ã€ŠThe Doormat Wifeâ€™s Ultimate Glow-Upã€‹


 Chapter 1

    "Ms. Meyer, the baby is gone."

    Reese Meyer came to slowly, blinking up at the hospital ceiling for what felt like forever before finally sitting up. The memory of what brought her here pressed in on her from all sides.

    Just a couple of weeks ago, she''d stumbled across IVF consent forms in the study. That was how she found out Sebastian Ratcliff-her husband-had someone else''s embryo imnted in her. Without her knowledge. Without her consent.

    She''d refused to believe it at first. The idea that Sebastian would do something so cruel to her was too much to ept.

    But sixteen weeks into the pregnancy, she went behind his back and got an amniocentesis. The results shattered her.

    The baby inside her wasn''t hers.

    She remembered lying on the exam table, staring at her slightly rounded belly, the faint stretch marks already spreading across her skin. The tears came then, hot and silent, slipping down her cheeks no matter how hard she tried to hold them

    back.

    She''d actually wanted this child. To bear this baby, she''d gone through hormone shots, surgeries, and every exhausting appointment Sebastian asked of her. She''d done everything. And now, none of it mattered. The baby wasn''t hers at all.

    They had been married for seven years. They had known each other since they were both practically kids themselves. Even if there was never real love, she''d thought there was at least something between them. A little loyalty. Maybe even friendship.

    But to Sebastian, she was just a means to an end.

    The nurse''s voice brought her back. "Ms. Meyer, the pregnancy has ended," she said softly.

    Reese focused, pulling her clothes together, her voice calm and steady. "Please get me all the paperwork about this child as soon as possible."

    "It''ll take about a week to finish the legal and gic reports," the nurse replied. "We''ll mail everything to you once it''s ready."

    Reese nodded.

    She''d given up her degree for Sebastian, spent seven years running his life, making sure he had everything he needed. Now, she was done. This humiliating marriage would finally end. And the evidence that Sebastian made her a surrogate would be her only bargaining chip.

    Her lower abdomen still throbbed as she called a car service. She set the pickup at the shopping center near the hospital.

    As her ride pulled up, she spotted a familiar ck sedan parked by the curb, the familiar shy tes impossible to miss.

    In all of Bridger Lake, only Sebastian would ever dare drive around with a te like that. Anyone else wouldn''t dream of it.

    The mall security guards barely even nced over anymore. They just gathered and whispered, "That''s Mr. Ratcliff''s car, right?"

    ¡°Yeah, I heard Ratcliff Global''s got another Al breakthrough¡ªleading the world now."

    People bustled in and out of the mall. Reese caught sight of a tall man in a ck silk shirt getting out from the back seat, then circling around to open the other door.

    His sleeves were rolled up, showing off strong forearms, veins shifting as he moved. From the open door, a girl stepped out-slender, stylish, every detail put together.

    She hooked her arm through Sebastian''s like it was the most natural thing in the world.

    They walked into the mall side by side-him tall and maic, her elegant and graceful. Heads turned as they passed.

    "Who''s that? He never brings girls around," someone whispered.

    Reese''s ride was here. Ignoring the gossip, she got into the front seat, shut the door, and leaned her head against the window. The city blurred past as the car made its way downtown.

    She knew the girl besides Sebastian.

    That''s her own sister. Sofia.

    Fresh from MIT, she''s a math prodigy, just back with a major award in tow.

    Reese closed her eyes, letting herself drift. What if she hadn''t quit school to get married? Maybe she''d be the one with all the promise and praise. Maybe she''d be the one with a future.

    Her phone buzzed twice. It''s a message from herwyer, confirming once again that she wanted to move ahead with the divorce.

    She texted back. [Move forward as fast as you can]

    She dropped her phone and rubbed at her tired eyes.

    When she finally got back to the downtown vi, she was barely through the gates when she heard Robbie''sughter from inside the house.

    She hurried her pace. It had been almost two weeks since she''d seen her son.

    After Robbie was born, Sebastian had shipped him off to the old estate, saying it was for the best, that he''d get a better education there. It hadn''t mattered how much she''d begged, even in those first painful weeks after giving birth. He''d made up his mind.

 Chapter 2

    Even visiting her own son came with a strict schedule. She never expected Robbie to show up at her ce all on his own.

    After slipping off her shoes, she walked into the foyer. On the living room couch, a little boy sat with his back to the door, chatting away on a video call.

    "Auntie''s the best. I''ve wanted this Transformer forever, but Dad never buys it for me,¡± heined into the phone. "Okay, I''ll wait for Dad to bring it home."

    Reese headed over, wanting nothing more than to scoop her son into a hug. "Robbie, did you miss Mommy?"

    He hung up in a sh and pushed her away, squealing, "You stink! Don''te near me!"

    Reese froze, awkward, giving herself a sniff. She''d lost a lot of blood when she had Robbie, and her health never fully bounced back. Even in summer, she barely ever sweated. Right now, all she could smell was a faint trace of hospital sanitizer.

    Robbie rolled his eyes at her, his voice bossy as he dered, "I want that shrimp dish. Why aren''t you making it already?"

    Reese had just had an abortion earlier that day¡ªshe really wasn''t supposed to touch cold water. She was about to ask the housekeeper to handle dinner when Robbie shot her a quick eye roll. Then he pressed his head against her leg, looked up with those big, pleading eyes, and his voice turned soft and sweet. "Mommy, no one makes shrimps as tasty as you. It''s just not the same when someone else does it."

    Even though she knew this was Robbie''s go-to trick, Reese''s heart still melted a little. She told herself he was just spoiled from not having her around enough. She''d fix that, eventually.

    In the kitchen, she washed her hands and shivered when her fingers dipped into the cold water with the fresh shrimp. Still, she finished cooking, ted everything, and brought dinner to the table. Only then did Robbie look satisfied.

    She watched him eat, quiet and thoughtful.

    After dinner, she sat with Robbie and read together for a while.

    "Mommy, is Daddying home tonight?" he asked.

    A bitter little smile tugged at her lips. Sebastian had always cared about the baby she was carrying. Even if he didn''t go with her to every appointment, he''d always check in afterward, asking about his child with another woman.

    She kissed Robbie''s forehead. "He''ll be back. Go to sleep now."

    "Okay. I''ll see Daddy in the morning, right?"

    Later, once Robbie was asleep, Reese slipped out of his room and went downstairs. She curled up on the living room sofa,ptop resting on her knees as she caught up on thetest news in Al.

    She lost track of time. It was deep into the night when the front door clicked open. Reese looked up to see Sebastian stepping inside, wearing a deep blue satin shirt that shimmered in the low light.

    "Why are you still awake?" he asked as he sat down beside her, slipping his arm around her shoulders. His hand rested naturally on her stomach.

    He didn''t know-the baby was already gone.

    "How''s the baby?" Sebastian asked.

    There was a strange perfume on him, not hers. Reese pulled away. "Weren''t you with Sofia tonight? Why are you back?"

    She shot him a look. "Aren''t you worried someone might catch you cheating?"

    Sebastian leaned back, giving her a sideways nce. "As long as you don''t go shouting to the world that you''re my wife, who''s going to care?"

    Reese snapped herptop shut.

    Yeah, he had a point. Their marriage was a secret. As long as she stayed quiet, even if the paparazzi caught Sebastian with someone else, nobody would dare run the story. In Bridger Lake, nobody wanted to mess with the Ratcliffs.

    "Aww? Pouting now?" Sebastian yed with a strand of her hair. "Didn''t you ask for this? Why are you upset?"

    Reese closed her eyes and, when she opened them again, her whole expression had changed-cool, calm, impossible to read.

    "Sebastian, we need to talk."

 Chapter 3

    Since he thought this marriage was something she''d begged for, Reese figured it was time to be honest andy everything out.

    She was ready to tell him the truth-that she knew everything, and she wanted a divorce.-

    Right then, her phone rang. Sebastian shot her a quick look and held a finger to his lips, telling her to keep quiet.

    "Hey. What''s up?"

    Reese nced at the caller ID. Sofia. Whatever Sofia said made Sebastian smile, just a little. ¡°Okay, I''ll head over now."

    "I need to go to the office. If there''s something you want to talk about, we can find some timeter."

    He hung up, and just like that, the cold, distant version of Sebastian was back. He walked out, closing the door behind him.

    Reese opened herptop again, feeling a bitter littleugh rise in her chest.

    So, Sebastian really did care about this kid. He couldn''t even wait-he had to rush off to Sofia and report on the baby, didn''t he?

    She wondered what they''d do when they found out she''d already ended the pregnancy.

    Picking up her phone, Reese sent a message to herwyer.

    [George, if I have evidence that would hurt Sebastian, can you guarantee I''ll get full custody of my son?]

    It waste, and she wasn''t expecting a reply. She put her phone down, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Robbie standing in the hallway, holding onto the railing, looking at her with a cold stare.

    "Mom, why are you so useless?

    "Dad came home and you just let him leave."

    Reese blinked, caught off guard. She''s about to say something, but Robbie went

    on.

    "Since Dad''s gone, there''s no reason for me to stay here either. I''m going back to the main house."

    He turned and knocked on the nanny''s door, woke her up, and started packing his stuff.

    "Robbie, it''ste. It''s not safe for you. Let me take you tomorrow," Reese tried. But he was set on leaving. He shoved past her, voice sharp. "Don''t touch me!"

    "I thought after your checkup today, Dad would stay with you tonight. Looks like I wasted my time.

    "If I''d known, I would''ve gone to Auntie Sofia''s. At least I could''ve spent more time with Dad."

    He grabbed the nanny''s hand and walked off without looking back.

    Reese just stood there in the nursery, not moving for a long time. Only then did she finally understand what Robbie meant.

    Her stomach started to ache again. Mechanically, she turned up the heat on the AC.

    Shey down on the couch, phone in hand. After a moment''s hesitation, she deleted the message she''d sent to herwyer.

    If even her son thought so little of her, maybe it was better to give up custody and get something more worthwhile in return.

    The next morning, Reese was jolted awake by her phone ringing.

    "Reese, do you have any idea how to be a mother? How could you let Robbie

    leave by himself in the middle of the night?

    "Did you even think about what could''ve happened to him on the way?

    "What has the Ratcliff family ever done to deserve this from you?

    "You drugged Sebastian and got yourself pregnant. He married you out of responsibility. Has he ever treated you badly?

    "And you''re still not satisfied. He came homete and you picked a fight, made him leave!

    "You are the most heartless woman I''ve ever met. You don''t care about your own son or husband!"

    Sebatian''s mother Jane was relentless on the other end, every word worse than thest.

    Reese tossed her phone aside, put it on silent, and headed into the bathroom.

    Who knows what Robbie told herst night? Apparently, everything was Reese''s fault now.

    When she came out of the bathroom, the call had finally ended. There was a new message from George.

    [Sorry, Ms. Meyer, I didn''t see your messagest night.]

    [I noticed you deleted it. Was it important?]

    Reese leaned back on the sofa and replied. [Nothing important. If I took it back, it doesn''t matter.

    Please handle the divorce as quickly as possible.]

    She put her phone down and stared nkly for a moment.

    Her mind wandered back to the day she found out she was pregnant with Robbie.

    She had just left the hospital and was sitting in her car.

    She hadn''t nned on keeping the baby-until the radio suddenly yed a line:

    He came all this way for me, so how could I turn him away?

    Suddenly, she''d started crying, and in that moment, she decided she''d keep Robbie, whether or not the Ratcliffs epted him.

    But now...

    Reese shook herself out of her thoughts and started getting ready to go to the research institute.

 Chapter 4

    Seven years ago, Reese chose her family over her career. She turned down a spot at Clever Cloud Institute, walked away from her mentor Dominic, and disappeared from the world she''d once fought to be part of.

    Now, if she wanted to another shot, she needed to ask for Dominic''s forgiveness.-

    Standing at the gates of the institute, Resse stared up at the ss and steel building that once felt like home. So much looked the same, but she felt different. Seven years had gone by in a blink, and who knew how many new faces had reced the old ones?

    A young security guard she didn''t recognize stopped her at the door. "Sorry, ma''am, you need an appointment to enter."

    Reese just nodded and stepped aside. She pulled out her phone, scrolling through her contacts, hoping she could find an old friend willing to help. Maybe someone would have Dominic''s number. Not that she was holding her breath¡ª he''d blocked her everywhere after she left, and she hadn''t heard a word from him since.

    Before she could call anyone, a familiar, mocking voice interrupted her thoughts. "Well, well. If it isn''t Reese-the legendary love martyr who quit everything for a wedding ring."

    Reese looked up. L was walking toward her, arm linked with Sofia''s. The two of them looked like they owned the ce. L had always resented Dominic''s favoritism toward Reese, and their history was a mess of jealousy andpetition. After Reese left, L stuck it out, and rumor had it she''d be one of Dominic''s most trusted team members.

    Reese was surprised to see Sofia too, but it made sense. Sofia was a star in Al, and Dominic''s team was the best in the country.

    Trying to keep the peace, Reese managed a small smile. "Hey, L."

    L gave her a smirk, still holding onto Sofia. Sofia''s smile was polite but distant, like she barely remembered Reese at all.

    "So, what are you doing here? Hoping to see Dominic? You can''t seriously think he still remembers you, right?" L''s voice dripped with sarcasm.

    Reese didn''t bother answering. She turned to leave, but L called out, "Wait, Reese. If you really want a shot at getting inside, help me out. Go to the airport and pick someone up for us."

    She handed Reese a folder. "He''s one of our institute''s main investors, just flew in from London. If you pull this off¡ªand maybe help secure his investment¡ªI''ll take you to see Dominic myself."

    Reese eyed the folder. She was almost certain there was a catch. L was never this helpful. But this was her shot. Her best chance at seeing Dominic again. She wasn''t going to let it slip away.

    "Deal," Reese said, tucking the folder under her arm and heading off without another word.

    L watched her go, a sly look in her eyes. The founder of Iron Financial was notorious for being impossible to please. L had been dreading this assignment, but now Reese was the perfect stand-in.

    Sofia leaned closer and whispered, "Should you really bring her to see Dominic? Won''t he be mad?"

    L scoffed. "Like Dominic would actually meet with her. She left all of us behind, and now she thinks she can just waltz back in?"

    They walked into the building, not noticing two figures standing by an office window on the third floor, watching the scene below.

    "Isn''t that Reese down there?" Bryan, Dominic''s assistant, finally spoke up.

    The old man didn''t respond, his face unreadable.

    Bryan tried again. "If she came back and worked on the Seagull Project, maybe things could turn around..."

    "Maybe what?" Dominic cut him off, his tone sharp. "Even if she could fix everything, what happens the next time she decides to run off and have a baby? What are we supposed to do with the project then?"

    "If you have time to worry about her, Bryan, maybe you should spend it actually working."

    Dominic left, closing the office door behind him. Bryan was left standing by the window, scratching his head. He nced at the battered old mug in Dominic''s hand, which was the same one Reese had given him seven years ago, its paint peeling but clearly still his favorite.

    Bryan sighed. Dominic''s moods were getting harder to predict every year.

 Chapter 5

    In the car, Reese flipped through the documents in her folder, trying to piece together what little information she had. She never would''ve guessed that the person L wanted her to pick up was the founder of Iron Financial-a name making waves everywhere these days.

    The folder didn''t help much. There''s no photo, barely any personal details. Even after a quick search online, she found almost nothing. All anyone seemed to know was that he''d left the country young, made a fortune abroad, and now he was back to start fresh at home.

    On her way to the airport, Reese made a pit stop at an ad agency and begged them to make a wee sign on the spot. Thanks to traffic, she was already runningte, and by the time she arrived, passengers were pouring out of the arrivals gate.

    She rushed inside, barely lifting the sign before a familiar voice cut through the crowd. "Reese!"

    She spun around. Her eyes widened, a grin breaking out on her face. ¡°Tara!¡±

    Tara was her cousin, her uncle''s daughter, and basically her best friend since childhood. They''d grown up together, as close as sisters.

    Tara threw her arms around her. "You came to pick me up? You must''ve known I was flying home today!"

    Normally, Reese would have joked right back, but today she had a job to do. She quickly exined she was there for work, ready to get back to her mission of finding Iron Financial''s mysterious founder.

    But Tara justughed, grabbed her hand, and started weaving through the crowd. "Don''t worry about it. I actually know the guy you''re looking for."

    Reese blinked, surprised. "You do?"

    "Yup. No need to wander around. I''ll take you right to him."

    It sounded impossible. How had Tara, after just a few years overseas, ended up crossing paths with someone this important? She must have noticed Reese''s confusion, because Tara shot her a secretive little smile. "Not only do I know him, you know him too."

    Reese stared. "Me? No way. I think I''d remember meeting someone like that."

    But Tara just winked and led her to the baggage im. There, a man in a white T- shirt with a subtle print stood off to the side, one hand in his pocket, the other steadying a suitcase.

    "Zach!" Tara called out, letting go of Reese and running straight into his arms.

    He caught her easily, smiling as he brushed her nose with his finger. "What''s got you so happy?"

    The name hit Reese like a p. For a second, she forgot how to breathe. When she saw Tara hugging him, her feet refused to move. She just stood there, frozen.

    Zach. Her childhood best friend. Her first love. The boy she''d once promised to spend her life with.

    But life had other ns. Everything changed, and she ended up marrying Sebastian. She broke the promise she''d made to Zach, and they lost each other.

    Now, Tara was holding his hand, and it was obvious to anyone what they meant to each other.

    "Reese, this is the founder of Iron Financial," Tara said, beaming. "He''s the one you came to meet, right?"

    Zach looked up at the sound of her name. The warmth in his eyes disappeared, reced by a cold, distant stare.

    Reese forced a smile, stepping forward. "Zach, it''s been a long time."

    "It has," Zach said, his voice cool.

    With introductions done, Tara handed all the luggage to Zach without a second thought, then pulled Reese ahead.

    "Don''t mind him," Tara whispered. "He''s always like that kind of standoffish with people he doesn''t like. He''lle around."

    "Oh, and we''re getting married," Tara added, as if it was no big deal. "We''re

    staying here for good this time. Ready to start our life here together."

    Reese nced at her cousin. They''d grown up side by side, shared every secret, told each other everything. At least, she thought so.

 Chapter 6

    Maybe her aunt and uncle didn''t know the whole messy story with her and Zach, but Tara definitely did.

    Tara had seen it all y out-how she and Zach met, how they fell for each other, and how it all fell apart in the end. But after everything, it was Tara who ended up with Zach. And Tara had chosen to keep that from her.

    Reese looked down. It wasn''t like she begrudged Zach for finding happiness with someone else, or resented Tara for being the one he chose. She truly wished them both well. Still, Reese couldn''t help but wonder, was she still Tara''s friend now?

    She managed a tight smile. "That''s great. Your parents must be really happy you''re back."

    "Well, Reese,e home with us. Let''s all have dinner together as a family."

    Before Reese could even say no, Tara grabbed her hand and tugged her along, not giving her any chance to argue. She all but shoved Reese into the car.

    The drive back was quiet. When they finally reached the familiar apartmentplex, the car pulled to a stop.

    Reese pushed open the door, only to hear Tara let out a startled gasp.

    A loud bark shook the car windows. From behind the thick shrubs, a huge pit bull charged out, drool hanging off its teeth, staring them down.

    Reese jumped back, mming her lower back against the car door. Pain shot up her spine as she sucked in a sharp breath.

    "Tara!" Zach''s voice cut through the chaos, sharper than the dog''s bark. He pulled Tara behind him and nted himself between her and the dog, ready to protect her.

    The pit bull was riled up by Zach''s movement. It red at them all. Then, following some animal instinct, it lunged straight at Reese-the one who looked the most vulnerable.

    Reese''s eyes went wide as cold sweat soaked through her shirt. Her heart hammered, and for a second, she couldn''t breathe.

    "Max! Get back!" A man in a tracksuit came running from the outdoor gym, grabbing the leash and yanking hard.

    The dog let out a frustrated whine, stumbling backward, but it never took its eyes off Reese. Its tail whipped through the holly bushes, knocking leaves to the ground.

    "Control your dog," Zach said, his voice low and angry.

    "Zach, please. I''m scared," Tara whispered, her pale fingers wrapped around his arm. She tried to calm him. "I''m fine, really. Calm down."

    Zach pulled her closer, his arm firm around her shoulders. "Don''t worry. I''m here."

    Reese''s hands curled into fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms. She stared at the bulletin board a few yards away, the notices pping in the wind, loud enough to drown out the man''s apologies.

    She watched Zach walk away with Tara, his arm protectively around her, and let out a long sigh.

    All that youthful love had been twisted by time into something she barely recognized. There was no going back.

    Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, in Dominic''s office¡ª

    Dominic picked up his chipped travel mug, but didn''t take a sip. Instead, he mmed it back down on his desk with a dull thud.

    He couldn''t shake the memory of that morning. Getting someone from Iron Financial to show up was never easy. Even if he called personally, it wasn''t a sure thing.

    He remembered the slender figure he''d seen upstairs earlier, looking even thinner

    and more worn out than she had seven years ago.

    Serves her right, he thought, feeling a bitter satisfaction.

    Dominic grabbed his phone and, almost without thinking, dialed a number he

    hadn''t touched in ages. His fingers still remembered the way.

 Chapter 7

    Reese''s phone started buzzing out of nowhere, the screen lighting up with a number she didn''t recognize.

    She picked up. Silence.

    Just as she wondered if it was a prank, a sharp, almost mocking huff came through.

    Her heart stuttered. She blurted, "Sir?"

    There was a pause. Then Dominic''s voice came on, low and rushed, like he was trying to get the words out before he changed his mind. "Even if Iron Financial turns you down, I can give you another shot toe back."

    He spoke so quickly that Reese had to piece the words together in her head. She thought he was just pushing her tond the Iron Financial deal.

    Even though she knew it''d be tough, just getting a call from Dominic was enough to make her pulse race.

    She nced at the two people walking ahead, squared her shoulders, and said firmly, "Don''t worry, Professor. I''ll do everything I can to get Iron Financial on board."

    Dominic didn''t answer right away. Then he let out another cold snort and muttered, "Whatever," before hanging up.

    Reese tucked her phone away, about to head inside, when a series of loud pops echoed overhead.

    Fireworks exploded across the night sky.

    Gold and red lights burst open, scattering like thousands of tiny diamonds on dark velvet, their glittery tails slicing through the silence.

    "So pretty!"

    Someone nearby let out a little gasp.

    "Whose proposal is it this time, you think?"

    "Probably Mr. Ratcliff."

    "I heard the guy''s in love with the girl from the Meyer family. She just made headlines for some breakthrough in Al. It was all over the news."

    "This must be for her, then!"

    Reese tilted her head back as firework after firework painted the sky in color.

    "Reese!"

    She turned at the sound of her name.

    Tara and Zach were standing not far away, and with them was Aunt Rosie, who Reese hadn''t seen in forever.

    "Aunt Rosie!"

    Reese hurried over to greet them.

    "What took you so long? Are you mad that Zach didn''t stick up for you back there?" Tara asked, eyeing her.

    Reese shook her head. "What? No way."

    Rosie nced between them, her eyes a little shifty. "You two are about to be

    family. Reese wouldn''t get mad at her future brother-inw."

    Reese nced at Zach, who was quiet as ever, and smiled. "Exactly. Zach should

    look after you. Why would I be upset about that?"

    Zach''s hand holding his suitcase barely twitched at that.

    Another round of fireworks boomed above.

    "Whoever''s behind this must be crazy rich. That''s two rounds in a row. Tonight''s probably costing a fortune," someone said nearby.

    Tara grinned up at the sky. "Hey, at least we get to enjoy the show."

    Rosie''s expression got a little weird. "Reese, I didn''t know you''d all being

    home tonight, so I didn''t really n ahead. Would youe with me to pick up some groceries?"

    Reese figured her aunt wanted to talk alone and nodded. "Sure."

    Rosie handed what she was carrying to Tara, nudged her and Zach inside, and pulled Reese toward the gate.

    "Reese, did you and Sebastian have a fight?"

    The fireworks tonight were obviously Sebastian''s doing. The fact that Reese was

    still here made it clear enough who he was really celebrating.

    Rosie seemed to think carefully about what to say next.

    "Everyone''s talking about him and Sofiately. He''s gone too far, honestly.

    "If you ask me, you should make a scene. And if that doesn''t work, maybe think

    about having another baby to keep him close.

    "In families like the Ratcliffs, the more kids the better."

    Reese''s hand drifted to her stomach. Not that long ago, there had been a baby here but it hadn''t been hers.

    Rosie kept going. "Sebastian''s a catch, you know. You need to make sure you hold on to him.

    "Our family would be nowhere without the Ratcliffs'' help all these years.

    "And now that Tara''s back and working here, you and Sebastian will be even more important to the family."

    Reese shot her aunt a sidelong nce.

    She''d already called the hospital. The results of the surrogacy investigation would

    be out in three days. Once she had them, she''d give them straight to herwyer- just in case.

    She''d also had herwyer draft the divorce papers.

    Reese still hoped she and Sebastian could talk things out. Her family depended on hispany, after all.

    If she could get the settlement she wanted and leave on good terms, she had no interest in making things ugly.

    But if Sebastian refused, she was ready to take him to court with the surrogacy evidence.

    Either way, she was ending this marriage, and she would get what was fair. With her mind made up, Reese realized she didn''t have anything left to fear.

 Chapter 8

    "Don''t worry, Aunt Rosie. Whatever''s going on between me and Sebastian, it''s not going to mess with the family business. I can handle it."

    Rosie let out a quiet sigh, her relief obvious. "As long as you know what you''re doing."

    The two of them wandered through the market, picked out fresh veggies, and made their way back. Just as they walked through the gate, Rosie suddenly grabbed Reese''s hand.

    "Oh, and Reese... We know you had married Sebastian to help the family get that investment. Could you not bring it up to Tara and Zach?"

    Reese blinked, a little caught off guard. Rosie exined, "Zach and Tara have been through a lot building theirpany overseas. I don''t want them worrying about old stuff back here."

    Reese nodded. "Don''t worry, Aunt Rosie. That''s all history now. Tara''s wedding ising up. I won''t say a thing and start drama."

    Rosie smiled, giving Reese''s shoulder a gentle pat. "Thank you so much."

    They headed upstairs and dropped the groceries in the kitchen. Rosie called Tara in to help, leaving Reese to go rx in the living room.

    Reese walked in and spotted Zach on the sofa. With Dominic''s call still on her mind, she paused, then sat down awkwardly at the far end of the couch.

    "Zach, do you think you''ll invest in Clever Cloud''s project?"

    Zach raised an eyebrow, barely ncing up. "So you''re really rooting for a Clever Cloud and Iron Financial deal, huh?"

    Reese nodded, pushing a little. "Yeah. Will you invest?"

    "I was nning on it," he replied, voice easy. "But now..."

    His tone shifted as he lit a cigarette. "Now I might have to think things over."

    He gave her a crooked smile. ¡°Honestly, if your institute''s director is willing to hire someone like you, I''d question his judgment."

    Reese took a breath, trying to stay calm. "So what would it take for you to say yes to the partnership?"

    She watched his face, hoping for any sign of a break.

    All at once, Zach grinned, a little mean, and pointed at the mango on the coffee table. "Eat that mango. Then we''ll talk."

    Reese''s face went pale. He knew about her mango allergy. He always had.

    "What, you can''t even manage that?" Zach raised an eyebrow. "Sure, Clever Cloud''s a big deal. Teaming up with them works for me. But business is business. You can''t just act so close to me and expect me to roll over. If you can''t do it, find another bargaining chip."

    Reese''s hands balled into fists. "Fine. Just keep your word."

    She knew she had nothing to offer, so before he could change his mind, she grabbed the mango, cut it up, and forced herself to eat every slice.

    Within minutes, her skin started burning and itching, her cheeks flushed, but she pushed through and finished the fruit.

    "Happy now?"

    Zach stood, pulling his hand away, his face suddenly cold. "If you''re having an allergic reaction, go to the hospital. I don''t want to see you here."

    Relief and humiliation crashed over Reese as she hurried out and headed straight to the ER.

    While she was hooked up to an IV, her phone buzzed.

    "Iron Financial agreed to the investment," Dominic said after a long pause. "Come see me at the institute in two days."

    "Okay."

    Reese stared at the IV drip, her eyes filling with tears.

    Her allergy was so bad she had to stay overnight at the hospital. When she finally got home, she opened the door to stale, empty air.

    Sebastian hadn''te home.

    She went into the study, printed out the divorce agreement herwyer had sent, signed her name, slipped the papers into an envelope, and left for Ratcliff Tower.

    The receptionist didn''t recognize her and blocked her at the entrance. "I''m sorry, miss, you need an appointment to see Mr. Ratcliff."

    Reese handed over the envelope. "I''m not here to see him. Just give him this, please."

    As long as Sebastian saw those divorce papers, he''de find her.

    The receptionist stepped back, shaking her head. "Sorry, I can''t deliver that for you-it''s against the rules."

    While they stood there, the ss doors slid open and Sebastian walked in, Sofia by his side.

    Brady, Sebastian''s assistant, followed a few steps behind. When he caught sight of Reese, his face changed.

    He shot a nervous nce at Sebastian, realized he hadn''t noticed Reese, and rushed over, pulling her aside.

    "Ms. Meyer," Brady whispered, flustered. He knew Sebastian didn''t like anyone knowing about his rtionship with Reese. He never wanted her at the office. "You really shouldn''t be here."

    "Just give him this. Tell him to call me," Reese said, pressing the envelope into his hands before turning to go.

    Brady stared at it for a second, then took the elevator upstairs and knocked on Sebastian''s office door.

    "Come in."

    Sebastian didn''t look up from his paperwork. "What did she want?"

    "She asked you to contact her." Brady set the envelope on the desk.

    Sebastian''s lips curled in a faint, knowing smile. Looked like Reese was finally getting anxious about him spending time with Sofia.

    "Leave it. Don''t worry about her."

 Chapter 9

    Reese never heard from Sebastian. Instead, her phone lit up with a call from old Mr. Ratcliff.

    "Reese, can youe by the house today? I''ll have the driver pick you up. Sebastian is back too."

    She''d just finished cleaning her old pre-marriage apartment when she heard the authority in his tone. Her heart skipped. With Mr. Ratcliff, refusing was never on the table.

    He was the one who''d forced Sebastian to man up after their one night together, insisting they get married. When her mother-inw made life miserable, it was Mr. Ratcliff who told Reese and Sebastian to move out and live on their own. Reese still didn''t know how to tell him she wanted out.

    Now, with him calling both her and Sebastian home, Reese couldn''t shake the feeling he knew about something.

    The car pulled into the Ratcliff estate on the south side of Bridger Lake. In the drive, she spotted him.

    Sebastian was leaning against his ck Bentley, cigarette in hand, smoke curling around his sharp features. His jaw was tight-he looked like he hadn''t smiled in years.

    Reese stepped out, her heels tapping against the stone walkway.

    He nced up at the sound. His eyes were cold and distant, a flicker of irritation behind them. That look made it clear-she was thest person he wanted to see. Reese''s stomach dropped. Mr. Ratcliff must have found out about him and Sofia. Sebastian''s voice was ice. He looked at her like she was just another problem to deal with. "Really didn''t waste any time, did you?"

    Reese said nothing, just stood there facing him.

    He sneered. "What''s wrong, cat got your tongue?" His eyes dropped to her stomach. "Grandpa promised you three percent of thepany when the babyes. You think just because he''s on your side now, you can do whatever you want?"

    "Remember, even if you married me, you''re still nothing to me."

    Reese stiffened, but met his gaze. "Sebastian, I never cared about being Mrs. Ratcliff."

    He let out a bitterugh. "Didn''t care? Really?"

    "How many times has your uncle''spany gotten help from ours? Don''t pretend you don''t know.

    "Isn''t that why you drugged me, slept with me, got pregnant, and forced your way into this family?"

    His words hit her like a punch to the gut. She could barely breathe.

    Back then, after that night with Sebastian and when she found out she was pregnant, Mr. Ratcliff had tracked her down at the hospital. He promised to help her uncle''spany, to invest in Zach''s business, if she married Sebastian.

    Reese knew the Ratcliffs cared about appearances above all else. There was no way they''d let their bloodline be born outside the family. If she wanted to keep her child, marrying Sebastian was the only choice.

    She thought that even if Sebastian didn''t love her, he''d at least feel some responsibility. But now, staring at him, she realized she''d always just been a stain on his perfect life.

    Her eyes stung with tears. "Sebastian, let''s get divorced. You''re free."

    "Divorced?" Sebastian scoffed. "So you can throw away everything you worked for? Years down the drain, just like that?

    "My advice? Behave yourself. Have the baby and stop scheming.

    "You don''t get to make demands and you definitely don''t get to say anything about me and Tara."

    A voice thundered from behind them. "What the hell did you just say?"

    Mr. Ratcliff stormed out from the porch, cane in hand, Robbie following close behind.

    He looked furious. "What''s so special about that woman that you''d treat your wife like this?

    "I told you to cut things off with her. Did you not hear me?"

    Sebastian''s reply was t. "Grandpa, Sofia''s different. She''s a top talent in Al. Thepany needs her."

    Mr. Ratcliff''s mustache bristled. "Didn''t Reese study artificial intelligence in college too? Why not bring her into thepany instead?"

 Chapter 10

    Sebastian''s gaze swept over Reese, the sarcasm in his eyes impossible to miss. "She''s lucky if she can just manage being Mrs. Ratcliff at home."

    His words stung, sharp as needles.

    Mr. Ratcliff looked like he''d swallowed a lemon, about to snap back, but Reese quickly stepped in. "Grandpa, I''m not going to Ratcliff Global. I have my own things to do."

    Zach had already agreed to partner with Clever Cloud and Dominic had told her she''d be starting at the research institute in a couple of days.

    Sebastian nced at her, something unreadable flickering in those dark eyes of his.

    When Reese refused, Mr. Ratcliff let out a heavy sigh. "Don''t mind that brat. If you''re upset,e to me. I''ll always take your side."

    Reese nodded. "I''m fine, Grandpa. Really. You just focus on your health."

    He studied her for a moment, then shot Sebastian a fierce re before turning and heading back to his room, leaning on his cane.

    "Dad?"

    A small hand tugged at Sebastian''s sleeve. He looked down and saw Robbie, eyes big and cautious.

    "What is it?"

    Robbie hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "My birthday party''s next week. This year, I want Mom toe. Is that okay?"

    Sebastian raised one eyebrow and threw Reese a warning look. "Ask her yourself."

    Then he walked off across the curved bridge, disappearing behind the thick green leaves.

    Robbie''s face lit up with surprise. He hadn''t expected his dad to agree. Usually, Dad hated being seen with Mom anywhere near other people.

    He practically bounced over to Reese. "Mom! Dad said you cane to my birthday party next week!"

    He grinned. "This year I want a mango cake. Can you make it for me at the party?"

    Reese frowned.

    Robbie was allergic to mangoes, just like she was, but for some reason he loved the idea of them. Every year she had to get creative, making mango-shaped jellies-always a hassle.

    As the only great-grandchild in the Ratcliff family, Robbie''s birthday parties were always over the top.

    However, Jane and Sebastian never actually introduced her as his mom. Every time, she was the one running around, busy behind the scenes, looking more like a polished housekeeper than the boy''s mother.

    And Sebastian''s look just now had been a clear warning-don''t say yes. So why should she put herself through that again?

    "The staff can handle it. I''m noting to your party this year."

    Her voice was soft but steady.

    Robbie froze, his little face going red. "I don''t want the staff to do it! Their cakes never taste right. I want yours!"

    He stomped his foot. "I worked so hard just for this. If youe, everyone will know you''re my mom! Then no one will try to take Dad away from you!"

    Reese looked at him for a long moment, then gave a small, chilly smile.

    So what if everyone knew? Sebastian would still show up everywhere with Sofia on his arm. Being Mrs. Ratcliff would just make her look even more ridiculous.

    She crouched down to meet Robbie''s eyes. "Robbie, I''m your mom, not your maid. Just because you want something doesn''t mean I have to do it."

    She straightened, opened the car door, and turned to the housekeeper. "Look after Robbie. Tell Mr. Ratcliff I have something to take care of.¡±

    Sebastian leaned against a pavilion column, a cigarette burning between his fingers. When he heard the car engine, he looked up and saw Robbieing over, eyes red and sulky.

    "She said yes?" Sebastian asked.

    Robbie red, voice thick with frustration. "Mom said no. She''s not making my cake this year, either. She told me to ask the staff. But I want a mango cake!"

    Reese said no?

    Maybe she finally gets it.

    Somethingplicated flickered in Sebastian''s eyes.

    Still, Reese would always make Robbie''s cake herself before. Was she really nning to walk away this time?

 Chapter 11

    Reese didn''t waste a second worrying about what the Ratcliffs would think if she skipped Robbie''s birthday party. She had bigger things to focus on. The next morning, just like she and Dominic had nned, she showed up at the institute.

    "Reese?" L looked genuinely taken aback when she saw her. "Wow, you''ve got some gutsing here. How''d you even get past security?"

    Then her expression shifted, her eyes narrowing as if something clicked. "Actually, it makes sense. You managed to marry rich with your tricks before, so sneaking in here probably wasn''t that hard either."

    "But this isn''t your fancy mansion, Reese. You don''t just get to waltz in and stay as long as you want." L gave her a pointed look. "If I were you, I''d just go back home and enjoy being a pampered wife."

    Standing at the entrance, Reese could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as people walked by, shooting her looks full of judgment and gossip. L''s words stung, but she stood her ground.

    "I asked her toe." Dominic''s calm voice cut through the tension as he walked up the steps. "She secured an investment from Iron Financial. I agreed to give her an interview."

    L stared at him, disbelief written all over her face. Reesended Iron Financial? Thatpany was notorious for being impossible to win over. How could someone who''d been out of the Al field for so long pull that off?

    "Did you bribe them or something?" L said with a sneer. "Professor, you should really rethink this. Letting her in could ruin the institute''s reputation."

    Dominic nced at Reese. She stood tall, her gaze steady and stubborn, just like she had years ago.

    "Nobody''s made any progress on the Emotis project, right?" Dominic said. "So why not let Reese take a shot? If she can make a breakthrough in three days, she stays. Simple as that."

    L just smirked and turned away, heading inside. Even Sofia couldn''t crack the Emotis challenge. There was no way Reese could solve it in three days. L figured Dominic was just being polite because of the investment. He''s setting Reese up to fail on her own.

    When the hallway cleared, Dominic gave Reese a curt look. "Your oldb is still the same. All your materials are on the desk. Figure things out yourself. Don''te bothering me unless you have to."

    "Thank you, Professor. I appreciate the chance," Reese answered quietly but firmly.

    If Dominic was willing to give her an opportunity, she was going to give it everything she had. She wouldn''t be able to face herself if she didn''t.

    Inside, Reese pushed open the door to her oldb and froze. It was almost exactly as she remembered from seven years ago, right down to the messy pile of documents on the desk.

    She''d dreamed about this room so many times. Standing in it now, her vision blurred with emotion.

    But there was no time for nostalgia. She forced herself to focus and dove into the project headfirst.

    For three days, Reese worked nonstop, barely sleeping. She rewrote and optimized the emotion recognition algorithm and fed new micro-expression and voice data into the system.

    Neither Sebastian nor Robbie reached out during those days. They seemed just fine without her.

    On the third afternoon, Dominic called everyone to the conference room.

    Reese paused at the doorway, nerves fluttering in her stomach.

    Zach was already there, lounging at the head of the table, chin propped on his hand, spinning a pen between his fingers.

    "This is Mr. Wiles, founder of Iron Financial," Dominic announced. "He''s here to choose one of your projects for investment. Who wants to go first?"

    He looked at Reese, but before she could move, Sofia stood up. "I''ll start, Professor."

    She hooked herputer up to the projector. "My project is called Mindwave. It uses big data modeling for highly urate predictions..."

    Sofia''s presentation was polished and professional, packed with examples of how Mindwave could be used in finance and healthcare. Her logic was wless, if a little stiff. Dominic nodded in approval, then shot Reese a sidelong nce, sighing in disappointment.

    Reese knew her hesitation had let him down. She took a slow breath and curled her hands into fists.

    When Sofia finished and sat back down, Reese stood. The chair wheels made a soft scraping sound against the floor.

    Sofia nced up, a slight smirk on her lips.

    Reese didn''t notice. She steadied herself,unched her system, and started. "My project is called Emotis. It uses facial recognition and speech analysis to track users'' emotions in real time and automatically adjusts how it interacts..."

    Her pitch was clear and focused. The system''s speed and emotional uracy blew away thepetition. She''d even solved the technical problem that had stumped everyone else.

    When she finished, Reeseturned to Dominic. His face was unreadable-serious, almost stern.

    But the atmosphere in the room had changed. The usual dismissive looks were gone. Even Sofia seemed to be sizing her up with something new.

    "What do you think, Mr. Wiles?" Dominic asked when the presentations ended, turning to Zach.

    He watched as Zach circled the Emotis project on his notes, a small smile ying at his lips.

    Reese had been out of the Al field for years, but she still knew how to blend technology with real needs. If she could secure this investment, maybe she really did deserve a ce here.

    But Zach wasn''t looking at Dominic. His eyes stayed locked on Reese¡ªsharp, cold, and curious, as though he was seeing her for the very first time.

 Chapter 12

    "I pick Mindwave."

    Sofia let out a quiet breath, relief flickering across her face. She shot Reese a look-one Reese couldn''t quite read.

    Dominic''s brows furrowed. "Mr. Wiles, can you share your reasoning?"

    Zach''s voice was icy. "I think Mindwave fits the market better. It has a wider range of applications."

    The color drained from Reese''s face. Her hands started to shake.

    No investment for Emotis meant Dominic would never let her stay at the institute.

    Sympathetic nces circled the room, allnding on Reese. Everyone knew her project had more potential than Mindwave, but Zach clearly had his own agenda.

    Zach didn''t spare her another look. He stood and walked out, heading for Dominic''s office to iron out the investment details.

    "I told you. Some people just don''t have it," L sneered,ing up beside Reese. "You''ve been out of the game too long. The industry''s moved on without you.

    "My advice? Go home and be the rich wife. Competing with Sofia for funding? Please.

    "She''s the Ratcliff heir''s girlfriend, she''s talented, and you think you canpete? Get real."

    "L," Sofia cut in, frowning. "Don''t say that. Mr. Ratcliff and I are just friends." "Let''s go. Mindwave still needs a lot of work."

    People filed out, leaving Reese alone in the empty meeting room. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them, the defeat gone, reced by pure determination.

    She wasn''t about to give up. She''d finally broken through the technical bottleneck, and even Dominic had acknowledged Emotis'' value. She needed to talk to Zach and get the truth: Why did he choose Mindwave?

    Reese hurried out and caught up to him in the hallway.

    "Mr. Wiles, can we talk?"

    Zach signaled the others to move ahead, then turned to face her as she caught her breath.

    "What is it?"

    Reese steadied herself, voice calm. "I want to know why you really picked Mindwave."

    Zach nced at his watch. "I already exined¡ª"

    "That was just an excuse, and we both know it." Reese met his eyes. "Emotis actually listens to users and ounts for emotion. It''s a much better fit for the market than Mindwave. If you were really thinking about applications, Emotis would be the obvious choice. I want the real reason."

    "The real reason?" Zach''s lips twisted in a mocking smile. "I just don''t believe someone who uses people to climb thedder can design something like this. The whole project''s tainted from the start. Is that good enough for you?"

    Reese''s hands balled into fists. "No. That''s not good enough."

    "This is business. If you''re throwing out my project for personal reasons, that''s not fair."

    "Fair?" Zach raised a brow. "You''re giving yourself way too much credit, Reese. I''m the investor. I make the call. If you want fairness, maybe your husband can invest in you instead."

    Reese held his gaze, then suddenly smiled. "So this is payback for me breaking up with you?"

    "Yeah. It is." Zach didn''t bother to hide it anymore. "I want to see you struggle, Reese. I want to watch you fight and fail."

    Her nails dug into her palm, but she didn''t flinch. "If you want revenge, fine. But not like this.

    "If you keep pushing, I''ll tell everyone about us," Reese said, voice low. "You really want Tara to get a reputation for stealing my boyfriend?"

    ¡°When she made her rtionship official online, I wasn''t even married to Sebastian yet.

    "Or do you want the world to know she was seeing someone else at the time?"

    Zach''s expression hardened. ¡°Are you threatening me?"

    "Not at all." Reese''s voice was steady. "I''m just negotiating, Mr. Wiles.

    "Iron Financial just got back into the domestic market. You don''t need to let something personal ruin your chances here."

    Zach stared at her for a moment, then let out a harshugh. "Fine. You win. Follow me."

    Reese let out a slow breath, knowing he''d finally caved, and followed him to Dominic''s office.

    "I''ve changed my mind," Zach announced. "Emotis has potential. I''ll invest in both projects."

    Dominic looked at him, surprised by the sudden turn.

    "But," Zach added, pointing at Reese, "I don''t want her name anywhere in the credits."

    Reese pressed her lips together but didn''t protest. As long as she got the funding and could stay at the institute, that was enough.

    Dominic gave her a long, meaningful look. When she stayed silent, he nodded. Paperwork signed, Zach left the office, still simmering over Reese''s defiance. "Boss?" his assistant said, picking up on his mood.

    "Look into Reese," Zach said coldly. "I want to know everything about her-her connection to the institute, who she''s been dealing with all these years."

    The assistant paused, then nodded. "Yes, sir."

 Chapter 13

    Dominic nced at Reese, his expression unreadable. "Now that you''ve secured the investment, you could stay."

    "But listen, if you ever walk out on the institute again, and I don''t care about whatever reason you might have, I won''t give you another shot."

    "Thank you, Professor." Reese''s eyes stung as she dipped her head in gratitude. "You have my word. I''m not leaving again."

    She left his office and headed back to theb, arms full of paperwork. As she stepped into the hallway, she nearly collided with a group clustered around Sofia.

    "Sofia justnded Iron Financial''s backing like it was nothing," L gushed, practically bouncing with excitement.

    "And Mr. Ratcliff treats you so well. Word is, he''s throwing a party for us tonight to celebrate. Where do you even find guys like that? My luck is just tragic," she sighed.

    Sofia didn''t say a word. She just shot Reese a look, her lips curving into a sly, knowing smile.

    "Reese," Sofia called out, "we''re all going out tonight. Want to join us?"

    Reese looked up. "Sorry, I''ve got things to do."

    L rolled her eyes. "Sofia''s inviting you out of kindness. You really don''t have to act so above it all."

    "Just so you know, Mr. Ratcliff will be there. It''s not every day you get to meet him. Wouldn''t you want to help your husband make a connection?"

    Reese met Sofia''s gaze, her eyes cold. "Oh? Mr. Ratcliff ising?"

    "Thinking twice now?" L smirked, looping her arm through Sofia''s. "Toote. You already said no."

    Sofia gave Reese a sweet smile. "If you change your mind, Sebastian and I would love to see you."

    Reese smiled back, slow and pointed. "No thanks. I''d rather not risk seeing anything... unpleasant."

    "You-" L started, bristling with irritation, but Sofia stopped her with a gentle hand.

    "Forget it, L. If she doesn''t want to go, don''t push her. Let''s go."

    Reese watched them disappear down the hallway, her face unreadable and her eyes frosty.

    That''s when her phone rang. As soon as she saw Millie''s name, her whole demeanor softened.

    Millie had been her roommate back in high school. She''s one of the few friends she''d kept in touch with all these years.

    "Reese! Where are you?" Millie sounded like she was about to burst with excitement. "You know that smart management system you helped me build? A techpany just bought it. The contract''s signed! We have to celebrate tonight. I''ll pick the ce!"

    Reese hung up, took a steadying breath, and finished organizing her things in theb. After ast look around, she switched off the lights and headed out.

    Downstairs, a deep red Porsche 911 was already waiting at the curb. Millie rolled down the window, grinning and waving.

    A genuine smile broke across Reese''s face as she climbed into the passenger seat.

    The moment didn''t go unnoticed. A group leaving the building caught sight of them.

    "Wow, a Porsche?" someone whispered. "Reese really is living the good life. Must be nice getting picked up in a luxury car every day."

    "Did you hear? Iron Financial didn''t just invest in Sofia''s Mindwave; they funded Reese''s project too."

    "Are you serious?"

    "Absolutely. The announcement went out this morning."

    L scoffed. "I bet Reese has something going on with Mr. Wiles from Iron

    Financial. How else could she convince him to back our institute?"

    "Maybe Mr. Wiles knows her husband," someone else said, shifting awkwardly. "Actually, does anyone even know who Reese''s husband is?"

    Sofia froze for half a second.

    Mr. Wiles invested in Reese''s project? What did she promise him behind the scenes?

    "Hey, Sofia, does Mr. Ratcliff know Reese''s husband?" L asked.

    Sofia looked down, her voice t. "They''ve met a few times. Reese and her husband don''t get along. I''m not really close with her either. I don''t think that car is hers though."

    L watched the Porsche pull away. "Not getting along? And that''s not her car?¡±

    "She''s not... cheating, is she?" L said it quietly, but just loud enough for everyone to hear. "I heard she used some tricks to marry into money in the first ce."

    The whispers started immediately, eyes flickering with judgment and scorn, the gossip thick enough to choke on.

    No one noticed the sleek ck Bentley that cruised up and stopped right in front of Sofia.

 Chapter 14

    The car window slid down, and Sebastian''s chiseled profile caught the sunlight. He nced over the gossiping crowd outside. "What''s all themotion about?"

    L gave him a sweet, almost fawning smile. "Hello, Mr. Ratcliff. We were just talking about this chick who''s been trying every possible way to get into the institutetely."

    "She actually married well, but she still goes behind her husband''s back and cheats. Don''t you think that''s just too much?"

    Sebastian''s brows knit together. "Dominic would let someone like her into the institute?"

    "Exactly. No one can figure out what he is thinking these days."

    After a moment, L leaned a little closer. "Mr. Ratcliff, since you and the professor work together, could you maybe say something? Get her out of the institute?"

    Sebastian''s gaze shifted to Sofia. "I''ll talk to Dominic when I get a chance."

    Across town at Maple Street Diner, Reese and Millie grabbed a table in the busy main hall. It was ast-minute lunch, so they hadn''t bothered with a reservation.

    Millie reached into her bag and slid a bank card across the table. "Here. It''s your share of the profits."

    "I know things were rough for me before, and you always helped out for nothing. This time, you have to take it."

    She paused, eyes shining. "My husband''s back from the army. We''re thinking about starting our own business. I''m going to need your help again soon."

    Reese saw how much it meant to her and took the card. "Of course, I''m so happy for you."

    They were still catching up when Sofia walked in with a group behind her.

    L made a big deal of looking around, looping her arm through Sofia''s. "You''re something else, Sofia. This is my first time in a Bentley and wow, it''s next level."

    "And Mr. Ratcliff is impressive, too. I heard you have to book a private room here a month in advance, but today we just show up and there''s one ready."

    Sofia just smiled. "He has his own suite here, up on the top floor. It''s always avable."

    L looked genuinely jealous, mumbling, "You really hit the jackpot with him."

    She didn''t bother to keep her voice down, and a few people started to nce

    over.

    Millie recognized Sofia right away and her face soured. She muttered under her breath, "Great, just what I needed. Why do we keep running into her?"

    Reese felt the same. Lately, Sofia seemed to pop up everywhere.

    She remembered how her dad, Bailey, had cheated years ago. Her mom found out, and no matter how much Bailey begged, she still divorced him. Reese was barely six when her mom took her and left for her uncle''s house. Not long after, Bailey brought Sofia and her mother home.

    Millie nced at Sofia. "She''s got a boyfriend now? Looks like he''s a big deal."

    "I have to wonder what kind of guy would go for her," she added.

    Reese followed Millie''s gaze and said quietly, "Sebastian.¡±

    Millie''s eyes went wide. "Wait, what?" She realized people were staring and lowered her voice. "I thought Sebastian is your husband."

    She still remembered how suddenly Reese had gotten married. Millie had seen the marriage certificate, and remembered the man Reese had given up so much for.

    Reese didn''t look up from her menu. "Not for much longer. I''m divorcing him."

    "Let''s just ignore them," she said, not wanting anyone to ruin her rare lunch with Millie.

    But Millie''s outburst had already drawn Sofia''s and L''s attention.

    L was surprised to see Reese here. She raised an eyebrow and strutted over, heels clicking on the floor.

    Her voice was sharp. "Well, Reese, out for lunch with a friend?"

    "Did you overhear us saying Mr. Ratcliff brought us here to celebrate? Are you that jealous of Sofia that you want to bump into Mr. Ratcliff yourself?"

    "Honestly, have you no shame?"

    Millie stood up and stared L down. "Watch your mouth!

    "I''m treating my friend to lunch. Mind your own business."

    ¡°Not surprised, really. Anyone who hangs out with Sofia is probably just as bad," she added.

    L snapped back, "And who do you think you are, talking about Sofia like that? Her boyfriend is the heir to Ratcliff Global.

    "If you cross her, you''ll never work in Bridger Lake again.¡±

    Millie crossed her arms. "Wow, her boyfriend''s that powerful, huh?

    "But do you even know that Mr. Ratcliff is already married? She''s just the other woman."

 Chapter 15

    Millie and L''s argument had already caused a scene, drawing curious nces from people nearby. It didn''t take long for Sebastian and his longtime friend Neal, who had just walked in, to notice themotion.

    Sebastian shrugged Neal''s hand off his shoulder and made his way over, his sharp eyes scanning the group before finallynding on Sofia.

    "What happened here?" he asked, his tone calm butmanding.

    Sofia smiled, gentle andposed. "It''s nothing, really. I think Ms. Meyer just misunderstood something. My friend got upset and they had a few words, that''s

    all."

    "You''re way too nice, Sofia. If you keep letting things go, people are going to walk all over you," L jumped in, looking right at Sebastian. "Mr. Ratcliff, you should really stand up for Sofia. She deserves some fairness."

    She raised her voice so everyone could hear: "Someone just spread a rumor that you''ve been married all along, and that Sofia''s the other woman!"

    She almost spat out the word "married," then shot Reese a smug look. She''d finally caught Reese in a lie. Now the man at the center of it all was standing right there.

    Sebastian turned his gaze to Reese, his voice cool and almost bored. "Really? Then who exactly is Mrs. Ratcliff?"

    Millie was about to say, "Who else? It''s Reese, of course," but Reese grabbed her wrist in a tight grip.

    Millie looked back, confused, until Reese gave a tiny shake of her head. That''s when Millie remembered. Reese had told her their marriage was a secret, and her uncle''spany was still tied up with Ratcliff Global. The words died in her throat.

    "Well? Nothing to say?" L sneered. "Reese, do you still want to call Sofia a homewrecker right in front of Sebastian?"

    "Did you really think you could spread rumors and no one would hold you ountable?"

    The crowd started to murmur, some people pointing at Reese, others whispering behind their hands.

    "She looks so put-together, but who knew she''d be the type to talk trash behind someone''s back?"

    "Yeah, and look at those two. They look perfect together. Obviously a real couple."

    "Wouldn''t surprise me if she was just jealous and made up the whole mistress thing to stir up trouble."

    Reese''s face went from flushed red to pale as the gossip washed over her.

    The lobby manager rushed over, and when he saw Sebastian and Sofia, his expression changed immediately.

    "Mr. Ratcliff, Ms. Meyer, I''m so sorry for the disruption. I''ll have these two escorted out right away."

    Millie wasn''t having it. "Are you blind? Didn''t you see they''re the ones who started it? Why should we be the ones to leave?"

    The manager nced nervously at Sebastian, then made a polite gesture toward the door. "If you''d please."

    His tone sounded respectful, but he was already signaling the security guards.

    Reese stared at Sebastian, searching his face for any sign that he might defend her. For any hint that he was still the man she once knew.

    But he just stood there, cold and unmoved, watching her like a stranger.

    Her heart sank.

    This was his warning: don''t you dare reveal our marriage, and tell Millie to stop calling Sofia a homewrecker before she embarrasses herself.

    "It''s really nothing. Let''s not ruin everyone''s night over this," Sofia said, slipping her arm through Sebastian''s and giving a warm, gracious smile. "Shall we head upstairs?"

    Sebastian looked away from Reese and started up the stairs without another word.

    The lobby manager looked relieved and turned to Reese and Millie. "Please, don''t make this difficult. That''s Mr. Ratcliff. He''s not someone we can afford to offend."

    Reese nced up at Sebastian as he disappeared up the stairs, then turned to Millie. "Come on. Let''s just go somewhere else."

    Millie''s eyes were red, furious for Reese. "How does it make sense that the real wife gets kicked out while the mistress walks around acting like she owns the ce?

    "Sebastian is unbelievable. After everything you''ve done for him, this is how he treats you.

    "No one even knows the truth. Everyone thinks you chased after him, when in reality, he was the one drugged and out of his mind. He forced himself on you, and you married him because you had no choice."

    "Millie, stop," Reese said quietly. The past was over. She didn''t want to dig it up again.

    "He forced himself on you?"

 Chapter 16

    Neal sauntered over, a sneer tugging at his mouth. "Reese, I can''t believe you. Weren''t you the one who drugged him back then?

    "Funny how in your friend''s version, you''re suddenly the victim.

    "Let''s be real: he was the one who got hurt. You used that pregnancy to climb thedder, forced the Ratcliff family to make him marry you, and drove a wedge between him and his first love. He had to send her all the way overseas.

    "He''s finally found someone he actually cares about. Can''t you just take a hint and let him have a little peace?"

    Reese froze, every muscle tensed.

    Sebastian had someone else back then? Was it Sofia?

    And that child he secretly had imnted in her was Sebastian and Sofia''s?

    Did he go through all that just so their child wouldn''t be branded illegitimate?

    The thought hit her so hard she felt sick. She had to clutch the edge of the table to stay upright, her stomach twisting.

    She remembered how, after getting married, she''d cut off all contact with Zach and thrown herself into her family and Sebastian, hoping that maybe, someday, she could win his heart and make their life real. Now, looking back, she felt like the biggest fool.

    Millie''s hands shook with anger. "Keep running your mouth and I''ll shut you up myself!"

    Neal''s smile grew colder, his eyes on Reese icy. "What, did I say anything that wasn''t true? Didn''t you hand the spiked drink to him yourself?"

    That had always confused Reese. She''d just done what her uncle told her, grabbed a random ss from a server and handed it to Sebastian. She never thought there''d be anything in it.

    "So what, just because she handed him the drink, she''s the one who drugged it?" Millie snapped back, herugh sharp. "It was the Ratcliff family''s party. Maybe Sebastian was the one with the scheme, trying to drug Reese."

    Neal''s face turned stormy as he red at Millie. "Don''t talk nonsense. Sebastian would never do that."

    Reese stepped forward, putting herself between them. "A fact is a fact, Mr. Shaw. Or do the rules only count when you''re the one making them?"

    She took Millie''s hand. "Let''s go. No point wasting our energy here."

    They walked away without looking back, leaving Neal fuming.

    This was the first time Reese had ever shut him down like that. Usually, she was the one trying so hard to win his approval.

    Even after he made it upstairs to the private room, Neal couldn''t let it go. He knocked back a few more drinks, still stewing.

    Sebastian, sitting beside him, looked over. "What''s up?"

    "It''s Reese, obviously." Neal took another swig, then spilled the whole story. Only after venting did he feel a little better.

    L, who''d overheard, piped up, "Don''t let her get to you, Mr. Shaw. Reese has no shame. Who knows what she did to hook Iron Financial''s Mr. Wiles into a deal, and then forced our mentor to give her a spot at the institute."

    "Zach Wiles?" Sebastian raised an eyebrow.

    L nodded. "Even with all her little tricks, it won''tst. Mr. Wiles is investing in her project, sure, but he also put money into Sofia''s."

    Sebastian''s gaze slid to Sofia, his fingers absently tracing the rim of his ss, something dark flickering in his eyes.

    By the time the party broke up, the moon was high. Sofia slipped her arm through Sebastian''s as people started to leave.

    "Sebastian, will you take me home?"

    He opened the car door for her. "I''ve got something to do. Brady will drive you." He watched her car disappear, then turned to his driver. "Home."

    The sound of the front door echoed through the empty house. Inside, the foyer waspletely dark¡ªso dark he couldn''t see his own hand in front of his face.

    The air felt cold and lonely, the only lighting from the faint glow of thewnmps outside, throwing a blurry doorway shape across the floor.

    Sebastian lifted his brow, surprised.

    Had Reese really note home for days?

 Chapter 17

    Sunlight slipped through the curtains and flickered across Reese''s eyelids, pulling her from a hazy, hangover-tinted sleep.

    Even afterst night''s fiasco at the Maple Street Diner, her mood-and Millie''s¡ª hadn''t soured one bit. They''d just switched restaurants, devoured dinner, then found themselves at a quiet bar. Laughter and easy conversation carried them all the way to three in the morning.

    Reese couldn''t remember thest time she''d let herself have this much fun. No rms, no rushing to make breakfast for Sebastian-just waking up when her body told her it was time.

    She reached for her phone on the nightstand and saw a handful of missed calls. She hit redial.

    Robbie answered, sounding seriously annoyed. "Mom, why are you only picking up now?"

    He didn''t even wait for her reply. "You don''t have toe to my birthday party if you don''t want to, but you still have to make me a cake. I want mango cake!"

    "I already told you just ask the housekeeper to do it," Reese replied, her voice scratchy from sleep. She was worried the housekeeper might actually listen to Robbie and make a mango cake. "And you''re allergic to mangoes, remember?" Robbie''s voice shot up an octave. "That''s not true! You''ve made it for me before! You just don''t want to do it and you''re making excuses!"

    His whining made Reese''s head throb. Just like that, her good mood was gone.

    Honestly, Robbie was beyond spoiled.

    She didn''t even bother arguing. She hung up.

    The busy tone on the other end made Robbie fume. Mom was so unfair. He rolled his eyes, then dialed another number.

    As soon as the call connected, his tone turned sweet. "Auntie, am I interrupting you?"

    "My birthday party''s next week. Can youe? Maybe we could make a mango cake together?"

    When he heard a warm yes, Robbie finally broke into a big, satisfied grin.

    Reese got up, washed her face, and made a quick breakfast before heading to the city library.

    Yesterday, Dominic had handed her a long list of books to read, telling her to get through them while she could and get ready for the next project.

    She was just about to walk into the library when her phone rang.

    "Reese, did you make the ''Star Trail'' system?"

    ''Star Trail'' was the management system she''d built for Millie.

    Reese paused, a little surprised to get this call from Dominic. "Yes, Professor, that was me."

    "Hmph. At least you haven''t totally wasted your time thesest few years," Dominic grumbled, but there was a hint of pride in his voice.

    "Thepany that bought your system wants you to help them build a new one. Interested?"

    Reese hesitated. "Professor, are you trying to get rid of me?"

    Dominic sounded annoyed. "Don''t tter yourself. You''re not thinking of quitting, are you?"

    "So... what do you mean?" Reese asked, careful.

    "It''s just a temporary transfer. Help them with the project, then you cane back to the institute."

    Knowing she never nned to leave for good, Dominic''s voice softened. "It''s ckOak, Reese. This is a big opportunity. Plenty of people would love this chance. So are you going or not?"

    Reese grinned. "I''ll go. Thank you for this chance, Professor."

    She hung up, walked into the library, grabbed a few books on Al, and got lost in them.

    Time flew. Before she realized it, afternoon had crept up, and her phone rang again.

    Reese shot an apologetic smile to the people around her, slipped into a quiet corner, and picked up.

    Sebastian''s voice was cool and clipped. "Reese,e home. I need to talk to you."

    Reese blinked, surprised. Sebastian rarely called her himself. Maybe he''d finally seen the divorce papers she''d sent through Brady and wanted to talk about it?

    She closed her book, drove over to the house they used to share, and walked in.

    Right away, she spotted Sofia standing at the coffee table in the living room, beating eggs. Robbie was sitting on the floor, carefully slicing strawberries.

    As soon as they heard the door, both of them stopped what they were doing and looked up at her.

    Sofia''s lips curled in the faintest smile as she nced down and turned the mixer back on.

    Robbie caught the brief flicker of surprise on Reese''s face and his eyes lit up with smug satisfaction.

 Chapter 18

    "Mom, what are you doing here?

    "You''re not having second thoughts, are you? Thinking abouting back to bake me a cake?"

    "But Auntie already promised toe to my birthday party. We''re even going to make a mango cake together in front of everyone. What are we supposed to do now?"

    Reese nced at the smear of cream on Robbie''s nose, then at his face as he pretended to look troubled. Her voice was calm and even. "You two go ahead. I need to talk to your dad."

    Robbie had expected her to get mad, so he froze for a second, then his temper

    red up.

    "Mom, Auntie and I are tired. Since you''re thedy of the house, why don''t you get us some fruit?"

    Reese shot a quick look at the housekeeper, who was hovering nearby, and said, "You go do it."

    "I want you to do it!"

    Robbie jumped to his feet and pointed at Reese.

    "Robbie, that''s enough."

    Maybe the noise carried upstairs, because Sebastian walked out of his study and leaned on the railing, looking down at Reese.

    "Come upstairs. We''ll talk in my study."

    Robbie immediately went quiet, ring at Reese before turning away in a huff.

    Reese ignored him and headed upstairs to the study. She started to close the door behind her.

    "Leave it open."

    Sebastian was sitting behind his desk, eyes on hisputer.

    Reese nced downstairs, and right away she caught Sofia looking up at her. Sofia''s smile was sweet, almost smug. Reese shot her a mocking smile back. Great. So now he actually cares about appearances in front of his mistress.

    "Reese, you''ve really crossed the lely."

    Sebastian''s voice snapped her attention back.

    "Not only did you start working at the research institute, you moved out too.

    "You''re breaking the agreement."

    When they got married, they signed a prenup. Reese was supposed to focus on the family and wasn''t allowed to work.

    "I know."

    Reese''s hands clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to keep her voice steady. "But there''s another part of the agreement. Both of us are supposed to be faithful to this marriage¡ª"

    "Faithful? You think you deserve that?"

    Sebastian actuallyughed, a sharp, cold sound. His eyes ran over her, full of contempt.

    "Move back in, and I''ll let this go."

    Reese took a shaky breath, but there was a stubborn edge in her voice. "I''m noting back, Sebastian. I told you I want a divorce."

    "And from now on..." Her voice broke a little. "Unless it''s about the divorce, don''t contact me again."

    She turned to leave. She''d barely walked two steps before she stopped short. Robbie was standing in the doorway, his face pale as a ghost.

    He was her son. She''d carried him for ten months. Seeing him like this made her heart twist in pain. She was about to bend down and talk to him when he spoke first.

    "Mom, why are you divorcing Dad? Is it because Dad likes Auntie better?"

    Robbie tilted his head,pletely confused. "But Auntie''s great. Isn''t it normal for Dad to like her?"

    "And I heard that in families like ours, it''s normal for the man to have someone else. Dad only has Auntie."

    "Mom, can''t you just let it be? Why can''t you be a little more understanding? Why does this even matter?"

    It felt like someone dumped a bucket of ice water over Reese. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

    Just then, her phone buzzed. Reese nced down. It was a message from the hospital. The legal review of the surrogacy evidence was finished.

    All the official documents had been sent to her email. They were court-ready, fully valid, and ready for her to use.

    Reese stepped around Robbie and walked straight downstairs. In the living room, she saw Sofia wiping cream from her fingers with a napkin, her eyes still on Reese, a small smile on her lips.

    Reese gripped her phone tighter and gave Sofia a faint smile back.

    Sebastian stood in the study doorway, watching as Reese walked out of the house without looking back, his fingers absently tracing his phone.

    After a long pause, he dialed Brady. "Find that file Reese sent to the office. I want

    it."

 Chapter 19

    The summer heat pressed down on everything, and it didn''t take long before the car parked in the driveway felt like an oven. Reese sat in the driver''s seat, but inside she was shivering.

    Robbie''s words from earlier kept echoing in her mind. "Auntie''s so amazing. Isn''t it normal for Dad to like her?" The memory stabbed right through her, icy and sharp, leaving her numb all over.

    She stayed in the car for a while, waiting for her nerves to settle. Just as she reached for the keys, her phone started to ring.

    "Reese, we''re having a family dinner tonight. Bring Robbie with you. Your uncle booked a private room for us," her aunt said.

    Reese nced at the ornate gates in the rearview mirror. "Robbie''s at the old house today. I can''t pick him up tonight."

    She followed the directions Rosie had sent, driving for half an hour before she finally arrived. Reese thought it would just be a regr family gathering, but when she opened the door to the private room, she froze.

    Her uncle Dylon was sitting near the head of the table, and right in the seat of honor was Zach''s mother, Marissa, who Reese hadn''t seen in ages.

    "Marissa," Reese greeted her, a bit flustered.

    "Hello Reese,¡± Marissa said, smiling at Zach before turning back to Reese. "You''re as pretty as ever."

    "But you look like you''ve lost weight. Have you been working too hard?" Marissa added.

    Zach nced at Reese, cold and unreadable, but didn''t say a word.

    Reese slipped into the only empty seat. "Not really. I actually feel like I''ve gained some weighttely."

    Rosie eyed her. "You look thinner, though. You''re almost four months along, right? Why aren''t you showing yet? Did you get checked at the hospital?"

    "Yeah, I went. Everything''s normal," Reese replied, trying not to worry her aunt.

    Tara, sitting close by in a soft pink dress, grabbed Reese''s arm, about to speak. But Zach cleared his throat, cutting her off and steering the conversation away.

    Tara brightened. "We''ve got a lot to celebrate today. Zach and I just got engaged, and Reese is expecting. It''s such a happy day."

    Reese nced at Tara''s elegant dress and gentle smile. "Congrats. I hope you''ll be happy together."

    Dylon cleared his throat. "The real reason we''re here is to settle Tara and Zach''s wedding. They''ve been abroad for years, their careers are set, their rtionship is solid. Why not have the wedding at the end of the year?"

    Marissa beamed. "I''m all for it. Tara''s such a good, capable girl. I just adore her."

    Zach stood up with his wine ss. "Tara''s been with me through everything. I promise I''ll treat her right."

    He threw back his drink in one go.

    Tara looked down, smiling shyly.

    Zach poured himself another ss, his eyes flicking to Reese with a teasing look.

    "There are two people I need to thank most in my life," he said, his tone steady. "First is Tara. She was there when I had nothing. Without her, I wouldn''t have what I have today. I''ll never let her down."

    He paused, raising his ss and meeting Reese''s gaze.

    "And the other is my ex. When I was at my lowest, she left me for someone better.

    If she hadn''t, Tara and I wouldn''t be together now."

    Dylon didn''t pick up on the undertone, so he just nodded. "You''re too humble, Zach. You did all this yourself."

    Tara kept her eyes down, hiding a small, secret smile.

    Reese''s smile faltered for a moment. She picked up a piece ofmb and chewed it, slow and careful.

    The rest of the night was spent discussing wedding details over food and drinks. Everyone seemed happy, and the wine kept flowing.

    By the time dinner ended, Zach was so drunk he could barely stand.

    Dylon pped Tara on the shoulder. "Take Zach home, will you? And help Marissa keep an eye on him."

    Reese hung back, watching as Tara half-dragged, half-carried Zach to the car. His head lolled onto her shoulder, and he mumbled, "Baby," his arm wrapping around her waist, then sliding down so he could rest his head in herp.

    Tara''s cheeks flushed red. As she leaned over him, her hair brushed against Zach''s cheek.

    "I''m here. I''ll take you home. Just be good, okay?" she whispered softly.

    Right as the car door clicked shut, Zach suddenly lifted his head. His eyes were only half open, but he looked right past Tara and through the window, searching for Reese at the back of the group.

    Tara followed his gaze and went still. Then Zach slumped back down onto herp, out cold.

    Worried he might be ufortable, Tara reached into the back seat for a pillow. Her hand bumped into a file folder.

    "What''s this?" she asked.

    "That''s something Mr. Wiles asked someone to look into a few days ago. It''s been sitting in the car ever since," the driver replied.

 Chapter 20

    The driver nced at them in the rearview mirror, tossing back a casual reply.

    Tara felt a jolt in her chest. She quietly slipped the file out of her bag and flipped it open.

    "Reese." The name stared up at her from the first page, making her fingertips tremble. She turned a few more pages, her face growing paler with every word.

    "Water..." Zach mumbled, voice barely above a whisper.

    Tara set the file down by her feet, then reached into the small fridge between the seats for a bottle of water. She twisted off the cap, but instead of handing it over, she hesitated.

    The second Zach leaned his head back, Tara tipped the bottle, pouring water all over the file.

    "Oh my gosh!" she eximed, scrambling to wipe the water away. She watched the ink blur and run, and finally let out a shaky breath of relief.

    Half-awake and confused, Zach reached for her hand. "Babe, stop fussing. Just hold me, okay?"

    ***

    Reese stood on the curb, waiting for her ride. She watched as the car blended into the traffic, its taillights shrinking until they disappeared around the corner.

    The mix of too much wine and the cold night air hit her hard. By morning, she woke up with a splitting headache and a fever that left her shivering despite how hot she felt.

    She forced herself out of bed, called a cab, and headed to the hospital.

    The nurse frowned at the reading-39 degrees.

    The doctor nced over her chart, frowning even deeper. "Looks like you never really recovered after your miscarriage."

    "You didn''t take time to rest? Your body''s already weak. You really need to take care of yourself.

    "You should stay here for a few days. I''ll write you some recipes for nourishing food. Make sure you actually eat."

    Reese thanked him, took the prescription, and dragged herself to the cashier. She stopped short when she spotted the people ahead of her.

    Sofia was leaning on Sebastian''s shoulder, sitting in the waiting area. Not far away, Robbie stood on tiptoe at the payment window, using his smartwatch to scan and pay.

    "You''re such a good boy, helping your mom like this," someone praised.

    Robbie''s whole face lit up. He bounced over to Sofia. "I paid your bill. I''ll go get your medicine now. You''ll feel better after you take it.¡±

    "Thank you, Robbie. It''s just a little cold, nothing big," Sofia said, smiling as she ruffled his hair.

    Once the three of them left, Reese finally stepped up to the window and handed over her forms.

    "All alone?" the nurse asked, nodding toward the seats behind her. "Go grab a seat. Once your room''s ready, I''ll let you know."

    Reese managed a tired smile and found a seat, not realizing Robbie had nced back at her from the elevator.

    Robbie''s eyes lit up when he saw her. Then he remembered how Sofia hade overst night to practice baking. When they ran out of supplies, they went out into the night together to buy more. That must have been when Sofia caught her cold. Robbie wrinkled his nose in worry.

    "What do you want for lunch?" Sebastian asked as he helped Sofia into the elevator.

    "I don''t really want anything," Sofia replied, her voice soft. "Except maybe that pumpkin soup we had at your officest time. That was nice."

    "I''ll have someone send some over," Sebastian said, pulling out his phone.

    Robbie tugged at his sleeve. "Dad, I know who made that soup. If you ask someone else, it won''t taste the same. Auntie''s not feeling well. Why don''t you stay with her in the room? I''ll go make a call."

    Robbie heard everything. He knew that soup hade from his mom, who had sent it to Sebastian''s office. He''d had some at home too. It''s sweet andforting.

    After they got out of the elevator, Sebastian and Sofia went to the hospital room. Robbie stayed in the hallway and used his smartwatch to call Reese.

    "Hello?" Reese''s voice was raspy, but Robbie didn''t notice.

    "Mom, can you make some pumpkin soup and bring it to the hospital? The same one you were just at."

    "No time. No mood. No energy." Reese hung up, finished her paperwork, and got into the elevator.

    When someone rushed toward her, she instinctively held the door open.

    "Ma''am?" Brady hurried over, pausing when he saw how flushed she looked. "Are you running a fever?"

    Reese didn''t answer. She just stared at the file in his hand.

    If she remembered right, that was the divorce agreement she''d dropped off at Sebastian''s officest week.

    Brady followed her gaze and exined, "Mr. Ratliff has been swamped. He hasn''t had a chance to look at it. He only asked me to find it yesterday, but it was alreadyte. I brought it over first thing this morning."

 Chapter 21

    Reese couldn''t help it; she actuallyughed. After all these years, everything she''d ever handed to Sebastian, just like this divorce agreement, had ended up ignored in some forgotten corner. He only ever dug them out when he needed

    something.

    Brady jumped, startled by her suddenugh. "Ma''am, are you alright?"

    "I''m fine." Reese waved him off. "Go on, I''ve got stuff to do."

    The elevator doors slid open. Brady stayed put for a second, watching Reese walk away, then let out a helpless sigh.

    In the hospital room, Sebastian had just lifted his hand from Sofia''s forehead and turned as the door opened.

    Brady saw the scene inside and hesitated, not sure if he should go in.

    "Did you find it?" Sebastian asked, pulling Brady back to the moment.

    Brady quickly handed over the file. "Yes, sir. This is the folder your wife asked me to give you earlier."

    Sebastian reached out, but before he could grab it, Robbie-who''d been sulking on the sofa-shot up like a cat and snatched the folder.

    "Is this Mom''s stuff?" Robbie red, fire in his eyes. He tried to tear the folder, but when it wouldn''t rip, he crumpled it and tossed it in the trash.

    "Auntie''s still here. Why are you bringing Mom''s things out?"

    After hanging around Sofia a few times, Robbie had figured out she spoiled him, and Sebastian would do anything for her. As long as Auntie was here, he could act bolder.

    Brady froze, looking to Sebastian for guidance.

    Sebastian''s brow creased. "What''s this tantrum for? Is this how you were raised?"

    "It''s Mom''s fault! She won''t make soup for Auntie," Robbie snapped, his chin high. "She stopped baking me cakes, fine. Auntie does it now anyway. But Auntie got sick because of me, and Mom still won''t even bring her some soup."

    ¡°Sebastian.¡± Sofia''s voice was soft, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Robbie''s just a kid. Don''t be too hard on him."

    Sebastian gave a low hum, then looked at Robbie. "Don''t do it again."

    That was it-no more scolding.

    Relief washed over Robbie. He''d gambled right. As long as Auntie stood up for him, Dad wouldn''t get mad. As long as he got along with Auntie, even if Dad divorced Mom and married Auntie, his spot in the Ratcliff family would be safe.

    Meanwhile, Reese finished getting admitted to the hospital. After the nurse set up her IV, she snapped a photo of the doctor''s meal n and sent it to Millie, asking her to make some soup and bring it over.

    Millie took a while to reply, finally sending a quick "Okay."

    When the IV was done, Millie called to say she was almost there.

    Reese felt a bit better, so she went down to the hospital entrance to meet her.

    Millie got out of the car looking pissed, muttering under her breath, but when she saw Reese, her face filled with worry. "What happened? Why are you in the hospital? What did the doctor say?"

    Reese took the insted container from her. "Just a cold. I''ve been pretty run downtely, so the doctor wants me to rest here for a few days. What''s up with you? Who were you cursing just now?"

    "It''s nothing..." Millie nced at Reese''s pale face and swallowed the truth about getting fired as soon as she set foot in the office that morning. HR had told her straight¡ªit was Mr. Ratcliff who wanted her gone.

    "Just ran into an idiot at work," she said instead. "Anyway, I''m nning to quit. If you need anything, call me any time."

    "Good idea. You''re nning to start your ownpany anyway." Reese studied Millie''s face, but she looked normal, so Reese just nodded.

    "Yeah, that''s what I was thinking too."

    Millie said goodbye and drove off.

    Reese carried the container back inside. In the elevator lobby she ran into

    Robbie, who was picking up medicine for Sofia.

    Robbie''s eyes lit up at the sight of the container, but his face quickly turned sour. "Didn''t you say you weren''t going to make it?"

    Reese ignored him and pressed the button for her floor. "It''s not for you."

    Robbie followed her into the elevator. "Then who''s it for?"

    As soon as the doors opened, he snatched the container from her hands and bolted.

    Reese stood there for a second, then rushed after him. The doctor had been clear -she had to stick to the meal n, no takeout. She''d had Millie make enough soup for the whole day. If she didn''t get it back, she''d have nothing to eat tonight.

    "Auntie, look what I brought!" Robbie burst into the hospital room, beaming, just as Sebastian set down a bowl.

    "Sorry, Robbie, I just had something." Sofia epted a napkin from Sebastian and dabbed her mouth gently.

    Robbie''s grin froze for a moment. Determined, he opened the container, trying to pour the soup into a bowl.

 Chapter 22

    "Stop!"

    Reese burst into the hospital room, snatching the thermos away the moment she saw what was happening.

    "I told you, this soup wasn''t for you."

    Sebastian was standing next to the bed. When he heard Reese''s voice, he turned around. "You''re just in time. Let''s talk outside."

    Reese wasn''t sure what he was up to, but she set the thermos down and followed him out into the hallway.

    "So? What do you want to say?"

    Sebastian leaned against the wall, his profile sharp against the light. "After what Millie said the other day, things got messy at the research institute. I managed to calm everyone down, but Sofia still can''t let it go. If you have Millie apologize to Sofia, I''ll drop it."

    Reese gave a dry, almost mocking smile, as if she''d just heard a joke. "Sebastian, you can''t keep shielding her forever. She''s always been..."

    "Reese."

    He cut her off, his eyes turning cold. "Watch what you say."

    Reese''s expression darkened. "Millie''s never going to apologize. She''s just blunt, and honestly, she wasn''t wrong..."

    She hadn''t even finished when the sudden sound of retching erupted from inside the room.

    Sebastian spun around and rushed back in. Reese stepped aside and looked in after him.

    Sofia was bent over on the bed, gripping the nightstand, dry heaving miserably.

    Robbie was at the trash can, dumping out the soup. "Mom did it on purpose. Her soup is disgusting. Now Auntie''s sick!"

    Sebastian hurried to Sofia''s side, gently patting her back with one hand and grabbing some tissues with the other to wipe her mouth. He didn''t forget to tell Robbie to get some warm water.

    "Are you okay?" Robbie handed her the cup after putting down the thermos.

    Sofia waved him off, but still took a sip of water from his hand. "I''m fine. The soup was just a little bitter. Made me nauseous."

    The sight made something twist in Reese''s chest.

    SShe''d handled everything for Sebastian and Robbie, washing their clothes, cooking their favorite meals, taking care of every little thing.

    But not once had either of them asked if she was tired. Not once had they said thank you. Not once had they appreciated her.

    Turns out, they could care for someone else. They could worry, be gentle, show kindness-just never for her.

    "I told you already. The soup wasn''t for you."

    Reese frowned at the thermos, now half empty.

    She snapped the lid shut, and as her gaze drifted to the trash can, she froze for a moment. Right on top was the file folder Brady had brought that morning-never even opened.

    So, divorcing Sebastian wasn''t going to be that easy.

    "I''ve got things to do. I''m leaving."

    Sebastian was crouched down, tying off the trash bag, not even looking at her. "Take Robbie home."

    Robbie pouted unhappily. He wanted to stay with Auntie, to get closer to her. But when he remembered Auntie had gotten sick because he convinced her to drink the soup, he didn''t argue.

    Reese nced at the father and son and felt a wave of bitterness.

    "I can''t take him with me."

    She turned and walked out without looking back.

    Sebastian watched her leave, his expression growing darker.

    Her face had been calm¡ªalmost too calm. Not angry, just distant. Cold enough toward him and their son that it didn''t feel like her at all. The softness she always showed was gone.

    The realization unsettled him in a way he couldn''t exin.

    Reese left the room, her hand gripping the cold stair rail as she headed upstairs.

    Passing the obstetrics clinic, she caught sight of something at the end of the hallway and stopped short.

    Zach was half-holding Tara as they walked together. He always seemed soid- back, but right now his face was tense-except when he looked at Tara, and then he softened just a little.

    Tara was tucked safely in his arms, wearing a cream dress and a gentle, happy smile. One hand rested lightly on her belly, fingers absently stroking it.

    Reese stood there, watching them from across the hallway through the flow of people.

    After a long moment, she lowered her eyes, letting hershes hide the mess of emotions inside. Then she turned and walked away.

    Back in her hospital room, Reese couldn''t get the unopened file folder out of her mind. She picked up her phone and called herwyer.

    "George, I want to file for divorce."

    George sounded surprised. "Of course, but just so you know, the division of property probably won''t work in your favor. You haven''t worked these past years, and you might not get custody of your child."

    Reese didn''t hesitate. "I''m not fighting for custody. But I''ll fight for every cent of what I''m owed."

    "I have some documents. Can you review them for me?"

    After hanging up, Reese forwarded the documents from the hospital-the proof

    that Sebastian had used her as a surrogate.

    George called back almost immediately.

    "Ms. Meyer, is all of this true?"

 Chapter 23

    "Yes, it''s true."

    George sounded serious. "But I''ll need some time to pull together more evidence, just to make sure it all checks out. Ms. Meyer, can you wait?"

    "How long?"

    "Half a... no, at least a month. I hope you can give me a month.

    "And in the meantime, please don''t let Mr. Ratcliff know you''ve found out about the surrogacy. If he gets even a hint, with his resources... well, you know. He could destroy our entire evidence trail without breaking a sweat."

    A whole month?

    Reese hung up and sat there, deep in thought.

    "Patient in bed 076, time for your IV. Can you tell me your name, please?"

    A nurse walked in, nced at the IV in Reese''s hand, and frowned. "What happened here? Did someone bump into you?"

    Reese finally noticed the IV was out of ce. It must''ve happened when Robbie tried to snatch the thermos earlier.

    "Yeah."

    "Let me fix that for you."

    The nurse reced the needle, then gave Reese a concerned look. "You look pale. Did you eat lunch?"

    Reese thought of the tiny bit of soup left in the thermos. It hadn''t even taken the edge off her hunger.

    She didn''t want to trouble Millie again, so she called her aunt Rosie.

    Rosie was instantly worried when she heard Reese was in the hospital. After she got the details, she promised to bring soup that afternoon.

    But when the door opened, Reese was surprised to see her uncle Dylon came along with Rosie.

    "Reese, how are you feeling?"

    Dylon nced at the IV. "Did you tell the doctor you''re pregnant? Is this medicine okay for you?"

    "I did," Reese nodded.

    She noticed the way Dylon hesitated and asked, "Is something wrong?"

    "Uh..." Dylon looked a bit caught off guard. "Reese, did you hear they''re starting up the Eastside project again?"

    Reese nodded. She knew all about it. The Ramos family had invested a fortune, only to hit a snag when they found rare minerals underground. The whole thing stalled, nearly bankrupting thepany.

    Now that it was back on, the family finally had a shot at turning things around. So why did Uncle Dylon look so anxious?

    "They''re reorganizing the project, opening up new bids. Reese, you know our finances aren''t great... could you maybe talk to Mr. Ratcliff? See if he can help?"

    So that''s what he wanted.

    "How much are you short?"

    "About ten million," Dylon said, almost in a whisper.

    Reese froze. That much?

    Sensing her hesitation, Dylon added quickly, "It would just be a loan, Reese. We will pay it back as soon as we get the prepayment for winning the bid. Please, just talk to Mr. Ratcliff."

    Reese pressed her lips together. She didn''t want to get tangled up with Sebastian again, but thepany was her family''s legacy. As the legal representative, she couldn''t just leave them hanging.

    "I''ll try to figure something out."

    Dylon and Rosie told her to rest up, and only left once she''d finished her soup.

    Three dayster, Reese was discharged. She''d barely stepped inside her apartment when her phone buzzed with a text from Dominic.

    He sent her apany name-ckOak Tech-along with the address and a line: "Report tomorrow. Ask for n."

    Reese stared at the words "ckOak Tech" for a long moment. That was a big name in Al. She never dreamed they''d be the ones to buy her management system.

    She warmed up a bowl of soup, downed her meds with some water, and crawled into bed, feeling oddly numb.

    That night, she finally got a good night''s sleep. When she woke up, she actually felt rested.

    She put on a tailored ck suit, swept her hair into a neat low bun, and drove to ckOak''s downtown office, following Dominic''s directions.

    After parking, she ducked into the mall next door.

    Dominic had mentioned n was an old friend; it only felt right to bring a small gift for their first meeting.

    She checked out a few stores before stopping in a porcin boutique.

    A blue-zed vase with plum blossom patterns caught her eye. It was elegant,

    the kind of thing any executive would appreciate.

    "Could you wrap this up for me, please?"

    As soon as she spoke, a familiar, chirpy voice rang out behind her. "Wow, that vase is gorgeous."

    Tara strolled over, purse swinging, eyesnding on the vase before she finally looked up at Reese.

    "Reese, you like this one too? We always have the same taste.

    "But this would look perfect in the entryway of my new ce. Can you let me have

    it?"

    Reese nced at her watch. She had just over ten minutes before her meeting- no time to pick out another gift.

    "Sorry, Tara. I''m buying this as a present, and I''m really in a hurry..."

    "Oh,e on, Reese." Tara stepped closer and clung to Reese''s arm, her voice sugary sweet. "You always let me have what I wanted when we were kids. You''re the best cousin ever, remember?"

    Reese closed her eyes for a second.

    Of course. After her mom died, she was just a kid. Her dad had already moved on and barely paid attention to her. Her uncle took her in, and living under someone else''s roof, she learned to never step on anyone''s toes.

    "What''s going on?"

    A man''s voice cut through the awkwardness. Reese turned and met a pair of familiar eyes.

    "Zach, you''re here," Tara said, instantly letting go of Reese andtching onto his arm, putting on a pitiful look.

    "I wanted that vase for our new ce, but Reese won''t let me have it..."

    Zach patted Tara''s hand. "It''s not a big deal. You two are family. Reese won''t say no, right?

    "You''re not feeling well, Tara. Go wait in the car. I''ll bring it to you in a minute."

 Chapter 24

    Once Tara was out of sight, Zach turned to Reese, his eyes sharp and cold. "You''re going to let her have it, right?"

    It sounded like a question, but his tone made it clear he wasn''t really asking.

    Reese''s fingers curled in on themselves. "I bought this as a gift for someone. I''m out of time and can''t pick something else. Please, let me have it. I promise I''ll find something even better for Tara and send it to you both."

    Zach let out a lowugh, but there was nothing friendly about it. "Let you have it? Why would I?

    "When you drugged Sebastian just to cozy up to him, do you know where I was?

    "I was in the ER, barely holding on.

    "If Tara hadn''t been there, I wouldn''t have made it.

    "If she wants something, no matter what, I''ll make sure she gets it.

    "Reese, don''t forget how you managed to stay at the institute."

    Reese''s face lost all its color, her nails digging into her palm. "Fine. Take it."

    Zach''s lips curled in satisfaction. He nodded to the sales associate. "Well? Wrap it up for me."

    The associate snapped to attention and quickly wrapped up the vase, then followed Zach toward the elevators.

    Reese watched him leave, let out a shaky breath, and turned to the associate. "Do you have anything simr? I need a gift for an elder."

    "Yes, right this way." The associate led her to another disy. "We just got this new tea set, handmade by an artist. It''s perfect for elders or friends. Take a look."

    Reese studied the tea set. The ze was smooth, the pattern elegant. But Dominic had said his friend especially liked plum blossoms.

    A sh of disappointment crossed Reese''s eyes. "Anything with plum blossoms?"

    The associate shook her head. "Sorry, we only get one handcrafted plum blossom piece a month."

    Reese checked her watch. "Okay, I''ll take this one, then."

    She paid and carried the gift box out of the mall, moving quickly.

    A breeze blew her hair loose, and she tucked it behind her ear, willing herself to let go of what just happened.

    ckOak Tech''s office was bright and spacious, screens everywhere showing Al models and streams of data.

    After checking in, the receptionist led Reese to the director''s office.

    A man in his fifties sat inside, dressed in a light gray suit and thin-rimmed sses. It''s n, the head of the department.

    "Reese?" n looked surprised. "I didn''t expect the developer of ''Star Trail'' to be so young."

    The woman in front of him looked no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Five years ago, she''d built "Star Trail"¡ªa top-tier management system. She was a standout in Al.

    n stood and shook her hand, giving her a warm smile. "Impressive. The next generation is really something."

    "You''re too kind, n."

    Reese set the gift box on his desk. "Just a little something for you."

    "No need for all that. We''re on the same team now." n waved her off with a big grin, then pulled a folder from his drawer and handed it to her.

    "This is our city traffic Al scheduling system. We''ve hit a snag. I wanted you here to see if you could help us out."

    Reese took the file and skimmed through it. After ten minutes, she looked up at n, her eyes thoughtful.

    The system covered everything-even rural traffic jams. Using it just for city traffic seemed like overkill.

    But that wasn''t her call.

    Reese pulled out her tablet and stylus, scribbling calctions. "The biggest issue is the blind spots in route tracking. And here, the algorithm is way too bulky. We could try..."

    n''s eyes lit up as he listened. When she finished, he pped his hands.

    "Brilliant! Dominic was right to rmend you. No wonder you''re his star student. Come on, let''s talk this over in the tea lounge."

    He led Reese out of the office.

    Reese paused, just for a second. She''d always thought Dominic saw her as a

    quitter, someone who gave up easily. She never expected...

    ¡°n, hi, I''m Elijah from Monarch Partners. I''m here as we scheduled="

    They had just stepped into the hall when a man in a sharp ck suit stood by the reception desk. He stopped talking when he saw Reese.

    "Reese? What are you doing here?"

    This was the woman who''d pulled every trick to marry Sebastian. Why wasn''t she home ying the perfect wife? Why was she at ckOak?

    Reese frowned, feeling a headacheing on.

    Elijah was Neal''s older brother. Back when he found out Sebastian was marrying her, he''d pointed right at her and said she''d ruin Sebastian''s whole life.

    "Is this how you n to get Sebastian''s attention?"

    Elijah stood with his hands in his pockets, looking down his nose at her, a mocking smile on his face.

    "Failed the Clever Cloud test and now you''re trying to sneak into ckOak? Too bad, Reese. Even if you share theirst name, you''ll never be Sofia."

    Reese ignored him and gave n an apologetic smile. "Sorry about this, n."

    Elijah always seemed to lose his cool around Reese. When he heard her apology, he realized he''d gone too far.

    He shot her a re, then tried topose himself as he turned to n. "n, sorry to interrupt. About that joint Al scheduling project..."

    n nced at Reese, who lookedpletely unbothered, and replied calmly, "Mr. Shaw, Ms. Meyer is in charge of this project now. You''ll coordinate directly with her."

    Elijah looked like he''d heard the world''s worst joke. "You''re putting her in charge? n, you can''t be serious. Her?"

    He looked Reese up and down, scoffing. "She only knows how to chase after men. Does she even know what Al is?"

 Chapter 25

    n frowned. "Mr. Shaw, I think you''ve got Ms. Meyer all wrong. Her skills aren''t up for debate."

    He kept his tone even. "If you don''t trust ckOak, then there''s really no point in us talking about a partnership."

    Elijah hesitated, then tried to brush it off with augh. "n, you''ve misunderstood. ckOak''s reputation is ster. Why would I ever-"

    n cut him off, waving a hand. ¡°But you clearly don''t respect Ms. Meyer''s abilities. Mr. Shaw, I think it''s best you go."

    He gestured to the door, making it obvious the meeting was over.

    Elijah hadn''t expected Reese to show up and throw a wrench in what should have been a sure thing. But at this point, he knew there was no saving today''s deal. All he could do was re hard at Reese before storming out, already thinking up her next move.

    Reese gave n a grateful smile.

    n patted her shoulder. "No pressure. Just help me get this system running smoothly, and there''ll be plenty of chances for us."

    Later that evening at Moonlight Manor, inside a private room.

    Elijah set her winess down hard on the table, scowling. "How did I not notice before? n from ckOak is out of his mind.

    "He''d really drop Monarch Partners just to defend Reese?

    "And Reese just stood there watching n reject me. After all these years we''ve known each other!

    "She''s just taking the chance to get back at me, thinking I embarrassed her in front of everyone.

    "She should take a look at herself. So disgusting!"

    Sebastian was sprawled on the sofa, holding a ss of whiskey in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Smoke drifted around his face, making his expression hard to read. He didn''t say anything, just shot Elijah a nce.

    Sofia took a sip of her drink, her eyes flicking over to Sebastian. "It''s okay, Elijah. n didn''t get ckOak where it is by being clueless. Maybe there''s been a misunderstanding.

    "Or maybe... he''s doing someone a favor by giving Reese some face in front of you."

    Elijah snorted. "A favor? With ckOak''s status in Al, who does n need to impress?"

    He paused for a second, then looked over at Sebastian. ¡°Unless..... is Reese using Mrs. Ratcliff''s name to throw her weight around town?"

    After all, no one in Bridger Lake had more influence than Sebastian.

    Sebastian flicked some ash from his cigarette, voice t. "She wouldn''t dare."

    "Why not?" Elijah muttered. ¡°She already went as far as drugging you. What wouldn''t she do? She''s just trying to use your name to keep her spot at ckOak.

    "She wants to prove she''s better than Sofia and get your attention.

    "Honestly, that''s just naive. Does she forget that Sofia is an MIT grad? How could Reese possiblypete?"

    Sofia lowered her gaze, longshes casting a faint shadow on her cheeks.

    She''d never had much respect for the way Reese did things. Did Reese really think anyone could just waltz into Al?

    Let''s see what kind of mess she makes this time.

    "What a pity we didn''t get to work with ckOak," Elijah sighed, leaning back. ¡°I was really interested in that traffic management system."

    Sofia smiled. "That system was impressive when it first came out, but there are a lot of simr products now. Actually, my team just finished developing one. We''reunching it at the press conference in a couple of days. If you''re interested, Elijah, we could talk about a coboration."

    Elijah''s eyes brightened. "Really? Sofia, you''re so reliable. Reese can''t even hold a candle to you."

    "Oh, by the way, I heard from Robbie that he invited you to his birthday party next week? And you promised to bake the cake yourself?"

    Elijah pointed back and forth between Sebastian and Sofia. ¡°So... are you two making it official and meeting the family?"

    Sebastian shot him a sideways look but didn''t answer.

    Sofia''s smile turned a bit awkward. "Don''t be silly, Elijah. Of course not. I just felt sorry for Robbie. He asked, so I agreed."

    That''s when Elijah realized how stupid his question sounded.

    Even if Sebastian was tired of Reese, they were still legally married.

    To go public with Sofia in front of the Ratcliff family would just make things harder for her.

    He sighed. "It''s all Reese''s fault. If she had any sense, she''d have divorced Sebastian ages ago and spared us all this drama."

    "Don''t say that," Sofia said softly. "If Reese left Sebastian, things would probably get tough for her. Maybe this is for the best."

    Sebastian still didn''t say a word, just stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his face unreadable.

    Three dayster, the headline "Mr. Sebastian Ratcliff Attends Clever Cloud''s Launch to Support Sofia Meyer" shot to the top of the trending searches.

    In the photo, Sebastian was standing next to Sofia in a ck suit, tall and striking.

    He didn''t show any emotion, but that was enough to get people talking.

    In the ckOak Tech break room, a few programmers were scrolling through the

    news.

    "Sofia''s new system looks a lot like our traffic tform," one said.

    "So what? n already said her version is full of bugs. Ours is on another level, and with that new big shot joining our team, all the loopholes are fixed."

    "Yeah, but she''s lucky. With Mr. Ratcliff backing her, it doesn''t matter if her system''s not as good-she''ll always find partners."

    Reese walked by with her mug, not even slowing down on her way back to her office. Her fingers flew across the keyboard.

    On her screen, the 3D simtion of the traffic management system was running.

    In the virtual city, every car''s route was mapped out with precision, and the congestion warning line was nearly half as long as in the original version.

 Chapter 26

    n walked into the office, and Reese finally looked up from her screen, pushing herself out of her chair.

    "Don''t mind me," n said, waving her off, then walked over to stand behind her, eyes on the swirling car routes animated across her monitor.

    Reese kept working, tweaking her code. A pop-up shed in the bottom corner. Sofia was grinning under a spotlight, her smile blinding. Reese didn''t even nce at it.

    n caught her totalck of reaction to the Clever Cloudunch news. He smiled, satisfied, and set a gold-embossed invitation on her desk. "Tonight is Mr. Ratcliff''s son''s birthday party. You''reing with me."

    Reese''s hands paused on the keyboard. "n, I''m still swamped. Can I skip it?"

    He gave her a tired smile. "I know you hate these things. But it''s the Ratcliff family. Every big name in Bridger Lake will be there."

    He leaned closer, dropping his voice. "Clever Cloud''s dispatch system is finally live. All eyes are on us. We need to show up."

    He was right¡ªno one else at thepany knew the system as well as she did.

    Reese fell silent. This was work, not a choice. She really didn''t want to go to Robbie''s birthday, but there was no way out.

    "The stylist''s already booked. Company''s covering everything." n ced a business card beside the invite and headed out.

    That afternoon, Reese walked into the styling studio, told the receptionist her stylist''s name, and got led to the dress racks.

    n said expenses were covered, but she wasn''t about to abuse it. She ignored the consultant''s thinly veiled eye roll and walked straight to the lower-priced section, pulling out a simple ivory off-the-shoulder dress that hit at the knee.

    The satin fell in clean lines, the neckline fastened by a single pearl. It''s elegant, almost in.

    She held it up in the mirror. The girl staring back had clear, steady eyes. Somehow, the simplicity suited her.

    "This one please," she said.

    She was about to call the consultant over when a suddenmotion broke out behind her.

    "Mr. Ratcliff, Ms. Meyer, right this way. Your custom gown just arrived, it''s waiting in the VIP suite."

    The consultant who''d barely looked at Reese now practically bowed, her voice syrupy, hustling to the entrance.

    Reese turned and saw Sebastian walking in with Sofia. He wore a crisp ck suit, tall and sharp, his gaze cool as he scanned the room. It never once settled on Reese, as if she was a stranger.

    Sofia, in a champagne mermaid dress, wasughing up at him. The sapphire ne at her throat caught the light, dazzling.

    "Didn''t Mr. Ratcliff get that ne for thirty million at Sotheby''s?" someone whispered.

    "That''s nothing. Ms. Meyer''s dress was handmade by a Mn designer. Just the embroidery took three months. Heard it goes for nearly two million."

    "Honestly, she''s wearing a house on her back. Mr. Ratcliff really doesn''t hold back."

    The chatter drifted over. Reese nced down at the price tag on her dress. It wasn''t even close to the cost of that ne''s sp. No wonder the consultant hadn''t bothered with her. Without another word, she took her dress and headed straight for the makeup room.

    When her hair and makeup were done, the main hall was empty. Sebastian and Sofia must still be in the VIP suite.

    Reese didn''t care. She slipped out, got in her car, and drove to meet n.

    Robbie''s birthday was always at the Ratcliff family estate. It was the kind of ce everyone in the upper circles wanted an invite to just setting foot inside felt like a privilege.

    Chandelier light filtered through vines, casting a soft, frosted glow over Reese''s ivory dress as she walked in with n.

    They''d barely crossed the threshold when Robbie came rushing out, dragging his mother Jane along, clearly searching for Sofia.

    As soon as he spotted Reese, Robbie scowled. "What are you doing here? You''re not wee."

    If Auntie saw Reese, she''d assume he invited her, and she might be mad at him. n, surprised by Robbie''s familiarity, blinked. "Wait, you two know each other?" Before Robbie could say a word, Jane covered his mouth. "We haven''t met this youngdy before. He must have her confused with someone else."

    She shot Reese a warning look: keep quiet.

    Reese had no ns to start anything. In another month, once herwyer finished gathering evidence, she''d be filing for divorce from Sebastian. No need to make waves now.

 Chapter 27

    Robbie realized he''d just said something he shouldn''t have and let out a small huff. Whatever. Sofia treated him great. Even if Reese wasn''t around, it wouldn''t really change anything for him.

    Following Jane''s cue, Robbie mumbled, "Sorry, my bad." Then he grabbed Jane''s hand and tugged her toward the garden. "Grandma,e on! Dad and Auntie are almost here. I want Auntie to see me first."

    Reese stayed where she was, the night breeze catching the edge of her dress.

    Inside, n led Reese through the crowded ballroom. "Everyone, this is Reese, ckOak''s new star," he announced, pride in his eyes. He''d worked hard to recruit her from Dominic, even trading away some rare tea for the deal.

    Reese nodded politely, her fingers curling unconsciously. She handled the introductions with grace, but kept her guard up.

    A few people recognized her, curiosity flickering in their looks. Reese pretended not to notice, listening to n talk business. Now and then, she chimed in with soft but sharpments that quickly caught everyone''s attention.

    n nced over and noticed how straight she held herself, a little impressed.

    The lights in the hall dimmed, signaling the start of the cake-cutting. Conversations faded as everyone turned to the stage.

    A server wheeled out a three-tiered cake. Sebastian walked up with Robbie in his arms, Sofia right beside them.

    Under the glow of the birthday candles, Reese spotted the chunks of mango on the cake and frowned. Robbie hadn''t listened to her at all.

    Quietly, she slipped out of the crowd and found a maid in the corner. She spoke in a low voice, asking her to find the allergy medicine from the house and give it to Robbie.

    Robbie could ignore her if he wanted, but she was still his mother. She couldn''t just stand by and watch her son put himself at risk. This was thest time she''d step in; she owed him that much after seven years together.

    Robbie made his wish and blew out the candles. Even while Sebastian held him, Robbie wrapped his arms around Sofia''s neck and kissed her on the cheek. He picked up the cake knife, sliced the first piece, and handed it to Sofia.

    Jane''s smile deepened, little wrinkles fanning out from her eyes. Old Mr. Ratcliff sat at the head table, tapping his cane with a sour look, but with so many guests watching, he kept quiet.

    "Isn''t that something? I''ve been to so many of the young master''s birthdays, but this is the first time I''ve seen that woman with him. She must be his real mother, right?"

    "She must be. Why else would he stick to her like that?"

    "I know her. She''s the Meyer family''s daughter from Brookfield. She''s been studying overseas, just got back recently."

    "So she had the boy and then left the country. No wonder she hasn''t been around. Looks like the Ratcliffs are finally making things official."

    Gossip rolled through the room, a constant hum pressing against Reese''s ears.

    She dug her nails into her palm, the pain snapping her out of her daze. Maybe she''d made the right call ending that pregnancy. Sebastian was already parading Sofia around in front of the whole Ratcliff family. As soon as their divorce was final, he''d probably marry Sofia. Their kid would be born into the family, not as some secret, and she just the surrogate-would be out of the picture.

    With so many people there, one cake was never enough. Servers moved through the crowd with extra slices.

    In the middle of it all, a maid slipped over to Robbie and quietly handed him the allergy medicine. "Your mother said you''re allergic to mango. She asked me to remind you not to eat the cake. If you really want some, please take the medicine first."

    Robbie was about to take a bite but stopped when he heard that. He snorted.

    His mom was unbelievable.

    She said she wouldn''te to the party, but here she was, finding excuses. Now she saw him up there with Dad and Auntie, ignored him, and had someone deliver allergy medicine just to show she still cared.

    If he was really allergic, what about all those times he''d eaten mango before?

    He didn''t even look at the maid. "Don''t listen to her. I''m not allergic. She''s just pretending to care."

    "This is Auntie''s homemade cake. Of course I''m eating it."

    He grinned at Sofia, scooped up a huge forkful, and stuffed it in his mouth.

 Chapter 28

    Reese stood behind n, bncing a te of cake as he chatted with someone across the table about the city''s new transport project. Every now and then, she would break down some technical jargon, soundingpletely in her element.

    She took a bite of the cake, letting it melt on her tongue. It was so light and sweet, she couldn''t help but close her eyes in contentment.

    This was the first time she''d felt truly rxed at the Ratcliff estate. No chores to worry about, no need to tiptoe around Jane.

    And Robbie¡ªwell, she''d already asked a housekeeper to bring him his allergy meds, and with Sebastian close by, she figured he''d be fine.

    Then a sharp voice cut through the buzz of the party. "Robbie! What''s wrong? Don''t scare me like that!"

    Jane''s cry was like a ssh of ice water. Reese''s head snapped up just in time to see Robbie, who''d been happily standing next to Sofia, suddenly go limp. He started sliding to the floor, his face and neck breaking out in angry red blotches. He gasped for air, his chest heaving, little whimpers slipping out.

    Sofia looked stunned, taking a shaky step back.

    "Call a doctor!" Mr. Ratcliff thundered, banging his cane on the floor as he tried to stand. "Someone, now!"

    Jane rushed over, but Sebastian was faster. He dropped to his knee and scooped Robbie up, pressing his fingers under Robbie''s nose, desperate for a reaction.

    "Is this an allergic reaction?" someone whispered.

    Guests broke into anxious chatter. "How could this happen so suddenly?"

    "Didn''t his family know his allergic to mango?"

    Sofia''s face had gone ghostly pale. "I swear, I didn''t touch him. I didn''t know about the mango allergy. This wasn''t my fault..."

    The doctor arrived in a sh. He checked Robbie''s mouth, saw the swelling and the bluish tinge in his throat, and quickly loosened his shirt, searching for a pulse.

    "This is a severe reaction. We need to get him to the hospital right away," he said, voice tight. "I''m giving him a shot, but we can''t risk waiting."

    He tore open a syringe and injected Robbie''s thigh, all business.

    As soon as the needle was out, Sebastian swept Robbie into his arms and hurried out. Robbie''s head lolled against Sebastian''s shoulder, his arms dangling, barely conscious.

    Sofia hesitated for a second, then hurried after them, biting her lip.

    "Sebastian, wait! Please, let me exin..."

    The party was over, no question about it. Mr. Ratcliff called for cars, told Jane to see the guests out, and said she shoulde with him to the hospital.

    Reese hovered near the doorway, watching Robbie''s small, helpless body as Sebastian carried him away. She found herself taking a step forward, then stopped.

    Sofia was with them. She''d take care of Robbie. Reese wasn''t a doctor, so going to the hospital wouldn''t help.

    Then she felt a sharp stare and turned to see Jane watching her, ice in her eyes.

    Reese''s lips twisted in silent frustration. Even now, with everything happening, Jane still wouldn''t let her show any concern for Robbie.

    Once she saw Reese wasn''t following, Jane pulled herself together, pasted on a polite smile, and turned to the guests. "I''m so sorry for the scare. Robbie just ate something he shouldn''t have and had a little allergic reaction.

    "The doctor''s already taken care of him, but we''re going to the hospital just to be safe.

    ¡°I''m afraid we''ll have to end the party early tonight. We''ll make it up to you soon, I promise."

    She gave a graceful nod, signaling the staff to help the guests out.

    A few people whispered as they left. "Did you hear? Ms. Meyer made the cake herself. Isn''t she Robbie''s mom?"

    "How could a mother not know about her son''s allergy?"

    Mr. Ratcliff, leaning on his cane, paused as he overheard. "Ms. Meyer is not Robbie''s mother," he said, voice firm. "She''s here as a guest, nothing more. Please don''t make assumptions."

    The room buzzed with quiet gossip. "Really? Then who is she?"

    "Shh. Didn''t you see how Mr. Ratcliff treats her? Maybe she''s not family yet, but she will be soon."

    "Still, you have to admit she cares about Robbie. She looked like she was about to cry when he copsed. No wonder he''s so close to her he even asked her to help cut the cake."

    "Come on, let''s head out."

    n''s voice broke through as he joined the others heading to their cars. "What a mess tonight turned into. I don''t think anyone actually learned anything about our new transport system."

 Chapter 29

    Reese stepped out of the old house, shooting onest nce over her shoulder before slipping into the passenger seat.

    "At least it wasn''t a total waste," she said. "I think a fewpanies seemed pretty interested in our system."

    n started the car, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Clever Cloud''s scheduling system hit the market before ours. Let them take their time,pare, hesitate. It''s not the worst thing. Might work out for us in the long run."

    Reese gave him a sideways look, the hint of a smile on her face. "You''re taking this surprisingly well."

    n shrugged. "I''m trying. But honestly, the Ratcliff family is such a mess. No one even knows who Robbie''s mother is, or if she was there tonight. Makes you wonder what she''d think if she saw all this."

    Reese didn''t answer. She leaned her head against the window, eyes slipping closed.

    Outside the hospital emergency room, the air was thick with tension. Mr. Ratcliff and Jane had rushed over after seeing their guests out. The first thing Mr. Ratcliff saw was Sofia, red-eyed and leaning against Sebastian''s shoulder. After bottling up his anger all night, he couldn''t hold it in anymore.

    He pulled Sebastian aside, voice low and sharp. "What kind of father are you? Your son''s in the ER and instead of calling Reese, you''re out here with her? Is this really the time?"

    Sebastian just looked at him, face unreadable. ¡°Grandpa, don''t me Sofia. She didn''t know Robbie was allergic to mango."

    Mr. Ratcliff mmed his cane down so hard the sound echoed. "She didn''t know? And you? You didn''t know either?"

    Sebastian kept his gaze on the emergency room doors. "I barely have time for these things. How would I?"

    He really didn''t know. Reese had always handled everything-birthdays, medicine, clothes, food. She just took care of it, no fuss, no reminders.

    Mr. Ratcliff''s voice carried down the hall. Jane frowned, feeling like Sebastian was being called out in front of the whole world.

    She nced over at Sofia, who sat there, silent and still. Any fondness Jane had felt for her because Robbie liked her was gone in a sh.

    Jane almost said something, but stopped herself. Sofia was the Meyer family''s heiress, not someone she could lecture like Reese. She swallowed her criticism and went to Mr. Ratcliff''s side, her tone softer.

    "Dad, you can''t put all this on Sebastian. Reese always took care of these things. If you want to me someone, me Reese. She was the one who always made Robbie''s birthday cake. This year, Robbie begged me to have Reese here, and I did. Who knew Reese would refuse him, not even bring a cake?

    "If she''d brought one, Robbie wouldn''t have asked Ms. Meyer to do it.

    "And she was here tonight. She saw Robbie with Ms. Meyer, but she didn''t say a word about his mango allergy."

    Mr. Ratcliff''s knuckles went white around his cane. "What did you say? Reese was here tonight?

    "And you still let that woman go up and cut the cake with Robbie? Didn''t you think about how Reese would feel if she saw that?"

    Jane shrank back a little. "It''s not my fault. Reese turned Robbie down. That''s why he asked Ms. Meyer."

    Mr. Ratcliff''s face was stormy. "Reese has done so much for this family. Can''t you show her a little kindness? Just once, try to understand how she feels!"

    He turned on Sebastian, voice rising. "And you! You knew Reese was here, and you still did this right in front of her. Aren''t you worried she might be hurt?

    "She''s still pregnant with your child, you know."

    Sebastian''s response was t, almost empty. "She won''t be upset."

    Reese had never raised her voice, never lost her temper. She was always gentle, always soft-spoken. Sometimes Sebastian couldn''t even remember what it looked like when she was angry.

    Mr. Ratcliff pointed at him, furious. "You are just keep pushing her away. Make Sofia leave, call Reese and apologize. Really apologize. Robbie needs her here." "Grandpa, please calm down. I''ll call her now."

    Sebastian pulled out his phone, worried by how upset Mr. Ratcliff looked.

    "The person you''re calling is not avable at the moment. Please try againter," came the cold, automated voice.

    Sebastian frowned. Reese never ignored his calls.

    She was always the first to worry about Robbie. If he so much as sneezed, she''d be at his side in seconds. Now, with both Mr. Ratcliff and Jane already there, Reese was still nowhere to be seen.

    Was she really, finally angry with him?

 Chapter 30

    The ER doors burst open with a loud click and the doctor stepped out, pulling off his mask, his voice edged with exhaustion.

    "He''s stable now. He''ll wake up soon. But you''ve got to be careful. He''s too young. He can''t handle another incident like this."

    Mr. Ratcliff shuffled forward on his cane, heart in his throat until he saw his grandson lying pale but breathing steadily on the hospital bed. Only then did he finally let out the breath he''d been holding all night.

    It was almost dawn when Robbie finally woke up.

    He blinked up at Mr. Ratcliff''s stern face and immediately shrank back, eyes darting to Sofia for reassurance.

    Sofia''s face was streaked with dried tears, her eyes red and puffy. Robbie quickly blurted out, "Great-Grandpa, please don''t be mad at Auntie.

    "I wanted the mango cake. Mom never told me I was allergic. Auntie didn''t know.

    "Your mother never told you you''re allergic to mango?" Mr. Ratcliff clearly didn''t buy it.

    Robbie''s gaze flickered and he lowered his head. "She really didn''t. Mom never said anything. Please don''t me Auntie..."

    Mr. Ratcliff frowned, studying him. Kids didn''t lie. Could Reese really have kept it quiet out of jealousy, just like Jane suggested?

    Jane watched Mr. Ratcliff''s expression, careful and calcting.

    "Dad, Reese honestly never mentioned it. There''s something I''ve been wanting to say for a while. Reese always seems so sweet, but she''s gotyers. If I ever say anything to her, she just shuts down. And everyone remembers what happened back then-we all know she was behind it.

    "If you hadn''t always protected her, I would''ve said something sooner.

    "Sofia has always cared about Sebastian most. You can''t me her for this."

    Mr. Ratcliff''s face grew even darker as he turned to Sebastian. "Did you call Reese?"

    "Yeah." Sebastian rubbed his thumb along his phone case. "She didn''t answer." "Go talk to her and get this sorted out!"

    Mr. Ratcliff couldn''t help but feel disappointed in Reese. "She''s upset, but her son is in the hospital. How can a mother note take care of him?¡±

    Sofia nced at Robbie. "Mr. Ratcliff, whether or not this is my fault, it started with me. Let me look after Robbie. You''re not young anymore. You need to rest. Please go home and get some sleep."

    Mr. Ratcliff opened his mouth, about to say there was no need for her to go to such trouble. They could get a housekeeper from home, Sebastian could stay too.

    But before he could say anything, Robbie''s eyes lit up. "I want Auntie to stay with me!"

    Mr. Ratcliff just couldn''t say no to his great-grandson. Seeing the tiredness and the red in Sofia''s eyes, his tone softened. "Sorry to trouble you. I''ll leave Robbie in your care."

    The next morning, Sebastian had to head into the office, so he asked Brady to bring over some clean clothes.

    As Sebastian changed, he paused and asked, "Has Reese reached out to youtely?"

