In the interrogation room at Bridger Lake Police, Sofia sat cuffed to the chair, shaking so much she could barely stay upright. The officer slid some papers across the table-screenshots of her texts, a grainy shot from the car rental''s security


    camera.


    "Sofia, you rented a car under a fake name. You warned Nathaniel. That was all you, wasn''t it? The evidence is right here. Are you still going to pretend it wasn''t you?"


    Sofia''s eyes locked on the message she''d sent. Her face had lost all color. Her lips trembled as she tried to exin. "I didn''t hide him. He threatened me. I only did what he asked because I was scared. If I didn''t help, he said he''d ruin me. I didn''t have a choice."


    "No choice?" The officer just gave a short, coldugh. "You used an anonymous ount to rent the car. You sent Nathaniel a picture of the license te. That''s pretty careful nning for someone who had no choice. So tell me, how was a fugitive supposed to threaten you if you didn''t help him?”


    He stared at her, eyes narrowed. “Or did you do something else, and he was ckmailing you?"


    “No,” Sofia blurted out. “I didn''t do anything.....”


    "Then what did he have on you?" The officer smacked the table, the sound echoing through the room. Sofia flinched.


    "My... my father died. Meyer family is just my brother now. Nathaniel said if I didn''t help, he''d destroy the family business, so I..." Her voice trailed off as she stared at her hands.


    "You expect me to buy that?" The officer''sugh was sharp, almost mocking. Even Sofia knew how weak her story sounded. Nathaniel was on the run with nothing to his name-how could he bring down an entirepany?


    The pressure finally broke her. Tears slipped down her cheeks. Her voice cracked with every word. "It was me. I wanted to go back to the Meyer family to take control. Nathaniel


    prom


    if I helped him, he''d help ? me get my ce back. I just... I did something stupid because I wanted it so badly."


    "And you actually believed Nathaniel would help you?" The officer''s voice was t. "He was using you. Guys like him never keep their word."


    Those words hit her hard. Sofia slumped in her seat, the weight of everything she''d


    done finally sinking in. Regret washed over her, but it was toote now.


    She spilled everything. From the moment Nathaniel called, to the car rental, to the drive out to


    Brookfield-she didn''t hold anything back. The only hope left was that maybe if she told the whole truth and owned up to it, the police might go easier on her.


    Out in the hallway, Matthew and Reese stood together, listening to the muffled crying and broken confessions. Both looked calm, not a hint of surprise or sympathy.


    “She had thising,” Reese said quietly, her voice steady. Sofia had teamed up with Bailey against her for years, and now she''d even gone as far as helping Nathaniel for her own gain. She''d made her choices.


    Matthew gave Reese''s hand a gentle squeeze, his touch warm and steady. “It''s over. The people who got hurt will finally get the justice they deserve."