lives apart. You ruined families, left them in pieces. Some never recovered.


    "You threw away other people''s lives for your own money and status. So whatever happens to you now, you''ve earned it.


    "I didn''te here to watch you beg for forgiveness or listen to an apology."