    "No, sir." Brady looked surprised. "Do you need me to contact her for something?"

    Sebastian''s hands stilled on his buttons. Ever since Reese had seen him with Sofia that day, she''d been distant-not just with him, but with Robbie too.

    "Call her. Ask when her next prenatal appointment is. Once the time is set, clear my schedule. I''ll go with her."

    Brady handed him the nner. "Ms. Meyer''s next check-up is next week. I''ve already worked out the time with the clinic."

    "Alright."

    Brady made a note and followed Sebastian out of the room.

    Inside, Robbie had just woken up and was grinning at Sofia. "Auntie, you''re so nice. You smell good and you''re soft-way better than Mom."

    Sofia just smiled and ruffled his hair. "What do you want for breakfast?"

    "I want sweet potato soup," Robbie answered after thinking about it.

    Whenever he got sick, Reese would make him sweet potato soup. She''d make lots of other good food too, always nagging him to eat more.

    Sofia pulled out her phone and ordered takeout. "Okay, I will get that for you."

    About fifteen minutester, the delivery arrived. Robbie stared at the bowl in front of him, wrinkling his nose.

    When Reese made it, the sweet potato would be finely chopped, the soup smelled sweet, and it was warm and delicious. He could have two big bowls. But this soup was just watery soup with a few chunks of sweet potato, some with little dark spots. It looked unappetizing.

    He didn''t really want to eat it, but Sofia noticed.

    "Why aren''t you eating?"

 Chapter 31

    "You''re still getting your strength back. You need to eat up."

    Robbie sighed, and forced himself to take a spoonful of soup.

    The moment it hit his tongue, nausea rose up fast. He pushed the bowl away. "Auntie, I really can''t eat."

    "Then don''t," Sofia said, not making a fuss. She picked up the bowl and dumped the soup in the trash.

    "When you''re hungry, just tell me what you want and I''ll get it for you."

    A little whileter, the doctor stopped by, checked Robbie over, and said he''d need to stay a few more days for observation.

    Hearing that, Robbie wrinkled his nose at the hospital smell clinging to him and nced at Sofia.

    "Auntie, I want to take a shower."

    "Sure," Sofia said easily.

    She helped him to the bathroom door. "Think you can handle it yourself? I''ll be right outside. Just holler if you need me."

    Robbie hesitated. At home, the housekeeper always helped him wash up-he barely even knew how to shower by himself. Whenever he''d been sick in the hospital before, Reese would take care of everything. She''d even carry him if he was weak, worried he''d slip and fall.

    But Sofia clearly wasn''t nning to help. He bit his lip, nodded, and stepped inside.

    He hadn''t thought the hospital floor would be even slicker than the one at home. The second the water hit, his foot slipped out from under him and he crashed to the ground, his elbow mming into the tile. Tears sprang to his eyes from the pain.

    "Auntie, it hurts," he called out, voice shaking.

    The water kept running. Sofia sat out in the hospital room, scrolling on her phone. She might''ve heard something but didn''t move.

    Robbie waited a while, shivering. Maybe the water was too loud for her to hear.

    He had no choice but to grit his teeth and struggle up on his own. His arm was already turning purple, throbbing every time he moved, and he couldn''t reach his back to wash it at all.

    His nose stung. Tears spilled down his cheeks. He missed his mom so much. If Mom were here, he wouldn''t be this helpless.

    In the end, all he could do was stand under the water for a bit, then wrap himself

    in a towel, dry off as best he could, and put his clothes back on.

    "Auntie, can you help me dry my hair?"

    He walked out, still rubbing at his wet hair, and saw Sofia glued to her phone, not even looking up. His heart sank even more.

    "Is Robbie''s family here?" A nurse pushed open the door. "Can someonee to the nurse''s station to sign a form?"

    Sofia finally set her phone down. "Robbie, be good, okay? I will be right back."

    Robbie climbed onto the hospital bed with tears in his eyes. After a long moment, he picked up his smartwatch and called Reese.

    "Hello?"

    Just hearing his mom''s voice on the other end made him lose it. Tears trickled down onto the nket.

    "Mom, I''m hungry. Can you make some sweet potato soup and bring it to the hospital? And... I miss you. Can youe stay with me?"

    Reese was busy adjusting an Al model when she heard him sniffling. She frowned.

    "I don''t have time. Where''s Grandma and your dad?"

    "Great-Grandpa and Grandma went home. Dad just went to the office," Robbie said, sounding even more pitiful.

    "You''re at the hospital alone?" Reese didn''t really buy it. She knew the Ratcliff family wouldn''t just leave himpletely by himself.

    "Um... Auntie''s here," Robbie admitted, guilt creeping into his voice.

    Reese''s fingers hovered above the keyboard. "I''ll have the housekeeper make soup and drop it off. I''m working, so listen to your Auntie, okay?"

    The call ended with a cold click. Robbie stared at the watch, stunned.

    Why did Mom hang up so fast? She used to call every day, checking on him until he got annoyed.

    If he was sick, she''d always be there, no matter what. Now she actually said she "didn''t have time?"

    Sofia came back in and immediately saw his red eyes. "What happened?"

    Robbie threw himself at her, crying hard. "Auntie, can you be my mom?"

    Maybe if Auntie was his mom, she''d make him good food and help him take a bath.

    Sofia looked at the tears soaking into her shirt, annoyance flickering in her eyes. But when she heard what he said, she couldn''t help but smile. "Silly, you can''t just swap out your mom like that."

    Back in her office, Reese stared at herputer, lost in thought.

    n came in and dropped a stack of files on her desk. "Here''s the data from the

    Clever Cloud dispatch system. Do you think this is useful?"

    Reese flipped through the paperwork without thinking-then stopped cold.

    The neural feedback algorithm on the page was almost identical to the data she''d worked on seven years ago in her oldb.

 Chapter 32

    Reese tapped her finger where the two data sets ovepped and nced at n.

    "When Sofia put together this dispatch system, I''m almost certain she used the data I developed back at the research institute," she said.

    "My improvements to our traffic management system are all built on that foundation,"

    "Are you serious?" n picked up the paperwork and flipped through it. "Dominic told me you left the institute seven years ago... Wait, you were already on this track back then?"

    He tapped the page with a thoughtful frown, worry flickering in his eyes. "Clever Cloud''s dispatch systemunched before ours. If what you''re saying is true, do you think people might use us of copying when we finally go to market?"

    "I don''t think so." Reese closed the file and set it aside. "That data is seven years old. I''ve made a lot of improvements since then. There''s not enough ovep for anyone to call it giarism."

    Dominic already knew about her work on the system, and technically, she''d been a researcher at Clever Cloud too. She figured it wouldn''t turn into a problem.

    n let out a relieved breath, his mood instantly lifting. "You''re incredible. With you on board, I''m sure our dispatch system will leave Clever Cloud in the dust."

    But the good mood didn''tst. Not long after, n took a phone call, and his face fell.

    "What happenee?" Reese asked, concern slipping into her voice. n wasn''t usually this shaken.

    "Geovision is backing out of our contract. They''ve decided to work with Clever Cloud instead." n''s frustration was obvious. "If only I''d met you sooner, we could''veunched first and avoided all of this."

    Reese didn''t seem bothered. "Our system has way more uses than Clever Cloud''s. The market is still wide open for us.

    "How about you reach out to the director at Geovision? Maybe we can set up a meeting and show them what we''ve got. Once they see our data, I bet they''ll reconsider."

    n nodded. "I''ll contact them and set something up."

    But it wasn''t as easy as Reese hoped. It took three days just to get a meeting.

    When they finally sat down with Geovision''s director, York, he didn''t waste any time.

    "Clever Cloud''s system has Iron Financial backing them. You know their record- they never pick the wrong project," York said, barely ncing at Reese. "Plus, Mr. Shaw himself has already signed on with them. Why would I walk away from that and choose you?"

    "Numbers don''t lie," Reese tried, holding her ground. "Our system..."

    ¡°That''s enough,¡± York cut her off with a dismissive wave. ¡°ckOak is respected in the industry, sure, but this is where we part ways. Our legal team will be in touch about the contract termination."

    n saw there was no point in pushing further. He led Reese out.

    As they stepped out of Logicore Inc., they spotted Sebastian and Sofia walking in together, with an elegant, well-dressed woman right behind them.

    Reese''s stomach tightened. She never expected Sofia''s mother, Grace, to show up in Bridger Lake.

    "n," Sebastian greeted, acting like Reese wasn''t even there.

    "Mr. Ratcliff." n went forward to shake Sebastian''s hand. "Ms. Meyer."

    "Hi, n." Sofia''s eyes paused on Reese for a moment, her smile polite but distant. "We''re heading up to meet Geovision now. Let''s catch up another time." "Of course." n stepped aside.

    As the elevator doors slid closed behind them, n turned to Reese and said, "Wait here, I''ll get the car."

    Reese nodded, her eyes following the elevator. No wonder Geovision turned them down. Sebastian was in Sofia''s corner, and there weren''t many in Bridger Lake who couldpete with that kind of connection.

    "Reese, it''s been a while," Grace said, that familiar polished smile on her lips. "Your father misses you. When are youing home for a visit?"

    Reese''s tone was icy. "Not worried I''lle back and leave no room for you and your daughter?"

 Chapter 33

    "How could I not?"

    Grace''s face shifted, but she quickly pulled herself together. "I''m just looking out for you. After all, when you were little, you called me Aunt Grace."

    She gave Reese a pitying look. "You lost your mom so young. Growing up as an orphan in someone else''s house all these years, that couldn''t have been easy."

    Reese''s expression went ice-cold. "Grace, you don''t get to talk about my mom. How does it feel, climbing higher by stepping over her grave? Aren''t you afraid she''lle back to haunt you at night?"

    Reese''s mother, Marie, and Grace had grown up together like sisters. When Grace married the wrong guy, it was Marie who protected her, running around with a baby on the way, findingwyers, fighting her battles.

    And the moment Grace got divorced, she wasted no time hooking up with Reese''s father Bailey, and then she got pregnant with Sofia.

    Grace''s smile froze, something dark flickering in her eyes, but she kept her cool. "Reese, there''s no need to be so harsh."

    "Bailey only feels a little guilty toward you. If you''d juste home, even that would fade."

    "You think I care?" Reese let out a coldugh. "He cheated on his pregnant wife and brought his mistress into the house. And I''m supposed to care about his guilt?

    "Besides, he signed an agreement when he divorced my mom. All his assets are mine. Everything you''ve spent these years, I''ll make sure you pay it all back."

    "Reese!"

    Grace was shaking with anger, but before she could explode, the elevator dinged and opened. Sofia and Sebastian stepped out.

    "Mom, what''s wrong?" Sofia hurried over when she saw Grace''s pale face, putting herself between them.

    "Reese, I know you''re upset because of me and Sebastian. If you''re angry,e at me. Don''t take it out on my mom."

    Reese nced at the two of them. "She''s not even worth the effort."

    She turned to leave, but Sebastian spoke. "Reese, you''re being ridiculous."

    He looked at her, disappointment written all over his face. "Don''t alwayspare yourself to Sofia. Al isn''t as easy as you think."

    "Just go home, take care of yourself and the baby, and let''s leave it at that." He paused, then added, "I know you''re angry. I''ll go with you to your next checkup."

    Reese stared at him, suddenly finding itughable.

    She''d already ended the pregnancy. Did he really think she was still waiting for him to pretend to care?

    "Robbie likes Sofia more anyway. He''s happier when she''s around."

    "Robbie is your son," Sebastian said, his tone heavy. "You shouldn''t let someone else look after him. Sofia doesn''t owe him anything, and she shouldn''t be stuck in a hospital. She deserves a bigger world."

    Reese felt her nose sting.

    So in his mind, Sofia deserved the world, while she was just someone to be tied down by a contract, giving up her future to circle around a husband who didn''t love her and a son who wished she was someone else.

    "I''m not going back." Reese''s gaze was steady. "Sebastian, I already wasted seven years on you. How many seven years do people get? I want a life of my own."

    "You''re still pregnant," Sebastian said, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. "I promise, after you have the baby, you can do whatever you want."

    Reese felt like her heart was being cut open, every part of her aching.

    Sebastian and Sofia were acting like the perfect couple in the Ratcliff family. They could have a child of their own, but he still treated her like a vessel, just someone to bear his child.

    "You really care about this baby?" Reese suddenly smiled.

    "Of course," Sebastian answered, not understanding what she found so funny.

    She met his eyes and said, "Then keep Sofia away from me. Or... I can''t promise what I''ll do."

 Chapter 34

    "Are you threatening me with a child?"

    Sebastian''s dark eyes were stormy with anger.

    Reese''s lips curled in the faintest, almost mocking smile. She wanted to say no. The truth was, she''d ended the pregnancy a long time ago. All she had now was evidence that the baby had never been hers by blood.

    Before she could say a word, a sharp p echoed through the room. Her head jerked to the side, her cheek suddenly on fire and throbbing with pain.

    Reese staggered but managed to steady herself, lifting her eyes to Sebastian. He clenched his fists. "Reese, you did this to yourself."

    He couldn''t believe she''d use a child to threaten him. That was why he''d lost control.

    "If you chose to use a child to force me to marry you, you should''ve known this day woulde."

    From the corner of her eye, Reese noticed Sofia standing a little ways off. Reese hadn''t missed that sh of panic in Sofia''s eyes when she''d spoken, but now Sofia looked smug, like she''d already won.

    Reese suddenlyughed, sharp and bitter. The sound caught in her throat and, as sheughed, tears spilled down her burning cheek.

    Sebastian couldn''t stand the idea of Sofia suffering through a pregnancy, so he''d wanted Reese to carry the child instead. Reese just wanted out-to have a life and career of her own, not be trapped at home. But in his eyes, that was some kind of unforgivable crime.

    Clearly, ending the pregnancy and leaving him had been the right call.

    "Which one of us is really the victim here, Sebastian?" Her voice trembled. "Do you actually think you get to control my life?"

    The hatred in her eyes was impossible to miss. Sebastian almost reached for her to drag her back home.

    But then a ck car rolled up to the curb. The window came down, and n looked out, his face puzzled.

    Sebastian scowled. Thest thing he wanted was for someone else to see this mess. He shot Reese a warning look.

    "Reese, you''d better leave ckOak and go home to rest. If you don''t, ckOak will be my next target."

    With that, he turned away and headed back to Sofia.

    Grace hurried to Reese''s side and gently patted her swollen cheek.

    "You''ve always been stubborn, you know that? Listen to me. Don''t make things uglier than they need to be. No one''s going to stick their neck out for you if this blows up."

    Reese just stared at her, cold and silent.

    Grace dropped her hand, gave an awkward smile, and quickly followed after Sebastian and Sofia.

    n had already gotten out of the car. When he saw Reese''s red, swollen cheek, he looked shocked.

    "What happened? How did it get like this?"

    He steadied her with a hand on her arm. ¡°Come on, let me take you to the hospital."

    Reese shook her head, her voice rough. "n, I''m fine."

    "Sebastian wants everything to go smoothly for Sofia. He told me to leave ckOak or he''ll go after thepany."

    n''s face darkened. "Don''t worry about it. ckOak might not be as big as Ratcliff Global, but we''re not about to roll over for anyone."

    "Just focus on the AI traffic managementunch. We''ll deal with the rest after the event."

    Honestly, Reese hadn''t been too bothered by Sebastian''s threats. If he really nned oe after ckOak, she''d go public with everything he''d done about the baby, about Sofia. If she was going down, she''d make sure they all went down together.

    George was already working on verifying the evidence. Just a few more weeks. "Okay."

    Maybe it was n''s quiet anger or just the hype, but the AI trafficunch was getting all kinds of attention. The hall was packed.

    Sofia walked in with Sebastian on her arm, the Shaw brothers right behind them.

    With all eyes on her, Sofia put on a perfect smile and nced up at Sebastian. "Sebastian, remember what we agreed-if Ms. Meyer shows up today, you can''t get mad or embarrass her in front of everyone."

    He gave a short nod, but he couldn''t shake the memory of Reese''s cold, distant stare. The hint of hate in her eyes unsettled him more than he wanted to admit.

    Neal snorted. "You''re giving Reese way too much credit."

 Chapter 35

    "How many times has Reese ever gone against Sebastian since they got married?"

    "Exactly. All she does is fuss over him. What would she even understand about this kind of tech event? She''s only ever there as a plus-one. No way she''ll actually

    show up."

    Sofia let out a smallugh. "Good, then. Thest thing we need is her and Sebastian getting into it in front of everyone. That would be embarrassing.¡±

    Truth was, Sofia kind of wanted Reese toe. No matter what, Reese could never measure up to her. Besides, if Reese just went home like she was told, Sebastian would probably feel bad for her and get distracted, trying to take care of her.

    The three of them took their seats. Before long, Reese stepped onto the stage, dressed in a crisp, professional pantsuit.

    "Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to be here. I''m Reese, and I''ll be your keynote speaker..."

    Standing tall at the podium, Reese called up her slides on the Al traffic management system and dove right in, exining real-life case studies with total confidence.

    She lookedpletely at ease, like she belonged there, her eyes shining with determination.

    Watching her speak so smoothly, Elijah let out a low whistle.

    Sofia snapped out of her thoughts and tightened her hold on Sebastian''s arm. "Don''t be upset, Sebastian."

    He didn''t say anything, so she nced up at him-and caught something unexpected in his eyes. Was that... admiration? Was Sebastian actually impressed by Reese?

    Sofia''s face darkened.

    The presentation went perfectly. Reese handled every tough question from

    reporters without breaking a sweat. Severalpany reps said right then and there that they wanted to work with ckOak, and their stock price jumped almost immediately.

    ***

    In a private room at the Crestview Club...

    After dinner, Neal habitually reached for a cigarette, but Elijah nudged him and nodded at Sofia.

    Neal quickly remembered Sofia hated smoke. Even Sebastian never lit up around her.

    He nced over at Sebastian, lounging on the sofa, and thought back to Reese at the press conference. He couldn''t help saying, "I never would''ve guessed Reese had it in her. I always thought she just stayed home, taking care of Sebastian and the kids."

    Elijah snorted. "What? n probably just wanted to do Sebastian a favor and let her pretend to be important. She went all out to marry Sebastian, just to get close to the Ratcliff family."

    Neal remembered something Millie had said once. "Yeah, out of everyone I know, Reese is the most shameless. And she still acts like she''s the victim."

    ¡°n''s just humoring her, letting her y lead at the conference. Their system doesn''t evene close to yours, Sofia. Do they really think they''repetition?"

    Sofia was sitting next to Sebastian, flipping through the Al system report. She looked up. "Actually, ckOak''s system is pretty good. It really could give ours a run for its money."

    She hesitated, ncing at Sebastian. ¡°But... I noticed some of their data oveps with mine."

    Neal sat up straighter. "You mean Reese copied you? Or is it just a coincidence?"

    Sofia shook her head. "It''s hard to say. But she did spend a few days at the institute not long ago..."

    "There it is." Neal pped the table. "That''s why n put her in the spotlight. She took your research and brought it over to ckOak!"

    Elijah sounded worried. "Sebastian, what are you going to do about this?"

    "ckOak''s system is already on the market. If people find out, the Ratcliff family''s reputation will really take a hit."

    Sebastian''s face was unreadable. "What does this have to do with the Ratcliff family? No one even knows who she really is."

    A slow smile tugged at Sofia''s lips. As long as Sebastian kept out of it, she could make sure everyone believed Reese was guilty of stealing her work.

    That research data had taken her ages to find in the institute''s archives. The moment she saw it, she knew it would be the breakthrough for her own traffic system.

    She''d asked around, but none of the senior researchers knew who had written it.

    If it was the work of some forgotten predecessor, there was no way Sofia would let Reese im it as her own.

 Chapter 36

    Reese sat in her office, flipping through a stack of reports, a deep frown etched across her face.

    The press conference had gone off without a hitch. They''d drawn a crowd, and several potential partners had seemed genuinely interested-some even saying as much right there in front of everyone. But now, dayster, not a single contract hade through. Not one.

    She got up to grab some water from the break room. As she reached the door, voices drifted out.

    "No luck closing today either?"

    "Don''t ask. I went over there three times. Their manager tossed our proposal right back at me. Said as long as it''s ckOak, they''re not interested, no matter what we offer."

    "That''s so weird. I had everything lined up with Quantum Tech. The deal was basically done. But when I went back to sign, they''d changed their minds overnight."

    "You think someone upstairs pissed off the wrong person?"

    "Probably. I know Mr. Moore at Ninebridge-he told me he likes our system, but the higher-ups won''t let them work with us."

    Reese''s hand froze on the doorknob.

    Sebastian. It could only be him.

    He''d actually stooped to sabotaging ckOak''s partnerships, just to push her out and drag her back to the Ratcliff family¡ªto turn her into his personal baby factory.

    If he wanted to y dirty, so could she.

    But first, n needed a heads-up. She couldn''t risk her fight with Sebastian dragging ckOak down too.

    Reese turned away from the break room and headed straight for n''s office. She knocked, and when n called her in, she stepped inside, bracing herself for bad news. To her surprise, n didn''t look angry or worried. He actually looked upbeat.

    "n, I-"

    "You''re right on time," he cut in before she could finish. "You did great work on the Al traffic system. The executives are impressed."

    He pulled a folder from a pile and slid it across to her. "This is the de project. Take a look."

    Reese opened the folder, scanned a few lines, and her face immediately went pale. She snapped it shut.

    "n..."

    Field logistics. Anti-jamming. Real-time response. No way this was for civilian use.

    She shouldn''t even be reading this.

    n adjusted his sses. "It''s exactly what you think.

    "I know you''re worried about Ratcliff Global messing with our partners. But this system was never really meant for themercial market. Even if the private sector turns us down, there are other buyers.

    "I didn''t bring you over from Clever Cloud to let you get bullied. Don''t worry. If anyonees after you, I''ll take the heat. And if I can''t, someone above me will. Ratcliff Global isn''t as scary as they think."

    He pushed another document her way. "This is an NDA. Sign it, and you''ll have full control over the next phase. I promise, no one''s going to mess with you."

    Reese''s hands shook.

    No one would be able to touch her?

    That meant Sebastian, too.

    This was perfect. She could keep her cards close for now, wait until she had proof, and not let him see hering.

    "Thank you, n," she said, signing her name without a second thought.

    With her worries out of the way, Reese threw herself into work. Hours slipped by without her noticing, until a security guard knocked on her door, making her realize it was almost ten.

    She packed up, drove toward her apartment, but about a mile away, her car stalled and refused to start. She called a tow truck and had it hauled to the shop.

    Standing on the sidewalk, she realized her apartment wasn''t far. Pulling her coat tighter, she started walking. The streets were still busy at this hour.

    She slowed as she passed a row of bars, music andughter spilling out onto the sidewalk. That''s when she spotted a group of people chatting outside. Even from a distance, Sebastian stood out-tall and impossible to miss.

 Chapter 37

    Sofia wore a ck floral dress and linked her arm through his as they worked the room, chatting with people around them.

    "Don''t worry, Mr. Ratcliff. Ms. Meyer''s system is our top priority for rollout," promised a well-dressed man as he reached out to shake Sebastian''s hand.

    Reese recognized him right away. He was the firstpany rep toe talk to her about a coboration after theunch event.

    "Looking forward to working together," he said.

    Sebastian''s handshake was barely more than a tap, his tone polite but distant.

    Sofia saw the man off with a smile, then slipped her arm around Sebastian as they headed for the ck Bentley at the curb.

    "I swear, Sebastian, you''re amazing. You got the deal done so fast," she said, leaning into him.

    Sebastian didn''t reply. He just opened the passenger door for her, hand gently guarding her head as she got in, then circled around to the driver''s side and slid in.

    Across the street, Reese was trying to get past a group of guys hanging out outside a bar when one of them, already drunk, stepped in front of her.

    "Hey gorgeous, you here alone?" he slurred, blocking her way. "Come in and have a drink with us."

    "Move," Reese said, frowning as she stepped back.

    "Oh,e on, one drink''s not gonna hurt," he insisted, reaching out for her arm.

    Reese dodged him, twisting away.

    Thrown off bnce, he staggered and his face twisted in anger. He jerked his hand up, ready to hit her.

    "Whoa, chill out!" his buddy said, grabbing his arm. Then he turned to Reese, trying to smooth things over. "Sorry, he''s had too much. But can you me him? You''re kind of stunning. Just have one drink with us, make his night."

    "I''m sorry, I have somewhere to be," Reese said, trying to step around them.

    "It''s just one drink. Won''t take a minute," the drunk guy insisted, grabbing her wrist and yanking her toward the bar.

    Reese tried to pull free, ncing desperately at the ck Bentley down the street. Sebastian sat in the driver''s seat, his profile sharp under the streetlight.

    His eyes flicked over to her, his expression calm and distant, like she was just any other stranger.

    The Bentley''s engine started, headlights ring and sweeping across Reese''s face before the car pulled away, smooth and steady, not even hesitating.

    Reese''sshes trembled. She shoved the guy holding her, her voice shaky. "Let go of me!"

    The two men closed in on either side, boxing her in.

    People on the sidewalk started to notice, but no one stepped in. They just watched, waiting to see what would happen.

    Reese''s voice shook as she called out, "I don''t know these men! Please, someone call the police!"

    "It''s just a drink. Chill out," one guy sneered, reaching for her hair.

    "She said she doesn''t know you. Back off!" a voice called out from the crowd.

    A tall man stepped forward, putting himself between Reese and the two men. "Mind your business, man. Don''t get involved," the drunk growled.

    "I am involved. I''m a cop." The neer shed his badge. "Walk away now, or spend the night at the station."

    The two men looked at each other, then let go of Reese, muttering under their breath as they slipped away.

    Reese stood there, legs shaking.

    "Thank you..." she managed.

    The man smiled at her. "Ms. Meyer. It''s been a while."

    She looked up at him. Under the streetlight, his face seemed familiar but she couldn''t ce him.

    He caught her confusion and grinned, rubbing his nose. "Don''t remember me?" "Seven years ago, you called the police. I was the officer who showed up." Everything came rushing back to Reese.

    Seven years ago, at Sebastian''s twenty-second birthday party, he''d been drugged. In the chaos, he''d dragged Reese into a room and forced himself on her.

    Reese had called the police as soon as she could. The man standing in front of her now was the officer who answered her call that night.

    "Mr. Sanchez. It really has been a long time."

 Chapter 38

    Reese had only met Roman Sanchez twice, and both times she''d been at her absolute worst.

    "Thanks. You saved me again."

    The first time, Roman had shown up after a call, taken her from a hotel straight to the station, made sure all the evidence was collected, and then got a female colleague to take her home and calm her down.

    Now, here he was again, swooping in when she waspletely alone and out of options.

    "You''re different now," Roman said.

    He''d followed the noise, expecting to see the Reese from seven years ago¡ªthe one who''d fight back without hesitation. But instead, she''d just stepped away and looked for help.

    "I am," Reese admitted, her voice soft.

    She knew exactly what he meant. Years of dealing with endless hassles and her mother-inw''s nitpicking had pretty much worn her down and smoothed out all her edges.

    "I used to admire you, you know." Roman sounded a little disappointed. "I''ve been in Bridger Lake for years. You were the first person who dared to call the cops on someone from the Ratcliff family.

    "And you weren''t sloppy about it, either. You had everything documented.

    "But why''d you drop the charges?" he asked. "If you hadn''t, you would''ve won. No question."

    Reese went quiet. The memory shed in her mind-Mr. Ratcliff sitting across from her, holding the papers that showed the Ramos family''spany was hanging by a thread.

    "If you drop the case, I''ll put money into the Ramos family. I''ll help yourpany get back on its feet."

    Thepany was her grandfather''s and mother''s legacy. After her mom was gone, her uncle took her in and kept thepany running. Reese couldn''t just watch it fall apart.

    "I married Sebastian."

    Her throat felt tight. "I''d loved him for a long time. We had a fight that day, and I lost it. I said some things I shouldn''t have, and I regretted itter.¡±

    Roman raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, but he let it go.

    "You know filing a false report is illegal, right?" he teased, his voice light even though the words were serious.

    Reese caught his meaning and smiled. "Go ahead and arrest me, then. At least I''d save some money on groceries."

    Romanughed for real this time and waved her off. "Alright, I''m done messing with you. Where are you headed? I''ll give you a ride."

    Reese shook her head. "It''s not far. I can walk."

    Roman nced at the empty street. "There are a lot of drunk guys around here. Let me at least walk you to the corner."

    She could tell he was just looking out for her, so she agreed. They walked together until the corner, then said goodbye and Reese walked the rest of the way home.

    It wasn''t until she turned on the lights in her apartment that she finally felt like she could breathe.

    The memories from seven years ago weren''t just bad-they were actual nightmares. For a long time after, just being around men made her anxious.

    Even now, after therapy, she still didn''t like being alone with men.

    After a shower, Reese crawled into bed, but sleep wouldn''te. All she could see was the cold look in Sebastian''s eyes, and somehow, his face started to blur into the confused, aroused look he''d had all those years ago.

    She shot up, opened her nightstand drawer, grabbed a bottle of pills, shook one out, and swallowed it dry.

    Then she turned off the lights and buried herself in her pillow.

    ***

    The next morning, Reese woke up feeling weak and shaky. She managed to drag herself to work, and had barely sat down when n walked in.

    "How''s it going?" he asked.

    "I''ve got a n drafted." She handed him the proposal she''d stayed upte working on.

    "Looks good," n said after flipping through it. She saw a hint of approval in his eyes.

    "Clear your schedule this afternoon. There''s an industry mixer. I want you toe and meet someone."

    Reese figured it was just another business event, but when she got there, she realized it was packed with some pretty big names from politics and the military.

    n led her through the crowd, chatting with people here and there, then found a quiet corner with a sofa for them to sit down.

    "n," Reese said quietly, nerves fluttering in her stomach. She could tell

    whoever he wanted her to meet was a big deal.

    "Rx," n said, not bothered at all. "Dominic will be here soon, too. Don''t tell me you''re going to let him see you all nervous?"

    "Dominic''sing?" Reese''s eyes lit up.

    "Yeah. Sit tight. I''ve got something to handle, I''ll be back in a bit."

    As soon as n left, amotion started at the entrance.

    Reese looked up and saw Sofia on Sebastian''s arm as they walked in together.

    Their matching outfits left no doubt; they were definitely together.

    "Looks like Mr. Ratcliff and Ms. Meyer are finally making it official, huh?"

    Honestly, everyone in Bridger Lake''s upper circle already knew about Sebastian and Sofia, but this was the first time they''d shown up at an event, dressed as a couple, for everyone to see.

 Chapter 39

    "That''s about it. Last week was Robbie''s birthday. Ms. Meyer was with him the whole time. She even cut the cake. Honestly, the three of them looked just like a family."

    Reese''s hand paused halfway to her lips. She hadn''t thought about Robbie in forever. With Sofia taking care of him, his allergies had probably cleared up by

    now.

    "What? Are you jealous?"

    A man''s voice came from behind her. Reese turned and saw Elijah leaning against the back of the couch, watching her with that cold, mocking look of his.

    She frowned. "Whatever they''re doing has nothing to do with me."

    "Oh, nothing to do with you?" Elijah let out a short, sharpugh. "You''ve been staring at them all night. Don''t tell me you''re nning to expose your thing with Sebastian in front of everyone, just to make it awkward for them?"

    Reese set her ss down and stood, done with this conversation. She didn''t want to get pulled into Elijah''s drama.

    "Elijah, if you think I''m so horrible, then just stay away from me."

    He wouldn''t let it go. "Aw, so now you''re acting like the victim?"

    He stepped closer, voice low. "If you''re not toxic, then howe you ran to ckOak with Sofia''s research after getting kicked out of Clever Cloud? Just topete with her?"

    "Everyone in the industry knows ckOak''s dispatch system is just a copy of Clever Cloud''s."

    Reese''s head shot up. She red at him. "Who said I copied anything?"

    "Oh, you''re still going to deny it?" Elijah scoffed. "Sofia said so herself. People havepared both systems. The data oveps. It''s obvious."

    "ckOak''s stock has tanked because of this, and don''t tell me you didn''t know."

    She actually didn''t know. She was just filling in at ckOak, not part of the management team. n hadn''t said a word about it.

    Her hands shook with anger. She could take people talking about her, but ckOak was n''s pride, and Dominic had personally rmended her for the job. She couldn''t let them get dragged down with her.

    She took a deep breath and pushed through the crowd, heading straight toward Sofia and Sebastian.

    Sofia was talking to Sebastian but her smile faded when she saw Reeseing. "Ms. Meyer, do you need something?"

    Reese looked right at her, voice cold and clear. "I heard I stole your research?"

    Sofia''s smile froze. She nced over at Sebastian.

    "There''s a misunderstanding, Ms. Meyer. All I said was that the data for both systems oveps."

    "They''re both traffic dispatch systems. Some ovep is normal."

    Anyone in Al knew that when different people build simr systems, the data is never exactly the same. Sofia hadn''t actually said Reese copied her, but her words made it sound that way.

    "Is this about the ckOak and Clever Cloud dispatch systems?"

    Their voices were loud enough that people nearby started whispering and watching.

    "Clever Cloud released theirs first, then ckOak popped up with a simr one, and the data oveps. It''s pretty obvious what happened."

    "Couldn''t Clever Cloud have copied ckOak? ckOak''s done some impressive stuff too-"

    "No way. Clever Cloud has Dominic in charge, and Ms. Meyer led the team after graduating from MIT. Why would she steal anything from ckOak?"

    Reese clenched her fists. "If I''m not mistaken, Clever Cloud''s dispatch system started development seven years ago, but then was put on hold. Sofia, you''ve only been at Clever Cloud for less than a year. How are you so sure all that research is yours?"

    Sofia''s eyes filled with tears as she looked at Sebastian.

    Sebastian finally looked at Reese, his eyes colder than ever. "I was there when Sofia did her research. I trust her. She would never do something like that."

    "She''s been in Al for years. Who are you to question her, anyway?"

    "Yeah, who does she think she is, calling out Mr. Ratcliff''s girlfriend like that?"

    "Maybe she''s just scared. If everyone finds out ckOak copied Clever Cloud, she''ll be cklisted from the industry. She''s just trying to get out ahead of it-how pathetic."

    "She''s just making things worse for herself."

    Every word felt like a p. Reese stood there, frozen, every bit of her going numb. Sebastian was looking at her like she was nothing.

    "Who says Reese copied anything?"

    A deep,manding voice rang out from the doorway. Three people walked in. Leading them was Dominic.

 Chapter 40

    When Sofia saw Dominic, her eyes brightened. "Professor..." Her voice was

    tinged with a little hurt, but then she noticed n and another guy standing behind him, and confusion flickered across her face.

    Why would Dominic show up with n?

    It hit her that Dominic probably hadn''t heard about everything that happenedtely, since he''d been away from Bridger Lake. Sofia moved closer and quietly filled him in on the situation.

    "So you''re saying Reese took our institute''s research to ckOak, and now ckOak''s new scheduling system oveps with our data?" Dominic asked, his eyes searching her face for answers.

    Sofia nodded and handed him her tablet, showing him the two sets of data and algorithms side by side. "I''m not saying ckOak copied our system, but there''s definitely some ovep in the data, so..."

    Dominic had been at a military base for a while, working on top-secret projects at the request of the higher-ups. He''d only just returned for this conference, and the noise at the entrance was his first clue that something was off.

    Now, after hearing Sofia''s exnation, his expression shifted-somethingplicated passed through his eyes.

    "Reese, do you have anything you want to say?" he asked.

    "What could she possibly say?" Elijah cut in with a mocking tone.

    He had stopped by to say hi to Clever Cloud after their recent partnership. He couldn''t help but jump in. "Dominic, you probably missed it, but Reese actually imed Clever Cloud stole ckOak''s data. Now that you''re here, do you think she''ll keep saying that?"

    Dominic turned and searched for Reese in the crowd. She stood off to the side, nervously twisting the fabric at her waist, but she didn''t even try to defend herself.

    Sofia''s lips curled into a small, satisfied smile. She snuck a nce at Sebastian, who was watching her and Dominic, never once looking at Reese.

    Sofia couldn''t help but feel a sense of victory. With Dominic here, Reese''s giarism was basically a done deal.

    A heavy sigh broke the tension. Dominic''s disappointment was almost written all over his face.

    "Reese, I expected better from you." His voice was quiet but sharp. "Someone takes your research, and you just stand there and let it happen? You can''t even speak up for yourself? I thought you were stronger than this."

    Reese finally looked up. She met Dominic''s eyes, opened her mouth, but only a faint, breathless sound came out her throat felt like it was stuck with cotton.

    Elijah, still catching up, asked, "Dominic, what do you mean?"

    Dominic looked around the room, his voice low and steady. "The core algorithm for this scheduling system was Reese''s product seven years ago. I only started researching this area after seeing her work. But after she left the institute, the project was put on hold."

    The whole room erupted in whispers.

    "So Clever Cloud really did copy ckOak''s data?"

    "Ms. Meyer used Reese''s research from seven years ago? But Mr. Ratcliff just said "

    "Shh, men can''t always resist a pretty face. But who is Reese anyway? She did all that seven years ago? Never even heard of her."

    Everyone''s attention snapped to Reese. She instinctively searched for Sebastian, only to find him finally returning her gaze¡ªhis eyes cold and unreadable.

    Sofia forced a stiff smile. "Professor, I know Clever Cloud and ckOak have always worked together. You just didn''t want n to be embarrassed in front of everyone, right?"

 Chapter 41

    "But we can''t just say Reese developed our core algorithm, can we?

    "Come on, seven years ago, Reese wasn''t even twenty yet. She was just a sophomore. There''s no way she could''ve pulled off anything at this level."

    "It''s all right there in the institute''s archives. The files spell everything out, clear as day."

    Sofia was still trying to pin everything on Reese when Dominic''s voice dropped, cold and sharp. His re felt like it could cut right through her. "You got your info from Archive Room Three. File number KY-2018-0713. Am I right?"

    Sofia''s face went pale. That was the exact number on the file back then. But she was sure-she''d checked, no one else in the institute...

    She didn''t even have time to figure it out before Dominic continued, "Sofia, you really do have talent with Al algorithms.

    "But in research, integrity matters more than shortcuts. The institute can''t keep people who y dirty.

    "Once this is settled, I want your resignation."

    "Professor, there must be some kind of mistake!" Sofia blurted out, herposure cracking for a second before she forced herself calm again. "Those files belong to the institute. I work here too. What''s wrong with borrowing them?"

    Dominic hadn''t expected her to say that. He watched her in silence, about to respond, when azy, amused male voice drifted from the back of the room.

    "Exactly. Ms. Meyer is part of the institute. Using institute files isn''t exactly a crime, is it?"

    Zach stepped out from the crowd, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "I''ve worked with Ms. Meyer before. She''s not the type to steal someone else''s work."

    "And by the way, she''s heading up one of Iron Financial''s biggest investment projects. If she leaves, then what? Who''s going to take over?"

    Zach''s eyes slid over to Reese, full of disdain.

    "But as for thisdy... Well, I heard she only left the institute back then because she slept with a rich guy andnded herself a golden opportunity. That''s how she got where she is now.

    "Dominic, you''re so eager to back her up. Aren''t you worried about your own reputation?"

    His words hit hard and fast, like a bucket of ice water dumped right on Reese. Instantly, the mood in the room shifted. Every stare turned sharp-curious, judgmental, and cold-wrapping around Reese like a she couldn''t escape. Reese clenched her fists so tight her nails nearly broke the skin. She never thought Zach would show up, let alone bring up the past like this.

    Automatically, her eyes found Sebastian. He barely frowned, his face smoothing back into its usual cool indifference, like none of this had anything to do with him.

    "That''s her personal business. I have noment," he said, voice t. Dominic''s voice cut through the tension. "But I helped her patent those research results seven years ago.

    "Whatever the reason, Clever Cloud''s traffic system used her data. Whether it was deliberate or a misunderstanding, it''s still giarism."

    "If this had stayed quiet, I know Reese wouldn''t have made a fuss. But now that everyone knows, someone has to take responsibility.

    "Sofia, you led the team and you just admitted to using Reese''s research. You need to own up to it.

    "Clever Cloud will issue a public apology and recall the system. And Sofia¡ªyour time at the institute is over."

 Chapter 42

    Sofia''s face drained of all color, and she struggled to keep it together. "Dominic, I swear, I have no idea where that data came from. I don''t know anything about the patent stuff either."

    Dominic let out a heavy sigh and waved his hand, almost like he''d already given up. "It is what it is..."

    Sebastian stepped up next to Sofia, slipping his arm around her to keep her steady. "Dominic, Sofia really didn''t know anything about this. She wasn''t involved before now. And I''ll take care of what happens next. There''s no need for Clever Cloud''s reputation to take a hit."

    Sofia looked up at him, eyes shining with gratitude. As long as Sebastian was here, she felt like nothing could knock her down.

    "That''s right, Dominic," Zach spoke up, "If this blows up, it''s all of us who''ll suffer.

    "Ms. Meyer''s traffic control system is already being used by a bunch ofpanies. If we pull it now, just the breach of contract penalties will be a nightmare.

    "And the ''Emotis'' system still isn''t finished. If she leaves before it''s done, who''s going to deal with that mess?

    "If you really insist she goes, Dominic, I''ll have to buy the ''Emotis'' project from Clever Cloud and have Ms. Meyer and her whole team work for me at Iron Financial.

    "How about we just let her stay, finish ''Emotis'', and then decide what''s next?" The second Zach finished, Sofia felt like she could finally breathe again.

    She knew Clever Cloud desperately needed Iron Financial''s investment. With Zach on her side, Dominic wouldn''t dare fire her.

    All she had to do was finish ''Emotis'' as soon as possible. Once itunched, her reputation would recover.

    Dominic nced at the man standing next to n. The man gave the slightest nod.

    Dominic shook his head. "Since Mr. Wiles has spoken, Sofia can take the project and leave the institute."

    He turned to Sebastian. "I see you''re sticking up for Ms. Meyer, Mr. Ratcliff. I won''t go public with any of this, but I''m trusting you to handle the fallout. Don''t let Clever Cloud get dragged into it."

    "Of course," Sebastian said, his eyes sweeping the room andnding on Reese with a clear warning.

    "This was just a misunderstanding. Sofia used institute data, and there was no giarism. I hope everyone here keeps that straight.

    "If I catch even a whisper about this outside, Ratcliff Global''swyers will be paying you a visit."

    He nced at Elijah, who looked pale, then spoke quietly, "Let''s go."

    Sofia knew after all this, she was definitely out at Clever Cloud. She couldn''t help feeling bitter, but all she could do was re at Reese before letting Sebastian lead her away.

    "Mr. Ratcliff really would defend Ms. Meyer to the ends of the earth. He could turn ck into white if he wanted to..."

    "Shh, let it go. What can we do? This is Bridger Lake. No one messes with Ratcliff Global. If he wants to protect someone, there''s no stopping him."

    The buzz of gossip echoed in her ears as Sebastian shielded her from the crowd, leaning down tofort her.

    "I''m sorry, Sebastian. I dragged you into this," Sofia whispered, her eyes red from holding back tears. "I really didn''t know that data belonged to Reese."

    "It''s okay. None of this is your fault," Sebastian replied, his voice calm and steady. "I''ll take care of it. Don''t worry."

    Sensing that he didn''t me her, Sofia felt her heart settle a little. "Alright. I just don''t get why the professor is so determined to protect Reese. Does she really have some secret talent or something?"

    A trace of resentment flickered in her eyes.

    She''d turned down so many offers from other institutes when she came back home, choosing Clever Cloud and Dr. Dominic without a second thought.

 Chapter 43

    She never imagined that when it really mattered, Dominic would stand up for Reese. To protect her, he exposed what she did and then he went and kicked her out of the institute.

    "Sebastian."

    Elijah, walking a few steps behind them, nced over and said quietly, "Standing next to n is Mr. Peter Sanchez.

    "That''s Roman''s dad, remember? The boy we used to y with all the time as kids."

    "After Peter got promoted, their family moved away."

    Sebastian raised an eyebrow. His grandfather had once tried to use the Sanchez family''s connections to get him into the military, but after hearing Roman had been badly injured and discharged, he dropped the idea.

    Sebastian had seen Roman once more before his own wedding. That day, Roman had looked at him strangely, but when Sebastian asked why, Roman just brushed it off, acting like nothing was wrong.

    Sebastian always felt like Roman changed after leaving the military. They''d drifted apart, so he hadn''t stayed in touch.

    "Mr. Sanchez?" Sofia looked up, surprised. Even she had heard of Peter Sanchez -he was a big deal in the military.

    "What''s he doing here with n?"

    "They probably met in the service," Elijah said, thinking back. "I had someone look into n. He''s just a regr guy. He served in the army, then started ckOak with his discharge pay."

    "Now that Reese knows n is connected to Mr. Sanchez, do you think she''ll try to use that?"

    "Could be," Sebastian said, feeling annoyed as he remembered Reese''s recent moves. This was starting to getplicated.

    He needed to act faster. If Reese really got Peter''s support and decided to strike out on her own, it would be even harder to convince her toe home and rest during her pregnancy.

    Meanwhile, upstairs in a private booth overlooking the conference hall, Reese stood nervously in front of Peter Sanchez, letting him look her over.

    "Ms. Meyer, don''t be so nervous," Peter said kindly. "I came today just to meet you and talk about the next steps for the de project.

    "You''re saying this system can coordinate not only drone swarms and robot dogs, but also handle electronic warfare and countermeasures? Is that really possible?

    "How would you make that work?"

    As soon as the conversation turned to work, Reese''s nerves disappeared. She pulled her tablet from her bag, brought up her designs and data, and started exining.

    "We''d use our own navigation system and process a huge amount of data for Al signal recognition..."

    By the time she finished, Peter''s eyes were bright with excitement. He pped her on the shoulder, grinning. "Good. Really good. Let''s do it your way. If you need anything, just talk to n. I have another meeting, so I''ll leave you to it."

    "Sir, I''ll walk you out," n said quickly, getting up to follow.

    Once they were gone, Dominic reached out and tapped Reese on the forehead, obviously frustrated.

    "Look at yourself! Shaking like a leaf just because you met amander.

    "Where''s that old attitude of yours?

    "And what about today? If I hadn''t shown up, were you really going to let Sofia pin the giarism thing on you?"

    "You let things ge all the way out of hand and still didn''t expose Sofia for what she did. You just stood there and watched Sebastian spin the story however he wanted.

    "Reese, when are you going to stand up for yourself?"

    Reese''s throat tightened. She couldn''t get any words out.

    "You married well, didn''t you?" Dominic said, shaking his head in exasperation.

    "So why aren''t you letting your husband back you up?"

    Reese''s eyes filled with tears, but she managed a little smile. Her voice was as soft as a feather. "Professor, the person I married is Sebastian."

    Dominic froze, his hand still in the air,pletely stunned.

    "But I''m nning to get a divorce," Reese said, wiping her face. "I promise, something like this won''t happen again."

 Chapter 44

    Dominic''s eyes softened as Reese spoke. The disappointment and me faded, reced by a deep, heavy sigh.

    "This was your choice," he said quietly. "You gave up a master''s at MIT, left the research institute, just for someone like that. Do you regret it?"

    Reese''s eyes went red in an instant.

    Back then, marrying Sebastian was partly about having a child, partly because Mr. Ratcliff promised to invest in her uncle''spany. And most of all, she''d received nearly two million from the Ratcliff family aspensation.

    She''d wired that money overseas to Zach.

    Now, whether it was Zach or her son Robbie, all she got from them was coldness and contempt.

    Dominic saw the pain on her face. Even if he still felt let down, he just couldn''t bring himself to be harsh anymore.

    "All right, that''s enough. Focus on your work at ckOak. When this project''s done, I''ll be waiting for you back at the institute."

    "Okay, Professor."

    Those words eased some of the tension in Reese''s chest. She finally knew that in Dominic''s mind, her leaving the institute was finally in the past.

    She packed up her things and headed out.

    The elevator doors slid open. She paused when she saw the tall figure inside but stepped in anyway, pressing the button for the parking garage.

    "Tara''s pregnant," Zach suddenly said, breaking the silence.

    Reese nodded. "Congrats."

    She''d already guessed as much after seeing them at the hospital''s OB-GYN.

    "Her moods have been all over the cetely. You''ve done this before. Maybe you could check in on her sometime."

    Zach stared at the smooth back of Reese''s neck, then gave a sharp, mocking grin.

    "Do you ever regret breaking up with me for Sebastian?" he asked. "You''re on your second kid now, and he''s still showing off other women in public. He even embarrassed you for her. How did I never realize you were this patient?"

    A tight, suffocating feeling wound through Reese''s chest. She said nothing. As soon as the doors opened, she walked out quickly and made straight for her car.

    She gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. Only when the lights outside blurred did she finally let the tears fall.

    The next morning, Reese walked into the office and spotted several sales team members hurrying out.

    "What''s going on?" she asked as she clocked in at the front desk.

    "They''re running out to sign contracts," the receptionist said with a grin she couldn''t hide. "It''s weird. Companies that said they''d never work with us suddenly reached out."

    "Oh? Sounds like today''s our lucky day," Reese said, smiling back.

    So word had gotten out about the drama atst night''s event. Even if no one mentioned Sofia''s giarism directly, everyone seemed to be choosing ckOak.

    "Well, look who it is! Our superstar," n called, handing her a thick stack of paperwork. He looked genuinely pleased.

    "Perfect timing. Here''s everything for Horizon Logistics. They''re interested in using our dispatch system for drone deliveries, but there are still a few technical questions. Their rep''s in the meeting room now. Seal the deal for us."

    "On it." Reese grabbed the files and walked into the meeting room. She greeted Cooper from Horizon Logistics, sat down next to him, and opened herptop. Half an hourter-

    "Mr. Cooper, do you have any other questions about our route scheduling?" Reese asked.

    "Looks good to me." Cooper rested a hand on his round belly, drumming the table with the other. "Didn''t think you''d be this impressive, Ms. Meyer. You''re even better than the rumors say, so young and already running the show."

    "Rumors?" Reese frowned. Cooper hadn''t stopped staring at her since she walked in, and it made her skin crawl.

    "Yeah, you know the stuff about how you slept your way to the top. That''s all over the inte," he said, reaching for her hand.

    Reese pulled back and stood up. ¡°Mr. Cooper, please show some respect.¡±

    "Respect?" Cooper sneered. "Do you want this contract or not? I heard ckOak lost a bunch of partnerstely. Mr. Ratcliff sent me here to give you onest shot."

    This was Sebastian''s handiwork?

    Reese''s face turned cold.

    "We don''t need favors from you or anyone else."

    Just then the door opened and n strode in, moving to stand between them.

    "Take a message back to whoever sent you, Cooper. Whatever his ns are, Reese isn''t someone he can mess with. Please leave. ckOak has no interest in working with people like you."

    Realizing he''d lost, Cooper straightened his suit and left the room with a scowl.

    "Fine. This isn''t over."

 Chapter 45

    The door mmed behind him, rattling in its frame.

    n turned immediately, steadying Reese as she shook from head to toe.

    "Are you okay?"

    Reese just shook her head. Her fingers were ice cold.

    She reached for her phone and opened Twitter. The hashtags were everywhere: #ReeseSeducesMr.Ratcliff #Reese Drugged HerWayToTheTop.

    She clicked in, scanning the posts. There were only a handful of photos from the conference: one of her standing between Sebastian and Sofia, the three of them locked in a tense exchange, and another of Zach beside Sofia, mid-conversation.

    The photos themselves didn''t look like much. But thements underneath were brutal.

    "I''ve never seen anyone throw themselves at a guy so shamelessly. Mr. Ratcliff and Ms. Meyer are clearly together. What is she, desperate to be a third wheel? She''s got some nerve!"

    "Who even is this Reese? Trying to use Mr. Ratcliff''s name for clout? She must be desperate for attention, using such disgusting tricks. Gross."

    "Did you catch that guy in the background? That''s Mr. Wiles from Iron Financial. He says this Reese has been pulling the same act for years."

    "Drugging people? Seriously? She''s a repeat offender. That''s just nasty. Keep her away from Mr. Ratcliff and Ms. Meyer, please. She''s trash."

    "Look at her face in those pics. She''s totally trying to cause drama to get Mr. Ratcliff''s attention. ssic maniptor. Ugh."

    n gently took the phone from Reese''s hand. "Don''t read them any more. Thepany''s handling it."

    He''d just checked the files and realized they''d already closed a deal with Sofia. It didn''t make sense-so he''d searched online and found this storm brewing.

    "These are clearly paid trolls. Legal''s already sent out warnings, and PR is working on burying the trending tags."

    n let out a heavy sigh. No matter who was behind this, it was cruel. Nothing ruins a woman faster than a rumor about her morals.

    "Thank you," Reese said softly. Her hands trembled as she tried to pull herself together. "I need to get back to work."

    She forced herself to focus once she reached her office, diving into satellite testing and running algorithm checks for field operations. Anything to block out the noise.

    Suddenly, her phone rang. The sound was sharp and jarring. Reese''s heart jumped.

    "Reese, it''s Millie... The police took her!" Millie''s mom was crying, her voice breaking.

    "Please, slow down. What happened?"

    "The police came to our house. Ratcliff Global is using Millie of nder. They just took her away.

    "Reese, why would Millie get in trouble with Ratcliff Global? She already lost her job after Mr. Ratcliff said something, and now she can''t catch a break trying to start her own business."

    Reese felt a cold buzz in her head. Millie got fired because of Sebastian?

    It must have been that scene at the restaurant. Sebastian had wanted Millie to apologize to Sofia, but she refused. Was this his way of getting back at her? "Don''t worry. I''ll head to the station and see what''s going on."

    She grabbed her bag and hurried out. In the hall, she almost ran into n.

    "Reese, did you really marry Mr. Ratcliff?" n looked stunned. "There''s a marriage certificate going around online, but Ratcliff Global just denied it."

    Reese pulled up Ratcliff Global''s official Twitter. Theirtest post, from just half an hour ago, read:

    "Regarding the rumor that ''Ms. Reese Meyer is Mr. Sebastian Ratcliff''s wife''-this ispletely false. Mr. Sebastian Ratcliff, has no family ties to Ms. Meyer. Those responsible for spreading these lies are being dealt with by authorities."

    So Millie must have seen the rumors and tried to defend Reese by posting proof

    of her marriage to Sebastian. But Sebastian turned around and called it fake, even sued Millie for defamation.

    "n, I have to go. We''ll talk when I get back."

    Reese rushed to the elevator, hands shaking as she dialed Sebastian''s number again and again, but he never picked up.

    At the police station, she found the officer on duty. "My friend Millie was brought in. I''m here to find out what''s happening."

    The officer flipped through his records, looking uneasy. "Millie is being held for defamation. Since this involves Ratcliff Global, we can''t release her right now."

    Reese quickly handed over her ID.

    "Officer, I''m Reese Meyer. You can check my records. I really am married to Sebastian. Millie was telling the truth. She didn''t nder anyone."

    The officer took her ID and started typing at hisputer.

 Chapter 46

    The officer clicked away at hisputer, double-checking the records. After a moment, he looked up at Reese, a hint of sympathy in his eyes. Sure enough, the marriage between Reese and Sebastian Ratcliff was real. Who would''ve guessed Mr. Ratcliff actually tied the knot?

    But from everything he''d seen, Sebastian didn''t seem to like the woman in front of him. Maybe he even hated her. Why else would he go out of his way to clear things up on Ratcliff Global''s official ount, or call the cops on Mrs. Ratcliff''s friend?

    Of course, all this rich family drama was way above his pay grade.

    "It''s all confirmed, Mrs. Ratcliff," the officer said, handing Reese her ID back. "Since Millie didn''t spread any false rumors, we can process her release."

    "She''s not going anywhere."

    The ss doors swung open. Sebastian walked in,wyer at his side.

    Thewyer paused for a split second when he saw Reese, then brushed right past her to talk to the officer. "Officer, my client reported Millie because she posted their marriage certificate online without his permission. That''s a vition of his privacy and image rights. We hope you''ll take this seriously."

    Reese''s words tumbled out before she could stop them. "I told her to do it. I''m part of this too. I gave her my consent."

    "You gave her your consent?" Sebastian turned to Reese, his eyes cold. "Couldn''t wait to show off your title, huh?

    "Reese, don''t forget what we agreed on. This marriage was supposed to be a secret. Now look at the mess you''ve made. How do you think this makes Sofia look?

    ¡°She already got kicked out of Clever Cloud because of you. Are you gonna ruining her reputation too?"

    Sofia followed Sebastian in, a satisfied smirk on her lips as she slipped her arm through his. "Sebastian, I have you, and nothing anyone else does can touch me," she said softly, her eyes sliding over Reese with tant contempt.

    Sometimes Sofia almost felt sorry for Reese. Evenst night at the conference, when Dominic exposed that she''d stolen Reese''s work, Sebastian still found a way to protect her, making sure Sofia came out clean.

    Sofia always knew Reese would eventually cause a scene, but she never thought it would be something this dumb.

    So what if Reese posted her marriage certificate online? Did she really think that would change anything? As long as Sebastian refused to acknowledge it, he could sweep it under the rug in no time.

    Reese''s little outburst was only hurting Sofia''s reputation. Did she actually think Sebastian would let it slide?

    Sure enough, Sebastian''s voice was ice-cold. "Millie''s actions hurt Sofia. She''s got to take responsibility."

    "I''ll take it," Reese shot back, her voice steady and cold. She stepped in front of them. "Let Millie go."

    "You?¡± Sebastian let out a short, scornfulugh. He didn''t even look at her as he nodded at the officer. "Go ahead with the process."

    "Wait!" Reese rushed to block his way, her eyes zing as she looked up at him. "Sebastian, if you touch Millie, I''m gonna go public about what happened that night.

    "You might not know, but I filed a police report right after. There''s an official record and evidence."

    Sebastian pushed her aside, his face dark with anger. "Don''t get in the way of the police, Reese."

    "You really think I''d believe you?" His voice was full of mockery. "You''re the one who drugged me. Now you''re trying to act like the victim? Your tricks just keep getting worse."

    The whole room fell silent. All eyes were on Reese, some pitying, some mocking. The humiliation burned under their stares.

    "Sebastian, you bastard! Reese is pregnant. How could you push her like that!"

    A sharp tap of a cane echoed from the entrance. Mr. Ratcliff, dressed in a dark suit, walked in with the butler supporting him. He red at Sebastian, anger shing in his eyes.

    Sofia gripped Sebastian''s arm a little tighter and called softly, "Grandpa.¡±

    Mr. Ratcliff didn''t even look at her. He marched straight to Reese''s side and, as he passed Sebastian, brought his cane down hard on Sebastian''s shin.

 Chapter 47

    "This is between the two of you. Handle your rtionship problems yourselves. There''s no need to drag the police into it. It''s just wasting everyone''s time.¡±

    Mr. Ratcliff turned to the officer. "Officer, we won''t be pressing charges against Millie. Sorry for the trouble. Please wrap this up and let her go."

    "Of course. Please wait a moment."

    With Mr. Ratcliff making the call, the police didn''t hesitate. They signed the paperwork and went to get Millie from the back.

    Once the police and others were gone, Mr. Ratcliff finally nced at Sofia, but his words were for Sebastian.

    "I told you a long time ago to stay away from this woman. Don''t let her upset

    Reese. Reese''s pregnant. Now, look at this mess. You actually brought all this to the police station because of her.

    "The butler saw all that stuff online and called me. You''ve embarrassed the whole Ratcliff family."

    Sofia''s face went pale. She looked at Sebastian, but he just pressed his lips together and said nothing.

    Reese ignored the tension between grandfather and grandson, her eyes glued to the hallway.

    As soon as Millie came out, Reese rushed over and hugged her tight, her eyes already red.

    "Why did you have to be so impulsive? Why are you messing with him? If something had really happened, I wouldn''t have been able to protect you."

    "I''m sorry," Millie said, her voice trembling with tears. "I just saw all those nasty things people were saying online. I couldn''t help myself. I''m sorry for causing you trouble. It won''t happen again."

    Reese squeezed her tighter. After all, this had started because of her. Millie had stood up for her, even lost her job. How could Reese be mad at her?

    Mr. Ratcliff watched and sighed. "Let''s go home and talk."

    He looked at Sebastian. "You''reing too."

    Sebastian didn''t answer. ¡°Grandpa, you and Reese go ahead. I''ll take Sofia home first."

    Mr. Ratcliff red but didn''t say more.

    Reese handed her car keys to Millie. "Drive my car back and let your mom know you''re safe." Then she followed Mr. Ratcliff to the car.

    Back at the Ratcliff family house, under a ginkgo tree, Robbie was kicking the trunk, letting out his anger. Even though the Ratcliff Global PR team had covered up most of the rumors online, plenty of people still knew.

    All afternoon, Robbie had gotten calls from ssmates, all asking if Reese was really his mom. One kid even asked if he was the child from that old scandal.

    Robbie had never been so embarrassed in front of his friends. He med his mom for all of it.

    When he saw the car pull in, he stopped kicking and just stared, seething.

    As soon as Reese stepped out, Robbie ran over and kicked her in the shin.

    "Why did you have to tell everyone about you and Dad?

    "Now all my friends areughing at me!

    "Someone like you doesn''t deserve to be my mom!"

    Mr. Ratcliff, getting out right behind them, was startled by Robbie''s outburst and quickly called out, "Help Mrs. Ratcliff. Don''t let her fall!"

    Then he shot a look at Jane, who was standing off to the side. "Is this how you raise him?"

    Jane looked hurt and muttered, "Robbie''s not wrong, though..." Still, she grabbed Robbie and led him inside.

    "Are you alright?" Mr. Ratcliff asked, checking on Reese. "Robbie''s just acting out because Jane spoils him. Don''t take it to heart.

    "I''ll handle Sebastian and that woman. I won''t let you get hurt.

    "But you shouldn''t have brought up the past at the police station. In the end, it''s

    the Ratcliff family''s reputation that suffers."

    "Grandpa, you don''t need to worry about Sofia," Reese said quietly. "If Sebastian really cares about her, I''ll just step aside."

 Chapter 48

    "What did you just say?"

    Mr. Ratcliff stared at Reese, stunned, his voice turning cold. "You want to divorce Sebastian?"

    His eyes dropped to her stomach, his tone even icier. "That''s not happening. You''re carrying his child. Sebastian finally agreed to this. You two had through IVF for this baby."

    Reese felt something heavy settle in her chest. She''d thought that, given how bad things had gotten between her and Sebastian, Mr. Ratcliff would finally let her go. But apparently not.

    Seeing her face fall, Mr. Ratcliff tried to soften his voice. "I know you''ve been through a lot. But if you really want a divorce, at least wait until after you have the baby."

    Reese pressed her hand to her stomach, a bitterugh rising in her throat. So much for not letting her suffer. In the end, he was no different from Sebastian- they both saw her as nothing more than a tool for carrying their heir.

    Good thing she''d already gotten rid of the baby that never should have been hers. They''d only try to control her if she hadn''t.

    "Grandpa, after everything with Sebastian and Sofia, there''s no way I can stay with him.

    "No one even knows who I really am outside this house. Once we''re divorced, Sebastian can marry Sofia right away. You''ll have all the grandchildren you want."

    Mr. Ratcliff''s face turned hard, all his usual warmth gone. "I''m not agreeing to this. Remember, Ratcliff Global has done plenty for your uncle''s family over the years."

    "I hear he''s trying to win that big eastside project. If you just focus on the pregnancy, I''ll make sure he gets what he wants."

    Reese went stiff, her smile fading. Mr. Ratcliff hadn''t changed at all; he still knew exactly how to threaten her.

    But she wasn''t the same naive girl from seven years ago. She had proof that Sebastian had had his and Sofia''s embryo imnted in her.

    It was just a couple more weeks. Thewyers almost had all the evidence they needed. Once it was done, not even Mr. Ratcliff could stop her.

    The iron gates creaked open, and a sleek ck Bentley rolled to a stop beside them.

    Sebastian stepped out, looking even taller in his dark suit, his face as cold as

    ever.

    Mr. Ratcliff''s anger snapped to him. "You break it off with that woman, right now. Don''t make me get involved. If you keep this up, your wife''s going to leave you for real."

    Sebastian''s eyes flicked over to Reese, his lips curling in azy, dismissive smile. "Grandpa, she''s just mad. She won''t actually leave. Who else could give her the life she has with the Ratcliffs?"

    Mr. Ratcliff scowled. "Can you stop provoking her? You''re still trying to rile her up!"

    Reese listened to the two of them, feeling a wave of disgust. She couldn''t stand to be here another second, let alone argue with Sebastian.

    She forced a small smile at Mr. Ratcliff and said, her voice rough, "Grandpa, I''ve got somewhere to be. I''m heading out."

    She walked out of the old house, called a rideshare, and as soon as she got in the car, her phone buzzed.

    Her uncle Dylon''s worried voice came through. "Reese, someone''s offered a huge amount for that old townhouse your mom left you."

    "I''m not selling it." She didn''t even have to think about it. "You know I never would."

    She nced at her phone, frowning. People had tried to buy that ce before, but Dylon always turned them down as he knew it was all she had left from her mom. It''s the ce that had been their only home once they''d left the Meyer family.

    Dylon hesitated. "But Reese, the buyer is Sebastian. We can''t afford to upset him. And I''ve been hoping to get the Ratcliffs'' help with the eastside project. Maybe we should just agree-it''s all in the family, right?"

    Not for much longer.

    Reese rubbed her forehead, baffled at why Sebastian suddenly wanted her mom''s house.

    "I don''t care who wants it¡ªI''m not selling. I''ll talk to Sebastian myself."

    Back at the Ratcliff estate, Mr. Ratcliff sat in his ornate armchair, watching his grandson sip tea with a nk expression. All he could do was sigh.

 Chapter 49

    "Can''t you just give it a rest with that woman and let Reese have a peaceful pregnancy? Everything else can wait until after the baby is born.

    "If you need someone with skills, why not just have her work at yourpany?

    "I heard she''s been working on a traffic management system at ckOak and it''s getting some pretty good reviews.

    "She''s obviously talented. If you hadn''t kept her cooped up at home thesest few years and cut her off from her studies, she probably could''ve gone a lot further.

    "And right now is a critical moment for thepany''s transition. I''ve heard ckOak has connections with the military. You could use her to get a foot in the door."

    Sebastian took a sip of tea, his voice cold and indifferent. "You''re giving her too much credit, Grandpa."

    "That system was already in development before she even joined ckOak. n just let her take the spotlight because of our family''s name.

    "She might have had some real skills in school, but it''s been years. She''s out of practice.

    "She''s not going to be able to rece Sofia."

    Just then, Sebastian''s phone rang. He nced at the screen, a glint of sarcasm in his eyes as he handed the phone to Mr. Ratcliff.

    "See? She''s just bluffing. Now that she sees we''re not begging her to stay, she calls."

    He got up and walked out to the balcony, only picking up at the veryst second.

    "Yeah?"

    "Sebastian, I''m not selling my mom''s house. Don''t even bother," Reese said, her voice edged with anger. Sebastian raised his eyebrow, just barely.

    "I''m not buying it for myself. I''m doing a favor for someone else. Name your price. Sell it to me, and I''ll buy you something even better."

    Before Reese could say anything, he hung up. The busy tone buzzed in her ear, making her frown.

    A favor for someone else? Who could order him around like that? Sofia? Or... Grace?

    Of course it had to be her.

    Grace always said she loved that house. She must have known Reese would never agree to sell, so she asked Sebastian to step in.

    Reese bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before dialing a number she hadn''t called in years.

    She set up a meeting with Grace.

    Reese got there ten minutes early, only to find Grace already waiting. Grace was dressed to the nines, all smiles from the second Reese walked in.

    "What do you really want?" Reese asked as she sat down and ordered a coffee. "You know I''m not selling that house."

    Grace stirred her coffee slowly. "Back when Marie was picking a ce to live, I had my eye on that house. But Bailey picked her over me."

    "Now that Sofia''se back and wants to settle down by Bridger Lake, I need to set her up with a few ces."

    Hearing her mom''s name, Reese gripped her mug, fighting the urge to throw her coffee at Grace. She could tell Grace was determined to get that house.

    "If you want the house, have Bailey ask me himself."

    Grace''s smile faded as Reese stood up to leave. She knew Bailey felt guilty about his daughter. If Grace pushed, not only would he refuse, he''d probably tell her to stop bothering Reese altogether.

    As Reese walked away, Grace''s eyes turned cold. She took out her phone and made a call.

    For the next few days, neither Sebastian nor Uncle Dylon reached out to Reese about the house. She figured they''d finally dropped it. After all, Grace would never have Bailey know she''de to Bridger Lake.

    Reese pulled two all-nighters to finish the prototype for the project n had given her.

    When n saw the model on herptop, he nodded. "Nice work. It''s just about what we expected. They want to integrate this system with Ratcliff Global''s ''The Vault''."

    n already knew about Reese''s messy history with Sebastian and hesitated. "Of course, if you''re notfortable, we can always partner with someone else."

    He pushed a stack of folders toward her. "Here-check these out. These are the alternatives we''re considering."

 Chapter 50

    Reese''s hand shook a little as she clung to her coffee mug, eyes flicking over the files on her desk.

    n didn''t say a word. He just waited quietly beside her.

    It was at least fifteen minutes before Reese finally rubbed at her tired brow.

    She knew n was giving her time because he respected her, but she didn''t want her personal mess to mess up the team''s ns.

    "From what I can see, Ratcliff Global''s ''The Vault'' is our best shot at making the system work. I''m just on the tech side. I don''t have to deal with him much, so it''s fine," she said.

    n nodded, clearly happy with her answer. He nced at the dark circles under

    her eyes.

    "The project can wait. Go get some rest," he told her gently.

    Reese nodded, her fingers hovering over the keyboard, but her energy was already gone. She dragged herself out of theb, legs feeling heavy as lead. When she woke up again, the sky outside was streaked orange and gold.

    She reached for her phone and noticed a bunch of missed calls from Dylon. Her heart skipped. Had something happened?

    Mr. Ratcliff''s threats shed through her mind, along with Sebastian acquiring that old property she had. She called Dylon back in a hurry.

    "Uncle, sorry I missed your calls. Is everything okay at home?"

    But Dylon just sounded cheerful as ever. "There she is! Finally answered. Are youing home for dinner? Your aunt made your favorite soup."

    Reese felt her whole body rx. "I''lle now."

    She pushed open the door. "Uncle Dylon, Aunt Rosie, I''m home!"

    Zach was sprawled on the couch, scrolling through his phone. Reese paused mid- step to change her shoes.

    From the kitchen, she heard pots nking. Rosie was busy at the stove, apron tied tight, while Tara sprinkled salt into the soup.

    Tara grinned when she saw her. "Reese, you''re back! Sit down. Dinner''s almost ready."

    "Where''s Uncle?" Reese asked. "Need a hand with anything?"

    "He went out to get your favorite roast duck," Rosie said, wiping her hands on her apron and gently nudging Reese out of the kitchen. "Just rx, we''ve got it covered."

    Reese sank into an armchair in the living room and pulled out her phone to answer a few work messages.

    Zach watched her for a moment before speaking up, voice low. "I didn''t think the conference rumors would spread. If you want, I can clear things up."

    Reese didn''t even look at him. She knew exactly what rumors he meant-the ones about her sleeping her way up. From the guy who started them, there was nothing she wanted to hear.

    The light from her phone made her face look even colder.

    Zach kept staring, openly curious, but Reese just kept typing, pretending not to notice.

    The front door opened with a click and Dylon walked in, carrying a paper bag. He nced at Zach, then at Reese, his brow tightening just a bit.

    But then he smiled wide at Reese. "Hey, you''re here! I just picked up the roast duck. It''s still hot."

    Rosie came out of the kitchen with a steaming bowl. "Perfect timing. Go wash up, everyone. Dinner''s ready."

    The table was loaded with all of Reese''s favorites-pork ribs, meatloaf, Shepherd''s Pie, and the roast duck, golden and glossy.

    Reese looked around, a little confused. "What''s going on? Is today some kind of special asion?"

    Rosie''s hand stopped over a dish.

    Tara dropped a rib in Reese''s bowl. "You haven''t been home in forever. We just wanted to make you something you like. Eat up."

    Reese shot Tara a puzzled look, but she understood. She smiled. "Guess I''d better take advantage of it, then."

    After dinner, Dylon picked at his teeth and pulled a stack of papers from his briefcase. "Reese,e with me to the study for a sec. Got some documents for you to sign."

    Reese remembered the Eastside project and followed him in.

    "Sorry. I''ve been swamped and haven''t talked to Sebastian yet about Eastside,¡± she said.

    "But..." She rummaged in her bag for her wallet, ready to hand over the money she''d scraped together. There was Millie''s bonus, n''smission, even an advance on her sry. It had taken a lot to pull that cash together.

    "No need," Dylon said, waving her off. He pulled out some documents. "I know you''re busy. I already found an investor for Eastside. You don''t have to worry about it.

    "Just look at these transfer agreements."

    "Transfer agreements?" Reese echoed, picking them up to read.

    Sure enough, they were share transfers. Dylon and Rosie were signing over their sixty percent stake in Ramos Corporation to her. With the shares Reese already had, she now owned fifty-seven percent of thepany.

    "Why are you giving this to me?" Reese asked, confused. She was already the legal rep and had fifteen percent. She always thought the rest would go to Tara.

    Dylon gave a crooked smile. "I know it hasn''t been easy for you. The Ramos family''s done well enough thanks to your connection. That''s plenty for your aunt and me to retire on."

    "Your sister''s expecting, and things with Zach are set. She''s got someone to rely on now. I just want to make sure you''re good too."

 Chapter 51

    "With this, the Ratcliff family won''t ever look down on you."

    Reese felt a wave of emotion rise in her chest. Dylon must have heard the rumors going around. She didn''t argue anymore. She picked up the pen and signed her

    name.

    Dylon smiled, satisfied, and put the documents away.

    "Don''t worry. I''ll get the Eastside project for sure. I won''t let your grandfather and your mom''s hard work go to waste."

    Knowing Dylon had everything under control, Reese finally rxed. She left his house, went home, and fell straight into bed.

    But as the days dragged on, unease started to creep in.

    If Reese knew anything about Sebastian, it was that he always got what he wanted, no matter what. This time, Sofia had her eye on the old courtyard house. If Reese said no, Sebastian would just find another way. Still, he hadn''t reached out to her at all these days.

    After work one evening, Reese found herself driving down that familiar narrow alley, almost without thinking.

    She hadn''t even reached the door when she heard the banging and crashing of walls being torn down.

    She pushed the gate open. Her heart raced.

    Her mother''s embroidered tapestry was lying on the floor, covered in muddy footprints. The old chair she''d climbed as a kid was broken in a corner. Even the orchid her mom had cared for was ripped out, dumped in the trash.

    "Stop!"

    Reese rushed in, shoving a worker aside. ¡°This is my house! Who told you you could touch any of this?"

    Grace appeared, wearing a navy dress, looking totally unbothered.

    "I told them to. The house is in Sofia''s name now. Of course we''re redecorating to her taste."

    "No way." ." Reese red at her. "My mom left this ce to me. I never agreed to sell it."

    Grace just snorted, pulled a folder out of her bag, and tossed it at Reese''s feet.

    "Take a look."

    Reese picked it up, flipped it open, and there it was. Sofia''s name was on the deed, staring back at her.

    When did she ever sign anything? How did they get the title transferred?

    As if reading her mind, Grace snatched the deed from her hands, tucking it away with a smirk.

    "You really thought not selling would stop me from getting this house?

    "You honestly have no idea, do you?

    "You''re already on the list of people who defaulted on their debts. This ce went

    up for auction a few days ago. We bought it for less than eighty million."

    Reese just stood there, frozen.

    The house had been auctioned off? How could she not know?

    Her hands shaking, she pulled out her phone and searched the court''s website.

    Within minutes, she found it. Ramos Corporation was bankrupt and being liquidated. All her assets were being seized.

    Her heart dropped. She checked the bidding results for the Eastside project. An unfamiliarpany had won, and Dylon was listed as the owner.

    She''d been yed. Her uncle and Sebastian had set her up. They''d tanked Ramos Corporation, dumped a mountain of debt on her, all so Sofia could get her hands on the courtyard house?

    "Why? Why would he do this?" Reese whispered, clutching her chest, feeling like she couldn''t breathe.

    Then something clicked. She grabbed Grace''s arm, her voice desperate. "Where''s my mom''s wooden box? The rosewood one with the rose pattern?"

    That box held her mother''s diaries-stories of her parents, her childhood, and the only surviving photo.

    Grace yanked her arm away, annoyed. "I threw it out. Who wants to keep that old junk?"

    "Where?" Reese demanded.

    "Over there." Grace waved at a messy pile in the corner.

    Reese dropped to her knees and started digging through the scattered boxes.

    She didn''t even notice when a nail cut her finger. She tossed clothes aside, shook out books, swept aside dust in the corners, but the wooden box was gone.

    "No... Where is it? How could it just disappear?"

    She sank to the floor, tears streaming down, her sobs breaking free.

    That box meant the world to her mom. Every night before bed, her mom would read to her from those diaries, telling her their family''s story, cherishing every memory.

    Outside, a car engine rumbled closer and stopped.

    Sebastian helped Sofia step over the threshold, his eyes darkening at the mess.

    Sofia nced at Reese, smirked for a split second, then looked away. She looped her arm through Grace''s and headed upstairs. "Mom, let''s see how we''ll redo the second floor."

    Sebastian stayed where he was, staring at Reese still on the floor.

    Her hair was tangled, her face streaked with tears and dust, blood trickling down her knees.

    He walked over and offered his hand. "You''re still pregnant. If you want something, just tell me. There''s no need for this scene."

    Smack!

    The p echoed through the courtyard.

    Reese red up at him, voice trembling with rage. "Sebastian, I hope you rot in hell."

    Sebastian''s head snapped to the side. He looked at her, shock shing in his eyes.

 Chapter 52

    This was the first time Sebastian had ever seen Reese this furious. The woman in front of him had eyes rimmed red with anger. She''s nothing like the quiet, gentle person he remembered. In a strange way, it was almost intriguing.

    Reese pulled her hand out of his grasp and stopped paying him any attention. She bent over and kept digging through the wooden box.

    Sebastian pressed his tongue to his sore cheek, frowning. "If you keep making a scene, it''s going to get ugly for everyone. Tell me what you''re looking for-I''ll have someone get it for you."

    "I don''t need your fake sympathy."

    Her voice was rough, almost broken. "Ever since you teamed up with my uncle and sold this ce to Sofia, every word out of your mouth has been nothing but lies to me."

    Sebastian''s eyebrows drew together, like her words bothered him, but his tone stayed cool. "I just promised Dylon I''d help him with the Eastside project. How he convinced you or what he did-I didn''t ask and I don''t care."

    "Of course you don''t." Reese let out a sharp, bitterugh that sounded like shattered ss. "In your eyes, I''m probably not even worth as much as some stray dog on the street."

    Sebastian didn''t respond, just watched her with that nk look, like she was a little kid throwing a fit.

    "Mom, whose photo is this?" Sofia''s voice floated down from the attic. "Mom, look! Who is this? She''s so pretty!"

    Reese froze. She looked up, suddenly remembering her mother''s portrait was up there in the attic.

    She scrambled to her feet and rushed toward the living room. She couldn''t let Sofia and Grace touch her mother''s photo.

    But Sebastian grabbed her wrist. His voice was as cold as ever. "Stop it. Let me take you home."

    "Let go!"

    Reese tried to pull away, but his grip was like steel. No matter how she twisted or struggled, he wouldn''t let go. All she could do was stand there, tense and helpless, listening to the noisesing from upstairs.

    Then came Grace''s voice, dripping with disgust. "What''s so great about that? Just throw it away! Keeping pictures of dead people around is just bad luck."

    "Okay," Sofia replied, her voice sweet and fake, cutting right through Reese.

    A secondter-a loud crash.

    The sharp sound of ss breaking exploded in the courtyard.

    Reese watched in horror as the familiar picture frame tumbled from upstairs, her mother''s gentle smile falling with it, smashing against the stone floor.

    The frame shattered. ss flew everywhere. On the ruined photo, Marie''s face was shed by the broken ss, her smile wiped away.

    Sebastian''s grip loosened for a split second. He stared at the wreckage on the ground, his eyes dark and unreadable.

    "Get away from me!"

    Reese shoved Sebastian aside with all her strength and dropped to her knees in front of the broken portrait. Her hands shook as she picked through the ss, carefully gathering the ruined photo and holding it tightly to her chest.

    "Sebastian, what''s going on?"

    Sofia came down from the attic, noticing the strange look Sebastian was giving Reese. It made her uneasy.

    "Reese? Why are you still here?"

    Grace''s voice rang out, and Reese looked up, her eyes wild and red, like a mother animal backed into a corner. She stared at the woman behind Sofia with raw hatred.

    "What are you looking at me like that for?" Grace scowled. "This isn''t your house anymore. Get out, or I''ll call the cops."

    "You should be the ones leaving! This is my mother''s house. I never agreed to sell

    it!"

    Reese finally snapped. She lunged at Grace. They had ruined her mother''s house; she couldn''t let them stay another second.

    "Ah! Reese, what are you doing?"

    Sofia jumped in front of Grace, trying to push Reese away.

    But Sebastian was faster. He stepped in, grabbed Reese''s wrist, and before anyone could stop him, he flung her arm aside.

    Reese was already teetering at the edge of the steps. With that sudden shove, she lost her bnce. She didn''t even have time to scream before she crashed backwards, her tailbone mming into the stone steps. The pain was so sharp, her vision went ck, cold sweat breaking out all over her back.

    She gasped, trying to sit up, but her ankle throbbed with pain. She couldn''t move couldn''t even stand. All she could do was look up at the three of them looming over her.

    "Why..."

 Chapter 53

    Reese''s voice shook so hard she could barely get the words out. The tears finally broke loose, streaming down her face andnding on the photo she clutched to her chest.

    "My mom is gone! Why can''t you just leave her things alone? Why do you have to take thest bit of her I have left?!"

    Her eyes were wild. They were sharp as broken ss, burning with a fury that made Grace and Sofia stumble back. For a second, it looked like she might actually explode.

    "Reese, calm down."

    Sebastian stood at the top of the steps, looking down at her like she was some stranger causing trouble.

    "Go home. We''ll talk when you''ve calmed down."

    "Talk? What''s there left to say?"

    Reese let out augh that sounded more like a sob. "Sebastian, Grace, you just made me your enemy. I''ll never forgive you."

    Grace shrank back, rattled by the look in Reese''s eyes. "Someone call the police! Reese has lost it¡ªshe''s going to hurt us!"

    Her hands shook as she grabbed her phone and dialed 911.

    Sebastian tried to stop her but he was toote. His voice went t and cold.

    "You''re rushing things. We agreed. Reese woulde pick up her mom''s things before anyone touched the house."

    "Sebastian, that''s not fair." Sofia reached for his arm but he pulled away, his eyes shing with a hint of hurt.

    "When we signed the paperwork, Dylon said they''d pick up everything within three days. But nobody showed. We thought maybe they didn''t want the old stuff anymore, so we started clearing it out. It''s not like we knew she''d show up like this

    "So now it''s my fault?" Reese''s voice was all poison as she red at Sofia. "You transferred the house behind my back. You tossed my mom''s things like they were garbage. You smashed her portrait. And you never even asked me."

    "Who called the police?"

    Footsteps sounded at the gate, sirens fading as two officers stepped inside.

    "I did!" Grace called out, pointing at Reese, who was still on her knees in the dirt. "Officer, she broke into our yard and tried to attack my daughter! Please-arrest her before she hurts someone!"

    Reese looked up at the officers, but when she saw Roman, she quickly looked away.

    Roman took in the scene, his gaze pausing on Reese, then moving to Sebastian. His face was hard to read.

    Sebastian met his eyes but didn''t say a word, just nodded stiffly.

    The other cop stepped forward, reaching out a hand. ¡°Ma''am,e with us to the station."

    Reese jerked away from his grip and pushed herself up, wobbling on her feet. Her eyes were red and fierce as she stared at the people on the steps.

    "I won''t forgive any of you!"

    "Did you hear that?" Grace shouted, voice shrill. "She''s threatening us! She needs to be punished!"

    She''d noticed the look between Sebastian and Roman. If Reese got charged, the Ratcliffs would never stand by her. Not with a record.

    With the officer''s help, Reese limped toward the gate. She looked back at Sebastian, her eyes full of pure hate. There was no softness left in her at all, and Sebastian looked away, frowning.

    "You really crossed the line this time." Roman came up beside Sebastian, his tone sharp. "She''s still your wife. How can you stand there and let them do this to her?"

    Sebastian shot him a cold look. "She drugged me and tricked me. She doesn''t deserve to be my wife."

    "You think she wanted this?"

    Roman watched as Reese was half-carried out by a female officer. Her ankle was swollen. There was dirt and dried tears on her face.

    He remembered the first time he met her-beaten down but still defiant. His mouth twisted.

    "She called the cops on you for rape. If your grandfather hadn''t covered it up, you''d be in jail right now. You think she wanted to marry you after that? You think she wanted any of this?"

    This was exactly why Roman hated these rich families. They crushed anyone who got in their way-even someone like Reese.

    "What did you just say?"

    Sebastian turned sharply, staring at Roman, disbelief all over his face.

    Reese called the police back then?

    Was it possible she hadn''t drugged him after all?

 Chapter 54

    "I said stop pushing her around."

    Roman shot Sebastian a cold look. "All that evidence Reese collected back then is still in her hands Don''t corner her, Sebastian. Even the kindest person will fight back if you push them too far."

    Sebastian swallowed, searching for words that wouldn''te.

    So Reese had nothing to do with him being drugged that night? She hadn''t forced him into marriage¡ªshe''d actually called the police?

    Then why hadn''t she exined herself?

    No, that wasn''t true. She''d exined a thousand times over thest seven years. He was the one who never listened, never believed her. In his mind, Reese was always the kind of woman who''d do anything to get what she wanted.

    So he''d ignored her, pushed her away, and even...

    Thinking of the baby Reese was carrying, Sebastian''s hand trembled.

    "Sebastian.¡± Roman pped him on the shoulder. "Since we''re old friends, let me say this onest time. If you don''t love her, let her go. Don''t drag this out."

    Sebastian snapped back to the present, remembering how Reese had brought up divorce. The word echoed in his mind, leaving him restless.

    Did she really want a divorce? Was she willing to walk out and leave even the kid behind?

    No way. Reese was probably just upset about how close he''d gotten to Sofiately. She''d threatened divorce before, but she hadn''t brought it up again. Had she?

    Still, maybe this time, she really was done.

    He hadn''t expected Dylon to short Ramos Corporation for the Eastside project, forcing Reese into debt, just to get the house signed over to Sofia.

    "Sebastian."

    Sofia came up beside him, her pale hand wrapping around his arm. ¡°I''m sorry. My mom only called the cops because Reese scared her-she didn''t mean for things to go this far.

    "She never thought Reese would threaten us right in front of the police.

    "I''m really sorry, Sebastian. What are we supposed to do now?"

    Sebastian didn''t even look at Sofia. He gently pulled his arm away and turned to Grace, his voice cool.

    "What was she looking for before?"

    He''d always been polite around Sofia and her mother-never cold like this.

    Grace frowned. "Some rosewood box."

    "Could you help us find it, please?"

    He nced at Sofia. "I''ll send someone to pick you up."

    Without another word, Sebastian walked to his car and drove off. Sofia''s face darkened. "Mom, you went too far. If Mr. Ratcliff hears about this, Sebastian''s going to me me."

    "Don''t be silly," Grace said, patting her daughter''s hand. "Mr. Ratcliff has told Sebastian to break up with you before. Did he ever listen?"

    Sofia bit her lip, but inside, she was uneasy. The way Sebastian had looked at her

    just now kept ying in her mind; he''d never seemed so distant before.

    Outside the police station, Reese followed Roman out of the car.

    "Wait."

    Sebastian pulled up and strode toward them. "There''s been a misunderstanding. I want to drop the charges."

    Roman raised an eyebrow and nced at Reese.

    A cold wind lifted the hair from Reese''s forehead, exposing the cut above her brow that was still bleeding.

    Reese looked Sebastian dead in the eye. "You''re not the one who called the police. You can''t drop the case."

    She hadn''t known anything about what Dylon was up to. The only way she could protect herself was to tell the police everything, get it on record, and prove that Dylon was trying to bankrupt Ramos Corporation on purpose. That was her only shot at getting the house back.

    Sebastian frowned. "Reese, don''t-"

    "Mr. Ratcliff," Reese interrupted, her voice steady. "This is my problem. It has nothing to do with you."

    Roman watched her walk away, then looked at Sebastian and just shrugged before heading inside after her.

    Sebastian sat in his car, staring through the windshield at the police station''s entrance. Cigarette butts littered the ground. His chest felt tight, his thoughts all tangled up.

    He knew that as long as Grace didn''t press charges, Reese wouldn''t be charged with trespassing. Still, he couldn''t shake the worry gnawing at him.

    "Get out."

    Someone knocked on the window. Sebastian turned and saw Mr. Ratcliff standing there, leaning on his cane.

    "Grandpa? What are you doing here?"

    Sebastian got out and hurried to steady him.

    "How could I not show up when things have gotten this bad?" Mr. Ratcliff snapped, shooting him a re. "Can''t you treat Reese better? No matter what, she''s Robbie''s mother-and she''s pregnant.

    "You took her family home for a mistress, dragged her into police trouble, and even let her get hurt. Aren''t you afraid she''ll do something drastic if you keep pushing her like this?"

 Chapter 55

    Sebastian pressed his lips together. "Grandpa, Reese didn''t drug me back then. Why didn''t you ever tell me?"

    "You already know?" His grandfather let Sebastian help him into the police station.

    "I do." Sebastian nced at the interrogation room. "I heard she even called the police that year, but you covered it up, didn''t you? And her marrying me was your arrangement too, right? Why did you keep quiet all these years?"

    "Sebastian, does knowing the real story really change anything for you?"

    Just then, the door to the interrogation room swung open and Reese walked out, flexing her wrist.

    Sebastian opened his mouth. He wanted to say it did matter, that if he''d known the truth, he wouldn''t have hated her, wouldn''t have let her go through all that pain. But when he met her eyes-cold, mocking, so distant-every word died in his throat.

    "Reese, I''m sorry," Mr. Ratcliff said, brushing off Sebastian''s hand and moving toward her, eyes drifting to her belly. "Come back to the house with me. Don''t bother with this foolish boy. Tomorrow, I''ll take you to the hospital myself and make sure the baby is alright."

    Sebastian looked down. "I''ll make time to go with you tomorrow."

    Reese stared at the two of them, suddenly feeling like the whole thing was a joke.

    They never cared about her. All they cared about was the child she was carrying.

    If she was really that baby''s mother, maybe she''d feel lucky. But this child had nothing to do with her at all.

    If they found out she''d gotten rid of it weeks ago, what would their faces look like then?

    Just two more weeks. That was all she needed.

    "No, Grandpa. I''m fine," Reese said, stepping back to avoid Mr. Ratcliff''s hand. She looked straight at Sebastian.

    "Sebastian, let''s get a divorce."

    She''d had enough. She couldn''t take one more day of this.

    Even if she didn''t have all the evidence to prove Sebastian was just using her as

    a surrogate, just exposing what she knew would be enough to ruin him.

    "You can''t get divorced!"

    Right then, Dylon and Rosie came rushing in, having just gotten out of their car. They exchanged a quick, worried look.

    "Reese, don''t do anything rash!" Rosie hurried over. "Every couple has fights. Don''t talk about divorce so easily. Your uncle and me are

    alway

    ys here for you. Let''s just talk it out, okay?"

    She reached for Reese''s arm, dropping her voice. "Reese, think about the family business. Think about how much the Ratcliffs have helped us. You can''t just walk away from this."

    Reese ignored her, stepping aside and turning her sharp gaze on Dylon. "Ramos Corporation is already bankrupt. You still need the Ratcliffs'' help?"

    "Haven''t you leeched enough off me all these years? Can''t you even leave me thest thing my mom left behind?"

    Dylon started to sweat. "Reese, I didn''t have a choice. In Bridger Lake, if Mr. Ratcliff wants something, he gets it."

    And honestly, he needed Sebastian''s help tond the east side project. If

    Sebastian wanted the house, he could have it.

    Catching Mr. Ratcliff''s icy re, Dylon quickly changed his tone. "Reese, I''m your uncle. I raised you all these years. You know how important that project is to me..."

    "So what? Me, my mom, Grandpa, even Ramos Corporation-we''re all worth less than some real estate deal to you?"

    Reese let out a coldugh. "I''m not letting you off the hook for what you did to Ramos Corporation."

    "Reese, wait!" Dylon tried to chase after her as she marched out of the station.

    "Let her go," Rosie snapped, her face souring as she watched Reese leave. "That house is already sold. Let''s see what she can do now."

    She shot Dylon a re. "I told you from the start, we never should''ve taken her in. We should''ve sent her

    back to the Meyers in Brookfield. But §Ü§ä§à

    no, you had to keep her, and now

    look-this is the girl we raised."

    "Brookfield?" Sebastian stepped out just in time to catch their conversation, his brows knitting in confusion. What did Reese have to do with the Meyers in Brookfield?

    "Well." Rosie forced a smile. "Bailey Meyer is her father. You married Reese, so

    the Ratcliffs are basically connected to the Meyers now."

    "Reese is Bailey''s daughter?" Disbelief shed in Sebastian''s eyes.

    So... Sofia was actually her half-sister.

 Chapter 56

    Sebastian turned and nced over to the street corner where Reese was waiting for the light. She was five months pregnant now, but you wouldn''t know it by looking at her. If anything, she seemed thinner than before.

    He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and let the smoke drift as he watched Reese cross the street and vanish around the corner.

    He was just now realizing how little he truly knew her. He didn''t know why she''d agreed to marry him in the first ce. He didn''t know the real story with her and the Meyer family, either. Just today, he''d found out she was Sofia''s half-sister. No wonder she was so distant from her family and couldn''t stand Grace. Of course she''d lost it when they signed her mom''s old house over to Sofia.

    "Mr. Ratcliff?"

    Rosie''s voice pulled him back. She sounded careful, almost nervous. "Reese is just upset right now. We sold her mom''s house and she''s having a hard time, but she didn''t mean what she said. Please don''t take it personally.

    "We''ll talk to her, help her calm down. She''s not really going to divorce you."

    Sebastian didn''t answer. He just took another drag on his cigarette, eyes lingering on the spot where Reese had disappeared.

    Then he felt a sharp tap on his calf. Someone''s cane. "Why are you just standing here? Where''s Reese?"

    "Grandpa." Sebastian turned, voice rough.

    Mr. Ratcliff scowled. "You let her walk off like that? Go after her and apologize. Even if she wants a divorce, that can wait until after the baby is born."

    "Got it, Grandpa."

    Sebastian watched his grandfather climb into the car, say his goodbyes to Dylon and his wife, then drive off.

    He sat in the driver''s seat for a while, thinking, before calling Reese.

    "We''re sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavable..."

    A sh of surprise crossed his face. Did she block him?

    He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, scrolling through his contacts. Most of the people he knew who also knew Reese were really just his friends, not hers.

    Reese used to always leave a light on for him, no matter howte he got home. She''d just sit there quietly, waiting. But now, he realized, he didn''t even know who her friends were. Who did she talk to? Where did she go when she left the house?

    No-there was one person. Millie. Reese cared about her. They must have stayed in touch.

    Annoyed, Sebastian lit another cigarette and called Brady.

    "Find out where Millie lives. Check if Reese has been in touch with hertely."

    Finally, the ck Bentley pulled away from the curb. At the traffic light, Sebastian suddenly spun the car around and headed back.

    At home, Sofia was sitting on the rug with Robbie, helping him put together a robot model.

    "Aunt Sofia, did you and Dad fight?" Robbie asked.

    She hesitated, then nodded. The uneasy feeling she''d had all day hadn''t gone away. She''d even asked the housekeeper to bring over some of Reese''s mom''s things.

    "Me and your mom had a disagreement. It made your dad upset."

    "It must be Mom''s fault," Robbie said immediately. "Dad must be mad at Mom too."

    Sofia shook her head and gave a weak smile, not sure if she should tell him what really happened.

    "Don''t worry, Auntie. When Dad gets home, I''ll help you talk to him."

    Robbie''s attempt tofort her didn''t help much. Sofia still jumped a little when the front door opened.

    Sebastian walked in and nced at the mess of toys scattered everywhere, frowning. When Reese was home, the ce was always spotless. Now, clutter had crept in.

    Hearing Sebastian, Robbie looked up, gave Sofia a reassuring look, and ran over to hug his dad''s leg.

    "Dad, you''re finally home! Auntie''s been waiting for you."

    Sebastian ruffled Robbie''s hair, his tone unreadable. "Go pick up your toys. I need to talk to her."

    "Okay!"

    Robbie let go and smiled at Sofia, then started cleaning up.

    Sofia stood up, taking a small rosewood box from her bag.

    ¡°Sebastian, this is the box Ms. Meyer was looking for."

    She walked over, handing him the box, watching his face for any hint of a reaction.

 Chapter 57

    Sebastian took the wooden box and was surprised by how heavy it felt. The surface was covered with delicate vine patterns, the edges worn smooth and shiny from years of being handled.

    "This is something her mother left her," he said quietly.

    Sofia''s face went pale the moment she heard his words. Before she could figure out what to say, Sebastian continued, "Did you know her mother?"

    Sofia wobbled, panic shing in her eyes. "Sebastian, I... I didn''t really know Mrs. Meyer."

    "When my mother and I got to the Meyer house, she and her mom had already left."

    "So, you''re the result of her dad''s affair," Sebastian said, his voice so cold it made the room feel like winter.

    "Because you and your mom showed up, she and her mother had to leave the Meyer family and move out to Bridger Lake."

    "When you wanted to buy the cottage her mother left behind, what were you thinking?"

    "S-Sebastian..." Sofia stammered, shrinking back from his icy stare.

    "I didn''t know it was something her mom left her. My mom just liked the ce because of the location, that''s all. We really didn''t mean for any of this to happen."

    "If this has made things worse between you, I¡ªI can give the house back to her."

    Sebastian ran his fingers over the carvings on the box. "Sofia, the only reason I keep you around is because I need your skills.

    "I''ll admit you''re good at what you do, but there are plenty of people with the same abilities. Don''t get any ideas."

    Sofia''s face lost what little color it had left. "Sebastian, I swear I''m not-"

    "Set up a time with Dylon and get the deed transferred," Sebastian cut her off, his eyes like a frozenke. "I''ll help you find a new ce."

    Sofia''s lips trembled. She wanted to say something, but the look in his eyes shut her up. She nodded, digging her nails into her palm. "Alright. I''ll do it tomorrow."

    Her hand paused on the cold doorknob. She turned back to look at Sebastian.

    "I''m really sorry for causing so much trouble," she said softly.

    The carved door closed with a sharp click, the sound echoing through the empty house.

    Sofia stood on the stone steps outside, sneaking a nce back at the door. Minutes passed, but no one came after her.

    Bitterness and regret stung her eyes. After everything she''d done, Sebastian still didn''t see her. She''d made a huge mistake.

    She thought she could back Reese into a corner and force her to ask for a divorce, but all she''d done was make Sebastian care about Reese even more.

    Still, she was useful to him. If she was careful, maybe she''d get another chance.

    Sebastian stood in the entryway for a moment before finally walking in and setting the wooden box on the coffee table.

    "Dad?"

    Robbie had already picked up on the tension. His eyes were red as he asked, "Did Auntie do something to make you mad?"

    Sebastian looked down at his son''s face.

    "Do you like her that much?" he asked, his own voice sounding rougher than he expected.

    Robbie nodded, a little too hard. ¡°She buys me special-edition robots and always listens to my stories. She''s not like Mom. Mom just does chores and doesn''t even talk to me anymore."

    Sebastian felt a twist of pain in his chest.

    "She''s your mother," he said, pointing at the toys scattered everywhere. "Whenever she was here, she''d help you put all this away."

    Robbie suddenly realized something was off. "Dad, do you not want Auntie to be my mom?

    "But Grandma said if it weren''t for me, Mom never would''ve married you.

    "And Dad, I thought you don''t love Mom."

    Sebastian was silent, not knowing what to say. He ruffled Robbie''s hair. "Go have some fun."

    He headed upstairs to his study, pulled open a drawer, and took out the egg donation consent form.

    Staring at the signature on the paper, Sebastian''s brow furrowed. For the first time, he realized he might have done something he could never undo.

 Chapter 58

    The next day, Reese took a half-day off and went to the cemetery.

    A cool breeze carried the first hint of autumn, brushing against her cheeks as she crouched in front of Marie''s headstone. Her fingers traced the gentle, kind face in the photo, over and over.

    "Mom, Uncle Dylon tanked the familypany for a project. The courtyard house you left us is gone. They seized it and sold it to Sofia.

    "But don''t worry. I swear I''ll find a way to get it back.

    "What really breaks my heart is that Uncle could just throw away everything you and Grandpa built, all for one deal.

    "Mom, do you think family really doesn''t matter at all when money''s involved?"

    The woman in the photo smiled softly, but of course, offered no answer.

    Reese covered her face with her hands. All the pain she''d been holding back finally spilled over, hot tears slipping through her fingers.

    "Reese, I knew I''d find you here."

    A familiar voice, full of concern, made Reese freeze. She looked up to see Tara a few steps away, holding a bouquet of white daisies.

    "What are you doing here?" Reese''s voice was stuffy and blunt, her eyes cool.

    She didn''t buy for a second that Tara hadn''t known what Dylon was up to. Just like she didn''t believe Tara didn''t know how much it would hurt to see her and Zach together.

    Tara set the flowers next to the headstone. "I figured you''de. Some things don''t change you always came here whenever you were upset, even as a kid."

    "Reese, you''re grown up now. If you alwayse to Aunt Marie with your troubles, it would only worry her."

    Reese stared at her for a moment, pushing down the ache in her throat. "Where else am I supposed to go?"

    "You and your family are all I have left. And even you turned your backs on me." Some strange emotion flickered in Tara''s eyes. She spoke more softly.

    "I know about thepany. What my dad did was wrong. But you know how tough it''s been these past few years. He was never as capable as Aunt Marie. After she died, he had to keep thepany going by himself.

    "We were already about to go under. If he hadn''t taken that risk, and if he hadn''t gotten the Eastside project, thepany would''ve gone bankrupt anyway.

    "But now he has a newpany, and the project. Things will get better. I''ve already talked to everyone. You''ll get fifteen percent of the newpany. And after Ramos Corporation is liquidated, Zach and I will take care of whatever debts are left."

    She looked Reese right in the eye. "But the house is already in Sofia''s name. There''s just no way to get it back.

    "I can buy you a nice ce downtown, aspensation. Is that okay?"

    "Compensation?" Reese stood up, knees stiff from crouching too long. She wobbled a little before she found her bnce.

    "I don''t want yourpensation. I just want my mom''s house back."

    "I''ve talked to awyer. I didn''t know anything about what Uncle Dylon did. He set me up. And there''s something off about the way he emptied out thepany. I''m not just letting this go."

    Reese turned away, gaze passing through the scattered pines, only to meet a cold, steely stare.

    Zach was leaning against a camphor tree a short distance away, cigarette bnced between his fingers. Smoke curled around his sharp features, hiding his expression.

    Reese stepped to the side, trying to walk past him.

    "Still as ungrateful as ever, Reese."

    Zach''s voice was rough, edged with smoke. "Tara''s been up all night over you. She fought with the family, didn''t sleep, and even though she''s pregnant, she rushed out this morning to find you. Do you even care?"

    "She worries when you do. Even if you''re hurt by your uncle, that doesn''t mean you get to take it out on her.

    "Are you trying to make everyone feel sorry for you?"

    Reese stopped, lifted her head, and met his eyes with a bitter half-smile.

    "They set me up, ruined my reputation, handed my mom''s house to the person I

    hate most. And I''m not even allowed to feel hurt about it?

    "If you''re so generous, why did you fight tooth and nail to get back the Wiles family business in the UK?

    "You left me here alone, didn''t care what happened to me, watched me marry someone else, and ended up like this."

    Zach''s eyes narrowed. His knuckles went white around his cigarette, jaw tight with anger.

    "You really know how to hit where it hurts, don''t you, Reese?"

    "Zach!" Tara ran over and grabbed Zach''s arm, trying to hold him back before he lost his temper.

 Chapter 59

    ¡°Reese''s just in a bad mood. Don''t take anything she says too seriously."

    She turned to Reese, her face full of apology. "Reese, please don''t mind him. He''s just worried about me."

    Watching them, something clicked in Reese''s mind.

    That night with Sebastian-the night everything changed-the drink really had been spiked.

    And the only reason she''d gone over to toast Sebastian in the first ce was because her uncle had told her to. He''d said it was a chance to get closer to the Ratcliff family.

    Now her uncle tricked her into selling the house, all to get Sebastian''s support.

    So back then, could that drink also be...

    "Tara." Reese''s voice was tight. "Is there something you''re not telling me?"

    "What?"

    Tara nced at Zach, her eyes flickering for a moment.

    "Reese, what do you mean?"

    Reese stared at Tara for a long time, searching her face. Tara just looked calm, like she honestly didn''t know anything. Reese shook her head.

    "It''s nothing."

    Maybe she was overthinking it. Tara had already gone abroad by then. Even if Dylon had drugged the drink, Tara couldn''t have known, not from the other side of the world.

    Besides, her uncle might be bold enough to set her up, but he''d never dare cross Sebastian.

    The Ramos family was no match for the Ratcliffs.

    Tara let out a quiet breath. "Reese, I know you''re mad at Dad, but we grew up together. Don''t let thise between us, okay?

    ¡°It''s almost noon. Are you hungry? Want to go to that ce you used to love?"

    Before Reese could answer, her phone rang. It was n.

    "Reese, can youe back to the office?"

    "Your proposal got approved. They want you to lead the new R&D team."

    After she hung up, Reese gave Tara a quick smile. "Sorry, I have to go. Work stuff."

    Zach watched Reese walk away, then stubbed out his cigarette in the trash with a scoff. ¡°Look at her. You''d think the world owed her something. I don''t know why you worry about her."

    "Don''t say that."

    Tara pinched his arm a little, but there was a sparkle in her eyes.

    "She''s my sister. Of course I care.

    "And you know she''s always a little distant with everyone.

    "But I think she''s really mad this time. She even mentioned divorce."

    Zach''s eyes shifted. He put his arm around Tara''s shoulders as they headed down the steps. "Watch your step.

    "It''s her business. You don''t need to get involved. She didn''t even tell you when she married into the Ratcliff family."

    Reese left the cemetery. She nced back once, then got in her car and drove to ckOak.

    She parked and made her way to the elevator. From a distance, she spotted someone familiar and stopped.

    Sebastian stepped out of a ck Bentley. He looked like he''d been waiting for a while; there were several cigarette butts at his feet.

    "What are you doing here?"

    Reese looked at Sebastian. He stood in the light from the hallway, his features edged in a cool, pale glow.

    "Waiting for you."

    She didn''t say anything, just watched as Sebastian bent down and pulled a paper bag from the car. From it, he took out a polished wooden box, the surface carved with a swirling rose design.

    Reese took the box, her fingers brushing over the smooth wood. Her breath caught.

    She''d gone back to the house yesterday. Everything was a mess, and she''d searched everywhere for this box. She thought it was gone for good.

    "There''s something else."

    Sebastian handed her a red folder-the property deed. The bright cover stung her eyes. Reese opened it. Her name was listed as the owner, with today''s date.

    "I''ve got the workers restoring the house. If you have time, go see if it looks right. Tell them if anything''s off."

    "Thanks."

    Reese sniffed and looked up at Sebastian, her gaze steady. "But Sebastian, no matter what you do, I''m still divorcing you."

    She''d get the house back sooner orter. And if her mother''s keepsakes were really gone, she''d make sure Grace paid for it.

    Sebastian''s help saved her some trouble, but this whole mess started because of him. He''d already hurt her. Saying thank you was just the adult thing to do.

    "Why?" Sebastian frowned. "After you have the baby, I''ll stop interfering with your work."

    Reese gave a bitter smile. "Sebastian, I''m not just here to have your child."

 Chapter 60

    "What do you mean?" Sebastian narrowed his eyes at Reese.

    "Exactly what I said."

    Reese walked right past him into the elevator. "Sebastian, mywyer will be in touch about the divorce. Let''s not see each other again."

    Sebastian''s expression tightened. He stepped forward, about to say something, to clear things up.

    The elevator doors slid shut before he could. Reese kept her eyes down the whole time, not even looking at him.

    "Boss."

    Brady hurried over with Sebastian''s phone. "Ms. Meyer is calling."

    Sebastian didn''t answer. He just watched the elevator, staring at the floor numbers as they blinked up to the top.

    After a long moment, he finally took the phone from Brady. "Hello?"

    Whatever was said on the other end made his brow crease. "Alright. I''ll head back now."

    He''d barely hung up on Sofia when the phone rang again.

    "Did you find Reese?" Mr. Ratcliff sounded tired, but he wasn''t about to let it go. "Did you take her to the doctor? Is the baby okay?"

    "Yeah, I found her." Sebastian got in the car, hand pausing on the door before shutting it. "We did the checkup. The baby''s fine, you don''t have to worry."

    "I just dropped her off at work."

    "She went back to work?" Mr. Ratcliff clearly didn''t approve. "Why didn''t you take her home to rest?"

    Sebastian stared out the window at the city rushing by, his voice a little t. "Grandpa, who do you care about more-Reese, or the baby?"

    There was a pause. "Obviously, the Ratcliff family''s grandsones first."

    His grandfather''s tone got sharper. "Listen to me, Sebastian. You need to stop messing around with that woman. Don''t upset Reese, and stop talking about divorce. Even if you two end up splitting, it can wait until after the baby''s born."

    "Grandpa, I''m not divorcing her."

    The words came out before Sebastian could stop himself, like he''d finally let go of something heavy weighing on his chest.

    No matter what his reasons were for marrying Reese in the first ce, after all these years, her presence had just be a part of his life. He''d never really thought about letting her go.

    Still...

    Just remembering how cold Reese was earlier made his face darken.

    Upstairs, the elevator stopped at the R&D floor. As soon as the doors opened, there was a dull thud. A little girl with two uneven pigtails had fallen right onto the shiny tile floor.

    Reese jumped, hurrying over to help. Before she could reach her, the girl was already picking herself up, brushing off her dress. Her lopsided pigtails bounced as she moved.

    Reese''s heart clenched when she saw the girl''s scraped knee, a bit of blood seeping out.

    "Are you alright?¡±

    The girl pouted and shook her head. Her eyshes fluttered, wet with almost- tears, but she didn''t cry.

    "Can I help you clean that up?"

    Reese put her wooden box on the ground, dug through her bag for some

    antiseptic and a bandage, and started unwrapping them. Her fingers identally brushed the girl''s knee, and the little one flinched, but didn''t say a word.

    "Sorry, honey. Just hang in there for a second."

    Reese made her voice gentle, dabbing the wound carefully with a cotton swab. The girl''s shoulders gradually rxed.

    Watching her bite her lip, fighting back tears, Reese couldn''t help thinking of Robbie. If he were here, he''d be wailing for a hug, totally inconsble.

    "Are you here by yourself? Where are your parents?"

    Once the bandage was on, Reese gave the girl''s soft hair a gentle pat.

    The girl pointed at the ss doors marked ckOak, her voice sweet and tiny. "Daddy''s in there. He told me to wait here."

    "You''re such a good girl."

    Reese found a fruit candy in her bag and tucked it into the girl''s hand. "Want me to help you find your dad?"

    The girl nodded, clutching the candy, and followed Reese into the R&D department.

    n wasing down the hall, arms full of files, when he saw the little one trailing behind Reese. His face lit up. "Whose kid is this? She''s way too cute!"

 Chapter 61

    "She says her dad''s here. Could you help her find him?"

    Reese handed the little girl over to the receptionist who''d juste over, then took the folder n offered. "Is this the development team list?¡±

    "Yeah, just got it from upstairs." n walked with her toward the office. "But there''s a situation... You should see for yourself."

    Reese flipped open the folder. Her eyes paused on Sofia''s file. The woman in the photo smiled softly. Her resume was wless.

    "What''s going on?"

    Reese''s mood soured. She didn''t want anything to do with Sebastian or Sofia, not now, not ever.

    "Management wants to use our ''de'' system in Ratcliff Global''s new project, ''The Vault.'' That means our teams have to work together. There''s no way to avoid dealing with Ratcliff''s tech people."

    n looked apologetic. "If you really can''t work with her, we can ask Ratcliff to send someone else."

    "It''s fine." Reese closed the folder and let out a slow breath. She''d forgotten about this.

    No wonder Sebastian had shown up this morning-first with that fancy wooden box, then the house deed. He was trying to apologize, but really, he was just making it easier for Sofia to join the team.

    She should have known. Sebastian never did anything that didn''t benefit himself. Even if she refused, Sebastian would find another way. He always did.

    Reese pulled open her desk drawer, tucked the wooden box and the property deed inside, and had just turned on herputer when her phone rang.

    A number she didn''t recognize lit up the screen. Reese frowned, hesitated, then picked up.

    "When you get a chance, go to the hospital for a prenatal check-up. Grandpa''s worried yesterday might have affected the baby."

    Sebastian''s voice was as cold and distant as ever. He didn''t ask about being blocked. He didn''t seem to care.

    Reese couldn''t help but feel bitter. "If you''re so concerned about the baby, maybe don''t do things that put it at risk."

    Not that it mattered anymore. She''d already had the abortion. There was no baby left to worry about.

    The old man''s hopes would end up empty.

    Reese was done with this. She decided to be clear.

    "Sebastian, stop calling me from different numbers. We''re finished. There''s no baby. I..."

    "Sebastian, can you look at this data for me?" Sofia''s sweet voice came through the phone.

    "That''s it. When you set an appointment, call me. I''ll go with you." Sebastian hung up and looked over at Sofia, frowning. "You ever heard of knocking?"

    Sofia''s grip on the folder tightened, her eyes shing with frustration. "Sorry, Sebastian. ckOak just invited me to a seminar, and I got excited..."

    She''d always just walked into Sebastian''s office without knocking. She hadn''t expected him to care, especially not today.

    "Just remember for next time."

    Sebastian took the folder from her. "Where''s the issue?"

    "Here." Sofia pointed at a section of numbers.

    Sebastian skimmed it. "The algorithm goes wrong here. Adjust this part."

    He closed the file and rubbed his brow. "Reese works at ckOak now. You''ll run into her sooner orter. She''s pregnant, so her mood''s all over the ce. Don''t give her any trouble."

    The warning in his voice only made Sofia more resentful. Still, in front of Sebastian, she could only smile and nod. "Of course. I won''t."

    Once she left the office, Sofia''s face darkened.

    When had she ever let Reese get the upper hand?

    All because Reese was pregnant?

    Was that why even Sebastian, who never cared much for her, was suddenly so protective?

    So if Reese lost the baby, would everything just go back to the way it used to be?

 Chapter 62

    ckOak R&D Department...

    Reese was going over the team list with n when her attention lingered on a profile-Matthew Wiles. His face looked strangely familiar, but she couldn''t quite ce him.

    n noticed her pause and grinned. "That guy''s something special. Top student at Columbia, got recruited by the military before he even graduated. He''s been working on Al tactical systems for the army, focused on adapting to real battlefield conditions."

    n''s smile faded a little. "He hurt his leg on a missionst month, so he had to leave the army and transfer here."

    Reese stopped writing, her expression turning serious with respect.

    "He''s got real-world experience and a military background. I think he should lead the R&D team. I''ll back him up," she said.

    "I thought the same thing," n replied, his grin returning. "I was worried you wouldn''t want to."

    Reese closed the folder. "Why wouldn''t I? Once this project''s done, I''m heading back to the institute."

    "He''sing in today to report for work. Let''s go meet him," n suggested.

    "Sounds good," Reese agreed, standing up. "The seminar''s this afternoon anyway. Let''s pull the materials together and have him run it."

    They walked out of the office and immediately spotted a tall, lean man crouched down, gently fixing the messy pigtails of the little girl in front of him.

    The girl''s eyes lit up when she saw Reese. She tugged on the man''s sleeve and called out, ¡°Daddy! That''s the prettydy who gave me the band-aid!"

    Matthew looked up, scooping the girl into his arms as he stood. "Thank you."

    Reese smiled, getting straight to the point. "No need to thank me, Mr. Wiles. n and I went through your file. We''d like you to lead the ''de'' project. What do you think?"

    Matthew hesitated. "Thank you for considering me. But I''m the only one taking care of this girl, and I''m worried I won''t be able to handle the workload."

    Reese blurted out before she could stop herself, "What about her mom?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it.

    Matthew''s eyes darkened. "She passed away in actionst year during a mission." The room went quiet.

    n, who''d served in the military too, felt a pang in his chest. "Matthew, why not bring your daughter to the office? We have a lounge, and anyone who''s free can help watch her."

    Matthew nodded, gratitude clear on his face. "Thank you. I''ll do that."

    Reese gave him a warm smile. "It''s settled, then. We''ll go get the seminar materials ready."

    The little girl wandered off to the lounge, found the receptionist, and asked for paper and crayons. She sat quietly in the corner, drawing by herself and not making a fuss.

    Sofia showed up half an hour early. Reese, n, and Matthew were still wrapping up the final details for the day, so no one was there to greet her.

    The receptionist led her to the lounge. When Sofia saw the child in the corner, she frowned and muttered, ¡°Is ckOak really letting people bring kids to meetings now?"

    The receptionist exined, "She''s the daughter of Matthew from R&D. School''s out and there''s no one else to watch her."

    Sofia rolled her eyes, shot the girl a look of annoyance, and sat down to go through her documents.

    As soon as it was time for the meeting, Sofia walked over to the conference room. She paused when she saw Reese sitting next to Matthew at the head of the table.

    What made Reese think she deserved a seat up front?

    Remembering what had happened before, Sofia''s mood soured. So Reese was actually part of the R&D team¡ªand a ckOak employee, too. Who knew what kind of trouble she might cause during the project.

    When the seminar started and Sofia realized Matthew was leading the discussion while Reese just took notes, she felt herself rx.

    With her background, Reese was obviously only there for support, not as part of the research core. Sofia figured n must have given her the job as a favor to the Ratcliff family.

 Chapter 63

    At the meeting, Matthewid out a clear n for improving the tactical Al''s battlefield data collection and friend-or-foe recognition. Once he exined everything, the team finally knew which direction to take next.

    Afterwards, someone started a group chat and n suggested they all hang out to get to know each other better.

    They headed out to the front of ckOak Center, chatting as they walked. Sofia slowed down when she spotted a ck Bentley waiting by the curb.

    "Sofia, youing with us?" someone called out.

    She smiled, friendly but keeping her distance. "Can''t tonight, got something at home. Next time, though."

    "Isn''t that Mr. Ratcliff''s car?" someone whispered, curiosity in their voice.

    "Looks like the rumors are true. Mr. Ratcliff is so good to Ms. Meyer," another chimed in, just loud enough for Sofia to hear.

    Sofia just smiled, opened the car door, and climbed in.

    Neal, sitting in the passenger seat, handed her a bottle of water. "Not everyone

    gets invited to projects this top-secret. You''re seriously impressive."

    Sofia took the water and shot a nce at Sebastian, who was buried in his paperwork.

    "I only got the chance because Sebastian put in a good word for me. I wouldn''t even have been considered otherwise."

    "I saw Ms. Meyer at the seminar today," Neal said. "She''s good, too. Wrapped up the meeting notes perfectly."

    Neal snorted. "She''s okay, but let''s be real-didn''t she try to force you out of the research institute? She probably thought if you left, Dominic would finally notice her. Now she''s stuck doing admin work at ckOak."

    "At least Zach believed in you. And Sebastian helped you set up your own research team at Ratcliff Global. Guess things worked out in the end."

    Sofia nced at the still-silent Sebastian and just smiled, letting Neal''s words hang in the air.

    As evening fell and city lights blinked on, Reese turned down n''s offer to grab drinks somewhere else. She drove out of the parking garage, only to spot Matthew standing under a streemp, holding a sleepy little girl.

    "Need a ride?" Reese pulled up, rolling down her window.

    Matthew hesitated, about to say no, but the little girl perked up. ¡°Yes, please! We live at Starlight Bay!"

    Reese unlocked the doors. "What a coincidence-I live there, too."

    With his daughter''s excitement overruling him, Matthew got in.

    "Thank you," the little girl said from the back seat, her voice soft and sweet as she buckled herself in. "My name''s Annie, and this is my dad, Matthew."

    Reese couldn''t help butugh. "Nice to meet you, Annie. I''m Reese. Your dad and I are going to be colleagues."

    Annie climbed onto Matthew''s arm and patted it, suddenly sounding like a little adult. "Thank you for helping my dad."

    They drove into Starlight Bay. By the time they pulled up, Annie had fallen asleep on Matthew''s shoulder. He thanked Reese quietly. "Sorry for the trouble."

    "No trouble at all. Annie''s adorable," Reese said, watching the two of them head off down the path before she turned and walked into the building.

    Upstairs, she noticed a few missed calls. As she unlocked her apartment, she dialed back.

    "Hey, Millie."

    "Reese, what''s going on with you and Sebastian? He came by today and looked ready to explode."

    Reese paused, halfway out of her coat. "Don''t worry. Just ignore him."

    So Sebastian was getting impatient about bringing her home. If he was in such a

    hurry, maybe it was time to put the divorce back on the table.

    She thought about the divorce papers she''d given him ages ago¡ªstill no

    response. It was pretty clear a peaceful split wasn''t going to happen.

    Standing by the window, watching the river of headlights flow below, she scrolled through her contacts and made a call.

    "Hey, George. It''s me. Any progress on that evidence I asked for?"

 Chapter 64

    George''s voice buzzed through the phone. "Ms. Meyer, we''ve got almost

    everything we need for your divorce. Thest documents are being checked. We should be able to file next week."

    "Okay," Reese replied, exhaling slowly. Seven years with Sebastian, and it was finally about to be over.

    "Oh, and George, I sent you the power of attorney for the Dylon short-selling case against Ramos Corporation. Did it arrive?"

    "Yeah, just got it this morning."

    Reese nodded, relieved. "Great. I''ll leave it all to you."

    She hung up, turned up the air conditioning, andy back down, but sleep just wouldn''te. She tossed and turned until after midnight. Finally, she flicked on her bedsidemp and pulled out a rosewood box from the drawer.

    Inside were a few leather-bound journals. Reese picked up the one on top and flipped it open. Marie''s handwriting flowed across the pages, gentle but strong, chronicling a lifetime.

    A smile touched Reese''s lips as she traced the faded ink. Then she paused.

    "Today Bailey gave me a ne¡ªa tinum chain with tiny sapphires, sparkling like the light in his eyes."

    Reese remembered that ne. In the sunlight, the pendant scattered shes of blue, almost like stars. She was sure it was the first gift her father ever gave her mother. Even after the divorce, her mom wore it all the time. Thrn her grandfather died, thepany ran into trouble, and her mother had to sell nearly everything, including that ne.

    If only she could get it back.

    She remembered the uing charity auction and decided to check it out. Maybe, just maybe, the ne would show up. She still had some savings- plus the money from selling herst patent. Maybe luck would be on her side.

    She closed the journal and shut her eyes.

    The next morning was sunny and clear. Reese got up early, got ready, and headed to ckOak.

    As she stepped out of the elevator, she spotted L, arm in arm with Sofia,ing out of the other elevator. L saw Reese and turned away with a dramatic huff, raising her voice, "Wow, Reese, Mr. Ratcliff must really be spoiling you! Is that the newest H&K bag? I heard you have to drop almost a hundred grand just to get the chance to buy it!"

    "It''s not that crazy," Sofia said, patting L''s hand and giving Reese a friendly smile.

    Sofia was about to badge into the R&D area with L when Reese frowned.

    "Wait."

    Sofia looked back, confused.

    "The de project is ssified. Everyone here signed an NDA. You can''t bring irrvant people in," Reese said, voice calm but firm.

    Sofia''s smile faded. "I think there''s a misunderstanding. L and I both left Clever Cloud. We''re both on the Ratcliff Global team now."

    "Since de is a joint project between ckOak and Ratcliff Global, having her help isn''t a breach," Sofia added. "I''ll talk to Matthew about it. Just get her an NDA."

    L shot Reese a smug look and followed Sofia into theb.

    Reese watched them go, then texted Matthew and n. Every R&D team member was handpicked by her and n, with thorough background checks. It wasn''t as simple as Sofia made it sound. If Sofia was bringing L in, Reese needed to report it.

    A few minutester, Matthew came into the conference room with a stack of files. He nced at L, then gave Reese a subtle nod before assigning tasks.

    "I''ll lead the core algorithm development for de. Tony is handling data modeling and security. Sheldon will work on backend code testing. Sofia, you''ll coordinate with Ratcliff Global''s Vault team to make sure our data lines up.¡±

    Sofia''s face went pale.

    Why does Reese get to work with Sebastian again?

    She gripped her pen tightly, ring at Reese as she took notes. She remembered

    what Sebastian said. The only thing he cared about was Reese''s baby.

    But what if the baby was gone? Wouldn''t Reese be out of the picture then?

    Her eyes flicked to Reese''s stomach, calcting.

    "What''s going on?" L whispered after the meeting, looking at Sofia. "You''re Ratcliff Global''s only rep, but they''re just giving you data integration?"

    "Maybe Reeseined to Matthew so you wouldn''t get core development," L insisted, working herself up. ¡°She''s just jealous, always has topete with you!"

    "This isn''t right. You should talk to Matthew. Don''t let Reese fool him."

    Sofia''s eyes got a little red. "It''s fine. Matthew probably has his reasons."

    "Fine? No way!" L snapped. "Don''t worry, I''ll go with you."

    She practically dragged Sofia out of the conference room.

    Everyone had their own workspace, each one locked with iris scan. As L and Sofia walked down the hall, they saw Matthew and Reese heading for the biggest room at the end. Matthew leaned in, smiling as Reese talked.

    L grabbed her phone and took a few quick photos. In one, Matthew was turning to the scanner, his hand protectively at Reese''s side.

    "See? There''s obviously something going on. No wonder Matthew''s ignoring you."

    "I''m sending these to the Ratcliff Global group chat. Mr. Ratcliff needs to know. He''ll stand up for you."

    Sofia didn''t stop her. "Let''s go. Reese works for ckOak; of course Matthew trusts her more."

    At that same moment, over in Ratcliff Tower, Sebastian stared at the photos of Reese with another man in the work group chat, his face darkening. He didn''t even notice as the fountain pen in his hand leaked a blot of ink onto the paper.

 Chapter 65

    In the photo, Reese stood at theb door, sunlight catching her profile, her lips lifting into the faintest smile.

    It was almost blinding.

    After a moment, Sebastian picked up the office phone.

    "Boss?"

    "Brady, send someone to the old house to bring Robbie. And find out where my wife is staying-fast."

    Sebastian''s voice was quiet, but there was no hiding the anger simmering underneath.

    Reese had really gone too far this time.

    She''d blocked his number, and even Brady''s, for days now.

    He got it that she was mad about the whole courtyard house situation. He''d bring Robbie himself to ckOak and get her back.

    She could ignore him all she wanted, but there''s no way she''d ignore her own

    son.

    Sebastian canceled his evening ns and drove to ckOak with Robbie. He parked by the curb, got out, and lit a cigarette.

    "Dad, are we really here to bring Mom home?" Robbie rolled down his window and stuck his head out.

    He didn''t want Reese toe back. When she was around, she was always on his case about everything. Since she''d been gone, he''d finally gotten a taste of freedom.

    "Yes.It''s time shee home," Sebastian replied, his voice cold.

    Robbie pouted and was about to roll the window up again when he suddenly perked up.

    "Mom!"

    He might have liked Sofia better, but he still couldn''t help smiling when he saw Reese.

    Sebastian paused, following Robbie''s line of sight.

    Reese was just leaving a restaurant with a little girl beside her.

    The girl was carrying a bag from Robbie''s favorite snack shop. Reese bent down to say something, her face soft and gentle.

    Before Sebastian could react, Robbie had already flung open the car door and dashed over.

    "Robbie? What are you doing here?" Reese''s smile faded as soon as she saw him. She realized she hadn''t even thought about her son in a long time.

    "We''re here to take you home," Sebastian said, flicking his cigarette into the trash and following after him.

    "Robbie''s about to start first grade. Grandpa wants him home so we can look after him. If youe back, you can help him with his homework and take care of him," Sebastian said, ncing at her stomach. "You should take a break from work, focus on your health and Robbie. After the baby''s born and Robbie''s settled at school, you can go back to work."

    Reese''s mouth twisted into a sarcastic smile. "You can hire a tutor for Robbie. As for the baby..."

    She gently touched her belly, remembering what George had told her. The divorce wasn''t finalized. Sebastian couldn''t know about the miscarriage yet, or that she had proof he''d used her as a surrogate.

    It was almost over. Just one more week.

    "You don''t get to tell me what to do," she said coldly. "I have work. You two can suit yourselves."

    With that, Reese took Annie''s hand and turned to leave.

    "Reese, how long are you going to keep this up?" Sebastian grabbed her wrist. "Can''t you see I''m trying to make this easier for you? What''s so great about working, anyway? It''s exhausting, and it''s not good for the baby."

    "I said I don''t need you to worry about me." Reese yanked her hand back, took a step away, and nced at Robbie. "I''m not going back. Nothing you say will change my mind."

    "Sebastian, I told you I want a divorce."

    Robbie''s face fell the second he heard Reese say he could get a tutor, that she wouldn''t be looking after him. When her cold eyes passed over him, all the color drained from his cheeks.

    "Mom, you don''t want me anymore?" His voice shook. "Why? Did I do something wrong?"

    Sensing Robbie was about to lose it, Reese quickly pulled Annie behind her, shielding her.

    That did it for Robbie. Tears filled his eyes and, without warning, he kicked at Reese''s leg.

    "I hate you! If you won''te home with me and Dad, then don''t evere back!"

    The kick came out of nowhere. Reese didn''t even have time to react. But Annie''s eyes went wide and she jumped in front of Reese, taking the hit for her.

    She was knocked straight to the ground.

    "Annie!" Reese cried, dropping to her knees and scooping her up.

    Annie''s palm was scraped and bleeding. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she bit her lip and didn''t let them fall.

    Reese''s heart clenched. She looked up at Robbie, her eyes icy. "Robbie! Apologize."

    Robbie stiffened. "I won''t! She shouldn''t have gotten in the way! Why do you have to protect her?"

    Reese was shaking with anger now. She shot a look at Sebastian. "You really think a son who would kick his own mother deserves my care?"

    She picked Annie up and walked straight past them, not looking back, and disappeared into the office building.

    Up in the research wing, Reese carried Annie into the break room and asked the receptionist to call Matthew.

    Matthew arrived quickly, his face darkening when he saw Annie''s hand. "What happened?"

    "I''m sorry. I should have protected her." Reese set Annie down gently. "I''ll go get some medicine and take care of her wound."

    "Does it hurt, Annie?" Matthew knelt and checked her hand as Reese hurried off. "I''m sorry you got hurt again. I promised your parents I''d look after you, and I keep letting you down."

    Annie wasn''t Matthew''s biological daughter. She was the daughter of his friend in the army. After her dad died, Matthew took her in and told everyone she was his

    own.

    "It doesn''t hurt," Annie said, shaking her head. "Daddy, Aunt Reese is so sad. Her husband won''t let her work; he just wants her trapped at home. And her son kicked her. If I hadn''t stepped in, she would''ve been the one hurt today."

    Matthew''s eyes narrowed as he nced at the door, in the direction Reese had gone.

 Chapter 66

    Sofia pushed through the ss doors and spotted Sebastian right away. He was leaning against the car, looking like a storm cloud with a cigarette dangling from his lips. Robbie was at his feet, eyes swollen and red, his shoulders shaking with every quiet sob.

    "What''s going on?" Sofia called, already feeling a jolt of worry as she hurried over.

    Did Sebastian see the pictures of Reese and Matthew in thepany group chat? Was that why he looked so pissed?

    As soon as Robbie saw her, he ran over and threw himself into her arms, letting out a fresh wail.

    Sofia crouched down, fishing tissues from her bag and gently wiping his tear- streaked face. "Hey, who''s making you cry? Tell me, and I''ll handle them for you."

    "Mom doesn''t want me anymore!" Robbie hupped, clutching her sleeve. "I just kicked that little girl, and Mom just picked her up and walked away! I cried and she didn''t even care!"

    "Aunt Sofia, who is that girl? I hqate her."

    Sofia thought for a moment. The girl always hanging around Reese? That had to be Matthew''s daughter.

    She hugged Robbie close and patted his back. "It''s okay, Robbie. That girl''s really cute. Why don''t you like her?"

    "Because when she''s around, Mom ignores me. I hate how Mom smiles at her," Robbie sniffled.

    Sofia gave a tiny, knowing smile and lowered her voice. "But Robbie, that girl''s not even rted to your mom. You''re her real son."

    "And remember, your mom''s got a baby boy in her tummy now. That''s your real brother. When he''s born, your mom might pay even more attention to him. You''ll have to get used to sharing her."

    Robbie froze, then started crying even louder. "No! I don''t want a baby brother! I don''t want Mom anymore! Aunt Sofia, will you be my mom instead?"

    He remembered how Great-grandpa was already redoing the kids'' room at the old house, making it bigger and nicer for the new baby. And mom barely talked to him these days. Was it all because of the baby?

    "Robbie, that''s enough," Sebastian cut in, stamping out his cigarette, his voice sharp with annoyance. "You only get one mom. You can''t just swap her out because you feel like it."

    Sofia''s eyes dropped. When she looked up at Sebastian again, her face was calm and all her scheming was tucked safely away. "It''s okay, Sebastian. Robbie''s just a kid. He''ll learn."

    "He''s only acting out because he''s hurt. Honestly, I don''t get it. Why is Reese spending so much time with that girl and her dad? Even with this new project, Matthew only let me handle the data for her sake. I didn''t even touch the important stuff..."

    She let her words hang, sneaking a look at Sebastian to see how he''d react.

    Sebastian just nced at the ckOak Tech building, then bent down to scoop up Robbie. He opened the back door and set the still-sniffling boy inside. "Let''s go. I''l drive you home."

    A flicker of disappointment crossed Sofia''s face, but she straightened up, circled around the car, and opened the back door on the other side.

    She was about to get in when Sebastian spoke. "Robbie''s in the back. You ride up front."

    The smile she''d forced on froze instantly. She nced at Sebastian, but didn''t argue. She climbed into the passenger seat.

    Inside, Reese walked into the lounge with a bottle of antiseptic in hand. Matthew stood up, ready to take care of Annie''s scraped knee, but Reese nudged him aside.

    "I''ll handle this. You''d just make it worse with those big, clumsy hands," she teased.

    Reese sat beside Annie, dipped a cotton swab in the antiseptic, and gently cleaned the dirt from her skin. Annie flinched at the sting, so Reese blew softly across the wound.

    "It''s hot out. A bandage will just slow down healing. Don''t get it wet and let it scab over, okay?

    "Next time, don''t be so reckless. Auntie would rather get hurt herself than see you hurt, got it?"

    "But it hurts when you get hurt too," Annie whispered, eyes wide and sincere.

 Chapter 67

    Annie''s sweet, innocent question caught Reese off guard. Smiling, she reached over and ruffled the little girl''s hair.

    Matthew sat nearby, watching the two of them with a quiet smile, his eyes thoughtful.

    After Reese finished treating the wound, the three of them left the lounge together. Reese told Matthew to take Annie home and let her rest. She''d keep an eye on the remaining data.

    Matthew knew Annie needed sleep, so he didn''t argue. He thanked Reese, scooped Annie into his arms, and headed for the elevator.

    Reese waved goodbye to the little girl, then turned and walked toward theb.

    Just as she was scanning her iris at theb entrance, her phone rang. She answered, not bothering to check the caller ID.

    "Hello? Who''s this?"

    "Reese, awyer came by today. And they brought the police.

    "I thought Sofia already gave the house back. Why can''t you just drop it? Why are you pushing things this far?"

    "That''s not the same thing," Reese said, her voice calm but distant. "He shorted thepany. He hurt every shareholder. That includes me."

    "But he''s your uncle!" Tara''s voice shot up, sharp with frustration. "If he hadn''t taken you in, would you even have what you do now?"

    Reese closed her eyes for a moment.

    Of course. Because her uncle adopted her, she''d agreed to marry Sebastian just to help thepany, just like he asked. Later, her uncle had used his connection to the Ratcliffs to squeeze into Bridger Lake''s high society.

    But what did she get in return?

    Leeching off her wasn''t enough. To please Sebastian, her uncle destroyed thepany, crushed everything her grandfather and mother worked for, and even handed over her mother''s house to Sofia and her mom.

    She''d more than repaid her debt.

    "If that''s all, I''m hanging up."

    Before Tara could protest, Reese ended the call, dropped her phone in her bag, and walked into theb.

    The next morning, Reese was waiting for the algorithm data to finish when theb door opened. Matthew walked in, slipping on his jacket.

    "Sorry you had to pull an all-nighter. Annie brought you breakfast. She''s waiting in the lounge."

    "Thanks. I''ll take a break. Let me know when the data''s done," Reese said, rubbing her aching temples as she left theb.

    She''d barely made it to the lobby when she froze.

    Dylon was at the front entrance, talking to the receptionist. Reese''s face turned cold.

    "Reese."

    Dylon''s voice was soft, like nothing bad had ever happened between them. Reese looked at him, her eyes ice cold. "What do you want?"

    Dylon''s expression darkened. "We need to talk."

    It was the middle of the workday and people were moving all around the front desk. Without a word, Reese turned and led him to the lounge.

    Inside, Dylon handed her a stack of documents. "This is the new shareholder agreement. I added some more shares for you. Could you look it over and sign it?"

    Reese didn''t take the papers. She stared at him, her expression dripping with

    sarcasm.

    When she didn''t react, Dylon lowered his voice. "Reese, I know you''re still mad about everything, but I had no choice."

    "If I hadn''t done it, how could I have gotten the Eastside project?"

    "We''re family. If we seed, your life with the Ratcliffs gets easier too. Isn''t that what you want?"

    Reese almostughed. Did they ever care about her life with the Ratcliffs?

    They were only being nice because she hadn''t divorced Sebastian yet. They still thought she was useful. They just didn''t want to burn theirst bridge.

    When Reese wasn''t budging, Dylon''s face went dark. "Still so stubborn. No wonder you couldn''t keep Sebastian''s heart. If that''s how it is, we won''t help you next time you''re in trouble."

    With that, he stormed out.

    Reese let out a shaky breath, sadness settling deep in her chest. Now, she truly had no family left.

    Her phone lit up with a notification from a charity auction. She nced at it, barely interested-then her eyes went wide.

    Wasn''t that the ne her mother had always wanted to find?

 Chapter 68

    Three dayster, the charity auction was in full swing.

    As soon as Reese got out of the car, she spotted Zach chatting with the host at the entrance. They looked like old friends,ughing together under the lights. Reese felt her nerves tighten, but she forced herself to push those feelings aside and walked straight into the hall.

    She didn''t realize that from the moment she arrived, Zach''s eyes had been following her every move.

    Suddenly, there was a stir at the entrance. A ck Bentley rolled up to the curb. Sebastian stepped out and, with just a nce, noticed Reese''s figure in the crowd.

    He raised his eyebrows, surprised.

    What was Reese doing here?

    He immediately sensed someone''s gaze on him. Turning, he caught Zach''s eyes -Zach nodded and shed a sly, knowing smile.

    Sebastian''s jaw tightened, a flicker of irritation running through him.

    Zach was here too?

    Did Reese show up tonight to see Zach?

    He knew all about the history between Reese and Zach.

    "Sebastian, what''s wrong?" Sofia had just stepped out of the car. Noticing his mood, she quietly hooked her arm through his, looking toward the hall but seeing nothing unusual.

    "It''s nothing," Sebastian said, slipping his arm away. "Remember our deal. I''ll win that ne for you, and you''ll make sure Mindwaveunches first with Ratcliff Global''s products."

    "Of course," Sofia replied. Her smile faded a little, and something bitter flickered in her eyes.

    Ever since what happened at the courtyard, Sebastian had grown cold toward her.

    She''d even heard from Brady that Sebastian was trying to track down where Reese was living, nning to bring her home to care for the baby.

    But then she remembered Robbie''s reaction that day, and a small, smug smile appeared.

    So what if Sebastian cared about Reese because of the baby?

    If something happened to the baby she was carrying, Sebastian would eventually go back to how he''d always treated her.

    Compared to Reese, she was more valuable to Ratcliff Global. Wasn''t that all that really mattered in the end?

    Just like tonight-she''d casually mentioned a ne at the auction, and Sebastian had dropped everything toe with her.

    As the auction was about to begin, guests filled the seats. Reese settled into a quiet corner, out of the way.

    She saw Zach helping Tara into a seat in the front row, and her anxiety only grew.

    When they were kids, Zach had seen her mother''s ne. He knew how much it meant to both of them.

    With the way he seemed to hate her now, would he try to outbid her just out of spite?

    Sebastian, sitting a few rows away, kept his eyes locked on Reese. He noticed, too, the way she looked toward Zach.

    He narrowed his gaze, his fingers tapping restlessly on the armrest.

    He hadn''t expected that after all these years, Reese still hadn''t moved on.

    He remembered bringing their son to try to persuade Reese toe home, only for her to shut him out.

    A wave of anger burned inside him.

    Was Reese thinking about getting back together with Zach now that he was back? Was that why she was working again, even though she was pregnant?

    "Thank you all so much for being here tonight," the auctioneer said, stepping onto the stage with a microphone. "Let''s kick things off with the first item."

    A staff member wheeled out a tall porcin vase.

    Sofia''s eyes lit up and she nudged Sebastian''s arm.

    "Sebastian, that vase would look great on your office bookshelf.¡±

    "What?" Sebastian was distracted, barely hearing her. ¡°We agreed-just one thing tonight. Whatever you want."

    Sofia bit her lip. ¡°I just think it''s pretty. I don''t actually want it."

    The auction moved on, item after item. Reese barely paid attention. She was only

    here for one thing: her mother''s ne. Nothing else mattered.

    Finally, the auctioneer announced, "Next up, a natural sapphire ne,

    tinum setting,plete with certificate of authenticity."

    Reese finally looked up at the stage.

    Starting bid: one million.

    Under the spotlight, the ne shimmered with a cold, elegant light. The sapphire pendant sparkled, exactly as she remembered it.

    She nced at Zach. He was leaning over, murmuring something to Tara, not even reaching for his paddle. She felt a wave of relief and got ready to make her bid, when a familiar voice called out.

    "One million."

    She turned. Sebastian was holding up his paddle, ncing down at Sofia. Reese''s heart dropped. She hadn''t expected Sebastian and Sofia to show up. And from the look on Sofia''s face, she wanted the ne, too.

 Chapter 69

    After settling thepany''s debts, Reese had less than three hundred thousand left. She honestly didn''t know if she stood a chance against Sebastian tonight.

    "One hundred and ten thousand," Reese called out, raising her paddle.

    Sebastian''s eyebrow quirked up when he heard her voice. So she had her eye on the ne too?

    "Sebastian..." Sofia sounded worried, unsure if he''d really let Reese win.

    "Two hundred thousand," he bid, lifting his paddle. Sofia rxed, ncing at Reese with a smug little smirk.

    But Reese refused to back down. She gritted her teeth and raised her paddle again. "Two hundred and ten thousand."

    A few people in the crowd started snickering.

    "Reese is something else. Mr. Ratcliff''s upping the bids by the hundreds of thousands, and she''s adding ten thousand each time. She''s so petty. And she thinks she canpete with him?"

    "She probably just wants his attention. She''s tried that trick before."

    "Everyone knows Mr. Ratcliff spoils his wife rotten. He''s buying this for his wife. Why does Reese even bother?"

    The whispers grated on Sebastian''s nerves. He nced at Reese. Her face was pale, her eyes burning with frustration. She wanted that ne so badly, but it was obvious her funds were running low.

    Forget it. If she wanted it that much, he''d let her have it.

    He leaned toward Sofia. "There will be anything else you liketer. If not, pick a style and I''ll have something custom made for you from overseas."

    Sofia''s eyes shed with disappointment. She opened her mouth to argue, but caught the warning in Sebastian''s eyes and swallowed her words. "Okay. Whatever you say."

    "Two hundred and ten thousand, going once," the auctioneer announced.

    Reese noticed Sebastian had stopped bidding and was whispering to Sofia instead. She let out a shaky breath, finally able to rx.

    "Two hundred and ten thousand, going twice."

    It was clear to everyone that Sebastian wasn''t interested in fighting Reese for the ne, so nobody else tried to outbid her.

    Reese clenched her fist, sitting up straighter.

    "Two hundred and ten thousand, go..."

    "Two hundred and fifty thousand," Zach called out, his paddle up, a wicked grin on his face as he looked straight at Reese.

    Her heart dropped. She nced at Zach, mentally running the numbers in her bank ount, then lifted her paddle again. "Two hundred and sixty thousand."

    Zach''s eyes stayed on her, his grin only growing when he saw how shaken she looked.

    Of course he knew what this ne meant to her. Reese''s mother had spent years searching for it. He remembered Marie joking to his own mother that someday, Reese would wear this ne at her wedding to him.

    But now, he married someone else. The ne should be on someone else too.

    Zach stood and crossed the room, taking a seat at the main table. He shot Reese a challenging look.

    "Three hundred thousand."

    The whole room buzzed in shock. Even Sebastian frowned.

    "Is Mr. Wiles here just to stir things up?"

    Reese''s face turned gray. She knew she couldn''t beat Zach tonight, no matter what.

    "Three hundred thousand, going once."

    "Three hundred thousand, going twice."

    "Three hundred thousand, sold! Congrattions to Mr. Wiles for winning the natural sapphire ne!"

    A staff member brought the ne to Zach. He inspected it under the light, nodded in satisfaction, and then walked over to Tara, fastening the ne around her neck.

    Reese watched as the ne, the one that should''ve belonged to her mother, now sat on Tara''s corbone. The sight stung. She red at Zach, furious.

    He knew exactly how much this meant to her, yet he had to take it and give it to Tara.

    Zach felt the heat of her re. For the first time in years, the bitterness he''d been carrying seemed to fade just a little.

    Reese, do you regret it now?

    If she hadn''t married Sebastian, if she''d waited for him toe back, she''d be the one standing next to him, the one wearing that ne.

    Now that the ne was gone, Reese didn''t have the heart to stay. She stood up and slipped out of the auction hall, ready to leave.

    "Reese."

    Tara''s voice stopped her at the door. "You really wanted that ne, didn''t you?"

    Reese looked up, her voice cold. "You know it was my mother''s. Why did you even ask?"

    "It was Aunt Marie''s?" Tara took off the ne, turning it over in her hands, a hint of reluctance in her eyes. Then she held it out to Reese.

    "If it was your mother''s, then you should have it."

 Chapter 70

    Reese shot Tara a wary look. "You''re really giving this to me?"

    "Yeah." Tara nodded. "But you know, Zach bought this ne at auction for three million..."

    "I know." Reese nodded right back. "I''ll transfer the money to you tomorrow."

    She was still a bit short in her bank ount, but she figured she could talk to n at work and ask for an advance. Scraping together three million shouldn''t be impossible.

    "Tara, don''t you even like this ne?" Zach''s voice came from behind, and Reese realized he''d appeared out of nowhere, eyes locked on the ne in Tara''s hands. "I thought you''d wear it when we got married."

    "But it''s my aunt''s keepsake," Tara said, looping her arm through his and looking up at him with a sweet smile. "Reese really wants it. Can''t I give it to her? Honestly, I''d feel weird wearing it at our wedding."

    Zach nced at Reese, his expression full of sarcasm. "You''re way too generous. She asks and you just hand it over."

    He took the ne from Tara, letting it dangle from his finger and swinging it carelessly.

    Reese''s heart skipped. She was terrified he''d fling it and break the delicate chain. Without thinking, she took a step forward.

    Zach noticed and scoffed. "If you don''t want it, babe, let''s just get rid of it."

    He flicked his wrist, and the ne arced through the air beforending in the fountain with a ssh.

    Reese''s face went white. She spun around, ready to dive in after it, but someone grabbed her wrist.

    "Don''t," Zach said coldly. "Even if she doesn''t want it, you don''t get to fish it out." Reese snapped. Without thinking, she pped him hard across the face.

    "Zach, you know how much this ne means to me! Do you really think you get to where you are just because of Tara? Do you have any idea what I..."

    Tara cut her off, her voice suddenly frantic. "Reese, calm down. I''ll get someone to fetch it for you."

    She hurried to call for help.

    But Reese couldn''t wait. She shook off Zach''s grip and jumped right into the fountain.

    Even though it was summer, the water was freezing. Reese gasped as the cold hit her, but she kept searching, lit only by the garden lights.

    "Reese, are you crazy? You are carrying a baby?" Sebastian''s voice was sharp and angry behind her.

    He''d noticed Reese and Zach disappear earlier, and the uneasy feeling had made him follow. He hadn''t expected to walk out and see this.

    He rushed to the edge of the fountain, reaching out to pull her out.

    Reese shoved him away. "Don''t touch me. I have to find it. It''s my mother''s!"

    Sebastian stopped, thrown by her words.

    Her mother''s ne?

    So Reese hadn''te tonight for Zach at all. She''de for the ne.

    He swallowed his questions and called out, "Brady!"

    Brady, who''d already noticed themotion, came running and leapt into the fountain.

    In just a few minutes, he surfaced with the ne, carefully wiping it with a tissue before handing it over.

    Reese''s eyes never left the ne for a second.

    Sebastian took it from Brady, turning it over in his hand. "Are youing out now?"

    Reese climbed out, water streaming from her ruined dress, shivering as the night breeze hit her skin.

    She walked straight to Sebastian, hand outstretched. "Give it to me."

    Sebastian toyed with the ne, watching her. "You said this was your mother''s?"

    She nodded, lips pressed tight.

    A faint smile touched his lips. "Come home with me, and I''ll give it to you."

    Reese''s face twisted. She didn''t want to go with him, but she couldn''t bear to lose the ne again.

    She was about to give in when Zach jumped in. "Mr. Ratcliff, what''s this supposed to mean? I bought that ne for my fianc¨¦e.¡±

    "But she doesn''t want it," Sebastian replied, voice even. "If you want it that badly, Mr. Wiles, name your price and I''ll buy it from you."

    ¡°Sebastian...¡± Sofia, who''d followed him out, perked up at his words, but her excitement faded the moment she saw Reese, soaked and shaking in her drenched dress.

 Chapter 71

    "Since you are buying the ne for your fianc¨¦e, I really can''t ask for it anymore. But Sebastian, you said you''ll get a new one designed for me." Sofia said, her voice honey-sweet but her eyes flicking challengingly to Reese.

    Reese looked at the two men in front of her-the man she''d married and the man she used to love. One was fighting over her mother''s ne to impress his new me, the other was trying to win points with his soon-to-be wife. All over something that should have belonged to her.

    She rubbed her arms, feeling goosebumps rise on her skin. She couldn''t tell if she was cold or just numb inside. All she knew was that she was exhausted. She

    turned to go.

    But before she could leave, Zach spoke up. "If Ms. Meyer wants it too, I could let it go," he said, a sly smile on his lips. "For the right price."

    He named his offer, eyes locked on Reese. "One million. Just one million, and it''s yours. What do you think?"

    He nced at her on purpose, knowing full well she didn''t have that kind of money. "And of course, if Reese wants it, the same deal applies. Firste, first served."

    "I''ll take it," Sebastian said, not missing a beat.

    Reese paused for a second but didn''t look back. She just kept walking, determined not to get pulled into their games.

    Sebastian watched her leave, his face darkening. Was she really so eager to put distance between them in front of Zach? She could''ve just said the word. If he won the ne, he''d have given it to her anyway.

    Reese made it to her car, opened the trunk, and grabbed a clean set of clothes. She changed in the back seat, blinking back tears until her vision blurred.

    A million was nothing to Sebastian. If he wanted, he could have that much cash by tomorrow. But for her, it was a mountain she couldn''t even see the top of.

    Muffled sobs escaped from inside the car. Outside, Sebastian and Zach stood awkwardly, their faces growing tense.

    Not far away, Sofia and Tara exchanged a look, smirking. Tara slipped her arm through Zach''s, while Sofia strolled over to Sebastian with a gentle, practiced smile.

    By the time Reese got back to her apartment, it was almost midnight. She stepped off the elevator and froze-someone was waiting by her door.

    "What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone sharp. "Are you tracking me now?"

    Sebastian leaned against the wall, tucking his phone away. "We need to talk." She turned her back on him and punched in her door code.

    "The day after tomorrow is Robbie''s school orientation," he said. ¡°Grandpa''s health isn''t great, and I''m swamped. I need you to go for me."

    "I''m busy," Reese shot back as she unlocked the door.

    Sebastian upped the stakes. "If you go, I''ll agree to one condition-whatever you want."

    She turned, eyeing him. "Fine. Then stop fighting me for the ne."

    He looked disappointed but nodded. "Alright."

    Why wouldn''t she just ask him to get it for her? Why did she insist on keeping everything so separate?

    Reese hadn''t expected him to agree so easily, so she narrowed her eyes, wary. "Have yourwyer send over a contract tomorrow. If you promise in writing not topete with me for the ne, I''ll go."

    She pushed open the door. Sebastian followed her inside.

    "You really don''t trust me?" he asked quietly.

    "Should I?" she shot back, blocking his path.

    "That''s settled, then. You can leave," she said, pushing him out.

    "Reese¡ª¡± Sebastian barely got the word out before she shut the door in his face, the edge grazing his nose.

    Alone atst, Reese let out a shaky breath. With Sebastian gone, the apartment felt so much quieter.

    The night''s events reyed in her mind as she pulled out her phone and called George.

    "Sorry to bother you sote, George. I just wanted to check. Where are we with the divorce?"

    As long as Sebastian kept his word and stayed out of the bidding, once the divorce was final and she got her share, she might finally have a shot at buying back her mother''s ne.

    "Ms. Meyer, all the paperwork is in. The earliest we can get a court date is next week."

    Reese blinked, her heart pounding.

    That meant by next week, she could finally be free of Sebastian-split the assets, and maybe, just maybe, get her mother''s ne back where it belonged.

 Chapter 72

    A sharp knock on the door jolted Reese out of her dream.

    Still half-asleep, she yawned and shuffled over, peeking through the peephole. Brady was outside, holding a document envelope. That''s when Reese remembered the agreement with Sebastian fromst night¡ªthis must be the paperwork.

    She opened the door just a crack. "Hand it over."

    She skimmed through the pages, making sure Sebastian was really giving up his right to buy the ne from Zach. Satisfied, she signed at the bottom, kept a copy for herself, and slid the other one back through the gap.

    "Tell Sebastian I''ll be waiting for Robbie at the school gate tomorrow."

    She was about to close the door when Brady spoke up. "Ma''am, wait."

    She frowned. "What is it?"

    Brady tucked the papers away. "Mr. Ratcliff asked me to drive you to the office."

    "That''s not necessary. I''d rather drive myself."

    Without another word, Reese shut the door. They were about to get divorced; she wasn''t about to let people think she was still arriving in Sebastian''s car.

    Brady''s polite smile faltered. He could only turn and walk downstairs.

    In the car, Sebastian didn''t look up from his paperwork. "Where is she?"

    "She said she''s driving herself to work."

    The temperature in the car seemed to drop. Brady felt a chill run down his back. After a long pause, Sebastian finally said, "Let''s go."

    As the ck sedan pulled away, a white SUV rolled out of the parking lot behind

    it.

    Reese was up early that morning. When she got to ckOak, the office was still quiet. She headed into theb, surprised to find Matthew already there.

    He handed her a folder. "This is thetest iteration. If all goes well, we''ll have preliminary data in a couple of days and can start integrating with Ratcliff Global''s Vault."

    Reese flipped through the report. "Looks good. By the way, I have something to take care of tomorrow will you be okay here on your own?"

    Matthew''s eyes flickered. "Yeah, I''ll be fine."

    The next morning, Reese waited by the school gate at the time Sebastian had told her.

    A familiar ck car pulled up, but it was Sofia who got out first. She turned to help Robbie out of the back seat. Robbie said something that made herugh, and she yfully tapped his nose, clearly close with him.

    As soon as Robbie saw Reese, his smile vanished. He jogged over.

    "What are you doing here?"

    "Your dad asked me toe for your first day."

    But judging by the scene, she probably wasn''t needed anymore.

    Reese nced over at Sofia standing behind Robbie.

    Just then, a few of Robbie''s ssmates walked over. One of them looked at Reese, curious. "Robbie, is that your mom?"

    Robbie stepped away from Reese, putting distance between them. "No," he said, pointing at Sofia. "She''s my mom."

    Once his ssmates left, Robbie let out a breath and frowned at Reese. "You should go. I don''t want people to see you here."

    Reese didn''t respond, her gaze falling on Sofia.

    Robbie noticed and immediately moved in front of Sofia, like he was protecting her. "Don''t bother Auntie. You''re the one who ignored me first. That''s why I decided I don''t want you as my mom anymore. Auntie''s my mom now."

    "Robbie, don''t say that," Sofia said quickly, taking his hand. "Ms. Meyer, I''m really sorry. I didn''t know you''d be here today. If I had, I wouldn''t havee."

    "You don''t need to apologize to her!" Robbie tugged Sofia toward the school. "Let''s go. Don''t talk to her."

    Reese just stood there, a bitter little smirk on her lips. Robbie was the one pushing her away. It wasn''t her who broke any promises.

    She turned to leave, but a voice called out nearby. "Annie? Is Annie''s parent here?"

    Reese looked over. Annie was standing alone at the end of the line, wearing a pink dress and a bunny backpack, nervously twisting the corner of her uniform.

    Reese didn''t know Annie went to this school too. She remembered how Matthew hesitated yesterday when she mentioned needing the day off. He must have wanted to be here for Annie''s first day, but after she spoke up, he probably didn''t want to dy theb work.

    A wave of guilt and tenderness swept over Reese. She hurried over.

    "I''m a colleague of Annie''s dad," Reese exined. "He got caught up with something urgent and asked me toe for her today."

 Chapter 73

    Annie looked up and, as soon as she saw Reese, her embarrassment faded and her whole face lit up. "Auntie!"

    Reese smiled and came over, gently taking Annie''s hand. "I''m here."

    On the yground, the director finally wrapped up his endless speech, and the homeroom teachers started leading students and parents back to their ssrooms for some family activities-supposedly to help parents get to know the school better.

    Annie''s ss was ying Pin the Nose on the Bear. There was a cartoon bear face drawn on the chalkboard, but the nose was missing. The teacher handed Reese a round sticker and exined the rules. "Parents get blindfolded and spun around three times. Kids, you''ll help guide them. If you stick the nose in the right spot, you win."

    As soon as Reese was blindfolded, Annie leaned in and whispered, "Don''t worry, Aunt Reese. I''ll tell you where to go."

    "Ready, go!" the teacher called.

    Someone spun Reese around three times. She felt dizzy and took a wobbly step,ughing a little.

    "A little to the left!" Annie''s voice was soft and excited. "Okay, now move forward just half a step... Stop!"

    Reese stopped, feeling Annie tug at her sleeve. "Right here, Auntie. Just a little lower."

    Reese pressed the sticker down where Annie said. The second the blindfold came off, everyone started pping.

    On the board, the bear now had a perfectly centered nose.

    Annie jumped up and hugged Reese''s waist, giggling. "You nailed it! Way better than when Daddy stuck the nose on the bear''s earst time!"

    Reeseughed, bending down to ruffle Annie''s hair. "That''s because you gave such good directions."

    Annie tilted her head up, her eyes sparkling like she had stars in them. "Can we y again? This time I''ll be blindfolded, and you tell me where to go!"

    Reese met Annie''s hopeful eyes, and for a moment, the coldness Robbie had left in her heart seemed to melt away.

    She reached into her bag, pulled out a piece of fruit candy, unwrapped it, and handed it to Annie. "Here, for you. You earned it."

    Annie popped the candy into her mouth and grinned, her two little dimples on full disy. "Thank you!"

    Reese felt a warm, sweet ache in her chest. She didn''t notice Robbie standing outside the ssroom, watching them with aplicated look.

    He remembered when he''s little, Reese always yed games with him when she visited the old house, how she''d cook his favorite snacks and always had fruit candy in her bag-just for him.

    Sofia''s words suddenly echoed in his mind. "If your mom has a little brother, she''ll care about you even less."

    He felt a pang in his chest, his eyes drifting to Reese''s belly.

    When the ceremony ended, Reese was walking out of the school with Annie when she saw Matthew waiting at the gate.

    "Daddy!" Annie let go of Reese''s hand and ran to Matthew.

    Matthew scooped her up. "Annie, I''m sorry, I..." But then he saw Reese behind Annie and paused. "Reese?"

    Reese nodded. "I came for my son''s first day, and didn''t know Annie was here too. I just kept herpany for a bit."

    "Daddy, you have no idea how awesome she was today," Annie said, wriggling in his arms. "Can we take her to dinner to say thanks?"

    Reese was about to answer when a driver approached. "Ma''am."

    She turned and saw Mr. Ratcliff''s chauffeur.

    "Mr. Ratcliff isn''t feeling well. He''s been asking for you nonstop. I came to pick up

    Robbie, but since you''re here, could youe with us to the house?"

    Matthew''s face changed just a little. He set Annie down after whispering something to her.

    Annie walked over and tugged at Reese''s sleeve. "Since you have something to do, I''ll go with Daddy. See you soon, okay?"

    She waved and ran after Matthew.

    Reese watched them walk away, feeling a little confused, then turned to see Robbie standing with the driver, sulking and stubborn.

    "Let''s go," Reese said, not looking at him as she headed straight for the car parked on the curb.

    She thought about all the ways Mr. Ratcliff had looked out for her over the years.

    In the end, she just couldn''t bring herself to say no.

    Across the street, Sofia watched everything unfold, her lips curling into a sly, unreadable smile.

 Chapter 74

    The car barely stopped before Robbie bolted, practically flying out the door like a wildcat finally set free. He didn''t even look back, clearly desperate to put as much distance between himself and Reese as possible.

    Reese didn''t pay him any mind. She stepped out calmly, greeted by a waiting housekeeper ready to guide her inside.

    "Ma''am, Mr. Ratcliff is resting in the garden," the housekeeper said as she led Reese through the old, familiar halls.

    They walked into the courtyard, where grapevines tangled over a carved wooden trellis. Beneath the shade, a redwood lounge chair cradled Mr. Ratcliff, eyes closed as he tried to soak in some peace.

    Reese softened her footsteps, drawing closer. Up close, she noticed the tired shadows under his eyes and how even his usually lively silver hair looked faded and thin. It was obvious the drama between her and Sebastian had been weighing on him.

    A sharp ache twisted in her chest. She remembered all the kindness Mr. Ratcliff had shown her over the years, but it still hurt to know that, in the end, she was just the family''s surrogate someone to carry on the legacy.

    Mr. Ratcliff opened his eyes at the sound of her approach. When he saw Reese, he managed a faint, worn-out smile.

    "Reese, here you are. Come, sit with me," he said, gesturing to the chair next to him. He told the housekeeper to bring tea and some pine nut cake.

    Reese sat down quietly. Mr. Ratcliff''s gaze slid to her stomach, and he frowned. "How are you so thin? You''re five months along and still not showing? "You''ve been to the doctor, right?"

    Reese paused with the teacup in her hand, feeling the weight of his concern. He really cared about this baby.

    She wanted to tell him the truth, but seeing how exhausted he looked, she could only say, "I have. The doctor said the baby''s fine. I''m just naturally skinny, so it isn''t obvious."

    Mr. Ratcliff turned the prayer beads in his hand, deep in thought. "Maybe you should quit your job ande home to rest. Just focus on the baby for now."

    "Don''t worry. When the baby''s born, boy or girl, I''ll personally transfer three percent of the shares to them. And I''ll give you two percent as well."

    "That way, even if you and Sebastian end up splitting, you can still live afortable life."

    Reese looked up at him. "Grandpa, you know I didn''t marry into this family for shares. You''ve always known that."

    "I know," he said, sighing, his eyes tired. "Sebastian has let you down."

    "I''m old, Reese. I can''t control him anymore. I''m not even sure how much longer I''ll be around..."

    A soft breeze drifted through the trellis, rustling the grape leaves.

    Reese suddenly had a feeling she was being watched. She nced toward the moon gate and thought she saw a bit of fabric flick behind the pomegranate tree. But when she looked again, it was just the branches swaying in the wind.

    She turned back to Mr. Ratcliff. "Please take care of yourself.

    "Every child has their own path, Grandpa. Sebastian and I are adults. We know what we''re doing."

    She stayed a little longer, chatting with him just to keep his spirits up, then stood to leave.

    He let out another sigh and waved her away. "Go ahead. But let Jane know before you leave, or she''llin you never say goodbye."

    Reese left the courtyard and walked toward the main hall.

    From down the hallway, she could already hear Robbie''s cries. When she walked in, Robbie was curled up against Jane, his shoulders shaking with every sob.

    This time, Reese didn''t go over tofort him. She just said quietly to Jane, "Mom, I''ve got things to do. I won''t stay for dinner tonight."

    "You''re leaving already?" Jane''s hand paused as she wiped Robbie''s tears. "Ever since you got pregnant, this ce really has be somewhere youe and go as you please."

    Jane''s words, sharp and a little bitter, made Reese''s heart clench.

 Chapter 75

    Every time Reese visited the old house, she braced herself for Jane''s icy attitude, but over the years, things had mellowed out between them¡ªat least, she thought they had. She never expected Jane toe at her like this today.

    "Cat got your tongue?" Jane''s eyes swept over Reese, finally settling on her belly. "Feeling sorry for yourself again? Or do you just think I can''t touch you anymore?" Jane''s voice dripped with sarcasm as she continued, "Back then, you drugged Sebastian, slept with him, and got yourself pregnant just to force him to marry you. Now you''re talking about divorce. What''s your n-hoping the old man''s obsession with heirs will score you some shares, so you win either way?"

    She didn''t even bother lowering her voice. Robbie was right there, and Reese could feel the shame burn through her. "Mom..."

    ¡°Grandma, is that true?" Robbie''s tears stopped instantly. He looked up at Reese, pure shock in his eyes.

    So that''s how Mom got into the Ratcliff family?

    No wonder Dad always seemed so distant. No wonder he grew up stuck in this old house, barely seeing Mom. No wonder, when he cried as a little kid, no one let Mom take him home, and Dad would rather stay at the office thane back. He used to watch other kids with their parents and wish for hugs when he fell down, used to think maybe if he behaved better, Dad would love him too.

    Turns out, it was never his fault. Everything was just wrong from the beginning.

    Jane looked at Robbie, realizing she''d gone too far, but she couldn''t find a single word to exin.

    Robbie squirmed out of her arms, pointed straight at Reese, his little body shaking with anger. ¡°You don''t deserve to be my mom!"

    His voice cracked with both tears and usation. Jane hugged him tightly, her own eyes stinging. She whispered, "That''s right, honey. She doesn''t. We don''t need her, Robbie. It''s okay."

    Reese''s heart twisted seeing her son like this. She tried to exin, "Robbie, it''s not what you think. Back then-"

    "What, then?" Jane cut her off, voice sharp. "Are you going to say Sebastian begged you to marry him?

    "Reese, the Ratcliff family has already treated you well enough. Don''t get greedy. You want even more?"

    Reese let out a long sigh. "I''m leaving. If you want the truth, ask grandfather. He knows exactly what happened."

    At that, Robbie looked up, his eyes red and locked on Reese, anger and confusion swirling together.

    She was just going to walk away, not even try to exin?

    He remembered what he''d overheard earlier outside Great-Grandpa''s study, and his gaze dropped to Reese''s belly.

    It was all because of the baby.

    She wanted to protect the baby and give birth, hoping for a bigger slice of the inheritance. That was why she argued with Grandma, why she didn''t botherforting him, why she acted like none of this mattered to her.

    Hurt and jealousy roared up inside Robbie. He yelled, "Get out! Just don''te back! Nobody wants you here!"

    Reese''s eyes went cold. "Robbie, I am your mother, legally and by blood. I carried you for nine months. Even if you hate me, you should at least understand basic respect."

    Robbie''s face turned beet red, his re fixed on Reese''s stomach.

    When had Mom ever talked to him like this? It was all because of that baby.

    He was six already, still no shares in Ratcliff Global, and he knew Great-Grandpa had already set up a bigger, fancier room for the new baby-a room even nicer than his.

    A wave of anger crashed over him. He stared at Reese''s belly, and before anyone could react, he darted forward and kicked her as hard as he could.

    "Robbie!"

 Chapter 76

    Jane gasped and lunged to stop him, but she was toote.

    A sharp, blinding pain shot through Reese''s lower abdomen, like she''d just taken

    a hit from a sledgehammer. Cold sweat broke out across her forehead and all the color drained from her face.

    "You..." she choked out, staring at the boy in front of her, his face twisted with anger. Her heart felt like it was clenched in an icy fist, the pain so intense she couldn''t even get a full breath.

    If she really was pregnant, a kick like that could mean she''d lose the baby for

    sure.

    "What are you staring at?" Robbie yelled, voice shaking even though he tried to sound tough. "You brought this on yourself. You deserve it!"

    "Enough! Shut up!" Jane finally snapped out of it, yanking Robbie behind her. She was as pale as a ghost as she shouted toward the door, "Hurry! Get the driver! Take her to the hospital!"

    She turned back to Reese, trying to keep her voice steady. "Are you okay? Can you move?"

    Reese just gritted her teeth and shook her head, the pain making it impossible to talk.

    A housekeeper rushed over, carefully helping Reese out to the driveway.

    Once she was in the car, Reese mmed the window shut, tuning out Robbie''s crying and Jane''s frantic scolding echoing from the house. She just wanted silence.

    She didn''t notice the sudden hush that fell over the house. In the hallway, Mr. Ratcliff stood gripping the banister, lips trembling as he pointed a shaky finger at Robbie.

    "You little devil..." he sputtered, but before he could finish, he suddenly toppled backwards and fainted.

    "Dad!"

    "Great-grandpa!"

    The whole house erupted into chaos.

    Meanwhile, Christian had just pulled into the hospital parking lot and was helping Reese inside when his phone rang.

    Jane''s voice came through, thick with tears. "Christian, hurry! Get Dr. Wilson! Mr. Ratcliff passed out!"

    Christian nced at Reese, worry written all over his face. She was still deathly pale.

    "Christian, go," Reese said quietly, her voice thin but firm. "I''ll be fine on my own."

    "But..."

    "I mean it." She nodded toward the entrance. "It''s just a few steps. I can do it."

    The driver hesitated, watching her head into the OB building. In the end, he turned the car around and sped back to the estate.

    Inside the exam room, the doctor frowned as he looked at Reese''s report. "That was a nasty hit, but you''re lucky. No internal damage, just some bruising. Take it easy for a few days. You''ll be okay."

    Relief washed over Reese as she stepped out of the office and made her way down the hallway.

    She didn''t notice Tara sitting in the corner, watching her leave with aplicated look on her face.

    "Number sixty-seven, Tara."

    Tara went into the exam room and asked the doctor, "That patient just now is called Reese. She is my cousin. I saw here in alone and I''m worried. Is she alright?"

    The doctor recognized Tara and saw no reason to hide anything. "She''s fine. Just some bruising from a hit. Rest will fix it."

    A hit? What about the baby?

    "But she''s pregnant," Tara pressed, her anxiety obvious. "Will this hurt the baby?"

    The doctor paused, flipping through Reese''s chart. "She''s not pregnant... Oh, right. She had an abortionst month."

    "An abortion?" Tara''s eyes went wide in shock.

    Did Sebastian know? What would he do if he found out?

    No, she couldn''t let this get out. At least not before Dad locked down the East End project. Sebastian couldn''t know. Not yet.

    Determined, Tara pulled out her phone and called Dylon.

    Back at the Ratcliff estate, Robbie hid in the hallway, dialing Sofia''s number with shaking hands.

    The moment she answered, he burst into tears. "Auntie, I messed up! I kicked Mom''s stomach. Grandma says the baby probably won''t make it, and great- grandpa fainted. What if Dad finds out? Will he hate me? What should I do, Auntie?"

    Sofia''s hand tightened around her phone, but her voice stayed gentle, almost soothing. "Don''t be scared, Robbie. Your dad''s out of the country right now. He won''t be home until tomorrow afternoon. I''ll handle things here."

    "And besides," she added with a littleugh, "if your mom really loses the baby, you''ll be the only child left in the family. Your dad could never stay mad at you for long, could he?"

 Chapter 77

    Robbie sniffled, his voice shaky. "Really?"

    "Of course," Sofia said gently.

    She ran her finger along the window sill. "It''s the weekend tomorrow and the day after. Be good, stay home, and wait for your dad toe back. I''ll talk to him for you."

    After hanging up, Sofia couldn''t help but hum a little tune.

    Reese had lost the baby. With how much Sebastian cared about that child, he''d definitely me her for not protecting it. He''d start resenting her, maybe get fed up entirely.

    If that happened, things between her and Sebastian would go back to how they were before.

    Or maybe, just maybe, things would get even better. Who knew?

    But the next morning, as soon as Sofia walked into ckOak, she spotted Reese stepping out of the elevator, looking totally fine.

    Sofia studied Reese''s face, searching for any sign that she''d just gone through a miscarriage. But there was nothing-no trace of it at all.

    A chill crept up Sofia''s spine. What was going on?

    Was it possible Reese hadn''t lost the baby at all?

    Reese noticed Sofia staring, gave her a polite nod, then turned and walked straight into theb.

    She had zero time or energy to waste on Sofia today. de''s first round of data needed to be finished, and she had to sync it with The Vault''s system.

    Right after lunch, Reese finished the iteration data and knocked on the door of Sofia''sb.

    L opened it. Reese nced inside, but Sofia was nowhere to be seen.

    "Where''s Sofia?" she asked. "I''ve got the data ready. She needs to help integrate it with The Vault."

    L crossed her arms and leaned against the door. "She''s out with Mr. Ratcliff at the Mindwave conference. If you need her, you''ll have to wait until she''s back."

    Reese frowned. "Can you call her and ask her toe back? This is urgent. We can''t afford any dys."

    L shrugged. "Not happening. Mr. Ratcliff asked her to go himself."

    "If it''s that important, talk to him."

    Reese didn''t bother arguing. She went to the break room, unblocked Sebastian''s number, and called.

    The phone rang again and again¡ªjust that annoying busy signal.

    She didn''t know how many times she tried before someone finally picked up. It was Sofia''s voice on the other end. "Who is this? Sebastian''s busy right now. If you have a message, I can pass it on."

    Reese froze for a second, surprised Sebastian would let Sofia touch his phone.

    She remembered one time, when Sebastian was in the shower and his phone wouldn''t stop ringing. She''d picked it up for him, and he''de out looking pissed, telling her not to touch his phone ever again.

    Reese took a slow breath. "It''s Reese. Sofia, the de data is ready. I need you back here to sync it with The Vault."

    "I''m busy right now. How about you wait until Sebastian and I are done?" Click. The call ended.

    Reese stared at her phone, forcing herself to breathe slowly and keep calm. Everyone in the development team had pulled so many all-nighters just to get this data ready. They still had to runpatibility tests with The Vault before they could even start on the next steps.

    If Sofia didn''te back now, who knew how many more sleepless nights the team would have to endure just to catch up?

    In the corner, Annie was quietly sketching. She picked up on the tension and looked up. "Are you upset?"

    "I''m okay, honey. I can handle it."

    Reese ruffled Annie''s hair, gave her a reassuring smile, and left the break room. She went back to Sofia''sb and knocked again.

    "I already told you, she''s not here. Whatever it is, wait until she''s back," L said, sounding annoyed as she yanked the door open.

    Reese ignored her, squeezed past, and sat down at Sofia''sputer.

    "What are you doing?" L''s tone shot up. "This is all confidential. You don''t have permission to use herputer. If something goes wrong, who''s going to be responsible?"

    Reese''s fingers flew across the keyboard. "If anything happens, I''ll take the me. Do you even get that de is going to be used on the battlefield? Every second we waste here puts soldiers at risk out there."

    In less than half an hour, Reese figured out The Vault''s operating system, pulled up the de data, and started the integration.

    The progress bar was only halfway when theb door opened again.

    Reese''s hands froze on the keyboard. She looked up, eyes wide with shock.

 Chapter 78

    Sebastian stood in the doorway, his face cold and unreadable. "You got into The Vault''s core data? Do you even realize that''s confidential?"

    Reese''s eyes dropped. "Sofia left her post. I asked her toe back, but she refused. We''re out of time-I had no choice but to do it myself."

    Sofia shot Sebastian a look, then turned to Reese. "I didn''t have a choice. This meeting was important for Ratcliff Global too. And anyway, when have you ever called me?"

    Reese met her gaze. "I don''t have your number, so no, I didn''t. But I did call Mr. Ratcliff, and you answered. I told you toe back, and you just told me to wait. "Sofia, you should''ve known how urgent the de project is from the start.

    "Because you missed half a day, the data''s outdated now. The R&D team is going to have to pull another all-nighter just to catch up.

    "And Matthew already sent out a message this morning telling you to be in theb. I''d like to hear why you ignored that."

    Sofia thought of the message that went out in the group chat earlier and looked away. "I never got any message.

    "Ms. Meyer, it was my fault for not getting back in time to handle the datapatibility. But that doesn''t mean you get to mess with The Vault and pin the whole thing on me."

    "You''re making that up!" A small voice chimed in from outside theb. "I''m the one who sent out the message for Dad. He said it was super important, and I even sent you an extra reminder."

    Themotion had everyone looking over. Even Annie, who''d been in the lounge, poked her head in.

    Sofia red at Annie, her tone threatening. "What do you know? You''re just a kid."

    Annie stood her ground. "I know more than you think."

    "I know she called you and asked you toe back to work, and you told her to wait."

    Sebastian frowned at Sofia.

    The truth was, Sofia didn''t even have to be at the meeting today.

    She''d beenining about being left out of the R&D team, saying the team lead wasn''t giving her any work, and that she might as well tag along at ckOak. That was the only reason Sebastian brought her in the first ce.

    With Sebastian staring her down, Sofia shifted awkwardly, trying to think of something to say.

    Before she could answer, Brady hurried in He made a beeline for Sebastian, about to say something, but paused when he spotted Reese in theb. He leaned in and whispered Into Sebastian''s ear.

    Sebastian''s face changed instantly.

    He turned to Reese, his eyes flicking to her stomach, his expression troubled.

    "Reese, can you step outside for a second? I need to talk to you."

    Judging from Brady''s face, Reese knew this was about Robbie kicking her yesterday.

    She finished typing up thest set of data, stood up, and followed Sebastian into the elevator lobby.

    Sebastian''s eyes scanned her, full of worry. "Did Robbie really kick you yesterday? How''s the baby? Are you okay?"

    "I''m fine," Reese answered coolly.

    All Reese felt was bitter irony.

    It had been over twelve hours since Robbie kicked her in the stomach Sebastian was just now finding out from Brady. Who knows what he''d been doing all this time?

    Her mind shed back to how he and Sofia had shown up at theb door together.

    Reese suddenly wondered what Sebastian''s face would look like if he ever found out she''d already ended the pregnancy with Sofia''s child.

    "But..."

    He started to say something, but his phone rang. He pulled it out, ready to hang up, but when he saw who it was, his eyes lit up.

    Whatever was said on the other end made a rare smile break through on his face. "Okay. I''ll be right there."

    He hung up, his expression urgent. He nced at Reese. "As long as you''re

    alright. I have to go-something''se up."

    Without waiting for a reply, he

    headed back into the office, calling out to Sofia as he passed, "Since

    as already taken over our

    Reese work, she will finish up the rest.¡±

 Chapter 79

    "You''re heading back to Ratcliff Global tomorrow. No need toe to ckOak anymore."

    Sofia blinked,pletely caught off guard.

    Sebastian was really handing over The Vault''s core system to Reese?

    "I''ve got an interview to get to. I''m leaving." Sebastian didn''t spare her another nce. He just turned and strode toward the elevator, his movements sharp, focused. As he pressed the call button, he nced at his watch. There was this restless energy in his eyes, like he couldn''t wait a second longer.

    After all these years looking for her, he''d finally found her.

    Sofia stared at his back as he walked away, her heart burning with frustration. She''d asked Sebastian toe to ckOak because her phone had picked up a warning-the firewall at The Vault had been breached. When L told her it was Reese behind it, she''d hoped Sebastian would show up, scold Reese, maybe even start an argument. That would have been perfect.

    But then Annie showed up out of nowhere and ruined everything. And just when Sofia thought Sebastian was going to me her for the mess, he''d just brushed it all aside and told her to go back to Ratcliff Global.

    Wasn''t that basically erasing her from the de project altogether?

    She''d fought so hard for this spot. But even if she was angry and upset, Sofia didn''t have the guts to argue with Sebastian. She just had to swallow it all down and pretend she was fine.

    She managed a tight, forced smile at Reese. "Ms. Meyer, since Mr. Ratcliff said so, I''ll leave things in your hands."

    "Sorry for the trouble. I should''ve kept a closer eye on the team chat."

    She spun around and left. As she walked past Annie, she shot her a re sharp enough to cut ss.

    If that annoying girl hadn''t meddled, none of this would''ve happened.

    Just wait. One day, Annie would learn-sticking your nose where it doesn''t belong alwayses back to bite you.

    Inside the elevator, Sofia''s mind wouldn''t stop whirling. Something just didn''t add up.

    Brady had told her earlier that Sebastian only had a joint interview scheduled today, with the China head of a big international Alpany, Big X. It wasn''t even a one-on-one; Sebastian never bothered with things like that. But not only did he agree to go, he''d left in such a hurry.

    Did he know this executive personally? Was she really that important?

    Sofia pulled out her phone and searched up the head of Big X''s China division. All she found was that she was super aplished, but everything else was basically a nk.

    Meanwhile, L had a bad feeling the second Sebastian sent Sofia packing. She''d spent so much time cozying up to Sofia and finally convinced her to let her join this

    project. Even if she''d never get her

    name on anything, it was still a

    chance to learn.

    But now Sofia was leaving, and L had no reason to stick around either. She let out a quiet, defeated sigh.

    "Reese, you keep working. I''m heading downstairs to get something to eat. I''lle back upter to pack up my stuff and Sofia''s too."

    Theb door clicked shut behind her. Reese just kept her eyes on theputer screen, pretending not to hear a thing.

    About half an hourter, someone knocked at the door. Reese got up to answer it.

    Annie was standing there, hugging a food container that looked almost bigger than her head.

    "Auntie, my dad asked me to bring you dinner. It''s already past eight-you must be starving."

    Reese smiled and took the food. "Did you have dinner?"

    Annie nodded. "Dad and I already did. This is just for you."

    She peeked inside theb. "Can Ie in and keep youpany?"

    Reese looked down the hallway-the lights were dim, and almost everyone else

    had gone home. Only a few people were left workingte.

    Annie must be a little scared, she realized. After a moment, Reese nodded. "Sure,e on in."

    She moved some papers off her

    workstation and opened the

    container. There was a good mix of dishes, both meat and veggies.

    Reese couldn''t help but smile.

    Matthew was more thoughtful than she''d given him credit for.

    After she finished eating, Annie quickly gathered up the dishes. "I''ll get out of your way, Auntie."

    Reese was about to ask Annie to stay a little longer when Annie suddenly stopped and frowned. "Huh? Why won''t the door open?"

 Chapter 80

    Reese walked over to the door, grabbed the handle, and gave it a hard twist. It didn''t move at all.

    "That''s weird," she muttered.

    She leaned in, listening, and caught the sound of footsteps outside. Tapping lightly, she called out, "Hello? Is anyone there?"

    L''s voice drifted in from the hallway. "Stop knocking. I don''t have iris ess. Can''t you open it from the inside?"

    Reese frowned. "Can you call Sofia and ask her toe unlock it?"

    L paused for a second. "Alright, hang on."

    She stepped away to make the call. "Hey, Sofia? Are you able toe by ckOak for a bit? Theb door''s stuck. Reese is trapped inside and can''t get out-only you can open it with your iris scan."

    Sofia was in the middle of dinner at the ckOak Center caf¨¦. "Fine, but I''m busy right now. It might take a while."

    As she hung up, her eyes narrowed and she smirked. Reese was the reason she''d been kicked out of the de Project, and she wasn''t sure what kind of wee she''d get back at the Ratcliff Global R&D group. And now Reese needed her help? Let her wait.

    Back in the hallway, L called through the door, "Sofia''s on her way. Just hang tight, okay? I need to head back." Her footsteps faded, and then everything went quiet.

    Reese checked the time-just after eight. Still early. She figured she could use the time to finish syncing the de and Vault data.

    She turned to Annie and tried to reassure her. "Someone will be here soon to open the door. Will you keep mepany for a while?"

    Annie nodded and sat down, quiet and obedient.

    As the evening wore on, Reese uploaded thest bit of data and stretched, ncing at the clock again. Three hours had slipped by and Sofia still hadn''t shown up.

    Reese pulled out her phone to try calling for help, only to remember there was no signal in theb.

    She moved to the door and knocked. "Hello? Anyone out there?" Her voice echoed. "Can someone please get Sofia? We need her to open the door!"

    Silence.

    Suddenly there was a loud snap, and the room was swallowed by darkness. Even the hum of the vents stopped. Only the equipment lights blinked faintly.

    "Auntie, where are you?" Annie had been dozing at the table. Now she sat up, rubbing her eyes, looking scared.

    "Don''t worry, I''m right here." Reese fumbled in the dark until her hand found Annie''s, her fingers icy cold "Its probably just a power

    y cold

    The lights wille back age.

    soon."

    She tried to sound calm, but a knot of worry twisted in her stomach. ckOak''s power system was always reliable-why would it just go out? And why were the machines. still running?

    "Is anyone there?" Reese called, banging on the door. The air was getting heavier, harder to breathe. She pounded again, listening, hoping for footsteps in the hall.

    Her arms felt like lead. Her throat was raw. Theck of venttion made the air thick, every breath harder than thest.

    "Auntie... I can''t breathe..." Annie''s voice shook, her breathing shallow and quick.

    Reese groped her way along the wall, searching for a window. She found it, but the ss wouldn''t budge¡ªit was sealed shut.

    "Don''t be scared, Annie. I''m right here." Reese squeezed her hand. "Someone wille soon."

    She raised her voice, banging on the door again. "Please! Open the door! We''re trapped!"

    No one answered.

    Out in the hallway, Sofia stood by the breaker, listening to the sounds inside. She pulled her hand away from the switch, a cold smile on her lips, and walked off.

    Minutes crawled by. The heat in theb grew thick and stifling, like being trapped in a sauna. Reese''s head spun Hervision started to blushe could feel Annie trembling, her breathing fading to a whisper.

    "Annie... hang on..." Reese''s voice was barely there. She reached out, pulling Annie close. As her fingers brushed the girl''s back, she felt something-warm, and blinking.

    Squinting in the faint light from the windows, Reese saw a tiny green dot shing on Annie''s back, like a signal.

    Without thinking, Reese pressed it. The light switched from green to red, and a piercing rm cut through the silence.

    Relief washed over her. It had to be some kind of emergency beacon-probably something Matthew set up to protect Annie.

    Help was on the way.

    Reese drifted in and out, time slipping away. Somewhere in the haze, she heard someone pounding on the door.

 Chapter 81

    The crash of metal against metal was deafening, each blow more urgent than thest. A man''s voice shouted through the chaos, raw with worry.

    "Annie, Ms. Meyer, are you in there?"

    Reese clung to Annie, the little girl limp in her arms, her breaths barely there, her face a sickly shade of gray.

    With everything she had left, Reese managed to yell, "Here! We''re here!"

    Matthew caught the faint reply and felt his heart stop. "Move away from the door. I''ming in!"

    Reese held Annie tight and scooted back. Outside, the whine of a power saw kicked in. She gave Annie''s cheek a gentle pat.

    "Annie, don''t fall asleep, okay? Your dad''sing. He''s almost here."

    Her own voice was barely a rasp. Every word scraped her throat, her chest burning.

    Then the noise at the door changed, a screech of tortured metal, and finally-one thunderous bang as the door crashed open.

    A tall figure rushed in, backlit by the hall lights, eyes sharp and searching. He spotted them huddled in the corner in an instant.

    Matthew was there in seconds, kneeling in front of them. "Are you hurt? Talk to me."

    "Reese! Come on, stay with me!"

    Reese''s head lolled, sweat stering her hair to her forehead. Matthew''s panic spiked as he patted her cheek, desperate to keep her awake.

    Maybe it was relief, maybe she''d just run out of strength, but Reese''s lips barely moved. She tried to answer, but nothing came out. Her vision blurred until the world faded to ck.

    Matthew''s heart mmed in his chest. He bent down, searching for her breath. When he felt the faintest sign of life, he exhaled in relief and looked at Annie.

    "Annie!"

    "Dad... Daddy, Auntie..." Annie''s eyelids fluttered open at his voice, and she managed a shaky little smile.

    "Don''t be scared, sweetheart. I''m getting you to the hospital right now."

    There was no time to think. Matthew grabbed his phone, called for an ambnce, and told them everything. Then he scooped Reese up in one arm, hooked the

    other under Annie''s small frame, and carried them both out of theb.

    He paused for a split second at the broken door, eyes flickering to the iris scanner, suspicion shing across his face.

    But there were more important things right now. He tightened his grip on the two of them and hurried to the elevator.

    The sharp sting of antiseptic filled Reese''s nose as she slowly came to.

    She blinked open her eyes, the world fuzzy and white coats moving in and out of focus.

    "Annie..." Her voice was barely a whisper.

    She felt coot electrodes on her skin and a gentle hand holding her down. A doctor noticed her struggling to sit up and pressed her back, his voice steady.

    "Ms. Meyer, it''s okay. The little girl who came in with you-she''s out of danger now."

    "Her dad''s with her in the children''s ward, just resting."

    He nced at Reese''s pale face. "But you need to stay put. You''ve lost a lot of

    blood, and you''re worn out. You need to rest."

    "We''ve already contacted your family. They should be here soon."

    The relief Reese had felt instantly snapped back to panic.

    Family?

    Sebastian was still her only legal family. If he came to the hospital and found out, he''d know she''d lost the baby ages ago.

    But the divorce wasn''t final yet. She hadn''t gotten her share of the assets, hadn''t taken back her mother''s ne from Zach.

    No-Sebastian couldn''t find out. Not yet.

    Panic gave her strength. She tried to push herself up. "I''m fine, really, you don''t need to call anyone..."

    "Ms. Meyer, please, don''t move "

    The door swung open before the nurse could finish. Sebastian strode in, his face stormy and eyes red with worry. He saw Reese was awake paused for a heartbeat then crossed the room in a few quick steps. He gripped her hand tight.

    "Are you okay? Does anything hurt?"

    His concern was real. Reese awkwardly pulled her hand away, wanting to insist

    she was fine, but Sebastian was already turning to the doctor.

    "Doctor, how''s my wife? And the baby-how''s the baby?"

    Reese''s heart dropped. There was no way out now. She shut her eyes.

    The doctor adjusted his sses,

    regret etched deep in his features After a long pause, he finally said "ME Ratcliff I''m sorry. The baby didn''t make it."

 Chapter 82

    "What do you mean, the baby''s gone?"

    Sebastian''s eyes went wide, his whole body swaying as if the floor had just disappeared beneath him. He looked like he''d been punched in the gut.

    Hadn''t the doctor said on the phone it was just a bit of oxygen deprivation from being stuck in a stuffy room too long?

    The doctor watched him closely, choosing his words with care. "Ms. Meyer took a hit to the abdomen not long ago. The pregnancy was already unstable.

    "And with the recentck of oxygen, there just wasn''t enough blood flow. By the time she reached the hospital, it was toote."

    Reese blinked in surprise. She''d gotten rid of the baby a month ago. Why was the doctor saying this now?

    "A hit?"

    Sebastian frowned, suddenly remembering what Brady had told him earlier. Robbie had kicked Reese in the stomach that afternoon.

    Reese looked perfectly fine, so he figured it wasn''t a big deal. He never expected this.

    His heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, pain creeping in from every angle. And yet, buried somewhere deep inside, he felt the faintest,

    most shameful sense of relief.

    Maybe it was better this way.

    He''d kept his promise. The baby was gone, and now he hadn''t technically broken his word.

    But what about Reese?

    Sebastian closed his eyes, trying to breathe.

    At least he and Reese still have Robbie.

    Thinking of Robbie, Sebastian''s jaw tightened. He turned to Brady, who''d been waiting outside the hospital room.

    "Go to the old house. Bring Robbie here.

    "And check the security footage outside the ckOak researchb. Every second of it. Don''t miss anything.

    "My wife was hurt at ckOak. n owes us an exnation."

    Brady nodded and slipped away. As he turned the hallway corner, he thought he saw someone duck out of view.

    He paused, nced around, but saw nothing. Shaking his head, he hurried off.

    Once the elevator doors closed behind him, a figure stepped out from around the

    corner.

    Matthew watched Brady''s back for a few moments, then started toward Reese''s room.

    Sebastian''s low voice drifted through the half-open door. "The baby''s gone, but try not to dwell on it. You need to focus on getting better. We can always have another child."

    Matthew stopped in his tracks. So Sebastian was Reese''s husband.

    Life really did have a twisted sense of humor.

    He smirked, shaking his head, and quietly backed away. Before the elevator doors

    slid shut, he looked back at the hospital room one more time.

    Inside, Reese sat propped against the headboard staring at the slow drip of the V. Sebastian''s words echoed in her ears, sharp and cold.

    Another child in the future?

    Did he really think she''d let him and Sofia nt another embryo in her?

    Not a chance!

    She''d let her guard down once, agreed to IVF, but she''d never be that naive again.

    Sebastian noticed her silence, and gently tucked the nket around her shoulders. "Are you in any pain? I can get the doctor."

    Reese nced up at him, puzzled.

    He wasn''t angry about the baby. He was being... gentle?

    Was this guilt? Since when had Sebastian ever felt guilty about anything he''d done to her?

    Suddenly, the hospital room door mmed open.

    Sebastian turned, startled. Jane stood in the doorway, holding Robbie''s hand, her face stormy.

    "Mom, what are you-"

    He started to greet her, but Jane marched straight to the bed, pointing a shaking finger in Reese''s face.

    "You''re a curse, Reese! Couldn''t even keep a baby! Why did our family end up with such a lousy daughter-inw!

    "If you hadn''t drugged Sebastian and slept with him, you really think he''d have married you?

    "You used to act so high and mighty just because you were pregnant. Well, look at you now-no baby. What else do you have?"

    Sebastian stared at Jane, stunned.

    He never thought his always-elegant, alwaysposed mother would

    sayething like that,

    say something like that, especially in front of Robbie.

    "Mom, what happened back then wasn''t Reese''s fault="

    He tried to

    off. "If it was in, but Jane cut him

    Was

    She''s

    her

    shot lost

    then

    baby ande m

    you''re still defending her?"

    Sebastian''s eyes darkened. A wave of exhaustion washed over him.

    Was this what Reese had put up with all these years?

    "Enough, Mom."

    His voice was sharper than he meant, heavy with guilt.

    Jane flinched, staring at him in disbelief. "Sebastian, are you raising your voice at me? For her?"

    She''d spent her whole life caring for the Ratcliff family. Sebastian had never spoken to her like this-ever.

    Sebastian didn''t meet her eyes. His gaze stayed on Reese''s pale face.

    "She just lost her baby. She''s hurting. Please, leave her alone."

 Chapter 83

    Jane sucked in a sharp breath, her hand flying to her chest as she stumbled back a step.

    Reese didn''t even flinch at the tension crackling between Jane and Sebastian. It was like Jane''s scolding was aimed at someone else entirely. She''d been through enough with her mother-inw to know better than to let it get under her skin. If she''d cared this much before, she would''ve been crushed years ago.

    Still, a tiny part of her heart twinged with pain.

    Robbie lingered behind Jane, his nerves obvious. The moment he realized the baby was gone, he let out a small, secret sigh of relief. A hint of satisfaction shed across his face.

    No more baby brother. That meant he was the only child of the Ratcliff family now. All the attention-finally-would be his.

    But Sebastian caught that fleeting look.

    "Robbie, what''s so funny?" His voice was cool, almost sharp.

    Reese was his mother. Didn''t he care at all, seeing her so pale and frail in that hospital bed? Sebastian remembered how gentle and caring Robbie had been when Sofia was sick, and the memory stung in the worst way.

    Robbie jumped, dropping his head. "N-no, I wasn''tughing or anything."

    Sebastian''s stare was ice-cold. "Do you realize that if you hadn''t kicked your mom, the baby would still be here?"

    "Why did you do it? Tell me!"

    Robbie started shaking, his eyes filling with tears. "I didn''t mean to! I just didn''t want a little brother!"

    "If Mom had another baby, Dad would stop loving me. Even Great-Grandpa was getting a room ready for him, and giving him shares of thepany. I get nothing!"

    Sebastian mmed his hand down on the nightstand, making the ss rattle. His anger was barely contained. "Who taught you to say things like that?"

    Robbie had never seen his father so furious. He shrank back, voice barely above a whisper. "It-it was Aunt Sofia..."

    Reese froze. Wasn''t Sofia the real mother of the lost baby? How could she have plotted this?

    Sebastian''s expression darkened.

    Sofia? Did she really tell Robbie to hurt the baby? Was she honestly that reckless?

    "Nonsense." Sebastian''s tone was sharp, his eyes cold as he fixed them on Robbie. "She wouldn''t do that. There''s no reason."

    Jane finally seemed to catch on. She looked at Robbie, torn between anger and worry, but she still shielded him. "Sebastian, he''s just a kid. Don''t scare him like that."

    Sebastian shut his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, all the fight had drained out of him. "Brady, take him home. He''s grounded."

    Jane looked like she wanted to argue, but when she met Sebastian''s eyes, she bit her tongue and took Robbie out of the room with her.

    The hospital room was quiet again.

    Sebastian moved to Reese''s

    bedside, taking in her pale face, and for a second, he didn''t know what to say. After a long pause, he finally spoke softer this time. "Robbie''s been spoiled by Mom. He''s gotten out of hand, but we''ll get him back on track once you''re better. We can bring him to live with us and keep a closer eye.

    "And about Sofia... I really don''t think she did this."

    Reese''s lips twisted into a bitter smile. She didn''t say a word, just stared at him, her disbelief in as day.

    ¡°Sebastian, is Sofia really that important? Even now, you''re willing to look the other way?"

    "I''m not," he insisted, hesitating. "There''s just no reason for her to do something like this.

    "I''ve already asked Brady to check the security cameras. If it turns out Sofia was involved, I''m not letting it slide. Didn''t you always want your mom''s ne? I''ll help you get it, okay?"

    Reese went quiet. She did want the ne-she''d wanted it for years. Even though Sebastian had

    promised not to fight her for it, even if she scraped together the money

    Zach was never going to eye

    over easily.

    With Sebastian''s help, maybe she finally stood a chance.

    So, why keep fighting about it now? She''d get the ne first, then decide what to do next.

    Thinking it through, Reese nodded. "Alright."

    Sebastian didn''t expect her to give in so easily. He watched her, concern flickering

    in his eyes, certain she was hiding something from him.

    He opened his mouth to say more, but his phone rang.

    Brady''s voice came through, tense and urgent. "Boss, I pulled the security footage from ckOak. I just sent it to your phone. You need to take a look."

 Chapter 84

    Sebastian''s finger had just brushed the phone screen when a knock sounded at the hospital room door.

    Dylon and Rosie stood together at the threshold, faces still stiff with leftover anger. But the second they saw Sebastian inside, their scowls vanished, reced by eager, almost desperate smiles.

    "Reese, are you okay?" Dylon''s eyes darted over Reese''s pale face before flicking to Sebastian. ¡°Mr. Ratcliff, what happened? Why did Reese faint all of a sudden?"

    Sebastian absently rubbed his phone with his thumb. "The security footage just came through."

    "I want to know what happened too. Maybe we should step outside and take a look?"

    Dylon hesitated, ncing at Rosie. She gave the tiniest nod, so he followed Sebastian out toward the smoking area.

    Sebastian lit a cigarette, pulled up the footage, and held his phone out to Dylon.

    The video showed Sofia had arrived at ckOak a little after ten. When cries for help came from theb, Sofia ignored it. She didn''t use her iris scan to open the door. Instead, she turned and hit the emergency power cutoff.

    Sebastian stared at Sofia''s retreating figure on the screen, Robbie''s warning echoing in his mind. His eyes narrowed.

    Was Sofia really trying to kill Reese?

    If that was true, then just now...

    Sebastian leaned against the wall, took a long drag, and called Brady. His voice was low and tense. "Bring Sofia to the hospital."

    Dylon''s lips twitched in a half-smile. Sebastian''s reaction told him everything. "Mr. Ratcliff, you can''t let her get away with this. Reese deserves justice."

    Sebastian didn''t answer. He just looked at Dylon. "How do you n to handle shorting Ramos Corporation for the Eastside project?"

    Dylon froze, rubbing his hands together awkwardly. "That was just... to help Ms. Meyer get the house..."

    Catching Sebastian''s cold stare, he quickly added, "But Reese is my niece. I''ll make it up to her."

    Back in the hospital room, Rosie watched them leave, quietly closed the door, and sat beside Reese, her voice barely a whisper.

    "Reese, why were you so reckless with the baby?"

    "Tara found out and called the doctor in time. That''s why he said the baby was lost because of the ident. Do you think Sebastian would forgive you if he knew the truth?

    "Even if you don''t care about yourself, you should think about your uncle''s situation."

    Reese looked at Rosie, and suddenly everything clicked.

    So that''s what this is about.

    She forced a crooked smile. "You really go all out for me."

    They were like leeches, impossible to shake off as long as she was still married to Sebastian.

    "We were worried sick about you, and this is how you act?¡± Rosie

    nudged her. "Are you sel

    to divorce Sebastian over

    "Think about it. If you leave the Ratcliff family, what do you have left?"

    Reese stared at the IV drip, her tone t. "Ever since I found out about Sebastian and Sofia, I''ve wanted a divorce."

    Rosie''s face went pale. "Are you out of your mind? Why would you give up being Mrs. Ratcliff?"

    "Reese, listen to me. Men are all the same. If you just tough it out, it''ll pass." Reese didn''t reply.

    She didn''t care who Sebastian loved anymore. All she wanted was to get her mother''s ne and run far away, where none of these le. could ever find her.

    The door clicked open.

    Rosie quicklyposed herself as

    Dylon walked in, pulling a check

    from his briefcase and handing it to Reese, his face twisted in pain.

    "Reese, this is from your uncle. Take it. It should cover the losses for Ramos Corporation."

    Reese nced at the check, said nothing, and tugged it out of his hand.

    Rosie''s face flushed red. She red at Dylon, signaling furiously with her eyes.

    Had he lost his mind? Giving Reese that much money was basically tossing it away.

    Dylon shot her a look and jerked his head toward Sebastian, silently telling her to watch his reaction.

    Sebastian saw the whole exchange and realized just how fake all those years of affection from Dylon and Rosie really were.

 Chapter 85

    When Reese met his eyes, calm and unreadable, Sebastian felt his heart tighten painfully, like someone had squeezed the air right out of him.

    For years, he''d told himself Reese was just after status, that she married him so the Ratcliffs would help the Ramos family. It never even crossed his mind that her own family was using her too, treating her like a bargaining chip.

    Once Dylon and his wife left, the hospital room fellpletely silent.

    Sebastian walked to the bed, his voice rough and low. "I checked the security footage. It was Sofia."

    "I''ve already asked someone to bring her over. Don''t worry. I''m not going to cover for her anymore."

    Reese looked up, disbelief flickering in her eyes.

    Wasn''t Sofia his first love? Didn''t he care about her so much that he''d let Reese carry their child? So now, why was he standing up for her now?

    Before Reese could figure it out, Sofia arrived.

    She walked in holding a fruit basket, her expression perfectly worried, eyes red like she''d just been crying.

    "Ms. Meyer, I''m so sorry. Something came up that day and I couldn''t get back to ckOak in time. I never meant for you to go through all this."

    Sofia nced at Sebastian, her voice trembling just enough. "Sebastian, seeing Ms. Meyer like this because of me-I feel so awful. Please, talk to her for me. Tell her not to be upset. She needs to focus on getting better."

    "Oh, really?"

    Sebastian tossed his phone in front of Sofia.

    "Watch this first."

    Sofia scrambled to catch the phone, lookingpletely confused.

    He nodded curtly. "Go on. y it."

    Sofia looked down, and as the video started, all the color drained from her face.

    Everything she''d just said to Reese reyed in her mind, but the video on the screen felt like a p-humiliating and impossible to deny.

    "It''s not what it looks like, Sebastian, please let me exin¡ª"

    "Exin what?¡± Sebastian''s voice was freezing. "Why you cut the power? Why

    you just stood there while Reese was in danger?"

    He pressed on, his words sharp. "Or maybe exin why you tried to get Robbie to hurt Reese?"

    ¡°I¡ªI...¡± Sofia stammered, shrinking back until she hit the wall.

    He knows. He knows everything. It''s over.

    "I just wanted you to notice me." Her voice cracked as she reached for him, desperate like always.

    "You''ve barely looked at metely. You only care about her. I just wanted you to see me again."

    Sebastian stepped away, frowning. "Sofia, enough. I never promised you anything. Not ever."

    "Then why are you always so good to me?"

    Hearing himy it out so clearly, Sofia finally broke down in tears.

    "All this time, you stood up for me, looked out for me. You can''t tell me you never felt anything."

    Sebastian nced at Reese, guilt

    flickering in his eyes before he

    looked away. "Sofia from the

    beginning, we agreed this was just

    business."

    "I let you use my name to get established at Bridger Lake. You helped Ratcliff

    Global with the transition. That''s all it was."

    He paused his voice tinged with

    anger. "But none of that gives you

    the righ

    to hurt Reese Whatever

    else, she''s my wife warned you."

    Sofia''s face wentpletely gray.

    She grabbed his sleeve, her voice shaking. "Sebastian, I''m sorry. Please, just this once. Please forgive me. I''ll never do it again¡ª¡±

    He pulled away from her. "Did you think about forgiveness when you hurt her and the baby?"

    He turned to the door. "Brady, send her back to Brookfield. Tell her father everything she''s done."

    "No, Sebastian, please. Don''t tell my dad. I''m begging you!"

    If Bailey found out she''d hurt Reese, she and Grace would be out of the Meyer family for good.

    "Yes, sir." Brady stepped in, taking hold of Sofia as she crumpled, and led her away while her cries faded down the hall.

    Only when the room was quiet again

    did Sebastian let out a shaky breath

    and turn to Reese his voice

    trembling in a way he didn''t seem to notice.

    "I''m sorry, Reese. I never thought it woulde to this."

    Reese hadn''t even processed everything she''d just heard between Sebastian and

    Sofia.

    If Sebastian and Sofia were just business partners... then whose baby was she carrying?

 Chapter 86

    Sebastian watched Reese, who just sat there, lost in thought. For a moment, he had no idea how to start exining his situation with Sofia.

    He ended up sitting on the edge of her hospital bed, just looking at her for a long time before finally taking a breath and saying, "There''s really nothing between Sofia and me.

    "I never denied the rumors about her being my girlfriend... part of it was because of a deal between us, and the other part was because I was mad at you. About that night, when I thought you drugged me.

    "But I know now it wasn''t you. And I also found out she''s your half-sister. I''ve already cleared things up with her."

    Sebastian nced at Reese, but when she didn''t say anything, he started talking faster.

    "I had someone look into what happened that night, too, but it''s been ages, and most of the leads are gone. Still, I promise I''ll figure it out. I''ll make this right for you."

    The room was so quiet that the drip from her IV was the only thing breaking the silence.

    Reese still looked a little spaced out, but his words finally pulled her back. "You sent Sofia back to Brookfield. Will you still help me get my mom''s ne back from Zach?"

    Sebastian felt a sharp ache in his chest, as if something heavy was pressing on him.

    He''d just poured his heart out, but all she cared about was the ne.

    "Yeah," he said, the word tasting bitter. But then he remembered all the years he''d spent being cold to her, all because of a misunderstanding. He''d even helped spread some of the ugly rumors about her. Maybe he deserved this distance.

    He thought about the child they''d lost, and everything she''d gone through. Sebastian took a slow, deep breath.

    He owed her more than he could ever repay.

    "I''ll get the ne back for you."

    Reese just thanked him quietly,y down, and closed her eyes.

    Sunlight spilled over her pale face, turning the fine hairs on her cheek golden, but somehow it just made her look even more fragile.

    Sebastian''s fingers traced the seam of his pants. He wanted to reach out and touch her hair, but he stopped himself.

    Meanwhile, outside the room, Dylon and Rosie exchanged anxious nces after seeing Brady drag Sofia away. Feeling uneasy, they slipped into the elevator without saying a word.

    It wasn''t until the doors finally closed that Rosie let out a shaky breath, pressing a hand to her chest.

    "That scared the hell out of me. I

    Can''t

    believe Mr Ratcliff suddenly wants to dig into what happened all those years ago."

    Dylon shot her a look, trying to y it cool. "What''s there to be scared of? We covered our tracks. It''s been seven years. Even if it''s Mr. Ratcliff, he won''t find anything."

    Seven years ago, Dylon had brought Reese, who wasn''t even twenty yet, to Sebastian''s birthday party.

    He''d slipped the waiter some cash to spike Sebastian''s drink, then talked Reese into bringing him a toast.

    When the drugs started working and Sebastian left the party, Rosie hade up with an excuse to send Reese up to Sebastian''s suite, pretending she needed to deliver some medicine.

    Afterward, they leaked the story to Mr. Ratcliff, forcing Sebastian to marry Reese.

    "Exactly," Rosie said, finally catching her breath. "We were careful. Even Reese never knew what really happened."

    Now that Reese knew she hadn''t

    lost the baby, she''d nned to check

    out of the hospital as soon as she

    felt better But Sebastian had used

    the ne to force her to stay the full week.

    Worried she was falling behind at work, Reese called n every day for updates. On the fifth day, n finally showed up at the hospital, looking exhausted.

    ¡°Work is fine. Annie''s already started at school, Matthew has basically moved into theb, and the project is still on track."

    Reese slumped against the headboard, bored out of her mind. "I''m just going stir- crazy lying here all day."

    "You need to stay in the hospital,"

    n said quickly, not wanting to get

    dragged into another argument. "If

    you faint again at ckOak, Mr. Ratcliff wit actually tear the whole

    will

    research team apart."

    n still remembered Sebastian''s face the day Reese was rushed to the ER-it

    had been downright terrifying.

    If anything happened to Reese while she was under his care, it wouldn''t just be Sebastianing after him. Mr. Sanchez and Dominic would probably take him apart, too.

    ¡°Alright, alright. No need to walk me out. Get some rest.¡±

    Reese saw n off to the elevator, watched the doors shut, then turned and headed back to her room.

 Chapter 87

    Sebastian and Brady hurried down the hallway toward the VIP suite at the end. Brady kept his voice low as he leaned in, ¡°Your grandfather found out you put your brother on lockdown. He thought something was fishy, so he sent someone to check it out."

    "And when he heard about Reese''s miscarriage, the shock nearly took him out right then."

    Sebastian lifted a hand, signaling him to stop. He pushed open the hospital room door.

    Mr. Ratcliff was curled up in bed, looking so small and fragile now, like a dry leaf about to fall.

    Sebastian stood at the bedside. For once, all the steady calm in his eyes was gone, reced by pain. Even his shoulders sagged.

    Jane was sitting at the edge of the bed, pressing a handkerchief to her mouth as she tried to hold back her sobs. When she saw Sebastian, she stood up to give

    him space.

    "Talk to your grandpa," she whispered.

    Sebastian knelt by the bed and took his grandfather''s hand.

    The old man opened his eyes slowly. They were cloudy, but he still recognized Sebastian. His voice was thin but clear. "Sebastian, find your brother. Bring him home."

    Sebastian hesitated, surprised.

    ¡°Don''t me him,¡± Mr. Ratcliff said, coughing weakly. ¡°If you want to me someone, me your useless father. If not for him, the family wouldn''t be in this mess."

    "And don''t me me, either. I could see Reese was a good kid. That''s why I pushed you to marry her, even if it meant breaking up you and..."

    "Grandpa," Sebastian interrupted gently. "I never med you. Reese... she''s great."

    The old man looked at him and managed a faint, relieved smile. "That''s good. Just promise me you''ll find your brother. Bring him back where he belongs."

    "I will,¡± Sebastian said softly, his fingers brushing over his grandfather''s thin hand.

    "Go on with your work. Let me get some rest," Mr. Ratcliff murmured, closing his eyes.

    Sebastian and Jane slipped out of the room as quietly as they could.

    Out in the hallway, Jane''s grief turned into a stormy scowl. Her voice was tight with frustration. "Your grandfather''s really losing it.

    "That woman seduced your father and had a bastard. That''s a scandal, and now he wants to bring that kid back to split the inheritance?"

    Sebastian frowned. "Mom, I know this is hard, but it''s Grandpa''s wish. We have to at least try."

    He knew this was a wound Jane had carried for years. His father''s affair had nearly destroyed her.

    Jane just huffed and turned away, not wanting to argue anymore.

    Sebastian offered a few gentle words, then asked Brady to take her back to the

    house. He headed toward Reese''s room by himself.

    He opened the door softly. Reese was asleep in bed.

    Sebastian walked over and tucked the nket around her shoulders His fingers brushed her cheek by ident, and the soft, cool touch made his heart skip. He puffed his puffed hig

    hand back quickly.

    He stood there for a while, just looking at her pale lips, then at her thin wrist.

    He promised himself that once she was out of the hospital, he''d take her home and take care of her¡ªuntil she looked just like she did when they first met, soft and full of life.

    His phone buzzed in his pocket. Sebastian stepped outside to answer.

    Grace''s voice was a little shaky. "Sebastian, can you please not send Sofia back

    to Brookfield? Her father doesn''t know yet-"

    Sebastian cut her off, his voice cold.

    "Sofia killed my child. The only reason Thaven''t gone after her is out of respect for the Meyer family."

    "I wonder how Mr. Meyer would react if he found out what she did."

    Grace was silent, clearly at a loss for words, then hung up in frustration.

    She couldn''t let Bailey find out that Reese was at Bridger Lake¡ªand that she''d married Sebastian.

    A few momentster, as if struck by a new idea, Grace''s angry frown faded. She smirked and made another call.

    Sebastian headed back into the hospital room. Reese was awake now, propped up in bed with her tablet.

    On the screen, a recent interview was ying-Sebastian and Leslie, the head of Big X''s North American division.

    The camera caught Sebastian in profile, a faint smile on his lips, his eyes warm as he looked at Leslie.

 Chapter 88

    "What are you watching?"

    Sebastian came over to the bed. "The doctor said you need to rest."

    He gently slid the tablet from Reese''s hands, pausing when he caught a glimpse of the screen.

    "Just looking at the international Al market," Reese said, grabbing the tablet back. She scrolled to where she''d left off. On the screen, a woman in a crisp white suit was talking about artificial intelligence, her eyes lit up with excitement. Her voice was cool and steady, every wordnding right on target. She was even breaking down military applications like an expert.

    "Leslie''s kind of a legend," Reese said under her breath. "No wonder she''s MIT. She gets the big picture-where Al is going globally, how it could totally change warfare. She''s got it all figured out."

    Her smile faded for a second. If she hadn''t gotten married back then, she would''ve said yes to that MIT offer.

    Sebastian followed her gaze, his lips twitching in a half smile.

    Reese traced the edge of the tablet with her finger. "It''s a waste, someone like her stuck at Big X."

    Too bad she was a citizen. No chance she''d ever get into de Research.

    "I heard she didn''t officially graduate from MIT."

    Sebastian said quietly, his face darkening a little. "I''ve met her. She didn''te from much. Everything she''s got, she earned herself."

    "Not like you. You grew up with everything."

    Reese froze. The words hit her like icy water, sharp and stinging.

    Everything?

    Her parents split when she was six. Her mom died in an ident when she was nine. After that, she''d moved in with her uncle, always careful not to upset anyone, always giving in to Tara.

    Now, her uncle had tanked his ownpany just to win Sebastian''s favor, and they barely even talked anymore.

    If that was privilege, she''d rather have had nothing.

    She lowered her eyes, hershes throwing faint shadows across her cheeks, hiding the sting behind them.

    She didn''t argue, and she didn''t want to.

    In Sebastian''s eyes, she''d always be the spoiled heiress. The woman who''d do anything for her family''s interests.

    Sebastian noticed her silence and thought of everything that had happenedtely. He realized he''d gone too far.

    He wanted to say somethingforting, but the words just wouldn''te. All he managed was, "That''s not what I meant."

    He remembered Grace''s call earlier. If the Meyer family really wanted to back

    Sofia, the Ratcliffs and the Meyers were on a collision course.

    "Your uncle said your dad is Bailey from Brookfield. Are you two¡ª"

    "My father died when I was six," Reese cut in, her voice t.

    She remembered how, after her mom took her away, Bailey had rushed to bring Sofia and her mom into their old house.

    Later, when her mom passed, Bailey hadn''t even shown up at the funeral. He''d never reached out since.

    As far as Reese was concerned, her father had died years ago.

    Sebastian watched her lips press into a thin line. He thought about how she''d held herself together all, these years, about everything he d done, and a flicker of guilt crept in.

    He swallowed, about to say something, but his phone rang.

    "Boss?" It was Brady. "The Meyer family just pulled out of several projects with us. The shareholders want answers."

    "Got it. I''ll be right there."

    Sebastian hung up and looked at Reese. "Something came up at work. I''ve got to go."

    He paused, then said, "Get some rest. Nothing''s more important than your health."

    His footsteps faded down the hall, and the room went quiet again. Reese stared up at the IV stand, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.

    They had been married for 7 years, and he''d always kept her at arm''s length. Sometimes he''d even looked at her like she was a burden. No matter what she did, no matter how hard she tried, he''d never shown her an ounce of real care.

    Now, just when she''d finally decided to stop chasing after him and the Ratcliffs,

    when she''d finally decided to leave, he suddenly changed his tune.

    Was he feeling guilty about the baby? Or did he just not like the way she''d started ignoring him?

    Reese shut her eyes, pushing those

    useless feelings away. She didn''t care about his attitude anymore.

    The moment she decided divorce, she''d stopped caring.

    Her phone rang, pulling her out of her thoughts. Reese picked up.

 Chapter 89

    "Ms. Meyer, all the court documents are ready. I just need to know when you''re avable so we can set the trial date."

    Reese pressed her hand to her forehead. With everything happeningtely, she''dpletely lost track of this.

    Once the date was set, the court would notify Sebastian right away.

    But her mother''s ne was still with Zach. He''d promised to get it back for her.

    If the trial went forward, chances were he''d stop caring.

    "Let''s wait for now," Reese said. "I''ll let you know when I''m ready."

    She hung up, tossed back the covers, and swung her legs out of bed. Time to head to ckOak.

    Driving out of the hospital parking lot, Reese squinted against the harsh afternoon sun and flipped down the visor. She''d barely rounded a corner when she noticed a ck sedan in her rearview mirror.

    At first, she didn''t think much of it. After three intersections with the same car still behind her never too close, never too far-she started to get uneasy.

    Who sent them? Sebastian? Or someone else?

    A wave of irritation and anxiety washed over her. Reese pressed the gas, hoping to lose them.

    But the car stuck to her like a shadow. Every time she sped up, it did too. She switchednes; so did they, right away.

    Her grip on the steering wheel tightened as panic crept in, twisting in her chest.

    At a red light, Reese took a shaky breath, about to turn her head and check the license te. That''s when it happened.

    A deafening crash erupted behind her.

    The impact mmed her forward. The airbag exploded from the steering wheel, filling the car with the sharp, chemical smell.

    Her forehead hit the airbag with a dull thud.

    Through the haze, her mother Marie''s face shed before her eyes.

    She was nine again, on a bright day just like this. Marie was driving her to see Bailey, her smile bright and hopeful, as if she was about to share something wonderful.

    Then, out of nowhere, a truck barreled into the road. Marie screamed, yanking the wheel. In thosest seconds, she wrapped Reese in her arms, shielding her.

    When Reese woke up, she was lying on the side of the road. Marie was slumped over the wheel, blood everywhere.

    "Mom!"

    Reese gasped, her heart crushing

    inside her chest. She couldn''t

    breathe. It felt like a rock was

    pressing down on her her throat tightening, darkness creeping in at the edges of her vision.

    All those old fears and helplessness came rushing back, threatening to drown her.

    She slumped in her seat, shaking. Her vision blurred. Suddenly, someone pulled open her car door.

    "Are you okay?"

    A woman''s voice, clear and steady.

    Reese forced herself to look over. Through the blur, she saw a woman in a cream trench coat, leaning in, concern on her face.

    "The other driver''s hurt too. Someone already called 911. Hang in there-the ambnce ising..."

    The woman''s voice faded away as everything went ck.

    Not far away, Tara stood at the entrance of the mall, one hand resting on her belly.

    The screech of brakes made her look up. She recognized Reese''s car at once.

    She started to step forward but paused, ncing back at the person behind her. Biting her lip, she turned and hurried into the mall.

    She couldn''t let Zach see.

    She''d barely gotten inside before she bumped right into him, shopping bags dangling from his arms.

    "What happened?" Zach caught her by the arm, frowning. "You look pale."

    Tara nced at the intersection, her voice shaking. "There was a car ident."

    Zach looked through the ss doors at the crowd gathering at the corner. He couldn''t see much just someone being pulled from the back ofa ck car, blood everywhere.

    Tara saw him staring and clung to his arm. "Zach, I''m scared."

    "Don''t be. I''m here." Zach turned, gently blocking her view with his hand.

    "Okay." Tara touched her belly, the small curve hidden under her loose dress. "Let''s go out another exit. The baby''s scared too."

    "Whatever you want." Zach wrapped an arm around her, leading her away.

    As they walked, Zach nced back, almost involuntarily. Through the crowd, he caught a glimpse of a limp woman being lifted from the driver''s seat of a white car.  fo

 Chapter 90

    Zach froze, staring at the figure weaving through the crowd. There was something familiar about them, stirring a memory he couldn''t quite ce. Before he could move closer, Tara grabbed his wrist, holding him back.

    ¡°Zach, my stomach really hurts all of a sudden. Do you think it''s because I got scared earlier?"

    Zach looked down at Tara, noticing how she was hunched over, her face tight with worry.

    He nced once more at the receding figure in the crowd, frustration pulling at his brow, then turned and gently supported Tara. "Let''s get you to the hospital."

    The emergency room was all harsh white lights and the sharp smell of antiseptic.

    Sebastian got the hospital''s call just as he was ending a meeting. Ignoring the annoyed looks from the board, he rushed out. He arrived breathless, just in time to see Leslie waiting outside the ER doors.

    "What are you doing here?" he asked, scanning her face and then the doors behind her.

    Leslie gave a small smile. "Maybe I should be asking you that?"

    "There was a car ident..."

    "You''re okay, right? You''re not hurt?"

    She watched him quickly look her over, anxious. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

    Leslie caught the worry in his eyes and brushed her hair behind her ear. "No, not me. I just happened to be there. Someone fainted and I couldn''t just leave, so I followed them to the hospital."

    "Then why are you at the hospital? Are you feeling sick?"

    "No, I just..."

    Before she could finish, a nurse came out, helping Reese walk through the doors. "Family for Reese?"

    Sebastian stepped forward. "I''m here."

    Reese looked pale, a piece of gauze stuck to her forehead.

    Leslie''s eyes widened in surprise. She nced at Sebastian, then at Reese, her gaze lingering on Reese''s stomach. It was t-no sign of pregnancy at all.

    A sh of resentment crossed Leslie''s face, but she smoothed it away with a bright smile and stepped up to Reese.

    "You''re awake! Are you feeling okay? You scared me half to death when you suddenly passed out."

    Reese managed a small, tired smile. "You brought me here, didn''t you? Thank you."

    "It was nothing," Leslie replied, forcing another smile. She shot Sebastian a teasing look. "I can''t believe you''re actually Sebastian s wife guess that means he owes me a big favor now."

    Reese nced past her at Sebastian. "You two know each other?"

    "Yeah. We met during an interview a while ago."

    Sebastian''s anxious look faded, reced by his usual cool expression. He

    reached out. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

    Reese pulled back, avoiding his hand. ¡°No, just a little dizzy. The doctor wants to run some more tests."

    "I''ll go with you," Sebastian said, taking her hand before she could protest.

    Leslie''s eyes dropped to their joined hands, her smile faltering.

    "That''s not necessary," Reese said, pulling her hand free. "I can do it myself. You should get back to work."

    She took her paperwork and headed for the stairs.

    Leslie watched her go, her ownposure slipping as her eyes filled with tears.

    "So that''s your wife?" she said, her voice shaky. "You''ve really kept her safe all these years. A little car ident and she faints."

    Sebastian heard the edge in her words and looked down at Leslie.

    "She''s not usually like this. Maybe it''s because she just lost the baby. She''s still weak," he said quietly.

    "Oh?" Leslieughed softly, her voice bitter. "And what''s she usually like? Sweet and gentle? The perfe housewife is that what you think a Mrs. Ratcliff should be?"

    "She''s good to me." Sebastian hesitated, his words heavy. "She''s a good woman."

    "Good to you?" Leslie''s voice broke as tears spilled down her cheeks. "And me, Sebastian? Wasn''t I good to you?"

    "Back then, those old men on the

    board were so afraid you''d take

    away their power that they sent

    people after you, chased your all through the city. I risked everything to save you. I got hurt so badly that I can never have children again!" C¨®ntent

 Chapter 91

    "But weren''t you the one who said you''d just get married to someone else if you had to?"

    Guilt flickered in Sebastian''s eyes. "You''re amazing, Leslie. It''s just that, back then

    "I don''t care about the past. I want to know why you''re doing this now!"

    Leslie pressed a shaky hand to her chest. "You promised me. Even if you couldn''t give me a real home, you said you''d give me a child."

    "But she doesn''t even look pregnant, does she?"

    Sebastian twisted his fingers, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. Finally, he let out a long sigh. "I''m sorry. Something unexpected happened."

    "You always have an excuse ready, don''t you?"

    Leslie wiped her tears and spun away. The hem of her trench coat brushed over the bench, stirring up a small gust as she hurried off.

    Sebastian just stood there, watching her walk away, his fists clenching tighter with every step she took.

    Reese came down the stairs, holding her test results, and nced in the direction Leslie had gone.

    "You two seem pretty close," she said.

    "We just know each other from work."

    Sebastian snapped out of it and looked at Reese. "How did your tests go?"

    "Mild concussion. Nothing else."

    Her voice was t, impossible to read.

    Sebastian''s eyes dropped to the bandage on her forehead, and frustration bubbled up inside him.

    "I told you to stay in your room and rest. Why were you wandering the hospital?¡±

    He couldn''t help but think about the board at the office-everyone was on edge after the Meyer family pulled out of the partnership. His voice got sharper.

    "Why can''t you just do as you''re told? Do you get it? Because you lost the baby, my grandfather''s gotten even sicker-"

    "Your grandfather''s ill?"

    Reese''s eyes widened. "Is he okay? Is he in the hospital? What room is he in?" "It''s not that bad. He''s already back at the old house, resting."

    Sebastian checked his watch. "I have things to do. Go back to your room and lie down. I''ll have someone bring you food."

    As his footsteps faded away, Reese stood in the hallway, watching until he turned the corner. She let out a quietugh.

    Did Sebastian really think she was so clueless that she couldn''t see what was going on between him and Leslie?

    Sebastian walked out the front

    doors of the hospital and stopped to look around for Leslie, but she was nowhere in sight. He sighed, called Brady and told him to calm down the investors, then headed for the courtyard behind the hospital. C¨®ntent

    Leslie was sitting on a bench in the back garden, her head bowed. The wind caught her hair, showing the tear stains on her cheeks.

    Sebastian sat down beside her. "Stop crying. I''ll figure something out about the baby."

    Leslie lifted her head, her eyes red and ssy. "Figure what out? After the ident, I hardly had any eggs left. Now I have almost none."

    "There''s no way to find another surrogate with what''s left," she said bitterly.

    Sebastian was quiet for a long time before finally making up his mind. "Once she''s better, I''ll convince her to try for another baby."

    Leslie''s eyes lit up for a second, but then doubt crept in. "You already lied to her once. Do you really think you can fool her again?"

    Sebastian''s hands clenched tight on his knees. "I can. She''ll do it."

    All these years, Reese had never turned him down-not once.

    Once the baby was born, he''d finally repay Leslie for saving his life all those years ago. After that, he''d give

    Reese the life she deserved and

    spend the rest of his days making it

    up to her.

    When Reese reached her hospital room, she was surprised to see Roman and

    two traffic police officers waiting outside.

    "Detective Sanchez, is something wrong?" she asked.

    Roman nodded and looked at his colleagues. "We were at the station when we

    heard about your ident. Thought we''de check on you."

    One of the officers flipped open a notebook. "Ms. Meyer, our tests show the driver was over the legal alcobelifmit. Fimit. Can you tell us what

    happened?

    Reese frowned. "Drunk driving? But he''d been following me since I left the

    hospital."

 Chapter 92

    Roman frowned. "Are you sure about that?"

    "I''m sure. There''s no way I could be wrong," Reese replied, nodding with certainty.

    Roman nced at the two traffic cops. "Looks like we''ll have to hand this case over."

    He turned back to Reese. "Take care of yourself, alright? If you need anything, just call me."

    Once Roman and the officers left, the hospital room fell quiet again.

    Reese leaned back against the headboard, but she couldn''t rx. Worry for Mr. Ratcliff kept swirling in her chest.

    After a while, she took out her phone and dialed his number.

    "Reese, how are you feeling?" Mr. Ratcliff''s voice sounded weaker than usual, which made Reese frown.

    "Grandpa, I''m fine. I just heard you''re sick. How are you doing?"

    She could hear a faint smile in his voice. "It''s nothing new. Just my usual problems. A couple days of rest and I''ll be back on my feet."

    "Don''t worry about this old man. You need to take care of yourself first."

    He paused for a second, his breathing heavier. "About the baby... If it''s gone, then it''s gone. Your health matters more. You''re still young. Focus on getting better.

    "Now that you know Sebastian and that woman are just working together, you don''t have to worry anymore. Try to get along with him. Don''t talk about divorce again.

    "When you''re feeling better, you can try for another baby. I''m still hoping to see my great-grandchild someday."

    Reese stared out at the gloomy sky, hershes trembling. She wanted to say no, but thinking of her grandpa''s health, the words stuck in her throat.

    She could only answer softly, "Okay, Grandpa. I understand."

    After hanging up, Reese let out a slow breath, feeling like something heavy was pressing on her chest.

    Losing the baby had hit Mr. Ratcliff hard. If anything else went wrong, she wasn''t sure his body could take it.

    Divorce would have to wait. She needed to get her mother''s ne back, and only when Mr. Ratcliff was better could she bring it up again.

    As for having another child...

    Reese gave a bitterugh. After all these years, she and Sebastian never spent a night together. Even the child they lost had been the result of IVF.

    That gave Sebastian the perfect chance to swap her embryo, leaving her with a child that wasn''t actually hers.

    She remembered all those hormone shots, the stabbing pain in her lower belly, the swelling. She could still feel the cold sting of the needle in her skin.

    And in the end, the child had nothing to do with her. She could never go through IVF with Sebastian again.

    Reese stayed in the hospital two more days. Once her test results came back clear, she checked out.

    Stepping out the hospital doors and pulling out her phone to call a ride, she spotted a ck Bentley parked at the curb.

    Sebastian was leaning against the car, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, his face unreadable.

    "Get in. I''ll take you home," he said.

    Reese sidestepped him. ¡°No thanks. I''m going to the office first." Sebastian blocked her way. "When are you moving back home?"

    "I''m not going back." Reese met his eyes, calm and steady. "You said you wouldn''t interfere with my work after the baby was born. Now that''s not happening, I have no reason to go back."

    Sebastian''s expression barely changed, but his brows tightened. He didn''t say anything, just opened the passenger door and looked at her.

    The air between them was tense, but Reese didn''t care. She walked around him, opened the back door, and got in.

    "My mother''s ne. When will you get it back for me?"

    If it weren''t for the ne, she never would''ve let Sebastian send Sofia back to

    Brookfield without calling the police.

    "I already talked to Zach. He''ll get to you soon," Sebastian replied, starting the engine. Things have been crazy at work, and my dad wants me to... find my brother."

    Reese raised her eyebrows. After seven years of marriage, she''d never heard

    but in mention a brother,

    but it didn''t really matter. Onger everything was settled, they''d be done anyway.

    When they reached ckOak Center, Reese got out of the car without looking back, missing theplicated look in Sebastian''s eyes.

    She went upstairs, greeted the front desk, and headed for the research team.

    Walking past Sofia''s old office, she nced in and saw L hunched over her keyboard, typing away.

 Chapter 93

    "Well, look who decided to show up-Reese Meyer finally returns."

    L caught Reese with a sideways nce, her voiceced with sarcasm. "You were so eager to cover for Sofia, but you couldn''t even make it through the morning beforending in the hospital. Do you have any idea how much you set us back?"

    Reese was caught off guard for a second, then it made sense. If L was in the R&D team, she must''ve passed all the background checks. de was a joint venture between ckOak and Ratcliff Global, so Ratcliff would definitely send someone over.

    She really didn''t feel like arguing. Reese turned to head down the hallway toward theb, but a soft voice stopped her.

    "Ms. Meyer."

    Reese turned and saw n at the end of the hall, Leslie standing beside him.

    "Didn''t expect to see you here, Ms. Meyer," Leslie said, stepping forward, only for n to subtly block her.

    "What''s this, n?" Leslie asked, hands up in a show of innocence, her tone light but firm. "I''m here on behalf of Big X to talk partnership, and ckOak won''t even let me in theb? That doesn''t exactly say ''wee''."

    Reese stepped up, giving Leslie a polite nod. "Sorry, Leslie,b ess is strictly controlled. n''s just following protocol."

    Leslie smiled, her eyes lingering on Reese for a moment. ¡°I had no idea you worked at ckOak. You''re full of surprises."

    Reese felt something shift inside her. "Not as impressive as you. You''re already heading Big X''s division, and you''re barely older than me."

    She didn''t want to drag this out. "Sorry, I''ve got work to do."

    Inside theb, Matthew was frowning at his monitor, tapping his fingers absently on the desk.

    "What''s up?" Reese asked, walking over.

    Matthew nced up, something unreadable in his eyes before he looked away. He pointed at the screen. "Hit a snag. The Al''s anti-jamming algorithm for military e-warfare just isn''t stable."

    Reese leaned in, typing a fewmands. ¡°Try adjusting the adaptive filter parameters. Like this."

    The graph on the screen smoothed almost instantly. Matthew''s eyes brightened, and for a second, he looked at Reese like she''d just hung the stars.

    ??.

    "You..." He hesitated, caught Reese''s curious look, and quickly turned away, coughing. "By the way, Big X is here to discuss a partnership! think we should go for it?

    Reese thought back to the car ident, how Leslie had shown up to help her, and

    now she was here at ckOak. It was all a little too convenient.

    de was ckOak''s top-secret project, which was government-level

    confidential. They couldn''t be too careful.

    ¡°Big X is based in another country, and with how things are internationally right

    now, I think we need to keep our guard up."

    Matthew gave her a thoughtful look. "Got it."

    Reese nced at him, a little confused, but didn''t dwell on it. She had other things to worry about.

    Outside ckOak Center, Neal

    lounged in the back of a sleek ck Maybach an unfit cigarette between his tips. He watched the front entrance, his tone teasing

    "Come on, Sebastian, was this really necessary? We''re just here to pick up Leslie,

    but you had to take my car and park three blocks away."

    Sebastian paused, flipping through his files, his voice even. "Reese works here.

    Wouldn''t look good if she saw me."

    Neal let out augh, leaning back.

    "Since when do you care about her feelings? You and Sofia used to

    #taent your thing right in front others

    never saw you hiding then.

    He smirked. ¡°Everyone knows Reese only married you for the Ratcliff name."

    Sebastian closed the file and looked up, expression unreadable. Neal fell silent.

    "Is that so awful?"

    It wasn''t clear if he was asking Neal or himself.

    Neal scratched his head, hesitating. "I mean... maybe a little."

    Sebastian didn''t answer. He opened the file again, but his eyes didn''t really see the words. That restless, uneasy feeling just wouldn''t go away.

 Chapter 94

    Neal''s cigarette wasn''t even lit before Sebastian started flipping through the files, loud and impatient.

    Neal nced over. Sebastian''s jaw was so tense it looked like it could snap, his profile even sharper in the car''s shadow.

    "What''s up with you?" Neal slid the cigarette pack back into his pocket and bumped Sebastian''s arm. "Who''s got you all worked up today?"

    Sebastian looked up, his gaze dark and cold, like a frozenke. "That night. The drug. It wasn''t Reese."

    His voice was barely above a whisper. "She didn''t marry me because she wanted to."

    Neal almost dropped his cigarette. His eyes went wide. "Wait, what? You sure?"

    Everyone had always said Reese had done whatever it took, drugged Sebastian, just to marry into the Ratcliff family. And Sebastian had kept his distance after the wedding, like he believed it too.

    "If it wasn''t her, then who? Who in Bridger Lake would dare mess with you?"

    Sebastian tapped the file in hisp. "I don''t know."

    "I had people look into it. Only found the hotel server from back then, but he left years ago. No way to find him now."

    "That''s it?" Neal thumped his chest. "Give me whatever you have. If he''s still alive, I''ll track him down in three days, tops."

    He shot Sebastian a strange look. If Reese never wanted to marry him, shouldn''t he be happy to call it quits? What was he so upset about?

    Before he could ask, Leslie slid into the back seat. Her white suit was a little dusty, and her usual bright smile was barely there.

    "What''s going on?" she asked.

    Neal looked back. "You''re finally home-shouldn''t we go out and celebrate tonight?"

    "Sorry, I probably won''t have time." Leslie tried to smile. "ckOak turned down the deal."

    She rubbed her forehead, sounding stressed. "Landing this partnership is the whole reason I came to Bridger Lake. If I can''t get it done, HQ''s not going to be happy."

    Neal waved it off. "Not a big deal. Just have Sebastian make a call. Problem solved. In Bridger Lake, nobody says no to him," he added.

    Leslie nced at Sebastian with a hopeful, yful grin. "Mr. Ratcliff, help me out?"

    Sebastian stared out the window, the ss fa?ade of ckOak Center throwing sunlight in his face. "I''ll see what I can do."

    A peal ofughter drifted in through the car window, light and happy.

    Outside, Reese was walking by, holding hands with a little girl in two neat braids, heading for ckOak Sebastian sat up straighter and fo some reason, found himself. ncing at Leslie. He didn''t want Reese to see him here with her.

    The little girl looked up at Reese, chattering away. Reese listened, a gentle smile curving her lips.

    Neal gave a low whistle. "Didn''t know Reese liked kids this much. She spoils Robbie, would give him the stars if he asked, and now she''s so sweet with this girl too. That smite way more real than when she''s around you, man..."

    He stopped, sensing the mood, and nced over at Sebastian.

    Sebastian shot him a look that could freeze the air. He stayed silent.

    Lately, Reese had been cold to him, ever since the thing with Sofia. Then there was Robbie''s kick-she''d lost the baby after that.

    Sebastian couldn''t shake the memory of her pale face in the hospital, or the heavy sighs from the old man at home. It all pressed on him, thick and suffocating.

    "Let''s go," Sebastian said suddenly, his voice sharp as ice.

    Neal didn''t argue. He fired up the engine right away.

    In the rearview, Reese led the little girl into ck Oak. A tall man appeared from the shadows, and the girl reached for his hand. The three of them walked through the doors together.

    Sebastian looked back just in time to see it. His brow creased, and a restless, gnawing frustration red up inside him.

    Inside the building, Reese handed Annie''s tiny backpack to Matthew. "I''ll keep an eye on the numbers. Why don''t you take Annie home for a bit and let her rest?"

 Chapter 95

    Matthew took the backpack, his eyes lingering on her face for a few seconds, something mysetrious and unreadable flickering in his gaze.

    "Thanks. Really."

    Reese didn''t notice anything off. She waved him away. "Go get some sleep. Kids shouldn''t be up thiste."

    Upstairs, Annie tugged on Matthew''s sleeve, tilting her face up at him. "Daddy, you looked at Auntie so weird just now."

    "Did you have a fight?"

    Matthew blinked, snapped back to himself, and patted the top of Annie''s head, hiding whatever he''d been feeling. "No, it''s nothing. Let''s go home."

    Reese headed back to theb. The second she turned on herputer, a warning popped up on the screen.

    Someone had hacked in.

    Her eyes narrowed. She started typing fast, tracking the breach, but whoever it was covered their tracks too well. Nothing useful left behind.

    She frowned and shot Matthew a message. Labputer was hacked. Couldn''t trace it. I''ve encrypted everything.

    Even after hitting send, she just stared at the screen, feeling uneasy.

    The next morning was Saturday and barely light outside when Matthew showed up, carrying a half-asleep Annie.

    Annie was in pink pajamas with little teddy bears, eyes barely open as she rested her head against Matthew''s shoulder.

    "You should go home and rest," Reese told him. "I''ll handle the hack."

    Matthew looked at his daughter-soft, sleepy, breathing slow.

    "You''re here so early. She''s still half-asleep," Reese said softly, brushing Annie''s cheek. "If you''re okay with it, I can take her to my apartment so she can sleep in. It''s the weekend, no one''s in the office, and you don''t have to worry about her."

    He hesitated, then nodded. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

    Reese carried Annie out of ckOak, drove home, and got off the elevator-only to find Sebastian standing at her door like a statue, his expression absolutely cold.

    Robbie was next to him, clearly annoyed, scuffing his sneakers on the floor.

    Robbie spotted Annie in Reese''s arms and immediatelyunched into aint. "Mom, where did you go this morning? I''ve been waiting forever I''m starving Make me breakfast, okay? want toasts and¡±

    "Robbie," Sebastian cut in quietly, his voice sharp with warning. "What did we agree at home?"

    Robbie pouted, eyes down, kicking the floor. "Sorry, Mom. I shouldn''t have kicked you before. And I shouldn''t have tried to get closete Aunt Reese just to make you upset:"

    "I just... I just wanted you to notice me..."

    Reese nced at him, still holding Annie. Her expression didn''t change.

    She knew Robbie wasn''t acting out to get her attention; he just copied whoever Sebastian liked.

    She only gave a soft, nomittal "Mm," and didn''t say anything else as she unlocked the door.

    "Wait."

    Sebastian stepped in front of her.

    "I''ve got things to do today. Can you

    watch Robbie for me? booked a

    form

    table at Maple Street Diner this

    afternoon. I''ll pick you both upter."

    Reese almostughed. ¡°The Ratcliffs have a house full of staff, and you still need me to babysit?"

    "You know my dad''s not well. My mom can''t handle it by herself," Sebastian said, looking ufortable. "You haven''t seen Robbie in a long time."

    Reese nced at Robbie. The kid was sulking, clearly didn''t want to be there. "Take him with you," she said.

    Sebastian stared at her for a moment. "Just one day. Watch him today, and I''ll bring you the ne tonight."

    Reese paused, looking up at him. His face showed nothing.

    The little girl in her arms stirred, mumbling in her sleep.

    "Come in," Reese finally said, pushing the door open.

 Chapter 96

    As soon as the door swung open, Sebastian started to step inside, but Reese quickly shifted to block him.

    Annie was curled up, fast asleep in Reese''s arms, her soft breaths warm on Reese''s neck and carrying that sweet milky scent.

    "I said I''d watch him for one day. That''s it." Reese''s voice was quiet but cold enough to freeze someone in their tracks. "I never said you coulde in."

    Sebastian stopped, eyesnding on the tense set of her jaw.

    The hallway light threw a faint shadow across hershes. She held Annie steady with one arm, her fingers absentmindedly tracing gentle circles on the little girl''s back.

    It reminded him so much of how she used to hold Robbie.

    If only they could have another daughter together...

    Sebastian pulled his foot back and tapped Robbie lightly on the back of the head. "Robbie, inside. Be good."

    Robbie hunched his shoulders, sneaking a nervous nce at Sebastian''s clenched jaw. He shuffled reluctantly into the apartment.

    The entryway was small, and when Robbie turned, he bumped into the shoe cab with a loud tter. He froze, holding his breath, then darted an anxious look at Sebastian.

    But Sebastian didn''t even seem to notice. He was still watching Reese, about to say something else when she cut him off.

    "Bring the ne this afternoon if you want your son back."

    Before he could answer, she shut the door right in front of his nose.

    A bitter taste crept into Sebastian''s mouth as he walked toward the elevator, rubbing his fingers together. He headed down to the parking lot, got in his car, and lit a cigarette.

    Smoke curled around him as he stared up at the apartment windows. Ash built up on the end of his cigarette before he finally grabbed his phone and called Brady.

    "Set up a meeting with Mr. Wiles at Iron Financial. Tell him I''ll take the deal."

    Inside, Robbie rxed the second Sebastian left. He kicked off his shoes and stormed into the living room, taking one look at the small two-bedroom apartment before wrinkling his nose in disgust.

    "This is it? It''s smaller than the bathroom at the old house."

    He kicked the leg of the sofa. "This couch looks like it''d stab you if you sat down."

    Reese didn''t even look at him. She carried Annie toward the bedroom. The little girl shifted in her sleep, her eyebrows scrunching up like the noise was getting to her.

    "Quiet." Reese turned and fixed him with a chilly stare. "If you keep this up, I''ll call your dad toe pick you up right now."

    Robbie''s lips started to tremble. When he saw Reese gently patting Annie''s back, his eyes immediately turned red.

    He just stood there, fists clenched, tears gathering but refusing to fall.

    "I''m going to bed," he muttered.

    Reese didn''t nce his way, just carried Annie into the bedroom. "Figure out something to do. Don''t make a sound. If you get hungry there''s instant noodles in ther kitchen. Make it yourself."

    "You''re really making me eat instant noodles?" Robbie''s voice shot up, full of

    disbelief and hurt. "You''re not making me breakfast? I want toasts!"

    "Didn''t you always say instant noodles were your favorite?" Reese''s voice floated out from the bedroom, light as air. "Andst time I told you not to eat them, you went crying to your grandma and told herd was Starving you. Now you''ve got all the noodles you want. No one''s stopping you."

    The bedroom door closed with a soft click. Fury shed in Robbie''s eyes. He kicked the sofa hard, missed, and stammed his foot into the wooden frame instead He dropped down, clutching his foot, tears finally spilling over-but he didn''t dare cry out loud, just muffled his sobs in his palm.

    Reese had pulled an all-nighter, so as soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out cold.

    When she woke up, the spot next to her was empty. Annie was already gone, out of the bedroom.

    Reese had barely sat up when a wail from the living room echoed through the apartment.

    She opened the door and her face instantly darkened.

    The living room was a wreck.

    Crayon marks covered the walls, the couch, the floor-red, green, purple¡ªlike a rainbow had exploded all over everything.

    Annie stood in the middle of it all, her pink bear dress smeared with paint, a jagged cut at the hem where scissors had gone through. Her eyes were red, and she bit down on her lip.

    Robbie was on the floor, bawling his eyes out. When he saw Reese, he shoved Annie aside andtched onto Reese''s leg.

    "Mom, she pushed me! Kick her out! My butt hurts!"

    Annie stumbled from the shove, almost falling.

    Reese stepped right around Robbie and knelt to pick Annie up. The moment her

    hand touched Annie''s back, she felt the little girl trembling.

 Chapter 97

    "Don''t you dare hug her!"

    Robbie''s wails only got louder when Reese ignored him. He threw himself at her, grabbing her shirt and kicking his feet. "You''re my mom! You can only hug me!"

    "Quiet."

    Reese''s headache wasing on strong. She red at Robbie, then turned to Annie.

    "Annie, sweetheart, can you tell Auntie what happened?"

    Annie stared down at her twisting fingers, silent for a long moment. Finally, she whispered, "When I woke up and saw Auntie was still sleeping, I went out to draw."

    "He came over and took my crayons. He wouldn''t give them back, and he started drawing all over the walls. I told him not to, but he said this was his mom''s house and he could do whatever he wanted. Then he..."

    Her voice trembled and she looked like she was about to cry. "He got scissors and cut my dress. He lifted up my skirt, so I pushed him away. I didn''t mean to push him that hard. I didn''t think he''d fall."

    "Auntie, can you please not kick me out? Could you call my dad and let him pick me up?"

    Her voice was so soft and every word came with a tear.

    "I''m not sending you anywhere," Reese said, her heart breaking. She gently wiped Annie''s cheeks and pulled her in for a hug. "No one can make you leave, okay? You''re safe here."

    Robbie immediately lost it again. "Mom, she''s lying! She did all the drawing! She''s a liar!"

    Reese''s patience snapped.

    She looked down at her son, still throwing a tantrum on the floor, and realized how Jane had spoiled him rotten.

    "Robbie.¡± Her voice was sharp and cold. "Clean up this mess. Or I''ll call your dad and have him pick you up right now."

    Robbie hupped mid-cry. Seeing Reese meant it, he finally got up off the floor, sniffling.

    Reese ignored him, went to the closet, and grabbed a white cardigan. She slipped it over Annie''s shoulders to cover the ruined dress. "Let''s go buy you a new dress."

    Annie wrapped her arms tight around Reese''s neck, burying her face in her shoulder. "Thank you," she whispered.

    Half an hourter, they came back to the apartment with a new dress in hand.

    As soon as they stepped off the elevator, Reese stopped cold. The apartment door was busted open, hanging ajar, She could hear angry voices inside and caught the glint of police uniforms.

    and caght

    Her heart skipped a beat-Robbie was still inside. She pulled Annie close and pushed the door open.

    In the living room, Jane was sitting on the couch, holding Robbie and dabbing at his tears. When she saw Reese, she jumped up, pointing her finger right in Reese''s face.

    "Reese, what kind of heartless mother are you?

    "Sebastian trusted you to watch his son, and you left him home alone!

    "If you didn''t want to take care of him, why even let Sebastian bring him here? This is child abuse!

    "Roman, what are you doing just standing there? Arrest her! Lock her up! I''m pressing charges!"

    "Jane..." Roman looked exhausted as he turned to Reese. "Ms. Meyer, can you exin?"

    That''s when Reese realized the cop in the room was Roman-Jane''s nephew, part of the Sanchez family.

    "I was only out for half an hour. There are cameras in the apartment. I was watching the whole time. He was safe."

    "Liar!" Robbie shrieked, squirming in

    all

    Jane''s arms. "She locked me up morning! She made me cat instant noodles! She yelled at me! She let that stupid girl hit me!"

    Reese frowned. When did Robbie be such a little storyteller?

    "That''s not true!" Annie stepped forward, fierce and protective. "You cut my dress. She only took me out because of that..."

    "And who do you think you are?" Jane cut her off, her voice sharp as a knife. "Is this your ce to speak? Where''s your mother? Didn''t she teach you any manners?"

    Reese remembered what Matthew had told her. Annie''s mom died on the battlefield. That was it. Her anger boiled over.

    She stared Jane down, her voice icy. "Oh, and your darling grandson is so well-behaved right? Cutting up a little girl''s dress and lifting her skirt? That''s your idea of manners?"

    Jane''s face turned dark red. She raised her hand, aiming to p Reese. "I''m your

    mother-inw! How dare you speak to me like that?"

    "Enough!"

    A strong, steady hand shot out from behind and grabbed Jane''s wrist, stopping

    her cold.

 Chapter 98

    "Mom, what are you doing here?"

    Sebastian stepped in front of Reese, shielding her with one arm while grabbing Jane''s wrist with the other, his face thunderous.

    Jane huffed. "If I hadn''t shown up, who knows what would''ve happened to Robbie!"

    "Reese locked Robbie inside all alone and took this little girl out with her. If Robbie hadn''t called me crying, who knows how long it would''ve taken before someone noticed! I said a couple of things to her and she turned it around and insulted me right back!"

    "That''s enough, Mom."

    Sebastian nced around at the mess before finally settling his gaze on Robbie. He had brought Robbie from the old house to stay with Reese, hoping they''d get along and maybe repair their rtionship. He never imagined it would blow up like this.

    As Sebastian''s expression grew even darker, Robbie shrank back and whispered, "Dad..."

    Sebastian ignored him and turned to Jane. "Mom, you can''t keep spoiling Robbie. No matter what, Reese is his mother. He should at least show her some basic respect. What does it look like if he can''t even do that?"

    Jane opened her mouth to argue, but when she saw how serious Sebastian looked, she just sighed and mumbled, "Alright. I get it."

    She''d only badmouthed Reese in front of Robbie because Sebastian always seemed to dislike her, and Jane figured they''d end up divorced anyway. Robbie didn''t have to get attached and make things messy. But now, with Sebastian''s attitude so clear, she knew she needed to keep her opinions to herself.

    "Take Robbie home first, okay?"

    Sebastian let out a tired sigh. "I''ll deal with the mess here."

    Once Jane took Robbie and left, Roman walked over and pped Sebastian on the shoulder, his tone half amused, half helpless. "My aunt''s been spoiled her whole life."

    "She married into the Ratcliff family and your dad doted on her. After he passed, your grandpa and you kept looking after her. She''s had it easy all her life, so of course she acts a bit entitled. Don''t let it get to you."

    He turned to Reese. "Sorry, Ms. Meyer. When I got here, Robbie was crying inside, my aunt was crying outside, and in the scramble I ended up breaking your lock."

    "Do you want me to send someone over to fix it?"

    Reese shook her head. "Don''t worry about it. You''ve already helped enough."

    "I have another lock. I''ll change it myself. You should get back to work before you fall behind."

    After Roman left, Reese grabbed a new fingerprint lock from the storage room and was about to start the install when Sebastian said, "Let me handle it."

    He rolled up his sleeves, took the toolbox and the lock from her, setting them on the floor. Then he pulled a little velvet box out of his pocket and handed to Reese.

    "Sorry you had to deal with all this. This is for you it''s the ne."

    Reese opened the box. The sapphire inside shimmered under the light. It was the ne her mom had been looking for all this time.

    "Thank you."

    Sebastian only nodded before kneeling down, opening the lock''s packaging, and searching the toolbox for the right tools, like giving her the ne was no big deal.

    When it was clear he was actually going to rece the lock himself, Reese looked surprised and moved closer. "Do you even know how? I can do it.¡±

    "It''s fine."

    Sebastian checked out the broken lock, bits of metal scattered everywhere. "I changed locks back when I was studying in Ennd. You just follow the instructions."

    The soft clink of metal filled the

    1.n

    room as he worked. In less than twenty minutes, the new lock was installed. Sebastian tested it a couple times made sure it worked. then closed the door. He went to the bathroom, filled a basin with water, and started cleaning the sofa that Robbie had drawn all over.

    Annie, always eager to help, picked up the stuff scattered around the coffee table

    and scrubbed the marker drawings off the walls with some wet wipes.

    Luckily, all the crayons and markers were washable, and in no time, the ce looked just as neat as before.

    Watching them, Reese felt a rush of mixed emotions. She''d dreamed of moments like this-her and Sebastian, cleaning up after the kids together like a normal

    couple.

    It was just bittersweet that after all these years, with their marriage about to end, this was the first time it actually happened.

    "Take a break."

    Reese noticed the sweat on Sebastian''s forehead and handed him a ss of water.

 Chapter 99

    "Yeah."

    Sebastian took the ss of water, his Adam''s apple shifting as he drank. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Reese watching him, and something inside him softened unexpectedly.

    If, back when everything happened with Sofia, he''d bothered to exin things a bit more to Reese, if he''d just listened to what she was trying to say, would things have gotten this bad between them?

    "When are you moving back home?" he asked quietly.

    He wanted her back. He could change. He''de home on time, do things right, actually live like a real couple with her.

    But the second Reese heard him, her eyes turned cold, her walls going right back up.

    Sebastian noticed her shift and quickly tried to fix it. "You don''t have to, if you don''t want to. It''s fine if you stay here. Whatever works for you."

    There was still time. He just had to be patient.

    He nced at Annie, who was standing quietly at Reese''s side, big bright eyes peeking up at him. He smiled. ¡°She''s adorable. You two hungry? Want Uncle Sebastian to take you and Aunt Reese out for dinner?"

    Reese nced at her watch. It was almost time to get off work, and she needed to bring Annie back to Matthew. "No thanks. I''m just taking Annie to the office for a bit."

    The three of them headed down to the parking garage. Reese helped Annie into her seat, then got behind the wheel.

    Sebastian stayed where he was, watching the taillights disappear. He

    remembered when he and Sofia went to the mountain resort-how he was

    terrified Reese would show up and mention their rtionship, and someone would force her to leave.

    Now he''d finally reached out, but she didn''t even look surprised. She didn''t want dinner with him at all.

    A heavy feeling settled in his chest. Sebastian slid into his car and lit a cigarette, letting the smoke drift out the window.

    Inside the ckOak Techb, Matthew was hunched over hisputer, fingers flying across the keyboard as lines of code scrolled by in a blur.

    When Reese walked in, he nced up. "Found the intruder''s terminal. It''s an internal IP."

    He pointed at the screen, where data flickered nonstop. "I''ve set up double encryption. Only we can ess the core files now. Even if they try to break in again, all they''ll see is useless data. Plus, we can track them.¡±

    "Don''t worry. Yesterday, they barely had time to get through the first firewall. None of our confidential stuff was touched."

    Relief washed over Reese. "I had no idea you were this good."

    Matthew just grinned and didn''t say anything. He used to run cybersecurity for his unit in the army of someone ever managed to steal secrets with him around, that d be the real joke.

    His stomach growled, loud in the quietb. A faint blush crept up Matthew''s neck.

    Reeseughed. "You haven''t eaten yet? I''ll order us something."

    Takeout arrived fast. The three of them ate together, and just as they were finishing up, theb''s main screen lit up green.

    "It worked!"

    Reese leaned in to check. The second phase of testing had passed perfectly.

    Now, all they had to do was install the core module into de, and they could finally take a breather for a few days.

    Since they all lived in the sameplex, Reese drove Matthew and Annie home. At the parking lot, Annie hugged Reese tight around the neck refusing to let go. "Aunt Reese, can we spend time together again?"

    "Of course you can." Reese squeezed her cheek, watching as Matthew picked up

    his daughter and walked away. Their voices floated back to her.

    "Auntie was so nice today. Her son said I pushed him, but she didn''t me me¡ª she asked me what really happened..."

    "And then that olddy said I didn''t have a mom to teach me, but Auntie stood up for me..."

    Annie nestled in Matthew''s arms. "She''s just like a mom. So gentle."

    Matthew quietly patted her back, listening to her chatter.

    "And then this scary-looking uncle showed up and made everyone leave. He helped Auntie change the locks and tidy up, and he even said he''d take us out for a big dinner."

    "But she didn''t go. I think she wanted to keep youpany, so she brought me to eat with you instead."

    Matthew paused mid-pat. "Well, I''m ttered."

    Their voices faded as they walked away. Reese smiled, turning toward the elevators but then she spotted a

    tatt figure leaning against a car by the entrance, cigarette glowing in the dusk.

    As she walked over, Sebastian put out his cigarette. "Who was that man just

    now?"

 Chapter 100

    "Coworker."

    Reese shot Sebastian a quick look.

    Sebastian scoffed, sharp and cold. "So when you said you were headed to ckOak, you were actually going to pick him up?"

    "And that girl is his too, right?"

    Reese''s eyes narrowed. "Isn''t this just what coworkers do? He helped me outst time when I was in trouble."

    "I used to care about you and Robbie, too, you know. But look how Robbie treated me. And when I needed help, where were you?"

    Sebastian let out a lowugh, the sound empty and unreadable.

    "So what-you''re mad I didn''t show up for you back then?"

    He''d been in an interview that day and missed the hospital''s calls. Brady had told himter that after Reese was admitted in aa, Sebastian had dropped everything to rush to the hospital.

    "No," Reese said simply. It was the truth. She''d thought of every possible way to save herself that day¡ªexcept calling Sebastian.

    Her calm reply made Sebastian''s face darken. "Good. Let''s keep it that way." He turned, climbed into his car, and waved his hand. "Go get some rest."

    Reese watched his taillights disappear into the night, feeling weirdly lost. When she''d lived at home waiting for him, he''d barelye by a few times a month. Now that she''d moved out, he kept showing up every other day.

    She''d barely stepped out of the elevator when her phone rang-an unknown number. Reese hesitated, then picked up.

    "Reese, you really are something, aren''t you?"

    Zach''s voice came through,zy and amused. "Didn''t think you could even get Sebastian under your thumb."

    Reese frowned. "What are you trying to say?"

    She''d figured Zach would be annoyed once he found out Sebastian had given her the ne, but she hadn''t expected him to hear about it so fast.

    "Oh, nothing much," Zach said, his tone yful. "Just curious, that''s all. Sebastian used to barely notice you, and now he''s practically bending over backwards just so you can get that useless ne. He even came to me, wanted to team up, and handed over all the profits."

    "I thought he was doing it for Sofia," Zach drawled, drawing out the words, "but turns out... it was for you."

    "But don''t get too cocky. I''ve got a big surprise for you."

    The line went dead.

    Reese stared at her phone for a long moment, a wave of dread settling in her chest. If Zach called it a "present," she knew it couldn''t be good.

    She exhaled slowly, trying to pull herself together, but that uneasy feeling just wouldn''t go away.

    The next morning, she''d barely walked into the ckOak R&D department when she noticed the receptionist giving her a strange look.

    "Reese, n wants you toe to his office."

    Her stomach dropped. She knocked, then pushed open n''s door, only to find two men in dark suits standing beside his desk, faces stern.

    n looked at her with clear difort. "Reese, these gentlemen are from the National Security Agency. They want to speak with you."

    The words National Security Agency made Reese quickly rey everything she''d been

    doing everyone she''d seentely She rxed a little. Ever since she joined the de project, she hadn''t had any contest with foreigners, She followed every rule, every protocol nothing even close to leaking secrets.

    But the next thing the man said made her blood freeze.

    "Ms. Meyer, we have a report that seven years ago, while applying for your student visa, you had close contact with an unidentified foreign national. You are suspected of endangering national security. Pleasee with us to assist in our investigation."

    His voice was cold and official, but the words hit Reese like a punch to the gut.

    Seven years ago, she really had

    gotten an offer from MIT and started the visa process. But then Sebastian

    was drugged, her whole world flipped upside down, and she manied him, turned down MIT invitation.

    Back then, she had no idea how to manage a visa application. Her uncle had set her up with an agent, she''d handed over her documents, and left everything in their hands.

    "I never met with any suspicious foreign nationals," she said, keeping her voice steady. "The agency handled everything. The whole process is on record¡ª anyone can check."

    She couldn''t let them pin this on her. Even if they cleared herter, there was a good chance she''d never be allowed back on the de project.

    The man nced at n, then shook his head. "We wouldn''t be here if we didn''t already have evidence."

    He handed her a few photos.

    Reese took them, and her eyes widened. The pictures showed her during the visa application process-photos she''d once sent to Zach. There she was, standing beside the blond man who''d run the agency.

    The same man her uncle had rmended.

 Chapter 101

    "We''ve done our research. That man was arrested for espionage three years ago and has already been sent back to his country.

    "And just recently, someone hacked into theputers in yourb. The IP address traces back to inside thepany. Out of everyone on your team, you''re the only one who can operate twoputers at once. We need you toe with us."

    Reese wanted to exin, but she was too panicked to get any words out. All she could do was let them take her away.

    As they passed thepany''s ss doors, she caught the stares of her coworkers. Shock, confusion, and a hint of suspicion-none of them even tried to hide it.

    "Remember how someone said I hadn''t passed the background check and

    shouldn''t be in theb?" L''s voice piped up behind her, gloating. "Looks like somebody was pointing fingers to cover for themselves. Guess they were hoping I''d take the fall."

    Reese didn''t bother looking back. Zach really outdid himself this time.

    All she''d done was use Sebastian''s help to get her mom''s ne back. She never imagined Zach would go this far, framing her like this.

    The interrogation room was cold and blindingly bright.

    Theyid out the same old photos in front of her, along with a stack of phone records.

    "Ms. Meyer, we found three calls between your number and a foreign intelligence agency a few years ago." One investigator slid the call log toward her. "Care to exin?"

    "That was the agency handling my visa. They called to tell me I needed to submit more documents." Reese stared at the dates-it was exactly when she''d been pestering them about her application.

    "But this number is registered to a foreign intelligence organization."

    The agent leaned in, voice serious. "You were involved in the de project. The system you designed is now used by the military. If you leaked any information, the consequences would be severe."

    "I didn''t."

    Reese stared him down, not backing off for a second. "Every academic exchange was filed and recorded. The whole research process was encrypted. I can provide every original file forparison."

    For three days, it was the same back-and-forth.

    They threw Zach''s edited chat logs at her, photos taken from the worst angles, even brought in "witnesses¡± iming they''d seen her meet privately with a blond

    man.

    Reese''s voice was raw, her eyes bloodshot, but she never gave in.

    She asked them to pull up her old visa paperwork, check the agency''s credentials, even drew the blond man''s work badge from memory, proving he really was just a temp at the visa center.

    "Go ahead.

    You can

    check his work

    record, check my flight history. I never even left the country." She pushed her carefully organized stack of evidence across the table, her

    voice hoarse but steady

    were a

    spy why would I tum down my chance to go abroad? Why would I report the hacking in theb

    myself?"

    Finally, the investigators went quiet, reviewing the documents she''d given them. Everything matched the official records. After a long pause, one of them said, "You''re free to go. If we need anything else, we'' contact you."

    Outside the government building, Reese stood in the sunlight and looked up at

    the sky. For a second, she wanted to cry.

    But there was no time for that. She still needed to go to ckOak, exin

    everything to n and the rest of the team.

    She couldn''t lose her spot on the de project. She definitely couldn''t let

    Dominic''s name get dragged through the mud because of her.

    As soon as she walked back through thepany doors, the once-busy lobby fell quiet.

    Reese paused, then headed straight to n''s office.

    When n saw her, his eyes lit up. "So? They didn''t make things too hard for you, did they?"

    Reese tried for a smile, but it turned out more bitter than anything. It''s just a standard investigation, but the betrayal hadnded right where it hurt the most.

    "They went through it all. None of the evidence proves I was in contact with any foreign agency." She hesitated, then asked, "Mr. Meyer... can Ie back to the team?"

    n sighed. "They are treating this very seriously. They''ve already sent notice; you''re suspended for now." He paused, then added, "But once everything''s cleared up, the de team will wee you back

    Reese nodded. "Alright. I''ll head out first."

    She turned to leave, hand on the door. As she pushed, a jolt of pain shot through

    her palm.

    She looked down and realized her nails had dug into her skin, leaving little streaks of blood.

    Numb, she stepped into the elevator and out the building.

    A ck G-Wagon was parked by the curb. A man in sunsses sat behind the wheel and whistled at her.

    "Reese, how do you like my little gift?"

 Chapter 102

    Reese shot Zach a look but didn''t say a word. She stepped around him and started walking in the opposite direction.

    Zach followed behind her in his SUV, one handzily on the wheel. "Well? Cat got your tongue?"

    She stopped and turned to face him. "Is this your way of getting back at me for using Sebastian to get the ne? If so, congrattions, I''ve paid the price.

    "This is over. I don''t want anything else to do with you."

    "Over?" Zach let out a sharpugh, like she''d just told the best joke he''d heard all week. He tapped the brake, parked, and then hopped out of the car.

    "Reese, give me the ne, and then it''s over.

    "I already told you, Tara loves that ne. She''s nning to wear it at our wedding.

    "If you give it back now, I might go easy on you."

    Reese''s eyes shed with anger. "You said if I paid ten million, the ne was mine.

    "And you said Sebastian gave you a cut just to get his hands on it. I''ve already paid my price, too."

    "Not even close," Zach said, his face darkening. "If you want that ne, you''re going to have to y by my rules."

    He grabbed her wrist, his grip so tight she thought he might actually break something. "Let''s go. Get in the car. I''m taking you somewhere."

    Reese tried to twist free, her wrist aching. "Let go of me!"

    But she was no match for him. He shoved her into the passenger seat, mmed the door, and locked it with a click.

    The engine roared as Zach hit the gas, tires squealing against the pavement.

    "You can still hand over the ne," he said, eyes forward, voice cold and unyielding.

    Reese turned away, watching the city streak by through rain-speckled ss. Her voice was barely steady. "That''s not going to happen."

    Zach suddenly jerked the steering wheel, making a sharp turn. Reese''s shoulder mmed hard into the door. She sucked in a sharp breath, pain radiating down her arm.

    He nced at her, his expression dark. "Do you really think you''re in any position to negotiate?"

    Reese sat up straighter, jaw clenched. "That ne was my mother''s. It belongs to me now. I''m not giving it back, no matter what you do."

    "Go ahead, Zach. Try whatever you want. I can handle it."

    He stared at her stubborn profile, a cold smile tugging at his lips. "Well, look at

    you. You''ve finally grown a spine. More than you had seven years ago."

    A dull ache settled in Reese''s chest.

    Seven years ago, she''d given up everything for the Ramos

    Corporation and Zach. He''d never understood her, not once. He even med her for everything,

    She shut her eyes, refusing to say another word.

    Rain started to fall, tapping lightly on the windows, then building into a steady, relentless curtain.

    Zach watched the windshield wipers struggle against the downpour and snorted. "You''ve already been suspended from ckOak. n''s done with you."

    "Who''s going to help you now? Sebastian?" His voice was sharp, almost mocking. "I heard even without Sofia, he''s found someone new. Has he called you these past few days?"

    Reese''s heart twisted.

    No. He hadn''t.

    After everything that happened, National Security should have let Sebastian know. But she hadn''t heard a single word from him.

    "With all his power, it''d be nothing for him to prove those usations were fake, Zach said with a bitterugh. "But he hasn''t done a thing. Know why? Because you stopped being important to him a long time ago."

    "Enough!" Reese snapped, eyes shing open as she red at Zach. "Is that

    what you want? For me to regret everything I''ve done?

    "Zach, this is my life. Whatever happens now, it''s got nothing to do with you. We ended a long time ago."

    "Nothing to do with me?" Zach''s voice was tight with anger as he mmed his foot on the gas.

    The wipers swung frantically, but the rain wasing down so hard it felt

    like the world outside was fading away. The road ahead blurred, and all Reese could do was Hold her breath and brace herself for whatever came next.

 Chapter 103

    Reese''s heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might explode. She gripped her seatbelt with both hands, her knuckles turning white.

    "Zach, stop the car!" Finally, her voice cracked with fear.

    Zach just pressed the gas harder. The car flew down the road, tires slicing through puddles and sending water spraying everywhere.

    Reese''s breathing turned quick and shallow. She stared out the windshield, certain that any second now, something was going to jump out in front of them.

    With a screech, the brakes kicked in.

    The car skidded across the wet road for several feet before jerking to a stop. Reese lurched forward, only for the seatbelt to m her back into the seat, digging painfully into her shoulder.

    She scrambled to unlock the door, desperate to get out, but before she could, a big hand wrapped around her wrist.

    "Who said you could leave?"

    Zach leaned over her, his tall frame blocking out everything else. His breath was hot against her ear, thick with the smell of rain.

    Suddenly, memories from seven years ago crashed into her. Sebastian dragging her into a room, the rough hands, the humiliation. Her whole body went cold. She couldn''t stop shaking.

    Zach looked down at her, curled up in the seat and trembling, and his eyes shed with anger. "Reese, are you scared of me?"

    She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to look at him.

    Ever since that night, any kind of touch from a man sent her spiraling back to that same desperate helplessness.

    Zach''s tone grew even harsher. "What are you shaking for? You think I actually want to touch you? Please. I wouldn''t risk catching something from you."

    He leaned across her, yanked the door open, and snapped, "Get out!"

    Reese almost fell out of the car.

    The rain hit her instantly, soaking her all the way through. Cold water ran down her hair and into her clothes, and the wind whipped around her, making her shiver so hard her teeth chattered.

    She looked up in time to watch Zach drive away, his taillights disappearing into the downpour.

    Rain blurred her eyes. She dragged herself under the nearest awning and pulled out her phone to try calling a ride.

    But in this weather, no one was out driving. She even upped the fare five times, but nobody took the request.

    A familiar ck car rolled up across the street, stopping in front of a restaurant. Reese''s gaze drifted over without thinking.

    Sebastian stepped out, holding a big

    ck umbre. He tilted it to shield

    Leslie as they hurried togethe

    to the

    Bentley. He opened the back door

    QU

    for her and then slid in himself.

    Not a drop of rain touched Leslie. Meanwhile, Sebastian was soaked down one side.

    He never even nced her way, never noticed Reese, standing there under the awning, dripping and miserable.

    Reese''s chest ached, heavy and sore, like the rain had gotten inside her ribs.

    So Leslie was the new girl at Sebastian''s side.

    So this was what Zach wanted her to see.

    But so what?

    She was about to divorce Sebastian. Whoever he was with now shouldn''t matter to her at all.

    She suddenly sensed someone watching. Reese nced up and met Neal''s eyes. He was trailing behind with his own umbre

    looking thoughtful. When he realized she''d spotted him, he paused

    shed a crooked, almost teasing

    smile, and hopped into the

    passenger seat.

    The Bentley''s taillights vanished into the storm. Reese wiped the rain off her face and checked her phone again. The nearest driver was still over an hour away.

    Through the gray blur, she noticed the lights of a supermarket not too far off. Gritting her teeth, she dashed back into the rain, running for the store, hoping to buy an umbre.

    She''d barely made it a few steps when she heard someoneing up behind her. Suddenly, a ck umbre appeared over her head, blocking the rain.

    Reese froze and turned. Matthew was standing right behind her, holding the umbre. Rainwater dripped from his hair, a few strafos stered to his forehead, making him look less put-together than usual-a little wild, a little rough.

    "I thought you looked familiar. It really is you," Matthew said, shing a small smile. "What are you doing out here?"

    "Just... running an errand." Reese pointed at the supermarket. "You don''t have to worry about me. I just need to buy an umbre."

    "Let''s go together." Matthew shifted the umbre so it covered her even more, but he didn''t move from where he stood. "I need to pick up a few things anyway."

 Chapter 104

    Inside the supermarket, Reese ignored the stares and headed straight for the home goods aisle. She grabbed a big umbre, paid, and waited at the entrance. It wasn''t long before Matthew came out.

    "Here, these are for you." He handed her a shopping bag.

    Reese took it without thinking. "What''s this?" she asked, peeking inside. She froze for a second.

    Inside was a super soft hair-drying cap, a dress that fell past her knees, and a short trench coat.

    "I wasn''t sure what you''d like, so I just picked what lookedfortable. Hope you don''t mind," Matthew said, ncing at the restrooms in the corner. "Go change- wearing wet clothes is a quick way to catch a cold."

    "And wrap up your hair, too. If you go out with it wet and the wind hits, you''ll end up with a headache."

    Reese clutched the bag, her fingers brushing the soft fabric, and suddenly felt a quiet warmth in her chest.

    Thest few days had been a whirlwind-being used, doubted, forced to prove her innocence. She''d finally gotten out of the investigation, only for Zach to drag her off and then leave her on the side of the road in a downpour. She had to watch her own husband shield another woman. Through all of it, she hadn''t cried once.

    But now, with Matthew''s gentle concern, her nose stung and her eyes burned.

    She ducked her head, trying to hide her emotions, but Matthew just nced at his watch like he hadn''t noticed a thing. "Go ahead, I''ll wait here."

    When Reese came back, feeling more human, Matthew handed her a cup of warm milk. "Let''s head out."

    The rain had faded to a light drizzle. They walked together under the umbre, water sliding off the edge and sshing onto the sidewalk.

    Matthew watched the little sshes before breaking the silence. "I heard about what happened with the agency at ckOak."

    Reese''s steps slowed, but she didn''t say anything.

    "I know you''d never do something like that," he said, his tone steady. "I''ve already talked to the higher-ups and added more details to the evidence you gave. You should be back at work in a few days."

    He looked over at her, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "The research team needs your Dominic''s stil waiting for you to push ''de into the next phase."

    Reese''s grip on the umbre tightened. She stopped, lifting her eyes to meet his. "Thank you."

    Just a few simple words from Matthew, and the exhaustion and frustration she''d been carrying around seemed to fade a little.

    Matthew looked away, as if her gratitude was too much. "It was nothing. We''re coworkers, you don''t have to thank me."

    Across town, a sleek ck Bentley pulled up outside a fancy apartmentplex. Leslie got out and shot Sebastian a grateful smile Thanks for everything tonight Sebastian Sorry for the trouble."

    "Just doing my job. Get some rest," Sebastian replied from the back seat. He watched Leslie head inside before signaling the driver.

    "Hey, don''t leave yet," Neal called from the passenger seat, twisting to look back

    at him. ¡°It''s still early. Let''s grab a drink with a few friends."

    "I can''t. Got work," Sebastian said, shutting him down right away.

    Neal rolled his eyes. "Workaholic. So boring. I still don''t get what Reese ever saw

    in you, or why she stuck around for so long."

    At the mention of Reese, Sebastian''s expression darkened. "That''s none of your business. Drop it."

    He paused, then added, "Any news on the person I asked you to find?"

    "Yeah," Neal replied, a sly grin on his face. "He ran off to the next city. I''ve already got someone on his tail. He''ll be in front of you in a few days."

    Now that Neal knew Reese wasn''t

    behind the drugging, his feelings et

    toward her had changed a bit. Remembering the way she donored in the rain, he shifted the topic.

    "Honestly, I feel bad for Reese. If you don''t care about her, maybe you should just

    let her go. Get the divorce over with."

    Sebastian frowned. "I told you not to get involved. Don''t bring her up again."

    "I just saw her so I thought I should mention it," Neal said with a shrug. "Funny how you get upset every time her namees up."

 Chapter 105

    Sebastian''s breath caught. "Where did you see her? Did she see us leave the restaurant together?"

    "At the door. She was standing outside, soaked all over. She looked totally miserable," Neal said, thinking back. "Yeah, she definitely saw us. We made eye contact."

    "Turn around. Go back to the restaurant."

    Sebastian''s voice was low and tense as he told the driver what to do.

    The Bentley tore through the rain, but by the time they pulled up to the restaurant, Reese was long gone.

    "She must''ve walked off in this downpour... That rain''s brutal," Neal muttered.

    Sebastian suddenly cut him off, voice cold. "Get out."

    Neal stared at him. "You want me to get out? It''s pouring..." He caught the icy look on Sebastian''s face, sighed, and tapped the driver. "Just stop at the club over there."

    He mumbled to himself, "Can''t keep my mouth shut, can I?"

    Meanwhile, Reese got home. She took a hot shower, made herself some cereal, and had just sat down to eat when the doorbell started ringing.

    She nced at the monitor in the hallway. Sebastian''s face stared back at her, and her mood soured instantly.

    She didn''t want to answer. Quietly, she sat back down, figuring if she just ignored him, he''d think she wasn''t home and leave.

    But the doorbell kept going, over and over, for almost ten minutes.

    She had no choice. Worried about disturbing the neighbors, she finally opened the door. "What do you want?"

    Sebastian stood there, eyes fixed on her, momentarily speechless.

    She was in light loungewear, damp hair stuck to her neck, corbones just visible. His eyes darkened, and he swallowed hard.

    Reese felt uneasy under his gaze. She turned away, grabbed a cardigan from the bedroom, and pulled it on. When she came back, her tone was even colder. "So, what is it?"

    "I had dinner with Leslie and Neal for work," Sebastian said. "When we left, it was pouring. I didn''t see you."

    "Neal told me you saw me. Why didn''t you say anything?"

    Reese gave a bitter little smile.

    And even if she had called out, what would he have done? Dropped everything toe get her?

    She didn''t even look at him. "Didn''t want to ruin your good time."

    Sebastian let out a quiet, helplessugh. "Are you jealous?"

    "No." Reese turned her face away. "If you''re done, you can leave now."

    Seeing her so guarded, Sebastian felt a wave of frustration and took a step closer. "Where have you been these days? live tried calling but you never answered."

    Reese looked at him, surprise flickering in her eyes.

    She''d been taken in by the authorities for questioning, and somehow her so-

    called husband hadn''t been told?

    "Are you really in the dark, or just pretending?" she said quietly.

    Sebastian frowned, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

    At the same time, in the old Ratcliff family home¡ª

    Mr. Ratcliff hung up the phone, letting out a long sigh. "Reese is fine. She''s out now. They let her go forck of evidence."

    Jane sat nearby, her voice sharp with me. "Dad, look at the trouble Reese

    caused. She nearly got the whole family dragged into an investigation.

    "Good thing you kept it from Sebastian. Who knows what else would''ve happened if he found out!"

    "This isn''t her fault," Mr. Ratcliff

    interrupted. "It''s obvious she was set up. Sure, the evidence was real, but it didn''t point to her. The real question is, were they after Reese or the whole family?"

    He turned to the butler. "Look into it. Find out who''s behind this and tell me as soon as you know."

    Whoever tried to mess with the Ratcliffs had better be ready.

    The butler nodded and left quietly.

    Jane still looked like she wanted toin, but Mr. Ratcliff waved her off. That''s enough Reese has had a

    tough time these past years. Give her a break."

 Chapter 106

    Reese watched Sebastian leave,pletely clueless, and the image of what she''d seen that night in the storm shed through her mind, her eyes full of bitter irony.

    Even if he''de running to exin himself after realizing she''d seen him with Leslie, it didn''t change anything. She''d disappeared for three days and he hadn''t bothered to check on her, hadn''t even wondered if she was okay. Now that she finally had her mother''s ne back, Reese was done letting herself get tangled up with him. She pulled out her phone and scrolled until she found George''s number.

    "Hi George, it''s Reese,¡± she said, her voice a little steadier than it had been with Sebastian. "I''d paused the divorce before, but I want to start things up again. Can you move the process forward? I''d like to file as soon as possible."

    George didn''t ask questions. He just said, "Of course, Ms. Meyer. I''ll need to get a new date on the calendar. As soon as I know, I''ll let you know right away."

    "Thanks, I appreciate it."

    Reese hung up and wandered into the living room, staring at the bowl of half- eaten cereal on the coffee table. Suddenly, she wasn''t hungry at all.

    The next morning, she slept in for the first time in ages. With work on hold, she figured she might as well clean up the apartment. She''d just finished tidying when her phone rang.

    She picked up, and Millie''s voice immediately exploded through the speaker. "Reese! Where have you been? I''ve called a million times! I was about to file a missing person report!"

    Reese felt a rush of warmth. "I''m okay, really. Something came up and I didn''t have my phone with me, that''s all."

    "Something came up? What could possibly keep you off the grid for three days?" Millie pressed, her voice turning serious. "We promised not to keep secrets, remember?"

    Reese hesitated, then finally told her everything that had happened over the past few days.

    Millie was silent for a second, then she practically shouted, "What is Zach''s problem? Seriously, why does he keep messing with you? If you hadn''t helped him out with that money, he wouldn''t even be where he is!"

    She let out a long sigh, her tone softening. "Are you okay, Reese?"

    "I''m fine," Reese said quietly, then tried to change the subject. "Didn''t you say you needed some new clothes for the season?"

    "Yeah, and I just happen to be free this afternoon. Wanna go shopping together?"

    Half an hourter, they were downtown at the bright, bustling mall.

    "Come on, let''s go," Millie said, linking her arm through Reese''s.

    "I''ve had my eye on a few trench coats here," Millie said as they went up the esctor, ¡°but I couldn''t decide which one to get. You have to help me pick."

    She led Reese straight to a boutique filled with stylish disys and designer vibes. Millie greeted the sales assistant like an old friend.

    "Can see the beige cashmere

    trench and the ck satin dress I triedst time? Both in medium, please."

    The sales assistant smiled, nodded, and disappeared into the back.

    Reese nced at the price tags and nearly choked. Clearly, Millie''stest business was doing great.

    Soon, the sales assistant wheeled out the clothes Millie had requested.

    "What do you think?" Millie asked, holding the trench and dress against herself. "They''re gorgeous," Reese said honestly.

    Millie had always had a killer figure, and Reese had to admit she looked amazing.

    "These two pieces actually go really well together," Reese added.

    Suddenly, a sweet, syrupy voice chimed in from behind. "That trench is gorgeous. Can you bring me one in medium too?"

    Reese turned around and spotted

    Tara a few feet away, nked by two assistants loaded with shopping bags. Tara smiled politely, but there

    was something.calcting in her

    eyes as she looked Reese up and down. "Reese! What a coincidence, seeing you here."

    "Yeah," Reese replied, keeping her voice cool.

    "I''m sorry," the sales assistant said, looking apologetic. "We only have one of each

    size in this store."

    Millie knew all about Reese''s mess with the Dylon family, and after she''d gotten on Sebastian''s bad side and almost ended up at the police station she decided it was better to just let it go. She handed the trench coat to Tara.

    "Tara, you can have it if you want."

    "Thanks, that''s really sweet of you," Tara said, taking it with zero hesitation. Then her gazended on the ck dress. "Actually, I love that dress too. Would you mind if I took that one as well?"

 Chapter 107

    Millie chewed on her lip. She really liked this dress-she didn''t want to give it up.

    Reese caught her hesitation and stepped between Millie and Tara. "Tara,e on. Millie''s set on this one. Why don''t you pick another dress?"

    Tara''s smile froze for a split second. "Reese, I''m going to the Ratcliff Global g next week. I need something that tters my skin tone."

    Reese didn''t even look at her. She handed the dress to the sales assistant. "Could you wrap this up, please?"

    Then she turned back to Tara. "There are plenty of other dresses. You don''t have to insist on this one."

    Tara''s smile was brittle now. "Guess I was being a little pushy."

    She took a step closer, dropping her voice. "Reese, I heard the National Security Bureau picked you up the other day. The Ratcliffs have all that power. Didn''t Mr. Ratcliff help you out?"

    Her eyes flicked to Reese''s stomach, her tone turning sharp.

    "Then again, you secretly got rid of the baby and tried to pin it on Sofia. What do you think the Ratcliffs would do if they found out?"

    Reese could hear the threat, but she kept her cool. "So what if they know? It was my body. My choice. The Ratcliffs had nothing to do with it. You didn''t either."

    Tara arched an eyebrow, pretending to be shocked. "So the baby had nothing to do with the Ratcliffs? No wonder you kept it from them. How could you be so careless?"

    "Tara, that''s enough!" Millie snapped.

    Tara''s meaning couldn''t have been clearer. Millie could put up with Tara''s jabs for Reese''s sake, but she''d never let Tara drag Reese through the mud.

    "Back then, after Zach left the country, you left too. Before Reese and Zach even broke up, you were already hooking up with him, and now you''re using her?"

    Millie''s voice was loud enough for the sales assistant to hear every word.

    Tara''s face turned a dark, ugly red as she felt the sales assistant''s judgmental stare. "That''s not true! I went abroad for college. Zach just happened to be there."

    "Just happened to be there?" Millie scoffed. "What are the odds?"

    "Back in school, I could see you were into Zach. Reese always thought of you as a sister-she was just too trusting."

    Tara was shaking with anger. "Reese, you''re just going to let her nder me?" "Aren''t you worried Zach will make her pay for this?"

    That threat was way too obvious. Reese thought of all the things Zach had done before and felt a tightness in her chest.

    She stepped in front of Millie. "Tara, Millie''s my best friend. I''m telling you, don''t mess with her."

    "You expect me to just let this go?" Tara shot back. "Reese, we''re family. Don''t tell me you''re taking someone else''s side."

    Reese took a deep breath and looked Tara straight in the eye, her expressionpletely calm. "Family? Have you ever treated me like family?

    "You chased after Zach and got engaged to him even though you knew how I felt. When Ramos Corporation meant everything to me, and your dad tried to ruin it, you told

    me to just let it go.

    "And...

    She paused, closing her eyes for a second before going on. "After I married Sebastian I transferred two million to Zach''spany through Ramos Corporation.

    "You never told Zach that money came from me, did you?"

    Tara went pale, her hands trembling, lips quivering like she might faint.

    She opened her mouth, ready to argue, but a deep male voice sounded from the doorway. "Tara, what''s going on?"

    They all turned. Zach strode in, his gaze immediatelynding on Tara''s ashen face before his eyes narrowed at Reese. "Looks like you haven''t learned your lessons Tara''s your cousin, and she''s pregnant, but

    you''re still making things hard for

    her."

    He paused, eyes cold. "What did you mean about transferring two million through

    Ramos Corporation to me?"

 Chapter 108

    "Zach, what are you doing here?"

    The second Tara heard Zach''s voice, she clenched her fists without thinking. She had no idea how much of her conversation with Reese he''d caught. If he started asking questions, what could she even say? Zach still believed that the two million dors was an investment Ramos Corporation made for her.

    Tara nced at Zach''s cold, unreadable face, ready to exin herself, but he spoke first. His voice was sharp and full of suspicion.

    "Reese, you''re saying you sent two million through Ramos Corporation? Can you prove it?"

    Reese''s hand curled into a fist at her side, knuckles turning white. She''d only found out about the truthst week while going through Ramos Corporation''s old books. The transfer slip,beled "investment paid on behalf," was still locked in the CFO''s office.

    But Ramos Corporation had been run by Dylon for years. Everyone there was loyal to him. Even after Dylon bailed and started his ownpany, plenty of his people still owned shares in the new business. They all had his back. There was no way they''d let Reese get her hands on anything that could hurt Dylon. That''s why she felt so helpless with everything going on at Ramos Corporation.

    "I don''t have the proof yet, but..."

    "No proof?" Zach cut her off with augh that was pure mockery. His eyes were dark and cold. "Tara is still your cousin, you know. Even if you''re mad at your uncle for ruining Ramos Corporation and dumping all that debt on you, that doesn''t give you the right to use her like this."

    He took a step closer, towering over Reese. "Or do you just hate seeing me and Tara together?"

    Millie saw Reese''s face go pale and quickly stepped in front of her. "Zach, you grew up with Reese. Don''t you know what kind of person she is?"

    Zach''s gaze turned icy. "I know her too well."

    Back when he was dating Reese, he''d been blinded by love. He always thought Reese had it tough as the outsider and felt sorry for her. He''d ignored Tara for Reese''s sake, barely giving Tara the time of day.

    But after getting together with Tara, Zach realized Dylon always pitied Reese for losing her mom young, so everything good had to be given to Reese, and Tara was the one who had to give way. In the end, Tara was the one who got hurt.

    Thinking about it, Zach stared at Reese over Millie''s shoulder, his eyes cold and unwavering. ¡°So I don''t believe a word thates out of her mouth."

    Millie shook with anger, wanting to fight back, but Reese grabbed her arm.

    Reese looked into Zach''s eyes and saw nothing but disgust. Her heart, which she thought had gone numb, twisted with pain. "Come on, Millie. Let''s go."

    "But he..."

    Millie tried to argue, but Reese silenced her with a look.

    Reese knew arguing with Zach was pointless now. It would only make him angrier, and she didn''t want Millie to get dragged in.

    She pulled Millie along, walking straight and tall, but the way her hand trembled on Millie''s wrist gave her away.

    Zach watched them leave, frowning deeply.

    Tara noticed, and a flicker of

    satisfaction shed in her eyes. She

    slipped her arm through Zach'' 19

    spoke in a gentle almost hur voices "Zach, about the two million, I..."

    ¡°I believe you,¡± Zach cut in, his tone softening as he looked at her. "Even if Reese dide up with the. money, so what? You''re the who''s always been here for me.

    ¡°And besides, she''d just married into the Ratcliff family back then. Sebastian couldn''t stand her There''s no way he would''ve given her that much money."

    "Excuse me, sir, ma''am, would you still like these clothes?"

    A sales assistant came over, careful and polite, holding out a neatly wrapped trench coat and dress.

    Tara smiled. "Sorry, I think I''ll look around a bit more."

    She checked her watch. "Oh wow, look at the time. I actually have somewhere else to be."

    Zach looked confused. "Didn''t youe here just to shop today?"

    Tara shook her head. ¡°No, I''m meeting Sofia. I just got here early, so I was killing time."

    As she hurried out, Zach shook his head, a little helpless, and quickly followed to steady her.

    "What are you meeting Sofia for?"

 Chapter 109

    Tara smiled. ¡°I know you''re working onunching your own techpany, and you''re still struggling to find the right person to head up R&D.

    "Sofia''s one of the top talents in the country. I thought maybe we could bring her over to Iron Financial."

    Zach paused for a second. He''d considered the possibility before, but Sofia being kicked out of Ratcliff Global so abruptly always felt off to him, like there was more to the story.

    Noticing his hesitation, Tara looked up at him. "You don''t think she''s a good fit?¡±

    "It''s not that," Zach said, not wanting to kill her enthusiasm. He hesitated, then admitted, "She''s been having issues with Sebastiantely..."

    "So what is it? Are you worried about crossing Ratcliff Global, or do you think they''re setting us up?"

    Tara slipped her arm through his as they walked toward the elevator. "If it''s about offending them, that''s not our problem. She''s the Meyer family heiress; they''ll back her up."

    "And if it''s a setup..." She stopped, lowering her voice. "Actually, it was Reese who ended her own pregnancy and pinned it on Sofia. Sebastian found out, got angry, and that''s why Sofia was forced out of Ratcliff Global."

    Zach went quiet, remembering the sess Sofia''s Mindwave project had brought him. His expression softened.

    "You''re amazing, worrying about my business even while you''re pregnant. If that''s how it is, let''s go talk to her together."

    Downstairs in the caf¨¦, Sofia had been waiting a while. She was just about to call Tara when she spotted Zach and Tara walking in together.

    A flicker of nerves crossed her face. "Mr. Wiles, I didn''t expect to see you here."

    Tara gave her a reassuring look and sat across from her, still holding Zach''s arm. "Ms. Meyer, you can rx.

    "We heard you left Ratcliff Global, and we''d like to invite you to join Iron Financial. What do you think?"

    Sofia let out a quiet breath, relief washing over her. She nced at Tara, who gave her the tiniest nod. Sofia smiled. "I''d love that. I''m just curious what kind of role you have in mind for me."

    Zach didn''t waste time. "I''m setting up an Al developmentpany, and I''d like you to lead the R&D team. You can set your own sry and benefits.

    "To be straight with you, ckOak has been hit hard recently because of Reese. I just have one condition: I want

    S tounch a new product

    and grab the market before ckOak gets back on its feet."

    Sofia frowned. ckOak was a big name in Al. Even if they were struggling, it wouldn''t be easy topete with them in a short time.

    nedito

    Zach seemed to catch her hesitation and gave her an encouraging smile. "I know building a new system takes time Butt''m serious about this won''t let Reese off easy, and I'' make sure you have the time you need for this project."

    Sofia was caught off guard.

    She''d heard from Sebastian that Zach and Reese used to be close. She never thought Zach would go after Reese like this.

    She''d actually met up with Tara today to talk strategy, now that Reese had been suspended from ckOak. She''d hoped they could finally push Reese out of the Al world for good.

    No wonder Tara brought Zach along.

    As Sofia was contemting, Tara jumped in. "Ms. Meyer, this is a huge opportunity. If you can take enough market share from ckOak, you''ll be right at the top of the industry."

    "Alright. I''m all in."

    Sofia didn''t think twice. In fact, she felt a surge of excitement.

    Before the giarism scandal with Reese drove her out of Clever Cloud, she''d studied Reese''s research closely and knew how talented she was. After leaving Clever Cloud and now Ratcliff Global, people keptparing her to Reese. Some even

    said Sebastianped her because

    of Reese, like her name was just mud now.

    With Zach backing her up, things could finally change. If she could beat ckOak and prove herself, maybe Sebastian would even want her back at Ratcliff Global.

 Chapter 110

    Reese held tight to Millie''s wrist as they left the boutique, only to catch the worry in Millie''s eyes.

    She took a breath and forced a smile. "Don''t look so glum. I just spotted a designer shop across the street with some new arrivals. Let me get you a couple of outfits as an apology, okay?"

    Millie immediately shook her head. "Seriously? I love shopping with you. You don''t owe me a thing."

    Reese didn''t give her a chance to argue, dragging her right inside.

    She ordered two sets of casual clothes for each of them. As soon as they stepped out, Reese''s phone rang.

    She picked up and heard Matthew on the other end. "Reese, Mr. Sanchez wants to see you. He''s at the stables out west. I''ll head over when I''m done."

    "Got it. I''m on my way."

    Reese turned to Millie with an apologetic look. "Sorry, Millie, something came up. Let''s finish our shopping another time?"

    By the time she got to the riding center, Reese spotted two people on horseback in the distance.

    Leslie, dressed in crisp white riding gear, looked effortless in the saddle. Neal rode beside her, the two of themughing and chatting like it was the easiest thing in the world.

    Not far off, in the lounge area, Dominic sat on a wicker chair, looking like a storm cloud.

    Seeing Leslie here was thest thing Reese expected. Her heart skipped a beat. She quietly walked over and sat down beside Dominic. "Professor."

    Dominic grunted but his face softened. "The whole mess caused a stir. For now, keep your head down. The higher-ups are already looking into who tipped them off."

    "I''m sorry, Professor. I keep dragging you into trouble." Reese looked down. "But you can tell them to stop searching. I already know who it was."

    Dominic frowned. "Who?"

    "Zach."

    One word, and Dominic just stared at her for a long moment before sighing. "How did it get like this between you two?"

    He remembered how fiercely Zach used to protect Reese.

    Reese managed a small, bitter smile. Fate really had a twisted sense of humor.

    Voices grew louder nearby. Reese looked up.

    Mr. Sanchez was walking over, dressed in a dark suit, his steps calm and steady. Sebastian was right beside him, sharp in a ck suit looking colder than usual They talked quietly, seeming perfectly at ease with each other.

    Dominic''s expression darkened again as he leaned closer to Reese. "Sebastian''s

    putting his name on the line for Big X, trying to set up a partnership with ckOak."

    "This meeting is about that. Get ready."

    Reese felt her heart drop.

    Her suspicions about Big X weren''t based on anything solid, just a feeling that

    Leslie showing up when she did was way too convenient.

    Before she could process it, Mr. Sanchez and Sebastian reached them.

    Sebastian paused briefly when he noticed Reese sitting with Dominic, then took a seat across from them with Mr. Sanchez.

    Reese started to stand, but Mr. Sanchez waved her back down. "No need for formalities. Sit."

    "The higher-ups believe in you. But until we know more, your suspension stays in ce."

    Then he shifted the conversation. "I heard you''re against ckOak working with Big X. Why?"

    Reese curled her fingers into her palm. Her voice was steady. "The day I got tailed and ended up in that ident, Leslie just happened to be there and saved me it felt too much kera setup."

    "So what, you think Leslie saved you on purpose?" Neal scoffed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. ¡°Reese, maybe you''re just being paranoid. A little gratitude wouldn''t hurt."

    Leslie nced at Sebastian and gave a lightugh. "A lot of ckOak''s projects are ssified. I get why Ms. Meyer would be cautious.

    "But I was born here. I''d never betray

    my country. If Ms. Meyer doubts my

    loyalty td like to see svidence

    instead of being used

    because Mr. Ratcliff and I are old

    friends."

    She was basically saying Reese was jealous because she and Sebastian were close.

    Reese looked up at Sebastian, but he just stared off into the distance. "Leslie and

    I have known each other since college. I trust her."

    Dominic''s face turned red with anger. He shot Reese a look that said it all-was this really the guy she''d given up her studies and career for?

 Chapter 111

    Mr. Sanchez paused, thinking it over, then finally made up his mind. "Since Mr. Ratcliff is willing to vouch for them, let''s move forward with the partnership between ckOak and Big X."

    Reese blinked, caught a little off guard. "Mr. Sanchez, that''s not really my call. I''ll have to run it by n first."

    "I''ll talk to n myself." With that, Mr. Sanchez turned to Dominic. "Since we''ll be working together, you can spend some time together. We''ll head back."

    Dominic just grunted, throwing Reese a hard look. He clearly wanted to say more, maybe lecture her, but this wasn''t the time. He just followed Mr. Sanchez out, his annoyance obvious.

    As soon as they left, the mood in the room lightened. Neal tugged Leslie toward the stables. "Come on, I need a rematch. You beat mest time, but I''m not letting you win again."

    He nced at Sebastian. "You in, Sebastian? You''ve trained Leslie so well. Let''s see if you can beat her yourself."

    Leslie smiled at Sebastian. "Come ride with us?"

    Sebastian just shook his head. "You two go ahead."

    Reese didn''t want to stick around any longer. She stood up to leave, but before she could take a step, Sebastian grabbed her wrist.

    "Why didn''t you tell me you were being investigated?"

    Reese tried to keep her voice calm. "The investigation is over. What would telling you have changed?"

    She tried to pull her hand away, but Sebastian''s grip just tightened. "How do you know it wouldn''t matter if you never even give me the chance?"

    His voice dropped, rough and frustrated. "Reese, I''m your husband. Can''t you just lean on me a little?"

    Reese looked him dead in the eyes, her expression steady and unreadable. "Sebastian, when you care about something-or someone you just do it. You don''t need anyone to ask. Like the garden Sofia wanted. Like the partnership Leslie wanted."

    She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Everyone knew about my investigation. Even ckOak got dragged in. If you didn''t know, it''s just because you weren''t paying attention."

    She let out a shaky breath, her next words softer, almost a sigh. "And honestly, I''m so tired of begging for what I need."

    Sebastian opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but Reese suddenly yanked her hand free and walked away.

    He just stood there, watching her disappear down the hallway, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles went white.

    A momentter, Neal came back, pping Sebastian on the shoulder. "Hey, youing? Let''s ride."

    Sebastian didn''t say anything, just followed him toward the stables.

    Down the hall, Reese leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath.

    Matthew hurried over, looking apologetic. "Sorry, I thought Mr. Sanchez wanted to talk about your job..."

    "It''s fine," Reese said, shaking her head, though worry flickered in her eyes. "It''s not that I''m jealous of Leslie spending time with Sebastian. I just get this feeling somethings off about her

    "I get it," Matthew nodded. "I''ll keep an eye on her. If there''s anything weird, I''ll find out. Don''t worry."

    Reese managed a weak smile. "Thanks. I just want to be alone for a bit."

    She wandered over to the edge of the paddock, watching the three riders.

    Neal was out front, Sebastian and Leslie riding side by side behind him, talking quietly together.

    A light drizzle started, cool drops brushing her skin and sending a shiver through her.

    The riders turned their horses and galloped toward the stables, trying to beat the rain.

    A bitter, almost mocking smile flickered across Reese''s face. Sebastian had lied again.

    He''d known Leslie since college.

    He''d taught her to ride. He trustedet

    her enough to stake Ratcliff Global''s reputation on her word.

    It all made sense now. Leslie was probably his first love. Maybe she was even the biological mother of that child.

    A heavy ache settled in Reese''s chest. Without thinking, she strode into the

    stables and picked a horse at random.

    Ignoring the stable manager''s protests, she led the horse out.

    "Let''s go!" She

    swung up into the

    saddle brought down the crop

    and

    out

    the horse reared before charging into the rain.

    Her horse thundered across the field, her hair flying, the hem of her skirt snapping

    in the wind.

    The three riders heard themotion and turned.

    Neal''s jaw dropped. "Wait-Reese can ride?"

    Leslie''s smile froze, and she shot a quick look at Sebastian.

 Chapter 112

    Sebastian couldn''t take his eyes off Reese. There was something wild in the way she sat tall in the saddle, something he''d never seen before. It''s like she''d just cut everyst string holding her down. The determination in her face was almost reckless, like she was ready to risk it all.

    He gripped the reins so tightly his knuckles turned pale. His throat worked, but whatever he wanted to say got stuck somewhere he couldn''t reach.

    Reese rode a slowp around the arena, rain soaking her through, but she didn''t seem to notice or care. When she finally stopped near them, she looked up at Sebastian. Gone was the hope he''d always seen in her eyes-in its ce was something cold and final.

    She dismounted with a quick, sure movement, boots sshing into a shallow puddle. Mud clung to her heels, but she just tucked a wet strand of hair behind her ear and nced past the three of them, stopping only when her eyesnded on Sebastian. His gaze, those eyes she''d drowned in so many times before, was a storm she couldn''t read, but inside, she felt nothing but numb.

    She turned away, not even bothering to look again. The manager jogged over to take her horse. Reese handed him the crop and managed a polite, "Thanks."

    Footsteps sounded behind her. She turned to see Matthew, stepping out from the shadows by the rest area. He held a dry towel in one hand and her jacket slung over his arm.

    "You feeling any better?" His voice was soft, and he frowned a little when he saw how soaked she was.

    Reese took the towel and rubbed her hair, her shoulders finally rxing a little. A small smile flickered on her lips. "Yeah. A lot better."

    "I had no idea you could ride like that," Matthew said, draping the jacket over her shoulders. "Here, wear this."

    "Thanks." Reese blinked, her thoughts drifting back to when she''d first learned to ride. It was after she''d heard Zach was hurt overseas and nearly lost his life. Because of that whole mess with Sebastian and the drugging, Dylon had taken her passport away, terrified the Ratcliff family woulde for revenge. She hadn''t been able to leave the country.

    She''d never believed in fate or luck, but back then, all she could do was travel from church to church, praying for Zach''s safety and dodging Dylon''s constant pressure to marry Sebastian. When she got to the mountains, someone told her about a sacred peak. There were no roads, just a trail you could only travel on foot or horseback. So she learned to ride, and somewhere along the way, she fell in love with the freedom of galloping across opennd.

    "Let''s go home," she said, shrugging into her jacket as she and Matthew headed for the exit.

    Now that ckOak and Big X had decided to work together, it didn''t really matter what she thought about Leslie. Matthew would be careful enough. And she doubted Mr. Sanchez would trust Big X just because Sebastian vouched for them.

    Back in the arena, Sebastian watched her and Matthew walk away, their figures fading into the drizzle. He narrowed his eyes.

    Neal came over, scratching his head. "That guy looks familiar. Have we seen him before?"

    Sebastian swallowed hard. "That''s my brother, Matthew Ratcliff.¡±

    Neal turned to watch Matthew leaving, then smacked his thigh. "You''re right! You''ve been looking everywhere for him, and he''s been here in Bridger Lake this whole time!"

    He paused, then leaned closer, dropping his voice. "He disappeared years ago, didn''t contact anyone, and now he pops up just as your dad''s in the hospital. That cant be a coincidence. You better keep an eye on him."

    Sebastian only grunted, his eyes moving from the exit to Leslie. "Let''s go," he said, voice t.

    Matthew nced back at the three of them, his expression darkening.

    He''d felt Sebastian''s stare and knew it wouldn''t take long for Sebastian to figure out who he really was That meant the Ratcliff family would know about him sooner t

    he

    nned, but he didn''t regret it.

    The moment he saw Reese in the hallway, leaning against the wall, eyes red, he knew he couldn''t hide anymore.

    He''d left the Ratcliff family to get away from all their drama, but now, he couldn''t just stand by and watch Sebastian hurt Reese.

    Even if stepping out meant trouble with the Ratcliffs, even if it meant getting dragged back into their mess, he''d made up his mind.

    From now on, he''d stay by her side. With him there, no one would get to dictate her life.

    Matthew and Reese picked up Annie from school and headed back to their apartment together.

 Chapter 113

    Maybe it was the rain, but Reese felt lightheaded. She turned down Annie''s invitation for dinner and took the elevator up to her apartment by herself.

    As soon as she stepped out, she saw Rosie standing by her door. Reese hesitated, her brows drawing together.

    Rosie forced a bright smile, fussing with the hem of her dress. "You''re finally home, Reese. I''ve been waiting forever."

    Reese''s tone was t. "Is there something you need, Aunt Rosie?"

    Rosie took her arm and gently pulled her aside, her voice soft and pretending to be close. "Tara told me you''re thinking about divorcing Sebastian, is that true?"

    She let out a dramatic sigh, her expression full of fake concern. "Reese, you can''t make such a rash decision.

    "We went through so much to hide that abortion from Sebastian, and you finally managed to make him lose interest in Sofia. That was your chance to secure your position.

    "And now you want a divorce? Are you really going to throw away a life like this?"

    Reese let out a coldugh, shaking Rosie''s hand off and leaning back against the doorframe, her eyes hardening. "If I don''t get divorced, what then? Wait for you all to use the baby against me again? Keep squeezing everything you can out of me?

    "The Wiles family is already getting back on their feet with Zach in charge, and now that Tara''s engaged, you and Dylon have plenty of ways to get close to them. Why do you keeping after me?"

    Rosie''s smile faded, her voice turning sharp. "How can you say that, Reese? In our eyes, you and Tara are the same.

    "After

    your mother died in that ident, it was your uncle and me who raised you. Now you''ve grown up and want to cut us off?"

    She stepped closer, her voice rising. "I know you still me your uncle for what happened to the Ramos Corporation, for throwing away your grandfather and mother''s hard work.

    ¡°But family shouldn''t hold grudges. Didn''t we help you cover things up with Sebastian?

    "If

    f you divorce Sebastian now and make the Ratcliff family angry, what happens to your uncle''s new project?

    "Are you really going to just walk away for your own happiness and leave us to deal with the fallout?"

    Reese looked straight at Rosie''s

    wounded act and clenched her fists. "Aunt Rosie; I haven''t forgotten everything the Ramos family did for me but also can''t forget how you sold out thepany just to please Sebastian and left me with the debts."

    "You don''t have to say anything else. My decision''s made. No matter what, I''m divorcing Sebastian."

    Realizing Reese wouldn''t budge, Rosie''s expression darkened. She lifted her hand, ready to p her.

    "You ungrateful brat! Someone''s got to teach you a lesson-your mother would want me to!"

    Reese reacted fast, grabbing Rosie''s wrist before the p couldnd.

    Rosie tried to yank her hand back, shouting, "How dare you? You really think you can do whatever you want now?"

    Right then, the elevator chimed and opened. Matthew stepped out holding a thermos, took one look at the scene, and rushed over, putting himself between Reese and Rosie.

    Rosie froze when she saw Matthew, then her face turned bright red. She pointed at Reese, her voice shrill. "So this is why youre so desperate for a divorce! You''ve already found someone else! What if Sebastian finds out and decides to target us?"

    Her re bounced between Reese and Matthew, clearly calcting her next

    move.

    Forget it, she thought. It''s better if Sebastian hears this from us. Maybe we''ll even get on his good side.

    With that, she spun around and marched toward the elevator. Reese, knowing exactly what Rosie was up to, stepped out from behind Matthew and called after

    her.

    "He''s just a coworker. If you want to

    be

    to Sebastian about this,

    must. But think about tel?

    first can you really handle the

    Ratcliff family anger

    Rosie''s face went white. She opened her mouth to argue, but the elevator chimed again.

    Sebastian was standing inside, still in his ck suit, rainwater dripping from his hair.

    His eyesnded on the three of them, and the tension in the hallway suddenly felt as heavy as the storm outside.

 Chapter 114

    "Mr. Ratcliff..."

    Rosie''s face drained of all color as Sebastian stepped out of the elevator.

    Why did he have to show up right now?

    The Ramos family was relying on the Ratcliffs to move forward with the Eastside project. If Sebastian got upset because of Reese, all their ns would fall apart.

    She had no choice; she had to get her side of the story out before he could say anything.

    With barely a thought for appearances, Rosie rushed forward and grabbed Sebastian''s sleeve.

    "Mr. Ratcliff, this is all my fault. I didn''t raise Reese well enough, and she made a stupid mistake. If you''re angry, take it out on me. Just please, don''t hold it against the Ramos family."

    "My husband and I have always hoped she''d have a happy life with you. That''s all we want."

    Sebastian looked down at her hand clutching his sleeve. Her nails were perfectly done in a ssy shade, but somehow, the sight just made him feel colder.

    He didn''t answer. Instead, his gaze slid over Rosie''s shoulder to Reese standing behind her. His eyes were impossible to read as he finally spoke. "I''ll handle this. You should go home."

    Rosie wanted to say more, but the look he shot her was like a de made of ice. She shrank back instantly, letting go of his sleeve and heading for the elevator, ncing back at every step.

    When the doors closed, Rosie looked even worse. Her hands were shaking so badly she could barely get her phone out.

    She dialed Tara, her voice trembling. "Tara, I just saw Reese with some man outside her apartment.

    "I tried to talk to Mr. Ratcliff, but he told me to leave before I could exin anything.

    "And Reese seems determined to divorce him. If she makes him mad and he mes us, that Eastside project is done for. What are we going to do?"

    There was a brief, heavy silence before Tara answered, sounding eerily calm.

    "Mom, calm down. If Reese insists on divorcing Sebastian, I''ll make sure she cuts ties with our family first.

    "That way, even if the Ratcliffs are upset, it won''te back on us. Please, don''t get involved in her issues anymore, okay? We can''t afford to get burned."

    Rosie finally let out a shaky breath. "Okay, okay. I''ll listen to you."

    She hung up as the elevator doors opened. Her legs felt weak as she walked out.

    Upstairs, outside the apartment, Reese noticed the dark look on Sebastian''s face and instinctively stepped in front of Matthew.

    "Sebastian, we''re just colleagues. You saw just saw him downstairs. Please, don''t me him for anything."

    Sebastian''s jaw tightened as he watched Reese shield Matthew

    +

    HE

    looked at Matthew, then spoke.

    "Matthew Ratcliff it''s been a while.

    What?

    Reese stared at him in shock. Was this the brother Sebastian had been looking for?

    Matthew''s eyes clouded over, but he said nothing.

    Sebastian turned back to Reese. "Go inside. I won''t do anything to him."

    Then, to Matthew, "Come with me."

    Reese grabbed Matthew''s sleeve, her voice soft with worry. "If anything happens, call me."

    Matthew tucked the lunch container into her arms and smiled. "Don''t worry, just finish your lunch. I''lle back for thister."

    Sebastian watched their little exchange, his hands balling into fists.

    Without another word, he headed toward the elevator. Matthew followed, giving Reese a reassuring wave before the doors slid shut.

    Inside, the silence was suffocating.

    Sebastian''s voice was cold. "Where have you been all these years? I sent people everywhere, but you just disappeared."

    "I joined the army. I just got out," Matthew said, leaning against the wall. "I took my mother''s name and changed my identity. Of course you couldnt find me

    He paused, looking up at Sebastian with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.

    "Weren''t you always embarrassed by me? Didn''t you wish I''d never show up again? So why are you looking for me now?"

    Sebastian was caught off guard by how much the once timid Matthew had changed. He frowned, realization dawning.

    No wonder they couldn''t find him; he''d changed his name.

    If that was true, maybe he wasn''t really a Ratcliff anymore. But remembering his grandfather''s wishes, Sebastian''s tone, softened a ttle. Grandpas really sick. He gets weaker every day. All he wants now is for you toe home."

 Chapter 115

    "I''m doing just fine. Why should I go back?"

    Matthew raised an eyebrow. "What, is he feeling guilty now? nning to finally give me a piece of the inheritance?"

    Sebastian''s frown deepened. "Matthew, you''re just the illegitimate son="

    "Like I had any say in being born?" Matthew''s face darkened, which didn''t happen often. "If your dad hadn''t done what he did to my mom, do you really think I''d even be here?"

    "You all treated us like dirt, did everything possible to split me from my mom.

    "And when you finally brought me into the family, it was clear you didn''t want me. Your mom did everything she could to make my life miserable, and you just looked the other way.

    "Even your grandpa couldn''t care less about me. All he ever wanted was for me to stay alive. And now, you want to talk family? Isn''t that a joke?"

    Sebastian had nothing to say. He barely knew the details of the past, just vague memories of his mother''s open disdain for Matthew, and the way everyone else in the family kept their distance.

    He let out a sigh, his tone softening. ¡°Grandpa wants to make it up to you. He''s actually always thought about you, even if he never showed it."

    "Make it up to me?"

    Matthew let out a coldugh and didn''t bother replying.

    Like I ever cared about that.

    Sebastian met his eyes, his voice low and warning. "Whatever happened before, you wouldn''t have made it through if Grandpa hadn''t protected you. Just do this for him. Come back with me."

    "Fine."

    Sebastian clearly hadn''t expected him to agree so quickly. He paused, his finger hovering over the elevator button, and added, "Reese is my wife. I don''t want you getting too close to her."

    Matthew scoffed. "Did that cross your mind when you embarrassed her in front of everyone?"

    Sebastian''s face clouded, but Matthew kept going. "We''re just coworkers. She helps me look after my kid sometimes, so I help her out here and there. That''s all there is to it."

    Sebastian looked up at him. "You''re married?"

    "Yeah. My kid''s seven already."

    Matthew''s voice was t, offering no more exnation.

    Upstairs, Reese was sitting in the living room with a steaming container of soup in

    front of her, but she couldn''t bring herself to eat.

    Her mind kept reying the

    conversation between Sebastian

    and Matthew. She worried Sebastian would give Matthew a hard time After poking at her food a few times, she set her utensils down,

    There was a knock at the door.

    Reese jumped up to answer it, heart racing. Sebastian and Matthew stood outside, both looking calm, and she finally rxed a little.

    Sebastian noticed the concern in her eyes when she nced at Matthew. It irritated him, though he didn''t know why, but he just said, "Grandpa wants us to bring Mow back to the house. You shoulde too."

    Reese was caught off guard. She''d thought Mr. Ratcliff only wanted to see them because of Matthew¡ªshe hadn''t expected to be included.

    "Okay."

    The three of them headed downstairs and got into the car, driving toward the Ratcliff family estate.

    Nobody spoke on the ride over. The air in the car felt thick and heavy.

    The ck Bentley pulled up at the front door. Reese had barely stepped out when

    a small figure came running up and kicked at her shin.

    "Mom! Why did you do something so awful? Do you know what people are saying? Everyone says my mom''s a criminal!"

    Reese couldn''t miss the anger and disgust in Robbie''s eyes. She''d thought she was numb to it all, but his words still hurt her.

    This was her son. He didn''t care what she''d gone through; he just believed the rumors and red at her.

    Sebastian frowned and tried to pull Robbie away, but the boy yanked his hand free. ¡°Dad, don''t stop me! She did bad stuff!"

    Just then, the front doors creaked open. Mr. Ratcliff stepped out, leaning on his cane, his face pale and tired.

    He nced at the crying Robbie, his voice stern. "Robbie, you don''t talk to your mother that way."

    Robbie shrank back, his tears slowing, but he still muttered, "But Grandma said¡ª"

    fet

    "Don''t listen to your grandma''s nonsense!" Mr. Ratcliff cut him off sharply, shooting Jane a re. Is

    this what youve beechin ve

    m?"

    Jane rushed over and pulled Robbie away.

    Mr. Ratcliff sighed heavily, his gazending on Reese. He looked at her for a long

    moment before finally saying,

    "All of you,e inside."

 Chapter 116

    Reese watched Mr. Ratcliff''s hunched figure shuffle away, the steady thump of his cane against the stone floor somehow echoing right in her chest.

    It had been ages since she''d seen him, and she never expected that in just a few days, he''d seem so much older. No wonder Sebastian was so anxious to bring Matthew back.

    She straightened her expression and followed Mr. Ratcliff into the foyer, bracing herself for a lecture about the investigation.

    But instead, Mr. Ratcliff just said, "Reese, I heard about what happened with the Bureau. It''s not your fault. Don''t trouble yourself over it." He even gave her a reassuring smile before turning to Sebastian and Matthew. "You two,e with me to the study."

    That left Reese alone in the huge living room. She settled onto the sofa, and before long, a housekeeper brought out a tray of fruit and pastries. She hadn''t eaten much at dinner, and now that the tension was wearing off, she absentmindedly picked at the snacks.

    She didn''t even see Janee in until she heard a sharp, cold huff.

    Jane had finally managed to get a fussy Robbie to sleep and walked into the living room, only to spot Reese lounging on the sofa. The memory of getting embarrassed in front of that bastard earlier thanks to Reese-still stung, and Jane''s annoyance bubbled right back up.

    "You have no manners at all," Jane snapped. "No wonder you got taken away and questioned by the authorities.

    "Do you have any idea how much trouble you almost caused Ratcliff Global?

    "Thank God nobody outside knows about you and Sebastian. Otherwise, this would have been a total disaster. No wonder Robbie doesn''t like you."

    Reese looked up, her eyes cool and edged with sarcasm. "Isn''t that because you taught him not to get close to me?

    "And as for my manners, well, you''re my mother-inw. If I''m not good enough, maybe you should be looking at yourself."

    Jane''s expression froze, like she couldn''t believe Reese would talk back like that. "Just what I''d expect from someone without a proper upbringing."

    "If you hadn''t been pregnant with Robbie, you''d have never been good enough to marry Sebastian. And now you dare talk back to me?"

    gethe

    "Yet here I am, married all the same," Reese said, not even bothering to look at her She''d spent years swallowing her pride, trying to perfect Mrs. Ratcliff, hoping for Jane''s approval and the family''s eptance.

    But after all this time, Jane''s attitude had only gotten worse. Even Robbie, under her influence, treated Reese with nothing but contempt.

    Reese was just done.

    "If you''re so unhappy with me, maybe you should convince your son to divorce me. Would make my life a whole lot easier."

    Jane''s chest heaved in anger and she looked ready to explode. But before she

    could say anything, an old, gravelly voice cut in. "Is this really how a mother-inw should act?"

    "Dad, it''s Reese''s attitude..." Jane

    started, startled, turning to see Matthew wand Sebastian on either

    side of Mr. Ratcliff as he came in.

    The tension between the three men seemed to have faded, like they''d finally worked something out.

    Jane tried to argue, but Mr. Ratcliff shut her down. "Instead of hoping your son''s family gets along, all you do is pick on your daughter-inw.

    "Reese has been part of this family for years, and you''ve made things hard for her every single day. What more do you want from her?"

    Reese''s heart skipped a beat. She had no idea if they''d overheard her suggesting Jane should push Sebastian for a divorce.

    But Sebastian''s eyes lingered on her, a faint, almost amused smile on his lips. He didn''t seem mad at all. If anything, he looked intrigued by this new, sharper side of her.

    After scolding Jane, Mr. Ratcliff let out a couple of coughs. "It''s rare to have everyone home. Why not stay the night?"

    Matthew shook his head. "No, thanks. Annie''s home alone, and I''d rather get back to her."

    Reese nced upstairs. The only suite here was the one she and Sebastian shared. If she stayed she''d have to sleep right next t Sebastian and put up with Jane''s attitude for the rest of the night.

 Chapter 117

    "Grandpa, I''ve got something to do tomorrow, so I can''t stay with you tonight. I''lle visit again once things calm down."

    Mr. Ratcliff didn''t insist, just let out a long sigh. He knew these two were drifting further away from him.

    "Fine. Do whatever you want."

    Sebastian grabbed his jacket from the sofa and draped it over his arm. ¡°Let''s go. I''ll drive you both home."

    The drive back was even quieter than before.

    Reese had no idea what Matthew and Mr. Ratcliff had talked about, but the tension in the car was suffocating.

    When they reached the parking lot, Matthew nced at them, then walked off on his own.

    Reese watched him go, sighing to herself. Life really had a twisted sense of humor. Who would''ve guessed Matthew was the Ratcliff family''s illegitimate son? Or that Jane''s supposedly perfect husband was really a cheater?

    She didn''t want to think about all the mess from the previous generation. She started heading for the elevator, but Sebastian''s voice stopped her.

    "Reese, don''t you have anything you want to say to me?"

    She turned, confused. "What am I supposed to say?"

    Sebastian looked at her, worry clouding his eyes. "You saw how Grandpa''s doing. The doctor says he doesn''t have much time left.

    "Finding Matthew gave him some peace, but now he just wants to see us doing well.

    "You''re not working at ckOak right now, so why not move back in? You could rest, get better. When you''re feeling stronger, maybe we could have another child. That would mean a lot to Grandpa."

    Reese let out a coldugh. "Another child? How? IVF?"

    Another child? Did he really just see her as a baby machine?

    "There are other ways."

    Sebastian''s mind shed back to when they first got married. He''de home drunk one night and tried to get close to her. She''d pushed him away, almost in a panic, and even pped him. After he sobered up, he''d seen the fear in her eyes.

    "If you''re notfortable, we could do IVF. It''s your choice."

    Reese gave a bitterugh, wiping away a tear before it could fall. Her voice turned cold.

    "I''m not doing IVF.

    "Sebastian, you have Robbie to carry on the family name. If you want more kids, go have them with someone else."

    Sebastian frowned, irritation clear in

    his voice. "Reese, I thought I''d done everything you wantedtely. Whatever you asked for. Igooit for you. What more do you want?¡±

    Reese turned away, her posture saying it all. "I don''t want anything else."

    He had gotten her ne back, sure. But he''d ignored Zach''s threats and only

    cared about supporting Leslie, even forcing ckOak to work with Big X.

    She wasn''t giving him any more chances¡ªno more chances to hurt her.

    Sebastian called after her, his words echoing behind her. "If you moye back in Umake our ftionship public. You won''t have to worry about getting investigated again."

    Reese kept walking, swallowing the ache in her chest as she stepped into the elevator.

    With or without Sebastian, she was done with messes like that.

    Sebastian stood there, watching the elevator doors close. His fists clenched tight. He really wanted to fix things between them, but Reese kept shutting him out.

    Frustration burned in his chest. He kicked a stone, the sound sharp against the pavement.

    Finally, he loosened his tie, got in his car, and mmed the door. The ck Bentley''s engine growled as he sped off into the night.

    The next morning was bright and clear, not too hot.

    Reese woke up early and finished her breakfast. She thought about how she''d barely said goodbye to Millie yesterday before rushing off to the stables. Maybe she''d ask Millie out for coffee or something, just to catch up.

    Before she could decide where to go, her phone rang. It was Millie.

    "Reese, something happened. You need to check the trending news-right now!"

 Chapter 118

    "Sofia is unbelievable, isn''t she? First, shetches on to Sebastian, knowing full well he''s taken, just to hype herself up. After she gets dumped by Sebastian, she''s already moved on to Zach!"

    Millie''s voice practically vibrated with rage, the anger cutting straight through the phone.

    "And what''s even going on with you and Sebastian? Weren''t you guys getting divorced?

    "So why are the paparazzi still catching you two together?

    "There''s no way those photos get out without Sebastian''s permission, right?!"

    A knot of dread twisted in Reese''s stomach. She swiped her phone, put Millie on speaker, and tried to sound calm. "Don''t freak out yet. Let me check."

    She opened Twitter, and the first trending topic hit her like a punch- #Sebastian Late NightWith MysteryWoman.

    The photos were ridiculously clear. Last night in the parking garage, Reese was walking toward the elevator, her back to the camera, Sebastian behind her, watching her go. His ck Bentley was parked nearby, the streetlights stretching their shadows out long and thin.

    The caption was all venom: "Is Sebastian unting a new girlfriend? His ''breakup'' with Sofia might''ve just been a cover. The mystery woman? Rumor has it she''s linked to the ckOak leak."

    Reese''s heart dropped. She kept scrolling, and the next trending tag made her freeze #Reese ckOakLeakSuspect.

    She tapped in. It was a mess of cherry-picked "evidence": screenshots of her work history at ckOak, wild rumors about her having ess to sensitive data.

    Some so-called insider ounts imed, "Ever since the national security investigation, projects under Reese''s watch have all had data issues."

    Then came the video from Sofia''s press conference.

    Sofia stood on stage in front of a giant screen. "Our new system isn''t limited to any one Al application. We''re building a true ''human-Al symbiosis''-Al that''s deeply woven into healthcare, education, and can predict needs from user behavior. This is a brand new approach to R&D.¡±

    As soon as she finished, Zach walked up, grabbed the mic, and the camera zoomed in.

    "I''m investing a hundred million and co-founding DeepQuanta Al with Ms. Meyer as CEO," he announced.

    He nced down at the crowd with a sly smile. "And for the project name, we''re taking suggestions. The most creative one wins."

    A little further down, there was a video of Sofia''s interview.

    She was in a white dress, eyes red, holding the microphone with shaky hands. "Mr. Ratcliff and I have "§®§¬,

    always had a purely professional rtionship. The rumors were hard

    to fe

    on both of us. Right now just want focus on developing our new project."

    Thements section was a flood of hate:

    "Reese is disgusting! Flirting with Mr. Ratcliff and leakingpany secrets? ckOak should''ve fired her already!"

    "Compared to Sofia, Reese is just a sad, desperate clown. No talent, only dirty tricks. No wonder Mr. Ratcliff wants nothing to do with her!"

    "Boycott ckOak! How can we trust apany that hires traitors?"

    "She tried to drug her way into Sebastian''s bed and now she''s leaking secrets? She should be cklisted forever!"

    Reese shut her eyes, her chest aching so badly it felt like she couldn''t breathe.

    Turns out Zach''s revenge wasn''t just about using those old photos she''d sent him, or framing her for leaking data and getting her suspended.

    He wanted to use Sofia to crush ckOak, to bury Reese in scandal and public anger, to make sure she''d never get back up again.

    "Reese! Reese, say something!"

    Millie was practically crying. "Did you see all this? Zach did it on purpose! He started DeepQuanta Al just to steal ck@ak''s business. He''s got everyone boycotting ckoak now, and their stock dropped five percent at the open this morning If this keeps up, they''re going to crash!

    "What''s Sebastian doing through all this? How can he just stay silent while everything''s falling apart?"

    A bitter smile tugged at Reese''s lips.

    What was Sebastian doing?

    Just yesterday, he''d finally closed the deal between Big X and ckOak. Right now, he was probably at ckOak''s office, celebrating and signing contracts with Leslie.

    She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and opened her stocks app. ckOak''s shares were bleeding red, dropping even more by the minute.

    "Millie, I''m okay," Reese said, trying her best to sound reassuring, even though her voice shook. "I''m only on loan to ck Oak from Clever Cloud. As long as ckoak uts out an

    official statement clearing me, the

    stock should stabilize.

    "And Dominic is Sofia''s mentor. Zach''s first big investment aftering back was

    with Clever Cloud. They''re ruthless, but they''re not going to burn their own connections or go after Clever Cloud."

 Chapter 119

    "I''ll figure this out, okay? Don''t stress. Just wait for my update."

    As soon as she hung up with Millie, Reese called n without even thinking.

    The mess between her and Zach was already spilling over to ckOak, and she couldn''t let thepany take any more hits. She needed n''s help toe up with a n.

    He picked up right away. Behind his voice, she could hear frantic typing and people talking over each other-the soundtrack of apany in meltdown.

    "Reese, I''ve seen everything online," n said, sounding worn out. "The higher- ups had just cleared you. This morning, they informed us you coulde back to work. There wasn''t enough evidence for the leak."

    He paused, his voice heavy. "But then the news blew up. The board changed their mind immediately. There''s too much heat right now. I''m sorry, but you can''te back to ckOak-not yet."

    Reese''s heart dropped. She gripped the phone so tightly her knuckles ached.

    n hesitated, his tone torn. ¡°This morning, Mr. Ratcliff came in with Leslie. They already signed the partnership with Big X.

    "Maybe you can reach out to him. If he would step up and clear your name, it could change everything."

    "I''ll have ckOak''s official ount post a statement exining the investigation results. If we both move fast, I think we can get this under control."

    After the call, Reese stared at Sebastian''s name on her screen, hesitating. Finally, she hit call.

    The phone rang and rang. No answer. Just the cold, empty beep as the call ended.

    She tried again. And again. Each time, nothing. With no other choice, she dialed Brady.

    "Yes, ma''am," Brady answered, all polite professionalism.

    "I need to speak to Sebastian," Reese said, fighting to keep her voice steady.

    But Brady must have heard the shake in her words. "Mr. Ratcliff is in a meeting with the executive team. He can''t take calls right now. I''ll make sure he gets back to you as soon as possible, ma''am."

    "Thank you," Reese said, voice dry and tight.

    She hung up and copsed onto the couch, staring out the window as the sky turned a dull, stormy gray. She waited. And waited.

    All morning, she kept refreshing Twitter. The trending topics shot up like wildfire: #ReeseMeyerAndTheRamosFamily and #ReeseClimbing TheSocial Ladder both broke into the top ten.

    People online had dug up every detail about her history with the Ramos family. Even old photos of Rosie at some fancy g were making the rounds. Now the Ramos family was getting dragged into the mess, too.

    By two in the afternoon, Sebastian still hadn''t called. The hate online only got louder.

    Then, out of nowhere, a new hashtag exploded: #ZachIronFinancialStatement.

    Hands trembling, Reese tapped it open.

    Zach''s official ount had posted a statement. Every sentence hurt.

    "Ms. Meyer did grow up with the

    Ramos family, but her actions have nothing to do with them. Our previous report about her alleged leak was only to protect industry standards. There was nothing personal. As far as we know, Ms, Meyer has already cut ties with the Ramos family. Her personal conduct shouldn''t affect anyone else."

    It was like throwing gasoline on a fire.

    "So Mr. Wiles is Reese''s brother-inw? If even he reported her, she must be guilty!"

    "Cut ties? Maybe the Ramos family just wants to get rid of her!"

    "Someone find out where Reese lives! People like her need to apologize in public!"

    Reese''s breathing turned ragged.

    She shot to her feet, about to close the curtains, when there was a sudden, violent banging at her door. Voices yelled from the hallway

    "Ms. Meyer! Open up for an interview!"

    "Why''d you leak the information? Come out and exin yourself!"

    She peeked through the peephole. A crowd was pressed around her door¡ª reporters, influencers livestreaming, all of them shouting usations and wild theories.

    Fear wrapped around her chest, squeezing tight. She felt like a kid again, back in the days after her mom died, lost andpletely alone.

    She stumbled to her bedroom, yanked open a drawer, and grabbed her antidepressants. She swallowed two with cold water, hands shaking.

    She wanted to call the police, but her phone slipped from her fingers and hit the floor, the screen cracking in a jagged line.

    She crouched down, head in her hands, tears streaming. Why? Why did everyone have to push her like this?

    She curled up on the edge of her bed, listening to the pounding and shouting getting worse outside her

    door Everything

    blurred together.

    She felt herself slipping away.

    She didn''t know how long she''d been there when suddenly, voices erupted in the hallway. Then she heard someone she recognized, loud and clear.

    "Move aside! This is private property. You''re trespassing. If you don''t leave now, I''m calling the cops!"

 Chapter 120

    The cameras clicked and the crowd''s chatter slowly faded, until all that was left was the sound of Matthew''s footsteps in the hallway. He knocked on the apartment door, his voice tight and anxious. "Reese, it''s me. Are you okay?"

    "Reese?"

    No answer. Matthew''s stomach dropped. He called building management, got the spare key, and unlocked the door.

    The apartment was silent. He frowned, listening. There was a faint rustle from the bedroom.

    He turned in that direction. The bedroom door was cracked open, and Reese stood inside, looking out at him.

    Matthew gently closed the front door behind him and walked over, trying not to startle her. ¡°Reese, it''s alright now. Can you open the door? I''ll take you somewhere safe."

    Reese trembled and took a step back. Matthew pushed the door open and froze. Her eyes were red, and she held a blood-stained fruit knife in her left hand. On her right wrist, a fresh cut oozed blood, dripping from her fingertips.

    Matthew''s heart squeezed painfully as he rushed forward without thinking. He grabbed the knife from her hand and pressed his palm firmly over her wound.

    "Reese, why would you do this? Nothing is worth hurting yourself over.

    "If you die like this, you only hurt the people who care about you and make the ones who hate you happy. Is that what you want?"

    He rummaged through the nightstand for the first aid kit and cleaned her wound. Thankfully, it wasn''t deep and didn''t need stitches. He stuck on arge bandage, wrapped her wrist in gauze, and only rxed when the bleeding stopped.

    "I don''t have anyone left. No one would care if I was gone," Reese whispered.

    Matthew''s hands paused. He said quietly, "That''s not true. What about Annie? She adores you. Could you really break her heart?

    "And what about the de project? If you weren''t here, what would happen to the team? They need you."

    A bit of life returned to Reese''s eyes. "Sorry. I wasn''t thinking."

    "I''m just d you''re still here," Matthew said softly.

    He took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "There are reporters outside. Let''s get you back to the office first."

    "Okay."

    Reese''s legs wobbled and she almost fell, but Matthew caught her just in time.

    He nced at the bottle of antidepressants on the nightstand, worry etched across his face.

    As he opened the apartment door, reporters rushed over. Cameras shed, microphones jabbed toward Reese.

    Matthew stepped in front of her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to shield her.

    "Move aside," he said sharply.

    An influencer pushed in closer, phone out. "Ms. Meyer, did you really leak the info? Is what Mr. Wiles said true?"

    Reese shrank away from the mic.

    Matthew didn''t slow down. He pushed the woman back, and her phone hit the floor.

    She red at him, but he met her gaze with a cold, steely look. "If you want your phone fixed, bring the receipt to ckoak. But if you harass her again, I''ll find out how you got this address."

    His icy stare made the crowd pull back, opening a path.

    Matthew kept Reese close, his hand outstretched to keep her safe, careful not to overwhelm her.

    "Just stay with me. Ignore them."

    They rode the elevator down to the

    parking garage, where n was waiting by the car. Once inside n

    noticed Reese''s pale face and

    turned up the heat.

    "You''re safe now. Try to hang in there. This will pass," n said gently.

    Matthew gave Reese''s back a reassuring pat and handed her a bottle of water.

    She looked at him, and for the first time, a bit of warmth crept into her chest. Maybe, she thought, she didn''t mind having him close.

    The car pulled up to ckOak Center. n got out first to clear the way, while Matthew helped Reese out and guided her inside.

    As soon as they entered the lobby, they spotted Sebastian and Leslie near the front desk. Leslie, dressed to perfection, was chatting with Sebastian, her arm linked through his

 Chapter 121

    Sebastian spotted Reese from across the room. His brow barely furrowed, and he shifted as if he wanted to go to her, but Leslie grabbed his wrist and held him back.

    "n."

    Leslie''s voice cut through as the three of them walked in, her tone already edged with impatience.

    "We literally just signed the partnership this morning, and now this? ckOak needs to give Big X an exnation, don''t you think?"

    n''s face was stone cold. He''d already been annoyed that Leslie used Mr. Sanchez to pressure ckOak into the deal, so now he wasn''t even trying to hide his irritation.

    "This partnership was your idea, Leslie. If you think this is going to be a problem, we can call it off right now."

    Leslie''s face turned red at his response. She nced at Sebastian for support, but he was too busy watching Matthew and Reese.

    Reese didn''t even look at them. With Matthew''s help, she headed straight for the lounge.

    "Reese!" Leslie''s voice rang out, sharp and using. "All this drama started because you leaked information. Don''t you think you owe everyone an exnation?"

    Reese stopped and turned to face her, her eyes still red and her voiceced with

    sarcasm.

    "Even the FBI has cleared me. Are you saying your detective skills are better than theirs?"

    "If you''re going to use me, at least show some proof."

    She nced at Sebastian. "Just because you''ve got Mr. Ratcliff in your corner doesn''t mean you can throw whateverbel you want on me."

    She turned away, not giving them another nce. "If you want answers, go ask Zach. He already admitted he was the one who reported it."

    Leslie was left speechless, her face switching from red to pale as she red at Reese''s back disappearing into the lounge.

    Sebastian just stood there, eyes dark and stormy, his fists clenched tight at his sides.

    Inside the lounge, Matthew helped Reese sit down and poured her a ss of water.

    "That was amazing. You really shut her down."

    Reese took the ss, sipped some water, and stayed quiet.

    Matthew watched her for a second, taking in her tired, beat-down look.

    Remembering how Sebastian had stood with Leslie at the front desk, he let out a coldugh.

    "Sebastian''s unbelievable. His wife''s

    in the middle of a scandal and instead of helping you, he''s siding with Leslie and demanding answers from ckOak."

    Reese traced the rim of her ss, a sh of pain in her eyes. "He was never going to help me."

    "You really think those reporters camped outside my house would show up without his go-ahead?"

    Just thinking about the press crowding her door made Reese even more anxious. "I have to call the police. They need to find out how my address got leaked."

    Matthew nodded after a moment. "I''ll handle it. You just try to get some rest."

    The door suddenly opened and Sebastian walked in, eyesnding on Reese. He looked at Matthew.

    "I need to talk to her alone."

    Matthew nced at Reese. She nodded, so he stood and left.

    "You shouldn''t have gone after Leslie like that. She just wanted an exnation." Reese looked down at the white bandage on her wrist, her heart twisting painfully.

    Back at the stables, Leslie and Neal had humiliated her in front of Mr Sanchez, and Sebastian hadn''t said a word for her. Now, the second she

    finally stood up for herself he

    couldn''t wait to criticize her.

    Sebastian''s eyes lingered on her bandaged wrist before he sighed. "Move back home. If you have another child with me, I''ll take care of everything online."

    "Sebastian, I''m a human being, not your baby machine."

    The anger that had been simmering inside Reese finally boiled over. She remembered the text she''d gotten from George and decided she was done pretending with this man.

    "You got the court notice, right?

    "Sebastian, in one week, I''ll see you in court. This marriage is over."

 Chapter 122

    Sebastian''s face darkened as soon as he heard her words. He nced at Reese, anger simmering in his eyes, but what he saw stopped him cold. Her eyes were red, her expression a mix of heartbreak and exhaustion-just like that night in the courtyard when she''d pped him, all pain and fury.

    A bad feeling twisted in his gut. He pulled out his phone and finally noticed several missed calls from Reese, plus a notification from the court.

    "You''re actually serious?" His voice was raw, disbelief and fear tangled together. Reese had filed for divorce. She''d really gone through with it? She wanted out? Why?

    He took a step closer, reaching for her shoulder, but Reese shoved him away so hard he nearly stumbled. "Get away from me. Don''t touch me!"

    "Sebastian, I''m done. I just want a divorce. That''s it. I don''t want anything else to do with you."

    "If you want kids, go ask Sofia, ask Leslie, ask whoever else you want. There''s plenty of women who would line up for the chance."

    Sebastian stared at her, confused. Why was she dragging Leslie into this again? He tried to exin, "There''s nothing between me and Leslie. We just work together. You''re my wife. If I ever have kids, I want them with you."

    "Reese, this isn''t something to just throw away. You can''t just file for divorce over something so... so small."

    Reeseughed, the sound brittle and empty.

    Something small?

    So this was all just a minor inconvenience to him.

    Her eyes filled up with tears. She wiped her face, pressing a trembling hand to her chest. "Why not?"

    "You never treated me like your wife. You never defended me, not even once. Even now, all you do is threaten me, treating me like I''m some business rival, just another deal you need to close!"

    Sebastian opened his mouth to

    answer, but he knew nothing he said would get through to her right now She was done, and he knew it. All he could say was, "I''m only trying to do what''s best for you. Just think about it, okay? I''ll wait for your answer."

    The door clicked shut behind him. Reese slid down to the floor, burying her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with quiet, helpless sobs.

    Outside, Matthew leaned against the wall, arms crossed, listening to the muffled crying. He hadn''t meant to overhear, but standing guard here at least meant no one else would.

    He''d expected drama, but not this. When Sebastian walked out, Matthew''s lips curled in a cold, mocking smirk.

    "Nice job, Mr. Ratcliff. You pushed her this far and still think you''re doing her a favor?

    "You really are your father''s son. Always thinking you know what''s best, never stopping to ask how anyone else feels."

    Sebastian gave him a hard look but didn''t take the bait. He didn''t say a word, just brushed past and walked away.

    A crash sounded from the lounge, ss shattering on the floor. Leslie, startled, started toward the door, but n stepped in and stopped her.

    She shot him an annoyed look, but just then Sebastian stormed out, his face dark and unreadable. Leslie hurried to his side, voice full of concern. "Sebastian, are you okay?"

    He just shook his head, his voice t. "Let''s go."

    Leslie quickly followed after him. As they left, she nced back at the lounge, the faint sound of Reese''s crying reaching her ears. A sh of satisfaction flickered in her eyes.

    n watched them leave, sighing heavily. He knew Sebastian wasn''t gonna help. Pulling out his phone, n called the PR department.

    ¡°Send out a statement right now. Make it clear Reese was set up by Zach. Tag Iron Financial and demand Zach exin himself. ckOak won''t let this slide."

    ckOak''s statement hit the inte and chaos erupted. Anyone with half a brain could see Zach was just trying to sabotage ckOak and steal market share. People online

    shook their heads at the Ramos fly so ruthless they''d throw their own niece under the bus for profit.

    But before the gossip could settle, Zach struck back on Iron Financial''s official ount. He posted a batch of photos the same evidence the authorities had shown before along with a recording of a phone call that left no room for doubt.

 Chapter 123

    At the end of the post, there was even a screenshot of Reese''s old chat with him from when they used to date. The picture was cropped just right so you couldn''t tell when it happened, and his replies were short and chilly. It was obvious Reese was the only one really into it.

    The caption said, "This isn''t nder. It''s the kind of vignce every citizen should have. And don''t say we''re ignoring family-some people''s actions are just too shameful."

    The inte exploded.

    "I always thought it was weird how she confronted Mr. Ratcliff and Ms. Meyer in public. Turns out she''s been a homewrecker all along!"

    "She didn''t just break up Mr. Ratcliff and Ms. Meyer, she even tried to steal her own cousin''s man. No wonder the Ramos family cut her off."

    "Seriously, does anyone believe she didn''t leak those secrets? Maybe Reese has someone powerful backing her. Why else would the National Security Agency im there''s ''no evidence''?"

    "It''s honestly creepy. Why does ckOak protect her so much? Something shady is definitely going on!"

    "Totally. We need to boycott ckOak and anything Reese had a hand in!"

    The whole narrative flipped in an instant, and all that anger came crashing down on Reese again. Hashtags like #ReeseHasConnections and

    #ReeseSeduced HerBrother In Law shot straight to the top of the trending list. With a little help from behind the scenes, all that online hate even started shaking ckOak''s stock price.

    That day, before work was even out, a crowd gathered outside ckOak Center, waving banners and signs.

    n stood by the tall windows, looking down at the mess below, his brow knit tight with worry.

    The boycott itself didn''t faze him, but he was scared the situation was about to get way out of hand. If things blew up any further, the higher-ups might decide they needed to make an example out of Reese just to calm everyone down.

    Zach really wasn''t holding back. He was forcing Reese into a corner.

    "n, let''s hold a press conference," Reese said quietly, standing next to him. She seemed calmer now, her voice steady. "I have the same chat logs Zach posted¨D"

    "We wait for instructions," n interrupted, waving her off. "Even if we do call a press conference, we''ll need the NSA on board."

    Reese didn''t argue. She just stared out at the crowd gathering below.

    There were reporters, influencers, and regr people mixed together, but it was obvious someone was pulling the strings. The crowd wasn''t getting violent they just hung

    around, chatting with people walking by, spreading rumors.

    "That''s Reese from ckOak''s R&D, right? The woman who spoke at thest press conference? I heard she leakedpany secrets and hooks up with all kinds of guys."

    "Yeah, that''s her. She knew he was

    in a rtionship and still went after him, ruined Mr. Ratcliff and Ms

    Meyer, and then had the ga after her sister''s boyfriend.

    "And that''s just the start. Did you see those photos online? Reporters went to her ce this morning, and some guy no one knows was leaving with his arm around her."

    "He even smashed someone''s phone for her. Probably just another one of her flings!"

    "She''s something else. What''s wrong with ckOak for hiring someone like her? Makes you wonder what else they''re hiding."

    A ck Maybach pulled up, grabbing everyone''s attention as it stopped at the entrance. Two bodyguards in dark suits stepped out first and respectfully opened the back door.

    Mr. Ratcliff got out, leaning on his cane. His silver hair was slicked back, making him look sharp, but his constant coughing betrayed how sick he really was.

    Someone whispered, "Is that Mr. Ratcliff? What''s he doing here?"

    "He must be here to deal with Reese. She''s the reason he lost his fianc¨¦e. No way he''s letting her off easy."

    "Just watch. Now that Mr. Ratcliff''s involved, not even ckOak can save her."

    Mr. Ratcliff ignored the whispers

    around him. He nced at his bodyguards and said under his breath, "Round everyone up Find out who organized this and who''s behind it. Don''t let anyone slip away."

 Chapter 124

    The moment Mr. Ratcliff finished speaking, the security guards jumped into action, quickly closing in on the people holding banners. Chaos broke out in the crowd. Some tried to run, but the guards blocked every exit.

    Mr. Ratcliff leaned on his cane as he walked into ckOak and took the elevator straight up to the research department.

    Reese was waiting in the elevator lobby, her face tense. She''d noticed themotion downstairs right away, but she never imagined it would bring Mr. Ratcliff here in person. Even more unexpected was that he''d actually stepped in to clean up the mess for her.

    "Don''t worry," Mr. Ratcliff said as his bodyguards helped him out of the elevator. For once, there was a gentle smile on his face. That look instantly reminded Reese of the first time she''d met him-kind, warm, almost grandfatherly.

    But everything had changed since then. Who would''ve thought things would end up like this between them? The thought made her sigh at how unpredictable life could be.

    "I''ve already told the PR team to take care of the media circus," he said. "And I''ll find out who''s behind all this trouble. I''ll make sure your name is cleared."

    He put aforting hand on her shoulder, his voice calm and caring. "That includes the Ramos Corporation."

    "Dylon tanked Ramos Corporation and left a total mess behind. You want to rebuild it, but the people he left are going to fight you every step of the way. Let me handle them."

    Reese froze.

    Ramos Corporation had been everything to her grandfather and mother. She really did want to bring it back. But now there were predators everywhere, circling for a takeover. With all those saboteurs working against her and her ownck of experience running apany, she feltpletely overwhelmed.

    Mr. Ratcliff noticed how stiff she''d gone. He knew, better than anyone, that his family owed Reese a lot.

    She''d always been a good person. He''d never doubted that.

    He just wasn''t sure if any of thesete apologies and promises still meant anything to her.

    But he had to try.

    "I''ll help you get controlling shares in Ramos Corporation. I''ll send in people you can trust to help you run it, and I''ll get rid of everyone loyal to Dylon."

    Reese met his gaze, unsure what to say.

    "I know you''ve been hurt," Mr. Ratcliff said gently. "I''ve made a lot of mistakes. I just want to make things right. Won''t you let me try?"

    He hesitated, then added quietly, "By the way, I just got out of the hospital. My checkup isn''t done yet. If you''re free, would youe with me?"

    She looked at his face, still red from coughing, and suddenly saw how much older and more tired he looked than before. He reminded her of a withered leaf hanging on by a thread.

    She couldn''t bring herself to refuse him anymore. She simply nodded. "Okay."

    l.ne

    At that moment, Ratcliff Global''s official ount posted a long statement "Ms. Sofia Meyer has never been in a romantic rtionship with Mr. Ratcliff. Any public appearances together were purely for business. Mr. Ratcliff is married and there was never a third party or infidelity involved.

    "In addition, Ms. Sofia Meyer left

    Ratcliff Global because she

    deliberately tried to harm the Ratcliff family''s unborn heir and

    manipted Mr. Ratcliff''s son,

    Please stick to the facts and don''t

    spread or believe rumors."

    "If anyone continues to spread lies about Mr. Ratcliff''s private life, Ratcliff Global

    will take legal action."

    In less than ten minutes, thements section exploded.

    #SofiaMalicious and #SofiaManiptesChildren shot straight to the top of the trending list the same people who had been dragging Reese before now turned all their anger toward Sofia. The outrage was so intense, it almost jumped off the screen.

 Chapter 125

    "Holy crap! So Sofia''s been pretending to be all sweet and innocent, but she''s actually the real snake? She tried to hurt a kid just to get ahead. Doesn''t she worry about karma catching up with her?"

    "I actually used to feel bad for her when Reese supposedly stole her boyfriend. But now? Looks like she brought this on herself. She even hinted that Reese was the one ruining her rtionship with Mr. Ratcliff, trying to turn us all against Reese. What a master maniptor."

    "Trying to hurt an unborn child? Isn''t that straight-up illegal? Why hasn''t Ratcliff Global just called the police and had her arrested already? If they keep letting her stay, she''ll only cause more trouble."

    "It gets scarier the more you think about it. What if all those nasty rumors about Reese online were nted by Sofia? She''s been twisting public opinion this whole time. That''s so gross!"

    "Sofia needs to get out of the business world. With morals like that, she should be cklisted for good!"

    "I''m all for Ratcliff Global suing her. She has to face the consequences- otherwise, how are any of us supposed to move on from this?"

    Thements section had turned into an all-out public shaming. The entire feed was flooded with usations of "evil viin" and "schemer." Even the influencers who had once shared Sofia''s interviews were getting called out for taking her money to promote her. In a panic, they rushed to delete their posts and post apologies.

    Sofia stared at her phone, overwhelmed by the endless stream of hate. Her face drained of color.

    It was over. This time, it was really over. With Ratcliff Global''s statement out there, her dad would find out everything she''d done. Her reputation in the industry was destroyed.

    Worse, she might take DeepQuanta Al down with her.

    Frantically, she grabbed her phone and called Tara.

    "Mrs. Wiles..."

    There was a rustling of papers on the other end, and Tara''s voice was quiet, but Sofia could hear the urgency.

    "Ms. Meyer, I get what you''re going through, but Zach and I have our own messes to clean up. We can''t help you handle the online bacsh.

    "That statement from Ratcliff Global has hit DeepQuanta too. The only thing I can tell you is that Reese ended her pregnancy ages ago. You were just her scapegoat.

    "If f you want to clear your name, you''ll have to get the evidence yourself."

    A tiny spark of hope flickered in Sofia''s chest. She thanked Tara and ended the call.

    Tara really didn''t have time to worry about Sofia She''d just gotten a message from her assistant: Iron Financials

    chip project with that state-ownedpany had just been stolen away by Ratcliff Global, who imed they had "doubts about the partner''s credibility."

    Even DeepQuanta''s investors were suddenly backing out, and the banks were tightening their loans.

    The reporters Tara had bribed had not only returne5d her money, but had also sent their chat logs straight to Ratcliff Global''s PR team, desperate to distance themselves.

    After she hung up, Tara just sat there, face grim. She''d been so sure that Reese was finished, no matter what. She never expected Ratclif Global to step in and fight for her.

    She didn''t even have time to process it before Rosie called, her voice trembling with panic. "Tara, the your dad.

    smart tech park project your

    was working on just got scrapped!¡±

    "Ratcliff Global teamed up with three otherpanies, shed the bids, and sent

    in proof that we changed the blueprints illegally. The organizers canceled us on the spot!"

    "They''re clearlying for us, Tara. What do we do now?"

    Tara''s fingers were freezing as she held her phone, cold sweat running down her back.

    Ratcliff Global was out to destroy them.

    She slumped onto the couch, staring out at the gloomy sky, feeling nothing but despair.

    Meanwhile, at the hospital, Mr. Ratcliff sat up in bed, his face set in stone as he gave out orders to his team.

 Chapter 126

    "Tell Zach that if his Alpany wants to make it, he needs to go public, apologize, and take all the me himself."

    "And get someone from the IRS to look into Tara''s finances. I remember she helped Dylon move some assets around before."

    He turned to Reese then, his face softening. "Don''t worry. No one who messed with you is getting away with it."

    The sharp smell of disinfectant hung in the hospital air as Reese stared down at Mr. Ratcliff''s report. The words te stage" and "poor prognosis" felt like needles stabbing at her eyes.

    Even Mr. Ratcliff''s doctor had pulled her aside in private earlier and told her quietly, "I''m afraid your grandfather only has a few weeks left. As his family, the best we can do is make sure he''s at peace for the rest of his time."

    She looked up at the pale, frail old man lying in the hospital bed. A mess of emotions crashed over her.

    Mr. Ratcliff leaned back against the pillows, his voice weaker than before. "I don''t have much time left. All I want now is for you and that stubborn boy to work things

    out.

    "Reese, I heard you filed for divorce. You want to leave him.

    "I know I made mistakes. I''m part of the reason things turned out this way between you and Sebastian.

    ¡°But all I ever wanted was for you two to be happy together."

    Reese looked at the man who was nearing the end of his life. She knew that if she wanted to fix the mess at Ramos Corporation and get her mother''spany back, she needed Mr. Ratcliff''s help.

    Whatever his real intentions, at least he''d promised to help her. And she knew he didn''t have more than two months left.

    Just a little longer, she told herself.

    Two months. She could wait that long. Divorce was inevitable.

    Reese took a breath, her voice steady. "Grandpa, I can drop thewsuit for now.

    "But I''m not moving back in with him.

    "My marriage with Sebastian is over. That''s not going to change.

    "I''m only doing this for you. I want you to feel at peace, at least.¡±

    She paused, her tone unyielding. "But you have to promise me.

    "Until you''re gone, Sebastian can''t mess with my work or my life, for any reason. And he can''t use our marriage as an excuse to force me into anything.

    "When you''re gone, I''ll file for divorce again. Right away."

    Mr. Ratcliff met her steady gaze and knew this was the most she was willing to give.

    Still, if he could just keep them married a little longer, even if the chances were slim, maybe something would change between them Maybe they''d find their way back to each other. No matter how

    unlikely, he had to try. It was thest thing he could do for the Ratcliff family.

    He sighed and nodded. "Alright. I promise. I''ve already sent people to handle things at Ramos Corporation."

    Reese could see how tired he was. She stayed with him for a while longer, then quietly said goodbye.

    A littleter, Sebastian walked into the hospital room. He nced at his grandfather, worry lining his face. "Grandpa take care of things with Reese. You need to focus on getting better."

    "And how exactly do you n to

    ''take care of it''?" Mr. Ratcliff shot et

    back, ifitation clear in his voice "Going to force her intoing back again?

    "Reese isn''t the type you can push around. The more you try to control her, the

    further she''ll run."

 Chapter 127

    "I already convinced her to drop thewsuit. She''s willing to give you one more chance.

    "I''m telling you, don''t screw this up again. If you hurt her for real and she files for divorce, I won''t step in next time."

    A sh of understanding crossed Sebastian''s face. So Reese was just throwing a tantrum after all.

    "I get it."

    "Don''t act like this doesn''t matter!" Mr. Ratcliff saw right through him. He rapped his cane against the bed, his voice serious. "Reese''s put up with enough over the years. You need to treat her better."

    "I helped you settle things this time. As her husband, you should show her you care. Go pick out a gift for her."

    Sebastian pressed his lips together and didn''t argue. That was as good as agreeing.

    He stayed with Mr. Ratcliff for another half hour. Once he was sure everything was

    fine, he left the hospital and headed for an upscale jewelry shop.

    Ever since Reese moved out, he''d ordered a set of emerald jewelry for her, nning to use it as a peace offering. Now was the perfect time.

    He looked down at the delicate set, picturing Reese wearing it, and couldn''t help but smile.

    Funny-after all these years of marriage, he''d never really given her a proper gift.

    As night fell, the lights of Iron Financial shone bright across the city.

    Zach sat at his desk, face stormy, eyes glued to hisputer screen while the phone rang nonstop.

    "Mr. Wiles." His assistant hovered at the doorway, watching his mood. "Mr. Ratcliff wants you to make a public statement, clear Reese''s name about the leak.

    "If you do, Iron Financial''s reputation is definitely going to take a hit..."

    Zach mmed his mouse on the desk, frustration burning in his eyes.

    Reese really married into the right family.

    Even though the Wiles family was making aeback, they still couldn''tpete with the Ratcliffs.

    On the sofa, Tara absentmindedly rubbed her belly, a glint in her eyes. "Zach, honestly, I think this is a great chance for us."

    "Even if we apologize now, everyone knows we weren''t ndering Reese. We were just doing what anyone would for their country.

    "Plus, as soon as Sofia gets proof that Reese had an abortion, she''ll lose the Ratcliffs'' support.

    "The higher they put her up right now, the harder she''ll crash when the truthes out.""And when that happens, the Ratcliffs might even owe us. .

    Zach hesitated for a second, ncing at Tara, his gaze lingering on her stomach. He bit his lip, then told his assistant p what she Said." .

    "Yes, sir."

    The assistant left quietly.

    Zach turned to Tara. ¡°You really think Sofia will find the proof? Does she even have the guts for that?"

    "She will," Tara said, a small smile on her lips. "It''s her only option left."

    On the other side of town, Sofia stared at the crowd of reporters blocking her door, biting her nail, her expression ice cold.

    Reese!

    You actually paid off the press to block my house?

    You think just because the Ratcliffs are backing you, I can''t touch you?

    Don''t forget-I have the whole Meyer family of Brookfield behind me.

    She grabbed her phone and made a call. "Hank, I need you to help me check Reese''s records from the OB-GYN departmented the hospital.

 Chapter 128

    "What''s going on?"

    A man''s deep voice came through the phone. "Why are you suddenly looking into Reese''s medical records?"

    Sofia''s voice wavered, frustration bubbling up as she replied, "Reese had

    Sebastian''s baby, but she ended the pregnancy herself and then med it on me. She told everyone I made her lose the baby.

    "And now the Ratcliff family''s made it public. The inte''s attacking me, and she even called reporters to camp outside my door..."

    Hank''s fingers paused against the desk, his brows drawing together. "Don''t worry about the reporters. I''ll handle it."

    He hung up. The office quieted down. Hank''s mind was racing with memories of someone who felt both close and impossibly far away.

    If Sofia hadn''t mentioned her, he might have forgotten Reese existed at all.

    Years ago, when his parents split up, his mother left Brookfield and took Reese with her. The only time he saw Reese after she came back to Bridger Lake was at their mother''s funeral.

    He''d never forgiven her for being reckless, for causing the car ident that killed their mom. He''d pped her, hard, right there at the funeral, not caring who saw.

    After that, he tried not to think about her at all.

    It was only recently, in a call with Sofia, that he heard her name again. Sofia said Reese had married Sebastian.

    Still, why would she end Sebastian''s pregnancy? Was Sebastian that terrible to her?

    Hank shook his head. Why did it matter to him?

    But if Reese was framing Sofia, he couldn''t just sit back and do nothing.

    He hit the inte. "Let the Bridger Lake media know Sofia''s off-limits. If anyone messes with her, they''ll answer to me.

    "And book me the next flight to Bridger Lake."

    "But sir," his assistant said, hesitating, "you have a project meeting with Northbeam Tech tomorrow..."

    "Move it online. If they don''t like it, we''ll drop the partnership. They''re not the only game in town."

    As the noise from outside faded, Sofia finally rxed. A satisfied grin tugged at her lips.

    So what if Reese had the Ratcliff family backing her? Sofia had her brother. He''d always spoiled her, and no matter what mess shended in, he would make it right.

    it righended in

    Once Mr. Ratcliff stepped in, the online rumors disappeared almost overnight. Within a few days, hardly anyone even remembered the scandal.

    When n called to offer her job back, Reese was at Ramos Corporation, listening to the managers Mr. Ratcliff had sent as they gave their reports.

    Seven years after marrying into the Ratcliff family, she was finally seeing the upside of power. What used to feel impossible was now getting sorted out, one problem at a time. Thepany settled down, and ever the people who wanted to buy Ramos Corporation suddenly lost interest.

    After all, in Bridger Lake, nobody wanted to challenge the Ratcliff family.

    Once she was officially back on the de project, Reese finished up at Ramos Corporation and headed straight to ckOak.

    Matthew walked out of the conference room, a stack of reports in his hands. He spotted Reese and gave her a relieved smile.

    "Perfect timing. We still can''t get de and The Vault to work together, and I''m out of ideas."

    Reese took the papers, scanning through them as she headed to theb with him. "There''s too much fluctuation in this data. The match algorithm''s off."

    They stepped into theb, not noticing the re L shot them as they passed.

    While Reese was away, Matthew had started giving L more important responsibilities. She''d

    pulled several all nighters tryinget

    get the two projects to sync. In a field like this, the closer your name was to the top of the project, the more your reputation grew.

    If the project was a sess, L expected her name front and center, a real boost in the Al world.

    She''d been sure Reese was finished after the rumors of a data leak. No way would she return.

    But now Reese was back, and Matthew had just handed her work straight over to her.

    Just like that, L was back to being a glorified assistant. And when the project ended, her name would be buried at the bottom of the credits.

 Chapter 129

    The thought made her eyes sh with determination. Standing in the doorway of theb, she pulled out her phone and fired off a text to an unfamiliar number.

    [Reese is back with the research team. You said you could ruin her reputation and get her kicked out of ckOak. What do you need me to do?]

    Reese pushed open the door to theb. The room was bathed in the harsh glow of red indicator lights, blinking from every piece of equipment. She paused, her brows drawing together.

    "Is there an intruder?"

    Matthew sat at the table,zily spinning a pen between his fingers. He looked up, a rxed smile ying at his lips.

    "It''s nothing," he said, nodding at another row of terminals where green lights glowed steadily. His voice was low and warm. "The red lights are bait. The real data''s stored on the green ones."

    "So it''s a sting operation?" Reese slid into the chair beside him. Her eyes flicked across the screens, and the tension in her shoulders began to fade.

    "Alright, I''ll leave that to you," she said, fingers finding the keyboard. "I''ll work on thepatibility issues."

    The crisp sound of her typing filled theb.

    Matthew kept watching her. His gaze lingered on her focused profile, then drifted down to her lips. He swallowed, shook his head, and tried to shake off thoughts he shouldn''t be having. Quietly, he slipped out of theb.

    Reese stayed glued to her work,pletely missing Matthew''s strange mood. Her fingers flew over the keys.

    By the time evening rolled around, she''d solved most of thepatibility problems. She let out a breath, stretched her neck, and reached for her water bottle-only to find it already full. There was a note underneath.

    "Grandpa called us home for dinner. I''ll pick up Annie and meet you there."

    Reese took a sip the water was just the right temperature-and smiled before turning back to her screen.

    When she finally left theb, it was already dark outside. She called Matthew to check where he was, then drove out to pick up him and Annie before heading to the family estate.

    The white SUV pulled up to the old house and stopped in the courtyard. Reese immediately noticed a familiar car parked next to the big ginkgo tree.

    Her brows tightened. After everything that had happened, she couldn''t believe her uncle still had the nerve to show up at the Ratcliff house.

    "Auntie, what''s wrong?"

    Reese felt Annie''s small, warm hand in hers and her expression softened. "It''s nothing."

    Dylon must havee at Mr. Ratcliff''s request. Whatever happened, she''d deal with it when it came.

    "Is Great-Grandpa strict?" Annie asked, holding on to Reese with one hand and Matthew with the other as they stepped into the garden together.

    Reese thought for a second. "He really likes kids. I''m sure he''ll be happy to see you."

    "What are you doing here?" Robbie was sitting on the swing under the tree, scowling as he saw Reese and Annie holding hands.

    Sebastian leaning against the house with a cigarette, heard Robbie and nced over. Seeing Reese, Matthew and Annie together, he felt a strange pang. For a second, they looked just like a real family.

    "You just get off work?" His voice was cool and t. "Grandpa''s waiting inside."

    "Okay, I''ll head in." Reese let go of Annie''s hand and tapped her nose. "I''m going

    to see Great-Grandpa. I''lle find you in a bit."

    Annie nodded obediently.

    Reese made her way toward Mr. Ratcliff''s courtyard. Sebastian put out his cigarette, gave Matthew a quick look, then followed her inside without a word.

    Matthew watched them disappear, his expression clouding over. He scooped Annie up, and with the housekeeper leading the way, headed for the main hall.

    Out in the garden, Mr. Ratcliff was

    slowly walking with help from a caretaker. He looked frailer than

    ever needing to stop and catch his breath after just a few steps.

    When Reese walked into the courtyard, his eyes brightened and he smiled.

    "I thought you''d see your uncle''s family and decide to leave me behind," he teased.

    "I had to finish up at work. Sorry to keep you waiting," Reese said, stepping up to help him settle into a lounge chair.

    "You must have had a reason for inviting them here," she said quietly. "I don''t have the right to interfere anymore,"

    After everything that had happened, Reese knew she could neverpletely trust him again.

 Chapter 130

    Keeping up a polite front long enough to see Mr. Ratcliff through his final days was all Reese had left to give.

    Mr. Ratcliff patted Reese''s hand, gentle as ever. "I know you don''t want anything to do with the Dylon family, but they''re still family. Sometimes it''s better to just clear the air."

    Reese lowered her eyes. "Grandpa, if they want to cut me off, then let''s just leave it at that. There''s no point pretending."

    She refused to let the Dylons cling to her anymore, draining the Ratcliff family for their own gain.

    Of course, Mr. Ratcliff understood what she meant. He let out a sigh. "Reese, you''re in charge of Ramos Corporation now. If you cut ties with the Dylonspletely, what will people say? You know how outsiders talk.

    "I know you don''t want to see them, but for now, just do what''s necessary on the surface. That''s all I''m asking.

    "I think after everything that''s happened, they''ve learned their lesson. Even if they want toe after you again, they''ll think twice."

    Reese knew her grandfather was just looking out for her.

    She looked at the old man-someone who once saw her as nothing more than a way to continue the family line, but who now protected her with everything he had. Her feelings were a tangled mess.

    "Grandpa."

    Sebastian walked into the courtyard. He saw Reese sitting quietly by Mr. Ratcliff''s side, looking so serene, and couldn''t help but smile a little.

    He hadn''t seen her like this in a long time.

    Mr. Ratcliff raised his eyebrows. "Did Matte? Did he bring his daughter?"

    "Yeah, they''re in the front yard."

    Hearing that, Mr. Ratcliff brightened and got up from his chair. "I''ll go see that girl. You two talk things through, alright?"

    He gave Sebastian a look. "Don''t mess this up.¡±

    "I know, Grandpa."

    Sebastian helped Mr. Ratcliff over to the housekeeper, then sat down next to Reese. He pulled a jewelry box from his pocket and held it out to her.

    "Do you like it?"

    Reese didn''t take it. She just looked up at him.

    All these years married, and Sebastian had never given her a single gift. She had no idea what he was after now.

    Sebastian figured she was still mad about what happened before. He set the box on the side table and said softly, ¡°About before... I nevedreally nned to leave you hanging."

    "I just wanted you toe back home."

    "If you don''t want more kids, then we won''t have more. Robbie is enough."

    He''d already started looking for a surrogate overseas who could match Leslie''s blood type and physical condition.

    It didn''t have to be Reese.

    What he didn''t say was that when he heard from Grandpa that Reese had dropped thewsuit, he''d actually felt relieved.

    "Grandpa''s not doing well. Mom''s taking care of him by herself, plus looking after Robbie. It''s too much if you move back home, we bring Robbieback too. The three of us can finally be a real family. Isn''t that what we wanted?"

    For once, Sebastian put his pride aside and waited for her answer.

    But Reese only found it ironic. For years, she''d begged Sebastian to let Robbiee home, and he''d always refused.

    Now she didn''t want either Robbie or Sebastian anymore, and suddenly he wanted to be a family.

    ¡°Sebastian, let''s just stay like this.

    "You know I never wanted to marry you in the first ce. Living on my own is actually pretty nice."

    The calm way Reese said this sent a kind of panic through Sebastian he''d never felt before.

    "Ree..."

    "Sir, ma''am, dinner''s ready."

    A housekeeper came down the corridor. When she passed a little side path she stopped and looked toward the bushes. Mr. Wiles, what are you doing out here?"

    Reese and Sebastian turned at the same time. Zach was standing in the

    shadows, a cigarette glowing between his fingers.

    When he saw everyone looking at him, he stubbed out the cigarette, his face

    unreadable. "Just came out for a smoke. Didn''t expect to get lost."

    No one knew how long he''d been there or how much he''d overheard.

    Reese wasn''t surprised to see Zach had shown up. She got to her feet, unbothered. "Come on. Let''s not keep Grandpa waiting."

 Chapter 131

    When Reese walked into the dining room, the table was already set and the foodid out. Mr. Ratcliff sat at the head, Robbie on his left and Annie on his right, carefully serving food onto their tes.

    Down at the other end, Dylon and Rosie sat with Tara. When Reese and the others came in, the three of them traded a quick look. Rosie tried to smile but it came out awkward.

    "Reese, so nice to see you."

    "Good evening," Reese replied, her voice even, almost cool. Still, she

    remembered what Mr. Ratcliff had said earlier and managed.

    "Yeah," Rosie said,ughing nervously and ncing at Dylon.

    Dylon''s jaw tightened like he was about to snap, but then he caught Mr. Ratcliff''s eye and instantly backed down.

    "Come sit, Reese." Mr. Ratcliff''s tone was warm and weing.

    Jane had picked up on how much Mr. Ratcliff was looking out for Reese after everything that happened, so she didn''t say anything about her beingte. Instead, she waved everyone over. "Alright, let''s start dinner."

    "Okay, Mom." Reese slid into a seat in the middle of the table, right across from Zach. She didn''t look at him, just smiled at Annie, who was beaming back at her, eyes full of excitement.

    Robbie''s face darkened for a second before he spoke. "Great-grandpa, can I have some fish?"

    "Of course." Mr. Ratcliff used the serving chopsticks to give Robbie a piece. "Everyone, dig in."

    Reese picked up her fork, but her phone buzzed. The screen lit up¡ªit was a message from Zach.

    [What did you mean earlier, that you didn''t want to marry Sebastian?]

    She hit the lock button and ced her phone face-down on the table.

    Just then, a perfectly peeled shrimp dropped into her bowl. Reese looked up and met Sebastian''s deep gaze. He wiped his hands with a napkin, his tone casual. "Who messaged you?"

    "Spam," Reese said, dropping her gaze as she fished the shrimp out of her bowl.

    She never liked seafood; the taste was always too off. Sebastian, after all this time, had never noticed.

    Tara nced over, surprised that Sebastian, who used to be so cold and distant most of the time, had actually peeled shrimp for Reese A flicker of envy crossed her face She

    turned to Zach. "Zach, can you get some shrimp for me?"

    Her voice was soft, but Zach didn''t even hear her. His eyes were glued to Reese, his brows drawn together.

    Tara''s smile slipped. She gripped her fork so tight her knuckles turned white.

    A staff member, sensing the tension, hurried over and put several peeled shrimp on Tara''s te.

    After dinner, the men disappeared into the study for drinks. Jane took Rosie to the conservatory to show her the new flowers she''d been growing.

    That left the backyard to Reese, Tara, and the kids who were chasing butterflies across the grass.

    "Reese," Tara finally broke the

    silence, her tone a little too sweet, "it''s my first time at the Ratcliff estate. Will you show me around? heard there''s a little garden in the back."

    "I''m busy," Reese answered without looking up.

    Tara''s smile froze, but she sat down next to Reese and lowered her voice. "You''re

    still mad about what happened, aren''t you?"

    "Honestly, we didn''t have a choice.

    Things got out of control. If Dad hadn''t cut ties with you right away,

    people ontine would have found out about us. His newpany would have been done for."

    Reese raised an eyebrow, her expression almost amused. Wasn''t it their mess that started all this? Now they were acting like she was the one dragging them down.

    She didn''t bother arguing. She stood up to leave, but suddenly, a loud wail rang out behind her.

    Reese''s heart dropped. She turned around.

    Annie was on the ground, small body trembling with sobs. Blood was trickling from her temple, running down her cheek and soaking her cor.

    The swing behind her was still moving. Robbie stood next to it, fists clenched, his face twisted with anger as he stared at Annie.

    Reese rushed forward, but right then her phone chimed with a new message.

    It was from an unknown number.

    [Reese, it''s Hank. When can we meet?]

 Chapter 132

    Reese''s mind wandered back to the days before she and her mom left the Meyer family. Back then, it was always Hank by her side. No matter how busy he was, he''d pick her up after school, tuck her in at night, and even after she and her mom moved to Bridger Lake, Hank would call all the time. He''d promised her, once he was grown and running the Meyer family, he''d bring her and their mom back home to Brookfield.

    But all that warmth ended at her mother''s funeral.

    She''d seen Hank during her lowest moment. She''d run to him, ready to break down in his arms, but instead, with tears in his eyes, he pped her. Hard.

    "This is all your fault! If you hadn''t insisted on going out with Mom, if you hadn''t cried in the car, she wouldn''t have gotten distracted and crashed!"

    Reese remembered cupping her swollen cheek, her whole body trembling as she cried,pletely lost as to why Hank would say something so cruel. She had known her mom was going to see her dad that day and that this could be theirst chance to be a family again. She''d sat quietly in the back seat, not making a sound, just imagining what life with her brother and dad could be like.

    But Hank never gave her a chance to exin. After the funeral, he didn''t even look at her. He just left. From that day on, Reese never saw her brother again, never spoke to anyone from the Meyer family.

    Now wasn''t the time to get lost in old memories. She barely had time to wonder why Hank had texted her. Annie was still on the ground, blood trickling from her forehead. Reese''s heart clenched. She rushed over and helped Annie up.

    "Annie, are you alright?"

    Annie shook her head. Reese quickly told the stunned maid to grab the first aid kit, then shot Robbie a sharp look.

    Robbie hadn''t meant for Annie to get hurt so badly. But now, with Reese ring at him, his lip wobbled and he burst into tears.

    "What''s going on?" Jane and Rosie hurried into the room. Jane saw Robbie crying and swept him up in her arms. "Robbie, sweetie, don''t cry. Tell Grandma what happened."

    Robbie hid in Jane''s arms, sobbing and pointing at Annie. "Mom red at me! She and Annie were being mean to me!"

    Jane''s face darkened. She turned on Reese and Annie, not even noticing the blood on Annie''s forehead.

    "Reese, Robbie is your own son. How could you team up with that kid and bully him?"

    Reese''s temper red and she was about to argue, but Tara jumped in, "Mrs. Ratcliff, please don''t be upset. The kids were just ying and got ? bit rough. Reese was just worried about Annie."

    "This wasn''t just ying," Reese shot back, ignoring Tara and I straigh

    a baby anymore. You cookie

    at Jane. "Mom, not

    keep

    spoiling him like this content

    "Me? Spoiling him?" Jane''s voice was sharp. "He was sent here when he was barely weaned. I raised him myself, did everything for him, and now you''re ming me?

    "You hardly ever act like his mother, Reese. And now you have the nerve to criticize me?"

    The maid came back with the first aid kit. Reese knelt down and started treating Annie''s wound.

    "Mom, Robbie pushed Annie on purpose. If he''s already acting like this, what''s he going to be like when he''s older?"

    "She must have started it! Robbie''s just a kid. What does he know?" Jane snapped.

    "There are guests here," a deep voice cut in.

    Mr. Ratcliff, leaning on Sebastian''s arm, walked into the room. "What''s all this noise?"

    The maid was carefully cleaning Annie''s cut. Annie winced but didn''t cry. She just bit her lip and stared at Mr. Ratcliff with big, hurt eyes.

    Mr. Ratcliff frowned at the wound on Annie''s forehead. "What happened?"

    The maid answered quietly, "She was sitting on the swing. Robbie pushed her from behind, and she fell off and hit her head."

    "Annie." Matthew rushed over and knelt beside her, checking her over quickly. He

    let out a breath when he saw she wasn''t badly hurt.

    Jane''s face went pale as she realized she''d med Reese for nothing. Worried that Mr. Ratcliff would be angry with Robbie, she, hurried to say, "Dad, Robbie just a little kid. He didn''t mean any harm..."

 Chapter 133

    Mr. Ratcliff let out a grunt and shot Sebastian a look, making it clear he expected him to handle his own son.

    Sebastian''s expression hardened. His voice was low and serious. "Robbie. Apologize."

    Robbie shrank back, burying himself deeper in Jane''s arms, clearly refusing.

    Jane wrapped her arms around him protectively. "Sebastian, just let it go."

    Reese nced over, watching as the housekeeper finished bandaging up Annie''s scraped knee. Her expression turned cold. Her voice was sharper than usual. "Robbie''s six. He knows right from wrong. He hurt someone. He should apologize."

    Robbie stared at Reese,pletely stunned. His mom had always been on his side-why was she backing someone else now?

    He didn''t get it. Annie had taken his swing. He''d only pushed her away. How was this his fault?

    Dylon knew Annie was Matthew''s daughter and noticed how protective Reese was of her. He realized how important Reese would be for patching things up between the Ramos and Ratcliff families. He chimed in, "Robbie, you were out of line."

    Robbie''s eyes got even wider, staring at his great-uncle. The one person who always thought he was right was calling him out, too. The world had turned upside down. It was all Mom''s fault. If she hadn''t taken Annie''s side, no one else would me him.

    "Robbie, apologize to Annie." Reese stepped forward, gently but firmly guiding Robbie toward Annie.

    If he didn''t learn this lesson now, if he kept thinking it was okay tosh out over little things, who knew what kind of trouble he''d stir up in the future?

    "I won''t! She stole my swing! I didn''t do anything wrong, so why do I have to say sorry?" Robbie pulled away from Jane, backing up to the swing set, ring at Reese with pure resentment.

    "You''re all so mean! You only care about that stupid girl. Especially you! How could I even have a mom like you?" The anger he''d been holding in finally burst out as Reese came closer.

    Then, suddenly, Robbie grabbed the swing with both hands and hurled it at Reese with all the strength he had.

    A loud crash split the air.

    Everything happened in a blur. The swing, heavy and wooden, snapped off its rope and flew straight at Reese.

    She barely had time to react. The wind from the swinging seat whipped past her face. She could see the chipped paint on the wooding right at her.

    "Ma''am!"

    "Reese!"

    "Watch out!"

    Reese instinctively threw her arms up and squeezed her eyes shut.

    The next second, a tall figure leapt in front of her, knocking her out of the way.

    Reese hit the ground hard, pain

    jolting through her side. She barely noticed before she heard a heavy

    thug

    Matthews muffledgrunte

    pain.

    A chorus of gasps broke out from everyone around.

    Reese pushed herself up on the grass, her heart pounding.

    Matthew was crouched beside her, his face twisted with pain. He clutched his lower back blood

    already seeping between his fingers: and staining his shirt.

    "Are you okay?" Reese reached out to steady him, and only then did she notice

    her own wrist was scraped, blood bubbling to the surface.

    But Matthew didn''t even care about his own injury. He gently took her wrist, checking her wound. His voice was soft but worried. "I''m sony should''ve protected you better."

    His hand was warm and steady. For a second, Reese forgot to breathe.

    No one had ever shielded her so selflessly since her mom passed away.

    Sebastian had been right there, ready to jump in the moment Robbie grabbed the swing, but Matthew had gotten to her first.

    Now Sebastian just stood there, jaw clenched tight, eyes dark, watching Matthew holding Reese''s hand, the two of them close together.

    Matthew''s gaze was full of concern as he studied the blood on Reese''s wrist. Reese''s ears turned pink.

    Sebastian''s whole body was tense, his emotions impossible to read.

    Meanwhile, Robbie caught sight of the blood on Matthew''s back and suddenly panicked. He stumbled backward, then took off running from the yard.

    "Robbie!" Jane called after him, her voice tight with worry. She quickly told the staff to follow, afraid he''d get into even more trouble.

 Chapter 134

    "Let him go!"

    Mr. Ratcliff''s voice boomed through the hall-he was furious now. "What kind of son hits his own mother?"

    Robbie didn''t even look back at the house staff calling after him. He charged upstairs, straight into Reese and Sebastian''s room, yanked a photo off the dresser, and hurled it to the floor. The ss shattered. He stomped on it again and again, grinding his heel right over Reese''s smiling face until it was smudged and dirty. Only then did some of the anger inside him start to fade.

    You want to protect that brat so much? Fine. You''re not my mom anymore. Whatever I do from now on, you don''t get to act disappointed. This is what you asked for!

    Out in the yard, Reese suddenly realized how close she and Matthew were standing. Her cheeks flushed and she quickly pulled her hand away, crouching to get a better look at the cut on his lower back.

    "I''m taking you to the hospital," she said.

    "I''m fine," Matthew tried to protest.

    He stood up, but the movement pulled at his wound and pain shed across his face.

    Reese steadied him. "You''re bleeding and you still want to act tough?"

    Mr. Ratcliff turned to the butler. "Get the car now. Take them to the hospital." "Annie hit her head too. She needs to be checked," Reese added.

    "I''ll take them," Sebastian said quickly, his voice a little tight. For some reason, thest thing he wanted was for Reese and Matthew to be alone together. Reese was his wife, not someone Matthew should be getting close to.

    Mr. Ratcliff nodded. "Good idea."

    Sebastian stepped in, gently taking Matthew''s arm from Reese and helping him toward the ck Bentley. Matthew noticed how Sebastian''s grip tightened, but he didn''t say anything. He just let himself be led away.

    Reese took Annie''s little hand and turned to Mr. Ratcliff. "Grandpa, we''re heading out."

    He waved tiredly, clearly worn out after all the chaos. "Go on. Call us if you need anything."

    Reese nodded, gave Dylon a quick look from behind Mr. Ratcliff, and caught Zach off to the side, watching everything with an amused smile. Ignoring him, she gathered Annie and left.

    At the hospital, Matthew was rushed

    into the emergency room. Reese

    told Sebastian to wait and took Annie upstairs for her checkup. Thankfully, Annie''s injury was just a scratch. The doctor cleaned the wound and prescribed some antibiotics.

    When Reese came back downstairs, Sebastian was gone. She found Matthew lying on his stomach in the ER, his lower back wrapped in a fresh white bandage that stood out sharply against his tan skin.

    Matthew felt her eyes on him and his ears went red. He tried to pull the nket over his bare chest, but the movement tugged at his wound and fresh blood seeped through the gauze.

    "Don''t move." Reese rushed over, pressing gently on the bandage to stop the bleeding. She felt a wave of guit grash over her. ¡°I''m so sorry: should''ve taught Robbie better. He hurt Annie, and now you''re hurt too."

    "This isn''t your fault." Matthew''s voice was gentle, and the warmth of her hand on his back made his ears burn even more.

    "I know Ratcliff family rules. You probably barely saw Robbie after he was born, right? If anyone''s to me, it''s the people in that family who spoiled him and never taught him right from wrong."

    Reese froze, taken aback. During her whole life, she''d been med for everything her mom''s death, her husband''s affairs, even Robbie''s mistakes. The Ratcliffs never see her son, but whenever Robbie

    her

    messed up, she was the one

    used of being a bad mother.

    No one had ever told her it wasn''t her fault. No one had ever told her to stop ming herself or that she didn''t have to apologize for other people''s mistakes.

    She looked away from Matthew''s gentle gaze, but she couldn''t hide the tears in her eyes. She wiped them away quickly.

    A few steps away, Annie''s eyes filled with tears as she looked at Matthew''s bandaged back.

    "This is all my fault," she whispered. "I didn''t know it was Robbie''s swing. I shouldn''t have sat on it. If I hadn''t, none of this would''ve happened."

 Chapter 135

    Reese ran her fingers through Annie''s soft hair, her chest tightening. How could someone so little already be so considerate? It made her heart ache.

    Sebastian didn''t miss a thing. Reese walked right past him, not even ncing his way as she left. He watched Matthew pick up Annie and follow Reese down the hall, his own heart twisting with jealousy and something bitter he didn''t want to

    name.

    "How is she?" Sebastian asked as he came into the ER, a pharmacy bag dangling from his hand. Reese''s face was pale and drawn and he caught the quick sh of hurt in her eyes.

    "Where''d you go?" Reese asked quietly.

    "Picked up some medicine," he replied, holding up the bag. His gaze drifted to the bandage on her wrist, noticing the angry red edges and the faint yellow fluid.

    "Come on. Let him rest in here. I''ll clean you up outside," Sebastian said.

    That''s when Reese realized she''d been ignoring her own injury. She nced down and saw the mess at her wrist. It looked bad.

    She nodded. "Okay."

    As they stepped out, Annie looked up at Matthew. She''d caught him staring after Reese, longing written all over his face.

    "Daddy, do you have a thing for Aunt Reese?" she whispered.

    Matthew jerked in surprise, his cheeks burning. "What are you talking about, kiddo? Don''t say stuff like that."

    She pouted at him. "But now we''re at the Ratcliff house, she is your sister-inw, right?"

    He tried to sound firm. "You''re too young to worry about grown-up business."

    Annie poked at his chin, unconvinced. She knew she wasn''t just a little kid, no matter what he thought.

    The thing was, she''d seen it with her own eyes. Back at the old house, when Aunt Reese almost got hit by that swing, Daddy ran faster than she''d ever seen, even faster than when he was training with his soldier friends. When Aunt Reese got hurt, Daddy''s worry was written all over his face. It was like he felt her pain even more than his own.

    Honestly, Annie didn''t want Aunt Reese to be her aunt at all. She wanted her to be her mom.

    Outside the ER, Sebastian sat beside Reese, pulling out gauze and antiseptic. He caught her staring back through the ER doors, clearly distracted.

    "Don''t you think you care about them a little too much?" he asked, voice low.

    "Sure, today was Robbie''s fault. But you used to lose your mind if Robbie cried even once. Now you''re so harsh with him, just for Annie?"

    Reese let out a dry, humorlessugh. "Annie remembers my favorite coffee. She rubs my shoulders when I''m tired. She actually cares when I''m hurting."

    She looked away, her voice sharper now. "And what about Robbie? He treats me like a maid, only tries to impress your new girlfriends, and what else? Oh, right-he''s kicked me, tried to hit me with a swing and every time he looks at me, it''s

    nothing but hate."

    Sebastian swallowed hard.

    Everything she said was true. "But that''s just because you two haven''t spent enough time together. If you moved back in, got close him things would change. Or he could live with you if you don''t want toe home."

    "No way." Reese''s answer was instant, cold. "Sebastian, you need to wake up.

    We''re never going back to the way things were."

    She wasn''t going to waste another second on him or Robbie.

    Sebastian''s eyes flickered with desperation. "Then what do you want from me you won''t heves

    another kid, you won''t take care of Robbie, so what are you even after?"

    Reese stared at him, her voice ice. "Sebastian, when you..."

    When you put another woman''s baby inside me, what''s in your mind?

    She never finished. His phone started ringing. She nced down and saw Leslie''s name light up the screen. Her lips twisted in a bitter smile.

    Of course. Leslie.

    Sebastian answered, and Reese could hear the faint sound of a woman crying on

    the other end. His face changed in an instant.

    "I''ll be right there," he said, and hung up.

    He hesitated, looking at Reese''s arm, then back at her. "I¡ª¡±

    Reese justughed, cold and hollow.

    Her heart felt like it was being pricked by a thousand tiny needles, but she didn''t

    say another word. She just turned and walked away.

    She''d stopped hoping Sebastian would ever put her first a long time ago. All she wondered now was what kind of trouble Leslie had cooked up this time to get him running.

 Chapter 136

    Sebastian watched Reese, her profile calm and unreadable, his fingers absently rubbing the edge of his suit sleeve. He swallowed, once, then again, searching for the right words.

    He wanted to tell her he hadn''t meant to leave her alone with her injury, that Leslie was actually in trouble and waiting for him at the police station. But as the words formed, he realized that trying to exin would probably just make things worse between them.

    So, instead, he just said, "I''ll have the driver take you both home."

    He hesitated, then added, his voice softer, almost hopeful, "Think about Robbie again, okay?"

    Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked away, his steps quick and determined.

    When he reached the parking lot, just before he started the car, Sebastian couldn''t help ncing back at the emergency room. Reese sat alone under the soft yellow lights, hunched over as she cleaned up the cut on her wrist. Her small, delicate figure stood out in the sea of people, and something about that sight twisted in his chest.

    He gripped the steering wheel hard, throat tight, then finally pressed the gas. The ck Bentley slipped away from the hospital and disappeared into the night.

    At the police station, Leslie sat curled up on a bench in the corner, her torn jacket draped over her shoulders, the pale blouse underneath stained, her hair a tangled mess across her cheeks. Her eyes were wide and full of fear.

    As soon as she saw Sebastian, she bolted from her seat, wrapping her arms around his waist like she''d been drowning and he was her only anchor. Her voice shook with panic. "Sebastian, why did you take so long? I was so scared. I thought I''d never see you again..."

    He froze, startled by her sudden embrace, his body stiff. He lifted a hand tofort her, but stopped short when his fingers brushed her shoulder. Instead, he gently pushed her away and helped her sit down. His voice was steady but distant. "It''s okay. I''m here now."

    He knelt in front of her. "No more tears, okay? Tell me what happened."

    Leslie could only shake her head, tears streaming down her face, unable to get a full sentence out.

    A female officer nearby handed her some tissues and exined quietly, ¡°She was followed by a group of thugs tonight. It''s an old neighborhood, and the security isn''t great. Luckily, she reacted fast and made it to the street to call us. She''s not hurt-just shaken up."

    Sebastian frowned, worry creasing his brow.

    He''d always thought her old neighborhood was dangerous. He''d suggested moving her somewhere safer after she came back from abroad, but she''d insisted on staying, saying the ce held all her childhood memories. He hadn''t pushed her, but now he wished he had.

    "It''s not safe there. You can''t stay anymore."

    He met Leslie''s eyes, his tone serious but gentle. "You''ll stay at my ce for now. After I sort everything out, I''ll find you a safer apartment."

    Leslie sniffled, but there was a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. "Are you sure I won''t be a bother? Will Ms. Meyer be okay with this?"

    Sebastian paused for a moment at the mention of Reese.

    He''d make sure Reese had somewhere else to stay before asking her to move back.

    "It''s fine. Don''t worry about it."

    He stood up as the police finished their report. "Come on. Let''s get you home. You need to rest."

    When Leslie got up, still a little unsteady, Sebastian took off his jacket and settled it around her shoulders, guiding her out to the car.

    As the Bentley pulled away from the station, Leslie leaned her head against the

    window, watching the city lights blur by as her nerves slowly calmed.

    She turned to look at Sebastian, his focus never leaving the road, and said softly, "Sebastian, once things, With ckoak are settled, I''llrave to go back to headquarters."

    She hesitated, then asked, "When are you and Reese going to try for IVF again?

    I''d really like to see the baby before I leave."

    Sebastian''s grip on the steering

    wheel tightened, knuckles white. I''ve

    already arranged for a surrogate

    overseas. When th? baby''s born,

    you want, the baby can stay with you."

    Leslie''s heart skipped. ¡°Why not ask

    Reese? My blood type and health t''d be better for the

    match hers.be better

    baby And... you and Reese are

    married. Isn''t that how it''s supposed

    to be?"

    Sebastian was silent for a moment, eyes fixed on the headlights ahead. His voice was quiet. ¡°She''s still recovering. It''s not safe for her to get pregnant again so soon."

    The truth was, Reese wanted nothing to do with having another child with him. Pushing the issue would only make things worse between them.

 Chapter 137

    Leslie''s eyes widened. "Sebastian, are you... in love with her?"

    The thought hit her hard, leaving a dull ache in her chest that she couldn''t even describe. It made sense now. Sebastian had promised they''d try IVF with Reese one more time, let Leslie carry his child. But nothing had happened, and he''d never brought it up again.

    Was it because he''d fallen for Reese?

    Sebastian''s hands tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. His

    heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to shake his head.

    "No. I married her. I have to take care of her. Don''t read too much into it."

    But as soon as he said it, his heart pounded even harder.

    Leslie fell silent, her fingers curling into her palms so tightly that she didn''t feel her nails digging in.

    The ck Bentley rolled to a stop in front of the house. Sebastian got out, opened Leslie''s door, and asked the housekeeper to set up a guest room for her.

    He watched Leslie disappear inside, then checked his watch. "I''ve got to go. Get some rest."

    Leslie hesitated in the doorway, looking back at him in surprise. "You''re not staying tonight?"

    Sebastian shook his head. "I''m staying at the old house for now. My grandfather needs me around."

    And honestly, it was still early-he wanted to get to the hospital, see if Reese was still there.

    As his car pulled away and melted into the night, the softness faded from Leslie''s face, reced by a sharp, bitter frustration.

    Sebastian had barely paid attention to hertely, except for work. The distance made her anxious. Tonight, she''d even let that creep follow her, just so Sebastian would worry and let her stay here. She''d pulled it off; she was in his house. But even now, he kept his distance.

    He said he only felt responsible for Reese. Leslie didn''t believe a word of it. Sebastian''s heart was already gone, probably swept away by Reese before he even noticed.

    Now he''d left her again, refusing to stay. What was the point of all the games she yed tonight?

    She didn''t want a baby-she wanted him to care about her.

    She bit her lip hard, anger simmering inside.

    Reese, don''t me me for being ruthless. It''s Sebastian''s fault for falling for you.

    Sebastian sped to the hospital, only

    to find Reese and Matthew were already gone. He drove straight to Reese''s ce city lights shing past as he reyed Leslie''s words in his mind.

    He didn''t want to divorce Reese. Seeing her with Matthew made his skin crawl. When she got hurt, his first instinct was always to protect her.

    Was it just responsibility? Or was it love?

    He mmed the brakes and pulled over, heart racing, body rigid.

    So this was love. He was in love with Reese and he hadn''t seen it until now.

    He started the car again, desperate to see her, to check on her, to finally tell her how he felt.

    But the closer he got, the slower he drove. Just an hour ago, he''d left Reese alone at the hospital for Leslie''s sake.

    He''d paraded Sofia in front of Reese, just to show how unhappy he was in their marriage.

    He''d kept the truth about nting Leslie''s baby inside her, all because he felt he owed Leslie.

    Did he even deserve another chance?

    He pulled over again, hands shaking as he lit a cigarette. Smoke curled around him as he exhaled clinging to the one thing he could still hope for-at least Reese didn''t know the child wasn''t hers. Maybe it wasn''t toote.

    sto

    The Vault''s main hall throbbed with pounding electronic music. The air was heavy

    with alcohol and perfume, but none of it touched the tension in Sebastian''s corner booth.

    He sat there, a cigarette dangling

    between his fingers, eyes distant as he watched the crowd move with the music. The mood around him was so heavy that the waiters instinctively kept their voices dow and hurried past.

    Neal finally spotted him tucked away in the corner and walked over, surprise shing across his face.

    "You hate noisy ces. Why are you out here in the middle of everything?"

    Sebastian didn''t look up. "Where''s the person you were supposed to pick up?"

    He was too wound up. Silence would have driven him crazy tonight. Only the noise and chaos out here could take the edge off, even a little.

    Neal''s smile vanished. He clenched his jaw. "Dead."

 Chapter 138

    Just thinking about it made Neal''s blood pressure spike.

    They''d finally managed to find the guy, but on the way back to Bridger Lake, there was a car ident. The car and the man inside were smashed between two

    trucks, crushed so t you could barely tell what was what.

    Sebastian''s jaw tightened as he stared ahead, the cigarette pinched between his fingers now bent and nearly broken.

    Lately, all he could think about was how to get Reese back.

    She wouldn''t ept his gifts. She''d blocked his number. Every time he tried to use his influence, it only drove her further away.

    He kept circling back to how it all started¡ªthat drink that had been drugged. If he could figure out who did it all those years ago, maybe he could use it as an excuse, just to get Reese to meet with him, even if only for a minute.

    But now Neal was telling him the guy was dead.

    "What happened?" Sebastian asked.

    "Car ident," Neal said, raising his voice to cut through the pounding music. "Cops say it was just bad luck, but I don''t buy it.

    "From the very start, this whole thing has been a mess, like someone''s been working against us the entire time.

    "After we picked him up, everything went wrong. I even brought extra security- three cars in total. Of course, only the car he was riding in got hit."

    Neal leaned closer. "Think about it. Besides me, did you tell anyone else?"

    Sebastian''s eyes went cold.

    He''d only told Reese. But why would Reese sabotage this? If anything, she''d want to know who drugged her more than anyone.

    That just left...

    He nced up at Neal.

    Neal''s expression changed as he caught on. "You think it was me?

    "Yeah, my family wanted you to marry my cousin, but drugging someone? That''s not our style.

    "And I never mentioned this whole search to anyone at home."

    Sebastian leaned back, closing his eyes.

    Neal wasn''t wrong. That kind of dirty trick was beneath their families-only some second-rate family would stoop that low.

    Seven years ago, at his own birthday party, only Dylon had managed to show up, riding the wave of Reese''s new MIT eptance and her connection to the Ratcliff family.

    Sebastian''s eyes snapped open.

    Reese would never do something like that¡ªbut Dylon? That was another story.

    Ever since Reese married Sebastian, Dylon had been cashing in on herst name, squeezing every advantage he could.

    And that day in the hospital, right when Sebastian was telling Reese about the investigation, Dylon had just left the room. Who''s to say he hadnt overheard something important?

    Sebastian used to think Dylon truly cared about Reese, since he raised her after

    all. But now it was obvious. Dylon only saw Reese as a tool.

    Sebastian sat up straighter, leaned over, and spoke low into Neal''s ear. "Dig into Dylon."

    Neal nodded, his face serious. "Give me a few days. I''ll keep it quiet."

    Sebastian wasn''t nning to just sit back and wait. Now that he a

    lead he wasn''t going to waste another second. He stood, grabbed his coat, and started for the door.

    Neal called after him, "Hey, the drinks are already open. Stay for one?"

    "They''re for you," Sebastian said, fixing his cuffs. "I''ve got things to do."

    Neal clicked his tongue, getting up as well. "You get more boring every day, you know that? Seriously, I don''t get what Reese ever saw in you."

    Sebastian paused, shot him a cold look, and walked out without another word. Neither of them noticed the man sitting in the shadows nearby.

    Zach lounged on a sofa, nursing a ss of whiskey. The amber liquid glinted in the light, looking almost dangerous.

    He took a slow sip, Adam''s apple bobbing, corbones sharp under the neon. He''d heard every single word.

    His mind shed back to the Ratcliff estate, to the way Reese had looked at Sebastian and said, "Marrying you was never my choice."

    His heart hammered in his chest.

    Setting his ss aside, he picked up his phone and texted his assistant: "Find out everything about what happened to Reese at Sebastian''s birthday party seven years ago. I

    mean everything."

    If Reese really hadn''t wanted to marry Sebastian, then Zach would risk everything

    to make sure she left him for good.

    Across from him, Tara looked pale as a ghost.

    She hadn''t caught the whole conversation, but it was clear. Sebastian was digging into the past.

    Even though Dylon had silenced the man who drugged Reese years ago, if Sebastian was suspicious now, it was only a matter of time before the Ramos family got dragged in.

    And when that happened, it wouldn''t matter if there was proof or not. The Ratcliffs'' fury was something the Ramos family would never survive.

 Chapter 139

    No way. She couldn''t just sit around and let this all happen. She needed to wreck Reese''s standing in the Ratcliff family before Sebastian found out the truth. She needed Sebastian to hate Reese.

    Tara pulled out her phone, her hands shaking as she typed out a message to Sofia. Ms. Meyer, did you get the proof about Reese''s abortion yet? We can''t drag this out any longer. DeepQuanta Al still needs you to take charge. Every day your name isn''t cleared, thepany loses more.

    Across town, Sofia was curled up on the living room couch, phone gripped tight, her eyes flicking to the door every few seconds.

    Hank had promised he''d get Reese''s medical records. It''d been days-still nothing. Her nerves were shot.

    Just then, the front door finally clicked open.

    Hank stepped inside, shrugging off his coat and handing it to the maid. He looked exhausted.

    ¡°Hank!¡± Sofia jumped up, grabbing a fruit tray and hurrying over to him. She stood on her tiptoes to offer him some grapes. "Here, have some fruit, you look wiped out."

    Hank took a grape from her hand, popped it into his mouth, and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Why aren''t you asleep?"

    "Slept too much during the day," she pouted, trying to look both innocent and pitiful. "I want to go back to work at DeepQuanta. Being stuck at home every day is driving me crazy."

    She hesitated, then nced up at him, hope in her voice. "Did your friend get Reese''s medical records?"

    He smiled at how impatient she was, then pulled a folder out of his briefcase and handed it over.

    "When have I ever let you down?"

    Sofia snatched it up and flipped through the pages so fast her hands shook. When she saw proof Reese had ended the pregnancy herself, she practically bounced on the spot, her eyes sparkling.

    "Thank you, Hank! With this, I can go back to work, and everyone will know it was Reese who didn''t want the baby, not me!"

    Hank watched her celebrate, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

    He''d actually tried reaching out to Reese before, to give her a chance to clear Sofia''s name and fix things with the Ratcliff family. But Reese never replied. She didn''t even show up.

    If she wasn''t willing to y fair, she couldn''t me him for what happened next.

    "That''s all you want?" Hank''s voice turned little cold. "Reese let you take the me and you just want to clear things up? Didn''t you ever thin about getting even?"

    Sofia froze, looking up at him with wide eyes. "What do you mean?"

    Of course she wanted revenge. She wanted to see Reese ruined. But she''d never admit it out loud, not after working so hard all these years to be the perfect sister in Hank''s eyes.

    Hank sighed and gently patted her head. If my little sister stays this innocent,

    she''s going to get eaten alive one day.

    "Reese ruined your reputation. Maybe you don''t care, but it hurt the Meyer family''s name too. I can''t ignore that.

    "Tomorrow I''ll take you to ckOak.

    het

    First, we''lNet everyone at herpany know what she did. "Then we''ll talk to the Ratcliff family and have them clear your name too Sound good?"

    Sofia''s eyes lit up. She nodded so hard her hair bounced. "You''re the best, Hank!"

    This would save her so much trouble. Reese, let''s see you try to get out of this.

    The street was empty and silent, the only sound the crunch of fallen leaves under Sebastian''s shoes as he wandered with his hands in his pockets.

    He kept running over that conversation in his head. If Reese hadn''t drugged him seven years ago, then what had all those years of coldness and humiliation really been about?

    A sharp pain stabbed in his chest.

    Before he even realized it, he was standing outside Reese''s apartment building.

    He looked up. Reese''s balcony was lit with a soft yellow glow, and through the curtains, he could see more than one shadow moving around.

    He couldn''t stop his mind from racing.

    Who would be at Reese''s ce thiste? Matthew? Zach?

    The thought made his hands curl into fists.

    He finally understood what he''d done wrong. But it wasn''t toote. This time, he''d

    protect Reese. He''d apologize. Reese was his, and he wasn''t letting go.

 Chapter 140

    Reese woke upte the next day, sunlight already streaming through her window. By the time she got to ckOak, it was almost noon. As she walked in, she spotted a man standing at the front desk. Something about him caught her attention, so she looked twice.

    The receptionist pointed in her direction, said something to the man, and he turned around.

    Reese''s breath caught in her throat the moment she saw his face.

    She hadn''t seen Hank in years.

    He''d changed so much. The boy she remembered was long gone, reced by a

    man who looked every bit the powerful, polished heir to the Meyer family. His ck suit was perfectly tailored, and he carried himself with the kind of confidence that came from always being in control.

    "Reese. Long time no see."

    Hank''s voice was warm, but Reese turned her gaze away. Suddenly, her feelings were a tangled mess.

    This was the brother she''d rely on as a kid, the one who stood up for her when other children picked on her. Now he felt like a stranger.

    So much had changed. Time had pulled them apart in ways she never expected. Who would have thought things would end up like this?

    "I sent you a message," Hank said, smiling just like he used to. "You never replied, so I had toe find you."

    Reese remembered the message now. She''d been caught up dealing with Robbie''s drama and never got the chance to respond. Then Matthew got hurt because of her, and the de project hit a critical phase. She''d buried herself in work, barely remembering to eat, let alone answer texts.

    Before she could say a word, a familiar voice chimed in behind her.

    "Hank!"

    Sofia breezed over to Hank''s side, looking wless as always, a medical file clutched in her hand. Her eyes sparkled with a hint of smugness when she nced at Reese.

    Reese''s heart sank. She tried to keep her voice steady. "What do you want?"

    Hank frowned, clearly not happy with how distant she sounded. He nodded at Sofia, who handed Reese the file.

    "Take a look," Hank said.

    "Sofia''s been med for your miscarriage for months. The Ratcliff family keeps going after her, and she can''t even go back to work at DeepQuanta.

    "It''s not just her. The Meyer family''s reputation is on the line, too."

    "All I''m asking is that you go to the Ratcliffs and clear things up. Telk them you lost the baby by your own choices that it had nothing to do with Sofia. If you do, I''ll make sure things don''t get any worse for you.''

    Reese stared down at the file, a cold smile tugging at her lips. So that was it. Hank wanted to meet just to stand up for Sofia.

    "You want me to rify what, exactly? I never said Sofia was the reason I lost the baby."

    She looked up, meeting Sofia''s smug look head-on, her tone calm and even.

    "If Sebastian''s upset with Sofia, maybe it''s because she got Robbie to hurt me, locked me in theb, shut off the venttion, and almost killed me."

    "Reese, are you seriously going to im Sebastian knows you had an abortion?" Sofia''s face lost all its color.

    Hank was her real brother. If he found out Sofia had almost killed her, who knew what would happen?

    "Don''t listen to her, Hank!" Sofia burst out, her voice shaking. "She never wanted that baby. Now she wants to me me! She''s jealous I have a better degree, jealous Sebastian was close to me!"

    Hank gave Sofia a reassuring pat on the back, then turned to Reese. Disappointment was written all over his face.

    "I can''t believe you''d go this far, Reese. Lying just to dodge responsibility?"

    Reese almostughed. She couldn''t believe Hank would blindly take Sofia''s side.

    He must have had it way too easy in

    the Meyer family. Easy enough to forget Sofia and her mother were

    the ones who tore their family apart. Easy enough to forget all those promises to always protect her, f? bring her and their mom home where they belonged.

    "Hank, you''d rather believe a mistress'' daughter than your own sister? I guess

    you really have lost your mind."

    Her voice was soft, but the disappointment was clear as she nced at Sofia.

    "If you think I''m making this up, why not ask Sebastian yourself?"

    Sofia went pale, lips pressed tight. She hadn''t forgotten that Sebastian still had the surveince footage from that night.

    She''d gotten careless. She thought that with the medical file, all she had to do was convince Sebastian Reese ended the pregnancy herself. Then Sebastian would turn on Reese, and Reese would be finished in the Meyer family for good.

 Chapter 141

    She''d forgotten everything she''d done to Reese. If Hank ever found out the truth, she''d be in just as much trouble.

    Sofia was about to tell Hank to just let it go. She had the medical records now anyway. She could always figure out another way to let Sebastian know what had really happened. But Hank cut in, his voice sharp.

    "Reese, Sofia''s not some illegitimate child.

    "Grace married Dad ages ago. Sofia is the Meyer family''s real daughter.

    "You let Sofia take the me for so long, and you''ve dragged our family''s name through the mud. You need to make things right."

    "Family''s reputation..."

    Reese muttered those words, then suddenlyughed¡ªa cold, hollow sound full of irony.

    So that was it. To him, her worth as a sister didn''t evene close to the Meyer family''s precious reputation.

    He was protecting Sofia now. Reese had clearly been reced.

    "I''m not clearing her name," Reese said, her smile fading as her eyes turned nk and distant.

    Hank''s face tightened with disappointment. He never thought the sweet, soft little sister he''d known would turn out so stubborn.

    "Alright then," he said, voice hard. "I''ll call Sebastian myself and tell him you got rid of his baby just to frame Sofia."

    "Let''s see if you can still hide behind the Ratcliff family and keep making life hell for Sofia once he knows the truth."

    Reese stood still, watching the tense set of Hank''s jaw. She didn''t feel the slightest bit panicked-only a cold, steady calm.

    "Go ahead," she said.

    She''d wanted to divorce Sebastian for a long time. Whether this came out or not didn''t matter to her anymore.

    Honestly, when Sebastian forced her into surrogacy, he should have realized that if she ever found out, there was no way she''d keep the baby.

    If he wanted to make a scene, she wasn''t afraid to drag the whole ugly surrogacy secret into the open. She wouldn''t be the only one embarrassed.

    Still, her brother used to be the closest person in her life, but now was threatening her for Sofia''s sake. It just made her heart ache, like she''d been picked by a thousand timmeedles.

    The phone screen lit up, Sebastian''s name glowing in the dark. Hank''s finger hovered over the call button.

    Sofia''s heart was pounding so hard she was sure it would burst through her chest. Suddenly, she stepped forward and grabbed Hank''s wrist, her fingers trembling.

    She tried to look calm, though her voice shook a little. "Hank, don''t."

    He frowned, confused. "Why not?"

    "Sebastian really cares about this baby. If he finds out Reese did this, he might take it out on the Meyer family."

    Sofia dropped her eyes, hiding the panic behind hershes and spoke softly. "Didn''t you say Dad wants to rebuild things with the Ratcliff family?

    "If this ruins our partnership and Dad mes you, what then? Just... give her another chance."

    She looked up at him, her eyes red-rimmed, her voice just the right amount of hurt. "I just don''t want the Ratcliffs to keeping after me."

    "Reese is angry right now. Once she calms down, we can talk to her again. As long as she convinces Sebastian to stop making things difficult for me, that''s all I want."

    Hank watched her fragile expression and thought about all the crap Sofia had dealt withtely. The hardness in his face faded a little.

    He was quiet for a moment, thinking it over. Sofia was right. He hadn''t juste to Bridger Lake for her; his dad had heard Ratcliff Global was working with the military again and wanted to get back in business with

    them.

    If this blew up and messed that up, it wasn''t worth it.

    But if he could make it clear to Sebastian that he wasn''t on Reese''s side and keep Ratcliff Global from ming the Meyer family, he''d still tell Sebastian everything.

    He owed Grace for all the years she''d looked out for him. And after all this time, Sofia was family to him; now There was no way he''d det her take the fall for something she didn''t do.  s?novels

    He slid his phone back into his pocket, shooting Reese a cold look. "I''ll give you a

    little more time to figure things out, but only because of Sofia."

    Then he looked at Sofia, his eyes full of worry. "You''re too good, Sofia. That''s why you always end up getting hurt."

 Chapter 142

    "It''s nothing, Hank." Sofia gave him a quick smile. "Let''s go."

    She grabbed his arm and hurried away, but not before tossing a nce over her shoulder at Reese, eyes sparkling with a challenge. As long as Hank was on her side, even if she couldn''t tell Sebastian about Reese''s abortion today, she knew she''d get her chance someday. And when that day came, she''d love to see who''d still stand up for Reese.

    Reese met Sofia''s look with a cold, mocking smile. Sofia was clearly worried that Hank might find out about the things she''d done. She must have forgotten that Sebastian wasn''t the only one with the old security footage. If Reese wanted it, she could get it with no trouble at all. Sofia had no clue that her constant scheming hadpletely drained Reese''s patience.

    Sofia and Hank had just stepped out of ckOak when Sofia, finally able to breathe, nearly bumped into Ling straight toward them. The second L saw Sofia, her resentment red. Sofia always dropped hints about being Sebastian''s girlfriend, and L fell for her lies. She''d quit Clever Cloud with Sofia, hoping to get close to Sebastian. But after Sofia got Reese into trouble and herself kicked out of Ratcliff Global, L was left on the outside with the R&D team. She''d been stuck cleaning up what was left of Sofia''s de project.

    Leaving Clever Cloud also made Dominic irritated. He now wanted nothing to do with her. She was basically stranded. But the man with Sofia looked powerful and out of her league, so L forced a stiff smile. "Hi Sofia.¡±

    Sofia caught the edge in her voice and knew L med her for getting her dragged into the mess. She stepped forward and quietly pulled L aside.

    "L, please don''t me me. That whole situation before was my fault. I never meant for you to get caught up in it."

    Then her tone shifted, sounding sincere. ¡°I just joined DeepQuanta Al. I''ll try to get you a job there, I promise."

    L hesitated. DeepQuanta Al was backed by Iron Financial and the powerful Wiles family. If she could get in, it''d be way better than staying stuck at Ratcliff Global.

    Sofia went on, ¡°But it''s not something I can do right away. DeepQuanta and ckOak are fiercepetitors right now, and the Ratcliffs have it out for me after everything. I need to settle in at DeepQuanta first."

    Truthfully, Sofia just wanted to keep L calm and make sure she didn''t say anything reckless in front of Hank. But to L, the messagended differently.

    She thought about the mysterious person who''d been contacting hertely, promising that if she leaked some de R&D data, ckOak would take a major hit. She''d already gathered a lot, but had been on the fence Now after hearing Sofia''s words and thinking about her own dead end, L''s eyes hardened with resolve.

    She looked at Sofia and managed a small smile. "Don''t worry, Sofia. Something big''s about to happen at cka I I bet you''ll find your ce

    at DeepQuanta sooner than you think."

    "When you do, don''t forget about me."

    Sofia didn''t catch the meaning behind L''s words. She just smiled back. "Of course not. I won''t forget you."

    When L walked into ckOak, Sofia hurried back to Hank. He was waiting for her, watching with a kind of curious, searching look that made her heart skip. She quickly exined,

    "She''s my mentor from back at the research institute. We both joined Ratcliff Global, but because of me, she got sent to ckOak."

    Seeing how anxious she seemed, Hank figured she was just worried about L His brow furrowed and he thought it was probably best to talk things over with Sebastian soon He pulled out his phone, quickly texting his assistant to set up a meeting with Sebastian that afternoon.

    When he looked up, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure passing by. Hank

    turned for a better look.

    "What are you looking at, Hank?"

    Sofia followed his gaze but only saw Matthew''s back.

    "Nothing," Hank said, shaking his head.

    That guy was supposed to be overseas right now. What was he doing in Bridger

    Lake? Maybe Hank was just seeing things.

 Chapter 143

    Reese watched Sofia and herpanion disappear down the hallway, her eyes narrowing. She pulled out her phone, ready to call security and ask them to pull the surveince footage.

    Before she could even dial, arge hand appeared behind her, long fingers effortlessly slipping the phone from her grasp.

    She spun around and found herself face to face with Matthew.

    He pressed the power button, locking her phone before cing it gently back in her palm. His eyes met hers, calm and certain. ¡°Let me handle this."

    Reese blinked, caught off guard. "You know what I was about to do?"

    A slow, knowing smile yed at the corners of Matthew''s mouth. "People always say a lion never looks back when it''s bitten by a dog. But honestly? I think the real fool is the one who gets bitten and doesn''t bite back."

    He''de in just as Sofia left with another man. He didn''t need an exnation¡ª he could already guess Sofia was up to something.

    "If someone tries to mess with you, you push back," he said quietly. "Doesn''t matter who she is or where she''s from. She''ll only stop if you show her you''re not someone to mess with."

    Reese felt something stir in her chest, a weight sinking a little deeper.

    Her whole life-growing up in the Ramos family''s house, then marrying into the Ratcliffs where she was always the outsider-she''d learned to keep her head down. She''d always taken on more, stayed quiet, put up with things just to keep everyone else happy.

    This was the first time she''d even thought of fighting back, of gathering evidence and standing up to Sofia.

    She always assumed someone would tell her she was making things worse or being petty.

    But Matthew was the first person who''d ever told her it was okay to fight back when she was wronged.

    She found herself really looking at him for the first time. His eyes were dark and memorizing, and she could see her own reflection in them, clear as day.

    Matthew''s hand brushed over her hair, so gently she barely felt it. His voice was soft, almost a whisper. "Reese, you can trust me a little more."

    Trust him a little more?

    She let his words tumble around in her mind, wondering what he really meant.

    But Matthew was already moving

    ahead pulling out his own phone

    and calling his assistant. He spoke quietly, asking them to check the day''s surveince footage.

    When he finished, he turned back to her. "This way, no one gets suspicious."

    "I don''t want any more surprises. I won''t let anyone hurt you again. So let me take care of it."

    His gaze was so intense that Reese felt her heart stutter. She looked away, trying

    to gather herself, and cleared her throat. "How''s your injury?"

    "Almost healed," Matthew replied with a small smile. He could see she was embarrassed, but didn''t say anything about it you can''t always do everything by yourself."

    "Send me your work data, then take a couple days off. You need to rest."

    By the time they finished syncing up, the sun was already setting. Reese stepped

    out of theb, and as soon as the signal came back, her phone started buzzing.

    A strange number popped up. At first, she was going to ignore it, but she noticed several missed calls from the same number that afternoon.

    "Hello? Who is this?"

    A deep voice came through, low and a little breathless. "It''s me."

    "I''m waiting for you in the parking lot at ckOak Center. I made a dinner reservation. Let''s celebrate your birthday together."

    Only then did Reese remember-it was her birthday today. She''d been so caught

    up in work she''d forgotten. She never thought Sebastian would remember.

    "Sorry, I''m busy," she replied, her voice soft.

    Even if it was her birthday, she really didn''t want to go.

    "It was Grandpa''s idea," Sebastian said quickly, almost desperate, as if he was afraid she''d hang up. "And I have something to tell you About what happened seven years ago 1 know who was behind it.¡±

    "Reese, I need to see you. Right now."

 Chapter 144

    ckOak Center parking lot.

    Reese stepped out of the elevator and immediately spotted the ck Bentley waiting in the shadows. The back door eased open from inside. Sebastian had one hand resting on the door, his head tilted as he looked up at her.

    "Get in."

    His voice was deep, but he made an effort to keep it gentle.

    As soon as Reese slid into the car, a velvet box with a hint of cedar was offered to her. Inside, a thin ney on the velvet, the pendant a tiny star sparkling quietly.

    "It''s a gift," Sebastian said, watching her closely, almost hopeful. "You didn''t care for thest one. Do you like this?"

    Reese barely nced at the ne before her eyes met his. Her tone was simple and to the point. "Did you find out who drugged me seven years ago?"

    "I did."

    Sebastian''s smile faded. He told the driver to start the car. "I''ll tell you after dinner."

    They ended up at a restaurant perched on a hill at the edge of the city. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city lights glittered against the night. White roses sat on the table, and candlelight flickered, softening Sebastian''s features.

    "Happy birthday," he said.

    The waiter had barely set down their drinks when the deep, mellow sound of a cello drifted over from the corner of the terrace. Reese''s hand froze around her ss. She turned toward the music, spotting a cellist in formal wear, bow gliding across the strings, filling the night with gentle melody.

    She looked back at Sebastian, her eyes cold, a hint of sarcasm there.

    They had been married for 7 years, and not once had Sebastian celebrated her birthday. She''d always noticed. He just never cared. Now, with divorce hanging between them, what was thist-minute show?

    "I hired the principal cellist from the symphony," Sebastian said. "Didn''t know if you''d like it." His voice was even softer than the cello. "If it''s too much, I can ask him to stop."

    Reese shook her head. "No, it''s fine."

    And it was, in a way. She could see he''d put in the effort.

    But she knew, no matter what Sebastian did tonight, it wasn''t going to move her. Not anymore.

    The waiter brought out their food, course after course. With each one, Reese''s expression grew a little more distant.

    "Try this," Sebastian said, sliding a te of cod in her direction. The fork he held was still dripping with sauce, and e e looked almost awkward as

    he tried to please her.

    Reese pushed the te back. "Sebastian, I don''t like seafood."

    Just like that time at his family''s old house, when a shrimp ended up in her bowl without warning.

    For all she''d learned about him, Sebastian still knew almost nothing about her.

    "So, what do you like?" he asked. "I can have them make something else."

    Reese shook her head. "Don''t bother."

    She picked through the few things she could eat.

    The cello music faded away, and quiet settled over the terrace, broken only by the soft crackle of candle mes.

    Reese set her napkin down. "I''ve finished dinner. Are you going to tell me who drugged me?"

    Sebastian''s eyes darkened for a second, but he didn''t answer right away. ¡°Let''s go somewhere. When we get there, I''ll tell you."

    She gave him a cool look, weighing her options, wondering if she should just leave.

    Sebastian seemed to sense it. His voice turned sincere, almost pleading. ¡°I mean

    it."

    He didn''t let the driver follow. Instead, he drove her himself, winding up the mountain to the observatory on the far side.

    The ce had clearly been cleared

    out for them. Staff stood at a

    distance, but there were no other

    visitors. Above them, the

    dome screen it up, massive

    stars spilling

    across the darkness in a

    breathtaking disy.

    Reese stopped under the screen, looking up. She''d seen this ce on social media, always wanted to visit, and shed even mentioned it to Sebastian once. Back then, He''d barely responded. She''d assumed he''d forgotten. Apparently, he hadn''t.

    But what did it matter?

    She''d lost interest in this ce a long time ago, just like she''d lost faith in their broken marriage.

    "Can you tell me now?" she asked, her voice steady. All she wanted was the truth about that night.

    Sebastian was quiet for a moment, then stepped beside her. "You once said you wanted to see the Orion Neb."

 Chapter 145

    He hit the remote and the Mindwave disy drifted across the screen before stopping on a swirl of zing red neb. "The weather''s perfect tonight. You can see everything so clearly."

    Reese nced at the screen, then looked around. Under the ss dome, her favourite white campan flowers were arranged everywhere. Soft piano music yed in the background, and even the cushions in the lounge were the same linen she used to have at home.

    Too bad all of this was Sebastian''s taste, not hers.

    "Sebastian, you really don''t have to do all this." Her voice was gentle butplicated. ¡°No matter how much thought you put into the decorations, it just shows how little you actually know me. Doesn''t it?¡±

    Sebastian faltered, feeling the distance in her eyes. He couldn''t argue-she was right. After all these years, he''d barely paid attention, didn''t even know what she liked. The more he tried, the more off he was.

    "Reese, I know I messed up. But can you give me a little more time? Let me really get to know you. Give me a chance to be the person who stays by your side."

    He was lucky they hadn''t be total strangers. Maybe he still had a shot to fix things.

    Reese stared at him, sighed so quietly he almost missed it, and turned away.

    No one''s supposed to stand still and wait for someone else.

    She''d given him seven years. He''d wasted every one.

    Now she was tired. She didn''t want to spend another second hoping he''d finally turn around, but the moment she let go, here he was, clinging on.

    When she started to leave, Sebastian panicked and grabbed her wrist. "I''ll tell you who drugged you. Just... stay with me tonight, okay?"

    Reese tilted her head and studied him for a long moment. Finally, she answered, "Okay."

    Trading one night to find out who ruined her life seemed more than fair.

    Sebastian looked relieved, a small smile breaking through as he licked his dry lips. "It was Dylon."

    "A while back, Neal found the guy who did it, but on his way to Bridger Lake, he got in a car ident. He didn''t make it."

    Reese''s heart dropped. "An ident?"

    "Doesn''t seem like it."

    Sebastian''s expression turned cold. "Neal checked, there were way too many ''idents'' on that road. It felt like someone set it up."

    "I think it was Dylon."

    Heid out all his doubts, looking her in the eyes.

    "Dylon?" Reese''s eyes widened.

    She''d known Dylon tried to short Ramos Corporation to get in Sebastian''s good graces, but she always thought he was just blinded by power. She ever realized het

    nned to use her from the start.

    Suddenly, she saw Tara''s bright smile, arms linked with Zach, and felt ice spread through her veins.

    No, maybe it wasn''t just about using her...

    Dylon drugged Sebastian, forced her to marry him, made her leave Zach, kept secret the money she''d given Zach so he''d hate her.

    He knew she couldn''t stand to see Ramos Corporation fall apart, so he leaned on the Ratcliffs to rebuild it while pushing Tara and Zach together, letting Tara get her wish, and tying himself to the Wiles family.

    It was all calcted.

    So Dylon''s attack on Ramos Corporation wasn''t just to please Sebastian. It was

    all part of a n. That day was just the opening move.

    Reese shut her eyes, everything spinning, and she swayed on her feet.

    Sebastian caught her, worry in his voice. "I didn''t want to tell you before-I was afraid it would ruin tonight."

    He hadn''t expected her to care this much.

    Now he almost regretted luring her here with the promise of answers.

    Reese steadied herself, stepping back to put some distance between them, but Sebastian held onto her and led her outside.

    "Don''t stress about it," he said. "I''ll get to the bottom of this. I promise I won''t let you get hurt for nothing."

    On the terrace, a row of telescopes faced the sky. Sebastian set one up and motioned for her to look.

    "You can see Saturn''s rings tonight."

    He stood behind her, voice warm and close, arms ready to keep her from bumping into the equipment.

    Reese bent to the eyepiece, holding

    her breath as Saturn''s rings came into focus-dazzling, sharp, and so beautiful they made her forget everything else for a moment.

 Chapter 146

    Sebastian watched as her eyes widened, a hint of surprise lighting up her face. He couldn''t help the soft smile that yed at his lips. For the first time that night, she looked truly alive. It reminded him of the early days of their marriage, back when she''d sometimes let her guard down and show that shy, yful side.

    If only he''d figured out his feelings sooner. Maybe he could have kept that spark in her alive.

    His thoughts drifted back to his meeting with Hank earlier that afternoon. They were supposed to be talking business, but Hank kept bringing up Reese, acting like she was barely family, like he wanted to make sure everyone knew she didn''t matter. The memory made Sebastian clench his jaw.

    If the Meyer family didn''t want Reese, if they wouldn''t protect her, then he would. As long as he was around, nobody was ever going to hurt her again.

    Noticing Reese licking her lips, Sebastian guessed she was probably thirsty. "I''ll go grab you something to drink," he said, his voice gentle.

    He reached out and ruffled her hair with a tenderness he didn''t bother to hide, then turned and made his way downstairs to the convenience store. On his way through the lounge, he spotted a linen cushion, dusted it off, and grabbed it for her. Just thinking about her sitting morefortably made his steps lighter. Reese''s eyes lingered on his retreating figure, her expression unreadable. It''s caught somewhere between conflicted and resigned.

    Everything Sebastian had done tonight was so careful, so deliberate, like he was trying to win her back. She didn''t doubt that he was sincere right now.

    But she hadn''t forgotten the pain he''d caused her before. Those memories didn''t just disappear.

    And then there was Leslie, always between them, a shadow she couldn''t ignore. For all she knew, Sebastian could hurt her again for Leslie''s sake.

    Whatever. Once Mr. Ratcliff passed away, she''d file for divorce again. Until then, he could y the good husband all he wanted, as long as he didn''t mess up her life any more than he already had.

    Her phone started buzzing. Reese nced at the caller ID, hesitated for a second, then picked up.

    Hank''s voice came through, blunt as ever. "Reese, have you thought about what I said earlier?"

    Reese frowned. She knew exactly what he was talking about¡ªhe wanted her to defend Sofia in front of Sebastian.

    "There''s nothing to think about. I don''t owe Sofia anything. Do whatever you want," she said, then hung up.

    Hank stared at his phone, teeth gritted. "Fine, Reese. If you don''t listen to me, you won''t like what happens next."

    He thought about his conversation with Sebastian earlier. Sebastian had barely reacted when Reese''s name? came up, like he didn''t care about her or her connection to the Meyer family.

    Smirking, Hank picked up Reese''s medical file from his desk. He snapped a picture of the abortion record and sent it off.

    Sebastian was justing back with a hot drink when his phone chimed. He nced at the screen, opened the message, and instantly went still. His breath caught.

    He tapped on the image. The medical record was clear as day: "Elective termination of pregnancy." The date. Her signature. Every word stabbed at him.

    He just stood there, gripping his phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.

    All that warmth he''d felt earlier-the

    hope, the careful ns, the softness

    in his chest vanished in a

    heartbeat All that was left was tbeat

    storm of confusion, disbelief and

    anger.

    He looked up and saw Reese by the telescope, her face gentle in the low light, a

    small smile on her lips.

    But to Sebastian, all of it felt like a cruel joke.

    He''d cleared his whole schedule, nned every detail of tonight, humbled himself and promised he''d protect her. He thought, maybe just maybe he could save their marriage. He''d believed she still cared,even just a little.

    But the truth was, he''d been lying to himself all along.

    She hadn''t just ended their child''s life. She''d hidden it from him, watching him y the fool with his grand gestures and empty hope.

    His phone screen still glowed in his hand, the medical file burning into his mind.

    Standing in the shadows, Sebastian stared at the woman who had once filled him with hope but now left him numb. Thest bit of warmth left his eyes.

    Reese looked into the telescope, catching the bright streaks of a meteor shower cutting through the night sky. The colors were so dazzling they brought a sting to her eyes.

    It was so beautiful she wanted to call Sebastian over to see it with her. She turned instinctively, but stopped when she saw him standing in the darkness, his face unreadable.

 Chapter 147

    "What''s going on?"

    Reese sounded a little confused.

    Sebastian looked up at her. There was a soft, almost fragile smile on her lips-so pure it made his chest clench, like he was being crushed from the inside.

    He wanted to ask her why she''d kept it from him, why she''d gone behind his back and ended the pregnancy. Did she really think their whole marriage was a mistake from the start? The question was right there, burning on his tongue, but before he could say anything, his phone started ringing, loud and urgent.

    Sebastian took a deep breath, forced down everything he was feeling, and picked up.

    Jane''s voice burst through the line, frantic. "Sebastian, where are you? Your grandfather just got a call and suddenly couldn''t breathe. We''re already at the hospital. Please, get here now!"

    "I''ming," he said, and hung up.

    He turned to Reese, his eyes cold. ¡°Grandpa''s in the hospital. I have to go."

    Panic flickered across Reese''s face. Did Hank go straight to Grandpa about the pregnancy?

    "I''lle with you," she offered.

    "No." Sebastian shook his head.

    His mind was a mess, and having Reese there would only make things worse.

    "I''ll have the driver take you home."

    When Sebastian got to the ER, Jane was sitting on a bench, eyes red and swollen. As soon as she saw him, she jumped up and grabbed his arm.

    ¡°Sebastian, Grandpa''s still inside. The doctor says... it''s not looking good."

    He squeezed her hand. "It''s okay, Mom. I''m here."

    "Do you know who called him?" he asked gently.

    Jane thought for a second. "It must have been his assistant."

    "He got a call earlier. I don''t know what was said, but he got really angry. Then he told his assistant to check on something. When they called back, he got even more upset. That''s when he started having trouble breathing.¡±

    Sebastian felt his stomach drop. Maybe Hank hadn''t just told him about Reese, maybe he''d told Grandpa, too. Maybe Grandpa found out what Reese did and it was just too much.

    He tried to calm Jane, steadying her

    as best he could, but his own thoughts were racing He needed

    minute alone, maybe a cigarette, just to figure out what to do next. He needed to shield Reese from

    Grandpa''s anger when he woke up.

    C¨®ntent

    He headed toward the stairwell, hoping for a breather, when he saw someone he recognized.

    Leslie was there, holding a bag of medicine, her face full of worry.

    Sebastian frowned. "Are you sick?"

    His voice was t and distant, all his emotions buried under the weight of everything else.

    Leslie stepped closer, her tone soft. "Yeah, my stomach''s been acting up. I was getting my prescription when I heard a nurse say Mr. Ratcliff was admitted, so I came over to check on you."

    She looked up at him, searching his face for even a hint of the old care he used to show her.

    But Sebastian just shook his head. "If you''re not feeling well, you should go home and rest."

    "My grandfather has me, and the doctors. You don''t need to worry."

    Before Leslie could say anything more, a nurse rushed over, looking serious, and handed them a clipboard. "Are you Mr. Ratcliff''s family?"

    "Your grandfather doesn''t have much time left. Maybe three days, at most. If you have anything to say, you should say it soon."

    Jane''s knees nearly buckled. She clung to Sebastian''s sleeve, sobbing. "What are we going to do? What now?"

    Sebastian just stared at the critical condition notice, stunned, memories crashing through his head-Grandpa teaching him to ride a bike, bike, holding his hand, guiding him through every stage of life, always there, always steady.

    But underneath all that was a darker truth. Sebastian knew better than anyone that the only reason he and Reese were still married was because Grandpa had begged her.

    If Grandpa was really dying... what would happen to him and Reese?

    The thought hit Sebastian like a punch to the gut. He squeezed his eyes shut, his brow furrowed tight, as dread and uncertainty closed in around him.

 Chapter 148

    Leslie stood frozen, watching Sebastian disappear around the corner. He didn''t look back. Not even once.

    The soft, sickly look she''d worn only moments before slipped away, leaving her face cold and her eyes burning with resentment.

    Why was Sebastian treating her like this? Was it because of Reese? Had things gotten so bad that he was now avoiding her just to keep things clean for Reese''s sake?

    Leslie pulled out her phone and quickly texted a number she used often but never saved: [Handle it as soon as possible.] She deleted the message, pulled her coat tighter, and walked out of the hospital. The bitterness in her heart seemed to trail behind her with every step.

    Reese barely slept that night. She tossed and turned, worry about the old man''s condition gnawing at her.

    She wasn''t afraid he''d me her for ending the pregnancy on her own. What really scared her was the idea of him asking why, and her having to tell him that Sebastian wanted her to be a surrogate. The thought of that conversation, of making him even angrier, was too much.

    Whatever had existed between her and the old man was over, but Reese couldn''t bring herself to wish anything bad on him. No matter what, she couldn''t hope for something terrible to happen to someone just because he was old.

    Just as the sky started getting light, Reese finally got the news: Mr. Ratcliff was out of danger. The relief was instant. The tension that had kept her up all night finally let go, and she drifted off to sleep.

    When she finally woke up, her head felt heavy and foggy from theck of sleep. She dragged herself to ckOak. As soon as she stepped into the engineering department, she saw L slipping out of theb that she shared with Matthew.

    L''s steps faltered for just a second when she spotted Reese. A stiff, unnatural smile flickered across her face.

    Reese didn''t expect any good intentions from L. She gave her a quick Ice- over, one eyebrow raised, half-smiling, half-daring.

    She wasn''t the timid housewife everyone used to walk all over anymore. There was a quiet confidence about her now, something that made people think twice before messing with her.

    L met Reese''s gaze but quickly looked away, rushing to exin herself. "I was looking for Matthew to go over today''s work, but he wasn''t here, so I was just leaving."

    Reese''s eyes narrowed just a bit. She caught every trace of panic in L''s eyes, then nced into theb.

    "Alright. I''ll let Matthew know you were looking for him when I see him."

    L let out a barely hidden sigh of relief and hurried off to her own office.

    Reese watched her go, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. She walked into theb.

    Theputer screen was still on. The screensaver hadn''t even popped up yet, and the mouse was clearly out of ce.

    "What are you looking at?"

    Matthew''s voice came from the door. He wore a dark shirt, sleeves rolled up, his forearms lean and strong.

    Reese''s eyes lit up. "I think I know who''s been trying to hack into our system." Matthew''s eyes shed in understanding, and a small smile yed on his lips. He crossed the room, resting his arm across the back of Reese''s chair in a way that was familiar, protective, and just a little too close for a normal coworker.

    Reese nced back at his hand, caught off guard by how natural the gesture felt. She started to say something, but Matthew spoke first.

    "I think I know who''s behind it too."

    He looked down at her, eyes narrowed, dark and steady, seeing only her. "Let''s see if we''re thinking the same thing. Want to say the name together?"

    "L."

    "L."

    Reese broke into augh. With Matthew, things always felt lighter, easier. She''d never met anyone who just got her like he did.

    "Looks like we''re on the same wavelength."

    Matthew leaned against the desk, rxed and confident. "All those

    earlier hacks came from internal IPs.

    Someone spent a lot of time,

    covering their tracks, but

    I never had

    anything concrete

    "I checked out everyone in the department. L was the most suspicious.

    "So today, I left the door open on purpose. Caught her on the security cameras going in."

    With the mole finally identified, Reese felt some relief, but something still felt off.

    She thought for a moment. "Honestly, L''s got the least to gain by leaking info about de."

    After what happened with Sofia, L had been pushed to the sidelines at Ratcliff Global. Wer only chance to get back in good standing was f?r the de project to seed.

    "Sharing secrets would only hurt her. Unless she''s working for someone else."

    Matthew met her eyes, and in that second, they both knew who she meant. "Leslie."

    Matthew nodded, his voice turning serious. "I''ve been suspicious of her for a while. Every time there''s a breach, Leslie just happens to be at ckOak."

    "I didn''t confront L right away because I wanted to see who she was really working for. Plus, all the files she managed to copy were ones d already cleaned up. She never got anywhere near the vital information."

 Chapter 149

    Matthew stood there, calm and self-assured, and Reese felt her heart skip a beat.

    They were so close she could catch the faint scent on him. It was clean, fresh- nothing like the cologne Sebastian wore.

    "By the way, you managed to boost de''s efficiency by twelve percent over projections. That means it can do more on the field, cover more area.

    "I submitted the report yesterday. The higher-ups already approved amendation, but it''s still confidential. Your name can''t be made public yet.

    "But hey, we can still celebrate you within the team."

    He''d just stepped out earlier to talk to n about it.

    Reese blinked, caught off guard.

    She''d pulled those all-nighters just to fine-tune de''s data, not expecting anything in return. She never thought Matthew would remember that, let alone stand up for her.

    "Come on. n''s waiting for you in his office."

    n''s recognition was low-key, just a few words of praise.

    But news always had a way of spreading. By the time L heard about it, she was practically seething.

    In L''s mind, Reese had only gotten into the development team because of Sofia''s mistake. She''s nothing more than a lucky assistant who happened to be in the right ce at the right time. Now, somehow, Reese''s name was at the top of the list-even ahead of Matthew, who was the team lead.

    If things kept going this way, how was L ever supposed to get noticed?

    Fuming, she pulled a sh drive from her pocket and plugged it into herputer.

    Just as the workday was ending, Reese got two calls-one letting her know that Mr. Ratcliff had woken up, and another with worse news: the old man was fading fast.

    No matter what had happened, Reese felt she owed him an exnation about the baby. She decided to go to the hospital.

    Downstairs, she ran into Matthew, who had just picked Annie up from school. When Annie heard her great-grandfather was so sick, she insisted oning along.

    The three of them arrived at the hospital and had just stepped out of the car when Matthew''s phone rang. Whatever he heard made him tense. He motioned for Reese to take Annie upstairs first.

    Reese could tell he had things to handle, so she took Annie''s hand and headed to the elevator. When they reached Mr. Ratcliff''s room, Jane was just stepping out.

    Jane looked as put-together as ever, but the exhaustion on her face was obvious. She hadn''t slept since the old man''s copse.

    As soon as Jane spotted Reese with Annie, her face darkened, her eyes full of

    scorn.

    "What are you doing here?"

    "We came to see Grandpa."

    Reese could feel Jane''s hostility, but she didn''t want to argue. She tried to look into the room, but Jane shifted to block her, her tone sharp and cold.

    "You''ve got a lot of nerve showing up.

    "Don''t you get it? He copsed because you went behind everyone''s backs and got rid of the baby. The shock almost killed him!

    "So what, you''re here now to check if he''s dead yet so you can grab your share of the inheritance?"

    ?

    Truth was Jane had no idea what really caused the copse. But after Sebastian showed up at the hospitalst night, he told Jane aboutthe abortion, and it was all Reese''s fault.

    Jane had always thought Reese wasn''t good enough for Sebastian. Now, after

    learning about the abortion, Jane''s contempt was on full disy.

    Reese''s brow furrowed. She''d suspectedst night that Hank

    might have gone behind Sebastian''s back and told Mr. Ratcliff everything, but she hadn''t thought he''d actually dot.

    She was about to speak when Annie pulled her hand away and stared defiantly at Jane.

    "That''s not true! Great-grandpa got sick because he''s old, not because of Auntie. This has nothing to do with her!"

    Annie never liked Jane after Jane defended Robbie when he hurt Matthew. Hearing Jane me everything on Reese, she had to stand up for her.

    "And anyway, Auntie doesn''t care about the inheritance."

    Jane shot Annie a re. "Who asked you to talk while the adults are speaking?"

    Her gaze was icy as she looked Annie up and down, her words turning even nastier.

    "You are just a brat with no mother to teach her manners. What makes you think you can meddle in the

    Ratcliff family''s business? What you think you get a cut of the inheritance too?"

    Jane didn''t get to finish. Reese''s voice rang out, loud and furious.

    ¡°Jane, that''s enough. Watch your mouth."

    She pulled Annie into her arms, her eyes glinting with anger.

    Jane had always thrown insults her way, and Reese had always swallowed it for

    the sake of family peace, for Sebastian''s sake.

 Chapter 150

    Today, Jane actually picked on a kid. That crossed a whole new line.

    Besides, Reese had already made up her mind about divorcing Sebastian. At this point, Jane was just a stranger to her.

    "Oh, I''m the one who''s out of line now?"

    All these years, Reese had always gone easy on Jane, and that had only spoiled her, making her even more reckless. Now, for the first time, Reese pushed back, and Jane looked like she''d been struck by lightning. She stormed forward, jabbing a finger right at Reese''s face.

    "Everyone knows you''re the real bitch here, Reese! Back then, you drugged Sebastian, slept with him, and forced your way into my family. Now, with the old man behind you, you think you can do whatever you want. The second Sebastian gets close to another woman, you get rid of the baby and threaten him with divorce. Now that the old man''s in the hospital over all this, you show up pretending you care. Afraid you''ll lose your shield if he''s gone, huh?"

    Reese watched Jane''s hysterics and almostughed out loud. A cold smile tugged at her lips.

    "You''re right. I am threatening Sebastian with divorce. And when I do, I''ll make sure to walk away with most of his money. So, Jane, you do the math. If Sebastian loses half his fortune, do you really think you''ll still be the queen bee of your fancy little circle? Think your socialite friends won''tugh behind your back?"

    Jane was trembling with rage. She raised her hand, aiming to p Reese across the face.

    But Reese saw iting a mile away. She pulled Annie behind her and sidestepped neatly. Jane''s hand sliced through nothing but air, and she stumbled forward. Reese managed to dodge the hit, but her knee mmed into the cold metal bench, turning bright red in seconds.

    She hissed in pain.

    "No!" Annie cried out, her little face confused and scared.

    To Annie, it just looked like Jane was bullying Reese and had pushed her into the bench. Tears spilled down her cheeks instantly. "Don''t bully her!"

    "Reese!"

    Just then, Matthew hurried out of the elevator. The second he saw Reese''s swollen knee and Annie''s tear-stained face, his expression darkened.

    He stepped in front of Reese and Annie, shielding them both with his body as he red at Jane. His voice was so cold it could''ve frozen the whole hallway.

    ¡°Jane, Sebastian''s father is lying in that hospital room, and you''re out here hurting Reese? Have you lost your mind?"

    Jane shrank back a little, intimidated by Matthew''s fury, but she still tried to hold her ground.

    "Me? I''m the one out of line?"

    Her gaze bounced between Matthew and Reese. Suddenly, something seemed to click, and her face went red.

    "Oh, I get it now. That''s why you got rid of Sebastian''s baby and keep threatening him with divorce. You''ve been sneaking around with this bastard the whole time, haven''t you? Can''t wait to dump Sebastian and shack up with him?"

    Matthew''s jaw tightened. His fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white. He was

    about to bite back, but Reese stepped forward, brushing his arm aside as she stared Jane down.

    "Jane, if you keep spreading rumors like that, I''ll call the police. I didn''t even know Matthew when I made that decision."

    "Do you want to know why I did it? It''s because Sebastian-"

    "For me? Because of what?"

    Sebastian''s voice cut through the tension as he strode out of the elevator,

    catching the tail end of Jane''s usations.

    He''d noticed Reese protecting Matthew''s daughter more than oncetely, and the suspicion twisted in his gut. As he got closer, his eyesnded on Reese''s bruised knee. For a second, something like concern flickered in his eyes, but it vanished as soon as he saw her hand on Matthew''s arm.

    So it was true. Reese had fallen for Matthew, and that''s why she''d gotten rid of

    their child and wanted a divorce?

    Sebastian let out a bitterugh, his voice cold and empty.

    "So, Reese, you''re saying you got rid of our baby because of me?

    "My father always treated you well, and now you''re out here, right outside his

    hospital room, saying all this. Don''t you feel even a little guilty?"

    Reese looked him in the eye. Her knee throbbed, but the chill in her heart hurt even more.

    "Why should I feel guilty?"

    "Sebastian, don''t you want to know why I really did it?"

    Why? He thought he already knew. Maybe she was angry he''d ignored her, or jealous when he got close to Sofia or maybe she''d just stopped wanting to have his child. But none of that justified what she''d done-especially not without his

    permission.

    ¡°It doesn''t matter why. The fact is, because of what you did, my grandather fainted

    and still hasn''t woken up."

 Chapter 151

    The doctor''s words kept reying in Sebastian''s mind. The old man''s health was failing, and any day now, any minute, it could all be over. And when that

    happened, what if Reese actually followed through on her threat? What if she left him for good?

    The thought made Sebastian''s eyes go icy cold. He couldn''t let her go. He wouldn''t let her divorce him. No way. Not ever.

    He red at her, voice sharp as ss. "You owe the Ratcliff family, Reese. You don''t get to walk away. You''re staying right here, for this family, for this child. That''s your way to make things right."

    Reese just stared at him, stunned, like she couldn''t believe what she was hearing.

    After everything she''d done, all those years she''d given, he was putting it all on her. Like she was the viin. Like the whole surrogacy nightmare was something she''d chosen.

    She lifted her chin, eyes zing. "Sebastian, I told you already. We''re done.

    "That pregnancy? I ended it. I never wanted it. I never wanted this marriage, either.

    "You''re not tying me to the Ratcliff family anymore. We''re over. I''m leaving, whether you like it or not."

    Her words hit him like a punch to the chest.

    Sebastian stepped closer, grabbed her wrist, hard enough that she winced.

    He was desperate. Scrambling for something, anything, that would make her stay. But all that came out was a bitter, hollowugh.

    "You want a divorce? Go ahead, Reese. Try it. I''ll get the bestwyers in town. Walk out on me, and you''ll leave with nothing. Not a penny."

    Then, just as quickly, his voice softened. He tried to pull her closer, tried to sound gentle.

    "Think about it, Reese. After everything we''ve built together, do you really want to walk away with nothing?

    "Stay with me. My money, my house, everything I have-you can get half of it. "You''re an adult. You know how the world works. Weigh your options."

    He shot a look at Matthew, a challenge flickering in his eyes. "Matthew, you really think you and Reese will get anywhere? She''s my wife. She always will be. We''ll have more kids together. She''s never leaving me. Isn''t that right, Reese?"

    He stared at her, his gaze so dark and intense it sent a chill down her spine. "You only want a divorce because you''re upset about the baby. You think you love Annie, but that''s just you trying to fill the hole.

    "If it''s a child you want, we can try

    again.

    have the''s not enough? We can

    four-as many as you

    want our family''s just getting started.

    "Sebastian, you bastard!"

    Just hearing him talk about kids was enough to make Reese snap.

    Being forced into surrogacy, having her body treated like it was nothing but a container for his child-that was the kind of pain that never went away How could he even ask her to put herself through that again? Who did he think he was?

    She yanked her hand free, ring at him through tears that wouldn''t stop falling.

    "Sebastian, I will never go back to you. And I will never have another child with you."

    She said it slow, clear, every word steady as steel.

    "Stop yelling Do you know where you are? This is a hospital. Keep it down!"

    Two nurses marched over, faces tight with annoyance. A doctor trailed behind them, sighing as he looked over a medical chart.

    "He only has a couple of days left. Instead of being with him, you''re out here fighting? Is this how you treat your family?"

    The doctor''s words hit Reese like a p. Two days left. That was all.

    She wiped her tears away, ignoring

    her swollen eyes, and turned to. Sebastian. Her smile was calm, but .... it held a kind of finality that he

    couldn''t even begin to understand.

    "Sebastian, the only reason I didn''t push for the divorce sooner was out of respect

    for your grandfather''sst days."

    "But he''s leaving us now. And I have nothing left to hold me back."

    She nced at Jane, then back at Sebastian. "I''ve done everything I could for the Ratcliff family. My conscience is clean."

    Right in front of him, she pulled out her phone and dialed George.

    "George, I need you to restart my divorce proceedings. Get all the paperwork and evidence together."

    "I want this divorce. And I want what''s mine."

 Chapter 152

    "Don''t you dare!"

    Before Reese could get another word out, Sebastian''s brow knitted together. He reached out, his slender fingers closing around her wrist, stopping her mid- movement as she held up her phone.

    He stared at the screen, the words "Call in progress" glowing back at him. Panic shed in his eyes. Without a second thought, he hit the button, ending the call.

    "Reese, I''m only going to say this once more. You''re not getting out of this marriage.¡± His eyes locked onto hers. "Unless you''re ready to walk away with nothing."

    His voice was rough, low, and there was no room for argument. But if you listened closely, there was just the faintest tremor.

    Sebastian couldn''t believe it hade to this. That the only thing he had left to hold onto Reese was money.

    Reese stared up at him, her eyes red-rimmed, her voice just as hoarse. ¡°Fine, Sebastian. Let''s see how this ys out."

    She hadn''t told him yet that she already had proof that he''d used her as a surrogate. George had warned her, the Ratcliff family had way too much power in Bridger Lake. If Sebastian found out she had evidence, the family would pull every string they had. They could make the proof disappear or do something even worse. If that happened, splitting the assets in court would be a lost cause for her. Reese wasn''t the type tosh out just to feel better. Not unless she could make it count. Until then, she''d just have to grit her teeth and wait.

    Jane stood off to the side, watching them with sharp, calcting eyes. If Reese really went through with the divorce and it went to court, it wasn''t a given that she''d walk away with nothing. Jane needed to find some proof, anything that made it look like Reese had cheated during the marriage. She was determined¡ª she''d make sure Reese left with as little as possible, maybe even empty-handed.

    Matthew noticed how tight Sebastian''s grip had be, angry red marks blooming on Reese''s wrist. He took a step forward, grabbed Sebastian''s hand, and yanked it away.

    "Let go. You''re hurting her," Matthew said, voice stiff and cold.

    Sebastian shot him a re, ready to snap back, but just then, the hospital room door creaked open. A nurse hurried out, worry written all over her face.

    "Mr. Ratcliff, your grandfather''s awake. He wants to see you."

    Sebastian gave Reese onest look, his expression impossible to read, then turned and walked quickly into the room.

    Jane tried to follow, but the nurse stepped in her way. "I''m sorry, ma''am. He asked to see Mr. Ratcliff alone."

    Jane could only stand there, frustration and worry mixing on her face as she stared at the closed door.

    Inside, the white hospital sheets made old Mr. Ratcliff look even paler than usual. He was propped against his pillow, breathing shallowly, every movement looking like it cost him effort.

    He saw Sebastiane in and moved his dry, cracked lips. His voice was so soft it barely made a sound. "Sebastian..."

    "Grandpa," Sebastian said quietly,

    He couldn''t remember ever seeing his grandfather this weak. When had the man who''d held the Ratcliff family together after his father died started looking so frail?

    Mr. Ratcliff stared at him, eyes cloudy, then suddenly clear. He spoke, each word

    slow and deliberate. "Did you make Reese be a surrogate?"

    He had gotten Hank''s call that night, heard that Reese had lost the baby herself. Oddly enough, he hadn''t bean angry He knew how much that child meant to Reese She wouldn''t have gotten rid of it unless

    something serious was going on. So he''d asked his assistant to look into

    it.

    What he found out was even worse. The baby Reese had carried wasn''t hers at

    all. It was belonged to another woman.

    Mr. Ratcliff had never thought the grandson he''d always been so proud of would do something like this.

    Even after years in business, even after putting profit above everything else, he''d never stooped this tow. He could never imagine forcing someone to be a surrogate, especially behind their back.

    The shock and anger had been too much. That''s why he''d copsed.

    Now, hearing his grandfather''s words, Sebastian went rigid. His grip on the old man''s hand tightened without him even realizing it.

 Chapter 153

    He thought he''d done everything right, that no one would ever find out-not even Reese, the one person who deserved to know. But of course, his grandfather had seen straight through him.

    "I''m asking you. Did you have Reese be your surrogate?"

    Sebastian nodded. "Yes."

    There was a long pause before he added, "I had my reasons. I never meant to keep it from you, Grandpa. It''s just..."

    His words faded. The truth was, he owed Leslie for saving his life. He just wanted to give her somethingsting. As long as Reese never found out, the child would stay with her, would be theirs.

    When Sebastian finally confessed, Mr. Ratcliff closed his eyes, struggling to catch his breath. The silence stretched between them until he managed to ask, "Whose child is it, Sebastian?"

    Sebastian dropped his gaze, refusing to meet his grandfather''s eyes. He couldn''t say the name. Back when he dated Leslie, Mr. Ratcliff had hated her, even told him to break up with her. If he admitted it now, things would only get worse.

    "Speak up!" The old man''s voice shook with anger. He tried to p Sebastian, but his hand was too weak, the gesture falling short.

    "She''s your wife! How could you do something this cruel, this unforgivable?"

    Mr. Ratcliff was breathing hard, his voice rising. "What if she finds out? What if she never forgives you? What will you do then? Won''t you regret it?"

    Sebastian reached for his grandfather''s hand, sitting beside him and quietly trying to calm him down. "Grandpa, as long as you say nothing, Reese won''t ever know."

    Honestly, before all this, Sebastian hadn''t cared whether Reese found out. If she did, so be it. If it meant a messy divorce, he was ready for that too. But now, everything was different. He couldn''t let Reese find out. No matter what, he''d keep this secret. If anyone tried to tell her, he''d make sure they regretted it. Reese was his, and he wasn''t letting her go.

    "Reese is my wife. We''ll have plenty of kids together," he said quietly. "What did was wrong, but I''ll make it up to her if give her as many kids as she wants. She doesn''t need to know about any of this."

    It took a while for Mr. Ratcliff to calm down. He watched Sebastian, seeing the stubbornness he knew all too well. Once Sebastian set his mind to something, no one could stop him. Those two still had a long road ahead.

    With a tired sigh, he closed his eyes. "Sebastian, you''re going to regret this one day. Some mistakes can''t be undone."

    He waved a hand. "Get out. Send Reese in."

    Sebastian opened the door to leave. ¡°Grandpa, please... talk to her for me. I don''t

    want a divorce. I never wanted to hurt her. If this blows up, nobody wins."

    Mr. Ratcliff stared at the ceiling, silent.

    A momentter, Reese walked in.

    The old man looked at her, his eyes suddenly softening. "Reese, I heard

    everything out there. That brat made you upset again, didn''t he?"

    Reese stood by the bed and watched Mr. Ratcliff, frail and tired. Her heart ached.

    "I''m sorry, Grandpa. I didn''t mean to disturb you."

    For the first time, Mr. Ratcliff''s eyes were full of sympathy. He was quiet for a while before finally saying, "Sebastian did you wrong Reese If you wanta divorce, funderstand. F won''t me you.

    "But, can you think about it a little longer? For Robbie''s sake, and for all the years you''ve shared?"

    Reese shook her head. "I''ve already thought it through, Grandpa. I have to end this marriage." There was nothing left between her and Sebastian except secrets, lies, and hurt. There was no way back.

    Mr. Ratcliff saw her red, tear-filled eyes. After a long pause, he asked gently, "Is it because you found out about the surrogacy?"

 Chapter 154

    Reese paused, caught off guard that her grandfather knew about everything. But at this point, there was nothing left to hide-she just nodded.

    "That''s why you ended the pregnancy, isn''t it? No woman could take being yed like that by her own husband."

    With his suspicions confirmed, Mr. Ratcliff let out a long, weary sigh.

    It was obvious to him; Sebastian didn''t want this divorce. He could''ve kept lying, could''ve even tried to threaten Reese to stay, but now, he didn''t have the heart to say another word.

    "Well, since you already know, I won''t try to talk you out of it anymore." He

    paused, turning his gaze to Reese. "But can I ask one thing? Don''t remarry until Sebastian does. Please?"

    "I know it''s selfish. Robbie''s still so little. I don''t want him hurt or feeling left behind."

    The request was a lot. But Reese had never wanted a divorce because she was in love with someone else. She just needed out-out of the Ratcliff family, out of Sebastian''s life.

    All she wanted was freedom. To never be trapped again.

    "I''m not thinking about getting married again right now," she said.

    It wasn''t a yes, but it wasn''t a no. Reese didn''t want to tie herself down to a promise that might haunt herter if she did meet someone she loved.

    Her grandfather understood. This was as much as she could give. He''d asked partly to keep her focused on Robbie, and partly so she wouldn''tpletely cut off the Ratcliffs-so she''d still have someone to rely on if she ever needed help. But the way she answered...

    He realized all he could do now was make sure she was taken care of in his will. It was his way of making up for what she''d gone through.

    He started to say something else, but suddenly Reese''s phone rang.

    She nced at the screen. Her brow furrowed as she picked up. "n, what''s up?"

    "Reese, you need to get to ckOak right now. de''s data just got leaked. It''s serious. The higher-ups are freaking out, and the feds are on their way."

    Reese''s face changed in an instant. "Matthew and I areing back right now." She hung up and looked at her grandfather.

    Mr. Ratcliff could see she was torn. He nodded. "Go on, work''s important. Be careful. You can alwayse see me when you have time."

    "Take care of yourself," she said softly before turning and leaving the room.

    Outside, Matthew was waiting. "Something happened at ckOak. We need to go, now."

    Matthew hadn''t expected L to move so fast. "Alright."

    He scooped Annie up in his arms and hurried with Reese to the elevator.

    Sebastian watched the three of them rushing off, frowning. But with his grandfather still in the hospital room, he couldn''t just leave.

    He walked back in and found Mr.

    Ratcliff propped up against the

    pillows eyes closedly p

    exhausted Sebastian gently pulled

    $110

    the nket up over him.

    "Grandpa, what did you and Reese talk about? Did she change her mind about the divorce?"

    Mr. Ratcliff stared at him, eyesplicated.

    It was clear. Sebastian had fallen for Reese, and he regretted everything he''d done before.

    If Reese really left, Sebastian would be devastated. Maybe he''d even do desperate thing to get her back?

    He didn''t want to see Sebastian in that kind of pain. He definitely didn''t want the

    whole Ratcliff family thrown into chaos over this.

    He decided, right then and there,

    that when he wrote his will, he''d make Reese his god-granddaughter and give her a share of the

    Sebastian and Reese would be like, siblings. Whatever feelings Sebastian had, there''d be no way to act on them, and there''d be no family drama.

    As for now...

    Mr. Ratcliff gave a small nod, his voice weak as he closed his eyes "We talked. Reese said she''d think about it. Give her some timedm tired now need to rest content.

    Sebastian nodded, a faint, rare smile flickering in his eyes.

    Jane, who''d followed Sebastian into the room, heard their conversation. Her face instantly turned dark.

 Chapter 155

    She''d been so sure Reese would push for a divorce. Then she could set Sebastian up with someone better, someone from a good family who could actually help the Ratcliffs.

    But nothing had gone how she nned. Instead, Sebastian had practically begged the old man to talk to Reese for him, and even more shocking, Reese actually agreed to think it over.

    Now things were beyond awkward between her and Reese, and Sebastian was obviously all in for Reese. If this marriage didn''t fall apart, she''d be practically at Reese''s mercy.

    No way. She had to find a way to get Sebastian and Reese divorced, no matter what it took.

    Meanwhile, Reese and Matthew pulled up at ckOak. Matthew went to settle Annie, and Reese headed straight upstairs.

    The second she walked into the development team''s office, she could tell something was off. People were clustered in little groups, sneaking nces at her, their whispers buzzing nonstop.

    "Did you see the forum? de''s core data got leaked!"

    "I saw! It was posted anonymously, but the IP address came from Reese''s officeputer!"

    "You''re kidding. She''s one of the leads. Why would she leak anything?"

    "Who knows? Didn''t the security bureau investigate her before?"

    Reese frowned, not expecting L to move so fast. She and Matthew hadn''t even secured proof of L''s connection to Leslie, and L had already gone and leaked the data.

    Reese turned, ready to find Matthew and figure out what to do next, but L blocked her way.

    "Wow, Reese, you actually showed up at ckOak. If I were you, I''d be halfway out of town already, before the security bureau came for me again."

    L looked her up and down, looking way too pleased with herself. "I just heard n say the bureau''s on their way here right now.

    "You got luckyst time and cleared your name, but this time the evidence is airtight. Let''s see you get out of this one."

    This time b hadn''t bothered faking an P address. She''d

    tampered with the security logs and

    made sure to leak the data from

    Reese''s own office when no or

    was around.

    The evidence was stacked. There was no way Reese could talk her way out of this.

    L felt a surge of satisfaction. The person backing her had promised that if she pulled this off, she could move abroad, or, if she wanted to stay in the country, they''d get her a spot at DeepQuanta.

    She nced around, seeing everyone nodding and shooting Reese looks full of me, and felt more confident than ever.

    Reese stood in the middle of it all, her face calm. "L, you know exactly who''s behind this. Don''t pretend you don''t."

    "What''s that supposed to mean?"

    L''s heart skipped a beat, panic shing in her eyes, but she held her ground. "Reese, are you trying to pin this on me? I don''t even have ess to that data!

    "Everyone knows you started here as an assistant. You always stayedte after everyone else left. Weren''t you just waiting for a chance to steal something?"

    "Yeah, I saw Reese working alone plenty of times after hours," another jealous developer chimed in, sounding a little too eager.

    "Exactly. L''s not even on the core team. How would she get her hands on that data?"

    "Reese, stop trying to frame someone innocent."

    "L, don''t worry. We''ll all back you up. We know you didn''t do this."

    Reese gave a coldugh, about to say something, when a group of men in ck suits walked in, shing their badges.

    "We''re with the National Security Bureau. We''re here to investigate the recent data breach. Please cooperate."

    L''s eyes lit up. She pointed

    straight at Reese, her voice shrill et

    with excitement. "Officers, that''s her Reese! She''s the one who

    leaked the data. Arrest her!

 Chapter 156

    The Homnd Security agents didn''t even spare Reese a nce. They walked straight up to L.

    "L, we received a report that you''re involved in stealing and leaking ssified information. Pleasee with us."

    L''s eyes went wide in shock. She started struggling, her voice rising to a desperate scream. "You''ve got the wrong person! It''s not me! It''s Reese! She''s the one you want!"

    The lead agent''s face didn''t budge. He calmly pulled a stack of printed documents from his briefcase and held them out for her to see.

    "This is the activity log fromst night at 10:17 PM. You used tampering software to alter the R&D department''s security records.

    ¡°And here''s footage from the backup camera in the hallway. It caught you sneaking into Reese''s office."

    The timestamps and details were all clear as day. The camera had caught every move L made.

    Her face turned chalk white. Her fingers shook as she clutched at the edge of her blouse, still trying to defend herself. "This is fake! I don''t even know how to use that kind of software!"

    Reese cut her off, cold and sharp. "Oh, really?"

    Everyone turned to look at Reese. Some were curious, but most just looked confused and wary.

    Reese shared a quick, knowing look with Matthew. Thank God they''d suspected L early on and set everything up in advance.

    She took the tablet from one of the agents, her voice firm and icy. "So what about the messages on your phone, L? The ones with that international number-are those fake, too?"

    Reese tapped the screen, and the messages showed up for everyone to see. [Data sent. When will you arrange for me to leave the country?]

    [Rx. As soon as the job''s done, you''ll get your visa.]

    Even the USB drive L had used to copy the files had the exact same serial number as the one she''d pulled from her own pocket that morning.

    With evidence stacked up so high, the whole office exploded.

    "I can''t believe it really was L! She acted so innocent and tried to pin it all on Reese!"

    "That''s disgusting. She was willing to betray thepany, just to get out of the country? That project is a matter of national security!"

    "No wonder she kept going after Reese-she was scared Reese would ruin her ns!"

    "Reese, I''m sorry! Please, help me!"

    L crumpled to the floor, staring at

    the proof in Reese''s hands. She

    knew there was no way out now,

    sko dung to thest bit of

    hope-Reese''s mercy.

    "It was just a stupid mistake. Reese, you''re respected here! Please, talk to them,

    just this one time. Ask them to let me go!"

    She crawled forward, reaching for Reese''s leg, but Matthew stepped in, blocking her and pushing her away.

    Reese''s voice was ice-cold. "You

    leaked the core data for de, which

    is tied

    Ito national security My Words

    can''t change what you''ve done."

    She looked straight at L, her eyes empty of any sympathy. "You should have

    thought about the consequences before you did any of this."

    She turned to the agents. "Officer, please handle her ording to thew."

    The agents nodded and signaled for L to be taken away.

    As her coworkers whispered and stared, and as Reese''s cold gaze met hers, L felt herst hope shatter. Even after humiliating herself and begging, Reese wasn''t going to help her.

    The thought of prison hit her like a punch. Was her life really over?

    Then she remembered that mysterious contact who had reached out to her before. Her eyes cleared as shetched onto a new n.

    No way. She wasn''t going down alone. That person could still help her; she just needed to get in touch.

    Yes. As long as she could reach them...

    A flicker of confidence returned. L swallowed hard and shed the agents a shaky smile. "Officer, could I use the restroom?

    "Don''t worry, I''m not going to run. You can have someone wait right outside if you want. I just really need to go. I won''t make any trouble."

    The agents exchanged a quick look. It wasn''t an unreasonable request, so two female officers followed L into the bathroom.

    One of them shot her a warning re. "I''d suggest you don''t try anything stupid."

 Chapter 157

    L nodded over and over, her face pale as she tried to convince the two women behind her. They followed her into the restroom and waited outside the stall, leaving L alone inside. She closed the door carefully, her hands shaking, and immediately pulled out her phone.

    Scrolling through her recent calls, she found the number she didn''t save. She pressed call and held her breath.

    A robotic female voice answered, "The number you have dialed is not in service. Please check the number and try again."

    "Not in service? How could it be not in service?" L''s voice trembled. Sweat slid down her temples and she felt cold all over.

    What now? Who else could help her?

    Then, almost desperately, she called Sofia.

    As soon as Sofia picked up and L heard her voice, she hung up right away, then quickly typed a message, her fingers so unsteady she kept missing letters.

    [Sofia, the security bureau says I''m under suspicion for leaking secrets. They''re at ckOak right now, asking questions!]

    [Please, you have to help me. Everything I did was to help DeepQuanta beat ckOak, to help you get established at DeepQuanta!]

    On the other end, Sofia''s face changed the second she saw the texts.

    She was sharp enough to realize L probably wasn''t alone and couldn''t talk. Swallowing her annoyance, Sofia replied right away.

    [Are you out of your mind? When did I ever tell you to do any of this?]

    Sofia couldn''t believe L had actually gone through with it. She''d only ever hinted at things, but L had taken her seriously.

    L stared at Sofia''s reply, all the color draining from her face. Shock shed in her eyes.

    Sofia was clearly trying to wash her hands of this.

    No way. She wasn''t going to let Sofia walk away clean.

    At this point, it was every woman for herself. There was no more pretending, nothing left to lose.

    [Sofia, if you don''t help me, I''ll send our recorded conversations to the authorities. And I''ll tell them Mr. Ratcliff helped you cover up the giarism, too.]

    Sofia read the message and her face twisted, getting uglier by the second.

    L was dragging her down, and if those recordings really existed, Sofia would definitely be questioned. If the giarism scandal got out, her career in the Al world would be over.

    She bit her lip, pacing back and forth in the room, thinking hard. After a long moment, she seemed to make up her mind. She walked out and knocked on the study door.

    Hank was inside, busy with paperwork. When he saw Sofiae in, her eyes red, his expression tightened with worry. "What''s wrong? Why are you so upset?"

    Sofia met Hank''s worried gaze and finally felt a little relief. At least she still had someone on her side.

    "Hank, L... Oh, that''s the girl we ran into outside ckOak. She''s been used of leaking secrets by Reese.

    "She just reached out to me. She says Reese is trying to drag me into this, to get me investigated and ruin me.

    "She also says Reese is working with people from Clever Cloud, faking evidence that I stole her data.

    "Why is Reese doing this to me?" Sofia''s voice cracked as tears streamed down her face. "First she med me for hurting her child, now she''s using me of leaking Secrets and giarism. She''s trying to destroy me."  s?novels

    She choked up, tears making her look even more fragile.

    "Hank, do you think she''s doing this because I''ve gotten close to Mr. Ratcliff?

    "But I only did that for the partnership between the our families."

    Hank''s face darkened. He hadn''t expected Reese to go this far. His tone was low and serious. "Dent worry. I''ll call her. As long as I''m here, I won''t let her hurt you."

    When Reese saw Hank''s name light up her screen, she was sitting with Matthew, sorting through evidence.

    She paused, a bad feeling settling in her stomach. Why was Hank calling her now? After everything that had happened between them since their mother''s death what could he possibly want?

 Chapter 158

    Matthew picked up on her hesitation right away. He reached out, offering to end the call for her. "You don''t have to answer. Or, if you want, I can take care of it."

    But Reese was quicker. She pulled her phone back, shaking her head. "Matt, there are things I''ve got to learn to deal with myself. I don''t want to rely on anyone else anymore. I want to stand on my own."

    Matthew heard the gentle strength in her voice, and something shifted inside him. She was turning down his help, putting up a boundary, insisting she didn''t want to depend on him. But for the first time, she called him Matt, a softer, more intimate name. That had to mean something, didn''t it?

    He shot her a thoughtful look, but Reese was already answering Hank''s call.

    Hank''s voice came through, full of anger. "Reese, why are you using Sofia of leakingpany information?

    "You need to call the Bureau right now and clear Sofia''s name. She had nothing to do with this."

    "That''s not for you or me to decide," Reese replied, her tone calm but steady. "The Bureau will do their own investigation."

    Her heart clenched. She never thought Hank woulde at her so harshly over Sofia, treating her like some viin trying to set Sofia up. The idea was ridiculous. She had never tried to involve Sofia, let alone frame her. She had no clue how Sofia got dragged into this.

    The usation that she set Sofia up? It was just absurd.

    "If she''s innocent, the investigation will prove it," Reese said, and ended the call.

    On the other end, Hank''s expression darkened. He hesitated for a moment, then grabbed his coat. "Let''s go. We''re heading to ckOak to find her."

    To Hank, this wasn''t just about Sofia. He saw this as Reese getting back at him for telling the Ratcliff family about her abortion. If things went south, the Bureau could really take Sofia away for questioning, and he wasn''t going to let that happen.

    Reese seemed to forget she hadn''t gotten her mother''s shares from the Meyer family yet. Half of those shares were his, and if he didn''t agree, she''d never get them.

    Sofia followed Hank out, her nerves melting away as she slipped closer to him, a small smile ying on her lips. She always knew her brother would stand up for her With Hank or her side, Reese couldnt touch her.

    Inside the ckOak R&Db, Reese was locked onto herputer, fingers flying over the keyboard. Lines of code shed by until a set of coordinates popped up on her screen.

    She looked up at the Bureau agents. "I''ve restored L''s call records and tracked her location. A bunch of messages came from Big X''s Bridger Lake office."

    The lead agent nodded. "Alright, we''ll split up. One team will bring L in for questioning, the other will check out Big X for more leads."

    Two agents started to escort a wailing L toward the elevators.

    They barely made it to the hallway before Sofia and Hank rushed in, out of breath.

    When L saw Sofia, she panicked, reaching out like she''d just seen ber lifeline. Sofia, please! Everything I did was for you, so you could keep your spot at DeepQuanta! You can''t just leave me here!"

    Sofia hadn''t expected her to blurt that out in front of the Bureau. She shot L a

    sharp re. "Shut up! Just wait for the investigation."

    With the Bureau agents watching,

    Sofia''s face tightened, but she forced herself to sound calm. "Of

    course help with the investigation. That''s what anyone should do if there''s evidence against me''ll deal with it."

    But inside, Sofia was rattled. She had no idea if L would really hand over those recordings. Her only hope was to get L out of this and keep herself safe.

    She shared a quick look with Hank, then they hurried into theb and found Reese.

    "Reese, L just made a dumb mistake," Sofia pleaded. ¡°She didn''t mean to leak anything. She just panicked. Could you talk to the Bureau and let her go, just this once?"

 Chapter 159

    Reese shot L a cold look, barely able to hide her disbelief. Was L really begging for mercy now? After leaking ssified information? Reese wasn''t the one who got to decide if L deserved forgiveness-not that it mattered.

    Hank, seeing that Reese wasn''t backing down, lost patience fast. "Reese, don''t take it too far. Was it you who set Sofia up for the leak?"

    Reese caught the fire in Hank''s eyes and let a mocking smile slip. Hank always talked a big game about how much he hated her for their mother''s death, acting like he was the world''s most devoted son. Yet here he was, siding with the family''s illegitimate daughter at every turn.

    Did he seriously not remember that Sofia''s mom-the other woman-was the one who tore their family apart and destroyed his own mother''s happiness?

    "I framed her?" Reese''s voice was t. "Alright, then. Tell me. How exactly did I do it? What''s so special about her that I''d bother?"

    Hank shot back, "You''re jealous. You''re terrified she''ll get close to Sebastian and ruin your marriage. You''d even use your own kid to set her up if it keeps her out of your way.

    "And after I told the Ratcliff family about it, you started hating her even more, so you made this whole thing up!

    "Reese, do you remember Mom''s shares in the Meyer family? I decide where those go. If you keep this up, I''ll give everyst share to Sofia instead, just to spite you."

    Thatnded hard. Sofia''s eyes went dark-she never thought Hank would go that far, actually using their mother''s inheritance as a threat. For a second, she wondered which one of them was really his sister.

    Reese couldn''t help it; sheughed, bitter and sharp. "Wow, Hank. You really are clueless.

    "As for the shares, Mom left a will. What''s mine is mine, and I don''t want a single cent of yours.

    "But if you think you can burn through my mom''s money on her, Hank, you''d better believe me when I say I''ll make sure you get nothing."

    Then she jabbed a finger at Sofia, who was still cowering behind Hank.

    Pressing her fingers to her tired eyes, Reese''s voice was steely. "Whether Sofia was involved in the leak isn''t up to you or me. That''s for the National Security Bureau to figure out.

    "If you want to protect her, you''d better have some proof. And if you want me to defend her keep dreaming."

    Hank''s jaw tightened and he red, about to snap back, but Reese didn''t give him the chance.

    "And why are you so sure I''m framing Sofia, anyway? Ever think about the possibility that she''s setting me up?"

    "No way!" Hank shot back without missing a beat. "Why would Sofia do that to you? She has no reason to. You''re the one who killed our mother, isn''t that enough¡ª"

    "I told you had nothing to do with Mom''s death!" Reese''s voice was suddenly sharp She looked nk dead in the eye, every word ice cold. "And you want to know why she wants to hurt me?

    "She wants to marry Sebastian, and she thinks I''m standing in her way."

    The color drained from Sofia''s face.

    Reese''s gaze was like a de. "So she did everything she could to keep me from having the Ratcliff family''s baby She got Robbie to kick me in the stomach, then locked me in theb trying to suffocate me.

    "Good thing I''d already ended the pregnancy, or there would''ve been two deaths that day.

    "Sofia, are you really going to stand there and say you didn''t do any of that?"

    Meanwhile, on the other side of town at Ratcliff Global

    Headquarters, Sebastian was working when his assistant burst in, looking nervous. "Mr. Ratcliff, we just got a message from our staff at ckoak. Hank brought Sofia to the R&D department. They''re cornering Reese right now."

    Sebastian went still, his eyes narrowing. He remembered all too well the stunts Hank had pulled for Sofia before. What kind of mess were they causing this time?

    He didn''t hesitate. He stood up, grabbed his jacket, and on instinct, snatched the USB drive from his drawer, which had the video of Sofia shoving Reese.

    "Get the car ready. We''re going to ckOak."

 Chapter 160

    When Sebastian arrived at ckOak and stepped out of the elevator, he immediately heard people arguing down the hall.

    Through the ss doors, he spotted Sofia huddled behind Hank. Hank was

    ring at Reese, his voice sharp and loud. "Reese, if you''re going to use Sofia

    of something, at least show some proof. What makes you think she''d try to seduce Sebastian?"

    "Not everyone''s as scheming and dishonest as you are," he snapped.

    From Sebastian''s point of view, Hank looked like he was about to poke Reese right in the face, his words cutting and harsh.

    Sebastian''s jaw tightened. He''d never really gotten into the details of Reese''s family before. All he knew was that her childhood had been rough, bouncing from house to house, never really fitting in, and that she''d cut off the Meyer family ages ago.

    He never realized Hank could be this unreasonable-so blind to the truth and so obviously partial to Sofia.

    How many times had Reese been put through this kind of crap?

    Sebastian didn''t want to think about it. The thought made his chest ache, squeezing his heart so tightly he could barely breathe.

    He pushed open the door, his footsteps echoing intentionally, his voice carrying ahead of him.

    "Mr. Meyer, I get that you care about Sofia. But Reese is your sister too. How can you be so one-sided, so unfair?"

    He strode right up and put himself between Reese and Hank, physically blocking Hank from getting any closer. His eyes found Reese''s first.

    She met his gaze, her face calm, then looked away almost immediately.

    She didn''t know why Sebastian was here, but it was obvious from his actions that he was defending her. She could pretty much guess what he was thinking.

    But did it even matter anymore?

    People always regret what they''ve lost. She didn''t want this kind of affection¡ªnot

    now.

    Sebastian felt a sharp pain at the way she avoided his eyes. He turned to Hank, his voice cold as ice. "You took my family''s business and spreadit around which ended up putting my grandpa in the hospital. I haven''t even begun to deal with that. And now you''re harassing my wife?"

    Hank looked startled, frowning at Sebastian. He clearly hadn''t expected Sebastian to take Reese''s side after everything that had happened with the miscarriage.

    At the same time, Sofia went white as a sheet when she saw Sebastian. She remembered the recording he''d caught earlier and started shaking, instinctively shrinking further behind Hank.

    Hank forced a stiff smile at Sofia,

    trying to reassure her, then turned back to Sebastian. "Mr. Ratcliff, you''ve got it wrong. I had no

    intention of getting involved in your private matters But Reese has gone too far this time, constantly using Sofia. I couldn''t just sit back and do nothing."

    Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "What exactly is she using Sofia of?"

    "She med Sofia for her miscarriage, and now she''s saying Sofia leaked confidential information. But she doesn''t have a single piece of evidence."

    Sebastian let out a short, coldugh and was already reaching for the sh drive in his pocket to defend Reese-but someone else spoke up first.

    "If you keeps ndering Reese, I won''t hesitate to let him experience ckOak Legal''s work motto.

    "At ckOak, we don''t keep ckers around."

    Everyone turned to see Matthew, who had slipped into the room without anyone noticing.

    He scanned the group with sharp eyes. When he noticed Reese standing next to Sebastian, he frowned slightly, then stepped up, positioning himself protectively between her and Sebastian.

    Reese picked up on the gesture but didn''t say a word.

    Matthew leaned down with a gentle smile. "Sorry I''mte. I was helping the officers collect evidence. You okay?"

    Reese nodded. "I can handle it."

    Matthew grinned and turned to set up the projector. "Mr. Meyer, didn''t you just say you didn''t believe Sofia locked Reese in theb and tried to suffocate p?r? Let''s see what really happened."

 Chapter 161

    "These are the security camera feeds showing Ms. Meyer locking Reese in the

    "Hold on." Sebastian''s eyes darkened as he watched Matthew step in to defend Reese. He pulled a sh drive from his pocket and handed it to her. "I''ve got my own evidence."

    "As for Sofia convincing my son to hurt my wife, I heard it myself. My son told me, and Sofia admitted it.

    "Hank, do you want to listen to the recording from that day?"

    He barely nced at Sofia, who was already shaking like a leaf, and turned to Reese, his voice suddenly softer, almost gentle. "Use my evidence, Reese. I won''t let anyone hurt you again."

    Matthew didn''t even look up as he plugged his sh drive into theptop. "Mine''s already set up for the projector. It''ll start right away. No dys."

    "Reese, let''s watch mine first."

    Their eyes met, and the tension in the room felt ready to explode.

    Sebastian stood straight, one hand in his pocket, his whole posture radiating stubborn possessiveness. "Reese is my wife. I know what''s best for her."

    "But this is about ckOak," Matthew replied, stepping slightly in front of Reese, his toneced with challenge. "She needs someone who can actually help her right now. Not a husband who only shows up when he wants to."

    Reese''s fingers curled in herp as she looked from one man to the other. She could see the desperation in Sebastian''s eyes, as well as the fierce protectiveness in Matthew''s.

    Compared to Sebastian, who always seemed just one step away from letting her go, she trusted Matthew more at this moment.

    "No. I''m gonna use Matthew''s," she said quietly.

    Sebastian''s hand froze in the air, the sh drive suddenly weighing a ton. He stared at the side of Reese''s face-the same face that used to look at him like he was her whole world. Now, all she saw was Matthew.

    It felt like a shard of ice pierced his chest. His whole expression went cold, the air around him dropping a few degrees.

    Matthew saw everything and a faint smile flickered across his lips. He plugged his drive into the projector and the screen sprang to life.

    The footage started rolling.

    Sofia appeared outside theb door, ncing up and down the hallway. She punched something into the control panel. The "lock" button lit up. The door

    clicked shut. Then she reached over and turned off the venttion.

    The view switched to inside. Reese was up against the wall, trying to make a call. Minutes ticked by. Her face got paler, her breathing faster and rougher. Each breath sounded painful in the end, she slid to the floor, scratching at the tiles, fighting to stay awake.

    Hank''s eyes went wide. He stared at the screen, fists clenched so tight his knuckles went white, veins standing out across the back of his hands.

    He turned to Sofia, voice shaking, barely above a whisper. "Sofia... why? Why would you do this?"

    Sofia looked like she might faint on the spot. She was trembling all over, biting her lip until it nearly bled, but she forced her chin up. "It''s fake! Reese made it up! She''s just trying to frame me, acting pitiful as always Don''t believe her, Hank!"

    Hank nced at Reese, confused, ready to ask her if it was true, when Matthew

    let out a short, cold snort.

    "Fake?"

    He pulled a thick folder from his briefcase and dropped it on the table with a thud. "This is an official report from the city forensicb. It''s all here in ck and white. The footage is original. No edits, no tampering. The audio and video are both real."

 Chapter 162

    "Ms. Meyer, if you think there''s a problem with the report, you can always ask the police to review it. Want me to call them for you right now?"

    Hank grabbed the report, his eyes flying down the page until they hit the bold red seal at the bottom.

    That red stamp hit him like a p, sharp and impossible to ignore.

    His face went from shock to a cold, gray anger. His breathing turned harsh and uneven, his chest tight with disbelief.

    He remembered every time Reese looked at him with that quiet, crushed disappointment when he''d used her. Guilt rushed through him, so strong it

    hurt.

    He''d always thought Reese was just jealous, bitter and spiteful, making up lies to hurt Sofia.

    But now, the evidence was right in front of him. The sister he''d tried to protect all these years had crossed a line he never thought she''d cross. She''d done something so cruel, she''d even put a life at risk just for spite.

    He''d treated Reese unfairly because of their mother, kept his distance, but never -not once-had he wanted her gone.

    He looked at Sofia, his voice thick with heartbreak.

    ¡°Sofia, just tell me the truth. Why would you do this to Reese?"

    Sofia noticed the doubt and pain in his eyes and panic red in her chest, but her stubborn pride wouldn''t let her back down.

    "Don''t listen to them, Hank! Reese is just jealous. She set me up¡ªshe nned this!

    "She doesn''t want me at ckOak. Now that I''m at DeepQuanta, she''s afraid we''ll take over, so she''s scheming to ruin me!"

    "Jealous of you?" Reese let out a short, bitterugh. "What exactly do you have that I''d want?

    "You can''t even make de and The Vaultpatible. As for trust, you just use people for your own benefit. L''s already been arrested-do you really think you''ll get away with this?"

    "If I can''t get away with it, you won''t either!" Sofia''s voice climbed higher, almost shrill. "Are you going to stand there and pretend you didn''t use me of causing your miscarriage?"

    "That was thr truth."

    Sebastian finally spoke up, calm but steady.

    "If Reese hadn''t lost the baby when she did, after what you did, she would have lost it anyway.

    "You can''t just walk away from this like nothing happened."

    He pulled out a recorder and pressed y.

    Sofia''s voice echoed through the room, the same words she''d said in

    the hospital: "You only care about

    ow. You barely even look at me.

    her now.

    I just wanted you to pay attention to me again."

    ¡°Sebastian, I''m sorry. Please, just this once, forgive me. I won''t do it again..."

    When the recording ended, theb fell into a heavy, stunned silence.

    Hank''s legs almost gave out. He gripped the desk just to stay

    standing. He stared at Sofia, al

    trust in his eyes shattered, leaving nothing but cold disappointment.

    "Sofia... you convinced a child to hurt his own mother and unborn brother?"

    That broke her. Sofia''sst bit ofposure snapped as she met her brother''s devastated stare.

    He was disappointed in her? After everything they''d been through?

    Was Reese really more important to him than all their years as siblings?

    Feeling Reese''s eyes on her, Sofia suddenly lost it.

    "Yes! I didn''t want her to be happy! She took Sebastian from me!

    "If it wasn''t for her, Sebastian would never have turned cold, would never have forced me out of Ratcliff Global!

    "He ended the Meyer family''s partnership because of her! Do you know how much we lost because of her?

    "I just wanted her to feel what it''s like to lose everything! I wanted her to hurt the way I do!"

    Sebastian''s face went ice cold. He stared at Sofia with nothing but disgust.

    "Sofia, you tried to hurt my child. The only reason you''re not in jail is out of respect for the Meyer family. How can you still not see what you''ve done?"

 Chapter 163

    Matthew nced over at Reese, noticing how Sebastian''s words didn''t even make her flinch. The corner of his mouth ticked up, almost before he realized it.

    But then he remembered everything she''d been through that night, and his voice turned cold. ¡°Earlier, when I was downstairs with the agents, we looked into L''s whereabouts. We found out Sofia really did meet with her."

    He brought up the security footage. "If you look at the timeline, it''s obvious. After Sofia and L crossed paths, L suddenly sped up her hacking into the researchb''s servers.

    "The officers are already downstairs. They''ll be taking you in for questioning soon."

    All the color drained from Sofia''s face. She staggered back, crashing into her desk with a thud, barely managing to stay upright.

    For a long moment, she just stood there, frozen. Then she lunged forward, grabbing onto the sleeve of Hank''s suit like it was the only thing keeping her afloat. Her nails dug into the fabric, and her voice broke, thick with tears and panic.

    "Hank, please, help me! I can''t go with them, I just can''t! I didn''t leak anything, I swear, L forced me! She threatened me with stuff from my past, I didn''t have a choice¡ªI only helped her because I was scared!"

    Hank looked down at her, watching tears stream down her cheeks. His chest tightened painfully.

    This was his little sister. He''d spent his whole life looking out for her. Even when she screwed up, it was almost impossible not to want to protect her.

    But then he remembered the video of Reese gasping for breath. The recording of Sofia telling Robbie to hurt Reese. The fact that Sofia had tried to get Reese killed. Any softness he felt waspletely drowned by disappointment so sharp it almost hurt.

    He started to lift his hand, like he mightfort her the way he used to. But his fingers just hovered in the air, unable to make contact.

    Finally, he let out a heavy breath and gently pried Sofia''s hands off him. The gesture was distant, colder than ever. His voice was exhausted, icy. "Sofia you''re still lying. Everything''s right here in front of us. Do you really think anyone''s going to believe you anymore?"

    "I''m not lying! Hank, how can you not believe me?" Sofia''s voice shot up, shrill and desperate. She pointed straight at Reese, her wordsing out in an angry, shaky rush it''s her! This is all her fault! She set me up. She''s just trying to make me look like the bad guy!

    "Hank, you can''t just trust her. Have you forgotten how your mom died?"

    Hank froze at that. Something flickered in his eyes-pain, then guilt. He turned to look at Reese, taking in her straight back. She looked so tired, but somehow still stood tall. His heart ached.

    What had he been doing all these years?

    He remembered when Reese first moved in with the Meyer family, how she trailed behind him, shyly calling his name. He remembered the time she was so excited to show him her first report card when she got top marks.

    He also remembered pping her across the face at their mother''s funeral.

    ¡°Enough." Hank''s voice was rough and raw. He looked at Sofia, and all the old affection was gone. There was just disappointment left. "Sofia, stop it. There''s no use trying to talk your way out now.

    "I love you, but I can''t keep covering for you. I won''t help you hide what you''ve done. Whatever happens next, you have to deal with it yourself."

    "No! Hank, you can''t just leave me like this!

    "If you don''t help me, I''ll be screwed! They''ll put me behind bars! Please, Hank,

    just this once. Please, help me, just onest time!"

 Chapter 164

    Sofia''s eyes filled with tears as she watched Hank standing there, silent and cold. Matthew''s words from earlier kept echoing in her head, making her panic even more. Her voice shook as she pleaded, her eyes red and desperate.

    "Hank, I''m so sorry! I didn''t mean it, I swear! I just... I lost my mind for a second. Please, you have to help me! I''ll never do it again!"

    Hank''s face darkened. He looked like he wanted to say something, but before he could, agents walked in.

    "Sofia, ording to L''s confession, you pushed her to steal the ckOak data. We need you toe with us for questioning."

    As soon as the agent finished, all the color drained from Sofia''s face. Her crying turned to pure panic.

    "No, that''s not true! L did it herself, it has nothing to do with me!"

    She stumbled and lunged at Hank, grabbing onto his suit like a lifeline, her nails digging in.

    "Hank, please, say something! I''m innocent! You have to save me. If you don''t, my life is over!"

    She was crying so hard she could barely breathe, tears and snot smearing her face and ruining her perfect makeup. Her hair hung in messy clumps around her neck. She didn''t look anything like the confident, morous girl she usually was.

    Hank looked down at her shaking shoulders, his fingers twitching like he wanted to help but couldn''t bring himself to do it.

    He turned his face away, refusing to meet her eyes. "Sofia, if you really didn''t do it, they''ll find out. Once the investigation is over, you''ll be free."

    Sofia stared up at him, shocked. She hadn''t expected him to turn his back on her. She lost her bnce and fell to the floor, her eyes wide with disbelief and anger.

    "Hank... you''re really not going to save me?"

    Hank looked away, his voice barely above a whisper. "You did this yourself. Now you have to deal with the consequences."

    The agents stepped forward, pulling Sofia up by her arms.

    She fought like crazy, screaming his name, her voice raw and full of heartbreak. "Hank! I hate you! I''ll never forgive you for this!"

    But no matter how much she

    screamed or yelled, Hank just stood there moving only his handar his side gave him away, clenched so tight his knuckles turned white.

    Finally, Sofia''s cries faded down the hallway, and the office was quiet again.

    Hank took a deep breath and turned to Reese, guilt written all over his face. He looked like he wanted to say something, but before he could Reese took a step back, making it clear she didn''t want anything more to do with him.

    Matthew shifted, putting himself between Hank and Reese. "Mr. Meyer, if there''s nothing else, you should go. Reese has had a rough day and needs some space."

    Hank took in how Matthew stood protectively in front of Reese. The memory of how cold he''d just been to Sofia made his chest ache.

    He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. In the end, he just turned and walked away.

    His back was slightly hunched, his whole body looking older, smaller, and defeated.

    Right then, he lost Sofia as his sister. But deep down, he knew he''d already lost Reese a long time ago back when he kept choosing Soffa

    over her, hurting her again and again The girl who used to quietly follow him and call his name was long gone.

    As Hank left, theb finally felt calm.

    Reese let out a long sigh and turned to Matthew. "Was the data L leaked important?"

    Earlier, to keep L from getting suspicious and to collect evidence against Leslie, she and Matthew had agreed to use some real data.

    "It''s not a big deal," Matthew said, ncing at Sebastian, who was still frozen in ce. ¡°But if you''re worried, you can go check in theb.¡±

    "Reese!"

    Sebastian finally couldn''t hold back. He called out as Reese walked away with Matthew, not even ncing his way.

    When Reese finally turned around, her eyes were cold and distant.

    "What do you want?"

    Sebastian''s hands clenched and unclenched, struggling to find the right words.

 Chapter 165

    Sebastian drew in a long breath, trying to force the tension out of his shoulders. "Grandpa''s still in the hospital. If you have time, you should visit him," he said, keeping his voice level.

    Reese didn''t need the reminder. She''d go anyway. Mr. Ratcliff didn''t have much time left.

    She gave a small nod. "I know."

    Matthew caught her response and a hint of a smile yed at his lips. He nced at Sebastian, then leaned close to Reese and spoke quietly.

    "Do you think the National Security Bureau will find any proof that Leslie and L were working together?"

    A flicker of worry crossed Reese''s eyes. "Probably not. It won''t be easy."

    Leslie had Sebastian vouch for her, so unless there was solid evidence she''d stolen state secrets, she would always find a way to dodge the consequences. Matthew noticed the tightness in Reese''s brow and tried to reassure her, keeping his voice gentle. "Don''t stress about it. Even if they can''t catch her this time, as long as she''s after the de data, she''ll make another move. That''ll give us another shot at getting evidence.

    "For now, we need to focus on handling the fallout from the de data leak and keep the project on track."

    Reese nodded, pushing her concerns to the back of her mind.

    She knew Matthew was right-there was no point obsessing over Leslie when there was more urgent work to be done.

    Sebastian just stood there, watching Reese walk off with Matthew, their heads together in quiet conversation. She didn''t even look his way, not once.

    He''d caught the look Matthew sent him, and he hadn''t missed the pointed stare Zach gave him before leaving either.

    He didn''t care what games the others were ying. When it came to Reese, he wasn''t backing down. She was his wife. She always would be.

    His gaze hardened, something fierce and almost reckless flickering in his eyes.

    He yanked out his phone, tugged at his cor in frustration, and barked out instructions to whoever was on the other end of the call.

    Only after he got a response did the edge of irritation fade, and a small smile crept onto his lips.

    Meanwhile, at Iron Financial-

    Tara had already heard from Zach that ckQak was under investigation again. She''d been quietly pleased, thinking Reese was finally getting what she deserved. But she never expected the mess tond on Sofia.

    When she got the news that Sofia had been taken in for questioning, panic started to set in. She paced

    Pet

    her office, one hand on her belly, her What if the

    mind spinning.

    investigation reached

    if the

    ¦«¦¯¦©

    DeepQuanta-or her?

    She couldn''t believe how much trouble Sofia had caused. If she''d known it would

    Her nerves were shot, and as if sensing her stress, the baby kicked gently. The sudden movement snapped Tara out of her spiral and she forced herself to steady her breathing.

    No matter how she looked at it, she was sure Reese had something to do with this. Gritting her teeth, she called Reese''s number.

    If it involved Reese, Zach was sure to find out. With the wedding and the baby on

    the way, Tara couldn''t let Zach get close to Reese again.

    Sometimes she just didn''t get it. After everything, after all those years, why did Reese still hang around Zach like some ghost that refused to go away?

    She waited, but all she heard was a recording: "Sorry, the number you have dialed is unavable."

    Her heart dropped. Reese wasn''t going to help.

    Even though she desperately wanted to keep Zach away from Reese, things were now way out of her control. The whole situation had blown up beyond what she could handle.

    Now she was so close to giving birth. One wrong move, and her baby could be in danger too.

    After thinking it over and over, she

    finally texted Zach, telling him everything, except she made it sound like Reese was doing it on purpose, like Reese was just out to make their lives difficult.

    She had barely hit send when the office door swung open.

    Before Tara could react, several men in ck suits walked straight past her shocked assistant and into her office.

 Chapter 166

    "Ms. Ramos, as the legal head of DeepQuanta, we need you toe with us. This is about the ckOak confidential leak."

    Her face turned ghostly pale. There was no time to argue. All she could do was shoot her assistant a desperate look, silently urging her to contact Zach right away.

    "Hurry, go tell Mr. Wiles. Reese is doing this on purpose. She''s out to get me! "She''s set on ruining me for no reason!"

    After double-checking thest set of data with Matthew and making sure L''s leak hadn''t hurt de, Reese finally left ckOak.

    The elevator doors slid open and, for a second, she spotted a tall figure standing in the pitch-ck hallway.

    Her heart skipped a beat. She instantly stepped back into the elevator and hit the close button. But before the doors could shut, a broad hand forced its way in.

    The hallway lights flickered on. Zach stood in front of her, jaw clenched and eyes cold, his whole vibe so intense it seemed to press in on her from all sides.

    He stubbed out his cigarette in the trash, his voice t and icy. "Get out. We need to talk."

    "I don''t have anything to say to you."

    Reese took a step back. She nced up at the elevator camera, then at the emergency button, trying to figure out if she had a way out.

    Zach didn''t give her a chance. His hand closed tight around her wrist.

    Pain shot up her arm. She gasped, struggling to pull away. "Zach, let me go!"

    "Let you go?" He scoffed, tightening his grip and yanking her out of the elevator. She stumbled back, catching herself on the wall just before she could fall. An angry red mark circled her wrist, throbbing.

    "Reese, why do you always have to push me like this?"

    Zach stepped closer, towering over her, his presence so heavy it almost stole the air from her lungs.

    He red down at her, frustration simmering in his eyes, but his voice stayed cold and controlled.

    "What did you do? There''s a mole at

    and now DeepQuanta''s

    getting dragged into it. How does

    any

    of this have to do with

    "Do you even know Tara''s already been taken in for questioning? She''s pregnant.

    How is she supposed to handle this kind of pressure?

    "You need to go tell the authorities the truth. This has nothin to do with DeepQuanta or Tara!"

    A sh of sarcasm crossed Reese''s face. She met his eyes without backing down.

    "You''re panicking already? If DeepQuanta really has nothing to hide, then when the truthes out, Tara will walk free."

    She remembered how, back then,

    Zach had set her up with fake evidence. She''d been dragged questioning and grilled for thre days straight. Content b

    Now Tara had barely been brought in, and Zach was already here, desperate to me her.

    This was not even her fault or not and there was nothing she could do about it. Why should she be the one to fix it?

    "This isn''t my problem. If you''re that worried about Tara, figure something else out."

    "You really expect me to believe this has nothing to do with you?"

    Zachughed bitterly and stepped in, grabbing her chin and forcing her to look at him.

    "Tara''s your cousin. You grew up together. Don''t stand there and tell me this has nothing to do with you."

    "Reese, I don''t care how you and Sofia fight, but now Tara''s caught up in it. You need to get her out."

    "I can''t help you!" Reese shoved his hand away and stepped back, rubbing her sore jaw and wrist, her chest twisting with bitterness.

    "Sofia''s choices have nothing to do with me. Tara''s being investigated because DeepQuanta is mixed up in the leak. That''s not my f fault either!"

 Chapter 167

    "If you want to me someone, me yourself. You knew Sofia and I couldn''t

    stand each other, but you still let her join DeepQuanta. And then you just stood by while she and Tara teamed up against me."

    "You can''t handle it?" Zach looked down at her, eyes red-rimmed, his re so icy it felt like it could cut right through her.

    "Reese, are you really that desperate to see me miserable? Does it make you happy to drive everyone away until there''s nothing left for me?"

    "That''s not true!" Reese''s heart clenched and she raised her voice. "Zach, you''re the one who''s beening after me all this time!

    "You reported me without even asking for my side. You hurt me over and over just for Tara, and now you are ming me?"

    "Oh?" Zach''s eyes turned even colder and he let out a bitter, hollowugh. "Let''s talk about how you dumped me when I was at rock bottom, then ran off to marry Sebastian.

    "Or how Tara ended up pregnant with my kid and still had to suffer at the Bureau, all because of you."

    He grabbed her chin again, rougher this time, his eyes wild and furious. "Listen, Reese, you''re going to help Tara. If you don''t, I can''t be responsible for what I''ll do."

    Reese saw the obsession and anger burning in his eyes and felt her heart sink. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to ignore the pain in her jaw. Her voice was tired but steady. "Zach, I''m not going to help you."

    "If you actually care about Tara, then go find the evidence that proves she''s innocent. Stop trying to bully me into it."

    Zach just red, speechless, then shoved her away in anger. "Is this what you want, Reese? Do you really hate to see me happy?

    "Are you still mad I left for another country and didn''t take you with me?"

    The force of his shove nearly knocked Reese over. She managed to steady herself, red up at Zach, and let out a coldugh.

    "If I really wanted you to fail, I would never have given you those two million dors when yourpany was about to go under."

    And she definitely wouldn''t have agreed to marry Sebastian just because his grandfather promised her that money.

    "Two million?" Zach sneered. "You still want to im you gave me that money?"

    Back then he''d gone overseas to escape the Wiles family''s spies, but they found him anyway. They hunted him down and set him up, almost destroying his business, content.

    It was Tara who sat with him outside the ICU for a week. When he woke up, she arranged for Ramos Corporation to bail out Iron Financial with that two million.

    And now Reese was saying she gave him the money, just to get out of helping Tara? What a joke. No way. How could she have had that much money back then?

    Reese''s eyes shed with sarcasm She''d tried to exin before, but Zach never believed her Back then,

    she didn''t controlRamo

    Corporation, so she couldn''t prove it.

    But now things were different. She''d already gotten her hands on the transfer receipt.

    Vel

    She pulled out her phone, opened locked folder full of evidence, including the transfer receipt

    Ramos, Corporation, and her hats

    with thepany''s director.

    She shoved the phone at Zach, her voice shaking with anger. "Look for yourself.

    The transfer slip, my messages with Tara... It''s all there.

    "The money came from me. I had Tara send it to you through Ramos Corporation.

    "Zach, you''ve always thought I betrayed you by marrying Sebastian.

    "But the truth is, we settled the score a long time ago.

    ¡°Let''s be clear. Between you and me, I never owed you a thing."

 Chapter 168

    "No!"

    Zach snatched the phone from Reese, his eyes wide with disbelief.

    The screen lit up, revealing everything hidden in that encrypted folder. The transfer receipts¡ªthe amounts, the dates-matched exactly what Tara had told him about the Ramos Corporation''s investment in Iron Financial. Even the time Tara had promised to help send the money was identical.

    Zach''s pupils shrank. He scrolled through the evidence over and over, desperately hoping to find some mistake. But every detail was there. The official bank stamp and the chat timestamps were real and undeniable.

    He kept whispering, "No way... This can''t be true..." His voice grew smaller with each word until it nearly disappeared.

    Deep inside, something told him Reese was telling the truth. She hadn''t abandoned him. She had actually been fighting for him in ways he''d never realized.

    Memories flooded back. Back then, when he was overseas, the Wiles family was after him, hispany was about to copse, and he was stuck in a hospital bed with nothing left. Tara had held his hand and said, "Don''t worry. Ramos Corporation just sent you two million. You''ll be okay."

    After he got better, Tara kept reminding him about that money, always saying it was the Ramos family''s kindness, always telling him to remember what they''d done for him. Eventually, that gratitude turned into something more-maybe even love.

    But now, with the truth right in front of him, he finally saw it: the money that saved him, the money that got him back on his feet, hade from Reese-the woman he''d doubted and hurt again and again.

    "You..." Zach''s throat felt tight, his voice rough. "Why didn''t you tell me back then?"

    He''d believed she''d left him when he needed her most, that she''d married Sebastian and betrayed him without a second thought.

    So when he came back home, he made sure her life was as hard as possible. He couldn''t stand seeing her happy, and he made it his mission to give her trouble every chance he got.

    Reese had always thought that after Zach learned the truth, it would make her feel at least a little satisfied to see him fall apart.

    But now that the truth was finally out, there wasn''t any satisfaction. Just emptiness.

    How did ite to this? They''d been childhood friends, inseparable, and now they were standing on opposite sides with nothing but pain and harsh words between them. Al those happy memories really had just faded away.

    She spoke softer, but her eyes were sharp and cold. "I told you, Zach. But did you ever believe me?"

    He wanted to argue, but the memory hit him. Reese had told him the truth. He remembered the look on Tara''s face, how relieved she''d seemed when he said he''d never trust Reese again.

    Zach swallowed hard, not sure if he was trying to defend Tara or himself.

    ¡°But Tara... She had no reason to do any of this. She didn''t get anything out of it."

    He didn''t even realize how his tone had changed. He wasn''t saying her name the same way anymore.

    Reese let out a short, bitterugh.

    "Seriously, Zach? Are you really that

    blind? She got exactly what she wanted. She made you think she was your savior. She made you grateful loyal so loyal that you hurt me again and again for her

    "And the Ramos family? Because of you, they got in good with the Wiles family. Their status in the city went through the roof. Do you really think they didn''t get anything out of this?"

    Her words hit him like a punch.

    Zach staggered back, his face drained of color, still trying to deny it. "No... Tara

    isn''t like that..."

 Chapter 169

    Zach''s eyesnded on Reese''s chin and wrists, where harsh red marks stood out. He''d left those marks himself just minutes ago.

    The memory of his usations hit him all at once, guilt squeezing his chest so tight he could barely breathe. He thought of how Reese had looked at himtely, her eyes always guarded, always hurt. The regret was overwhelming.

    "Not that kind of person, huh?" Her voice was rough, almost mocking. "You kept asking me, remember? Why I always said I didn''t choose to marry Sebastian?"

    Zach''s head snapped up. He stared at her, his breath suddenly shaky. This was the thing that had haunted him for years. They''d been so happy once. She''d even been getting ready to move overseas for him. Then, out of nowhere, she dumped him and married Sebastian. He never understood why.

    Reese took a slow breath, like she was talking about someone else''s life. "At that time, someone drugged Sebastian. He... forced himself on me."

    Zach''s expression darkened. Tara had told him about this. He''d always believed Reese was the one who did it, just so she could marry into the Ratcliff family.

    "But it wasn''t me," Reese said, herugh small and bitter. Everyone thought she''d done it, but she''d been the one hurt most of all.

    "After that, I found out I was pregnant with Robbie. Sebastian''s grandfather came to me and said if I married Sebastian, they''d give me two million dors."

    She looked up, meeting Zach''s stunned gaze. "Do you know who really drugged Sebastian? Sebastian thinks it was Dylon."

    "No way," Zach blurted out, shaking his head. "He''s your uncle. He raised you."

    Reese watched him, saw how hard he was fighting to deny it. Her heart twisted painfully.

    She suddenly felt foolish for even trying to exin herself to Zach, for hoping he''d ever believe her.

    She gave a soft, bitter snort, her eyes turning empty. "You know, Zach, you never disappoint when ites to letting me down.

    "I really feel sorry for the girl I used to be. She put her heart on the line for someone who never deserved it."

    She gave him onest look, her eyes full of a pain and finality Zach would never understand.

    "I''m not telling you this for pity," she said quietly. "I just want you to know-I never owed you anything.

    "From now on, we''re done. We go our separate ways, no more crossing paths.

    "If we can, let''s just pretend we were never in each other''s lives."

    Then, Reese walked into her apartment and didn''t look back.

    Zach tried to follow, but all he heard was the sharp m of her door.

    He just stood there, frozen, all the strength gone from his body. He leaned against

    the cold wall, barely able to keep himself upright.

    Reese''s words reyed in his mind, every sentence hitting him like a punch, leaving him dizzy and hollow.

    The truth was, deep down, he knew she was probably right.

    When he''d firste back, he''d asked someone to look into Reese''s life over the years. But before he even saw the report tara had destroyed it.

    Later, when he found out Reese hadn''t chosen to marry Sebastian, his doubts crept in again. He''d

    secretly asked someone to

    vestigate what happened.

    He''d even tracked the drugging back to a waiter, and found hints that Dylon''s

    hand was behind the car ident after.

    But by then, Tara was pregnant with

    his child. He just couldn''t believe

    Psomething like that,

    Dylon would do

    so he forced himself to forget and let it all go.

 Chapter 170

    Looking back, it all started to click into ce.

    Dylon had drugged Reese, leaving her no choice but to marry Sebastian. Tara had hidden where the money really came from, making him believe the Ramos family had saved him. Every piece of the puzzle was so carefully set up. He''d spent years resenting Reese while being moved by Tara''s supposed kindness, doing everything he could to help the Ramos family just for Tara.

    "Tara, why did you do this..." Zach mumbled, his voice thick with pain and confusion.

    He''d always thought he understood Tara, but now he realized he''d never actually known her at all.

    Just then, his phone rang, shattering the silence in the hallway.

    His hand trembled as he picked it up. When Dylon''s name popped up on the screen, Zach''s expression darkened.

    He took a slow, deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady as he answered. "Hello, Uncle Dylon."

    Dylon sounded warm and gentle, as always. "How did it go with Reese? Did she agree to help Tara?"

    Zach gripped the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white. He forced down the storm raging inside him and answered quietly, "No, she didn''t agree."

    He paused, then added, "By the way, do you know why Reese married Sebastian back then?"

    There was a split second of hesitation on Dylon''s end, just enough to give him away, before he slipped back into that calm, casual tone. "Didn''t Tara tell you? She drugged Sebastian, got pregnant, and when the Ratcliffs came with a proposal, she just went along with it."

    "So what''s up? Is Reese refusing because she''s fighting with Mr. Ratcliff again?"

    That little flicker of panic in Dylon''s voice didn''t escape Zach.

    His heart sank. He was almost certain now. Dylon was behind what happened to Sebastian.

    Zach let out a bitter, humorlessugh, but kept his tone even. "Yeah, probably. She looked pretty upset."

    His voice turned cold. "Don''t worry, Uncle. I''ll figure something else out for Tara.¡±

    He hung up and leaned back against the wall, exhausted.

    His phone slipped from his hand and hit the floor. Reese''s name was still glowing on the screen.

    All those years he''d misunderstood and hurt her came flooding back along with the memory of the icy, mocking look in her eyes just now Regret and pain crashed over him, wave after wave.

    If he''d known the Ramos family was just using Reese, he never would''ve left her alone overseas. He thought he was doing the right thing but every choice he''d made since then had been a mistake. He''d gotten everything wrong.

    Zach reached for a cigarette. Smoke curled around him, blurring his features, except for the angry, red glint his eyes that matched the burning tip:

    His heart hurt with every breath. He smoked one cigarette after another, until the ground around him was littered with ashes and butts.

    The hallway light flickered on and off, painting his shadow up and down the empty walls.

    He finally saw everything clearly-his own stupidity, his own cruelty.

    After a long while, he crushed out hisst cigarette, took onest look in the direction of Reese''s door, and walked away.

    He''d learned in school that when you mess up, you fix it. He was going to fix this his way.

    Reese said she wanted nothing to do with him ever again? Not happening.

    He remembered she was already getting divorced from the Ratcliffs. That meant his story with Reese was only just beginning.

    Stars dotted the night sky as Zach looked up, a half-smile ying on his lips.

    Reese got home and forced herself not to think about Zach-not even for a second.

    She took a long bath and crawled into bed, but just as she closed her eyes, her phone buzzed.

    The name shing on the screen-"Aunt Rosie"-made her frown in frustration.

 Chapter 171

    She knew exactly why the call wasing in-Tara, obviously. Without a second thought, she hung up and shot back a quick text.

    [If this is about Tara, don''t ask me. I can''t help and I won''t.]

    Rosie saw the message and practically tossed her phone across the bed, fuming. "Unbelievable! Reese doesn''t even pretend to care that Tara''s in trouble. Now she won''t answer my calls either!

    "I know she''s mad at us, but she can''t just ignore Tara''s situation!"

    She nced over at Dylon, who was lost in thought, and gave him a shove. "I told you ages ago, we should''ve sent her back to the Meyer family or let social services handle it. But no, you insisted we keep her. After all these years, what do we get? Nothing but ungratefulness!

    "I can''t sleep, Dylon. I keep picturing Tara, pregnant and stuck at the agency. What are we supposed to do? Did Zach say anything?"

    Dylon nearly slid off the bed from her push. Regaining his bnce, he looked at Rosie. "Rx. Zach said he''d sort it out. Tara''s having his baby-he''s not going to

    walk away.

    "But Reese worries me. I heard Sebastian is treating her differently now. She''s even bold enough to argue with him these days.

    "What scares me is if she ever decides to hold us ountable for shorting Ramos Corporation. If that happens, we''re done for."

    "So what do we do?" Rosie snapped, anxiety clear in her voice. "Should we get Zach to help?"

    "Think, Rosie!" Dylon turned to her,

    his tone sharp. "You know how much Zach used to care about Reese. No matter what we did, he always thought she was the one was being mistreated. He barely paid Tara any attention because of it.

    "We had to work so hard to get Reese and Sebastian apart, just to make Tara''s engagement happen. Everything finally worked out.

    "This time sending Zach talk to Reese alone for Tara''s sake was already risky. If Reese told him

    anything, all our efforts could go to There''s no way I''m letting

    waste.

    them get another chance to talk.''

    Rosie''s frustration only grew, her jaw clenched tight. "Then what are we supposed to do? We can''t just sit here and do nothing while Tara''s still stuck at the agency!"

    Dylon fell silent, wheels turning. Suddenly his eyes lit up as an idea struck him.

    "I heard Sebastian''s been cozying up to Leslie, the head of Big X here. He wants herpany to partner with ckOak so badly he''s even using Ratcliff Global as leverage.

    "And from what I''ve heard, Leslie''s from Bridger Lake too. She might even be Sebastian''s ex from before he got married.

    "If we can find a way to get close to Leslie, maybe she''ll say something to Sebastian on our behalf.

    "As long as Sebastian stays out of it, Reese is powerless in Bridger Lake. She can''t touch us."

    Rosie''s panic started to fade, reced by a hint of excitement. She paused; thinking it through.

    "Wait a days from

    there couple gw

    Sa business g."

    Theard

    Leslie will be there. That''s our

    chance to meet her."

    "If she really is Sebastian''s ex, she probably still holds a grudge against Reese for

    messing things up. Maybe we can get her to nudge Sebastian into turning his

    back on Reese again."

 Chapter 172

    The next morning, Zach walked into the National Security Bureau.

    He was there to pick up Tara. Just after sunrise, he''d gotten a call saying the investigation was over. L''s leak had nothing to do with DeepQuanta.

    He still hated what Tara had done. But she was carrying his child, and there were scores that hadn''t been settled. He forced himself to put all that disgust aside and showed up.

    He barely stepped into the lobby before he saw Taraing out of the interrogation room, looking pale and shaken.

    When she spotted Zach, her eyes went red and glossy. She was clutching her pregnant belly, voice thick with tears. "Zach, you''re finally here. I was so scared. They kept me in this freezing room all night, asking all these questions I didn''t even understand. I didn''t sleep at all."

    "It''s okay now. I''m here." Zach gently patted her back, but his mind wandered unwillingly to Reese. After his report, Reese had been stuck in the Bureau for three days and two nights. When she got out, he went to see her, only to leave her standing in the pouring rain, watching Sebastian shelter Leslie and help her into a car.

    "It''s all cleared up now. Go home and get some rest." Zach kept his voice gentle, though inside he was a mess. The whole situation left him exhausted and bitter.

    Tara''s tears kept flowing. "Yeah... The leak had nothing to do with us anyway."

    She hesitated, then asked, "Do you think it was Reese? Maybe she set this up just to drag us down?"

    For once, Zach didn''t say anything. Tara had tried to poison him against Reese before. Only now did he realize she just wanted to deepen his resentment.

    But Tara was pregnant with his child. Whatever happened, he couldn''t let anything go wrong for the baby.

    Zach took a deep breath, forcing down his frustration. He offered Tara a reassuring look. "I know you''ve been through a lot. Don''t worry, I won''t let Reese hurt you again."

    He needed Tara calm if he wanted to uncover what the Ramos family had done to Reese. He couldn''t afford to scare her off.

    He wrapped an arm around her and led her out of the Bureau. A ck Bentley rolled up to the curb, stopping right in front of them.

    The car door opened and Sebastian stepped out, tall and sharp in a ck suit, his expression cold but with a hint of urgency.

    Zach''s face darkened. Inside, he''d overheard agents talking-Leslie was probably connected to L and had been brought in for questioning yesterday. Sebastian showing up now was no coincidence.

    After Reese was forced to marry Sebastian, she must have endured so much in the Ratcliff family. Now seeing Sebastian so desperate for another woman made Zach''s blood boil.

    He shot Sebastian a look, full of contempt, and let out a cold snort.

    Sebastian caught the look and

    frowned, meeting Zach''s eyes. He''d always known about Reese and Zach''s past. He remembered

    Reese''s first request for a

    divorce right after Zach came back to the country.

    Seeing Zach so protective of Tara now, Sebastian wondered what Reese ever

    saw in him. The man was fickle, unreliable, not worth anyone''s time.

    They locked eyes, both sizing each other up, both convinced the other was the real problem. If Reese had been there, she would''ve found it both ridiculous and tragic-twomen who had hurt her most each

    thinking the other was the real jerk.

    Sebastian finally looked away, refusing to waste another second. He strode into the Bureau.

    He''d rushed over as soon as he heard Leslie was taken in. He was the one who''d introduced Big X to ckeak through Mr. Sanchez. If Leslie really was involved in the leak, Ratcliff Global would be in trouble.

    A staff member led him to the interrogation room. Leslie sat slumped in a chair, hair messy, eyes red and tired-she looked like she hadn''t slept at all.

    When she saw Sebastian, her eyes brightened. She tried to stand but was stuck in the restraining chair.

    "Sebastian, you have to believe me. I''m innocent. I don''t even know a L, let alone contact her!"

    Sebastian frowned at her pale face and turned to the agents. "I''m Sebastian Ratcliff, CEO of Ratcliff Global. She''s a friend of mine.

    "I heard she''s being investigated about L''s case. Do you have any real evidence?"

    One of the agents answered, a little nervous, "Mr. Ratcliff, we haven''t found any solid evidence so far."

    They''d gotten to Big X as fast as possible, seized Leslie''s phone, but found nothing linking her to L.

    Sebastian nodded. As far as he knew, Leslie wasn''t the type to do something like this.

 Chapter 173

    "I''ve known Leslie for years. I trust her. She''s just not the type to leak ssified info.

    "I can vouch for her. She''s solid.

    "So, if you don''t have any proof, can we go now?"

    The three officials traded uneasy looks, clearly on the fence. With Sebastian stepping in and no hard evidence against Leslie, they really didn''t have a leg to stand on.

    Finally, one of the interrogators stood up and handed Sebastian a form. "Mr. Ratcliff, we don''t have evidence tying Leslie to L, but she''s still under suspicion. If you want to bail her out, you''ll need to sign this guarantee. Please think it through."

    Sebastian could tell the guy was trying to be helpful, basically warning him not to drag Ratcliff Global into this mess. But he knew Leslie. Maybe she had her own agenda, but she''d never cross the line. He''d stake his reputation on that.

    And after risking her health to save his life back then, there was no way he could just leave her here to suffer.

    He took the papers, skimmed them, and signed his name without hesitating.

    The official took the signed document and turned to Leslie. "You''re free to go for now, but you can''t leave the country until the investigation is over. We''ll need your full cooperation."

    "Also, because of internal issues at Big X, your coboration with ckOak is on hold for now."

    Leslie''s face tightened for a second, but she forced herself to stay calm and nodded. "Understood. I''ll cooperate."

    As soon as they stepped out of the security building, Leslie kept her head down, her voice soft. "Sebastian, I''m really sorry. This is all my fault. I never meant for you to get dragged into it."

    Sebastian sounded cool and distant. "It''s fine. Let''s just get in the car."

    In the car, Leslie''s exhaustion showed, but inside, she was seething at L. That useless bitch didn''t manage to steal the de system''s core data, failed to set Reese up, and now she''d gotten Leslie herself tangled up in all this. Their partnership was dead, and her reputation was in ruins.

    No point pretending anymore. Everyone in the Bridger Lake Al world was probably gossiping about her already.

    Worse, if she couldn''t deliver de''s core data, headquarters would never let her off the hook.

    The pressure made her chest feel tight.

    She nced at Sebastian, a calcting look flickering in her eyes. Right now, Sebastian was all she had left.

    She bit her lip, lowering her voice. "Sebastian, there''s a business g in a couple days. Would you go with me?"

    With Sebastian at her side, she could strengthen their connection, and just showing up together would quiet most of the rumors.

    Plus, the de project was a joint venture between Ratcliff Global and ckOak. She needed to find a way to get her hands on de''s core data, and Sebastian was her best shot.

    Sebastian frowned, about to say no. All he wanted was to fix things with Reese and avoid a messy divorce. Thest thing he needed was more misunderstandings, especially if Reese found out.

    But when he saw how pale and desperate Leslie looked, he just couldn''t bring himself to turn her down.

    "All right. I''ll go with you."

    A small smile tugged at Leslie''s lips. She knew he wouldn''t refuse her.

    She''d definitely underestimated Reese-thought she''d be an easy target. She never expected Reese to dodge L''s scheme and expose L as the real leak.

    But that was fine. There was still time. As long as she could stay close to Sebastian, she still had a chance to get her hands on de''s core data¡ªand to take Reese down.

    There might not have been any evidence against Leslie, but at least the investigation forced Big X to end. their partnership with ckoak, which meant less risk of another data leak.

    Reese stopped worrying about everyone else''s moves. Right now, all that mattered was getting the de system ready.

    That afternoon, Matthew walked into theb and found Reese at herputer, totally absorbed in her work. His normally sharp eyes softened a little.

    "Reese, Mr. Sanchez wants me to go to the base and report on the data breach. "And I need to update them on de''s progress. I''ll be gone about two weeks. "You know how strict security is on base. I have to hand over all my electronics and can''t contact anyone outside. So if you can''t reach me, that''s why."

    "Okay."

    Reese nodded, eyes still glued to her screen. It was clear she barely heard him. She replied absently, "What about Annie? Do you need me to help take care of her while you''re gone?"

 Chapter 174

    "There''s a housekeeper at home to watch Annie, so you don''t have to worry about

    it.

    "It''s just that the housekeeper took the afternoon off, and I need to head out soon.

    If you don''t mind, could I ask you to pick Annie up for me?"

    For Reese, this was no big deal.

    Annie was such a smart and considerate kid. Every time she saw Reese, she''d call out "Auntie? in that sweet little voice. Reese genuinely liked her.

    "Not a problem at all. I''ll head over in a bit. Don''t worry about this. I''ve got things covered here."

    Matthew''s lips curled into a subtle smile at her answer. He remembered Annie telling him once that she wished Reese could be her mom, and the memory made his gaze soften with affection.

    Reese was too busy working to notice the look in his eyes.

    That morning, Matthew had gotten a call about a business trip. The caller was an old friend, someone who''d once served under him.

    He''d lowered his voice and said, "Matthew, honestly, you don''t really need toe in person. It''s not urgent. But I heard there''s pressure from someone higher up-they want you back right away."

    Matthew wasn''t stupid. It was clear who was behind this.

    Sebastian wanted him out of the way so he could get closer to Reese.

    With Matthew''s position, he could''ve refused. Sebastian didn''t have the authority to order him around. But in three days, it would be his mentor''s birthday, and there was no way he''d miss that. He''d have to return to base and, because of security, wouldn''t be able to contact Reese for a while.

    Thinking about it, Matthew didn''t bother getting mad about Sebastian''s little games.

    Still, for someone usually so steady, the thought of leaving for a few days and potentially giving Sebastian an opening made him feel strangely uneasy.

    "Reese," he called out quietly.

    "Yeah?" Reese looked up at him.

    Meeting her deep, clear eyes, Matthew hesitated. He wanted to say, Don''t let Sebastian get too close while I''m gone, but when he spoke, it came out as, "You and Annie be good, okay? I''ll bring you both a present when I get back."

    Reese justughed, missing the hint. "I''m an adult, alright? Go on, hurry up and get out of here. Don''t waste time."

    Matthew smiled, half amused and half reluctant to leave. Right before he walked out, he pulled his assistant aside and reminded him-if anyone from the Ratcliff or Ramos families showed up looking for Reese, the assistant had to get word to Matthew at the base immediately.

    The assistant nodded and left, and Matthew climbed into the SUV waiting to take him away.

    Once Matthew''s car disappeared from view, Reese finally let out a long breath, rubbing the tips of her ears, which were still a little warm.

    His promise to bring her a present brought back a flood of memories.

    Her dad used to say the same thing before leaving on trips. Only...

    A faint, self-mocking smile flickered in her eyes.

    That afternoon, George called. He told her all the divorce papers and evidence including the surrogacy records were ready and had been handed to the court. The hearing was scheduled, and they could go to court anytime.

    A few days ago, Reese had spoken to the hospital. Sebastian''s grandfather only had a few days left.

    "Thank you, George. I''ll let you know if I''m ready," she said quietly.

    As the workday was ending, the sky suddenly darkened and thunder rumbled in the distance.

    Reese told n she was heading out early, then drove to Annie''s school.

    She parked her white SUV by the curb. The school bell had just rung, and clusters of kids were flooding out of the building.

    Reese stood at the pick-up spot, scanning the crowd for Annie. Before she could spot her, she saw Robbie.

    He was in his neat school uniform, backpack slung over his shoulder, chatting with his friends.

    He must have felt her eyes on him, because he nced over and met her gaze. He froze, his smile fading instantly. The next second, he turned away, acting like she was just some stranger.

    Just then, the Ratcliff family''s driver pulled up in a ck car.

    Robbie opened the door and climbed in without another nce her way.

    Reese watched the car drive off, letting out a quiet breath.

    Life really was unpredictable. Who would have thought that she and her own son would end up like strangers, seeing each other as nothing more than adversaries.

    "Auntie!"

    Annie''s cheerful voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Reese looked up to see Annie waving at her from within a group of kids, her small backpack bouncing as she ran over.

 Chapter 175

    Reese immediately pushed aside her worries and greeted Annie with a warm smile. "Hey, Annie. Were you good at school today?"

    "Of course I was!" Annie shot back, running straight over and grabbing Reese''s hand. She leaned in, her eyes shining with excitement.

    Reese gently patted Annie''s head and nced up at the gloomy sky. "You''re amazing. What do you want for dinner tonight? I''ll make anything you want." Annie tilted her head, thinking it over. "I want pork ribs! And scrambled eggs!" Just the thought of Reese cooking made Annie practically glow with happiness. "Alright, let''s hit the supermarket and grab everything we need. Tonight, I''ll make you pork ribs and scrambled eggs."

    Still smiling, Reese took Annie''s hand and they headed to the car, driving off toward the nearest grocery store.

    Inside, they picked out fresh ribs, eggs, and tossed in some of Annie''s favorite fruit and snacks for good measure.

    By the time they finished checking out and stepped outside, fat raindrops had already started falling. The short walk to the car left the ground soaked.

    Sitting in the driver''s seat, Reese watched the rain hammer the windshield, her frown deepening. September weather could turn on a dime, and if this rain didn''t let up, the city would flood in no time.

    She flicked on the radio, just in time to hear an emergency warning on repeat.

    "Attention, residents: multiple areas in the city are experiencing severe flooding. Some roads are already underwater and impassable.

    "Please stay in safe areas, and don''t try to walk or drive through floodwater. Your safetyes first..."

    The rain only got heavier. Reese''s worry grew as she realized the roads might flood before they even got home.

    She nced into the rearview mirror at Annie, who was quietly buckled in the backseat, then started the engine and slowly pulled out.

    The rain kept pounding down, windshield wipers working overtime but barely helping. By the time they reached the main road, there was already water pooling everywhere and traffic had slowed to a crawl.

    A whileter, the wide road waspletely jammed, nothing but a sea of red brake lights ahead. Reese checked her GPS and saw the underpass up ahead was closed.

    There were several underpasses near their neighborhood. If she just waited here, she and Annie might not make it home tonight.

    She bit her lip, flicked on her turn signal, and slowly turned off the main road, heading for a narrow side street she rarely used.

    The sky was getting darker and the heavy rain kept the streetlights from turning

    on.

    The alley was nearly empty. Reese could tell the storm wasn''t stopping anytime soon, so she pressed the gas a little harder.

    Suddenly, water surged up around the car, sshing over the hood and even higher. She hit the brakes, but it was already toote.

    The engine sputtered and died; the headlights went out, leaving them in total darkness.

    "Auntie, what happened?" Annie''s voice was small and shaky as thunder rumbled, getting closer.

    Reese forced herself to stay calm and reached back to pat Annie''s head. "It''s alright. The car just stopped working, that''s all."

    "I''ll carry you out. We''ll find somewhere safe, and then figure out what to do next."

    She opened the door and the wind and rain whipped in. Reese took deep breath, grabbed her umbre, and Stepped out into the water to get Annie from the backseat

    The water was already up to her

    calves. Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly pulled off her jacket wrapped Annie up, and lifted her out of the car.

    "It''s okay, Annie. I''ve got you."

    "I''m not scared. Be careful, Auntie. Annie clung to Reese''s neck with one hand, her backpack slung over her shoulder trying to hold the umbre with the other

    Reese held Annie tight and retraced their steps, not daring to go forward.

    But the rain just kepting, and soon the water was over Reese''s knees. Branches and trash floated past in the rising current.

    Suddenly, something bumped into Reese''s leg, making her stumble forward.

    "Annie!"

    "Auntie, be careful!"

    In a rush of panic, Reese used all her strength to lift Annie even higher, just as a bicycle, swept along by the flood, barreled toward them.

    Right then, headlights cut through the darkness. An SUV stopped right in front of them, blocking the debris.

    "Reese!"

 Chapter 176

    The car door flew open and a tall figure jumped out, sshing through the puddles until he reached Reese. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in tight.

    Reese blinked, about to say thank you, but the words caught in her throat when she realized who it was.

    Rain ran down Sebastian''s hair and dripped into his cor. His face was tight with worry, his eyes darting over her, checking for any sign of injury.

    Once he was sure she was okay, he finally let out a shaky breath. "You''re safe. I''m here."

    Reese pushed herself out of his arms, shock written all over her face. "Why are you here?"

    Sebastian took Annie from her, cradling the little girl against his chest with one arm and steadying Reese with the other. He had to shout over the storm, "Your car has a tracker and an emergency alert system."

    "I got a notification that your engine shut off. I figured something was wrong, so I followed the GPS."

    He nced at Reese, worried she''d take it the wrong way. "It''s for safety. All the family cars have it," he exined quickly.

    He''d just been keeping an extra eye on herstely, that was all.

    Sebastian shifted Annie carefully in his arms and reached for Reese''s hand. "Come on, let''s get in the car first."

    Reese yanked her hand away, wiping the cold rain from her forehead. Her voice was t. "I can walk by myself."

    She thought about grabbing Annie back, but when she saw Sebastian''s broad back blocking out the rain, she stopped.

    Annie was curled up against Sebastian, her tiny hands fisting his shirt, her little face still pale with fear.

    Sebastian noticed and hugged her a little closer. "You''re okay. I''ve got you."

    Reese tried to smile at Annie. "It''s alright, honey. Don''t be scared. Just hold on tight, okay?"

    Whatever was going on between her and Sebastian was their business. There was no way she''d let Annie get caught up in it.

    The rain wasing down so hard it felt like the sky was splitting open.

    Suddenly, Reese''s foot slipped. She almost went down, but before Sebastian could reach her, she caught herself, pushing up from the ground. Her palm stung where something sharp had sliced her, and blood trickled down her wrist.

    Sebastian called out, "Give me your hand. I''ll guide you."

    Reese didn''t look at him. She clenched her jaw, fighting the pain. "Just hold Annie. If anything happens to her, that''s on you."

    Sebastian saw the stubborn set of her jaw and knew there was no arguing with her now.

    He hugged Annie tighter and started toward the car, ncing over his shoulder at Reese every few steps.

    Reese avoided his eyes, but sometimes she couldn''t help sneaking a look at him.

    Watching Sebastian holding Annie like that made her feel a hundred things at once.

    She''d always thought Sebastian

    didn''t like Matthew, and by

    extension, probably didn''t care much

    for Annie either. She

    never

    imagined he would protect her like

    this.

    There''d been so many times over the past seven years when Reese had wished Sebastian would step up for her. He never had. Now when they were about to split up, he finally did

    It was just ridiculous.

    Reese wiped the rain off her face and let out a short, bitterugh.

    They made it to the car, stumbling a little. Brady hurried over with an umbre and pulled the door open.

    Sebastian set Annie inside first, then carefully helped Reese in after her.

    Once they were all in, Brady handed them towels to dry off.

    Sebastian nced at her SUV, stuck

    in a pool of water, and told Bradmet

    "Take Mrs. Ratcliff home first. F have someone get her car

    s?novels

    He turned to Reese, his voice gentle. "Is there anything you need from the car

    right away? I can have someone bring it to you."

    Reese stared out the window. "No. I''m fine."

    "And for the record, I''m not Mr. Ratcliff anymore. I''m¡ª"

    She hesitated, the words sticking. Calling herself his wife just didn''t fit anymore.

 Chapter 177

    But calling her his ex-wife didn''t really fit, not when the divorce papers were still sitting unsigned.

    Still, with things the way they were, was there honestly any real difference? How were they even supposed to describe what they were to each other now?

    Reese let out a helpless littleugh and looked over at Sebastian. Her eyes were warm and earnest, but underneath, there was a sadness and resignation that no one else could quite see. "Sebastian, you really don''t have to do this."

    The mood in the car dropped instantly. Brady, ever the tactful one, ducked his head and pretended to scroll through his phone.

    Sebastian hesitated. There were things he couldn''t say with Brady right there. He nced at Annie, still soaking wet, and quietly turned up the heat.

    "Go get some clothes for Annie to change into, and bring them to..." He trailed off, thinking about what Reese had just said.

    He forced himself to swallow the bitter feeling rising in his chest and finished quietly, "Bring them to..."

    "To Reese''s ce," he finally said.

    Brady hesitated for a second, then spoke up softly. "Sir, you have that meeting with Elijah..."

    "Cancel it," Sebastian said, staring out the rain-blurred window,pletely unfazed. ¡°No one''sing out in this weather anyway."

    Brady started to say that Elijah was already waiting at the club, but when he saw Sebastian''s face, he thought better of it and just sent a quick text to Elijah''s assistant.

    Reese''s apartment wasn''t far. In a little over ten minutes, the ck SUV pulled up outside her building.

    The rain wasing down hard, wind whipping everything around and sending debris flying. It felt like something could crash down at any second.

    It was the kind of storm people talked about for years. There had already been dozens of idents across the city, and the authorities had issued a red alert, telling everyone to stay inside and off the streets.

    Given how bad it was out there, Reese couldn''t bring herself to leave Sebastian and Brady outside. Besides, with Brady around, Sebastian wouldn''t dare try anything.

    "Alright,e on up. You can leave once the rain lets up."

    The four of them headed upstairs together. Reese took Annie straight to the bathroom, helped her get cleaned up, and handed her one of her own T-shirts to wear, Annie was settled in the study with her O homework, and Reese promised to call her when dinner was ready.

    Back in the living room, Reese spotted Sebastian standing by the sofa, still dripping wet. She grabbed some towels and toiletries from the master bathroom and handed them to him.

    "You should shower too. Don''t get sick."

    A small smile flickered in Sebastian''s eyes. He nodded. "Okay."

    Brady waited until Sebastian finished showering, then used the excuse of needing

    a shower too. After that, he basically hid out in the bathroom, leaving Sebastian and Reese alone.

    Sebastian, freshly showered, stood in the dining room, watching Reese bustle around the kitchen. He couldn''t help but smile to himself.

    Back when Reese still lived in the house, this was what he''de home to every night. No matter howte he got in, there was always a light left on, a warm meal waiting.

    But after Reese moved out, the ce just felt colder with each passing day.

    He hadn''t felt anything like home in a long time. He wondered when-if ever- Reese would want toe back.

    Dinner was ready soon enough.

    Reese called Annie over, set a piece of ribs on her te, then nced at Sebastian, who was awkwardly hovering at the edge of the dining room. "Come eat with us."

    "Thanks." Sebastian sat down, picked up a piece of rib, and tooka bite. The familiar taste nearly undid him. He honestly couldn''t remember thest time he''d eaten Reese cooking. .

    He''d always taken these little things for granted. Now, he realized they were the things he missed the most.

    Trying to hide how he felt, he scooped up some rice and looked up, catching sight

    of Reese and Annie across the table, quietly eating their dinner.

    A wave of happiness washed over him, so real and unexpected that he wished this moment couldst forever.

    That feeling stuck with him long after dinner.

    Later, after Reese tucked Annie in and left the bedroom, she found Sebastian still standing at the kitchen sink.

    His expensive loungewear was rolled up to his elbows, showing off strong forearms as he washed the dishes.

 Chapter 178

    Sebastian was standing at the sink in Reese''s bright yellow duck apron, the straps barely fitting around his frame. He clutched a sponge in his right hand, scrubbing a porcin bowl so slowly it was like he was afraid it might break. Every movement looked careful, almostical, and somehow made him seem even more out of ce.

    Water dripped from the edge of the bowl, sshing into the sink with soft, scattered sounds. It only made his awkwardness more obvious.

    Reese stopped in her tracks. In all her years with Sebastian, she couldn''t remember a single time he''d washed so much as a coffee mug. Seeing him here, sleeves rolled up, struggling with the dishes-it was surreal.

    "You don''t have to do that," she said quietly,ing up beside him. She nced at the drying rack. Bowls were stacked haphazardly and still covered in suds, a couple of which with dried rice stuck inside. She let out a sigh. Yeah, she''d figured. Sebastian doing dishes? Not likely.

    "I''ll handle it." She nudged him aside, turned on the faucet, and picked up a bowl. The sponge moved easily in her hands, and in just a few seconds she''d cleaned it spotless.

    Sebastian lingered at her side, watching her work. He looked embarrassed. ¡°It''s my first time. I don''t really know what I''m doing."

    He hesitated, then added, "But I want to help out more. I mean it."

    He wasn''t just saying it, either. Married all these years, and tonight was the first time he felt like he was starting to understand what it meant to actually live together.

    Reese shut off the water, set thest bowl in the rack, and turned to face him.

    "Sebastian, thank you foring tonight. For helping Annie and me," she said, her voice gentle but steady. "If you hadn''t shown up, I really don''t know what would''ve happened."

    Sebastian started to reply, but Reese kept going.

    "But you don''t have to do all this," she said. "You didn''t before, and you don''t need

    to now. I''ve been taking care of things on my own for a long time. We''ve both

    gotten this far as we are, and neither of us needs to change."

    "No. I don''t want to be like this anymore." There was a tremor in Sebastian''s voice, something like panic. It hit him, suddenly, how fragile everything between them felt.

    "Reese, I know made mistakes. I misjudged you, I ignored you, I let our family slip away," he said, words tumbling out in a rush. "But I want to fix it want to bring Robbie home The three of us, together, like tonight. Please, Reese. I''ll make it right-you have to believe me."

    He looked so desperate, so sincere, that Reese just stared at him for a long moment. Then she asked, quietly, "Sebastian, are you hiding something from me?"

    Sebastian''s eyes went sharp, his whole body tensing up. Was she talking about the surrogacy? No, it couldn''t be. If Reese knew, she would have left withouta ser?nd thought she''d never just go along with what her grandfather wanted.

    He forced himself to look calm. "No," he said softly.

    Reese closed her eyes, slow and tired. Even now, he still wouldn''t tell her the truth. If she weren''t worried about tipping him off, she would''ve pped him right across the face.

    Sebastian watched her, worry etched deep in his brow. He tried, "Is this about Leslie?"

    He kept going, "We''ve known each

    other for a long time. She saved my

    life once. I was just paying her back.

    I didn''t tell you because I thought she''d go back to the States and it wouldn''t matter."

    That did it. Reese''s patience snapped. She opened her eyes and looked him right in the face.

    "Sebastian, whatever''s between you and Leslie, that''s your business. But you can''t just do anything for her. Not everything."

    Sebastian thought she''d found out about the agreement he''d signed for Leslie at

    the agency. He rushed to exin, "No, I only did that because-"

    Reese cut him off. "Sebastian, you have Leslie in your past. But you should remember, I have Zach in mine."

    Of course he remembered. It had always bothered him. He''d even secretly done a paternity test after Robbie was born.

    "After we got married, I cut Zach out of my life. I never reached out, never asked for help, never did anything for him. Not once."

 Chapter 179

    The thought that Sebastian had made her a surrogate for Leslie was enough to make Reese''s eyes sting, but she refused to let the tears fall.

    Right now, all she wanted was to tell Sebastian that she knew everything. But she couldn''t. She had to keep her cards close, had to hide the fact that she held proof he''d used her. If she let him know, she''d lose her advantage when it came to divorce.

    "I really believed we could make it work," Reese said quietly. "I thought if I just tried harder, if I was patient enough, someday you''d finally see me."

    She looked up at him, her voice growing sharper. "But what did you do? You dragged Sofia everywhere, always iming it was for work. People called her your girlfriend, and you never bothered to correct them.

    "And now, because of Leslie, you''d risk Ratcliff Global''s reputation and forced Big X and ckOak to work together just to embarrass me.

    "After all of that, you still say you want a future with me. How am I supposed to believe you?"

    Sebastian stared at her, guilt and regret twisting inside him. "Reese, I know I messed up. I was awful, I get that.

    "But I love you. I mean it. I love you, Reese. Only you."

    She let out a bitterugh. "Love me?"

    She repeated the words, like she was tasting something foreign and sour. "Where is it, Sebastian? Where''s your love?"

    She pressed her hand to her chest, her voice barely steady. "I can''t feel it. I can''t sense it. All these years, all you''ve done is hurt me."

    She took a step back, putting more space between them. She kept her head down. "Just leave."

    Sebastian felt like his heart was being squeezed, every breath jagged.

    "Reese, please, let me exin, I¡ª"

    "Get out!"

    Her voice cracked, raw and loud, years of heartbreak and anger spilling out, "I don''t want to see you again. Every time look at you everything you did to me is just ying in my mind!"

    Atst, her tears broke free, sliding down her cheeks and dripping onto the floor, leaving small wet spots on the wood.

    Sebastian couldn''t get a single word out. He wanted to go to her, hold her, wipe her tears away, but his feet wouldn''t move.

    Only now did he really see just how

    did he

    badly he''d failed her. He''d always

    resented Reese''s past with Zach, but never thought about how it must have felt for her watching him parade Sofia around. He''d crushed her pride, her self-worth.

    He''d lied to her about Leslie, forced her to be a surrogate as some twisted way to repay a debt. He knew how much those hormone. shots hurt her, knew how much she wanted another child. But he did it anyway.

    Even recently, he humted her because of

    Leslie. Reese was right. He''d only

    ever brought her pain. How could he ask her to stay?

    A wave of darkness washed over him. Maybe there really was no future for them. "Don''t cry. I''m leaving."

    He turned and walked to the door, pausing onest time. Reese was still in the kitchen doorway, her back to him, shoulders shaking.

    His heart ached, but all he could do was grit his teeth, open the door, and leave.

    The door clicked shut, separating two worlds.

    Reese heard it and wiped her tears away, her gaze suddenly clear.

    Sebastian, we''re done. For good.

    Outside, Sebastian leaned against the doorframe, lit a cigarette, and reyed her words in his mind.

    Where''s your love? I can''t feel it, Sebastian. I can''t feel it.

    He pulled out his phone and called Brady. "Handle the deal with Big X. From now

    on, you can care of everything with Leslie. Don''t update me."

 Chapter 180

    The rain finally stopped after pouring down all night.

    Morning sunlight broke through the clouds and spilled into the kitchen, warm and bright. Reese spread jam on a piece of toast and handed it to Annie.

    "Eat up. I''ll drive you to school," she said.

    Annie took the toast and finished it in just a few bites. She slid off her chair, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and headed for the door.

    Maybe it was everything that happenedst night, but Annie looked tired today, her eyes a little dull and heavy with sleep.

    Reese reached out and gently ruffled Annie''s hair, then took her small hand as they stepped outside together.

    She walked Annie to the school gate and watched her disappear into the building before turning and heading to ckOak.

    With Matthew back on base, all the pressure at the research centernded on Reese. She barely stepped out of theb all day. Her world was just lines of code shing on the screen andplicated equations filling the whiteboards.

    It wasn''t until the sky outside started to darken that Reese finally rubbed her aching temples and sent off thest piece of research data.

    She grabbed her coat, ready to head home and check in on Annie first. With Matthew gone, it was just Annie and the housekeeper at home, and Reese couldn''t help but worry.

    But as soon as she stepped out of theb, she spotted ning over with an easy smile.

    "Reese, I was just looking for you. There''s an industry event tonighte with me?"

    Reese frowned. n knew she didn''t like these kinds of gatherings, so if he was asking, it had to be important.

    "What''s up?" she asked.

    n didn''t bother hiding anything. "That ssified incident from before? Big X got dragged into it. Now there are rumors we''re not on good terms.

    "Management suspects Leslie might be involved, but there''s no actual proof. They don''t want things to get too tense, so they''re waiting to see her next move.

    "She''s on the guest list tonight, so I want you toe with me."

    Reese raised an eyebrow. Leslie had been quiettely, so it made sense that management wanted to keep an eye on things.

    "Okay," she agreed.

    There was still time before the event, so she had dinner with n.

    rware he waited for herse

    getting ready, and then they beaded out to the g together.

    The event was at a private club on the edge of the city. The ballroom glittered under crystal chandeliers, and soft violin music floated through the air.

    As soon as Reese walked in with n, she felt eyes on them from all corners of the room. Before she even had a chance to react, a group of men in suits came

    over.

    "n, I''ve heard so much about you! I''m Daniel from Skyblink Systems. I''ve been hoping to talk about a technical partnership with ckOak..."

    "n¡ªand is this another member of the de team? I''m Wade from Intelligence Al. I''ve got a few questions I''d love to ask..."

    Reese nced at n, who gave her a look that said, What can you do?

    Clearly, word about the National Security investigation had gotten around. Everyone in the industry _seemed to know ckoak was now involved in military projects; evenpanies that had cut ties before were suddenly eager to reconnect.

    "Yes, this is Ms. Reese Meyer from the de project. She''s leading our integration with Ratcliff Global''s Vault system, n said, taking the chance to introduce her and boost her profile.

    Reese didn''t miss a beat. She held her wine ss and shed a professional

    smile, answering questions smoothly as they came.

    Some of her ideas and insights really impressed the crowd, and soon people were hanging on her every word.

 Chapter 181

    Rosie nced over at Dylon, catching the stormy look on his face. Jealousy flickered in her eyes as she lowered her voice.

    "ckOak is obviously trying to make Reese the star. If she keeps this up and actually pulls it off, our whole n to short Ramos Corporation could blow up in our faces. Even if Sebastian doesn''t help her, she''lle after us herself."

    Dylon took a sip of his drink, looking calm on the surface, but there was a cold sharpness in his eyes.

    "Tonight, we have to get close to Leslie. If we can get her to speak up for us, then even if Reese wants to make trouble, she''ll have to think twice."

    Rosie shot a worried look at the entrance.

    "I heard Leslie got dragged into that confidential info mess too. Who knows if she''ll even show up tonight..."

    She didn''t get to finish. Suddenly, a ripple of excitement swept through the crowd near the doors.

    Everyone turned to look. Sebastian stood at the entrance in a sleek ck suit, tall and striking.

    At his side was ady in a stunning ombre mermaid dress¨DLeslie.

    Neal followed a step behind, his smile polite and practiced.

    Leslie slipped her arm through Sebastian''s, leaning in just a little, a soft smile lighting up her face. They looked close, even affectionate, as if they were perfectlyfortable together.

    The room buzzed with whispers.

    "Is that Mr. Ratcliff''s new date? She''s gorgeous."

    "They look amazing together. Mr. Ratcliff really does attract all the beautiful women. First it was the Meyer heiress from Brookfield, and now... who is this?"

    "She''s Leslie, right? Runs Big X here."

    "Honestly, I still think Reese was even prettier. Too bad he wasn''t interested." "Looks aren''t everything. How could Reesepare to the head of Big X?"

    Leslie heard the gossip and her smile grew just a little.

    Having Sebastian escort her tonight was exactly what she needed. No matter what people whispered about her being questioned by the authorities, as long as Sebastian was by her side, no one would dare give her a hard time.

    She instinctively tried to take Sebastian''s arm again, but her handnded on empty air.

    Her heart skipped. She looked up at him.

    At some point, Sebastian had moved a good step away, putting distance between them. The warmth in his eyes was gone, reced by a cold, intense stare, fixed somewhere across the room.

    Leslie followed his gaze. Not far away, a group of the industry''s rising stars had gathered around Reese, making her the center of attention.

    Reese wore a perfectly tailored ck dress that hugged her slim figure, the matte satin cor catching the light just right and showing off her elegant neck.

    She held a champagne flute, answering questions with a poised, professional smile, her eyes shining with confidence. People around her couldn''t help but look impressed.

    "Tch. Reese showed up too?" Neal muttered, sounding annoyed. "She probably heard you and Leslie wereing and just had to make an entrance."

    "If only it were that simple," Sebastian murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

    He shot Neal a sideways look. "Is that how the Shaw family raised you? Talking about people behind their backs?"

    It was a clear warning-watch how you talk about Reese.

    Neal blinked, raising his eyebrows, but didn''t seem offended. Actually, he was kind of surprised. Sebastian had always kept his distance from Reese, never even admitting they knew each other in public. Since when had that changed?

 Chapter 182

    Leslie''s heart tightened at those words.

    So Sebastian had finally figured out how he felt about Reese? That was bad news. Sebastian always seemed so cold and distant, but once he actually cared about someone, he''d move heaven and earth to protect them. If that happened, Leslie could forget about using Sebastian''s connections to get her hands on de''s core data. She might also have a hard time keeping her ce at Bridger Lake.

    No way. She wasn''t going down without a fight.

    Lowering her eyes, Leslie quickly masked the sh of panic and started searching for a new n. She couldn''t just sit here and do nothing.

    "Sebastian..." She looked up with her softest smile, reaching for his arm-hoping to make things look real for everyone watching. But Sebastian didn''t give her the chance. With a quick, "Excuse me," he stepped away, his long stride carrying him straight toward Reese.

    Reese had already noticed themotion at the door. When she saw Sebastian and Leslie walking in together, she shot n a knowing look. So Leslie was trying to use Sebastian, hoping to get at de''s data through Ratcliff Global again. Reese wondered if Sebastian would really risk the wholepany just because Leslie once saved his life. Hopefully, he wasn''t that stupid. At the very least, he could wait until her divorce was final and she''d secured her share of the assets. She wasn''t about to let anyone mess with her interests.

    Reese kept her smile in ce, calmly answering questions from the people around her. It wasn''t until the noise around her faded and everyone started to go quiet that she realized something was off. She looked up, and met Sebastian''s dark, steady gaze.

    He was standing right behind her, wrapped in that usual don''t-mess-with-me aura, but his eyes softened when he looked at her. When she finally noticed him, Sebastian raised an eyebrow and gave her a smile that was surprisingly gentle. "Reese, what a coincidence. Didn''t expect to see you here."

    Her hand shook a little around her wine ss, but her expression didn''t change. She answered coolly, "I''m here with n for work. Did you need something?"

    Now everyone was staring at Reese.

    The head of Ratcliff Global was actually smiling at a woman, and starting a conversation? Everyone knew Sebastian was seldom interested in girls. They all just saw him dodge Leslie trying to hold his arm.

    Sebastian either didn''t notice or ignored Reese''s distant tone and took the initiative to exin, "I promised Leslie I''de with her tonight it was something I''d already agreed to, so it wouldn''t have been right to back out. That''s why I brought Neal along too. Fjust wanted to let you know, so there wouldn''t be any misunderstandings."

    Reese arched an eyebrow. She knew he was exining himself¡ªand making sure there were no rumors-but honestly, what did any of this have to do with her?

    The people around them looked even more shocked. Was Mr. Ratcliff actually exining himself to Ms. Meyer?

    "Mr. Ratcliff, do you and Ms. Meyer

    know each other?" Wade finally

    asked, ncing back and forth between them. Thinking back to the admiring way he''d looked at Reese just moments ago he suddenly felt a little nervous.

    Sebastian shot Wade a cool look. He''d definitely noticed the interest in Wade''s eyes earlier. That was exactly why he''d left Leslie and Neal and hurried over here.

    "Yeah, she''s my..."

    "We''ve met, but we''re not close," Reese cut in, her voice calm and sharp.

    Sebastian''s next words caught in his throat, the word "wife" stuck halfway out and nowhere to go.

 Chapter 183

    He knew Reese didn''t want anyone to know about them. Even though it stung, he wasn''t going to push her. All he could do was y along. "Yeah, we met when we worked on a project before. Ms. Meyer''s very capable."

    But his words were polite only on the surface. Sebastian''s eyes were sharp and possessive, sending a clear warning.

    Wade felt a chill run down his spine. He nced at his coworker, who could only give him a helpless, sympathetic look. With the way Mr. Ratcliff was acting, it was obvious he and Reese weren''t just colleagues. Anyone could tell he was interested in her.

    Nobody dared to ask more. Instead, the way people looked at Sebastian and Reese turned even more suggestive, full of curiosity and unspoken questions.

    Reese noticed the tension instantly when Sebastian walked in. She shot him a death re, telling him to stay out of it, then turned back to the person who''d asked her a question earlier.

    Sebastian just watched her, the corners of his mouth hinting at a smile.

    So this is what she''s like when she''s focused. He could see how much she loved her work with artificial intelligence. Regret crept in. If only he''d tried to get to know her better when they first got married. If only he hadn''t tried to keep her from working, or if he''d agreed when his father suggested she join Ratcliff Global''s research team. Maybe things wouldn''t have ended up like this.

    Across the room, Neal watched everything unfold. He couldn''t help leaning over to whisper to Leslie, "You think Sebastian''s actually fallen for Reese? He''s acting so possessive."

    Leslie''s face went stiff, her fake smile not fooling anyone. She didn''t answer.

    Neal didn''t seem to care. He noticed people ncing their way, so he lifted his arm, inviting Leslie to link hers with his. "Come on, let''s stop standing here like props. We should go say hi to the hosts."

    Leslie moved like a robot, curling her arm through his, but her eyes stayed fixed on Sebastian. She just couldn''t look away.

    That''s when the gossip from nearby started drifting over.

    "So Leslie isn''t Mr. Ratcliff''s date, huh? I figured he was seeing someone new."

    "I knew it. Like he''d ever want someone mixed up in a data leak."

    "I heard Big X is under investigation by Homnd Security. Leslie''s ?

    charge over there. Bet things h¨¦t

    rough for her right now."

    "Seriously, if there wasn''t a problem, security agents wouldn''t be all over them. Maybe she was behind the ckOak leak too."

    Every word stabbed at Leslie, making her already lousy mood even worse. She didn''t have it in her to make small talk anymore.

    She muttered, "I''m going to the restroom," to Neal, then slipped out of his grasp and hurried over to the lounge area in the corner, desperate for a little peace.

    She''d just sat down, barely able to catch her breath, when she felt two pairs of eyes on her. Looking up, she saw Dylon and Rosie walking over, both of them wearing these knowing, almost cheeky smiles.

    "Leslie, I''m Reese''s uncle. I''ve heard a lot about you."

    "Do you have a moment? Maybe we''ll get to work together someday."

 Chapter 184

    Leslie nced up at Dylon, curiosity flickering behind her calm facade. What did Reese''s uncle want with her? Was he here to stand up for Reese, or was there something else going on?

    Her mind spun with possibilities, but she kept her expression cool and steady. "I can''t say I''ve heard much about you, Mr. Ramos. What brings you over?"

    Rosie, picking up on Leslie''s distance, clung to Dylon''s arm a little tighter.

    Dylon patted Rosie''s hand in reassurance, then turned to Leslie with a smile that felt both practiced and a little too familiar. He shot a quick nce at Sebastian and Reese standing nearby before lowering his voice.

    "You don''t miss much, Leslie, so I''ll just be upfront. I''m Dylon Ramos. I know you and Mr. Ratcliff go way back, and the truth is, I need a favor."

    He paused, like he was weighing his words. "There''s been some-let''s call it tension-between us and Reese. Some business stuff got messy. She''s not letting it go, and we''re honestly out of ideas. I was hoping you could put in a word with Mr. Ratcliff. Maybe ask him to give us a break, keep Reese from taking things too far."

    "Reese?" Leslie''s hand paused on her wine ss, a glimmer of surprise barely hidden in her eyes.

    She hadn''t expected Reese to even fall out with her own uncle. Reese must really know how to make enemies. But then, Leslie wondered if this was just one of Reese''s schemes. She masked her reaction, slipping easily back into a neutral expression.

    "I think you''re overestimating my rtionship with Mr. Ratcliff. We only know each other for work. Whatever''s going on between you and Reese-that''s family business. I''d rather not get involved."

    "Don''t turn us down so fast," Dylon said, his eyes lingering on Sebastian, who was standing close to Reese. Dylon noticed how her expression had faltered earlier when Sebastian left her to go to Reese. He was almost sure Leslie would say yes.

    "Reese is stubborn as theye. Once she''s decided on something, no one can change her mind. We''ve tried talking to her, over and over, but she''s made it clear she''ll never let this go."

    "She''s my niece. I really don''t want things to get ugly."

    Rosie let out a shaky sigh, her eyes rimmed with red. "We''ve always tried to do right by her. After her mom passed, we took her in, paid for her schoot raised her like our own. Now, she''s grown up and wants nothing to do with us."

    "Enough," Dylon said quietly, squeezing Rosie''s hand before turning back to Leslie with an apologetic smile. ¡°Sorry you had to see that Family drama is never pretty. Please, forgive us."

    He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a gold-embossed

    business card offering it to Leslie f

    you''d rather stay out of it, I

    understand. But here-if you ever

    need anything, just call me

    Leslie watched them walk away, her mind ticking. They must have been truly desperate toe to her. She took the card, her tone still polite but distant. "Thank you, Mr. Ramos."

    As Dylon and Rosie disappeared into the crowd, Leslie ran her thumb over the name on the card. She hesitated, then pulled out her phone and shot off a quick message to her assistant.

    "Find out everything you can about Dylon and Reese. I want all the details-what happened, how bad it is. Thirty minutes."

    Message sent, Leslie looked back across the room. She spotted Reese, with Sebastian standing protectively at her side, shielding her from the crowd.

    He used to do that for Leslie.

    Now, all Sebastian cared about was Reese. Leslie''s grip on her phone tightened. If what Dylon said was true, maybe teaming up with him wouldn''t be such a bad idea.

    Meanwhile, Rosie and Dylon slipped into a quiet corner, away from everyone else. Rosie finally let her guard down.

    "Do you really think she''ll help us? She didn''t look like she believed a word we said."

    Dylon nced back at Leslie, a sly smile curving his lips. "She will. The way she looks at Sebastian? She''s not going to let Reese get anywhere near him."

 Chapter 185

    "She''s probably already got someone checking into what''s going on with us and Reese. Once she''s sure, even if she doesn''t want to help, she''lle to us first."

    "Enemy of my enemy, right?"

    Sebastian had no idea Leslie had already talked to Dylon. After seeing Reese tonight, he didn''t pay attention to anyone else. With him there, the people crowding around Reese quietly drifted away. Even n found an excuse to go mingle, leaving the two of them alone.

    Reese looked at the man practically glued to her side and finally couldn''t take it anymore. "Sebastian, what are you doing?"

    He looked down at her. With her eyes narrowed and her arms crossed, she looked like an annoyed kitten. He couldn''t help but smile.

    "You said before you couldn''t feel my love. I''m trying to change that."

    Reese let out a cold, sarcasticugh. "Aren''t you worried someone will find out about us?"

    ¡°Nope.¡± He leaned in, clinking his ss against hers. ¡°Honestly, I''d rather people knew.

    "If you want, I''ll tell everyone right now you''re my wife.

    "I''ve already told Brady to handle it. From now on, I''m out of all business between Ratcliff Global and Big X.

    "I know you don''t like my rtionship with Leslie. I''ll keep my distance from her."

    Reese blinked in surprise. She hadn''t expected him to go this far, but she wasn''t naive enough to think he''d really change. Once your heart turns cold, it''s over.

    "You don''t have to do any of that," she said quietly.

    They were almost divorced anyway. She honestly didn''t care anymore.

    Just then, Reese felt someone staring at her. She looked up and locked eyes with Leslie across the room. Leslie didn''t look away-she raised her ss with a knowing, almost taunting smile. It was the kind of challenge only another woman would recognize.

    Reese looked away. Thest thing she wanted was another round of pointless drama.

    "Leslie''s waiting for you over there. Go on. Don''t keep her waiting," Reese said. "I''m not going."

    Sebastian didn''t even pause. He reached out, wanting to touch her hair, but she turned her head and his hand hovered awkwardly in the an For a second, disappointment shed in his eyes.

    "You''re my wife. Why would I go to her?"

    "Your wife?" Reese shot back, her voice sharp. "We''ve been married seven years. Who even knows about it, besides a handful of people close to us?"

    "Do you really think I still care about being your wife?"

    "Sebastian, let me make this clear. I don''t want to be Mrs. Ratcliff anymore."

    Sebastian was at a loss for words. Regret hit him hard. If he could go back, he would have given Reese the wedding she deserved, told the whole world about her.

    "I regret it," he said finally, his voice rough. "Reese, I regret everything.

    "I shouldn''t have held you back from your work. I shouldn''t have been so distant I never should have let you get hurt. Please, just give me one more chance. Please?"

    Reese shook her head. She was about to answer when her phone suddenly rang.

    She nced at the screen. The call was from the housekeeper at Matthew''s ce. Her heart skipped. She hurried to a quiet spot and answered, "What''s going on?"

    ¡°Ms. Meyer." The housekeeper sounded panicked. "Annie''s burning up. I just took her temperature it''s almost 104. I cant reach Mr. Wiles, so I had to call you. What should i do?"

    "Annie has a fever?" Reese''s heart dropped. Annie must have caught a cold from the rainst night.

    Reese cursed herself for not realizing sooner. "Take her to the hospital right now. Keep me posted. I''m on my way."

    She hung up, found n, and quickly exined about Annie''s fever and that she had to leave for the hospital, then hurried out of the hall.

    When Sebastian grabbed her arm, Reese spun around, her patience worn thin. "Whatever you want to say, save it. Annie''s burning up and I need to get to the hospital."

    "I know. Don''t worry."

 Chapter 186

    Sebastian walked her toward his car, his tone steady and firm. "You''ve been drinking. You can''t drive. Come with me. I have a driver.

    "I''ll go with you. I''m Annie''s godmother, after all. One more adult can only help, especially if somethinges up and you need an extra hand."

    Reese stopped in her tracks, suddenly realizing she''d actually had a drink earlier. She''d been so flustered she''dpletely forgotten.

    A little kid with a high fever was nothing to mess around with. She didn''t want to waste another second here. Without arguing again, she pulled her hand out of his and hurried straight toward the ck Bentley parked at the curb.

    "Hurry up," she called over her shoulder.

    Sebastian watched her rushing off and, for a moment, something warm flickered in his eyes before he quickly followed her.

    With his reputation, Sebastian drew attention wherever he went. Earlier, people had kept their distance because it was obvious he and Reese had something serious to talk about. But now, with the two of them leaving together in such a rush, the room buzzed with whispers.

    "What''s going on? Is Mr. Ratcliff leaving with Reese?"

    "Weren''t people saying Reese was the one who got in the way between Mr. Ratcliff and Sofia? I don''t buy it. If anything, it looks like he''s the one chasing after her."

    "Exactly! I mean, even when he was with Sofia, he never looked this attentive. Did you see his face just now? He looked seriously worried. He''s really into her."

    "No wonder Mr. Ratcliff was hovering around Ms. Meyer all evening. He seemed annoyed whenever anyone else tried to talk to her."

    The gossip drifted over to Leslie, who stood frozen, watching Sebastian leave without even a backward nce. He''de to this event with her, but now he was acting like she was invisible, following after Reese like nothing else mattered. Fury burned in her chest, so hot it made her whole body ache.

    Sebastian was supposed to be her partner tonight. Now he''d just left her behind, treating her like she was nothing. How was she supposed to just ept that?

    "Wow. Looks like Sebastian''s really in deep this time."

    She hadn''t even noticed when Neal came up beside her, following her gaze. His voice was somewhere between teasing and sympathetic.

    "Honestly, the only other time I''ve seen him act like this was when he was dating you, right?

    "With Sofia, it was always more like a business deal. He never went out

    of his way for her like he is for- Reese. Just now, he was practically glued to her like he was teritied she''d disappear.

    Leslie''s nails dug into her palm, but she forced herself to keep a polite, gentle smile on her face. "If Sebastian''s found someone he really cares about, then I''m happy for him.

    "But it looked like Ms. Meyer was pretty cold to him just now. The two of them seemed to be fighting-she barely even looked at him."

    "Well, he kind of brought that on himself," Neal said, rolling his eyes. His voice wasced with exasperation "He was so ice cold to Reese before, hurt her so much. Now he wants her back? Not gonna happen that easily."

    He paused, ncing at Leslie with a hint of regret. "Honestly, if you hadn''t gone abroad back then, maybe you''d be the one marrying Sebastian. Reese wouldn''t even be here."

    Leslie''s smile tightened even more. Trust Neal to poke her right where it hurt.

    She lowered her head, trying to hide

    the resentment and frustration swirling in her eyes. "After what happened between Sebastian and Ms Mayer, the Ratcliff family insisted he take responsibility. If I''d stayed, I only would''ve made things harder for him."

    But deep down, she knew the truth. Even if she''d stayed, Sebastian would never have married her.

    After their rtionship came out, Mr. Ratcliff had called her in and told her, point- nk, to leave Sebastian.

    The Ratcliff family didn''t need to use Sebastian''s marriage for a business alliance, but there was no way they''d let their heir marry someone with a questionable reputation.

    She''d felt helpless, angry, but in the end, she had no choice but to give up.

    Her dad had gone to prison for a fatal drunk driving ident. Her mom raised her alone with nothing but grit. If the Ratcliff family hadn''t stepped in to help, she never would have made it this far.

    But that help showed her what money and influence could do. She''d worked so hard to get close to Sebastian, believing he was her shot at a better life.

    Then Mr. Ratcliff''s words brought her crashing back to reality.

    Someone like her would always be a stain on Sebastian''s future. Maybe he loved her enough to ignore it for a while, but love fades, doesn''t it?

    Better to walk away while things were still good, so he''d always remember her fondly, instead of waiting for the day when they''d both end up hating each other.

 Chapter 187

    Back then, Sebastian hadn''t really taken over Ratcliff Global yet. He was nowhere near powerful enough to go up against his grandfather. If she''d stayed, she would''ve just ended up humiliating herself.

    So when Mr. Ratcliff handed her a check and an offer to study overseas, she didn''t even hesitate. She took it.

    She honestly thought Sebastian would remember her, that he''d always appreciate what they''d had together. She never imagined he''d fall for Reese so quickly.

    Neal didn''t know all the details, but after hearing Leslie''s version, he could only sigh. ¡°Life''s got a twisted sense of humor, doesn''t it?"

    He nced at Leslie, who lookedpletely deted. "Sebastian''s already gone. No point sticking around, is there? Want me to drive you home?"

    Leslie took a deep breath, forcing down all her emotions, and put on her best polite smile. "Thanks. I''d like that."

    Her n for Sebastian to escort her to the g tonight had totally flopped. Not only did she fail to use his reputation to steady her standing, she had to watch him dote on Reese all night. Sticking around any longer would just be asking for more embarrassment.

    The car rolled smoothly through the night. Leslie leaned her head against the window, watching the neon lights streak by outside, her fingers absentmindedly tapping her phone.

    Suddenly her phone lit up. She unlocked it and saw a message from her assistant.

    [Boss, I''ve got the info.]

    [Sofia wanted to get her hands on the old townhouse Reese''s mom left her. Reese refused, so Dylon tried to get in Mr. Ratcliff''s good graces by shorting Ramos Corporation and leaving Reese in debt. The townhouse was auctioned off.]

    [Reese has been going after Dylon for shorting Ramos Corporation. She''s not letting this go.]

    Leslie snorted at her screen.

    So Dylon wanted to use her to deal with Reese? What a schemer.

    But why couldn''t she flip things around and use them instead?

    After all, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

    With that thought, Leslie pulled out the business card Dylon gave her earlier and sent him a text.

    ***

    Meanwhile, at the hospital, Mr. Ratcliff had sent everyone away except for his most trustedwyer and assistant.

    With a shaky hand, he sat up in bed, pulling off his oxygen mask. He looked even older than he had just a few days ago-so frail it was obvious his time was almost up.

    Thewyer spoke gently, repeating his question. ¡°Mr. Ratcliff, are you sure you want to make Reese your goddaughter and leave her a share of your estate?"

    He stared out the window for a long moment before nodding.

    No matter what, the Ratcliff family owed Reese this much.

    He could already see it. After he was gone, Reese and Sebastian would tear each other apart. He could only hope this wit might force them to hold back, even just a little.

    Thewyer finalized the will and

    filmed a video of the old man

    reading and signing it, making sure

    everything was airtight Then,

    carefully packed up all the

    documents.

    The assistant hesitated, ncing at Mr. Ratcliff before speaking up. "Sir, there''s something you should know.

    "Your illness came on really suddenly. You''d been healthy before, so I worried someone might have done something to you.

    "A few days ago, I collected a hair sample and sent it, along with your test results, to a top researchb.

    "Yesterday, the hospital got the

    results. Your sudden illness is from a gene mutation on your Y chromosome. It''s a hereditary disease, passed down only through the male line."

    "And... with the way things are progressing, this gene mutation is showing up earlier and earlier. Guys your age rarely get it sote anymore."

    Mr. Ratcliff turned his head slowly, his face full of shock.

    He was smart enough to connect the dots fast. "You mean Sebastian and... cough..."

    "Sebastian and Robbie have inherited my gene mutation? They could get sick at any time?"

 Chapter 188

    "Yes."

    The assistant nced at the old man lying in bed, his face etched with the final signs of life. There was pity in his eyes he couldn''t hide.

    Suddenly, Mr. Ratcliff started coughing hard, the fit rattling his frail body until it finally eased.

    "Tomorrow, have Sebastian and Robbiee in for checkups. If they''ve inherited this illness, we need to catch it early and start treatment."

    At that moment, on the first floor of the hospital-

    The ck Bentley hadn''t even stopped before Reese burst out, heels cking in a rush across the shiny floor.

    "Slow down," Sebastian called, close behind, catching her frantic energy.

    The sharp smell of disinfectant hit as soon as they stepped into the ER lobby. Reese spotted the housekeeper right away, lookingpletely out of ce and panicked in the waiting area.

    "Where''s Annie? How is she?"

    "Ms. Meyer!" The housekeeper''s voice trembled with relief. "They just took her into emergency. The doctor said she''s got acute pneumonia, and the infection''s spreading. She needs to be admitted right away."

    "Acute pneumonia..."

    The words echoed in Reese''s head. Everything felt fuzzy, the world tilting as guilt crashed over her. If she''d just paid a little more attention...

    A warm, steady hand caught her around the waist, keeping her upright before she could fall.

    "Calm down. The doctors are with her. She''ll be okay."

    Sebastian''s deep, calm voice cut through the chaos in her mind and helped her steady herself.

    Reese took a shaky breath and pulled out of his hold.

    "I''ll handle the admission paperwork."

    She turned for the nurses'' station, but her steps felt wobbly, the hallway swimming in and out of focus.

    Sebastian noticed something was off. Her face was far too pale, sweat beading along her hairline. He caught her wrist, worry in his eyes.

    "You''re not okay."

    He looked over his shoulder at the driver. "Go get Annie admitted. Find the best pediatricians avable."

    The driver rushed off without a word.

    Sebastian turned back to Reese. "I''ve already checked you in. Let''s get you seen too."

    "I''m fine, really, I don''t¡ª"

    Reese tried to pull away, but exhaustion hit her all at once, leaving her legs weak.

    Sebastian didn''t give her a chance to argue, guiding her firmly into the exam

    room.

    Inside, the doctor took her temperature and frowned. "You''re at 102. You''ve got a fever.

    "We''ll need some bloodwork. Once I get the results, I''ll prescribe something for the fever and the infection."

    Staring at the paperwork, Reese finally realized how cold she felt, shivering from head to toe.

    Sebastian took the forms, then quietly led her to theb.

    After her blood was drawn, he helped her settle onto a waiting room chair. His voice was soft. "Sit here and don''t move."

    Reese watched him as he moved between the payment counter and the pharmacy, his tall figure cutting through the crowd. For a moment, she felt like she was watching a scene from the past.

    She remembered hiding behind a pir, watching Sebastian and Robbie fuss over

    Sofia, doing everything for her, while she stood alone on the sidelines.

    But now, this man who had once ignored her was running around for her sake. He didn''t care about his expensive suit as he waited in line, ncing between his watch and her test results.

    Reese let out a quiet, bitterugh.

    Men really were unpredictable. Who knew how long Sebastian''s kindness wouldst this time?

    When Sebastian came back with her medicine and the driver finished Annie''s admission, they headed up to the VIP pediatric ward.

    Reese brushed off Sebastian''s attempt to help her, forcing herself to walk in on her own.

    Once everything was settled, the room finally quieted down. Annieday on the bed, cheeks flushed with fever breathing fast, a tinyd tofer Hand

    Reese sat by her side, gently holding Annie''s small hand, the guilt rising up all over again.

    "Take your medicine first."

    Sebastian came over with a ss of water, dropping the pills into his palm and holding them out to her.

    "Thanks."

    Reese didn''t argue. She knew getting well was the only way she could take care of Annie. She swallowed the pills and handed the cup back.

    Sebastian noticed her resistance fading and a small, soft smile appeared on his lips.

 Chapter 189

    "Go get some rest on the cot," Sebastian said, pulling the nket aside. "I''ll stay with her. I promise, nothing''s going to happen to Annie."

    The medicine was finally working and Reese felt herself drifting off. Her body ached all over and she was so tired it was hard to keep her eyes open. She didn''t argue, just sank halfway onto the bed and nced at Annie, who was sleeping quietly nearby. Within moments, her eyes slipped shut.

    Somewhere between waking and sleep, Reese felt someone gently tuck the nket around her. Warm fingers brushed her hand, lingering for a second, and the touch sent a tiny jolt through her heart. But she was already too exhausted to

    move.

    Her dreams weren''t peaceful. Images of Annie burning with fever mixed with shes of Sebastian''s face kept shing, sometimes distant, sometimes painfully gentle. It wasn''t until someone''s warm hand pressed softly to her forehead, and a familiar scent wrapped around her, that she finally rxed.

    Sebastian sat in the chair next to the bed, watching Reese''s face as she slept. Lately, she was always bristling at him, like a kitten with its fur on end-snapping back or just ignoring him altogether. He couldn''t remember thest time she looked this calm.

    Her eyshes were long and trembled slightly against her cheeks. Even though she was still pale, all her usual defenses had faded away, leaving her softer than he remembered. The night grew deeper outside the window, and inside the hospital room there was only the steady beep of the monitors and the quiet sound of their breathing.

    Sebastian just sat there, keeping an eye on Annie''s IV and watching over Reese. For the first time in years, he felt a quiet peace settle over him, along with a gentle warmth he thought he''d lost.

    He wished this moment couldst forever. That they could just stay like this, together.

    That was all he wanted right now, more than anything.

    Reese frowned in her sleep as the fever medicine did its job, sweat beading on

    her forehead. Sebastian grabbed a tissue and gently wiped it away, smoothing her messy hair back with careful fingers, afraid to wake her.

    Only when the tension left her brow did he check her temperature again, finally rxing when he realized her fever wasing down.

    This was the first time he''d ever really looked after her when she was sick.

    He never realized she could look so fragile, her brow knit in pain.

    He''d made so many mistakes. But from now on, he was determined to hold her close and make it right, no matter how long it took.

    He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, soft and reverent. "Goodnight, babe," he whispered.

    His warm breath brushed her skin and Reese stirred a little in her sleep but didn''t wake up.

    Sebastian looked up, his throat tight as he nced at the dark circles beneath her eyes. His heart ached, prickled by guilt and longing.

    There was a time when being close to Reese was effortless, something he took for granted. Now the only moments he could steal were when she was asleep, hoping she wouldn''t turn away.

    His phone buzzed in his pocket-two quick vibrations. A message from Brady.

    [Boss, some of the board members are teaming up to put pressure on you.]

    He turned off the screen right away, worried the light would wake Reese.

    His father was seriously ill, thepany was falling apart with infighting, and every problem felt like

    it was crushing him. But none of it hurt as much as Reese shutting him out

    He knew it was his fault. He made one mistake after another in their marriage.

    Now, even if he wanted to make things right, Reese wouldn''t let him near.

    A deep, distant chime drifted in through the window. It''s the bells from the church tower.

    Sebastian froze, and suddenly a memory shed in his mind. Years ago, Reese had given him a pendant.

    What had she said back then?

    bet

    She used to tug on his sleeve, her eyes shining. "Sebastian, I heard St. Dominie''s out in the suburbs is really special. I went and asked the priests to bless this pendant for you.

    "When you''re free, let''s go light a candle together, okay?"

    But back then, he was cold to her. He barely nced at the pendant before tossing it in a drawer, not even saying thank you.

    He pressed a hand over his heart.

    If he went to St. Dominic''s now, knelt in a pew and lit a candle for Reese and his father, whispered a prayer-would God give him one more shot at redemption?

    Once the thought appeared, he couldn''t shake it.

    He gently tucked the nket around Reese and called his driver.

    "Come to the pediatric wing, VIP suite. Wait outside the door. If anything happens, call me right away."

 Chapter 190

    He hung up and shot onest look at the person lying in the hospital bed before turning and leaving the room in a rush.

    Somehow, rain had started falling outside. Fine and steady, it blurred the city lights as his ck Bentley disappeared into the night.

    By the time the car pulled up outside St. Dominic''s, the air had turned bitter and wet. The church sat there, tall and silent, its spire lost in the mist. Broad stone steps climbed up to the front doors, each one washed dark with rain, fading into the shadows like they led straight into the night.

    A young priest stood under the porch,ntern in hand, getting ready to lock up. He nced over warily as Sebastian approached. "Sorry, sir, the church is closed for the night. If you want to confess or pray, you''ll have toe back in the morning." "I''m not here for myself." Sebastian''s voice was quiet but firm. ¡°I just want to light a candle for two people I owe more than I can ever repay."

    The priest hesitated, polite but still blocking the way. "We can''t have visitors thiste. The priests are all resting. If you want to light a candle, pleasee back for morning prayers."

    "She once kept vigil all night for me. If she could do that back then, why can''t I do this now?" Sebastian took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the heavy doors. "I want to go in. I need to light two candles."

    Thentern''s glow washed his face pale, but his eyes stayed steady and clear.

    The priest paused, studying him, taking in his suit d sharp features. Sebastian looked every bit the man used to fighting battles in boardrooms. But the pain and regret in his expression couldn''t be hidden. It was so real, so raw, that the priest finally gave in and nodded.

    "I can''t let you into the confessional," he said softly, "but you can pray and light your candles out front. Come in."

    The doors swung open, and the hush of the empty church closed around them like a nket.

    Under the soaring arches, the statue of the Virgin Mary stood watch, the stained ss windows dull with rain. Sebastian stopped in front of the altar and lit the first candle.

    The small me stood still, stubborn against the darkness.

    He whispered, "This one''s for Reese. May she be safe, may pain and sickness never touch her."

    The sound of rain echoed in the high ceiling, swallowing his words. It was like a prayer he''d been holding inside for years, finally let out.

    He lit the second candle. The me flickered, and his eyes shone red in the candlelight, tears threatening.

    "Let her be free from pain. Let her always smile."

    His voice was barely a breath. Fingers trembling, he touched the wet, cold stone under the candles. His shirt clung to his back, heavy and soaked, tracing the hard lines of his muscles.

    He didn''t linger. Instead, he stepped back out into the rain and knelt on the stone steps. These were the same steps that filled with crowds for weddings and funerals, but now they were empty. The only sound was the rain.

    His knees hit the cold, wet stone. The first shock was icy, then it turned to a slow, biting ache. Every time he knelt, bowed, and pressed his forehead down, his body screamed in protest.

    But he refused to stop.

    Guilt pressed down on him, crushing, leaving no room for weakness. He was terrified that even the smallest pause would make God turn away, would leave Reese and the old man in the hospital without mercy.

    "Lord, forgive my ignorance."

    He murmured, and Reese''sst look shed in his mind-her eyes calm and distant, colder than any usation.

    He saw the old man too, frail and pale under the oxygen mask, squeezing his hand as if giving him everyst bit of strength.

    shes of the boardroom came next-executives in their suits, all fake loyalty and hidden knives.

    He was the king of a fortress, but all he felt was defeat, standing alone among the ruins.

    "Sir!"

    The priest ran out onto the steps,ntern swinging, rain pouring down. He stopped a few steps above Sebastian, watching him knee in the mud soaked and shivering, but unyielding

    "Please, this isn''t the way! God won''t forgive you more just because you hurt yourself. He looks at your heart Come back tomorrow-the church will help you."

    Sebastian didn''t answer. He pressed his hands to the stone, forcing himself upright even as his whole body shook.

    His movements were slow but sure. The pain in his knees burned, but he made himself kneel again.

    Rain dripped from his hair, his forehead pressed to the cold, gritty stone. He shut his eyes and whispered, "It''s not the same."

    His voice was rough, barely more than a growl, every word pulled from somewhere deep.

    "The wrongs of today-I need to redeem them tonight."

    The priest stood there, gripping his umbre, silent. He wanted to step in, to help,

    but he could see there was nothing he could do.

    Every prayer Sebastian whispered felt like it ripped him open.

    The rain kept falling, wind sneaking into his sleeves and down his back. His hands were scraped and red pants Heavy with mud each ache and bruise another weight on his heart.

    By his fiftieth prayer, he couldn''t even tell what was on his face¡ªrain, sweat, or tears.

    His vision blurred until all he could see was the hazy outline of the Virgin Mary.

    But what he felt most clearly was a memory from seven years ago¡ª

    Outside the courthouse, Eve had held his hand, her eyes shining with sincerity. "Sebastian, I promise I''ll always take care of you."

    Back then, the sun was shining and her smile was warm.

    And him?

    He''d taken her love for granted, ignoring her gentle kindness over and over, crushing her hopes for the future with every careless word.

 Chapter 191

    She wrapped herself in coldness and silence, building walls he couldn''t see through. Only then did he finally realize what he''d lost.

    Fiftieth step. "Lord, please, just give me one more chance to fix this." The words circled in Sebastian''s mind as he bent forward. His lips tasted salt, but he couldn''t tell if it was the rain or his own tears.

    By the time he hit step eighty, his body was barely hanging on. Cold and exhaustion squeezed the breath out of him, every inhale sharp and painful. His knees felt like they were being stabbed with red-hot needles, each movement a mix of faith and regret. The world blurred around him until all he could hear was rain pounding the stone steps and his own heavy breathing.

    But he couldn''t stop. Not now.

    Memories of Reese shed through his mind-her pale face when she was sick, her eyebrows drawn together even in sleep, the quiet hope in her eyes when she''d handed him that pendant. Those memories were a soft light in his battered soul, carrying him forward, step by aching step, toward the altar.

    He clenched his jaw and forced himself up, only to drop to his knees again. His forehead hit the icy stone, as if he could press his soul into the rain-soaked steps.

    "Eightieth step. Lord, please help my grandfather. Let him get through this."

    His knees had split open long ago, blood mixing with rain and dirt, leaving a smeared trail behind him. His arms shook from the effort, every muscle screaming, every push upward a fight against all the pain he''d caused.

    Under the portico, a priest finally couldn''t take it anymore. His voice broke through the rain, tight with worry. "Child, you''ve shown enough faith! Please, get up! I''ll tell the bishop to light two candles for you at the altar!"

    Sebastian looked up, rain running down his face, eyes steady and determined. He shook his head, his voice barely a whisper. "No. I need to do this myself."

    He knew that unless he climbed every step-using everyst bit of strength and regret¡ªhis apology would mean nothing.

    Ny. Ny-five. Every step felt like walking on knives. His body was about to give out, his mind flickering between blinding light and darkness. Even the rain sounded far away now.

    But there was only one thing left in his heart. He had to finish. He had to light those candles for Reese and his father.

    At the ny-ninth step, a pair of warm hands reached out in front of him, steadying him.

    Sebastian looked up. An old priest in a gray robe stood before him, holding an umbre over his head to block the rain.

    "My child, why are you putting yourself through this?" The priest''s voice was gentle, full of understanding.

    "I just want to pray for one more chance with her," Sebastian said quietly Please, Father, can I have two prayer pendants? One for my wifes peace one for my grandfather''s blessing." Content"

    The priest took in the mud and rain all over Sebastian, sighed softly, and reached

    out to stop him. "Your faith is enough, my son. Come inside with me."

    Sebastian staggered after him into the church. Inside, it was quiet except for the rain and the distant sound of bells.

    The priest walked to the altar, lit three white candles, and handed two to Sebastian. "Kneel. The Lord will hear your heart."

    Sebastian took the candles and knelt, ignoring the pain burning in his knees. He sped his hands, closed his eyes, and poured everything into his prayer.

    "Lord, I know was wrong. I hurt the person I love most. Please keep Reese safe, and healthy. Please give me one more chance to take care of her. And please help my grandfather through this. Grant him a long, peaceful life."

    When he was done, the priest pressed two medals with the Virgin Mary''s image

    into his hands-just like the one Reese had once given him.

    "Keep these close. With a sincere heart, the Lord will show mercy. Do good. Cherish those around you."

    Sebastian gripped the pendants tight and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Father."

    The next morning, Reese sat at

    Annie''s bedside, watching her slowly

    wake up. She checked Annie''s temperature first, making sure her little girl waspletely out of

    danger before finally picking up her phone, ready to check work messages.

    She didn''t expect to find her inbox packed with frantic texts from her friends.

    A secondter, a bold headline on Twitter''s trending page jumped out at her.

    #Stunned! Mr. Ratcliff seen kneeling in the rain on the church steps-rumored to be begging for a second chance at love!#

 Chapter 192

    Early the next morning, Dylon woke up to find a message from Leslie lighting up his phone. A small, satisfied smile yed at his lips.

    Just like he''d expected, once Leslie figured out what really went down between him and Reese, she wasted no timeing straight to him.

    He called Leslie, and when she confirmed a time to meet, his smile only grew wider.

    "Leslie, today''s honestly not great for me. I''ve got a bunch of important meetings I can''t skip," he told her, his tone polite but distant. "But if you''re okay with it, maybe you could set something up with my wife instead?"

    Leslie, of course, knew exactly what Dylon was doing¡ªmaking her jump through hoops. But she didn''t have the luxury toin right now. "Of course, that''s fine with me," she said, forcing a calm tone. "When would Mrs. Ramos be avable?"

    She really didn''t have a choice. She''d spent allst night calling and texting Sebastian, desperate for any response, but got nothing. If she wanted any shot at fixing things with Sebastian, Dylon and his wife were her only way in.

    When Dylon hung up, Rosie turned from her vanity to look at him. "Why aren''t you meeting her yourself?"

    Dylon strolledzily out of bed and into the bathroom. "She''s the one who needs our help. We can''t chase after her."

    He''d seen it clearlyst night-Sebastian''s heart was never with Leslie. That meant Leslie was useful, but not someone they needed to please.

    "When you meet her, just listen more than you talk. See what she wants, figure out her angle."

    Rosie finished rubbing in her moisturizer. "Don''t worry, I know how to handle her." When Rosie arrived at the caf¨¦''s private booth, Leslie was already there waiting. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Leslie," Rosie said as she sat down, her silk dress perfectly tailored and her movements graceful.

    "Not at all, Mrs. Ramos. I hope I''m not disturbing you," Leslie replied, forcing a polite smile as she tried not to show her frustration at Rosie''s obviousteness.

    "Yesterday, Mr. Ramos mentioned maybe I could talk to Sebastian, try to get him to ease up on you two," Leslie said, getting straight to the point. "I just wonder- what happened between you, Mr. Ramos, and Ms. Meyer?"

    Rosie met her gaze, recognizing Leslie''s attempt to show off how close she was to Sebastian. Instead of answering, Rosie smiled softly and shot back, "I heard Mr. Ratcliff went to great lengths to help you work with ckOak. You must be pretty important to him, right?"

    Leslie''s fingers froze for a split second, eyes shing with annoyance. "You''re too kind. But of course, to Sebastian, Mrs. Ratcliff is the most important woman in his life."

    "Whatever she wants, he''d probably hand it to her on a silver tter," she added, deliberately lifting Reese up in the conversation, hoping to spark some jealousy in Rosie.

    Rosie did feel a pang of unease, but didn''t let it show. She took a slow sip of water, set the ss down, and finally replied, her tone cool and collected.

    "You''re right. Sebastian is really protective of Reese these days. Even after she lost the baby, he never med her.

    "But you know, the Ratcliff family still doesn''t realize she had the abortion herself.

    "She''s got guts, I''ll give her that. Good thing we found out early, and happened to know someone at the hospital, so we could help cover it up and keep the truth from the family."

    The words hit Leslie like a punch to the gut. She clenched her hands under the table, struggling to keep her emotions in check.

    That was her child, the only thing she had left to connect herself to Sebastian, the one card she''d spent years holding onto.

    And Reese just got rid of it? Just like that?

    That bitch! How could she?

    "Why would she do that?" Leslie''s voice trembled with anger.

    ¡°Shh...¡± Rosie pressed a finger to her lips and nced around, lowering her voice. ¡°Keep it down, Leslie. If this got out, the Ratcliffs reputation would be ruined. I''m only telling you because I trust you."

    But Leslie barely heard her. The anger and hatred inside her were boiling over.

    "Does Sebastian know about this?"

    He probably did, right? Maybe that''s why he ended up in the hospital. If that''s the case, maybe it was time to make sure everyone found out what e had done ouden. Sebastian would finally be done with her.

    "Mrs. Ramos, you mentioned you know someone at the hospital... Do you think you could get a list of the staff who were on duty in Mr. Ratcliff''s father''s ward?"

    Rosie''s guard went up instantly. "What are you nning?"

    If anything happened to Mr. Ratcliff because of this, the family would never forgive them.

    Leslie gave a cold, thin smile. "His

    father cafes most about family

    legacy df he knew Reese had the abortion herself, do you really think He''d ever ept her as his daughter-inw?" ''

 Chapter 193

    "Without the Ratcliff family backing you up, what can Reese really do to you?"

    Rosie''s heart skipped a beat, but she kept her face perfectly calm. "If Mr. Ratcliff finds out about this..."

    Leslie cut her off. "This has nothing to do with you. As far as you know, you don''t know anything."

    Rosie watched her for a few seconds, weighing her options. "Alright, I''ll see what I can do. But this has to be done quietly. No mistakes."

    "Don''t worry, Mrs. Ramos."

    Leslie shed a smile. "Just get me the staff schedule. I''ll handle the rest."

    As Rosie stood up to leave, Leslie''s smile dropped in an instant, reced by a cold, calcting look. Once Rosie got her the schedule, she''d be involved, whether she liked it or not. The Ramos family would have no choice but to cover for her.

    At the hospital, Reese woke up and nced over at Annie in the next bed. When she saw the little girl''s fever was gone and her breathing was steady, she finally rxed and let herself smile.

    She sat up and spotted a small charm on her pillow. Picking it up, she saw it was a pendant from the church.

    She blinked, her longshes hiding the emotions in her eyes. After a while, she let out a softugh. Those amulets weren''t easy to get.

    However, Sebastian''s efforts didn''t really matter anymore.

    Still, you couldn''t just toss something blessed. Reese slipped the amulet into her pocket, got out of bed, and walked out to find the doctor.

    Once she confirmed Annie was out of danger and would only need a few days of observation before going home, Reese finally let herself breathe easy.

    "Ma''am."

    She heard someone call out just as she left the doctor''s office. Reese turned and was surprised to see Mr. Ratcliff''s assistant waiting for her.

    "Aiden? What are you doing here?"

    Aiden had been with Mr. Ratcliff for years, sharp as ever and never one to show his cards unless absolutely necessary.

    Reese smiled and offered an exnation. "Annie had a high feverst night, so she''s been admitted. Please don''t tell Mr. Ratcliff. I don''t want him to worry."

    Aiden nodded, but then he remembered Mr. Ratcliff''s instructions from the night before. He hesitated for a moment, then decided toe clean.

    "There''s a Y-chromosome mutation. And it''s gic?" For a second, Reese''s mind went nk. "How could it be a hereditary illness? And Mr. Ratcliff..."

    Aiden adjusted his sses. "He''s lucky it didn''t show up until now. I came to see if I could get a pediatrician to check on Robbie, maybe schedule a gic screening."

    Seeing Reese''s worried look, Aiden

    tried to reassure her. "These

    mutations are really subtle. Regr checkups almost never catch them. We''re still figuring out what triggers them-itcould be the environment stress, underlying health issues. We just don''t know yet."

    "So Sebastian, Robbie, and Matthew... They could all be at risk?"

    Reese''s gazended somewhere far away. Honestly, she was most worried about Matthew. He had the Ratcliff blood too.

    "It''s possible."

    Aiden nced at Mr. Ratcliff''s medical report. "I''ll arrange testing for Mr. Ratcliff

    and Robbie as soon as possible."

    Reese pressed her lips together.

    So only Sebastian and Robbie get tested? What about Matthew?

    She spoke before she could stop herself. "Can you give Matthew Sebastian''s spot? He got hurt in the army, and he needs this more. Plus, the project he''s on is too important to dy figure something out for Sebastianter."

    Reese sounded determined, but Aiden just gave her a polite, distant

    smile. "Ma''am, I''m Mr. Ratcliff''s

    assistant. I have my duties, and

    loyalty is to him. That''s what! C

    learned on my first day with the

    Ratcliff family."

    It was a gentle but clear refusal. With Matthew''s current status, there was only so much Aiden could do.

    Reese understood. She realized she''d overstepped. She let out a small smile. "You''re right. That was my mistake. We''ll do as Mr. Ratcliff wishes. Thanks, Aiden. I appreciate it."

 Chapter 194

    After saying goodbye to Aiden, Reese pulled out her phone and called Millie.

    "Millie, can you help me get a spot for gic testing?"

    She remembered Millie''s old job at a gic testingpany. Their tech might not match the top internationalbs, but they were still a leader here at home. If they could run specific tests, the results should be just as good.

    Now that she knew what was going on, and that the Ratcliff family clearly didn''t care about Matthew, she had to do something. Matthew had helped her more than once. She owed him.

    "Of course."

    When the call ended, Reese slipped into the hospital room and spotted Sebastian on the sofa, typing away on hisptop. Every so often, he nced up at Annie''s

    IV.

    He looked up when he heard here in, eyes shadowed with exhaustion.

    "Where''d you go?" he asked.

    Reese walked over to check on Annie, then quietly tucked the charm Sebastian had gotten her into the nket. With her back to him, he didn''t notice.

    "Annie''s fever is under control," she said calmly. "We''ll be discharged soon. You should go, really. No point in you waiting around here."

    Sebastian looked like he wanted to argue, but before he could say anything, his phone started ringing-loud and insistent.

    He nced at the screen, answered, and said, "Yeah?"

    Whatever he heard made his brow crease. He shut hisptop and looked at Reese.

    "Sorry, something came up at work. I have to go handle it. If you need anything, just call me, okay?"

    He hesitated, then quickly added, "It''s a work thing. Nothing to do with Leslie."

    Reese didn''t want to respond. Honestly, where he was or who he was with wasn''t her concern anymore. No need for these exnations. But then she remembered the gic testing, the possibility of Sebastian getting sick in the future. The words she wanted to say stuck in her throat, and she just nodded. "Alright."

    Sebastian couldn''t help but smile a little at her reply. He reached out, almost on reflex, to ruffle her hair.

    Reese stepped aside, letting his hand fall to nothing. "Go on," she said quietly.

    The air between them grew tense and awkward. Sebastian''s hand hovered, then he drew it back, looking a little lost.

    He nced at Annie one more time, then called to the housekeeper waiting at the door. "Keep an eye on them. Call me if anything happens."

    The housekeeper nodded, and Sebastian hurried out.

    Reese watched him go, noticing the slight limp in his step-probably from that knee injury he got when he went looking for Annie''s charm. She stood there, eyshes lowered lost in thought.

    After a moment, she snapped back and remembered Mr. Ratcliff. His room was just upstairs, and she hadn''t visited him in a few days. At his age, every visit mattered.

    She told the housekeeper to keep watch over Annie, then headed up to Mr. Ratcliff''s room.

    On his floor, she moved quietly and pushed open the half-closed door.

    The room was almost silent except for the steady beep of the heart monitor.

    Aiden sat by the bed. When he saw Reese, he stood up and lowered his voice.

    "He just fell asleep. The nurse went to get his medicine."

    Reese nodded and tiptoed closer,

    gently tucking the nket around the elderly man. Aiden looked a little embarrassed Ma''am, need to use the restroom. Could you...?¡±

    Reese smiled. "Go ahead."

    She checked her watch. "I can only stay about half an hour. Annie''s still downstairs and I shouldn''t leave her alone too long."

    "That''s enough," Aiden said.

    "If the nursees back, you can go. She''s trustworthy, one of our own."

    After Aiden left, Reese sat quietly. Mr. Ratcliffy motionless, face pale, his breathing so shallow she could barely see his chest move.

    She nced at the heart monitor on the nightstand. Everything looked normal. She finally let out a quiet breath.

    There was a book nearby, so she picked it up and started reading.

    Maybe twenty minutes went by. Aiden still hadn''te back, but the nurse returned first. Reese remembered Aiden''s words about trusting her, so after a brief handoff and a few quiet instructions Reese left Mr. Ratcliff''s room and went back downstairs to check on Annie.

 Chapter 195

    Tucked away in a quiet corner of the hospital, right after Reese slipped out of the room, a woman in nurse''s scrubs suddenly appeared in the hall.

    She had a tiny remote in her hand. As she walked past a security camera, she pressed a button and the little red indicator light went dark.

    She adjusted her mask, took a quick look around to make sure no one was watching, and then walked straight into Mr. Ratcliff''s room.

    Inside, she locked eyes with the caretaker. She gave her a barely-there nod, eyes dropping to the floor like she hadn''t seen a thing.

    The woman moved to the bed.

    Mr. Ratcliffy there, eyes closed, oxygen mask strapped over his face. Leslie reached up and slid her mask off. Her face twisted with excitement, eyes bright with a dark, gloating energy.

    Who would''ve guessed? Back when he found out about her and Sebastian, he had practically shouted in her face, called her delusional, refused to let them be together, and even tried bribing her with money and promises of a shiny future overseas. Now he was just a frail patient, helpless in a hospital bed.

    Leslie let out a lowugh. "So what if you never approved of me, old man? Look at you now. All this because of your precious granddaughter-inw."

    She pulled a pair of scissors from her pocket and stepped up to the bedside, lifting them to the oxygen tube.

    But just as the des touched the stic, Mr. Ratcliff suddenly moved. His cloudy eyes cracked open a bit. "Reese..." he croaked.

    Leslie jerked back, startled. But when she saw that he was barely conscious, she steadied herself and let a cruel smile spread across her lips.

    "Take a good look, Mr. Ratcliff."

    She leaned down, her voice cold and close to his ear. "I''m not Reese, you old bastard. I''m Leslie. And I''m back."

    At her words, Mr. Ratcliff''s eyes sharpened for a moment, filled with nothing but disgust.

    He''d met women like Leslie before-ruthless, willing to do anything to get what they wanted.

    He tried to call for help, to order the guards in, but his voice was so weak it barely made it past his lips.

    Leslie just smiled. "Don''t waste your energy. There''s nobody out there ? billboard crashed through the. windows downstairs and everyone''s gone to check it out."

    She looked down at him. "You always cared so much about the Ratcliff family,

    right? How it feels to know Reese got rid of her own child.

    "Oh, and by the way? That baby was mine. Mine and Sebastian''s.

    "You tried everything to split us up. You threw money at me, sent me overseas. But Sebastian still wanted a child with me. Nothing you did mattered.

    "And he didn''t want our kid to be a bastard, so he had Reese do IVF for us."

    Her wordsnded like a grenade. Mr. Ratcliff''s pupils shrank in shock, his already

    thin breathing turning sharp and ragged as he struggled for air.

    Of course. He should have known. The only woman Sebastian would go this far for was Leslie.

    All that money, all those ns, all the effort to break them up-none of it had worked.

    Anger filled his chest until he could hardly breathe. He tried to speak, to ask her why she''d broken their deal, but all he could do was gasp and choke on air.

    Leslie watched him, eyes glittering

    d.ne

    with satisfaction. "You were powerful once, I''ll give you that But now you''re old you cant control Sebastian anymore

    "Still, you have one use left."

    She straightened, set her eyes on the oxygen tube, and without a hint of hesitation, cut it in two. The mask

    deted. She yanked the call buttons cord out making sure no help coulde.

    Once she was sure everything was set, Leslie tapped the bed rail like she''d just won a game. "Enjoy this, old man. Savor everyst second.

    "Maybe next time, you''ll let me be your granddaughter-inw. Would''ve saved us all this trouble."

    She gave him onest look-powerless, gasping for breath-then turned to go.

    But, just as she was about to leave, she caught something out of the corner of her eye: the door was open a crack, and a shadow darted past in the hallway.

    "Who''s there?"

 Chapter 196

    Leslie''s heart squeezed tight, and in a sh, cold sweat soaked her back. She grabbed a mask, pressed it over her face, and bolted for the door.

    The hallway outside waspletely empty. Only the sharp smell of disinfectant hung in the air; there wasn''t a single person in sight.

    Did she just imagine that?

    She stood there, gasping, hand pressed to her chest, trying to slow her wild heartbeat.

    She was sure she''d caught a glimpse of someone moving just outside the door a second ago. How could they disappear so quickly?

    Her eyes flicked up to the security camera on the ceiling. The little red light was still out. Only then did she let herself breathe a little easier.

    Still on edge, she nced around onest time. When she was certain the coast was clear, she hurried away.

    Back in the room, Mr. Ratcliffy quietly under a thin gray nket, his chest rising and falling so gently you could barely tell he was breathing.

    Once Leslie was gone, the nurse''s aide took off her headphones and walked over to check the IV bag.

    Then her gaze slid over to Mr. Ratcliff''s face, and her whole body went cold.

    His oxygen mask was crumpled, the tube connecting it to the tank snapped clean in half. His chest barely moved now. Every so often, a faint, raspy sound rattled in his throat.

    The aide''s legs nearly gave out. She almost copsed, panic surging through her until her mind was nk.

    Just a few minutes ago, when that woman was here, Mr. Ratcliff had been fine. How could he be like this now?

    She''d been tricked.

    That woman had said she just wanted to visit Mr. Ratcliff to thank him for his help in the past, to have a quick chat.

    She''d seemed so sincere, and she really did know Mr. Ratcliff. That was the only reason the aide had reluctantly agreed. She never imagined things would turn out like this.

    If Mr. Ratcliff''s family found out she''d let someone in and put him at risk, she''d be in serious trouble.

    Fear washed over her, drowning out everything else. All she could think about was getting out of there-fast.

    Meanwhile, downstairs-

    Reese sat by Annie''s bed, turning a little charm over and over in her palm.

    She knew Sebastian wanted to fix things between them; she could see he was trying. But she just couldn''t do it. She didn''t dare gamble her heart on him again.

    "Auntie?"

    Annie blinked awake, catching the worried look on Reese''s face. Her eyes dropped to the charm in Reese''s hand.

    "Did you get that for me?"

    Whenever Annie was sick, her mom always brought her a charm and prayed she''d get better. So when she saw Reese holding one, that''s what she thought.

    Reese''s fingers froze. Seeing the hope in Annie''s eyes, she couldn''t bring herself to tell the truth. She smiled gently and put the charm in Annie''s hand.

    "I hope this keeps you safe, Annie. No more getting sick, no more nightmares."

    She slipped the cord over Annie''s head, tucking the charm under her cor. "If you keep it close, it''ll always be with you."

    That was it. She and Sebastian were over. It wasn''t worth making a fuss to give the charm back; it would only make things messy with her divorce ns giving it to Annie was better At least Sebastian''s good intentions would be passed on.

    Annie touched the warm charm resting on her chest and looked up at Reese.

    "Thank you. Auntie, what were you thinking about just now? You looked really worried."

    "You''re wee." Reese reached

    out, gently fixing Annie''s messy bangs. was just thinking about your great-grandpa. I''m a little worried about how he''s doing upstairs."

    "Then you should go see him," Annie said, pushing Reese''s arm. "Don''t worry about me. I''m already feeling much better, and the nurse is here with me."

    She nced down at her hospital gown. "I wish I could go too, but if great- grandpa saw me like this, he''d only get upset. So you have toe back and tell me how he is, okay?"

    "Okay."

    Reese patted Annie''s head, her heart aching at how mature this little girl was.

    She gave the nurse a look, silently asking her to take care of Annie, then walked out of the room.

    As she stepped off the elevator, she nearly bumped into the aide rushing out of Mr. Ratcliff''s room. Reese

    noticed the door sy open

    and felt a knot of worry tighten in her chest.

 Chapter 197

    "Why are you so flustered? Did something happen to Grandpa?" Reese asked, her eyes quickly scanning the nurse from head to toe. The woman''s anxious look faded, reced by awkward embarrassment.

    "No, no, he''s still sleeping," the nurse answered, her voice shaky. Reese''s stare made her ufortable, so she bit her tongue and forced herself to calm down. ¡°Ma''am, it''s just, um... My periodes. I wanted to run to the store to pick up a few things."

    Reese shot a suspicious nce at the half-open door to the hospital room. Through the gap, she could see Mr. Ratcliff still lying in bed. The nurse didn''t seem to be faking, so Reese nodded. "I''ll stay with him. Come back as soon as you can."

    "Okay, thank you," the nurse replied, nodding several times before hurrying off. Reese watched her rush away, frowning. Something about this felt off.

    She sped up, heading toward the hospital room, when a security guard came running around the corner, out of breath and sweating.

    "Ma''am," he panted, stopping in front of her.

    "Where were you? Why are you just getting back now?" Reese checked the time. She hadn''t seen him since she arrived, almost an hour ago.

    The guard wiped the sweat off his forehead. "The smoke detector in Mr. Ratcliff''s room kept going off for no reason. I tried resetting it a few times, but it wouldn''t stop. Just to be safe, I put an oxygen mask on him and collected some air samples to send for testing. Then the control center called to say the detectors on this whole floor were going off. I had to check the hallway and the rooms next door to find the source. That''s what took so long.

    "Before I left, I told Mr. Ratcliff. He said he''d send more people over."

    Reese nodded. The guard was Sebastian''s arrangement, and if he''d kept Sebastian in the loop, there wasn''t much to argue about. Besides, you couldn''t be too careful with fire safety. The guard had done nothing wrong.

    She let it go and pushed open the hospital room door.

    "Grandpa?" She called softly, about to step in, when the door to the room next door opened and Robbie peeked out.

    When he saw Reese, a sh of confusion crossed his face, quickly reced by a cool, distant look.

    "I thought you were too busy with work to evene home. Howe you have time to be at the hospital?" he asked.

    Reese didn''t bother answering. Instead, she asked, "Why are you here?"

    "Grandma brought me, but she went to the doctor''s office and told me to wait here" Robbie nced up at her looking a little awkward. "Dad said you were sick. Are you feeling better?"

    Sebastian must''ve wanted Robbie to check on her. That was probably why he''d finally let him off punishment.

    Reese raised her eyebrows, surprised.

    Was Robbie... actually worried about her?

    She looked down at his little upturned face, hisshes fluttering, and on that face was a rare hint of shyness.

    Suddenly, she thought about how Robbie, like Mr. Ratcliff and Sebastian, might carry that dangerous gene, and Reese''s voice softened without her even noticing.

    "I''m much better now," she said, smiling and starting to walk into the room.

    But before she could step inside, Robbie grabbed her sleeve, his voice dropping to a hesitant whisper.

    "Mom, are you and Dad getting a divorce?"

    "Who told you that?" Reese turned to look at him.

    Robbie bit his lip, ncing toward the end of the hallway. "I heard Grandma

    talking to Great-Grandpa on the phone."

    He clutched her sleeve tighter,

    knuckles turning white, his embarrassment growing. "Please don''t divorce Dad, okay? It was my fault before. I don''t want anyone else to be my mom."

    It was only now, after all this time, that he realized Sebastian and Sofia could never be together.

    Looking at his hopeful face, Reese

    crouched down so she was level with him, her voice gentle but firm. "Robbie, that''s something between your dad and me It''s not something you should worry about.

    "Even if we do get divorced, it won''t change your life. You''ll still live at home, and

    I''lle back to visit you whenever I can."

    "How can it not change anything?" Robbie''s panic red as he saw how serious Reese was.

    He''d always thought Reese wasn''t good enough for Sebastian, that she didn''t deserve to be his mother.

 Chapter 198

    Right then, Robbie finally understood just how badly he''d messed up.

    If his parents really went through with the divorce, like Grandma hinted, it wouldn''t

    be long before he had a new stepmom. And if Dad had another kid with her, that would mean someone else fighting him for the family inheritance.

    Dad was already pretty distant most of the time. If he ended up caring more about

    a new kid, Robbie might even lose his ce as the Ratcliff family''s heir.

    No way. He couldn''t let that happen.

    He bit his lip, ready to beg again, but then he spotted someone walking toward them.

    Sebastian watched from a distance as Reese crouched beside Robbie, her voice soft. For a second, surprise flickered through his eyes before his lips curved into a small smile.

    It had been ages since he''d seen the two of them like this, sharing a moment that actually felt like family.

    "Dad."

    Robbie quickly let go, took a careful step back, and greeted Sebastian.

    Sebastian seemed to be in a good mood. "What are you two talking about?"

    "Nothing, really." Robbie shook his head. "I heard something about broken ss and wanted to make sure Mom was okay."

    He remembered what Grandma had told him: don''t ever let Dad know Mom wanted a divorce.

    And deep down, he felt it too. If Dad found out, there''d be no way to fix things.

    Sebastian''s eyes softened as he nced at both of them, then reached out and gently ruffled Robbie''s hair. "As long as I''m here, nothing''s going to happen to your mom."

    Robbie''s eyes lit up. Judging by Dad''s expression, he wasn''t nning on divorcing Mom. All Robbie had to do was keep working on Mom, be extra good, and maybe things would go back to normal.

    Reese stood up, her gaze drifting across Sebastian''s shoulder. "Didn''t you have to go to the office? What are you doing back here?"

    Sebastian''s expression darkened for a moment.

    He''d just gotten a call from his security team, and something about it felt off. Worried, he''d paused his trip to the office ande straight to the hospital instead.

    But he wasn''t about to tell Reese that and make her worry.

    "Finished up early. I was worried about you here by yourself, so I figured I''d check in."

    He bent down and scooped Robbie into his arms. "Let''s go inside."

    Robbie looped his arms around Sebastian''s neck and rested his head on his dad''s shoulder, sneaking a nce at Reese.

    As long as the divorce wasn''t finalized, Mom was still Mom, Dad wouldn''t marry anyone else, and no one could threaten his ce in the Ratcliff family.

    Reese followed behind them. Sunlight streamed through the window, shining on Sebastian''s tall frame as he carried Robbie. For a split second, it all blended together with that memory from the stormy night when Sebastian had carried Arnie in his arms. At first nce, they almost looked like the perfect family.

    But only Reese knew how fragile that feeling was, like a soap bubble, ready to pop at the slightest touch.

    "Great-Grandpa!"

    They walked into the hospital room, and Robbie was the first to call out. But the man on the bed didn''t react at all.

    Sebastian set Robbie down and looked at the bed, freezing in ce for half a second before rushing forward.

    "Grandpa!"

    Reese had never seen Sebastian look so shaken. Her heart skipped a beat as she leaned in to see what was wrong.

    schest, which had been

    Mr. Ratcliff''s

    barely moving before, was now almost still. The oxygen mask was crumpled against his face, the tubing snapped in half and the call button''s wire hung loose beside the bed.

    His eyes were half open and cloudy, his pupils unfocused. There was only the faintest ragged sounding from his throat-awhisper of breath that barely counte@as living.

    "Grandpa!"

    Sebastian''s face went ghostly pale. His fingers trembled as he reached out, searching for any sign of breath under Mr. Ratcliff''s nose.

    "Get a doctor! Now!"

    Reese snapped out of it first, spinning around and yelling down the hall, her voice cracking, "Help! Please! Something''s wrong!"

    Footsteps thundered in the hallway. In seconds, doctors and nurses burst in with a crash cart, filling the tiny hospital room.

    "Start CPR!"

    Sebastian stepped back to give them space, only then realizing his hands wouldn''t stop shaking.

    He nced back at Reese, and all his usual calm was gone. There was nothing left but the raw panic of someone about to lose a loved one.

    Tears welled up in Reese''s eyes. She covered her mouth, desperate not to make a sound.

    And in that moment, Robbie was the calmest of them all. He walked over to Sebastian, reached up, and took his dad''s hand, lending him silent support.

 Chapter 199

    Robbie stood by his great-grandfather''s hospital bed, watching as his breaths grew shallower. He didn''t feel sad. Not even a little. Instead, his mind was racing ¡ªalready running numbers.

    If he really passed, how would the inheritance get split?

    His dad was the only official heir of the Ratcliff family, so everything should go to him. Which meant, eventually, it would be his. Unless, of course, his great- grandfather decided to leave something for that illegitimate son or that annoying girl.

    "Patient''s crashing! ICU, now!"

    Nurses and doctors rushed in, lifting Mr. Ratcliff onto a gurney and speeding him down the hallway. Reese clenched her jaw and hurried after them, following all the way to the ICU. The doors swung shut right in front of her, and for a moment, memories of her childhood and her great-grandfather''s strict voice shed through her mind. Unexpectedly, her eyes burned with tears.

    Sebastian was already there, standing outside the ICU, looking pale and lost. The sharp scent of disinfectant hung in the air, making him wrinkle his nose. His hands were curled into fists so tight his knuckles went white.

    Through the heavy doors, the monitors beeped steadily, each sound somehow making the tension worse.

    He stared down at his own reflection in the spotless floor tiles, his eyes dark and unreadable. His Adam''s apple bobbed as he swallowed. The stormy energy around him made people keep their distance.

    Everything had happened so fast. Only now was he realizing he might actually lose his grandfather-the man who had kept the Ratcliff family together after Sebastian''s father died, who had taught him everything, who had been his first real teacher. Now, that man was slipping away.

    "Get the adrenaline!"

    "Heart rate''s dropping! Startpressions!"

    The ICU was filled with shouts and hurried footsteps. Doctors and nurses moved quickly around the bed. The heart monitor''s harsh, steady beeping cut through everything, making it impossible to ignore what was happening.

    A doctor rushed out, face tense. "Mr. Ratcliff is very old. There''s not much time left. You should... prepare themselves."

    The hallway instantly filled with crying and sobs. No one wanted to let go.

    Reese''s eyes were red, her fists clenching and unclenching, but inside, she felt oddly calm.

    Maybe it was because she''d already epted that this day woulde eventually. Or maybe, deep down, she''d been waiting for it.

    Once he was gone, her marriage to Sebastian would be over too. Whatever had

    happened between them, it wouldn''t matter anymore.

    She looked down and typed out a message to George.

    [Please start preparing for the divorce hearing.]

    She had just sent the text when hurried footsteps echoed down the hall R¨¦¨¦se l??ked up and saw Alden running toward them, panic all over his face.

    "Mr. Ratcliff! This wasn''t an ident!

    "I just checked everything in the control room. The equipment didn''t fail. The monitors didn''t just glitch. Someone messed with the system on purpose.

    "And that''s not all. The oxygen line was cut clean through, probably with a sharp de. The call button by the bed the wire was ripped out force. .

    "Mr. Ratcliff, someone did this. It was deliberate."

    Those words hit Sebastian like a punch.

    The air around him seemed to freeze. His eyes went dangerously cold.

    "Who''s been in my grandfather''s roomtely?" His voice was sharp and low, every word like a warning.

    Aiden''s eyes darted to Reese, his Adam''s apple bobbing as he swallowed, looking nervous and unsure.

    "Before I went to the bathroom, only... only one person went in...¡±

    He knew how much Reese meant to Sebastian. He also knew what saying this could do to the family.

    "Say it!" Sebastian''s voice was hoarse, anger making his eyes bloodshot.

    "I¡ªI left, and only Mrs. Ratcliff went in..."

    Every eye turned to Reese, including Sebastian''s.

    Reese''s eyes widened. She stared at Aiden, shocked. "You''re saying..."

    She looked around at all of them, finally meeting Sebastian''s gaze. "...you think I did this?"

 Chapter 200

    "What did you just say?!"

    Jane''s voice cut through the air, sharp and shrill. She''d rushed over the second she heard something had happened to Mr. Ratcliff and caught Reese''s words from down the hallway. All her panic and helplessness morphed instantly into anger.

    She marched straight up, practically shoving Reese aside as she snapped, "Why were you in his room?"

    Reese reacted fast, pushing Jane away and raising her guard. "What are you trying to do?"

    "You don''t even know what happened, but you''re already throwing usations at me. Got any proof? Or are you just hoping I''ll sue you?"

    Jane faltered for a second, caught off guard by Reese''s confidence, but the memory of that share transfer agreement in Mr. Ratcliff''s hospital room shed in her mind. That piece of paper could change everything for her. No way was she backing down.

    "Reese, how could you? You found out Mr. Ratcliff left you shares of Ratcliff Global in his will, didn''t you? So you just waited for him to die so you could swoop in and grab what you wanted?"

    "Shares?"

    Sebastian turned to Jane, shock flickering in his eyes. He nced at Reese, his voice calm but cold enough to send a chill through the room. "Mom, are you saying Grandpa left Reese shares?"

    He didn''t even realize it, but he''d gone back to calling her Reese in that cold way he used to before all this mess.

    To Sebastian, it never made sense. Sure, Grandpa favored Reese, but he would never risk thepany''s future like that. Leaving her shares? He couldn''t believe it.

    Reese caught the look on his face and let out a little snort, her smile more bitter than amused.

    That was Sebastian for you. The second his own interests were threatened, he turned colder than anyone else. All the gentle words and pleas from the past few days vanished in a heartbeat. Only a fool would believe they were ever real.

    Everyone else looked shocked at the idea of Reese inheriting shares, but in the corner, Robbie''s eyes widened with realization.

    Great-grandpa left Mom shares of Ratcliff Global? If Mom and Dad stay married, inherit those shares one day. But if they split up, who knows where they''ll go His little fists clenched. He had to make sure Mom and Dad didn''t get divorced, no matter what.

    Reese leaned against the wall, watching Jane''s face twist with rage and

    Sebastian''s stare grow icier by the second.

    "I''m only going to say this once,"

    Reese said, steady and clear. "I

    never did anything to hurt Grandpa. I spent some time with him, but when

    the nurse came in, I felt and went downstairs to check on Annie.

    "After that, Annie wanted to know about Grandpa, so I thought I''de back up with her. I hadn''t even made it to the room before I ran into Robbie."

    She turned to Sebastian, her expression calm, her eyes steady. She wasn''t holding out hope for him to trust her anymore. She''d learned her lesson the hard way.

    "And then you showed up. I never had a moment alone with Grandpa. There wasn''t even a chance to do anything wrong.

    "And about the shares-I didn''t know anything about them. But since Grandpa left them to me, I''m not giving them up.

    "I don''t need to exin myself. The Ratcliff family owes me this."

    Jane looked like she was about to like

    lose it. Reese actually had the nerve to im the shares, to act like she deserved them? This was daylight robbery Jane just knew it. Reese would do anything for money, even this. She must have done something to Mr. Ratcliff, just to get her hands on their inheritance.

    "You said the nurse was there? Where is she now? Or did you pay her off to disappear?"

    Reese''s heart dropped. The nurse had been gone for over half an hour. Even if she''d just stepped out for a few minutes, she should''ve been back by now.

    Reese nced down the hallway. It waspletely empty. Not a single person in sight.

 Chapter 201

    "When I came upstairs, I ran into her. She said she was just heading out to get something..." Reese''s words trailed off as she turned to turned to Aiden. "Aiden, go find the nurse. As soon as we track her down, we''ll know what really

    happened.

    "Maybe she''s the one who did something to Mr. Ratcliff."

    Aiden stood off to the side, looking pale and uneasy. Even though e''d spent years by Mr. Ratcliff''s side, he wasn''t close to Reese. Still, he knew just how much the old man trusted her. It didn''t make sense that she''d ever hurt him. But ming the nurse seemed even more far-fetched.

    "I personally picked every nurse here. We ran background checks on all of them. They''re reliable. There''s just no way any of them would do something like this.

    "And she''s been taking care of Mr. Ratcliff for so long. If she really wanted to hurt him, there were plenty of chances before. Why did she wait until now..."

    Reese cut him off, her voice icy. "Just go find her, Aiden. Don''t you want to get to the bottom of what happened to Mr. Ratcliff?"

    She stepped closer, her eyes never leaving his. Her tone turned almost mocking. "Or maybe... maybe you and the nurse are in this together? Is that why you''re so hesitant to look for her? Are you afraid we''ll find out the truth?"

    Aiden''s face went ghostly white. He rushed to exin, stumbling over his own words. ¡°Ma''am, how can you say that? I''ll send someone to look for her right now."

    He hurried off, phone already in his hand. As he left, Sebastian caught one of the security guards'' eyes, and the guard quietly stepped away to make a call.

    Reese lowered her head, thinking for a moment before speaking up again. "What about security footage? Someone else could''ve been around during that time. We should check the cameras outside Mr. Ratcliff''s room."

    "Ma''am, I already pulled the footage," said one of the staff, sounding a little nervous. "The cameras show exactly when you went in, but there''s a chunk of time missing.

    "I checked out why. It looks like someone tampered with the system."

    Jane''s sharp voice cut through the room. "Of course it was you! Isn''t this what you do for a living? Messing withputers?

    "Seriously, using everyone else while you''re the one who destroyed the evidence and then pretending to help us find it. ssic."

    Reese ignored herpletely and turned to Sebastian. "Do you have aptop? I can try to recover the files."

    Sebastian''s expression wavered,

    torn between doubt and trust. He didn''t want to believe Reese would hurt Mr. Ratcliff. But the system had been hacked, and Reese was an expert in this field. She couldb definitely pull it off. The m missing

    footage, Aiden''s testimony, and the suspicious nurse... Every single clue seemed to be pointing straight at Reese.

    He held her gaze for a long moment before finally saying, "Let''s go to the control room."

    They all filed into the security control center. The hospital''s security team already had their orders. As soon as Reese and the others entered they eleared space for them at the

    console.

    main

    "Mr. Ratcliff, we''ve been trying to get the footage back," one of the guards said, "but the cameras were out during the incident."

    "They were out?" Reese repeated. She walked up to the console, fingers typing quickly as she pulled up the storage logs. Her frown deepened as she read the data.

    "The core hard drive is fine. There''s no sign that anything was physically deleted."

    She brought up a mess of electromaic signal charts and pointed to the wildest spikes. "This is ssic electromaic interference. The frequency matches the system exactly.

    "Someone used a jammer to block the cameras. Nothing got recorded during that time, so there''s nothing to recover."

    She tried to ess the backups and the hallway sensors, but the same gap showed up everywhere.

    "The jammer must''ve been strong enough to wipe out every camera in this whole area. There''s no data left at all."

    During that missing window, every camera in the hospital had gonepletely dark. Even the ones that should have shown her heading down to Annie''s room. Was there any way left to prove she hadn''t been in Mr. Ratcliff''s room during those missing minutes?

 Chapter 202

    Sebastian stared at the cked-out security feed, his fingers drumming restlessly on the desk. The tension in the room was so thick it felt like the air itself might

    snap.

    Robbie stood beside him, trying not to shiver. The pressure radiating off his father made it impossible to breathe easy. A few minutes ago, maybe Robbie hadn''t fully understood what was going on. Now, it all clicked into ce. That shadowy figure he''d seen outside Great-Grandpa''s hospital room was the one who cut the oxygen tube and tried to kill him.

    But it wasn''t his mom.

    "Robbie?" Sebastian asked, reaching over to take Robbie''s cold hand in his. He knew his son. Robbie was definitely hiding something. "Did you see something? Tell me the truth."

    Robbie froze, panic flickering in his eyes as he nced at Reese. Suddenly, an idea hit him. Over the past few weeks, he''d realized Dad still loved Mom, even though she was set on divorcing him. Now, everyone believed she hurt Grandpa, and she couldn''t clear her name. If the whole family thought Mom was guilty, wouldn''t Dad have a reason to keep her close? She''d have to stay, to make it up to the Ratcliffs, and Dad would never let her leave.

    And as long as Mom stayed, her shares stayed too. That meant Robbie''s ce in the family was safe. If Dad did end up divorcing her, after all this, Mom couldn''t just walk away with the shares or leave them to someone else. As long as the shares stayed in the family, so did Robbie''s future. No one could threaten his position.

    The thought took hold and wouldn''t let go.

    He stared at Reese, remembering all the times she''d been kind to him. For a second, guilt wavered in his eyes. But then Sebastian''s voice snapped back, sharper than before. "Robbie. Say something!"

    Reese was watching him too, her eyes searching his face.

    Robbie swallowed hard, lifted his head to meet Sebastian''s gaze, then nced quickly at Reese. In the end, the need to protect himself won out. He pressed his lips together, then spoke.

    "I... I was wandering outside the hospital room earlier, and... I saw..." He hesitated, voice small and shaky, "I saw Mom standing by Grandpa''s bed. I don''t know what she was doing..."

    He kept his head down, acting like he was scared, but his words echoed through the room, impossible to ignore.

    Reese stared at him, stunned. It felt like all the blood in her body had frozen. She couldn''t breathe. The pain was suffocating. After a long, heavy silence, she finally closed her eyes.

    This was her own son, the boy she''d carried for nine months, the one who was now stabbing her in the back.

    "What else do you have to say for yourself? Jane spat, anger boiling over as she listened to Robbie. She raised her hand, and swung at Reese''s face. "Robbie saw you! What more could you possibly lie about?

    "You knew Grandpa left you those shares. You just couldn''t wait to get your hands on the money, so you tried to kill him!

    "Everyone knows Ramos Corporation is in trouble. Once you get Ratcliff Global''s shares, you''ll have investors lined up, with our name backing you!"

    Reese dodged Jane''s p, catching her wrist mid-air and throwing her hand off. She stared Jane dead in the eyes, her voice icy.

    "Keep your nose out of Ramos Corporation''s business," she shot back. "Grandpa already arranged for someone to handle things. If we needed money, I could have asked him

    9over do something se

    crazy!"

    She turned to Sebastian, her voice steady but pleading. ¡°I was downstairs with Annie the entire time. If you don''t believe me, ask her, or any of the staff in the room. They can all tell you the truth."

    Yes. Annie could prove her innocence. There was still a chance.

    Sebastian''s frown deepened, his eyes moving back and forth between Reese and Robbie, torn by doubt and worry.

 Chapter 203

    He knew Reese better than anyone. She would rather call the cops on him than ever lower herself just to get a step closer to the Ratcliff family. That wasn''t her style at all.

    Robbie, on the other hand, had a history of lying. This wasn''t the first time he''d stirred up trouble with his wild stories.

    Sebastian paused for a moment, his face unreadable. Then he turned to the bodyguard and said in a low voice, "Go downstairs and bring Annie up. We''ll meet at the emergency room entrance."

    The bodyguard nodded and hurried off. The rest of them headed toward the ER.

    Right then, a soft, shaky voice broke through the tension.

    "Sebastian?"

    Leslie rushed over, her face full of worry. "I was here for a checkup," she said, her voice tight with emotion. "As soon as I heard something happened to Mr. Ratcliff, I came running. How is he? Is he alright?"

    Jane froze for a second when she saw Leslie. She''d always liked the girl. Leslie had grown up with their support; she''s someone they understood inside and out. Considering the Ratcliff family''s status, there was never any need for a marriage of convenience. Back then, Sebastian really had cared for her.

    But for some reason, Mr. Ratcliff had fiercely opposed the match. After Sebastian was drugged and slept with Reese, he''d been forced to marry her instead.

    Jane had always thought it was a shame. Sebastian had ended up with someone as calcting as Reese and missed out on Leslie. She never imagined there was still something between them after all these years.

    Maybe this was a sign. Once they found proof that Reese had hurt Mr. Ratcliff, Sebastian would have no reason to stay with her. After the divorce, he could finally marry Leslie, and things would work out for everyone.

    Jane''s gaze turned icy as she pointed at Reese. "What else could it be? It''s all her fault," she spat. "I don''t know what kind of bad luck our family has to deserve a woman like her."

    Leslie lowered her eyes, hiding the sh of satisfaction there. "Please don''t be so upset. Maybe it''s all just a misunderstanding?"

    Reese watched the two of them put on their little show. It was almostughable- if it didn''t make her chest feel so cold and empty.

    Before she could say anything, the bodyguard rushed back with Annie.

    Annie was still in her hospital gown, looking a bit pale. When she saw how tense things were, she ran straight to Reese''s side, wrapped her arms around her, and peeked out at* the others her eyes wary

    "Auntie, what''s happening?"

    Were they picking on Auntie again?

    Sebastian crouched down, trying to keep his voice gentle. "Annie, can you tell me. Was Auntie with you downstairs the whole time?"

    He needed to hear it from her. He had to know for sure that Reese hadn''t touched Mr. Ratcliff. Only then could he even think about saving their marriage.

    Annie nodded, her voice clear. "Yeah! She was in the room with me when I woke up. She even gave me a lucky charm."

    She reached into her pocket and pulled out the charm, holding it out for Sebastian to see.

    Sebastian''s eyes locked onto it, and his whole body tensed.

    He''d gotten that pendant on a stormy night, kneeling on the cold stone steps of the monastery, praying for his family''s safety. He''d gone through all that, and now

    Reese had just handed it over to that bastard''s daughter, no less.

    What was she thinking? What did she take him for?

    A dark look flickered across his face. His hands tightened on Annie''s shoulders,

    anger coursing through him so hard the veins stood out on his arms.

    Reese didn''t even notice the change in his expression. All she cared about was that Sebastian might scare Annie.

    She quickly pried his hands off Annie and moved the little girl behind her, shielding

    her.

    She met Sebastian''s eyes, her voice.

    steady and calm. "Call the police.df

    we can''t figure this out, let them handle it. I trust the police to clear my name if no one else will

 Chapter 204

    Sebastian couldn''t tear his eyes away from the charm-the one Reese had given away like it meant nothing. Anger and disappointment crashed over him, sharp and sudden, leaving him breathless.

    He''d always thought that, even if things were messy between them, Reese still cared about how he felt. But now he saw it so clearly. His feelings meant nothing to her. His love was just something she could toss aside.

    Did she treat his grandfather''s love the same way? Was that why, when she found out about the shares he left her, she''d been willing to hurt him? Or maybe she didn''t even know about the inheritance. Maybe she just wanted out of the Ratcliff family so badly that she thought the only way was if grandfather was gone.

    He remembered the look on Reese''s face when his grandfather was rushed into the ICU. It''s a sh of relief, gone in an instant. That memory twisted inside him, feeding his suspicions until he was sure.

    Sebastian''s fists clenched so hard his knuckles went white. The warmth in his eyes was gone, reced by something cold and hard.

    So grandfather never convinced her to stay. Reese had been nning to leave him all along, dreaming of breaking free from him and the Ratcliff family.

    Well, she could keep dreaming!

    Leslie, standing nearby, caught the change in Sebastian''s mood right away. A tiny smile yed at the corner of her mouth. He was angry, and that was all she needed.

    She didn''t really care why. All she had to do was add a little more fuel to the fire.

    She crouched down beside Annie, her face full of concern. "Sweetie, how long was Auntie with you? Are you sure she didn''t leave your room while you were asleep?"

    Annie looked confused but tried to remember. " was sleeping for a while, so I''m not sure. But when I woke up, Auntie was there. Then she told me she was worried about Great-Grandpa, so I told her to go check on him. I even asked her toe back and tell me how he was doing."

    "There! You all heard that, right?" Jane jumped in, pointing at Reese, her voice

    loud and harsh. "That proves it!

    "You went up first, cut the oxygen

    Pret

    line, then pretended nothing happened. You came downstairs, woke Annie up so she''d cover for you, then went back to check if he was dead yet. How could you be so cruel, Reese?"

    Reese felt ice settling in her veins. She turned to Sebastian, her voice shaking. "Is that what you think? Do you really believe I could do something like that?"

    Sebastian didn''t answer. He just stared at her, disappointment and anger written

    all over his face. He didn''t need to say a word; his silence said it all.

    Leslie watched from the sidelines, satisfaction blooming quietly inside her. She''d only nned for Mr. Ratcliff to die, to leave Reese with no one in the family to rely on, So

    never expected things to go perfectly, with every bit of me

    If Reese was found guilty, Sebastian would never forgive her. Then Leslie could

    slip right back into his life and use him to get de''s core data.

    Before she could savor her victory, the ICU doors swung open. A doctor stepped out, looking grim. He pulled off his mask and shook his head.

    "The patient''s condition is critical. His vitals are falling. I''m afraid... there''s not much time left."

    The room went silent. Jane''s legs gave out, and she almost copsed.

 Chapter 205

    The doctor paused before continuing, "Given the Ratcliffs'' position and Ratcliff Global''s influence, things are already a mess inside thepany. Aiden said Mr. Ratcliff hasn''t made a will yet. She hopes we can give him enough time to put his affairs in order.

    "I just remembered, there''s a special drug the military uses. It could bring him back to consciousness for a little while, maybe long enough to write a will.

    "He''s really sick, and this drug can''t save his life, but it might buy him ten or fifteen minutes, just enough to get hisst wishes down. If you have any way to get it, don''t wait.''

    Leslie''s smile vanished.

    A special drug? No way she could let the Ratcliffs get their hands on something like that. Mr. Ratcliff had seen her face. If he woke up and told everyone, she''d be finished.

    Reese''s eyes lit up with hope. If she could just get that drug and bring Grandpa back, they''d finally learn who tried to hurt him.

    "Doctor, where can we get this medication?" Reese asked, her voice a little shaky.

    The doctor nodded, looking serious. "It''s a new emergency drug the military developed for stabilizing people after severe injuries. It can temporarily wake someone up by stimting the nervous system, but it''s strictly controlled. Only high-ranking officers can request it, and you need a clear medical reason. "If you have any way to get it, hurry. He doesn''t have much time."

    "Military supplies?" Jane repeated. Her eyes sharpened as she pulled out her phone and scrolled for a number.

    She was a Sanchez, after all. Her brother Peter was amander in the military. Sure, he''d been distanttely, but he wouldnt refuse to help save Mr. Ratcliff. If they could wake him up, he could point the finger at Reese, and then maybe Sebastian would finally divorce her

    "The number you have dialed is not avable. Please try againter." The robotic voice on the other end made Jane''s face go darker and darker.

    She tried a second time. Then a third. Each one went straight to the dead line. Fuming, Jane mmed her phone down on the bench in the hallway, her frustration written all over her face.

    How could Peter''s phone be off now of all times?

    The moment the doctor mentioned

    the military Reese thought of Matthew He was in the army;

    maybe he''d have some way to to help But Matthew had just gone back to his unit, and all his devices were locked down for security. There was no way to reach him now?

    While Reese searched for another solution, Jane kept at her.

    "Who are you trying to fool with this act?" she snapped. "Everyone knows how strict the military is. Once they''re on assignment, no one can reach them, not even family. If can''t

    get through to Peter, what chance do you have with no connections?

    "You''re just desperate to clear your name. But the evidence is right here. What else do you have to say for yourself?"

    "Jane!" Reese finally lost her patience. "Let me say this one more time. Do not use me before the police''s investigation."

    Jane had never been yelled at by Reese before. Furious, she raised her hand and pped Reese hard across the face. "Reese, I''m your mother-inw. How dare you speak to me like that!"

 Chapter 206

    Reese dodged to the side and grabbed Jane''s wrist, her voice low and steady. "I''m warning you, keep your hands to yourself."

    "Ow! Reese, are you out of your mind?" Jane yelped, twisting in pain as she looked over at Sebastian. "Sebastian! Are you seeing this? She''s manhandling me!"

    "That''s enough!" Sebastian stepped forward. Before Reese could react, he snatched her arm. "Reese, this isn''t the ce for your drama."

    "My drama?" Reese tried to pull her arm free, but his grip was like steel. ¡°Sebastian, she started it. Are you really not seeing what''s happening?"

    Sebastian''s eyes were cold, just like she remembered all those years ago. "She''s my mother. No matter what, you don''t get to talk back to her."

    Reese couldn''t help but feel how ridiculous this all was.

    Jane had med her out of nowhere, used her of killing Mr. Ratcliff, shoved her around, and tried to hit her more than once. Sebastian didn''t even flinch. But the second Reese defended herself and grabbed Jane''s wrist, suddenly he was leaping to his mother''s rescue.

    How touching!

    Sebastian caught the icy look Reese shot him, but the thought of the pendant just made him want tough. If Reese was going to treat his feelings like nothing, why should he bother being nice? Just fight it out then. No one deserved to win.

    "Let go," he bit out, tightening his hold. Reese winced from the pain and finally let go of Jane.

    Jane yanked her hand free, and before Reese could move, Jane pped her hard across the face.

    Heat bloomed instantly on Reese''s cheek. Her eyes turned to ice.

    Jane, still fuming, lunged forward again. "You poisonous bitch! You still won''t admit you killed

    grandfather, Even if

    Cave hir

    with that medicine, I will never

    forgive you, and neither will the

    Ratcliff family!

    "You''re disrespectful and disloyal. You''ve broken every rule a wife should follow. I''ll make sure Sebastian divorces you!

    "The Ratcliffs must have been blind to marry you in. You''re nothing but bad luck. If you think you''ll get a piece of the shares after he dies, keep dreaming!"

    But this time, Reese wasn''t about to let Jane get in another shot. She pped Jane right back, then shoved her with all her strength.

    "That''s for what you just did to me," Reese snapped. "And hear me, Jane. I''m done with this marriage. As for those shares, you''re not getting a single..."

    "Reese, shut up!" Sebastian''s voice cut through the chaos, cold and sharp.

    He went to Jane, helping her up as she started to cry, then red at Reese with pure contempt. He spoke each word slowly, like a threat. "Divorce? Don''t even think about it."

    "You''re part of the Ratcliff family,, alive or dead. And the shares? Forget it. You killed my grandfather and now you want his inheritance? You really think let you get away with that?"

    Reese pressed her hand to her burning cheek, a bitter smile curving on her lips.

    She thought of the evidence George had that Sebastian used her as a surrogate. Meeting Sebastian''s gaze, Reese''s voice was icy and resolute.

    "Divorce isn''t your call. The court will decide.

    "Sebastian, not only am I leaving you and taking every share Grandpa left for me, I''ll make sure you lose everything."

    Reese had never nned to go this far. She''d always held back, even though she had the evidence to ruin Sebastian and take everything from him. But now, she was done holding back.

 Chapter 207

    Sebastian was Robbie''s dad, and Robbie was her own son. No matter what

    happened between her and Sebastian, Reese had always thought she should leave some room for kindness, especially since Sebastian still had to take care of Robbie.

    She''d nned to take her share, split things peacefully, and go their separate ways. Clean break. No drama.

    However, after what happened today, was there really any reason to care about Sebastian or Robbie''s feelings anymore? Did she still owe them anything?

    Robbie''s heart raced when he saw his parents fighting right in front of him. He rushed forward, grabbing onto Reese''s sleeve, his voice full of panic and hope.

    "Mom, you hurt Great-Grandpa, and you pushed Grandma. You made Dad mad. Please, just say sorry to him. Please."

    Reese yanked her arm free, cold and distant, not even sparing him a nce. After she''d heard Robbie using her and spouting those lies, she''d beenpletely let down by her own son.

    Sebastian justughed at how determined Reese was about the divorce. He stared at her, confident and almost arrogant, raising an eyebrow.

    "Go ahead, Reese. Try if you want."

    In Bridger Lake, nobody messed with the Ratcliff family. Leaving him? Reese could dream all she wanted, but it would never happen.

    Maybe this was just how things were. They''d fight, hurt each other, and grow old together. Wasn''t every marriage a little bit like this?

    Reese didn''t bother arguing anymore. She gave Sebastian onest look, gathered up her bag, and left. Her ankle throbbed. She must have twisted it when she pushed Jane. But she didn''t stop. Limping, she just wanted to get out of the hospital and away from all the chaos.

    Sebastian watched her go, noticing how uneven her steps were, how fragile her figure looked as she disappeared down the hallway. He forced himself to look away, but deep down, he couldn''t shake the guilt that crept in.

    Reese was so sure she''d get this divorce. So sure she''d walk away with part of his fortune.

    Did she know? Did she somehow find out about the surrogate the secret he''d tried so hard to keep hidden?

    He couldn''t think of any other reason for her confidence.

    Meanwhile, after leaving the hospital, Reese headed back to ck Oak She called George and pushed him to get a court date as soon as possible, then threw herself into work. She didn''t spare another thought for the hospital or any so-called miracle drugs.

    name.

    Back at the hospital, she''d been desperate, so desperate she almost called Matthew, hoping for some special medicine to wake Grandpa up and clear her

    Now, thinking it over, she realized it was pointless. If the Ratcliff family really believed she was a murderer, they could call the cops. She didn''t

    believe a second that thew

    wouldn''t clear her.

    She wasn''t going to jump through hoops to prove herself. Why should he force the old man to wake up just to defend her? He''d already suffered enough in that hospital.

    While Reese was tryingto let it all go, n stood quietly outside her door, watching. After a moment, he slipped away, head down.

    The Ratcliff family mess was all anyone could talk about. News traveled fast in their world.

    n had asked around. He knew the only real way to clear Reese''s name was if Mr. Ratcliff woke up and said who really did it. And the only way to wake him was some army grade medication.

    But getting something like that? Nearly impossible.

    He remembered what Matthew had told him before leaving: take care of Reese,

    no matter what. After hesitating, n finally pulled out his phone and sent a message to Matthew.

    [Reese is in trouble. It''s your turn to step in.]

 Chapter 208

    At the training camp, Matthew was in the middle of a strategy meeting when n''s message shed across his screen. He got up quietly and stepped outside into the cool evening air, then called n back on a secure line.

    "What happened to Reese?" His voice was low, tight with worry.

    n never reached out during a mission unless it was serious. He got straight to the point. "I think the Ratcliff family''s ming her for what happened to the old man. The only way she''ll clear her name is if she gets the medicine."

    Matthew''s jaw clenched. Sebastian had purposely sent Matthew to the unit. For a while, Matthew had even hoped Sebastian was changing, maybe trying to patch things up with Reese while Matthew was gone.

    But now he saw it for what it was. Sebastian had never meant well.

    Sometimes Matthew really wanted to crack open his head just to see what was going on inside.

    He nced over at the medic nearby. "I''ll take care of this. I''ll be back as soon as I can."

    He ended the call and headed straight back into the tent. Marching up to Mr. Sanchez, who was leading the meeting, Matthew snapped a sharp salute.

    "Commander, I need emergency personal leave. My grandfather''s in critical condition and needs immediate medical help. I''m requesting permission to take the medic and medical supplies to the hospital."

    Mr. Sanchez looked surprised for a second, then remembered, Matthew had just been acknowledged by the Ratcliff family, and his grandfather was Mr. Ratcliff himself.

    The Ratcliffs had done a lot for the country, and they''d even been involved in Project de. Plus, their families were connected by marriage. There was no way he''d say no.

    After a moment, Mr. Sanchez nodded. "All right. I''ll handle the paperwork. Take a medical team and get there fast, but don''t let it interfere with your mission." "Yes, sir. Thank you, Commander."

    A flicker of relief crossed Matthew''s face. He saluted again and hurried off toward the helipad.

    Iron Financial, Executive Office.

    Zach took the file from his assistant, flipping through page after page, his mood growing darker with every line.

    When he got to the death certificate for the person who''d drugged Sebastian all those years ago, and the crash scene photos, he lost it. The file went flying across the room.

    "So it was the Ramos family all along. They set Reese up to marry Sebastian. "Dylon! Tara! How could you do this!"

    He mmed his hand on the desk, making his assistant flinch and take a step back.

    In all his years working for Zach, he''d never seen his boss this angry.

    "The Ramos family thinks they can just walk all over Reese because she has no one taper? After squeezing every penny out of her, that wasn''t enough. They had to ruin my rtionship with her too?"

    Zach got up and started pacing, his mind racing.

    Every time he thought about everything Reese had gone through with the Ratcliffs, all those years

    hed spent hating her, and everything he''d done to her when he first came back, he felt like want to tearthe Ramos family apart.

    He was even angrier at himself for not seeing the truth sooner.

    "Dig into Tara. Find out everything she''s done using Iron Financial''s name. I want every dirty detail."

    He turned to his assistant, his voice cold and steady. "And get me proof of Dylon''s short selling against Ramos Corporation want them t? know exactly what it feels like to get what''sing to them."

    The assistant nodded, then hesitated. "Boss, I just got word. Mr. Ratcliff''s in ICU.

    The family''s ming Ms. Meyer for it."

    Zach stopped pacing. As the assistant quickly exined the whole situation, his heart twisted at the thought of what Reese was going through.

    "Call thewyers. We''re going over there right now."

    Outside the office, Tara listened to the chaos inside, her face drained of all color.

 Chapter 209

    Tara had just gotten a message from the Ratcliff family. She figured Reese must be up to her neck dealing with their drama, way too busy to care about anything else. Perfect, she thought, she''d finally have a chance to talk to Zach about taking over the ckOak market.

    But then she overheard something she never sawing. Zach had been digging into Reese behind her back, and he''d even found out it was Dylon who drugged her all those years ago.

    Now he was actually nning to team up with the board and push her out of thepany-all for Reese. All she''d done for him these past years-did that mean nothing?

    How could he be so cruel? She was carrying his child right now!

    Tara staggered back a step, her heart pounding. She knew Zach too well. If there was anything he hated, it was betrayal and lies. That''s why he''d held a grudge against Reese for so long.

    Now that he knew the real story, there was no way he''d ever let her or the Ramos family off the hook.

    No. She wasn''t just going to sit here and wait for her world to fall apart. She needed to throw Zach off his game, buy herself some time, ande up with a n.

    As Zach''s assistant finished up with thewyers, Zach grabbed his coat and walked out. Tara spun around and hurried back to her own office.

    She held her belly, pacing the office in a panic.

    Maybe she could get the Ratcliff family to believe Reese was the one who hurt Mr. Ratcliff. If Zach and the Ratcliffs went at each other, that would give her extra time, and if things went her way, she could even take Reese down for good, brand her as a murderer.

    The thought sent a cold glimmer through her eyes. She pulled out her phone and dialed Leslie.

    Rosie had mentioned before that Leslie had been given Mr. Ratcliff''s nurse schedule. Now that Mr. Ratcliff was in trouble, Leslie would be involved too. Getting Reese thrown in jail would only help Leslie, so she''d have every reason to go along with it.

    The phone rang. Leslie picked up, sounding almost in a good mood. "Hello? Who''s this?"

    "Hey Leslie, it''s Tara, Reese''s cousin. I''m sure you''ve heard of me."

    Of course Leslie had heard of her. Tara was the cousin who''d gone overseas ande back just to get engaged to Reese''s first love.

    Leslie nced at Jane, then got up and put some distance between them. "Ms. Ramos, what can I do for you?" Once Jane was out of earshot, Leslie spoke up again.

    "Leslie, I heard about what happened to Mr. Ratcliff. The family thinks Reese did it, right? Think you could help make sure they don''t change their minds?"

    The straightforwardness made Leslie pause, but she quickly replied

    with a smile, "I think you''re mistaken,

    Ms don''t have any contro

    Ramos

    over what the Ratcliff family thinks."

    Tara justughed coldly. "You seem to forget my mom gave you Mr. Ratcliff''s nurse schedule.

    "So, Leslie, if the Ratcliff family finds out about that, do you think they''ll still suspect Reese? Or will you be their new favorite suspect?"

    Leslie''s face darkened for a second. "What''s your angle here? Aren''t you afraid this could blow back on your own family?"

    "Not at all."

    Tara didn''t even blink. At this point, she had nothing to lose. If Zach

    wanted payback there Me was no way

    the Ramos family could handle it. Why not ass the Ratcliffs to the list of problems?

    The only way out was to make sure Reese took the fall.

    "Just get it done, Leslie. It''s the best move for both of us.

    "If you don''t, I''ll tell the Ratcliff family about that nurse schedule. And then, good luck exining yourself."

    Leslie gripped her phone tight. She couldn''t let this happen. If the truth came out, Sebastian would never trust her again and there''d be no hope of her ever getting de''s core data.

 Chapter 210

    She thought it over for a moment, then let out a long breath. "Okay, I get it. I''ll figure something out."

    Once she hung up, Leslie took a second to pull herself together before heading out to the ICU waiting area, where Jane was sitting. She sat down next to her.

    Jane pressed an iced towel against her cheek, still nursing the sting from Reese''s p. "If you hadn''t gone abroad, Sebastian would''ve married you instead."

    Leslie started gently rubbing Jane''s shoulders, speaking softly. "Sebastian and I just weren''t meant to be. Please don''t let it get to you. Reese is Sebastian''s wife now, and if this turns into a huge mess, it''s not going to look good for anyone."

    Jane bristled at that, her eyes shing with anger. "Who even knows she''s his wife? She''s already hurt Dad, now she wants to hurt Sebastian, and she even dared to hit me? There''s no way I''m letting her off the hook."

    Leslie''s lips curled into a small smile. "So what are you going to do? You''re not really thinking of calling the cops, are you?"

    "Why not?" Jane snapped. Leslie''s words seemed to spark something in her. "That''s exactly what I''m going to do. I''ll make Sebastian call the police, get her arrested, and send her to jail..."

    She didn''t even get to finish before Sebastian walked in, his voice cutting through the tension.

    "Jail? Who are you sending to jail?"

    His eyes swept over Jane and Leslie, cold and impossible to read.

    "Mom, the weather''s been greattely. How about I arrange for you to take the private jet and rx on that ind down somewhere in south?"

    It was clear to anyone he was trying to protect Reese, not about to let Jane get her way. Jane''s anger red even hotter; her face was still throbbing from that p.

    "Sebastian, what''s going on with you? You''re still defending Reese after everything she''s done? No wonder she thinks she cany a hand on me!"

    "And you haven''t exactly been innocent, have you?" Sebastian shot back. He remembered that Jane was the one who started it.

    He couldn''t get the image of Reese limping away out of his head. He frowned, feeling a heavy knot in his chest.

    "You''re yelling at me for her?" Jane''s voice

    mbled with hurt. "I''m y

    and

    you''d take the

    youre about to divorce?".

    Sebastian was beyond frustrated. He watched the two women, his face unreadable. "I don''t want either of you getting involved. If your trye, anything behind my back, you''d better hope I don''t find out."

    He turned and walked out without looking back, heading for the window at the end

    of the hall. He lit a cigarette and stared out, lost in thought.

    "Sebastian." Leslie followed after him, her tone soft. "Your mom''s just upset

    because of grandfather. You shouldn''t talk to her like that."

    Sebastian just shot her a cold look, saying nothing.

    Leslie tried again. "I really don''t think Ms. Meyer would hurt your grandfather. But your mom''s not going to stop it

    orrying. Maybe

    be better to let the police look into it, clear Ms. Meyer''s name, so there''s no more drama."

    Sebastian''s mind drifted back to Reese''s parting words: I''m done with this marriage. Smoke curled around his face, his eyes dark andplicated.

    "My rtionship with her isn''t your business," he finally said. "I''ll handle it. Go home, Leslie."

    Leslie started to say something else, but Sebastian cut her off, his voice steely and final, every word heavy with authority.

    "I said go home."

    A chill ran through Leslie. He''d never spoken to her like that before. Her eyes turned red, but when she looked up, Sebastian''s gaze was colder than ever.

    She hesitated, then finally walked away, ncing back at him with every step until she disappeared down the hall.

 Chapter 211

    Sebastian sat there smoking, his face a storm of emotions no one could read. Maybe he hated Reese; he could admit that much. He hated how cold she could be, how she always stood up for Matthew and his daughter, as if Sebastian''s feelings didn''t even matter.

    But if he was being honest, nobody loved Reese more than he did. Divorce was out of the question.

    He crushed out his cigarette and waved his assistant over.

    "Call the police. Tell them Mrs. Ratcliff is a suspect in Grandpa''s murder. Have them get ready to arrest her."

    He paused, then added, "But before you do, have thewyers draw up a statement saying we won''t get divorced. Take it to her and talk things out.

    "If she''s willing to stay married, she can keep her inheritance and we''ll drop everything-no police, no arrest.

    "But if she still insists on a divorce, go ahead and press charges. Have her arrested. Make sure she knows: if she leaves, she gets nothing from Grandpa''s estate."

    Sebastian ground his cigarette into the marble floor, watching thest spark die beneath his polished shoe. He stared down, lost in thought, his face giving nothing away.

    When he talked about using the inheritance and the police to threaten Reese, he sounded like he was talking about squashing a bug. It was chilling.

    "Go talk to her," he said, voice low. "Reese isn''t stupid. I''m sure she''ll make the smart call."

    Even his assistant hesitated. Wasn''t this just pushing Mrs. Ratcliff even further away? "Mr. Ratcliff, isn''t this..."

    Sebastian looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Are you still here? Or do you want someone else to take your job?"

    The assistant mmed up, nodding quickly. He started dialing the police and thewyers as he hurried out to find Reese.

    ***

    Later that afternoon, in the ckOak research building...

    Reese pushed open theb door and stepped out, her fingers still dusted with silvery chip powder. She looked tired, dark circles just visible under her eyes after hours of work.

    As she turned the corner in the hallway, she spotted n arguing in a low voice with a man in a sharp suit.

    The man''s eyes lit up the moment he spotted Reese. He slipped past n and strode right up to here holding out a gold stamped business card.

    "Mrs. Ratcliff, I''m Ashton, head of Legal at Ratcliff Global."

    He handed her a thick envelope. "Mr.

    Ratcliffked me to deliver this t

    you personally. He said its important you read it carefully

    care velbet

    Reese took the envelope, scanned just a few lines, and let out a short, disbelievingugh.

    So Sebastian wanted her to stay married or he''d cut her off from the inheritance and even have her arrested? For real?

    "Sebastian really knows how to drive a hard bargain," she said, voice full of mockery.

    She pped the envelope against Ashton''s chest and turned to leave.

    Ashton stepped in front of her, blocking her way with one arm.

    "Mrs. Ratcliff, you should think this through."

    He nced at his watch, his tone unmistakably threatening. ¡°The police are already on their way

    you sign now, you can leave on your

    own terms.

    "If not, you''re going to be escorted out in handcuffs. And I doubt ckOak''s stock

    will survive that kind of scandal."

    "This is exactly what Mr. Ratcliff wants..."

    Reese stopped and turned to look him straight in the eye. "So this is a threat?

    "I never hurt grandfather. What reason do the police have to arrest me?"

    She pulled out her phone, fingers moving quickly as she dialed Sebastian right there in front of thewyer.

    "Let''s see what Sebastian says. Is he really not worried that I''ll take us both down if he pushes me too far?"

 Chapter 212

    Outside the ICU.

    Robbie sat by himself on the bench right outside the hospital room, legs dangling off the edge as he stared into space. Down the hall, his dad was deep in

    conversation with a doctor, voices hushed. Grandma sat right next to him, holding tight to Aunt Leslie''s hand.

    "Trust you to know what to do," Grandma muttered, sounding pleased. "Once Sebastian gets the police to arrest Reese, let''s see how bold she is then."

    Robbie blinked, trying to make sense of everything. After all the fights and shouting, he could tell his parents were done. There was nothing left between them. Now, it was always Aunt Leslie by his dad''s side, always there when his dad needed someone.

    She clearly meant a lot to his father.

    Grandma had promised she''d make sure his parents split, and his mom looked like she''d made up her mind too. It was probably just a matter of time before the divorce was official.

    If they did get divorced, Aunt Leslie could end up being his new mom.

    If that happened, Robbie would have to stay with the Ratcliff family. His dad would be the only one he could really count on, so he couldn''t risk making him angry. And it wouldn''t be smart to ignore Aunt Leslie either.

    As all these thoughts crowded his mind, Robbie''s eyes drifted to his dad''s phone, left sitting on a little table nearby. The screen, set to silent, started to blink- someone was calling.

    Robbie nced at the name. It was his mom.

    He hesitated, biting his lip, then quietly picked up the phone and slipped into a quiet corner. He pressed decline, heart pounding, then quickly erased the call from the history and blocked his mom''s number.

    If his parents were done for good, there was no reason for his dad to get calls from Mom, especially not in front of Aunt Leslie. No point in making things awkward.

    Just as Robbie finished, Sebastian wrapped up his talk with the doctor and spotted Robbie in the corner, messing with his phone. Sebastian''s eyes narrowed.

    He strode over, snatched the phone out of Robbie''s hands, and gave him a cold, hard look.

    "Did I say you could touch my phone? If you mess with my stuff without asking again, you''ll be in big trouble."

    Robbie''s eyes went wide and he shrank back, stammering, "S-sorry. I won''t do it again."

    Sebastian just red at him, then checked the call log. Nothing from Reese. He let out a short, bitterugh.

    There''s no way, he thought. No way Reese wouldn''t try to call after thewyer spoke to her. She would be deseperate to talk, to try to bargain.

    He knew he was being harsh, maybe even cruel. But it didn''t matter. What he really wanted was for Reese toe back to him, to admit she was wrong.

    As long as Reese didn''t go through with the divorce, he''d give her anything she wanted.

    All he could do now was wait.

    Meanwhile, down a hallway at ckOak Hospital.

    Reese frowned at her phone when the call cut off. She tried again, but this time got that cold automated message. The number you vediated is unavable.

    Sebastian had blocked her.

    A sh of disbelief crossed Reese''s face.

    "You''re wasting your time, ma''am." Ashton''s voice broke the silence, calm and certain. "Mr. Ratcliff sent

    me here for a reason, He''s box!

    interested in negotiating. Are you signing the agreement, or not?¡±

    Reese shot him a sharp look. Then, without a word, she grabbed the

    non-divorce agreement off the table, ripped it clear in half

    and tossed the

    preces into the air content belongs

    "I''m not signing this. And if Sebastian thinks he can threaten me with a piece of paper, he''s dreaming.

    "Tell Sebastian that after today, there''s nothing between us. Ever."

    "Ma''am... you''re only making things harder for yourself." Ashton''s face darkened. He picked up his phone and made a call. Suddenly, fast footsteps echoed from the far end of the hallway.

 Chapter 213

    A group of officers walked in, uniforms crisp and badges shing in the

    fluorescent light. The lead cop stepped forward, shing his ID.

    "Ms. Meyer, we''ve received a report connecting you to Mr. Ratcliff''s death at the hospital. We need you toe with us to the station and help with our investigation."

    Reese didn''t put up a fight. She just smoothed her cor, met their eyes, and nodded calmly.

    "Okay. I''m happy to cooperate," she said. "But let me be clear. I didn''t hurt Mr. Ratcliff. If you''re going to use me of something, you''ll need to show me your evidence.

    "And I''ll be calling mywyer. I won''t answer any questions until my attorney is here."

    The officer nodded. "Of course. We''re not here to frame anyone, but we won''t let a suspect walk free either."

    This wasn''t Reese''s first time being walked out of ckOak by the police. She could feel everyone''s eyes on her-some shocked, some whispering behind their hands, some just staring. She kept her head high and followed the officers out.

    She had just reached the squad car when a ck G-Wagon pulled up with a screech, stopping right at the curb.

    The door swung open. Zach stepped out.

    His gaze locked on Reese, surrounded by cops. There was a sh of pain in his eyes. With hiswyer right behind him, he strode over and blocked the officers.

    "If you want to take her, talk to mywyer first," Zach said, voice steady but tight. Hiswyer stepped forward, ready to show paperwork or argue, but Reese didn''t even look at him. She just shook her head.

    "That''s not necessary," she said quietly. "I have my ownwyer. I don''t need Mr. Wiles''s help."

    Hearing her call him "Mr. Wiles" stung more than Zach wanted to admit. Years ago, she used to curl up in hisp, whispering his name like a secret. Now, her voice was chilly and distant.

    Zach swallowed, desperation

    creeping in. "Reese, this isn''t the

    time to be stubborn. The Ratcliffs

    wouldn''t have called the cops if they werent ready You need a goodwyer."

    Reese cut him off, her shoulders squared. ¡°I said no. And I thought I made myself clearst time. We''re done. From now on, we''re strangers. Let''s keep it that way."

    Zach took a shaky breath, trying to keep it together. "Thewyer you usually use left for a case in another city three days ago. He won''t be back for at least a week."

    Reese hesitated, thrown off for just a second. George really was out of town for a while.

    "Then I''ll wait for him," she said, her voice cool. "This is just an investigation, not a conviction. I can wait."

    Every word felt like a knife to Zach''s chest.

    He took in her profile, so cold, so closed off. He remembered all the times he''d doubted her, pushed her away and made her feel small Now, She was really gone, and it was his fault.

    He wanted to say something, anything, but Reese had already turned away. She nodded at the officers.

    "I''m ready. Let''s go."

    The police car door mmed shut, leaving Zach frozen on the sidewalk.

    He watched the car drive away, disappearing around the corner. Only then did he

    let himself clench his fists, anger and regret swirling in his eyes.

    This was all the Ramos family and Tara''s fault.

    If it hadn''t been for them, Reese would never have turned into a stranger.

    Outside the ICU, the hospital smelled like bleach and worry. Sebastian barely noticed. He sat in the hallway, staring at his phone, thumb tracing the edge of the screen. With ever, minute that passed, a knot of anxiety twisted tighter in his chest.

 Chapter 214

    Why hasn''t Reese called yet?

    Just then, the phone rang, its sharp tone cutting through the silence.

    Sebastian''s eyes lit up. He didn''t even bother to check the screen before answering.

    "Mr. Ratcliff."

    It was Ashton, hiswyer.

    "Sir... your wife... she tore up the agreement. She said she''d rather be taken away by the police than sign it...

    "She also said she and you-"

    "Enough!"

    Sebastian''s anger red, but beneath it, there was something else. Something sharp and cold that he didn''t want to admit was fear.

    Robbie stood nearby, watching his dad closely, not sure if what he''d done earlier was brave or just a big mistake.

    "Should we arrange bail for Mrs. Ratcliff?" Ashton asked, his voice careful, tiptoeing around every word. He knew couples fought and made up all the time. He didn''t want to risk his job over this.

    "Leave her where she is," Sebastian said, taking a long, steadying breath. "When shees to her senses, we''ll talk about bail.

    "Besides, I don''t believe she killed my grandfather, and the police won''t do anything to her. Let her spend some time inside and think things through. Without the Ratcliff family, she''s nothing."

    Later that evening, the police showed up at the hospital. After shing their badges, they started asking about what happened between Reese and Sebastian''s grandfather.

    Jane perked up right away. "Officers, this is about Mr. Ratcliff. You have to look into it properly."

    "His assistant said Reese was the only one who went into his room before it happened."

    She pulled Robbie close. "And this

    her son. He saw her acting suspicious around the old mans bed. He''s just a kid. He wouldn''t lie about his own mom, would he?"

    ??

    js

    The officers wrote everything down, then pressed for more details. Jane stuck to

    her story, insisting over and over that Reese was to me.

    Sebastian stood there, watching Jane talk to the police, his mind wandering to

    what Reese must be going through at the station.

    After the police left, Sebastian pulled

    out his phone to call Ashton again

    That''s when he

    noticed a"

    notification. A missed call had been

    blocked.

    A weird feeling crept in. He tapped open his blocked numbers list, and there it was: "Reese." His face fell.

    He turned to Robbie, holding out the phone, his voice icy. "Did you block your mom''s number?"

    Robbie froze. His eyes flickered, caught off guard that his dad had found out so soon. He bit his lip. "I... I did."

    "Do you even know what you''ve done?" Sebastian''s stare was cold and hard, trying to see right through him. "Why did you block her?"

    The disappointment and anger in his dad''s eyes made Robbie''s own eyes sting.

    ".... I just didn''t want you to talk to Mom and get soft again. I didn''t

    "1

    want Grandma to be upset, Robbie whispered, barely loud enough to

    hear.

    Sebastian snapped, "This is grown-up business. It''s not for you to meddle in." "Why are you yelling at him?" Jane wrapped her arms around Robbie, shooting Sebastian a re. "He''s not wrong!"

    "Mom!" Sebastian turned on her, his anger boiling over. "You just can''t stand to see Reese be happy, can you?"

    Jane shrank back, mumbling, "I just think she''s not good enough for you..."

    Sebastian ignored her. He nced at the bodyguard behind him. "Take Robbie home. He''s not going anywhere except school unless I say so.

    "Also, get a ne ready now and send my mom to a resort in south."

 Chapter 215

    Meanwhile, the interrogation room at the police station was all harsh, blinding lights.

    Reese sat in a metal chair, squinting at the re overhead.

    Across from her, a detective slid a statement across the table, his voice serious.

    "We know you went into Mr. Ratcliff''s hospital room before he lost consciousness. There are witnesses who saw you stay there for a while."

    He leaned in, eyes sharp. "You should just tell the truth. Did you mess with Mr. Ratcliff''s oxygen line?"

    Reese looked up, calm and steady. "I didn''t touch the oxygen line. I didn''t hurt Mr. Ratcliff. I''m not answering anything else until mywyer gets here.

    "If you really think I did something, show me the evidence."

    She knew better than to say more. The more she talked, the more they could twist her words. The only one who could protect her now was herwyer.

    The detective kept pushing, trying to get her to slip up, but Reese just repeated, over and over, that she wanted her attorney.

    Eventually, the police gave up and stopped the questioning for now. They put her in a holding cell to wait for what came next.

    The cell was bare, just a thin metal cot and a single chair.

    Reese sat down and closed her eyes, but her mind wouldn''t stop reying everything that had happened these past few days.

    Mr. Ratcliff in aa. Robbie twisting the truth. Sebastian closing in, not letting up. Jane refusing to back off.

    She rubbed her forehead, but even with all that, there was no regret in her heart.

    She had no idea how much time had passed before the door finally opened. A police officer appeared, his tone softer now.

    "Mrs. Ratcliff, you have a visitor."

    Reese opened her eyes and looked through the bars, surprised by the person standing there. "Hank? Why are you here?"

    He took in her pale face and messy clothes, something like sadness flickering in his eyes before his usual scolding tone kicked in.

    "Why, Reese? Something this big happens, and you don''t even call me?

    "I only heard about it from a friend. Were you just never going to tell us?

    "I''m your family. If I didn''te to bail you

    to how were you nning Did you want to set

    here forever?"

    Reese nced at him, her voice cool. "Would it have made a difference if I did call you?"

    "When Mom died, when I was at my lowest, you pped me at her funeral and med me for her death.

    "When Sofia used me, you didn''t even ask what happened. You just took her side.

    "You''ve never trusted me. You''ve never helped me. So why would Ie to you now?

    "Hank, you really want to bring up the past?"

    Hank''s frustration grew at her coldness. When she mentioned their mom, he got angry.

    "Mom wouldn''t have died if it wasn''t

    for you! You were crying and

    screaming in the car. That''s what

    caused the ident. Dad and both heard it on the dash cam content

    "Dad got sick from the stress. All I did was p you once, and you can''t let it go?"

    "Just because the dash cam picked

    something up you think that''s the

    truth? Reese gave a bitte eyes meeting his with a hint of

    mockery.

    "You really don''t get it, do you? These days, it''s so easy to fake an audio file."

 Chapter 216

    Hank''s fingers curled into a fist at his side. His heart thudded so hard he thought it might burst.

    What was Reese even getting at? Was she saying she hadn''t caused the ident that killed their mother? Or was she trying to im Grace had lied to him and Dad all those years ago?

    He couldn''t forget that recording. Reese''s high-pitched sobbing, the screech of tires, all of it screaming that her tantrum was the reason Mom crashed the car.

    No way.

    He shook his head before he could stop himself.

    He''d spent all these years hating Reese for their mom''s death. If the recording wasn''t real, what had he been holding onto? Why had he med his own little sister?

    The police had brought that tape right to their door. They''d handed it straight to Grace, right in front of everyone. There was no way she could have tampered with it, not in front of them all.

    And years ago, no one even knew how to fake a tape. Grace was just an ordinary woman. How would she even know where to start?

    No. Reese was just trying to push the me away.

    Hank pulled himself together and red at her, his eyes hard with disgust.

    "Reese, quit making stuff up to get yourself off the hook. The police brought that recording straight to our house.

    "Grace wasn''t even married to Dad yet. She''d barely even been in our home. What could she possibly get out of faking evidence?

    "If Dad ever found out she''d messed with it, he''d be the first to kick her out. Don''t make it sound like everyone''s as sneaky as you."

    "What did she get?" Reese''s voice was barely more than a whisper, but it trembled with pain. "Mom died. She took Sofia and married Dad, didn''t she?"

    She tried to smile, but it just looked tired, her eyes full of hurt. "You believed it just because the police gave it to her? Did any of you actually go to the station and check? Did you ever ask the officer who handled the case?

    "No. None of you did."

    She lifted her gaze, meeting Hank''s eyes with a sadness that cut right through him.

    "From the start, you all decided it was my fault Mom died. The truth didn''t matter. You just wanted someone to me, someone to carry the pain you couldn''t handle."

    ¡°That''s not true!¡± Hank shot back, her words stinging like a p. ¡°Yeah, losing Mom broke us. But before we even heard that tape, we were nning to bring you home..."

    "But in the end, you still med me!" Reese cut him off, clutching her chest like she was holding herself together. "You''d rather trust Grace than me Just like before, when Sofia said a few words and you instantly believed I was framing her!"

    "Don''t act like those two things are the same!" Hank''s voice got louder, anger spilling over. "Grace has held this family together for years!

    "Yes, Sofia messed up. Dad already punished her, and in a few days he''sing to Bridger Lake to take her back to Brookfield. She won''t bother you or Sebastian again. Stop trying to tear my family apart!"

    "Tear you apart? Your family?" Reese let out a sharp, bitterugh, her whole body shaking with years of bottled-up pain and anger.

    She straightened up, eyes zing as she stared Hank down. "Hank, open your eyes!

    "If Grace hadn''t shown up at our

    door with Sofia, saying Sofia was

    te

    Dad''s kid and begging Mom to let go, Mom never would have given up on Dad She never would have asked for a divorce. And if she hadn''t gone back to Bridger Lake, she never would have been on that road to see Dad when the ident happened."

 Chapter 217

    "And now you''re actually defending the one who started all of this?"

    "Just shut up!"

    Hank''s face turned bright red, every bit of self-control snapping in an instant. He lunged forward, reaching through the bars to grab Reese''s wrist, squeezing so hard it felt like he was trying to break her bones.

    "You were freaking out in the car, making Mom lose focus and crash! You killed her! All these years, you''ve never felt guilty for a second. Instead, you throw the me on Grace. How could you be so heartless?"

    Reese''s wrist throbbed with pain, but her chest hurt even more. She jerked her arm, desperate to break free, and scratched Hank''s hand with her nails, leaving lines of blood.

    "Heartless? Me?

    "You spent all this time ming me for Mom''s death, while treating Grace like some stand-in for her!

    "After all these years, do you even remember Mom? Do you ever dream about her? Doesn''t it bother you that she might never rest in peace?"

    The pain finally made Hank let go. He stepped back, pressing his bleeding hand, shaking his head hard.

    "No! I haven''t! I never saw Grace as Mom''s recement! Don''t think you can say whatever you want and I''ll go soft on you, Reese!"

    "What''s going on in here?"

    Two officers rushed in, blocking Hank as he tried to move toward Reese again.

    "This is a police station, Mr. Meyer. Please leave."

    Hank red at Reese over the officers'' shoulders, his eyes ice cold. "I was going to bail you out, but you know what? You can stay here a few more days and think about what you''ve done.

    "I never should''ve cared about you at all."

    Reese leaned against the wall, watching him storm off. Cold seeped into her bones. A single tear slipped down her cheek, but she wiped it away hard, her jaw set.

    "I don''t need your pity. I''m not a kid anymore."

    She sniffed, dropping back into the corner, Hank''s words echoing in her mind.

    If the police gave Grace that

    recording how could anything have gone wrong with it? If Grace wanted to mess with the evidence she must have brought her own recording from the start.

    She''d been young back then, but she still remembered that one of the officers had said the driver had been drinking, even though his blood alcohol level wasn''t that high. Normally, he shouldn''t have reacted so slowly.

    And there was that time when she was rear-ended. It happened right after Sebastian realized who Sofia really was and decided to send her back to Brookfield, right after Grace called Sebastian and he turned her down.

    There was no way all of this was just a coincidence. Both idents were probably Grace''s doing.

    Leslie showed up that day. Was that just luck, or had Grace nned that too?

    Either way, Reese was going to figure out the truth. She''d clear her name, and she''d make sure her mother got justice.

    God, Hank really was a fool. He actually let Grace take Mom''s ce.

    Outside Iron Financial, Tara was chatting with the receptionist, but her eyes kept flicking to the front doors.

    She was waiting to see what would happen next.

    When Zach came back, would he be alone, or would Reese be with him?

    A ck G-Wagon rolled up and Zach climbed out, looking furious.

    Tara finally let out a breath, feeling a wave of relief she couldn''t quite hide. So, Reese hadn''t taken Zach up on his offer.

    "Reese got arrested, and you''re happy about that?"

    Zach''s voice was so cold it made Tara freeze. He''d seen right through her.

    "No, it''s not that," she stammered. "I just... didn''t expect it, that''s all."

    "Didn''t expect it?"

    Zach''sugh was sharp and cold. He stepped up close, towering over her, every bit of his expression showing just how much he couldn''t stand her.

 Chapter 218

    "Tara, I know exactly what''s going on. Reese marrying Sebastian was all part of your family''s scheme, wasn''t it?"

    Tara''s face drained of color. She never expected Zach to throw it all out in the open like this.

    "I¡ªI didn''t know. It was my parents who set everything up. I swear, I didn''t know anything," she stammered.

    "You didn''t know?" Zach grabbed her chin, his grip so tight she cried out in pain. "You''re saying you didn''t know Sebastian was drugged? And what about the two million Reese gave you to pass to me? You didn''t know about that either?"

    Tara''s eyes went wide with shock. She hadn''t thought Zach would find out about that.

    Her lips quivered. "I-I wasn''t trying to hide anything from you. I just wanted so badly to be with you.

    "Zach, maybe you don''t realize, but I''ve loved you since I was a teenager. Back then, you were with Reese, and all I could do was watch you from a distance.

    "When Reese gave me that money, she was already married to Sebastian. I thought there was no way for you two anymore. That''s why I did what I did.

    "I know I shouldn''t have donw that, Zach. But you can''t just forget everything we''ve been through, everything we felt for each other..."

    "Enough."

    If she''d kept her mouth shut, maybe he could have let it go. But hearing her say all this just made Zach feel like a fool for all those years.

    He let go of her. Tara staggered back, bumping into the front desk and holding her chin.

    Zach stared at her, cold and unfeeling. "Whatever your family has done for me all these years, I''ll pay it back twice over. And there was the hurt you caused Reese. I''m not letting that slide as well."

    "No, Zach! Please, don''t do anything to my family!"

    Tara panicked and grabbed his arm. "I''m begging you. Please, for the baby''s sake. Just don''t go after my family!"

    Zach frowned, ncing at her belly, something unreadable shing

    through his eyes He pulled his arm

    free the baby is

    But that

    doesn''t mean your family gets to do

    whatever they want."

    A thousand thoughts raced through Tara''s mind. Finally, she bit her lip and let herself fall to the floor.

    "Ah! My stomach... it hurts..."

    She clutched her belly, sweat popping up on her forehead, her voice barely more than a whisper. ¡°Zach... the baby... please, save our baby..."

    No matter what, this child was still his. Zach''s eyes narrowed. He knelt beside her, heart twisting at the pain on her face.

    He hesitated, then scooped Tara into his arms and rushed for the door. "Hang in there. I''ll get you to the hospital."

    Curled up in Zach''s arms, Tara squeezed her fist tight, secretly triumphant.

    She knew she''d gambled right. As long as she had this baby, Zach would never really harden his heart against her.

    She couldn''t lose this child, no matter what.

    The hallway outside the ICU was so quiet it felt like the whole world had stopped. The only thing in the air was the biting smell of antiseptic.

    Sebastian sat on a bench, staring through the ss at the frail man lying in the hospital bed.

    The man used to be so full of life, so powerful. Now he was hooked up to tubes, his cheeks sunken, his cheekbones jutting out. His hair, which sed to be neatlybed, was stered messily to his scalp.

    Every shallow breath looked like it took all the strength he had left. The lines on the heart monitor moved so

    slow and weakly, it seemed like

    any''s

    second now they tten out and never move again.

    Sebastian''s fingers shook. His heart was clenched so tight it hurt to breathe.

    He''d lost his father young. This man had raised him, not just as a guardian but as

    the one person who kept his whole world together.

 Chapter 219

    When he was a kid and got himself into trouble, it was always his grandfather who stepped in and cleaned up his mess. Later, when he took over Ratcliff Global and faced all kinds of challenges, it was his grandfather who had his back, giving him the strength to push through.

    His grandfather used to say that all he wanted was for Sebastian to be happy. Not just sess at work, but someone to love him, someone to stand by his side.

    "You brat, Reese is a good girl. Treat her well. Don''t let her get hurt. Sometimes you have to take a step back. That''s how you make a life together."

    Sebastian never really took those words to heart before. But now, they kept echoing in his mind and just wouldn''t leave him alone.

    So did Reese''s smile, the way she''d quietly given so much to the Ratcliff family over the years, always looking out for him, never saying a word about how badly Jane treated her.

    And what had he done in return? He''d had her sent to the police station.

    Sebastian couldn''t sit still anymore. He grabbed his jacket and got up, turning to the bodyguard nearby. His voice was tight and serious. "Keep an eye on Grandpa. If anything happens, call me right away."

    Meanwhile, in a holding cell at the police station, Reese leaned against the wall with her eyes closed, trying to figure out how she could get to the bottom of her mother''s car ident.

    The door clicked open and a police officer came in, his tone softer than before. "Reese, you have a phone call. Come with me."

    She paused, confused. George hadn''te back. Hank had left after their fight. Who would be calling her now?

    She followed the officer to the front desk, picked up the phone, and spoke quietly. "Hello?"

    "Reese, it''s me."

    The voice on the other end was steady and familiar, instantly calming her.

    "Matthew..." Just hearing his voice made her eyes sting, and for a second, she almost lost control of all the emotions she''d been pushing down for days.

    "I heard about grandfather. And I know the police brought you in."

    Matthew''s voice was calm and sure. "I know you''d never hurt him. Don''t worry. I''ve already hired the best criminalwyer in the country he should be on his way to the station now.

    "I also got the new medication, and a whole medical team is on their way back to Bridger Lake.

    "Trust me, Reese. I''ll make sure your grandfather wakes up. I''ll make sure your name is cleared."

    Reese tightened her grip on the phone.

    Through Sebastian''s pressure, Jane''s coldness, Hank''s misunderstanding, she hadn''t cried once.

    Everyone else seemed ready to me her or doubt her. But not Matthew. He never questioned her not even for a second. He''d quietly taken care of everything, even before she thought to ask.

    Right then, the tight knot in her chest finally loosened, just a little. She could finally catch her breath.

    "Thank you,¡± she said, sniffling and trying to keep her voice steady. "I''m okay. Drive safe, all right?"

    "Yeah," Matthew replied, pausing for

    a beat, like he could hear she was close to tears but chose not to call her out ortit, Don''t worry, I''m here if you need anything, call me anytime. Thewyer will contact you as soon as he gets there."

    At that moment, Sebastian appeared at the entrance to the duty room.

    From a distance, he watched Reese holding the phone, a small smile on her face

    as she talked. His expression grew even darker.

    He nced at the officer next to him, his voice cold. "Who called her?"

    "It was a call from the military, sir... but I''m not sure exactly who."

 Chapter 220

    The police had no clue, but Sebastian saw right through it. There was only one person on the force who would call Reese at a time like this. Who else could it possibly be except for Matthew?

    He watched her end the call, her eyes red and puffy, her face soft and calm in a way he''d never seen before. That gentleness wasn''t for him.

    Storm brewing in his eyes, Sebastian shoved the door open and strode in like he owned the ce. The short distance to her felt like a mile, but he forced himself forward until he was standing right in front of her. He took a long, steadying breath, then lifted his gaze to meet hers-cold and unyielding.

    "What are you doing here?" Reese''s voice was like ice. She wiped away thest trace of a tear, her whole demeanor shifting back to sharp edges and thorns. The warmth she''d shown on the phone with Matthew was gone, just like that.

    "So, did youe to see how pathetic I am?" she scoffed. "Or maybe you found some new evidence and can''t wait to pin everything on me?"

    Matthew''s words echoed in her mind, and as she watched the man she''d called her husband for seven years, all she felt was bitter irony. At least Matthew believed in her. Sebastian, though, had never stopped seeing her as a suspect.

    Sebastian caught the trace of tears still shining in her eyes and the way she shut him out. Thest of his restraint snapped. She could be gentle with Matthew, but when it came to him, all he got was distance-and hate.

    It hit him in the chest, hard. He reached out and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

    "You think acting like this is going to make me divorce you? Think I''ll just let you walk away?" His voice was low, almost dangerous. "Forget it. I''m never letting you go. Not in this lifetime."

    He stared at her, jaw tight. "Maybe I should just have you locked up," he said quietly. "That way you''ll never get the chance to leave. You''ll always be my wife."

    Reese pped his hand away and stepped back, herugh cold as ice. "Sebastian, do you really think the Ratcliff family controls all of Bridger Lake? Get real. With what you''ve got, even the police can''t charge me. What makes you think you can?"

    "You want evidence?" Sebastian let out a humorlessugh and pulled out his phone, tapping to bring up a video. "Here. Security footage from outside Grandpa''s hospital room. During that whole time, you were the only one who went in. After Aiden left, no one else showed up until the camera was destroyed."

    So what if she hadn''t hurt grandpa? If it meant keeping her by his side, Sebastian would twist the truth as much as he had to.

    He handed the phone off to a cop, but his focus stayed on Reese. "She works in artificial intelligence. Hacking security cameras is nothing to her. No one else there could''ve done it.

    ¡°As a member of the victim''s family,

    I''m

    charally requesting criminal ''He didn''t even vorne

    Ratcliff family isn''t backing down.

    Reese stared at him, stunned, her whole body going cold. She couldn''t believe Sebastian would actually push her this far.

    She closed her eyes and took a

    yel

    breath. When she opened them again, there was only ice left. "Sebastian do you really think would hurt your grandfather

    "What? Scared now?" He turned, stubbornness burning in his eyes. "If you promise not to divorce me, I''ll drop everything. Right now."

    Reese didn''t hesitate. "Not a chance."

    "Great. Just great." Sebastian''s

    vels

    anger finally spilled over, his face dark as thunder You think.

    Matthew''s support means you can de whatever you want?"

    ¡°Fine. See you in court. Let''s see if you''re still this tough when you''re on the stand."

    Without another word, he turned and walked out, shoulders rigid. "Do whatever you want. The Ratcliff family won''t let this go."

    A police officer stepped up, ncing at her with a mix of sympathy and duty. "Mrs. Ratcliff... Ms. Meyer, pleasee back to the holding room with us."

    Reese watched Sebastian leave without looking back and felt a chill settle over her. This was the man she''d married!

    "Ms. Meyer?" the officer called again when she didn''t move.

    She finally let out a shaky breath and followed the officers back to the holding room.

    Even with that security footage, there was nothing to prove she''d hurt the old man. All she could do now was wait-wait for the truth toe out.

    She curled up in the corner, losing track of time, until finally, the door creaked open again.

 Chapter 221

    A cop showed up at the door, guiding in a man in a sleek suit and gold-rimmed sses.

    "Ms. Meyer, I''m Bryce. Matthew sent me I''m yourwyer on this case."

    He offered a reassuring smile. "You don''t have to worry. I''ve already gone over everything. I''m here to file for your bail."

    The officer beside him looked ufortable. "Bryce, this case is tied to the Ratcliff family. We..."

    "Officer." Bryce cut him off, adjusting his sses. "Byw, Ms. Meyer has been held for over twenty-four hours. The only evidence is that she entered the hospital room. That''s not proof of a crime.

    "There''s no basis for an arrest here. Legally, bail should be granted."

    He paused, voice calm but firm. "If you refuse to process her release, that''s a breach of procedure. And if my client files an appeal, it could affect the department''s reputation."

    The officer hesitated, then finally let out a sigh. "Alright. We''ll start the paperwork."

    Thirty minutester, Reese walked out the precinct doors.

    The evening air was cool and crisp, brushing against her face. For the first time in days, she felt her nerves finally start to unwind.

    "Bryce, thank you so much for today."

    "No need for thanks, Ms. Meyer. This is just my job." He waved off her gratitude, sounding lighter now. "Don''t worry. I''ve looked over everything, and there''s not nearly enough evidence to charge you. I''ll gather what we need to clear your name, promise.

    "Matthew is still on his way back. He''s worried about you. You should let him know you''re safe."

    Reese nodded. She knew if Matthew hadn''t brought in Bryce, she might still be stuck inside.

    After saying goodbye, she pulled out her phone and turned it on. Instantly, a flood of texts and missed calls came pouring in.

    Most were from Millie, who must have heard about everything with the Ratcliff family.

    Reese shot Millie a quick text to let her know she was okay, then called Matthew. He picked up after barely a ring, his voice steady and calm. "Reese? You''re out?" "Yeah, just now. Bryce helped me get bail."

    Her words softened, gratitude slipping through. ¡°Matthew, thank you. I''m sorry for dragging you into this again."

    "You don''t need to apologize," Matthew said, a note of concern hidden in his even tone. "Are you still near the station? I can send someone to pick you up." "No, I''m already home."

    Not wanting to trouble him more, Reese lied. "Drive safe, okay? Call me when you get to Bridger Lake."

    She hung up, walking into the sunset as she dialed George''s number.

    "George, everything''s settled at the station. No need for you to rush back.

    "But could you speed up the divorce with Sebastian? I want it over as soon as possible."

    After all that had happened, she couldn''t stand the idea of being tied to Sebastian for another minute.

    "Don''t worry, Ms. Meyer. I''ve already spoken with the court. We can have a hearing in the next couple of days. You''ll get a notice soon."

    Reese let out a relieved breath and was about to put her phone away when it

    started buzzing again. Millie''s name lit up the screen.

    She answered quickly, barely getting out a hello before Millie''s shaky, tearful voice broke through. "Reese!! finally got through, you have no idea how scared I was when heard. T thought..."

    "Millie, I''m so sorry I made you worry."

    Reese''s voice was gentle and

    apologetic. "The police took my

    phone thesest two days, Sol

    didn''t see your calls I''m out now, everything''s fine promise."

    "I''m just d you''re safe."

    Millie sounded calmer, though her relief was obvious. "Where are you? I''lle

    find you. We need to talk."

    "I''m at the park near the station. Come over, I''ll wait for you."

    Reese hung up and found a bench, watching peoplee and go while she waited for Millie.

    When Millie arrived, she drove Reese back to her apartment. Once Reese had showered and changed, she was about to order groceries and startner but Millie swooped in and grabbed her phone before she had the chance.

 Chapter 222

    "You really just can''t catch a break, can you? After everything you''ve been through, you''re still thinking about cooking for yourself?"

    Millie hooked her arm through Reese''s and grinned. "No way. We''re eating out tonight. Time to get rid of all this bad luck. Come on, dinner''s on me. Let''s go big."

    Before Reese could even protest, Millie was already pulling her downstairs and straight to the city''s hottest French restaurant, The Gilded Terrace.

    They''d barely rolled up to the front. Reese was just stepping out of Millie''s fire-red Ferrari when a familiar face caught her eye.

    Sebastian stood at the entrance, tall and sharp in a dark grey designer suit, looking every bit the cool, collected CEO. Leslie was on his arm, bundled up in a pale pink faux fur coat.

    The second Leslie spotted Reese getting out of the car, she shot her a smug little smile, holding Sebastian tighter and leaning even closer to him, like she was showing off a prize.

    However, Sebastian''s eyes had never left Reese since she arrived.

    He knew she was out on bail. He''d had someone follow her, just to be sure. Deep down, he''d never really wanted to send her to jail. He knew the evidence he gave the police wasn''t enough to prove she was guilty. Honestly, he never believed Reese could hurt his grandfather.

    He was just furious. Furious at how Reese had treated him.

    He''d only wanted to teach her a lesson.

    When he heard it was Millie, not Matthew, who picked Reese up from the police station, he''d actually felt relieved. And when he found out the girls had a reservation at The Gilded Terrace, he hesitated for a moment, then called Leslie and asked her to join him for dinner.

    He wanted Reese to see that he didn''tck options. That he could have any woman he wanted, whenever he wanted.

    He wanted to see her jealous, upset... Anything, as long as she still cared enough to react.

    But Reese just gave him a cool, indifferent nce, like he was a stranger she barely recognized. Then she turned to Millie and smiled. "I heard their steak is amazing. Let''s get inside."

    Sebastian watched them walk away, his face darkening, hands clenched into fists.

    Was Reese really done with him? Did she not even care enough to hate him anymore?

    "Sebastian, let''s go inside," Leslie said quietly, noticing how tense he was. She tugged on his arm, frustrated.

    "I have things to do," Sebastian said, pulling away. He handed her the dinner reservation card. "I need to go. Dinner is on me."

    Leslie stood frozen, cheeks burning with embarrassment as she watched him walk off. After a moment, she turned and stared after Reese, her fists tight at her sides, eyes full of jealousy and resentment.

    Inside, Millie picked the most private booth she could find. The moment they sat down, she couldn''t help but vent. "Seriously, what is wrong with Sebastian?"

    "First it''s Sofia, now he''s got some new girl hanging off him. Does he think he''s some kind of peacock, just strutting around for attention?"

    Reese just picked up the menu, staying quiet.

    A waiter brought over a bottle of red wine, poured them both a generous ss, and slid the sses over.

    Once they''d ordered, Millie clinked her ss against Reese''s. "Come on, spill. What''s really going on?"

    Reese took a slow sip, letting the wine cool her nerves. Only then did she start telling Millie everything that had happened over the past few days.

    With every word, Millie just got angrier. She smacked her palm on the table, getting a few stares from the other diners.

    She lowered her voice, but she was practically shaking. "Sebastian is such a jerk! His grandfather gets

    hurt and before he even figures out

    what happened, he throws you

    under the bus and has you arrested?

    "And then he tries to use it all to ckmail you into staying married? Seriously,

    who does he think he is?"

    Millie frowned, thinking hard. "But something about this doesn''t add up.

    "This is his grandfather''s life we''re talking about. Why would he use something so serious just to threaten you?

    "If he''d really drop the charges just because you agreed not to divorce him, isn''t that too convenient?

    "Don''t tell me he already knows you''re innocent, and he''s just using this as an excuse to control you."

    Reese went quiet, finishing off her wine in one go.

    There had been so much going on, she hadn''t even thought about it that way. If

    Millie was right, then Sebastian was even scarier than she thought.

    "I don''t know," Reese finally said, her voice low.

    She didn''t want Millie getting dragged into her drama, especially where Sebastian was involved, so she changed the subject. "Enough about hun. How''s your newpanying along?"

    Millie brightened, and as they ate, they chatted about work and life,ughing and drinking until their cheeks were warm and their worries

    faded a little. After a while, Reese excused herself to use the restroom.

    When she came out, she found Leslie at the sink, fixing her lipstick in the mirror.

 Chapter 223

    Reese ignored her, rinsed her hands, and was ready to leave when Leslie called out.

    "Reese, how does it feel to be turned in to the cops by your own husband? Is it exciting?"

    Reese looked back at her calmly, not saying a word.

    "Got nothing to say?" Leslie stepped forward, blocking her way, her voice getting sharper. "Or are you embarrassed? I mean, you''re Mrs. Ratcliff, but now you''re the prime suspect in trying to kill your grandfather-inw. Imagine how ugly the gossip''s going to be."

    Maybe Leslie felt bold because the Ratcliff family had filed charges against Reese. Maybe it was because no one suspected her, or maybe she was just feeding off Sebastian''s coldness.

    She finally dropped the nice-girl act. "Oh, wait-I almost forgot. Sebastian never even admitted you were his wife. No one else even knows there''s a Mrs. Ratcliff."

    Reese could hold her liquor, and instead of making her fuzzy, the drinks only made her mind sharper. She remembered how Leslie had acted after ident, and the security cameras that had mysteriously stopped working.

    She stopped and met Leslie''s eyes, her gaze icy. "It''s you who cut the oxygen line in his hospital room, right?"

    Leslie''s smile froze, her face twitching for a second, but then she recovered. "So what if I did? So what if I didn''t?"

    "As far as the Ratcliffs are concerned, you are the only suspect. What happens to you has nothing to do with me."

    She leaned in close, her voice dropping lower, sly and poisonous. "Let me ask you, Reese. Are you sure you don''t want him dead? Not even a little bit?

    "If he dies, you get shares in Ratcliff Global, and nobody can stop you from divorcing Sebastian. Isn''t that what you want?"

    "I don''t want that," Reese said quietly. "Mr. Ratcliff and I already agreed-no matter what happened, I was leaving Sebastian.

    "Even if I divorce him, with the way he treats you now, you really think he''d ever marry you?"

    Leslie shrugged, smoothing her hair with a casual smile. "I never wanted to marry him. Not back then, not now."

    She looked over at Reese, a wicked little smirk on her lips. "Let me tell you something. I took Mr. Ratcliff''s money and left Sebastian years ago. I wanted him to remember me forever.

    "Funny thing is, he med you for it. He''s resented you for seven years.

    "Sorry, but honestly, I''m pretty happy with how things turned out.

    "Oh, and I bet you didn''t know this. That child you had through IVF? That''s actually mine."

    Reese felt a sharp pain in her chest. So it was true. Sebastian had used her to have a baby for Leslie.

    But none of that mattered anymore. She wasn''t interested in fighting with Leslie Instead, Reese reached into her bag and pulled out a recorder, waving it in front of Leslie.

    Ever since Sebastian had her arrested, George had told her to always keep a recorder on her, to save

    y conversation with the

    police, just in case he needed to help her fight the chargester

    She hadn''t expected it toe in handy now.

    Reese hit y and let Leslie''s voice echo in the room: "Oh, and I bet you didn''t

    know this. That child you had through IVF? That''s actually mine."

    She yed the clip again. And again. Just to make sure Leslie heard it.

    Then she smiled sweetly. "Thanks, Leslie. You just made my divorce

    with Sebastian a whole lot easier,

    and you''ve given me everything

    and yotye given p

    need to im my share of his money."

    Leslie''s face went paper white as she lunged for the recorder, but Reese slipped it

    back into her bag and shoved past her, not looking back.

    Leslie just stood there, clutching her sore shoulder, her eyes burning with so

    much hate she looked like she might explode.

    Back at her table, Reese had barely sat down before Millie handed her a phone with a new message.

    "Did Sebastian and your son have gic testing done?

    "Mypany works with ab overseas. I just got their results.

    "They both have a hereditary gene mutation. No one knows when the symptoms

    will show up.

    "And right now, there''s no cure for it anywhere.

    "So the only thing waiting for them is....."

 Chapter 224

    Reese took Millie''s phone and scanned the screen, her eyebrows lifting in surprise when she saw the words "gic test results."

    "How did you even get their test reports?" She nced at Millie, still remembering how Aiden had said he''d arranged everything with ab overseas.

    Millie gave her wine azy swirl and grinned, looking proud of herself. "Gic testing here is just as good as anywhere else now. The results are just as urate.

    "Mypany actually works with a bunch of foreignbs, but honestly, a lot of those so-called ''international'' samples are tested right here at home. It''s way cheaper. Only rich people still believe foreignbs are better than ours."

    Reese nodded, things starting to make sense. "No wonder."

    Maybe it was a good thing she''d asked Millie to help with Matthew''s test after all. The thought of him brought a knot of worry to her chest. If both Sebastian and Robbie had tested positive for gic mutations, then Matthew might be at risk too.

    She looked at Millie. "So what about the appointment you booked for Matthew''s screening? Are you sure it''s sorted?"

    Millie took a sip of her soup and waved her off. "Rx. It''s all set. As soon as he''s back in Bridger Lake, he can go straight in for the test. Theb''s expecting him."

    Reese finally felt her shoulders loosen. She pulled out her phone and started typing a message, hesitating a moment before deciding not to mention Sebastian and Robbie''s results.

    She sent it: Matthew, I''ve set up your gic screening. Once you''re back in Bridger Lake, make some time for a checkup.

    Millie gave a low whistle, raising her eyebrows with a sly smile. "So, who exactly is this Matthew?"

    "Just a friend," Reese said, a little too quickly.

    She watched the screen for the sent notification, her thoughts drifting back to that day in the researchb, when she''d nearly passed out and Matthew had carried her out. He''d been there for her more than once, always stepping in to protect her, even getting hurt in the process.

    Without meaning to, she started to smile, her usual serious expression softening.

    Millie wasn''t about to let it go. "Doesn''t seem like just a regr friend to me. You don''t even care about Sebastian anymore, but here you are fussing over this Matthew before you think about your ex or your son."

    "When did you get a friend like that, anyway? Seems like you care about him a lot."

    Reese felt her ears start to burn. She picked up her wine and took a sip, trying to y it cool. Her voice sounded just a little awkward.

    "Don''t make it weird. He''s Sebastian''s half-brother. He''s helped me out before."

    Millie just grinned wider, clearly seeing right through her. She didn''t push, just watched Reese with a teasing look in her eyes.

    Feeling exposed, Reese quickly changed the subject.

    The hospital room was quiet and the afternoon sun cast pale light across the bed Tara tay there looking exhausted and fragile. Rosie came in carrying a thermos, her face@ight with worry.

    "What happened? Why did you suddenly have trouble with the baby?" Rosie set the thermos down in a rush. And where''s Zach? He used to panic if you so much as frowned. Why isn''t he here with you?"

    Tara''s eyes clouded over and she spoke softly, voice barely more than a whisper. "He''s noting."

    Rosie''s worry deepened. "Why not? Did you two get in a fight?"

    Tara closed her eyes, breathing in slow and deep before she finally spoke. ¡°He found out. He knows what we did to Reese."

    Rosie''s face went white as her hands slipped and the thermos ttered to the floor, soup sshing everywhere.

    "He... He knows? How did he find out?"

    Zach had survived the cutthroat inheritance battle in the Wiles family. He wasn''t someone who''d be fooled or manipted easily. Now that he knew what they''d done, the Ramos family might be in great danger.

    Tara forced herself to sit up a little straighter, reaching out to calm her. "Mom, calm down."

 Chapter 225

    "Reese is in trouble right now, so Zach won''t have time toe after us, at least for a while.

    "And today, I pretended to fall and hit my stomach, just to make him feel sorry for

    me.

    "I don''t think he''ll do anything to the Ramos family anytime soon, but when you get home, you should talk things over with Dad. We need to figure out our next move."

    "That''s a relief.¡± Rosie let out a long breath, pressing a hand to her chest. She looked at Tara, pale and weak in the hospital bed, and couldn''t help but scold her. "You really have some nerve. I know things are desperate, but you can''t risk your health and the baby like this.

    "If Zach cares about this child enough to back off from us then you need to protect it even more."

    Tara''s eyes filled with tears. She looked down at her slightly rounded belly and whispered, "But Mom, this baby was never going to make it anyway."

    Rosie''s face went white as she rushed to the bedside. "What do you mean, the baby won''t make it?"

    "When I first found out I was pregnant, I did a DNA test. The doctor said the baby might have a rare gic disorder."

    Tara gently rubbed her belly, her voice quiet. "A few days ago, I had an amniocentesis to confirm it. The doctor told me I should end the pregnancy, but I haven''t had a chance to tell Zach."

    Rosie''s hope crumbled. "What are we going to do? Without this baby, Zach will never let the Ramos family off the hook!

    "And your wedding is nned for the end of the year. If there''s no baby, he won''t marry you!

    "And on top of that, Reese is determined to divorce Sebastian. Once that happens, the whole city will beughing at us."

    At the mention of Reese, Tara''s eyes turned cold for a split second.

    She was quiet for a moment, then said slowly, "That''s why, before anything else happens, we have to make Zach turn against Reese. We need him to hate her.

    "If the baby wasn''t meant to survive, then at least it can be useful onest time."

    Rosie saw the determination in her daughter''s eyes. She felt scared and uneasy, but there was no other way out. She just nodded.

    "As long as you''ve thought it through. If we can get Zach back, you''ll have other chances for children."

    As they were talking, someone knocked softly at the door. Rosie jumped and hurried over.

    Through the ss, she saw a middle-aged woman wearing a surgical mask, looking anxious and out of ce.

    She opened the door and frowned. "Who are you looking for?"

    The woman took off her mask, her face full of panic. Rosie recognized her

    instantly; it was the nurse from Mr. Ratcliff''s hospital room.

    Rosie''s expression changed. She nced down the hallway, then quickly pulled the nurse inside and closed the door.

    Keeping her voice low, Rosie

    snapped, "What are you doing here? Sebastian''s people are looking for you everywhere. Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

    The nurse grabbed Rosie''s arm, shaking all over. Her voice trembled. "Mrs. Ramos, you have to help me!

    "I only let that woman into Mr. Ratcliff''s room because you told me to. I never thought she''d actually cut the oxygen line!

    "By the time I saw what happened, it was toote!"

    "What?!"

    Rosie felt her legs go weak.

    Leslie actually went to hurt Mr. Ratcliff?

    Holding onto the wall for support, Rosie tried to calm the nurse, and also herself.

    "Don''t panic. It''s fine. Nobody knows Leslie was in that room. The Ratcliffs are ming Reese, not us.

    "Besides, everyone in Bridger Lake knows the old man was on hisst legs. He''s been in aa for ages. No one will ever find out."

    "No, you don''t get it!" The nurse''s

    voice broke as she nearly burst into

    tears. "I''ve been hiding in the

    hospital for days, and just now overheard the lead doctor say the military medical team is on their way they''ll be here tomorrow, or the day after, and they have some special medicine. When they get here, they''ll be able to wake Mr. Ratcliff up!

    VI

    "If he wakes up, he''ll tell them everything. When that happens, they''lle for me, for the Ramos family, for that woman. None of us

    are

    getting out of this!"

 Chapter 226

    Rosie''s face drained of color. She pressed herself against the wall, barely managing to stay on her feet. Her mind was spinning out of control.

    What now?

    What was she supposed to do?

    Lost and panicked, she nced at Tara, silently begging her to have a n.

    Tara sat up straighter on the hospital bed, thinking for a second before saying, "Mom, don''t freak out for now. Call Leslie. Get her here."

    "Do you really think that''ll help?" Rosie''s voice shook. ¡°Sebastian cares so much about Leslie. If he finds out what happened, he might let Leslie off the hook ande after us instead.

    "If that happens, we''ll have to deal with Zach and Sebastian''s anger at the same time. The Ramos family would be finished."

    Tara thought back to herst call with Leslie. "Trust me, as soon as Leslie hears about this, she''ll get involved. She won''t just sit back.

    "If she really believed Sebastian loved her, she wouldn''t have risked trying to kill Mr. Ratcliff, and then tried to pin it all on Reese.

    "I bet she wants Sebastian to hate Reese, push her into a divorce, and then take her ce.

    "Right now, she has more reason than any of us to keep the old man unconscious -she''s the one who tried to kill him."

    Rosie nodded, almost feverishly. "You''re right. She''ll have to do something."

    When Leslie got the call, she''d just finished reporting to her overseas contact about the de project''s core data.

    The second Rosie told her that the nurse had spilled everything about cutting the oxygen line, Leslie was so furious she almost couldn''t breathe. In her head, she cursed the nurse for being so weak and useless.

    Then she heard the military medical team was arriving soon and Mr. Ratcliff might wake up, and Leslie''s nerves kicked into overdrive.

    Sebastian could never find out she was the one behind it.

    She forced herself to sound calm and steady. "Understood. Send the nurse to Constance Hospital. I''ll have someone pick her up and make sure she''s safe."

    The moment she hung up, her calm melted away. A cold, ruthless look shed in her eyes.

    Constance Hospital looked like a fancy private clinic backed by international investors. In reality, it belonged to her spy organization. Once the nurse ser foot inside, Lesire had plenty of ways to make sure she disappeared, and Sebastian would never find her.

    As for Sebastian...

    Leslie sank onto the sofa, drumming her fingers on the armrest.

    Robbie was too young to handle

    anything, Jane had been sent abroad by Sebastian. If she could just get sebastian out of the way when Mr. Ratcliff woke up and stick to her story, she might actually get away with everything.

    Even if Sebastian got suspiciouster, as long as he had no real proof, and considering she''d saved his life before, he probably wouldn''t do anything to her.

    The next morning, Reese woke up to a call from the hospital. The military doctors had arrived and were already meeting with the staff.

    She rushed through her morning routine and drove straight to the hospital She thought she''d see Matthew, but when she got to the

    doors, only Sebastian was there.

    She hurried down the hall, and Sebastian looked up, catching the sh of disappointment in her eyes. He gave her a cold, mocking smile.

    "Looking for Matthew? Sorry, he''s not here. Must be a letdown.

    "You''re so determined to divorce me. Is it just so you can run off with him?

    "Was Zach not enough? Now you''re after Matthew too? Reese, are you really that desperate for a man?"

    Reese took a long breath, trying to keep calm. "Sebastian, I want a divorce

    because I''ve lost all faith in you. It has nothing to do with anyone else.

    "And you? You''ve always had plenty of women around. You''re thest person who should judge me."

    Sebastianughed, but his eyes were ice cold.

    "Funny. I never realized you were this much of a whore. Guess all those years of ying the good wife were just an act."

    A sharp pain shot through Reese''s chest. She let out a bitterugh.

    So, after everything she''d done for the Ratcliff family, this was all she got from Sebastian. He tossed her loyalty aside like it meant nothing.

    As they stood there, tense and silent, the ICU doors opened. A military doctor stepped out, looking serious.

 Chapter 227

    "Mr. Ratcliff''s condition is critical. You should start preparing yourselves."

    Reese felt her heart clench. She didn''t waste time arguing with Sebastian anymore. "But didn''t you give him the new medication? Why is it still like this? "We did, but Mr. Ratcliff was without oxygen for too long, and his health was already fragile. We''ve done all we can," the army doctor said with a heavy sigh. "Right now, there''s no telling when he''ll wake up. It could be a few minutes, or it could be days.

    "But you need to be ready. If he does wake up, it''s probably the end."

    Reese felt like something was squeezing her heart, sharp and relentless. She''d tried to prepare herself for this day, but now that it was here, the pain was still overwhelming.

    Almost without thinking, she reached for the recorder in her pocket. If Mr. Ratcliff woke up, he could finally clear her name.

    But that also meant the man who''d changed her life, and who, in the end, had respected her choices, would be gone for good.

    Sebastian''s anger faded as soon as he heard the doctor''s words. All that was left was sadness.

    He didn''t argue with Reese anymore. He just rubbed a tired hand over his face. "Got it. I''m going out for a smoke."

    He walked down the hall to the smoking area, lit a cigarette, and took a long drag, then let the smoke out in a slow sigh. But no matter what he did, the anxiety in his chest just wouldn''t go away.

    He was lost in thought when his phone buzzed. He nced down at an unknown number and hit decline, but it rang again immediately.

    "Hello? Who is this?"

    "Is this Mr. Sebastian Ratcliff? Leslie was in a serious car ident. She''s at Constance Hospital and needs emergency surgery. We need a family member to sign the paperwork.

    "We checked all her contacts. You''re her only emergency contact. Pleasee as soon as possible!"

    Sebastian''s eyes dropped.

    Leslie''s mother had died young, and her father was sent to prison for life after a drunk driving ident when she was still a kid. Her rtives all shunned her, called her bad luck, and cut her off.

    She''d only juste back to the country, and aside from him, there was no one else.

    Sebastian hesitated for a long

    moment, then stubbed out his

    cigarette and called over his security

    team "Stay here and keep watch If

    grandpa wakes up, call me right away."

    Sebastian had barely left the hospital when Jane stormed in, clutching her purse and seething. She couldn''t believe Sebastian had actually sent her off on vacation for Reese''s sake.

    If anything happened to Mr. Ratcliff while she was gone, people would talk about her forever.

    Luckily, she''d managed to slip away from the bodyguards and rush back.

    She was determined to get answers. In Sebastian''s heart, was she less important than that bitchReese?

    When she got to the ICU, Sebastian was nowhere to be found. Only Reese was there.

    "What are you doing here?" Jane demanded, striding over, ready to shove Reese aside. Reese had already heard hering and sidestepped smoothly.

    Jane lost her bnce and nearly fell, but a bodyguard caught her just in time.

    Steadying herself, Jane red at Reese. "Weren''t you arrested? Are you still trying to hurt Mr. Ratcliff?"

    Reese''s voice was calm and cool. "I was released on bail. Not enough evidence." She even dragged out the words, just to get under Jane''s skin.

    Jane was furious, practically stomping her feet as she yelled at the bodyguards, "What are you waiting for? Throw her out! Get her out of here!"

    The bodyguards looked at each other, unsure.

    Just then, the ICU door swung open and the army doctor poked his head out. "Mr. Ratcliff is awake. He wants to see you both.

    "But the medication only gives him about ten minutes. That''s just enough time for somest words. Family members, get in there now."

    The second she heard that, Jane lost it. She turned and screamed at the bodyguards, "Go! Hurry, before Sebastian gets too far! Bringo Sebastian back right now!

 Chapter 228

    When Sebastian''s phone rang, he was just stepping into Constance Hospital. He lingered in the waiting area outside the emergency room, listening as the doctor ran through Leslie''s injuries.

    Leslie had been in a car ident on her way to work. The ambnce brought her in straight from the scene. She''d fractured her lower leg in multiple ces and lost a lot of blood. The nurses had just finished patching her up.

    Sebastian arrived right as Leslie came to. Shey in bed, pale as a sheet, looking so fragile it hurt to see.

    ¡°Sebastian, thank you foring to see me," she murmured.

    Before he could say a word, his phone buzzed again. He answered, jaw tight.

    "Mr. Ratcliff! Your grandfather is awake! The doctor says he only has about ten minutes left. You have to get back here, now!"

    The panic in his bodyguard''s voice was unmistakable. Leslie heard it too. Her brow knit just slightly.

    Of course she didn''t want Sebastian to leave her for his grandfather. But the other hospital was at least half an hour away, even if he sped the whole way. She knew how fast those military meds wore off. There was no way his grandfather would hold on that long.

    If someone had to y the understanding one, it might as well be her. Leslie forced a weak smile and reached for Sebastian''s arm, her hand trembling. "Sebastian, your grandfather needs you more. Go, I''ll be fine. Really, I..."

    He pulled his arm away before she could finish. "You don''t have to say it. I''m going."

    The look he gave her was ice cold. "Do yourself a favor. Don''t try those little tricks with me. Next time, I won''t this nice."

    With that, he turned and walked out, never looking back.

    "Get the car ready," he snapped to his team as he strode away.

    Leslie was left behind, frozen, clutching her nket so hard her knuckles turned white. When had Sebastian ever been this cold to her?

    No. She couldn''t let things keep going like this. She wasn''t about to just sit here and watch everything fall apart.

    At the same time, Jane and Reese were worried about the old man''s condition. They couldn''t keep waiting anymore and went into the hospital room themselves.

    The old man was lying in bed, his face flushed an unnatural shade of red, tubes running everywhere. When he saw Reese, he managed a faint smile, his eyes flickering a little brighter.

    He tried to raise his hand. Reese hurried over, taking it in hers, startled by how hot his skin felt.

    His gaze shifted to Jane, and she immediately understood what he wanted.

    She rushed to exin, "Sebastian just got a call from the office. He doesn''t know you''re awake yet, but he''ll be here any minute!"

    Reese didn''t bother calling out Jane''s obvious lie. She just gave her a look and let it slide.

    Jane''s mind was spinning. Robbie''s warning echoed in her head. He''d used Reese of harming Mr. Ratcliff.

    Jane seized her chance. "Dad, do you remember who came into your room when it happened?"

    Mr. Ratcliff coughed, his eyes going wide. He squeezed Reese''s hand hard.

    He tried to speak but just didn''t have the strength. Finally, he managed to get out, "It was Les..."

    Leslie.

    Jane''s eyes widened. There was no way the old man would make this up. So it was Leslie who''d bribed the nurse and snuck in to hurt him.

    Jane had always liked Leslie and hated Reese, but if Leslie was really this ruthless, letting her marry Sebastian would destroy them all.

    "How-how can this be?" Jane stumbled back, shocked.

    Reese just nced at Jane, her face calm. She had something else to take care

    of.

    She knelt by the old man''s side and, with Jane watching, asked,

    "Grandpa, when you were

    unconscious, thewyer told me you wanted to leave me fifteen percent of thepany''s shares. I need to make sure that''s what you really want. If it is, please blink

    Mr. Ratcliff blinked, slow and clear.

    After all these years, the Ratcliffs had treated Reese badly. Leaving her somepany shares was the least he could do.

    Besides, Reese had evidence of Sebastian''s crimes. He hoped that giving her the

    shares would be enough to keep her from turning against the family.

    "What?" Jane''s shock turned to panic. "Dad, what are you doing?"

    Reese and Sebastian were about to get divorced. Why would Reese need shares in Ratcliff Global now? And everyone could see there was something going on between Reese and Matthew. If Reese took the shares and married Matthew, his stake would almost be as big as Sebastian''s. If Matthew made a move, where would that leave Jane and Sebastian?

    Mr. Ratcliff coughed again, his gaze starting to fade. He knew he didn''t have

    much time left.

    He forced out, "Reese, after I''m

    gone, if you want to divorce Sebastian, do it. Take the shares. Marry another man if you want will always support you."

    "Dad! You''re not thinking straight!" Jane cried, her voice cracking.

 Chapter 229

    Jane couldn''t hold it in anymore. Her voice rose, sharp and trembling. "How could you do this?"

    Reese just stood there, heart twisting. Even now, he was still thinking of her. Even on his deathbed, she was on his mind.

    "And... I want Reese to be recognized as... my own... Make sure Sebastian remembers... he can''t ever hurt her again... from now on, she''s..."

    His breathing turned ragged, each word a struggle. His chest heaved, eyes locked on the doorway, as if willing someone to appear. The hand that had been holding Reese''s went ck, falling to the bed.

    Suddenly, the heart monitor spiked, then dropped into a thin, t line. The rm red through the ICU, sharp and unforgiving.

    "Dad!" Jane shrieked, lunging to the bedside and seizing his hand. "Don''t go! You have to finish what you''re saying! Seb''s almost here! Please, just a little longer!"

    She shook him, tears streaming down her face, but Mr. Ratcliff''s eyes were closed for good now, his expression still tinged with regret for all he''d left unsaid.

    The military doctor rushed in, immediately starting CPR. After more than ten minutes of trying everything, he finally stopped, shaking his head.

    "I''m sorry. He''s gone."

    Jane dropped to the floor, sobbing, but beneath it all was panic. Mr. Ratcliff was gone, and he''d left shares to both Reese and Matthew. What would the other shareholders think of the Ratcliff family now?

    Reese inheriting Ratcliff shares was a done deal, and Jane couldn''t let her take them and walk away. No way.

    Reese just stood there, staring at the bed, at the old man who would never open his eyes again. Atst, her tears spilled over.

    She remembered how he''d always stood up for her, the words he''d just tried to say. The ache in her chest was sharp, raw.

    Slowly, she knelt and bowed three times, forehead pressed to the cold floor, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Thank you, Grandpa."

    Jane watched, rolling her eyes because she was sure Reese was just putting on an act for those shares.

    Wiping her tears away, Jane straightened up and walked out of the room. She pulled herself together, putting on her dy of the house" face. She turned to the security team. "Start making arrangements for the funeral. Bring Robbie up. He should say goodbye to his great-grandfather.

    "And call Sebastian again. Tell him he needs to get here now."

    Reese stepped out of the room, the recorder clutched tight in her hand. With this recording, no one could pin Mr. Ratcliff''s death on her.

    She watched the security guard bring Robbie over. She really didn''t want to see her son right now, so she stepped aside to let him into the room to pay his respects.

    Standing outside, Reese took onest look at Mr. Ratcliff, then closed her eyes and turned to leave, only for Jane to grab her arm.

    Jane''s face had changed. No more usations, no more sarcasm. She was smiling, a soft smile Reese hadn''t seen since marrying into the Ratcliff family.

    "Reese, I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have med you. I can''t believe Robbie lied. But whatever happened, Sebastian trusts you...

    "I pushed him to call the police. Maybe... maybe you could think twice about the divorce?

    "I''m begging you.

    "If you stay, you can have whatever you want. You can take over all the family finances from now on."

    Robbie came out of the room and

    heard this. His eyes shed with et

    guilt. So great-grandpa had already

    cleared

    Mom''s name But

    Mom''same why was

    Grandma suddenly being so nice?

    Jane pressed on, "It was my fault before. I promise, I''ll never let you get hurt again.

    "Think about it, you own twenty percent of Ratcliff Global now. No one in this family will dare treat you badly."

    Robbie''s eyes went wide. Great-grandpa had left Mom so many shares? No wonder Grandma didn''t want her and Dad to get divorced anymore.

    He bit his lip, shuffled up to Reese, and tugged at her sleeve, careful and small.

    "Mom, I''m sorry. I didn''t mean it. I just didn''t want you and Dad to get divorced, so I said you hurt Grandpa...

    "When things got out of control, I wanted to tell the truth, but I was scared Dad would get mad, so I kept quiet."

    He looked up at her, tears shining in his eyes, voice desperate. "Please, Mom, don''t get divorced. I promise

    I''ll be good

    wont make you angry

    ever again."

    Jane jumped in, "That''s right, Reese. Robbie is apologizing. For the sake of the

    child, can''t you and Sebastian just work it out?"

    She nced at Robbie, then leaned

    in close to Reese, lowering her voice.

    "If you stay, I''ll go to the police

    myself and make sure Leslie goes to

    jail she''ll never show her

    face

    around here again, never bother Sebastian.

    "And I''ll throw you and Sebastian the biggest wedding this city''s ever seen.

    Everyone will know you''re the real Mrs. Ratcliff."

    Reese looked at the two of them, putting on their performance, and suddenly let

    out a chuckle, cold, sharp, and utterly mocking.

    "Do you two even hear yourselves? Isn''t this all just a little ridiculous?"

 Chapter 230

    Reese stared at the grandmother and grandson, who were putting on their little show, and couldn''t help but feel the whole thing was painfully ironic.

    Kids really do turn out just like the people who raise them, she thought. With Jane''s influence, Robbie was already a pro at putting his own interests above everything else.

    All thesest-minute apologies and promises were just because of the shares her grandfather left her. She wasn''t stupid.

    "Do you two even hear yourselves?" Reese''s voice was cool and sharp. ¡°Isn''t it ridiculous?"

    She stared Jane straight in the eye, each word steady and clear. "I''m divorcing Sebastian. I''m leaving the Ratcliff family. Nothing you say will change my mind."

    She didn''t bother ncing at their miserable faces. She just turned and walked away.

    The elevator doors slid open, then closed.

    Sebastian came rushing down the hallway, catching sight of Reese''s icy expression and his stunned family behind her. He narrowed his eyes, reaching out to grab her wrist.

    "Where are you going? Grandpa..."

    Before he could finish, Reese yanked her arm free. Her eyes were cold, like she didn''t even know him.

    "Where I go has nothing to do with you. Your grandfather''s gone. If you hurry, maybe you''ll get to see him onest time."

    Two text alerts chimed at the same time. Sebastian ignored his phone, just staring at Reese, anxiety twisting in his chest.

    Grandpa was dead? What did that mean for him and Reese?

    Reese nced at her phone. After checking the messages a couple of times, a small, satisfied smile yed on her lips.

    It was a court notice. Their divorce hearing was set for three days from now.

    She looked up at Sebastian, the smile lingering. "Check your phone. We''ll see each other in court in three days."

    Sebastian''s eyes went wide. The air around him seemed to freeze.

    He wanted to ask her if she really meant it, if they had to end like this, but Reese didn''t give him the chance. She turned and headed for the elevator, leaving nothing but her determination behind.

    Jane watched everything, her hope that Sebastian might convince Reese to stay disappearing as quickly as it came. Her face turned even paler.

    She hurried over to Sebastian, voice urgent. "Sebastian, did you hear her?

    "Reese isn''t bluffing. She''s serious about the divorce. You have to do something!"

    Sebastian shot her a cold look, his voice low. "What did Grandpa say before he died?"

    Jane remembered the old man''sst words. "He said... it wasn''t Reese''s. We were wrong about her all along..."

    "I know she didn''t hurt Grandpa." Sebastian nced at the closed elevator doors. Jane froze. He''d known all along?

    Did he know Leslie was the one who hurt grandfather? Jane remembered how, before the wedding Sebastian

    had fought with his

    grandfather just

    so he could be with Leslie instead of Reese.

    A chill ran through her.

    Leslie had killed Mr. Ratcliff and made Jane me Reese. Now everything had spiraled, Reese was ready to leave with her shares, and the Ratcliff family was about to lose her for good.

    Jane wanted to tear Leslie apart, but if she told Sebastian now, would he still believe her?

    She swallowed the rest of her words and forced herself to calm down.

    "What else did Grandpa say?"

    Sebastian''s eyes were dark, still fixed on the hospital room.

    Jane pressed her lips together, hesitated, then shook her head. "Nothing else. He

    just left Reese some shares."

    Looks like she''d have to handle Leslie herself.

    Sebastian just nodded.

 Chapter 231

    Sebastian didn''t ask any more questions. He just walked quietly into the hospital

    room.

    Outside, Reese left the hospital and headed straight for her car. She''d barely started the engine when her phone lit up with a call from an unknown number.

    She hesitated. It could be work, so she answered.

    "Reese, it''s me. Do you remember me?"

    The voice on the other end was older, careful, and a little worn.

    Reese froze. Her body went stiff.

    She hadn''t heard from Bailey in over ten years. She thought she''d forgotten his

    voice, but the second he spoke, she knew exactly who it was.

    Her brow furrowed. She almost hung up on reflex. But Bailey kept talking. "I heard

    about the stuff with the Ratcliff family. Are you... are you okay?"

    "Do you want me to bring in a specialist from overseas for Mr. Ratcliff?"

    Reese raised an eyebrow. "No need. He''s already gone."

    Bailey went silent for a long moment. It took him a while to process her words, and when he finally spoke again, his voice was tight and anxious.

    "What did you say? Mr. Ratcliff... he''s gone? Is Sebastian making things hard for you? Is he going to send you to jail?"

    Reese let out a coldugh. "Rx. Even if I did go to jail, it wouldn''t affect you.

    "Besides, Grandpa made it clear-none of this was my fault."

    She could almost hear Bailey''s sigh of relief, but before he could say another word, Reese cut in. "I know you want to work with the Ratcliff family. Don''t call me again.

    "I''m divorcing Sebastian. Whatever happens with the Ratcliffs or the Meyers has nothing to do with me anymore."

    "You can''t just say that!"

    Bailey was so thrown by her bluntness that he started coughing, struggling to get his breath back.

    "This is a crucial time for the Meyer and Ratcliff families to work together. If you two get divorced and Sebastian pulls out, what then?"

    "How is that my problem?" Reese''s tone went sharp. She''d stopped caring about Bailey a long time ago, but his words still made her ufortable.

    "The Meyer and Ratcliff partnership is Sofia''s doing. It has nothing to do with me.

    "Whether I stay married to Sebastian is none of your business."

    "How can you say that?" Bailey''s voice was tight and angry. "Don''t forget yourst name is Meyer too! Your mom left you shares in the Meyer family. You have a

    responsibility to this family!

    "Would your mom have wanted this..."

    Reese didn''t let him finish. She hung up and tossed her phone aside, hands shaking.

    She slumped back in her seat and closed her eyes. She couldn''t stop her mother''s face from appearing in her mind.

    Bailey hadn''t even shown up at her mom''s funeral. In all these years, he''d never once visited her grave. Now he had the nerve to bring her up.

    Reese clenched her fists. She was going to find out the truth about her mother''s death. No one who''d hurt her mom was getting away with it.

    Meanwhile, Bailey mmed his phone down on the table, fuming.

    Reese hadn''t cut him out years ago, so he only found out she''d married Sebastian, recently. He wouldn''thave let Sofia get so close to Sebastian if he had known sooner.

    He''d hoped Sofia could be their link to the Ratcliffs, maybe even get them in with

    the military. But instead, Sebastian was sick of Sofia, and now Reese wanted a divorce.

    No. He had to talk to Reese in person.

    And then another thought hit him. Bailey grabbed his other phone and called Hank.

    "Hank, I just got word. Mr. Ratcliff is dead, and Reese is divorcing Sebastian. I''m flying to Bridger Lake tonight to talk to her.

    "But listen, we can''t put all our eggs in one basket. The military wants to partner up and share some of the de project''s civilian tech. Find a way to meet the project lead Sefit up as soon as you can.

 Chapter 232

    "If we can get a meeting, then we don''t need to go through with the Ratcliff Global deal.

    "Just remember, no one can find out about this, and you need to move fast."

    Hank nodded right away, not daring to hesitate for even a second. "Got it."

    "And another thing," Bailey added after a pause. "Take care of Sofia. We''re having dinner together tonight. Ask her what she wants to eat, book a table, and make sure she doesn''t feel neglected again."

    Once the call ended, Bailey leaned back in his chair, his eyes cold and sharp.

    He wasn''t about to let the de project slip through his fingers, but losing the Ratcliff family''s support would be just as disastrous.

    Over at the hospital, Jane was handling all the details for Mr. Ratcliff''s funeral. She nced over at Sebastian, who was standing a little ways off, talking on his phone, and her eyes darkened.

    It was Leslie calling again.

    What could possibly be so important that Sebastian couldn''t even be there to say goodbye to his grandfather?

    Just then, her phone lit up. It was a message from her private investigator.

    "Leslie was in a car ident this morning. She''s at Constance Hospital, getting treatment."

    Jane slipped her phone into her bag and headed straight for the elevator.

    "Ma''am, where are you going?" one of the bodyguards asked. "Should I get the car?"

    Jane shot him a look. There was no way she could let Sebastian know she was going to see Leslie.

    "No, that''s alright. If Sebastian asks, just tell him I had some personal business to take care of and I''ll be back soon."

    She needed to hear from Leslie herself-why she tried to hurt Sebastian, Mr. Ratcliff, and the entire Ratcliff family. After all Jane had done for her, how could Leslie have betrayed her like this?

    She''d looked out for Leslie when her mom died and her dad was in jail. She''d even convinced Mr. Ratcliff to help Leslie out when she was struggling.

    And this was how Leslie repaid her?

    Jane left the hospital, grabbed a cab, and followed the address and room number from the investigator.

    When she saw Leslie was in a VIP suite, her anger red up even more. Of course Sebastian would go out of his way for her.

    Jane pushed open the door and found Leslie lying on the bed, covered in bandages, but she didn''t look like someone on the verge of death.

    Jane leaned against the doorway, watching for a moment. When she saw Leslie''s eyshes twitch, she grew even more convinced that Leslie was faking it, probably just trying to get Sebastian to feet sorry for her.

    And because of her, Sebastian missed his grandfather''s final moments.

    If people found out, what would they think about him?

    "Cut the act, Leslie!"

    Jane stormed over and yanked the nket off her. "You little homewrecker!"

    Her voice rang out, echoing down the hallway, loud enough to draw people from the other rooms.

    Curious patients and visitors started

    togather in the doorway.

    Leslie heard the footsteps and thought it was Sebastian. She was about to

    pretend she''d just woken up when she heard Jane''s voice.

    Her heart skipped a beat, and for the first time, she actually looked pale, like someone who might really be sick.

    Wasn''t Jane supposed to be out of the country? Why was she here, and why did she look so furious?

    Had Jane seen Mr. Ratcliff before he died?

    Sure enough, the next second, Jane''s voice rang out, sharp and unforgiving. "Leslie! You''re a murderer!"

    "You really thought you could fake being sick to keep Sebastian away? Father woke up before he died and told us himself. It was you who cut his oxygen tube!

    "How could you be so cruel? You even tried to me my daughter-inw and wanted my son to send her to jail!"

    Outside the room, people started whispering, eyeing Leslie with

    curiosity and suspicion the hallway

    buzzed with gossip, and everyone wanted to know what kind of person

    Leslie really was.

 Chapter 233

    Leslie had never felt so embarrassed in her life. She tried to swallow her panic, yanking the nket up to her chin and wrapping it tightly around herself. "Ma''am, what are you even talking about? I think you''ve got the wrong idea.

    "When have I ever done anything to hurt Mr. Ratcliff?

    "And I really was in a car ident today. My leg''s broken. I can''t even get out of bed right now..."

    "Mistaken?" Jane barked out a coldugh and stormed over, grabbing Leslie by the cor and yanking, trying to haul her out of bed. "He said it himself. Did you really think your little tricks could fool us all?

    "If it wasn''t for you, why would my daughter-inw be so desperate to divorce my son?

    "You''re nothing but a jinx. You lost your own mother, sent your father to prison, and now you can''t stand to see anyone else happy!"

    Jane''s grip made it hard for Leslie to breathe. She tried to fight back, but the casts on her arms and legs, which she''d insisted on just to make her story seem real, left herpletely helpless.

    ¡°Please, ma''am, let me go. I honestly don''t know what you''re talking about...

    ¡°Sebastian and I are just friends. I would never ruin his family, and I would never hurt his grandfather.

    "Yeah, my dad did go to prison for drunk driving, but that wasn''t my fault. He answered to thew.

    "My mom only got sick because she was taking care of me. How can you say things like that..."

    Leslie looked so pale and fragile that a few bystanders began to whisper.

    "Isn''t that olddy going overboard? The girl''s badly hurt. How could she have killed anyone?"

    "Seriously, maybe it really is just a misunderstanding. This is getting ugly."

    "Look how pitiful she is. How could anyone go after her like that?"

    Jane spun around and snapped at the crowd, her voice sharp. "What do you know? My father-inw said it was her, with his own mouth!"

    "Then call the police and have her arrested!" someone in the crowd shot back.

    "If you''re not calling the cops and just yelling like this, it probably means you''ve got no proof."

    Leslie froze, ncing at the person who spoke, silently cursing them for making things worse.

    Jane caught the flicker of fear in Leslie''s eyes and felt even more certain she was right.

    "Fine! I''ll call the police!" She whipped out her phone and dialed.

    "Hello? Is this the police? I want to report a crime!"

    "I''m at Constance Hospital, orthopedic ward. There''s a woman here named Leslie-she killed my father inw. "I''m using her of murder! Pleasee and arrest her"

    The room went dead silent. Everyone stared at Leslie.

    People who''d just been feeling sorry for her now watched her with suspicion.

    If this was all a misunderstanding, would she really call the police and use her of murder?

    Leslie''s hands shook as she clung to the nket. Her face was tight with effort; she hadn''t thought Jane would actually make the call.

    Jane hung up and red coldly at her. "Still keeping up the act? Let''s see how long you can keep pretending when the police get here I swear, you''re going to pay for this."

    It wasn''t long before the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the

    hallway followed by the off

    voices. "Who made the call?

    Someone reported a murder?¡±

    Jane rushed to meet them, pointing straight at Leslie in her hospital bed.

    "Officers, it''s her! Leslie! She killed my father-inw. Please, arrest her right now!"

 Chapter 234

    Two police officers parted the crowd and stepped into the hospital room. They followed the direction of Jane''s shaking finger and spotted Leslie, who''s pale as a ghost and wrapped head to toe in bandages. The officers shared a loaded look, both clearly skeptical.

    This woman, covered in injuries and barely conscious, was supposed to be a murderer?

    The lead officer closed his notebook, his face lined with doubt. "Ma''am, you''re using her of murder. Do you have any evidence at all?"

    Jane''s expression tightened. Just moments ago, she''d let her anger take over and blurted out the usation. Only now did she realize her so-called proof was nothing but her father-inw''sst whispered words. No full name, no paper trail, not even a recording-absolutely nothing that would hold up in court.

    She opened her mouth, her voice cracking with urgency. "My father-inw told me himself! He said she cut his oxygen tube!"

    "Verbal testimony isn''t enough for a criminal charge," the officer replied, his pen hovering above the page. He nced at the crowd. "Do you have any security footage? Witnesses? Any physical evidence at all?"

    Jane''s throat tightened until she couldn''t get a single word out.

    She had nothing.

    The mood in the room shifted. Now when people looked at Jane, their eyes were cold and dismissive.

    "Calling the cops with no proof? She must be losing her mind."

    "How could that poor girl hurt anyone, looking like that?"

    "Probably just picking on her because she''s young and alone. Some people will do anything to bully others."

    Their words stung, and Jane''s face burned with embarrassment. She stared at the floor, wishing she could disappear.

    The officer snapped his notebook shut and gave Jane a stern look. "Ma''am, filing a false report or wasting police resources is a crime. Since this is your first time, this is a verbal warning. Next time, you''ll be held responsible."

    When the police finally left, the onlookers stuck around just long enough to throw more insults at Jane before scattering, leaving her standing alone in the room, feelingpletely helpless.

    She just didn''t get it. Last time, with Reese, all she''d done was say something simr. Sebastian called the police, and she got taken away for questioning. Why was it different this time? Why didn''t the police even take Leslie in for questioning?

    Leslie watched Jane''s humiliation with open amusement. Gone was the sweet, obedient version of herself. Instead, she let out a low triumphant chuckle, looking nothing like the pitiful patient she''d been moments ago.  s?novels

    "Maybe next time call the police when you''ve actually got evidence. Otherwise, you''re just wasting everyone''s time-and making the Ratcliff family look

    ridiculous. Is that really worth it?¡±

    Jane was already furious, and Leslie''s taunting pushed her over the edge. She lunged forward, ready to p her.

    "You little bitch! You dareugh? You''re the one who killed him!"

    But Leslie was ready. She pushed Jane away with one hand, right in the chest.

    Caught off guard, Jane stumbled backward and mmed into the bed, pain shooting up her back.

    "You..." Jane clutched her waist, ring at Leslie. "I knew you were faking! You''re nothing but a snake!"

    "A snake?" Leslie raised an eyebrow,

    her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Aaren''t you thest person who should be calling someone else, toxic? You think you''re innocent after everything you''ve done?"

    "What are you talking about?" Jane shot back, rubbing her back. "What have I ever done?"

    Leslie''s eyes narrowed and her voice dropped, every word sharp and dangerous. "Oh, I know all about it Years ago just to get Sebastian father like you, you sent a woman right to his bed because he wanted her. You didn''t even care what she wanted.

    "And when you found out she got pregnant, you secretly drugged her and tried to

    make her lose the baby. Didn''t work. The child survived.

    "To make yourself look generous, you raised that kid as your own. But his real

    mother was locked up in a mental hospital until she brokepletely."

    Jane staggered, her face going chalk-white. She stared at Leslie as though

    seeing a ghost. She''d kept that secret buried for years only herte husband ever knew.

    "How... how do you know all this?" Her voice shook.

    After all these years, she never thought anyone would find out.

    Leslie just smiled, her gaze cool and confident. "Oh, I know a lot more than you think."

    She''d lived under the Ratcliff family roof since she was little. In all those years, there was plenty she''d seen-and plenty more she''d learned.

 Chapter 235

    Leslie knew the Ratcliff family inside out. Jane was selfish to the core, always pretending everything she did was "for everyone''s good." She was impulsive and not the brightest, but the second things got real, she was the first one to run for

    cover.

    So when Jane came storming in today, Leslie was sure it had everything to do with Reese.

    Just thinking about how Reese had wrecked her ns over and over made Leslie''s eyes sh with anger.

    "Let me guess, Reese put you up to it today?

    "There''s no reason for us to be enemies. You can''t stand Reese, and I want to deal with her too. Why don''t we work together?"

    Jane tensed, instantly suspicious. "Work together? Forget it. I''ll never agree to let you marry Sebastian."

    "Marry into the Ratcliff family?" Leslie let out augh, shaking her head like she''d just heard a joke. "Jane, you give your family way too much credit. I''ve never wanted to marry Sebastian.

    "I''m only going after Reese for something she has. Once I get it, I''m leaving the country, for good. I''m noting back.

    "Why would I give up a great life overseas just to marry Sebastian?"

    Jane stared at her, clearly conflicted and uncertain.

    Sensing her hesitation, Leslie leaned in, her tone suddenly sharp. "Take your time

    to think about it, but you''d better decide soon. I can''t promise I won''t let something slip if you wait too long."

    "And before you make up your mind, don''t do anything stupid. I don''t want a repeat of today."

    Jane felt Leslie''s cold, snake-like stare and shivered. The chill seemed to seep right into her bones. She couldn''t stand to stay in the room another second, so she turned and hurried out, nearly stumbling as she left.

    After leaving the hospital, Reese headed straight back to ckOak. She''d barely stepped into her office when n came rushing over.

    "Reese, I''ve got some good news," he said, handing her a folder. "Vista Tech wants to work with us. They''re aiming to get the civilian contract for the de project."

    "I did my homework-they check out. The lead on their sidees from a family with serious business connections and plenty of clout."

    Reese flipped through the file while n filled her in. "They''ve reached out several times, and they seem genuinely interested. They even offered to cover thirty percent of the initial R&D costs, and they''ll give us fifteen percent of the future profits as a tech share."

    "That''s a pretty sweet deal," Reese said, tapping her fingers on the folder. Her brow furrowed. "But the

    de project involves

    vtech

    So it''s not just up to us. We''ll need

    higher-up approval."

    She nced at n. "You can start talking to them, but I''m swamped right now."

    The divorce hearing was in three

    days. She still needed answers

    about her mom''s ident. She was also keeping an eye on thepany''s research. Until after the hearing, she wouldn''t have a moment to spare.

    "See if you can schedule the meeting for three days from now," she said.

    "No problem. I''ll set it up," n replied. "They said they''re willing to work around your schedule-whatever works for you."

    After n left, Reese stood there for a moment, lost in thought. Then she picked up her phone and called.

    "Ms. Meyer, is there something you need?" Roman''s voice came through the line. "Mr. Sanchez, I was wondering. Is there any update on the investigation into the car ident? The one where someone deliberately rammed me?¡±

    Roman''s tone turned serious. "It''s not going well."

    "I checked the surveince footage. He was definitely tailing you, and he hit you on purpose when you stopped at the light.

    "But the driver''s not talking. Without proof, we had to let him go. We did find an overseas wire transfer to his ount right before the crash, though. We''re tracking where it came from.

    "Does that make you think of anyone?"

    Reese was silent for a moment, her suspicions swirling. Then she said quietly, "I don''t think Leslie was the only one behind this. Maybe she wasn''t behind it at all."

    She took a deep breath, then told Roman about the forged recording Grace had produced after her mother''s ident.

    "If it hadn''t been for that recording back then, I always felt like Grace was involved somehow."

    "Grace?"

 Chapter 236

    Roman paused for a second. "You mean the Meyer family from Brookfield? Are you suspicious of her? Any leads?"

    "Nothing concrete yet," Reese said, her voice tinged with frustration. ¡°But I''ll figure out a way to get proof. I just wanted to keep you in the loop."

    "Got it. So you''re saying the money might not really be foreign. It could be domestic funds disguised as overseas transfers that got funneled back in."

    Roman sounded determined. "I''ll have my people dig into that. Let''s keep each other posted if anything turns up."

    When the call ended, Reese pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to rub away her irritation.

    No matter how certain she was, t didn''t mean anything without evidence. If she wanted answers, she''d need someone else''s help.

    She grabbed her phone and called George.

    "George, I need you to look into Grace for me. Focus on who she was in contact with sixteen years ago."

    There was some background noise, like George was in the middle of something. After a moment, he replied, ¡°Of course, Ms. Meyer. I''ll get right on it.

    "And one more thing. Your divorce hearing with Mr. Ratcliff is in three days. I''ve put together all the information about the process and emailed it to you. Check it when you have a moment.

    "Our evidence is solid for this case. The recording you sentst night has been submitted too. I''m confident we''ll win and secure most of Mr. Ratcliff''s personal assets for you."

    When the call ended, Reese leaned back in her chair, eyes closed. Sunlight streamed in through the window, wrapping her in a gentle warmth.

    The old Ratcliff family estate was unusually quiet. Even the housekeepers walked around extra carefully, not wanting to make a sound.

    Sebastian sat on the leather sofa, gripping his phone so tightly his knuckles were white. He stared at the court summons on the screen, a cold anger radiating from him.

    ¡°Useless! You can''t even handle something this simple!¡± Jane''s sharp voice cut through the silence.

    She was sprawled on the other end of the sofa, feet up on an ottoman, a housekeeper gently massaging her lower back.

    Her chronic injury had red up again after Leslie pushed her earlier. The pain was getting to her, and she couldn''t help butin to Sebastian. "I really don''t get why you were so obsessed with Leslie in the first ce.

    "She left for another country and you still couldn''t let her or Annie go. Now she''s back, you two are in touch again, and because of her you even missed your father''sst moments."

    Leslie made her think of Reese. "Honestly, Reese was better. She handled everything herself. She even learned massage just because she knew about my back problems. Thanks to her, I barely had any trouble these past few years."

    Sebastian frowned, clearly losing patience, but before he could say anything, Robbie shuffled over with a fruit tray, his little face full of concern.

    "Grandma, have some fruit. It''ll help you feel better."

    Jane''s expression softened as she patted Robbie''s head. "Such a good boy, Robbie. Just like your mom."

    She picked up a grape and popped it in her mouth, but immediately made a face. "What''s wrong with the grapes this year? They''re nowhere near as good as before."

    Sebastian nced at the tray.

    Back when Reese was in charge, everything in the house was nned in advance. She''d order fruit straight from the farms. Nothing in the market even came close.

    The thought hit him hard: if he really did get divorced from Reese, all these little things he took for granted would be out of reach.

    He couldn''t shake the feeling, and it annoyed him more than he wanted to admit.

    No. He needed to see Reese again, needed to talk to her.

    "Robbie,e with me. We''re heading out."

    Sebastian stood up and grabbed his jacket.

    In the ckOak Tech underground parking lot, Reese stepped out of the elevator after workingte yet again.

    She spotted Bailey and Hank waiting by her car, both of them wearing identical, hopeful smiles.

    Reese had zero interest in dealing with either of them. She took out her phone, tapped a few buttons, and watched as her car slowly pulled out of its spot.

    "Reese, you''ve really grown up. You''re looking more and more like your mother every day."

 Chapter 237

    Bailey stepped in front of Reese, his eyes red and watery. "Your mom and I just want you to be happy. Maybe you should really think about this whole divorce thing with Sebastian?"

    Reese gave him a cold, t look. The gentle, caring dad she remembered from childhood seemed long gone, reced by this fake, self-serving man.

    "I already told you how I feel on the phone. And stop dragging my mom into this."

    Every time they used her mom''s name, it felt like they were tarnishing her memory.

    "Reese, don''t be like this," Bailey tried, forcing a weak smile. "I know Sebastian hasn''t treated you right. It makes sense that you want a divorce."

    "But the truth is, our family needs the Ratcliffs right now. We''ve worked so hard just to get this partnership."

    He hesitated, then pushed ahead, his eyes shing with doubt before he forced the words out. "If you''re really set on leaving Sebastian, I just hope you''ll have another kid with him first."

    "That way, when they''re older, one could inherit the Ratcliff family''s stuff, and the other could take over your mom''s shares in the Meyer family. Wouldn''t that be perfect?"

    Reese''s stomach turned so hard she thought she might actually get sick.

    Was this really her father?

    How could he suggest she go and have another child with Sebastian, just to keep the two families tied together?

    "Seriously, Bailey? What do you think I am, some kind of baby factory?" She let out a bitterugh. "Get out. I don''t want to see either of you again."

    Hank jumped in, trying to smooth things over. "Reese,e on, don''t get so upset. Dad''s only thinking about your future. You''re a woman, divorced, with no kids. How are you going to manage in Bridger Lake?"

    "My life is none of your business," she shot back, ring at him.

    With that, Reese yanked open the car door, ready to leave.

    Bailey''s patience finally snapped. His fake smile vanished, reced by raw anger. "Reese, you''d better think this through!

    "Do you even want the shares your mom left you?

    "If you don''t do what I say, I''ll make sure you never get a cent. I''ll have your name erased from the Meyer family records. You won''t be one of us anymore!"

    "Erase me from the family?" Reese turned back, her eyes full of icy contempt. "I stopped thinking of myself as a Meyer a long time ago."

    She took a deep breath, slid into the car, and shot Bailey a look sharp enough to cut ss.

    "Every share my mom left is mine. Threaten me again and I swear I''ll bring the whole thing down. Let''s see who wins."

    Bailey''s face grew even darker. "Are you threatening me?"

    "You''re the ones who backed me into a corner."

    Reese mmed the car door,

    started the engine, and drove off et

    without a second nce leaving the two men standing there, looking

    Soetely shaken and lost.

    A sudden ringtone broke the tense silence in the parking lot.

    Hank picked up, listened, and his face went from stormy to lit up in a heartbeat.

    He hung up and turned to Bailey, barely able to contain his excitement. "Dad, we did it! The de Project manager agreed to meet us. They tells the exac time soon!"

    Bailey''s anger vanished instantly. "Are you serious?"

    Hank nodded. Bailey started pacing with excitement, then asked, "Did you find out whichpany''s running the de Project?"

    Hank shook his head. "I tried, but it''s top secret. No one''s talking."

    "Mr. Marsh said people have already been investigated by the authorities over this project. Nobody wants to risk leaking anything now."

    He paused, remembering something. Sofia had been taken in for questioning too, supposedly for leaking information.

    Could it really just be a coincidence?

 Chapter 238

    "That''s exactly what we want-tight background checks mean they''re really serious about this project!"

    Bailey pped, his eyes lighting up as he talked to Hank.

    "This shows the higher-ups actually care. If we lock down this partnership, our family might finally turn things around.

    "Who knows, maybe even the Ratcliffs will have to start ying by our rules."

    Just thinking about it made Bailey grin so wide he couldn''t stop, and he was still chattering about it with Hank when they met Sofia. He barely noticed anyone else. Sofia listened to them, their voices full of excitement, but inside she was a mess.

    The Meyer family wanted to team up with de?

    Back when she was investigated by Homnd Security, she found out that Reese was one of the main people in charge of de.

    If this partnership went through, and her dad and brother learned what Reese could do, would they finally start to care about her? Would they bring her back into the Meyer family?

    "I guess I really underestimated you all these years." Bailey gave Hank a proud pat on the shoulder.

    "You haven''t even been in Brookfield that long and you''ve already connected with Mr. Marsh and reached the project leader.

    "It''s not just Vista Tech anymore. From now on, I''ll let you handle other Meyer Group business too."

    He pointed at Hank, then looked at Sofia. "With you two backing up the Meyer family, I can finally rx.

    "If only Reese could be more like you both, maybe I wouldn''t have so many headaches."

    Hank puffed up at his father''s praise. When Bailey mentioned Reese, Hank thought of all the things she''d said recently and let out a dryugh.

    "Reese has been spoiled by the Ramos family her whole life. She''s stubborn as anything. Thest time Sebastian called the cops on her and I went to see her, she just made fun of me. She even said Grace faked that old recording."

    Sofia''s hand tightened around her fork, her knuckles turning white. She lowered her eyes, hershes hiding the panic in them.

    She remembered what happened when Reese''s mom died in that crash. She knew exactly how that recording ended up in front of the Meyer men.

    She never thought, after all these years, that it''de up again.

    And if Hank''s right, Reese already suspects something about the recording?

    Sofia nced up, watching Bailey to see how he''d react. "She really said that?"

    Bailey let out a heavy sigh. "Calling Grace aliar? That''s ridiculous. Shee

    only had that recording for at

    minutes. How could she have faked if?"  ?wnovels

    Sofia breathed a little easier when Bailey didn''t believe it, but then Hank went on, "Of course I trust Grace.

    "Now that Reese is set on divorcing Sebastian, I bet she''s saying all this just to get back home."

    Thinking about everything Reese had been through, Hank sounded a little softer. She was still his sister, after all. "Dad, maybe we should¨D"

    "Hmph." Bailey cut him off, his face turning cold. "She killed her own mother. That''s been eating at me for years.

    "When she married Sebastian, she didn''t tell us a thing. Now she''s determined to get divorced. If we let her back into the family now what about our deal with the Ratcliffs?"

    Bailey squinted, clearly thinking it over.

    No way. If Reese actually left Sebastian, there was no chance she''d get her mother''s shares.

    Sofia''s heart hammered in her chest as she listened to them.

    Even if Bailey didn''t buy Reese''s story now, after he found out she was behind de, he might reopen the whole investigation just to make re nothing messed up the de. partnership.

    She needed to warn her mom, just in case.

    She nced at Bailey and Hank, still deep in their conversation, then quietly

    pulled out her phone and sent Grace a quick message.

    "Mom, Reese is starting to dig into what really happened with her mom''s ident."

 Chapter 239

    Grace frowned at Sofia''s message. Why is Reese getting suspicious about this now?

    She tapped her fingers on the coffee table, eyes sharp and cold. After thinking for a moment, she grabbed her phone and dialed a number she didn''t recognize.

    The call connected. A rough male voice answered, "Hello?"

    "It''s me." Grace''s tone was icy. "I know you''ve been out for a while. You need to keep your head down. Find somewhere to hide out, and honestly, you''d better start living under a different name."

    "Why?" the man asked, sounding confused. "Wasn''t all that stuff over and done with?"

    He''d spent more than ten years in prison for that money. Now that he was finally free, why should he have to keep hiding?

    "Someone''s looking into the ident from back then. She''s already started questioning me."

    Grace could tell he was hesitant, so her voice turned even colder. "If you don''t want to get caught, do what I say. If anyone finds out you took money for that job, we''re both finished. Got it?"

    "...Alright. I understand."

    At the same time, Reese was just parking her car when her phone rang- Roman''s name shed on the screen.

    "Ms. Meyer, I''ve gone through your mother''s ident files. I found the driver who caused it.""His name is Alex. He killed your mother while driving drunk. He was sentenced to neen years but got out a few years ago for good behavior. He''s living in Greenville now.

    "I also discovered Alex''s bank ount has been getting regr transfers from an overseas ount-the same one that paid off the guy who tried to hit you.

    "Don''t worry, Ms. Meyer. Now that we have this lead, we''ll keep digging."

    Reese''s grip tightened around her phone. Her eyes went cold.

    So it really was the same person behind her mother''s ident and the one who tried to hurt her.

    "Thank you, Mr. Sanchez."

    She hung up and rubbed her temples. Just then, her phone lit up again with a message from George.

    She stepped into the elevator and checked the message.

    [Ms. Meyer, I found out your mother''s hit-and-run driver was from Greenville. And so is Grace.]

    Reese paused, her eyes darkening. A cold, mocking smile tugged at her lips.

    Grace. Of course it was her. There was no way she wasn''t involved in what happened back then.

    She needed to go to Greenville. She needed to meet Alex, the man who killed her mother.

    But her divorce hearing was in three days. Right now, nothing was more important than breaking things off with Sebastian.

    She''d just have to wait until the divorce was final before she went.

    Thinking it over, she stepped out of the elevator and called George.

    "George, send two people to Greenville to keep an eye on Alex Once my divorce is sorted, I''m going to see him. And check what Grace was up to around the time Alex g?t out of prison."

    "Understood, Ms. Meyer. I''ll get on it right away."

    She ended the call and instantly felt two sets of eyes on her. She looked up.

    Standing at her apartment door were two people, one tall and one small.

    Annie noticed the coldness in Reese''s expression and nervously twisted the corner of her shirt. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Auntie.....

    "I said something wrong at the hospital. I caused you trouble.

    ¡°I didn''t know that charm wasn''t from you, but I still epted it.

    ¡°And after that, Uncle Sebastian seemed really angry. Did he give you a hard time?"

    After Reese left the hospital that Annie realized her words hadn''t helped clear Reese''s name at all. fact, she''d only made the Ratcliff family more suspicious.

    day,

    Even worse, Sebastian was mad at Reese because of the charm.

    Later, hiding in a corner,

    Annie

    overheard Sebastian calling the

    police trying to get Reese arrested. She''d been so anxious and scared she had no idea what to do.

 Chapter 240

    She barely made it back to her hospital room before everything went ck.

    It wasn''t until she heard Matthew''s voice, faint and distant, that she finally let herself rx. Matthew was back. With him here, there was no way anyone could pin Mr. Ratcliff''s death on Reese. Only then did she feel safe enough to breathe again.

    "Auntie, I''m sorry, I really didn''t mean what I said," Annie sniffled, tears as big as raindrops rolling down her cheeks. "Will you forgive me, please?"

    The second Reese saw Annie, all the coldness on her face melted away. Now, Annie was sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath, and Reese''s heart just broke.

    She hurried over, scooped Annie up, and kissed her cheek. "Shh, don''t cry. I''m not mad at you."

    Back at the hospital that day, Reese had stormed out in anger, not even realizing she''d left Annie behind until she got home to ckOak. She''d meant to go back after work, but before her shift was even over, the police showed up and took her away. After that, everything just spiraled one thing after another, and she barely had a second to think, let alone check on Annie.

    "It''s my fault for being so busy and forgetting about you. You shouldn''t me yourself, sweetheart."

    "But... but you looked so scary just now," Annie huped, her voice barely above a whisper.

    "That was about something else, not you," Reese promised, giving Matthew a quick look, hoping he''d help out.

    Matthew rubbed his nose, his eyes lingering on Reese for a moment before he gently took Annie from her. He pulled a tissue from his pocket and wiped away her tears.

    "No more crying, okay? Didn''t wee here to apologize to Auntie and invite her to dinner?"

    That reminded Annie, and she looked up at Reese with hopeful eyes. "Auntie, you haven''t had dinner yet, right? Daddy and I made a bunch of yummy food. Will youe eat with us?"

    Reese smiled, tapping Annie''s nose. "Of course I will."

    Downstairs in the parking lot, Sebastian sat behind the wheel, one hand resting on the steering wheel.

    In the backseat, Robbie clutched his little dinosaur toy. "Dad, I saw Mom''s car go into the garage. When are we going up?"

    Sebastian swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the apartment entrance. For once, there was a flicker of hesitation in his gaze.

    He''d seen Reesee home. But all

    he could think about was the way

    she''d looked at him that morning and said, "Sebastian, I''ll see you in court She''d been so sure, determined, and now he wasn''t even sure if he should go upstairs at all.

    And if he did, what would he say? Would Reese even listen?

    After a long pause, he finally said quietly, "Let''s go."

    He undid his seatbelt, about to get out, when he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye.

    This time, Reese wasn''t alone. Walking beside her was a tall man carrying a little

    girl.

    Reese wore a beige trench coat, her

    face turned up as she smiled at the girl in the man''s arms. Annie had one arm wrapped around Matthew''s neck, the other reaching out to hold onto Reese. Matthew carried Annie easily his shoulders straight and sure. As they stopped out into the wind, Matthew reached over and smoothed Reese''s cor like it was the most natural thing in the world.

    Annie pouted in protest.

    Daddy was so unfair. Her hair had blown right into her mouth and he didn''t even notice. He was too busy looking after Auntie. If Daddy couldn''t marry Auntie someday, Annie decided, she''d never forgive him.

    The three of them walked side by side, turning the corner and heading off together. The soft, dim lights from the courtyard spilled over them, making them look just like a family out for a walk after dinner.

    Sebastian watched them walk away, then got out of the car and pulled out a cigarette, fumbling to light it His hands were shaking or maybe the wind was just too strong, but the lighter wouldn''t catch no matter how many times he tried.

    Frustrated, he threw the lighter to the ground. It hit the pavement with a loud

    crack, making Robbie shrink back in his seat, startled.

 Chapter 241

    Robbie was seriously starting to wish he hadn''t tagged along with Sebastian to apologize to Reese.

    That whole scene just now clearly stung Sebastian; it left Robbie feeling off, too. He couldn''t stop thinking about how his mom used to smile at him-gentle and warm, a smile meant just for him. Even around his dad, she always seemed a little distant.

    But when was thest time she smiled at him like that?

    Sebastian kept staring after Reese, like he was trying to burn a hole through the door she''d just walked out of. For the first time, he realized how genuinely kind her smile could be. Gone was the guardedness she wore around the Ratcliffs and the icy indifference she showed him. It''s just real, easy happiness.

    The thought made Sebastian tug at his cor, restless. He slid behind the wheel and started the car.

    Let her be happy or not he didn''t care. She was already his wife, and no matter what she thought, he wasn''t ever letting her go. Divorce? Not happening.

    The ck Bentley slipped away as quietly as it hade.

    Sebastian drove like a man possessed, so fast that Robbie had to hold on tight to his seatbelt in the back, his face turning ghostly pale.

    By the time they got back to the old manor, both of them looked like they''d just walked through a thunderstorm. Jane stood up from the sofa as soon as she saw them.

    "Where have you two been? Do you realize howte it is? Did you even eat dinner?"

    Sebastian didn''t say a word. He shrugged off his jacket and handed it to a maid, shot Jane a look colder than ice, and headed straight upstairs.

    The re made Jane flinch, and she instinctively turned to Robbie.

    "Where did your dad take you?"

    "We went to see Mom," Robbie mumbled.

    Jane''s heart dropped. She nced up the staircase, then back at Robbie, who lookedpletely defeated.

    "What did your mom say? Is she still going through with the divorce?"

    "We didn''t really get a chance to talk," Robbie said, shaking his head. Thinking about Reese''s smile just made him feel even more mixed up. "Grandma... honestly, I think it might be better if Dad and Mom get divorced."

    Dad obviously still had feelings for Mom. Even if they split, Robbie doubted his dad would get remarried anytime soon. And if his parents weren''t together, maybe his dad wouldn''t be so angry all the time, taking it out on him.

    Jane let out a long sigh. If it weren''t for the shares Reese held in Ratcliff Global, she probably would''ve wanted the divorce too. But Reese was so close to Matthew and his daughter, and if those two got together, thepany would be in chaos.

    "Ma''am, Aiden''s here. He said he has something for you."

    The butler''s voice snapped Jane out of her thoughts. She smoothed her clothes and gently pulled Robbie to sit with her.

    "Let him in."

    Aiden stepped into the living room and handed Jane a will with a gold-embossed cover.

    "Ma''am, this is the will Mr. Ratcliff left before he passed. There''s a copy at the notary and one with thewyer. This one''s for you. Mr. Ratcliff wanted it brought out after Ms. Meyer and Mr. Ratcliff''s divorce."

    Jane epted it without much interest and Hipped through the pages. She''d known about the will ever since thewyer caffe to the hospital after Mr. Ratcliff died. Reese getting a share of Ratcliff Global was already set in stone.

    Then her eyesnded on one line.

    He hadn''t just left Reesepany shares; he''d officially made her his god- granddaughter?

    So if Reese and Sebastian divorced, she''d be Sebastian and Matthew''s god-sister.

    Jane''s hands trembled as the truth hit her. With that rtionship in ce, there was no way Reese could ever marry Matthew.

    This was perfect.

    Even if Reese left the Ratcliffs with her shares, she''d never be a threat to Sebastian.

 Chapter 242

    Jane stared at the will Mr. Ratcliff left behind and felt the weight in her chest just melt away. Even her voice sounded lighter. "Aiden, tell me again. When he wrote this will, did he say anything else?"

    Aiden stood there with his hands at his sides, his tone respectful. "He only insisted that the will not be made public until Ms. Meyer and Mr. Ratcliff are officially divorced. He didn''t mention anything else."

    "Perfect. That''s just perfect."

    Jane snapped the will shut, the crisp sound of the gold-embossed cover echoing in the quiet living room.

    She looked outside into the thick darkness, a sly smile tugging at her lips.

    She''d find a way to get Reese and Sebastian divorced. Once it was over, she''d make sure Sebastian married a proper heiress from a real, old-money family.

    Neither Reese nor Leslie would ever get into the Ratcliff family-not if she had anything to say about it.

    Upstairs, Sebastian leaned against the carved banister, his ck shirt sleeves pushed up, showing off the sharp lines of his forearms.

    He held his phone, the screen glowing, but his eyes were on Jane downstairs. There was a storm brewing behind his gaze.

    He never thought grandfather would leave a will like that.

    Was it because he was worried that after his death, Sebastian would find out Reese wanted a divorce and cause a scene?

    So he made Reese his goddaughter, cutting off anyst chance Sebastian might have had with her. He even left her shares, making sure Ratcliff Global would always back her up.

    But grandfather forgot one thing.Sebastian had never failed to get what he wanted. Not once.

    He opened his phone, scrolled to Reese''s messages, typed and deleted over and over, until finally he just wrote: [Don''t get a divorce.]

    He stared at those words for what felt like forever, but in the end, he couldn''t send them.

    He knew Reese hated him now. Even if he sent it, she wouldn''t answer.

    He thought about seeing Reeseugh with Matthew earlier, then about the will, and a wave of jealousy burned through him, almost making him lose control.

    "Reese, you''re not leaving me."

    Sebastian whispered it, a stubborn glint in his eyes, and turned away into his study.

    No matter what it took, he would

    keep Reese with him. He wouldn''t let her go Even if she hated him. Even if she never forgave him. He needed her, and he couldn''t let her leave.

    At that same moment, outside Brookfield General, a ck car rolled to a stop.

    Tara stood in the parking lot, Rosie steadying her as the driver loaded her luggage into the trunk. Even her loose coat couldn''t hide the gentle swell of her belly.

    She nced at the empty hospital entrance, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes.

    After she was rushed to the hospital,

    was.re

    Zach had stayed just long enough to

    make sure she and the baby were

    stable Once the doctor said she

    only needed to rest he left, and

    never came back, not even when she was discharged.

    "Zach really has a heart of stone,"

    Rosie muttered as she fussed with

    Tara''s coat. "You''re carrying his baby and he can''t even bother to show up when you leave the hospital."

    Tara didn''t say a word. Without thinking, her hand drifted to her small bump.

    Last night, she''d felt the baby move for the first time. It was such a faint feeling, like a little butterfly brushing her palm-so soft, but so real.

    For the first time, it hit her: she was really going to be a mom.

    Back at the new house she shared with Zach, dinner was already waiting, but Tara wasn''t hungry.

    She sat on the sofa, absently tracing circles on her belly, her eyes lost and worried.

    Rosie dropped onto the couch next to her, looking both anxious and annoyed. "Tara, you can''t just sit here and zone out.

    "I heard old Mr. Ratcliff passed away.

    "And the Ratcliff family hasn''t done anything to Reese. Do you think maybe Reese will actually get through this whole thing untouched?"

 Chapter 243

    "Is Zach going to have time toe after us?"

    Rosie''s eyes dropped to Tara''s stomach. "When are you nning to make Zach and Reese finally break up for good?"

    Feeling that heavy stare, Tara stiffened. She looked up, her voice rough. "Let me think about it."

    "Don''t tell me you''re getting cold feet."

    No one knew Tara like her mother did. Rosie caught her hesitation in a heartbeat. "Once Zach and Reese are done, you''ll still have a shot with him. You could have your own kid together someday.

    "The doctors already said this baby isn''t healthy. They told you not to go through with it. What are you still holding onto?"

    As if understanding the words, the baby kicked restlessly inside her.

    Tara pressed her hand to her belly, her gaze tangled with emotion.

    She knew the logical thing to do; the only way to split up Reese and Zach for good was to use this baby. But every time she felt that tiny movement, she just couldn''t do it. This was her child. The first child she and Zach would have.

    "I..."

    She opened her mouth, but the words just wouldn''te. Her head dropped, eyes fixed on her stomach, her voice catching. "Mom, please... just give me a little more time. Let me think."

    Rosie''s patience was running thin. "Think? How much longer do you need?

    "Are you going to wait until Zach moves against our family, kicks us out of Bridger Lake?

    "Or until Reese divorces Sebastian and gets with Zach?

    "If you wait that long, you and Zach will have no chance left!"

    Tara didn''t answer. She buried her face in her knees, shoulders shaking.

    The living room was silent except for Rosie''s fast, heavy breathing.

    After a long while, Tara finally lifted her head, her eyes clear but sad. "Mom, I get

    it... just give me three more days. I''ll do it. I promise."

    Rosie finally let herself rx and

    pulled Tara into a gentle hug. "I know how hard this is for you honey! was young once too. I know it hurts to let go.

    "When this is over, our family will be safe, and Zach will finally be done with Reese. He''lle back to you."

    Tara stayed quiet. She just held her stomach, her eyes filling with fresh sadness. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

    No matter how much it broke her heart, she had no choice. She had to protect the family, and hold onto her ce in Zach''s world.

    The morning mist still hovered over Bridger Lake, but the old Ratcliff house was already alive with peopleing and going.

    Mr. Ratcliff''s death was a big deal in town, especially among the elite. Word barely got out before everyone started arriving to pay their respects.

    Luxury cars lined the driveway. Men and women in ck climbed the stone steps, their faces solemn as they slipped inside.

    Sebastian stood in the entryway with Robbie beside him, greeting each guest, some genuinely caring, others just looking for gossip.

    "Dad, is Moming today?"

    Robbie looked up at him, wrinkling his nose at the strong smell of cigarettes.

    Sebastian didn''t answer. He searched the crowd for a face he desperately wanted to see, but she wasn''t there. Disappointment flickered in his eyes.

    Leslie arrived wearing a simple ck dress, grief written just right on her face as she got out of the car.

    Sebastian''s expression darkened with annoyance. "Why are you here?"

    Leslie noticed, her smile freezing for a second before she pulled herself together just wanted to say

    goodbye. If it wasn''t for your

    grandfather''s help years ago,

    wouldn''t be here today. I''ll always be grateful."

    Sebastian''s stare was cold. "You shouldn''t havee."

    If Reese showed up and saw Leslie, things would only get messier.

    iel

    People nearby picked up on the tension and started ncing over, making Leslie feel even more awkward. She took a deep breath, trying to hold herself together.

 Chapter 244

    "I''ve looked everywhere, but I haven''t seen Reese. Today''s the funeral. Shouldn''t she be..."

    "This is Ratcliff family business. It doesn''t concern you."

    Sebastian cut her off, his gaze icy and sharp.

    Leslie had gotten enough of that frigid look from him. Part of her wanted to walk away, but she remembered why she was here and forced herself to stay.

    "Sorry. I just want to pay my respects. Then I''ll leave."

    She forced a thin smile, turned, and hurried into the old house.

    Jane was at the entrance to the parlor, greeting guests. The second she spotted Leslie, panic flickered across her face. She watched Leslie approach, her eyes cautious and tense.

    Leslie acted like she didn''t notice, her expression perfectly calm. She picked up three flowers, and bowed deeply to Mr. Ratcliff''s photo.

    "Mr. Ratcliff, rest well. I''ve handled everything on your behalf. You don''t need to worry anymore."

    She ced the incense in the holder, turned, and strode out, heading straight to the backyard.

    Jane watched her go, anxiety gnawing at her. Once she''d settled thest of the guests, she quickly slipped after Leslie.

    The backyard was shady, old oaks spreading their thick branches and blocking out the sun. Leslie was waiting under them, a sly, knowing smile on her lips as Jane came closer.

    "Aunt Jane, what brings you out here?"

    Jane nced around, making sure nobody was nearby, then walked straight up to her.

    "Leslie, what are you up to? It''s Mr. Ratcliff''s funeral. Don''t stir up trouble today."

    "I just wanted to ask if you''ve made up your mind yet."

    Head office had already sent word. She needed de''s data, and fast.

    Sebastian had been giving her the cold shoulder ever since everything with Reese went down. Jane was her only shot.

    "I''m not working with you."

    Ever since she''d learned about the will, Jane had been obsessed with getting Sebastian to divorce Reese. She didn''t want any more drama, and she definitely didn''t want to get mixed up with Leste again

    Leslie reached into her purse and pulled out a few photos, handing them over like

    it was nothing. "Aunt Jane, I stumbled on something I thought might interest you."

    Jane hesitated but took the photos. The second she saw what was in them, her eyes went wide.

    The woman in the photos was Matthew''s mother.

    Back when that woman lost her

    mind, Jane had secretly sent her to a

    clinic overseas, terrified Matthew

    would find out what she''d done

    She''d told everyone the woman was dead.

    How did Leslie get these?

    "Where did you get these photos?"

    Jane stared at Leslie, searching her face for any kind of clue.

    Leslie just smiled. "What do you think Matthew would do if he found out his mother''s still alive? Would hee after you? Or maybe go after the Ratcliff family?"

    Jane''s knees almost buckled, her face going pale.

    Mr. Ratcliff had left Matthew some shares in thepany, trying to make up for

    the past. If Matthew found out the truth, who knew what he''d do?

    Jane red at Leslie, jaw clenched. "What do you want?"

    Leslie pulled a tiny ck device from her purse, barely bigger than a thumbtack, and pressed it into Jane''s hand.

    "I don''t need much. Just a little favor.

    "Tomorrow morning, go to ckOak and find Reese. Slip this into her pocket and make sure she brings it into theb."

    Jane looked down at the device, suspicion burning in her eyes.

    She knew exactly what Reese was working on at ckOak. Whatever this was, it could put everything at risk for Ratcliff Global.

    "What is this? What are you after?"

    "You don''t need to know that."

    Leslie''s smile was soft, almost sweet. Just remember, if you don''t

    want Matthew to find out his mother''s still alive you''ll do exactly as say."

 Chapter 245

    "Otherwise... you know exactly what''ll happen."

    Jane squeezed the little ck box in her hand, her face tight and pale as she watched Leslie walk away down the hall.

    The next morning, Reese was on her way to ckOak when her phone rang. It was the front desk.

    "Reese, Mrs. Ratcliff just arrived. She says it''s urgent. Should I send her up?"

    Reese frowned. The court date was tomorrow. Just one more day and she''d finally be free from Sebastian. Why was Jane showing up now? Was it about the shares, or something else?

    She paused for a second, then said quietly, "Okay. I''ll be right there."

    Half an hourter, Reese pushed open the door to the research team''s office. Jane was sitting stiffly on the couch, clutching a folder.

    Jane managed a strained smile. "Reese. Morning."

    Reese''s eyesnded on the folder. Her voice was cool. "What do you want?"

    Jane handed over the documents. "I know you want to divorce Sebastian. If you sign this agreement, I''ll convince him to go through with it. After that, you''ll never have to deal with us again."

    Reese took the folder and skimmed through it. The first use jumped out; she wasn''t allowed to transfer her shares to anyone else. Reese let out a coldugh.

    Then she saw the second use: only Robbie could inherit the shares. Her patience snapped.

    "I''m not signing this. Those shares were left to me. I''ll decide what to do with them."

    Jane''s face fell. She was only here because Leslie told her toe, and this agreement was just a way to test Reese''s reaction. She wanted to make sure Reese wouldn''t ever team up with Matthew, but she hadn''t expected Reese to be so direct.

    Jane stepped forward and grabbed Reese''s arm as she turned to leave.

    "Reese, I just want to make sure the Ratcliff Global shares stay in the

    family. If you sign this you will get your divorce. Isn''t that what you want?"

    Reese shifted away, but Jane took the chance to slip the little ck box into Reese''s coat pocket.

    As soon as she felt it was in ce, Jane let herself breathe again, then put on a show of anger.

    "Reese, don''t be so stubborn. I''ll give you a fan more days to think

    it. If you don''t agree, I''ll never abou

    Sebastian divorce your Conten

    With that, she stormed out of the office.

    Reese watched her leave, one eyebrow raised. She reached into her pocket and

    felt something small and unfamiliar.

    She pulled out the ck box, eyed it for a second, and smirked. Nice try.

    Someone had really gone to some trouble for this.

    But if Leslie thought this little gadget would get her into de''s data, she was dreaming.

    Jane had no idea Reese had already found the device. She walked out of ckOak, pulled out her phone, and sent Leslie a message.

    [It''s done. The device is in Reese''s coat pocket.]

    Across town, Leslie read the message and smiled. She walked over to her office bookshelf, slid one of the books aside and the shelf moved revealing a hidden room packed with equipment.

    Inside, a man was waiting.

    "It''s done. The transmitter is in Reese''s pocket. The next part is up to you."

    The man grinned. "Perfect. Once I get de''s core data, you can leave this country."

    A slow, satisfied smile spread across Leslie''s lips.

    He was out of prison now. As soon as she got her visa, she''d finally leave the country¡ªand leave that man behind, for good.

 Chapter 246

    Matthew was runningte to ckOak because he had to drop Annie off at school. As he pulled into the parking lot, he spotted Jane leaving in a car. Frowning, he headed straight for theb.

    Inside the main hall, there was no sign of Reese. His stomach tightened with worry, and he sped up, only to notice that Sofia''s old office door was open.

    Reese was inside, sitting at a desk and typing furiously on herptop.

    She nced up when she heard him, her eyes curving with a quick, secretive smile. She pressed a finger to her lips, signaling for silence, and tapped the little ck box on the desk with her other hand.

    Matthew finally let himself breathe. Clearly, Reese had already caught on to what was going on.

    He made sure his footsteps were loud as he walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down beside her.

    The cool scent of cedar followed him, enveloping Reese. She caught the familiar smell, nced up, and found herself staring right into his dark eyes. Her ears went a little pink.

    "de''s core parameters were fully calibrated yesterday," Matthew said, nodding at the ck box. "The data running now is only three percent off from the final version."

    Reese instantly understood his hint. She shed a tiny, knowing smile, her tone purposely casual.

    "These numbers are way beyond what we''d hoped for. I was worried about the power consumption, but after you reworked the algorithm, it dropped by fifteen percent."

    She picked up the test report, flipping through it just loudly enough for the hidden device to catch every word. "The final data set isn''t in yet, though. If we can''t get it by tomorrow, will that mess up the delivery schedule?"

    Matthew caught her yful look and couldn''t help but smile. "Don''t worry. I''ve got three teams working around the clock. As soon as we get thest results, we''re good to go."

    "Perfect. I''ll get started on simting the data collection and operational routes."

    Reese turned her attention back to her screen. She worked quietly until almost noon, then stretched and got up, rolling her neck.

    "All done. Once we have this afternoon''s data, we''ll know if it all works in real- world conditions."

    They left theb together. Matthew closed the door behind them, and as he turned around, he caught Reese looking at him.

    They both burst outughing.

    "Leslie must''ve told Jane to nt it," Reese said, leaning against the hallway wall and ncing back at the closed door.

    "I knew something was up when Jane came to see me. She even bumped into my pocket on purpose. That''s when I found it.

    "I just don''t get why Jane would help Leslie pull off a stunt like this."

    Matthew nced at her, remembering what he''d overheard yesterday in the Ratcliff family''s backyard. A flicker of anger passed through his eyes.

    "Leslie probably has something on Jane," he said after a pause. He didn''t say more. This was his own problem, and he didn''t want Reese mixed up in it.

    Reese raised an eyebrow but didn''t press. She wasn''t interested in Jane''s drama. "I''ve seen that device before. It''s a micro data collector with real-time transmission.

    "I used thisputer to change the files. Right now, it looks exactly like de''s core data, but the critical algorithms and energy modules are all wrong. They won''t be able to use it. If they try, it''ll send their whole project down a dead end."

    Matthew watched the confidence in her expression and felt a wave of admiration.

    "That''s even more thorough than I expected."

    Reese smiled, tilting her chin up, a

    spark of pride in her eyes. "That''s not all had n contact Homnd Sepurity. We handed over every leads about Leslie''s connections overseas.

    "I hid a double-tracking program in the fake data. Whether they upload it or try to

    smuggle it out, Homnd will know exactly where it goes."

    Matthew couldn''t help but stare at her bright, determined eyes, feeling warmth bloom inside him. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair

    hen did you have time to do all that? Why didn''t you tell me?"

 Chapter 247

    Leslie''s words from yesterday had thrown him off his game and he hadn''t warned Reese in time.

    Reese dodged his hand, turning her head away, but the tips of her ears turned a little pink. "Didn''t want you to worry. Besides, the more discreet our clues, the better. If we let them think they''ve won, we can catch them all when the trap snaps shut."

    "They''ve already walked off with the fake data, so we don''t have to stress over Leslie''s tricks anymore," she added. "When they''re convinced they''ve got the real deal, we''ll follow the trail and root out everyone behind her."

    Matthew nodded. "I''ll handle things from here."

    A smile tugged at his lips. He''d seen Reese grow so muchtely.

    "Guess I''m counting on you now," he teased.

    Reese just turned and headed for theb. "I''ve got something tomorrow, so I''m taking the day off."

    Matthew paused, realizing what tomorrow was. "Is it the hearing? Want me toe with you?"

    She shook her head. ¡°No, I can take care of it myself." She nced back at him, catching the worry in his eyes, and added, "I''ll text you when it''s done."

    He nodded, not pushing her. He just reached out and gently patted her shoulder. "Call me if you need anything. My phone''s always on."

    "Okay,¡± Reese said softly, turning toward the elevator.

    Matthew watched her leave. The warmth in his eyes faded, reced by a cold determination.

    He was going to make sure Leslie walked right into his trap. Only then would he finally have a shot at finding out where his mother was.

    Meanwhile, at Big X headquarters...

    Leslie was sitting with headphones on, listening to Reese and Matthew''s conversation, her eyes bright with excitement.

    The guy before sat at theputer, typing fast and grinning. "Look. We''ve got all the core data. This is even better than we hoped for. Once I get this back to HQ, that visa you want will be yours."

    Leslie whipped off her headphones and hurried over to him, eyes glued to the progress bar on the screen. She broke into a wide smite Are you

    sure? No issues?"

    fo

    "Zero issues," he said, tapping the desk. "Our tech is top notch. As long as we''re near theb, we catch everything.

    "You heard Reese and Matthew. They said this is the final version. Nothing''s going to go wrong."

    Leslie grabbed her water bottle, taking a sip to steady her nerves.

    A visa. A ticket out. An escape from the country-and from that man. Everything she''d ever wanted was right in front of her.

    She stared at the data on the screen, already picturing herself living an easy life abroad.

    "This is amazing. When are you leaving?" she asked.

    ¡°I''m heading out now.¡± He copied the files onto a USB drive and slipped it

    into an inside pocket. "I''ve got a

    flight tonight San Francisco first, then Miami, then I''m home by tomorrow."

    "Once HQ checks out the data, I''lle back for you."

    Leslie nodded, her smile glowing. "Be careful. I''ll be waiting for your news."

    He stood up and squeezed her shoulder. "Don''t worry. We''ll see each other soon."

    As he walked away, Leslie drifted to the window, looking out at the packed city streets, her eyes full of hope.

    She pulled out her phone and scrolled to that man''s contact, her finger hovering over his name. In the end, she didn''t call.

    Once she had her visa, she would delete his number forever. She''d finally be free.

    What Leslie didn''t realize was that right then, in the operations center, Matthew and the agents were watching a blinking red dot move across a screen.

    It was the tracker hidden in the fake data, sending a signal as the blond man headed for the airport.

    The agents had already figured out who he was. He''s a core member of an international tech espionage group, and his whole mission here was to steal de''s core

    technology.

 Chapter 248

    Leslie and her crew were cornered this time was doomed this time.

    When Reese got home after work, she went straight to sorting through the files she''d need for court the next day. She couldn''t tell if it was just nerves about the trial or something else, but lying there in bed, sleep refused toe. Every time she shut her eyes, all she could think about was how Sebastian would react tomorrow and what she was supposed to say back.

    It was nearly midnight when she finally switched on her bedsidemp and grabbed her medication. Usually, it worked in minutes, but tonight, nothing. If anything, she felt even more restless.

    Then her phone lit up. A message from Matthew.

    [Tracking''s on schedule. Everything''s fine. Don''t worry.]

    [Get some rest, goodnight.]

    He added a little bunny-in-bed emoji at the end.

    Reese stared at his message, a small smile tugging at her lips. The anxious knot

    in her chest loosened just a little. She turned off the light and closed her eyes.

    Really, what was there left to worry about?

    She''d done everything she could.

    Tomorrow, she''d finally break free from Sebastian.

    Downstairs, Matthew watched the light go out in Reese''s bedroom. He slipped his phone away, smiled to himself, and headed home.

    Morning sunlight slipped in through the curtains, warming Reese''s face as she woke up feeling more refreshed than she had in weeks.

    After a quick shower, she put on her favorite cream skirt suit. When she looked in the mirror, her eyes were steady. No more second-guessing.

    She grabbed her folder and made it to the courthouse a full thirty minutes early, meeting George right outside.

    "Ms. Meyer, we''re all set," he said, handing her another file. "We went over the evidence against night. No issues."

    Reese nodded and took it. She was about to thank him when she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps behind her.

    She turned to see Sebastian, looking sharp in a ck tailored suit, striding toward her. Ashton, Ratcliff Global''s head of legal, trailed behind.

    Sebastian''s eyesnded on Reese, dark and intense, swirling with frustration, pleading, and something stubborn that just wouldn''t go away.

    He closed the distance, reaching for her wrist. "Reese, can we please just talk?"

    Reese stepped aside, dodging his hand. Her voice was cool. "There''s nothing left to say."

    Jane got out of the car a secondter, just in time to see it all. She let out a loud, annoyed huff.

    So Reese thought she was untouchable now, just because Mr. Ratcliff left her some shares? Jane had a pretty good idea what Leslie was really after When the truth finally came out, Reese wouldn'' the able to escape the fallout. And once she and Sebastian were divorced, who would still be on her side?

    Sebastian shot Jane a re cold enough to freeze her in ce.

    She bit back the snidement she was about to make, settled for a re of her own, and turned away.

    Sebastian looked back at Reese. His voice softened a little, but the stubborn set in his eyes didn''t budge. "Do we really have to do this?"

    "I know you''re upset, but we still have Robbie. We have years together. You can''t just walk away from all of that."

    "Love?" Reese repeated, like it was the world''s cruelest joke. She let out a low, coldugh. "Sebastian, tell me¡ªwas there ever any love between us?"

    She stepped closer, her gaze locked on his. For once, she let herself say all the things she''d been holding back for years.

    "In this marriage, you''ve always been on top. You trapped me in that gilded cage you call the Ratcliff estate, took away my chance to study@broad, forced me to quit working, and never once admitted to anyone that I ever existed Even now, how many people in Bridger Lake know I''m Robbie''s real mother?

    "You treated me like your property. Like I was just here to have your child. You thought the clothes I wore the house fived in everything Thad was your charity, so I should be grateful, obedient, wag my tail and do whatever you wanted. Just a dog waiting for scraps, right?"

 Chapter 249

    Every word out of Reese''s mouth hit Sebastian like a punch straight to the chest.

    His face changed. He opened his mouth, searching for aeback, but nothing came out.

    Reese didn''t even look at him. She just picked up her file bag and walked up the courthouse steps, each step steady and determined, her back turned and unyielding.

    Sebastian''s first instinct was to go after her, reach out and stop her, but George stepped in front of him, blocking his path. "Mr. Ratcliff, the hearing is about to start. If you''ve got something to say, save it for the courtroom."

    Sebastian could only watch Reese''s retreating figure. The softness in his eyes vanished, reced by something sharp and cold.

    He adjusted his tie, shot a nce at Ashton, and saw Ashton nod. Sebastian gave the tiniest smirk and followed Reese up the steps.

    Reese, after all these years, we''re way too tangled up for you to cut me out this easily. You think you can just walk away and divorce me? Not a chance.

    Everyone made their way inside and into a small mediation room. There was a long table in the center with four chairs on each side.

    The judge sat at the head of the table, quickly flipping through the case file before ncing up at Reese and Sebastian. His tone was official, almost bored. "Would either party like to try mediation before the hearing? If you cane to an agreement now, the rest of the process will be much smoother."

    Sebastian nodded and started to speak, but Reese cut him off. "No, that won''t be necessary."

    Sebastian stared at her, eyes unblinking. "You''re sure?"

    Reese looked up, giving him a cool, almost mocking nce. "What did you expect?"

    Sebastian raised an eyebrow, then nodded at Ashton, who quickly handed a folder across the table toward Reese.

    "Ma''am, maybe you should check what''s inside before making a final decision."

    Reese only frowned, not reaching for the folder.

    She knew Sebastian wouldn''t give up easily. He always had something up his sleeve. She refused to take it. She was afraid that whatever was in there would cloud her judgment.

    George picked up on her hesitation, stepped forward, and took the folder himself. He squeezed it gently, feeling the heft of the paperwork.

    He pulled out the documents, and the moment he saw the title on the first page, his eyes widened, brow furrowing. He shot a heavy look at Reese.

    Reese''s stomach dropped. She leaned over to see for herself and the words on the cover jumped out at her "Loan Agreement Between Ramos Corporation and Ratcliff Global," dated four years ago.

    Everything was spelled out in ck and white. Ramos Corporation had used its shares in three subsidiaries as coteral for a fifty million dor loan from Ratcliff Global. If the debt wasn''t paid back in three years, Ratcliff Global had the right to take over all of Ramos Corporation''s assets.

    Reese tore her eyes away from the contract and stared at her trembling hands, anger rising like a tidal wave inside her.

    Dylon had done all this behind her back, taking out a huge loan without her knowledge and signing such a ruthless agreement.

    And Sebastian had known how much Ramos Corporation meant to her. He''d never said a word. He just kept the contract hidden, waiting for the right moment to use it against her.

    Sebastian watched every flicker of emotion on her face, satisfaction flickering in his eyes when he saw how shaken she was.

    He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. "Ramos Corporation still hasn''t paid

    it back. With interest, it''s almost eighty million now.

    "If you''re really set on this divorce,

    have no problem starting liquidation proceedings right now. ording to. the contract, I have every right take over Ramos Corporation."

    ¡°Reese, do you really want to stand by and watch your grandfather''s and your

    mother''s whole life''s work go up in smoke?"

    He waited, sure she''d give in.

    However, Reese just let out a coldugh. "Sebastian, you''re as arrogant as ever. Did you really think that was enough to threaten me?"

 Chapter 250

    Reese bit back augh and looked up at George.

    "You really think I''m still the pushover I used to be? That I''d just let you do whatever you want with me, no questions asked?"

    George met her eyes with a knowing look and slid a folder across the table. "Mr. Ratcliff, you''ll want to take a close look at this."

    Sebastian scoffed, barely ncing at the table. He was sure Reese didn''t have anything on him. But when he saw the settlement notice, and the document that had clearly been torn up and taped back together, his eyes widened, just for a second.

    "Did you forget? You used me of trying to kill your grandfather. You called the cops on me, even though you had nothing, just to force me to sign that agreement."

    Reese tapped the copy with her finger, her voice cool and steady. "What do you think everyone would say if they found out you used your grandfather''s life to threaten me, all to keep your wife-the one you never even acknowledged from leaving you?

    "Sebastian, you love using leverage against people, don''t you? Let''s talk terms."

    "I''ll make sure Ramos Corporation pays back every cent of the eighty million it owes Ratcliff Global. You''ll get it all in three months.

    "And you? You''reing to court with me. We''re getting divorced."

    "What if I say no?" Sebastian finally looked at her, his eyes cold and sharp. He hadn''t counted on Reese having so much evidence.

    "Then we both go down. I''ll letting Ramos Corporation go, and those files will be headline news all over Bridger Lake."

    Reese shrugged, totally unfazed. ¡°Everyone will know you kept your marriage a secret, unted your mistress in public, and used your dying grandfather to pressure your wife into dropping the divorce.

    "Ramos Corporation was built on my grandfather and my mom''s hard work. It was supposed to protect me.

    "But if they knew it would end up dragging me down, I think they''d support what I''m doing now."

    Her voice was soft but there was no backing down. "Either way, I''m ending this marriage."

    "I''ll be fine without Ramos Corporation. But what about you, Sebastian?

    "If this gets out, what''ll happen to your reputation, your precious image, your authority with the board? How much will Ratcliff Global''s stock tank?"

    Sebastian red at her, his fists tight, anger and frustration flickering in his eyes-along with a sh of panic he didn''t even realize was there You''re threatening me Reese?

    His voice was low, full of the kind of pressure that usually got him his way. But to Reese, it just sounded ridiculous.

    "Threatening you? I''m just giving you a taste of your own medicine. When you tried to use Ramos Corporation against me, did you really thick you''d never have to pay for it?

    "And honestly, this isn''t even the worst of what the Ratcliff family has done."

    Reese''s gaze slid over to Jane, a small, knowing smile pulling at her lips. "If I really wanted to threaten you, I wouldn''t be wasting my time in this room."

    Jane felt Reese''s stare and her heart skipped a beat. She looked up, only to see Reese nce away, leaving her even more unsettled.

    Could Reese know about the ck box?

    If Reese and Sebastian really went at it and this blew up, the fallout could destroy Ratcliff Global''s stock and enrage the entire board.

    And if Jane admitted she nted the ck box on purpose, the government would cut ties with Ratcliff Global She might even end up in jail, and the Ratcliff family''s name would be ruined for good. Everything would be over.

    It''d be better to let Sebastian divorce Reese and let the family cut their losses

    now.

    With that in mind, Jane walked over to Sebastian and spoke quietly, "Sebastian, just let it go. The first hearing doesn''t guarantee a divorce anyway.

    "If you push too hard, Ratcliff Global could be finished."

    Sebastian''s fists trembled as he stared at Reese, his face twisted with rage, frustration, and a hint of fear he couldn''t shake.

 Chapter 251

    He closed his eyes for a second, took a deep breath, and didn''t speak again until the tension in the room felt almost unbearable. "Okay," he finally said.

    The judge looked between them, clearly picking up on the animosity hanging thick in the air, and gave a polite cough. "Since the two parties are unable to reach an agreement, we''ll move forward with the hearing."

    Reese''s lips curled into a faint, almost defiant smile as she grabbed her files and walked straight out the door. She didn''t look back. Didn''t even spare a nce at Sebastian. The man she once imagined growing old with was about to be just another chapter in her past. He wouldn''t have any control over her life ever again.

    Inside the courtroom, Reese sat at the intiff''s table, her back perfectly straight, flipping through her statement onest time and keeping her hands steady.

    Across from her, Sebastian sat stiffly in the defendant''s seat. His ck suit made his face look even more severe, and his fingers kept fidgeting with the wedding ring on his left hand, spinning it absentmindedly.

    Every so often, Sebastian''s gaze drifted over to Reese. There was a storm behind his eyes,plicated and raw. He was still reeling from what had happened in the mediation room.

    "Ms. Reese, you''re petitioning for divorce from Mr. Sebastian and giving up custody of your child, Robbie, on the grounds of irreconcble differences," the judge announced from the bench, his voice echoing through the microphone. "Please present your evidence."

    Reese looked at her attorney, George. He gave her a reassuring nod before standing. "Your Honor, please review the evidence we''ve previously submitted- screenshots of trending news and security footage relevant to the case.

    "My client has been married to the defendant for seven years. In all that time, their marriage was never made public. Sebastian was rarely home, and not long ago, rumors about him and another woman began circting. He repeatedly allowed this woman to harass and even physically harm my client.

    "These facts make it clear. The defendant never treated my client as his wife. This marriage has been over for a long time.

    "So we are requesting a divorce. And since my client is the injured party, we believe she deserves proper financialpensation."

    While George spoke, the clerkid out the evidence. The judge flipped through it

    all, then signaled for the documents to be passed to Sebastian.

    "Do you acknowledge this evidence?" the judge asked.

    Photos of Sebastian with Sofia sshed across gossip sites, ugly onlinements aimed at Reese and security footage of Sofia locking Reese inside ab-everything was right there. Ashton felt sweat bead on his back. No wonder Mrs. Ratcliff wanted out. If he were in her shoes, he''d run too.

    "I don''t ept any of this," Sebastian said, his voice cool as he shot Ashton a quick look. Ashton scrambled to respond. "Your Honor, my cleat is the chairman of Ratcliff Global. He''s rarely at home because his job keeps him traveling constantly.

    "The woman in those photos was an employee at Ratcliff Global. They attended events together for work, which led to silly misunderstandings.

    "After she hurt Mrs. Ratcliff, my client fired her."

    "Then why didn''t you call the police?" Reese''s voice was steady, but there was steel in it. ¡°Sofia nearly killed me. If you had the evidence, why didn''t you report her?"

    Ashton wiped his brow, looking desperately at Sebastian.

    Sebastian''s eyes softened as he stared at Reese, his voice quieter. "Reese, I

    know I''ve been busy, but I''ve always tried to do right by you.

    "I didn''t call the police because I knew nothing woulde of it. She could''ve just imed it was an ident. So I fired her and cut off all ties with the Meyer family. That was her punishment

    "And if I didn''t care about you, why would I have helped Ramos Corporation all these years? Why would I have helped your uncle''s family get into Bridger Lake''s elite circle?"

    As he finished, Ashton handed over documents showing all the projects and business deals the Ramos family had gotten thanks to the Ratcliffs.

    The judge reviewed the stack and nodded. "Ms. Reese, do you acknowledge this?"

 Chapter 252

    Reese shook her head. "No. Those projects were secured by my uncle, using Ratcliff Global''s name. But Sebastian never once said the projects had to go to him,

    "Would they have done it without my silent approval?" Sebastian let out a short, coldugh. "Reese, do you really believe Dylon could have gotten those projects all these years if I hadn''t given the go-ahead?"

    He looked right at her, his tone softening just a little, but there was bitterness underneath. "Why can''t you just believe that I love you?

    "You misunderstood things with Sofia. You got upset, walked out, and no matter how many times I went to bring you home, you refused.

    "You went so far as to end the pregnancy on your own. That sent my grandfather to the hospital from the shock.

    "Did I ever me you for any of that?"

    "You say our rtionship is broken, but that''s just what you think. Do you have any real evidence?"

    He looked at Reese, eyes intense and dark like he was trying to show some kind of affection.

    He was sure she had nothing else to prove her case.

    As Reese listened, she felt her stomach twist with disgust.

    He actually had the nerve to say he loved her. He was making all of this her fault.

    And he even brought up that child, the one who never should have existed.

    Facing the smug look on Sebastian''s face, all the anger, humiliation, and hurt Reese had buried inside just exploded. Her calm was gone.

    "Sebastian, you forced me into this. So don''t me me for not pretending anymore.

    "You want proof you never loved me?

    "Oh, I have it."

    She turned to George and gave him a nod. He got the message, pulled a folder out of his bag, and handed it to the judge.

    "This," George said, his voice clear, "is proof the defendant deceived my client, tricked her into IVF, and imnted an embryo made from his sperm and another woman''s egg, without my client''s knowledge or consent.

    "This shows the defendant treated my client like a surrogate, not a wife."

    The courtroom went dead silent.

    Reese closed her eyes, feeling everything hit her at once.

    She had never wanted to air something so private and painful in public.

    However, after all the pain Sebastian brought her, he''s still acting like the devoted husband. She just couldn''t take it anymore.

    He left her no choice but to reveal the one thing she wanted to forget the most.

    The judge took the folder, flipping through the pages. With every page, his face grew more serious.

    "Does the defendant recognize this evidence?"

    "No way!"

    Jane, sitting in the gallery, couldn''t

    hold back anymore. She her feet her voice shaking "Sebastian would never do something like that!"

    anymore. She jumped to

    §¿§­

    She looked at Sebastian in a panic. "Sebastian, tell them it''s all fake, right?"

    Sebastian sat frozen, his whole body tense as the documents were handed to him.

    When his eyesnded on the Consent Form, he closed his eyes for a moment.

    All this time, he thought Reese wanted a divorce because of Sofia, or maybe Leslie.

    But now he realized, she''d known everything. That was why she, who had always wanted a child, chose an abortion and insisted on a divorce.

    She must have started collecting evidence back then.

    "Sebastian!" Jane saw his reaction and suddenly figured it out.

    But they couldn''t admit to anything. Surrogacy was illegal.

    If he confessed, not only would he lose in court, but he and Ratcliff Global would be ruined.

    Sebastian understood that perfectly. He took a deep breath, pushing down the chaos inside him. "I don''t ept this."

    He straightened his cor, his entire presence icy and tense. But the pale color of his lips and the harsh line of his jaw showed he was barely holding it together:  fo

    "This evidence is fake. Reese, you want a divorce so badly you even submitted fake evidence."

    "Fake?" Reese mmed her hand on

    the table, her eyes zing and her

    voice trembling with rage. "Sebastian, your signature is righ there along with the hospital''s stamp and my medical records!"

 Chapter 253

    "Sebastian, this is fraud. You hurt me on purpose!"

    Sebastian''s jaw tightened. He never thought things would get this out of hand.

    But right now, he couldn''t back down. He kept his voice cold. "Whoever makes the im has to prove it. Unless you can prove that evidence is real, Reese, there''s no way I''m agreeing to a divorce."

    Reese just stared at him, speechless.

    How could he be so shameless? The evidence was right there, and he still wouldn''t admit it. What else did he expect her to do?

    The judge looked at both of them, stuck in a deadlock. The judge hesitated for a second, then finally brought the gavel down with a dull thud.

    "Since neither side can offer new evidence, the court will adjourn. We''ll notify you of the next hearing date."

    Reese slumped in her chair and closed her eyes for a moment.

    She couldn''t believe it. Even after all this, she still wasn''t free.

    "Reese, can we talk?" Sebastian walked over, looking more humble than she''d ever seen him.

    Reese sat up straight, every muscle tense. She opened her eyes and pped him hard across the face. "There''s nothing left to say.

    "I''ll call the police. I''ll have them investigate. Before the next hearing, I''ll find new evidence, I swear."

    The p hade out of nowhere, leaving Sebastian''s head turned to the side.

    He pressed his tongue to the inside of his sore cheek and grabbed Reese''s arm as she tried to leave. His voice was shaky. "Can''t you give me another chance?"

    "I know I''ve done a lot of terrible things, but I really don''t want to lose you."

    Reese turned to look at him, her eyes red and wet, her smile bitter. "Sebastian, can you stop making me sick?

    "You know exactly what you''ve done. Can you honestly say that evidence is fake?"

    Sebastian swallowed hard. He

    reached out, wanting to touch her face, regret written all over him. "I was confused, okay? Back then, she saved my life but lost her chance to

    be a mother because of it resty"

    wanted to make it up to her, sol agreed to let you have her child.

    "I kept it from you because I thought you loved kids. I figured the baby would be

    with us, and nothing between us would change.

    "But then started to regret it. When

    I found out we lost the baby, I actually felt relieved. wanted to make it up to you. I wanted us to start over..."

    "Sebastian, don''t you realize how ridiculous that sounds?"

    Reese backed away, staring at him with cold hatred. "You owed someone a favor,

    so you paid it back by destroying me? In the end, you just used me as a tool.

    "And now you want to make it up to me?

    "How? With your own life?

    "Do you want to know something, Sebastian?

    ¡°I have never hated you more than do right now. I wish you were dead. If you died, I wouldn''t have to see

    your

    you, or tight you for this divorce ever again."

    Sebastian watched her walk away, silent and lost.

    He reached for a cigarette to calm down, but his hands were shaking too badly to

    hold one.

    If he''d known things would turn out like this, he never would have agreed to Leslie''s n. He never would have let Reese be a surrogate.

    Across the room, Jane watched Sebastian''s defeated figure. Only one thought ran through her mind. She couldn''t let Reese and Sebastian divorce.

    If they did, the evidence Reese had woulde out eventually. Ratcliff Global and Sebastian would be ruined.

    Jane had to do something. She had to find a way to make Reese drop the case, to give up on the divorce.

    She watched Reese walk away, her eyes sharp and full of calction.

 Chapter 254

    Since Sebastian had to head back to Ratcliff Global, he asked the driver to take Jane home to the old estate.

    The car moved quietly along the tree-lined road by Bridger Lake. The world outside felt distant, cut off by the thick ss, but inside, the mood was thick enough to touch. Jane leaned back against the leather seat, absentmindedly tracing the crocodile pattern on her handbag as Reese''s words from the courthouse kept looping in her head.

    And then there was the evidence in her bag, which was enough topletely destroy Sebastian and maybe even bring the entire Ratcliff family down. The more she thought about it, the worse she felt.

    It wasn''t until they pulled into the estate and the ornate iron gates closed behind her that Jane finally shook herself from her thoughts. She stepped out of the car, taking a deep breath as she headed up the steps.

    The butler was waiting for her at the door.

    "Ma''am, Mrs. Murphy is here with Ms. Aimee Murphy. Mrs. Ramirez and Mrs. Kim are with them as well."

    Jane stopped short, her brows knitting together, clear annoyance flickering in her eyes. "What are they doing here?"

    With everything that had happened, thest thing Jane wanted was to deal with these societydies.

    The butler hesitated, then quickly exined, "Ma''am, the funeral hasn''t happened yet. It''s tradition for thedies toe pay their respects today."

    Right. Now she remembered. It was a Bridger Lake thing. Usually, when someone from another family passed, the Ratcliffs didn''t have to do much, so she''d never really paid attention to the custom.

    Even though she was in no mood for social visits, Jane swallowed her irritation and nodded, making her way to the sunroom where guests were waiting.

    She knew the Ratcliff family was under the microscope right now. Any hint of weakness, any slip at all, and the gossip would spread like wildfire.

    Inside, thedies were gathered around a polished tea table, dressed in understated but elegant dresses, mugs cradled in their hands. Their voices were low and polite, but Jane could feel every eye in the room dart to the door as soon as she walked in.

    Thedies all stood up at once, their faces arranged into perfectly measured expressions of sympathy.

    "Mrs. Ratcliff, I''m so sorry for dropping by uninvited," Mrs. Ramirez said, her tone careful and a little hesitant. "I hope you don''t mind."

    Jane gave them a pleasant smile, satisfied that they were at least being

    respectful. ¡°Not at all. I just stepped out for a bit. Please, sit. There''s no need to be so formal."

    Her eyesnded on the young girl standing next to Mrs. Murphy. "This must be Aimee?"

    Aimee looked almost out of ce among the older women-fresh-faced, quietly pretty, and just a little nervous.

    "Aimee, you''ve grown so much since Ist saw you," Jane said, her smile softening "Last time, you were just kid with a ponytail Now you are just gorgeous. I bet it won''t be long before all the city''s eligible bachelors are lining up."

    Aimee''s cheeks turned pink, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you."

    Mrs. Murphy jumped in, her eyes sharp with meaning. "She''s always been the shy type."

    "And it''s true-Aimee and Sebastian haven''t seen each other in years."

    Jane let out a small sigh, remembering how Aimee used to trail after Sebastian

    and his friends when they were younger. She asked casually, "Just got back from abroad, Aimee? Any ns for what''s next?"

    Mrs. Murphy and Aimee shared a look. "She might work at thepany, Mrs. Murphy said. "You know how things are for us. We just

    have this one daughter. I''m sure we''ll need Sebastian''s advice and

    help in the future.¡±

    "Aimee actually saw Sebastian at a g not long ago," Mrs. Murphy added. "She came home talking about how confident he''s be. She was too scared tp go up and say hi."

    Jane picked up on what Mrs.

    Murphy was hinting at, but honestly, she couldn''t bring herself to care. All she could think about was how any scandal involving Sebastian and Reese could blow up and ruin everything.

    She just smiled politely, not following Mrs. Murphy''s topic.

 Chapter 255

    Besides, the Murphy family''s main business in Bridger Lake is medical equipment, which really has nothing to do with Ratcliff Global''s focus on artificial intelligence.

    Jane kept her face calm. "You know how it is. Sebastian''s been swamped ever since his father passed, and he barely has time to breathe. Once things settle down, I''ll talk to him. If he ever needs help with business in the future, of course we''ll help out."

    Mrs. Murphy could hear the polite rejection in Jane''s words. She wanted to say something more, but Aimee tugged at her sleeve, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

    Mrs. Murphy shot Aimee a scolding look, but finally gave up and fell silent.

    "You''ve had a tough time too, Mrs. Ratcliff. I heard your father-inw passed away so suddenly. My condolences."

    The air in the room turned awkward for a moment, until Mrs. Ramirez spoke up.

    "Mr. Ratcliff just passed, and Ratcliff Global still needs Sebastian running the show. Jane, you have to stay strong. The whole family''s counting on you to keep things together."

    Jane took a sip of tea and let out a tired sigh. "Tell me about it."

    After watching Sebastian and Reese at the courthouse today, it was obvious: Sebastian was so caught up in trying to win Reese back, he didn''t have the mind for anything else.

    He hadn''t even thought about what would happen if Reese really wanted a divorce. If he pushed her too far, and she let all that evidence she had slip out, how would he clean up the mess?

    Who else was going to think about these things if not her?

    She looked around and noticed her closest friend wasn''t there. "Where''s Margaret? I thought she''d be here."

    Considering how close Neal and Sebastian were growing up, Margaret definitely knew all about the drama between Reese and Sebastian.

    Usually, Jane would check in with her for advice, but today, of all days, she was missing.

    Mrs. Kim nced around, lowered her voice, and said, "You haven''t heard? The Shaw family''s had quite the stirtely."

    "Oh?" Jane asked, raising a brow.

    "A while back, Levi got swept up with some young celebrity and started talking about divorce.

    "You know how capable Margaret''s daughter-inw is. If she left, that house would be chaos. No wonder Margaret''s so worried."

    "Howe I haven''t heard anything about this?" Mrs. Ramirez, always eager for gossip, leaned in. "Don''t tell me they already divorced in secret!"

    "No way. If they had, we''d have heard by now," Mrs. Kim said with augh. "Turns out Margaret''s

    daughter-inw found out she''s

    pregnant again, and this time it''s a girl, Levi was thrilled. He broke things off with that celebrity on his own, took his wife and Margaret

    abroad to rx and take care of the baby. That''s why she''s not here today."

    Jane''s hand suddenly stilled, and a ssh of hot teanded on her skin. She

    didn''t even notice the sting.

    Pregnant?

    Right. Why hadn''t she thought of that?

    If she could find a way for Reese to get pregnant with Sebastian''s child again, there''s no way Reese would

    insist on a divorce-not for the baby''s sake.

    Even if Reese still wanted out, she''d have to wait until after the baby was

    born. That would give Jane ten whole months which was plenty of time to make sure all that evidence Reese had disappeared.

    "Exactly," Mrs. McCoy said, swirling her tea with the authority of someone who''d been through it all. "A woman''s weakness is always her children.

    "When I caught my husband cheating all those years ago, I was ready to call it quits. Then I found out I was pregnant with my son, and everything changed.

    "Men will be men. As long as my son is his only child, I can look the other way."

    Jane''s lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile.

    So that''s it. Getting Reese pregnant again was the key to keeping her and Sebastian together.

    But how could she make it happen in a way Reese couldn''t refuse?

    After walking thedies out to the garden, Jane spotted Robbie kicking a ser

    ball nearby. Her eyes lit up with an idea.

    ckOak Research Division.

    Reese stepped into theb and, for once, found Matthew away from hisputer. He was lounging on the sofa, reading through a file.

 Chapter 256

    "Back already?"

    When Reese walked into the R&Db, Matthew got up and handed her a folder.

    "Homnd Security caught a guy at the airportst night. He had your fake data on him.

    "This is the statement from his overnight interrogation. Take a look."

    Reese took the folder, flipping through the pages quickly. A hint of sarcasm yed at her mouth. "So the mastermind is someone high up at Ratcliff Global? Interesting. I wonder if Sebastian has any idea Leslie''s trying to set him up."

    Matthew caught the spark in her eyes, a sh of admiration passing over his own. "Not sure if he''s trying to protect Leslie or if there''s something else going on. But he denied Leslie knew anything and insisted he was just following orders from Ratcliff''s execs."

    "Did anyone tell Sebastian yet?¡±

    Reese nced up, meeting Matthew''s gaze. Her cheeks warmed and she looked away.

    She couldn''t help but wonder how Sebastian would react when he realized Leslie''s people had thrown him under the bus.

    "Homnd Security went over first thing this morning. We''re just waiting for news now."

    Matthew didn''t mention her awkwardness. Instead, he reached for an invitation on his desk. "By the way, there''s an international tech conference tomorrow morning, hosted by the European Chamber of Commerce. Lots of industry heavyweights and investors will be there. I''d like you toe with me."

    Reese hesitated. "Me? I don''t really know much about international tech partnerships. I''d hate to slow you down."

    "No worries." Matthew stepped closer and ced the invitation in her hand. "I''ll be there. This conference has a lot of investors interested inpanies going through digital transformations.

    "I heard yourpany''s been tight on fundstely. It wouldn''t hurt to check it out."

    A wave of warmth washed over Reese. She hadn''t expected Matthew to think about her problems too.

    "Thank you. Really."

    Matthew''s smile grew. ¡°It''s settled then. I''ll pick you up at nine outside your building. Don''t stay upte reading reports tonight-get some sleep."

    At that same moment, up in the penthouse of Iron Financial.

    Tara had juste back from a prenatal checkup, the sharp scent of antiseptic

    still clinging to her skin and even coating her tongue with bitterness.

    "The child has XYY syndrome. My advice is to make a decision soon," the doctor had said. "If you wait much longer terminating wilbbe harder on your body

    She''d already decided she couldn''t keep the baby, but the words still stung.

    She made a cup of coffee and started toward Zach''s office, hoping to bring him the drink and maybe see where his head was at.

    "Reese is going to the conference tomorrow?"

    She stopped in her tracks. Zach''s voice came through the slightly open door, bright with excitement.

    She hadn''t seen him this happy in ages. The way he talked about Reese now was worlds apart from how he''d acted after justing

    back to the country a few months ago.

    MS

    "Yes, Mr. Wiles. Ms. Meyer''s name is on the guest list," his assistant replied, polite

    as always.

    "Move all my meetings tomorrow.

    have to be there. And get that navy suit I had tailoredst month ready. Order a bouquet of white tulips and have them delivered to the venue."

    Tara stood frozen outside the door, feeling like all the blood in her body had turned to ice.

    White tulips were Reese''s favorite. He still remembered details like that.

    But he''d forgotten today was her prenatal appointment.

    She rested a hand on her barely-there baby bump, where a life was growing that would never see the world healthy. There was nothing but bitterness in her chest.

    She''d been drawn to Zach since her very first crush, back when Reese was always by his side.

    No one ever knew how much it hurt, listening to Reese talk about every little moment with him.

 Chapter 257

    When Tara found out Zach was leaving the country, she ran after him, refusing to

    go along with her father''s n to have her marry Sebastian. Instead, she came up with her own scheme: she talked her father into drugging Sebastian and sent Reese into his bed.

    She forced Reese to marry Sebastian, so she would break things off with Zach.

    Later, when Zach was fighting for his life, Tara stayed by his hospital bed for a week, barely sleeping, just hoping for him to notice her at all. In the end, she finally got what she wanted¡ªa proposal, and then his child.

    But right before their wedding, Zach found out the truth. His heart went straight back to Reese.

    That''s when Tara finally got it-Zach had only ever loved Reese. From the very beginning, it was always her.

    For Reese, he turned on Tara, acting like all the years she spent on him meant nothing. Bit by bit, he stripped away her authority at thepany, until all she had left were a few useless shares. She was a shareholder in name only.

    How could she ept that?

    Hatred twisted inside her, growing wild and tangled. Tara took a deep breath, choking down the tears, and slipped away quietly.

    Back in her empty office, she called her assistant. "Can you check the address and time for tomorrow morning''s conference? Remind me again-yeah, I''ll be there on time."

    After she hung up, she stared at her prenatal checkup results, a cold smile curling on her lips.

    Zach, Reese, you owe me. And I''ll make sure you pay, piece by piece.

    The next morning, at the conference venue.

    Reese stepped out of the car, her arm tucked through Matthew''s.

    She wore a champagne-colored gown that swept the floor, scattered with tiny rhinestones that glimmered softly under the lights.

    Matthew had traded his usual jacket and cargo pants for a pale suit. He stood tall and confident, a perfect match for Reese.

    Together, they looked like a couple straight out of a

    magazine-good looking poised totally in sync. The moment they got out of the car, everyone''s eyes were on them.

    Zach stood outside the entrance, his gaze locked on the two of them.

    But Matthew and Reese didn''t even nce his way. They walked right past him and into the venue.

    Zach was dressed to impress in a navy suit, a bouquet of white tulips in his hand. But now, the flowers just felt ridiculous.

    He watched Reese smile up at Matthew. That sweet, gentle smile used to belong

    to him, back when they were young.

    It felt like a rock was crushing Zach''s chest.

    He saw Matthew gently brush a

    stray hair from Reese''s shoulder, the

    two of them leaning close and

    talking softly. There was

    a lightet

    Reese''s eyes Zach hadn''t seen in years, and jealousy burned through him like fire.

    He squeezed the flowers so hard his knuckles turned white. The chatter andughter around him faded into nothing.

    Matthew seemed to sense his stare. He looked up, meeting Zach''s eyes with a calm, almost taunting look, like he was saying, Reese is mine now.

    Zach''s face darkened. The air around him practically crackled as he walked straight toward Matthew, who was greeting people with Reese by his side. People nearby felt the tension and instinctively stepped out of his way.

    Not far off, Tara was watching everything unfold.

    She wore a ck dress that made her already pale face look even more washed out.

    She saw Zach losing his grip, saw Matthew shielding Reese, and the cold smile on her lips only deepened.

    She gently touched her stomach,

    took a pill from her purse, and swallowed it. Then she took a ss of champagne from a passing waiter tipped her head back, and downed it in one go. A single tear slid down her cheek.

    Things had gone too far to turn back now. This baby had to go, but at least it

    would be useful onest time.

 Chapter 258

    Zach threaded his way through the crowd, his eyes locked on Reese and Matthew with every step.

    He caught Matthew''s voice, overheard him introducing Reese with that easy confidence. Seeing Reese by Matthew''s side, her smile soft and effortless, made anger rise in Zach''s chest like wildfire.

    He''d actually looked forward to this night, to maybe seeing her again. Justst night, he''d gone over a hundred different ways it might y out. Maybe she''d ignore him. Maybe she''d be cold. He was ready for it all-even ready to swallow his pride and apologize. He was the one who screwed up, after all.

    But right now, seeing her standing there with Matthew, looking like they just fit together, every ounce of reason he had snapped.

    "Reese. It''s been a while, hasn''t it?"

    He slid up beside them, forcing a smile as he looked at Reese, but his eyes were icy. "Where''s Mr. Ratcliff? Surprised he didn''t show up with you tonight."

    Reese''s smile faded a bit. She lifted her eyes to meet his, her expression cool and unreadable. ¡°Did you want something?"

    Matthew automatically shifted, putting himself between her and Zach, protective and wary.

    Zach didn''t even look at Matthew. His lips twisted into a mocking grin, his voice sharp with sarcasm. "Really, Mr. Ratcliff''s not here? That''s odd." He paused, eyeing Matthew up and down like he was just noticing him. "Who''s this, then? Someone new? You''re not going to introduce us?"

    People nearby started to notice, conversations trailing off as curious, judgmental eyes turned their way. Reese''s face hardened.

    She knew exactly what Zach was up to. He''d always been obsessive, reckless, never thinking about consequences. He and Matthew had clearly met before, so this was just Zach stirring up drama, trying to embarrass her in front of everyone, giving them a reason to gossip.

    Matthew shot Zach a re, his whole posture tense. He''s ready to step in, but Reese reached back and took his wrist, gently holding him back.

    head at Matthew,

    She shook her h

    then took a step toward Zach. Her voice was calm and clear, but cold as ice. "Matthew invited me tonight and introduced me to everyone Tra grateful. My rtionship with Matthew is strictly professional. There''s nothing inappropriate.

    "But Zach, you left your pregnant fianc¨¦e at home toe here and pick a fight with me. Does that really sound like someone who knows what it means to be a husband?

    "Or is it that you''ve already lost interest in your fianc¨¦e, and now you think every man near me is some kind of threat?

    "Funny how people with dirty minds think everything is as filthy as them."

    Zach was struck silent, his fake smile dropping as his face darkened.

    He never thought he''d see the day Reese would talk to him like this, all because of another man.

    He took a shaky breath and forced a stiff smile, trying to save face. "Maybe I overreacted. I just wanted to look out for you. Who knows what this guy really wants?"

    Reese let out a coldugh, her eyes gleaming with scorn. "That''s not Zach. I''m not exactly

    your business anyone two

    in the position to give

    million dors to help them start over, am I?"

    Zach''s heart clenched. He knew exactly what she was talking about. He stepped

    forward and reached out. "Reese, I-"

    "Don''t touch me." Reese sidestepped

    him, her gaze sharp as ss. "It''s

    over, Zach. I don''t want to see you

    again. My life has nothing to do with you anymore.

    "Nothing to do with me?" Zach took a step back, disbelief washing over him, like he was right back on the day she''d been taken away in that police car.

    "We grew up together, Reese. How could I not care?"

    "And what are you going to do about it?" she shot back, her voice steady and

    cold. "Frame me again? Hand me over to the authorities with some made-up evidence?"

 Chapter 259

    "I don''t need your concern anymore, Zach."

    Zach just stood there, watching as the two of them walked away together. His face was stormy.

    "Zach." Tara checked the time, thinking about when her medicine would start working. She walked up to him and slipped her arm through his. "Please don''t do this. Everyone''s watching. This isn''t the time for a scene."

    Zach nced around, noticing the people staring at them. That just made him more annoyed. He pulled his arm away, his voice sharp. "Why are you here?"

    The coldness in his eyes stung. Tara lowered her head, her voice small and shaky. "I heard you came to the conference alone. I thought maybe you could use some help."

    He looked her over, noticing how pale she was and how sick she still looked. Only then did he remember she''d just gotten out of the hospital after her pregnancy

    scare.

    His expression softened a little. "You shouldn''t be here. If you''re not feeling well, you should rest at home."

    It had been so long since Zach had shown her even a hint of kindness. Just those few words made Tara''s heart skip. She smiled at him, a tiny bit of hope lighting up her eyes.

    But Zach wasn''t really looking at her. His gaze was fixed on Reese and Matthew, watching them with that intense, possessive look Tara knew too well.

    Her smile froze. A rush of anger and frustration burned through her. She clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms. Part of her wanted to storm over and p Reese right then and there.

    However, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She couldn''t lose it, not when she had ns.

    "What did Reese say to you just now? You look awful. And who''s that guy with her?"

    Zach''s face darkened. "That''s none of your business. Stay out of it."

    The medicine was starting to work. Tara pressed her hand to her aching stomach, sweat starting to form on her forehead.

    "I can''t just stay out of it." She steadied herself, eyes locked on Reese. "She''s still my sister, no matter what''s happened. I can''t just watch her make a mistake."

    She managed a gentle smile for Zach. "She might not listen to you because of the past, but if I talk to her, maybe she''ll hear me out."

    Before Zach could say anything, Tara lifted her skirt and headed straight for Reese.

    Zach watched her go, frowning, but didn''t try to stop her.

    "Reese, sorry to bother you. Can we talk?"

    Matthew was standing with Reese, chatting with a few investors. He nced at Reese, checking if she was okay.

    Reese gave him a quick nod, letting him know she could handle it.

    Matthew turned back to the investors, but he kept an eye on Reese and Tara the whole time.

    "What do you want, Tara?" Reese didn''t move closer, eyeing Tara''s pale face with

    concern.

    Honestly, Reese didn''t think they had

    anything left to say to each othe

    She''d only agreed to talk to Tara

    away from the investors to avoid a Scene

    Tara''s stomach cramped again, but she forced a smile and nced at Matthew nearby. "You''re still married to Mr Ratcliff, aren''t you? Is it really a good idea to be out in public with another man like this?"

    Reese fought the urge to roll her eyes. "That''s none of your business."

    Why did everyone suddenly care so much about her private life?

    "If that''s it, I''m going back."

    Reese turned to leave, but Tara stepped forward and grabbed her wrist.

    "Wait, Reese." Pain shot through

    Tara''s stomach, and her grip

    tightened. "Aren''t you worried the

    Ratcliff family wiffind out about you and him? What do you think they''ll do?

    "What you do is up to you, but to the Ratcliffs, you''re still my cousin. If your choices end up hurting my family, my dad won''t just let it go."

 Chapter 260

    "How can you even say something like that?" Reese nced at the angry red mark on her arm where Tara had grabbed her. She frowned and yanked her arm free. "Let go."

    Her voice was icy and her eyes were full of contempt. "Tara, whatever was between us ended a long time ago. Stop pretending we''re close cousins just so you can butt into my life."

    "Reese, I''m just worried about you..."

    A quick, triumphant glimmer sh in Tara''s eyes before she dramatically fell backward and crashed onto the floor.

    "Ah!"

    She cried out, clutching her stomach with both hands.

    "It hurts... Reese, why did you push me...

    "My baby... my baby..."

    11

    The sudden outburst drew a crowd, everyone rushing over in shock.

    "She''s bleeding!"

    Someone shouted, panicked.

    A dark red stain spread beneath Tara''s dress, the color vivid and terrifying as it bled into the pristine white carpet.

    Zach heard Tara''s scream and rushed over, freezing as soon as he saw the blood.

    "Tara!"

    He dropped to his knees beside her, pulling her into his arms. His hands trembled and for a moment he lookedpletely lost.

    Tara leaned into him, her face as white as a sheet, her breath shaky and faint.

    She looked up slowly, her eyes going past Zach''s shoulder to lock onto Reese, disbelief and heartbreak all over her face. "Reese... why did you push me?

    "Even if... even if you hate me and Zach for getting involved, you didn''t have to hurt my baby..."

    Zach stared at the blood spreading beneath Tara, panic rising in his chest. When he heard what Tara said, he jerked his head up, eyes glistening with anger.

    Reese stood there, unmoved, her gaze cold as she looked at Tara''s pitiful act. "I didn''t push her.

    "Instead of wasting time ming me, you should call an ambnce. Maybe if you get her to the hospital now, the baby can still be saved."

    "How can you say something cold like that?" Zach''s arms tightened around Tara, his voice shaking. "She''s your cousin, and she''s pregnant. That baby is your family too!

    "Even if you can''t stand her, even if you hate her family, you shouldn''t do something like this!"

    Honestly, from where he''d been

    standing, Zach had only seen Reese shake Tara''s hand off. He hadn''t actually seen her push anyone. But Reese''s cold detached words made him believe she just didn''t care

    "Reese didn''t push her."

    Matthew stepped up beside Reese, putting himself between her and the crowd without making a scene.

    "I was watching from just a few steps away. Ms. Ramos fell by herself. Reese never touched her."

    Zach already didn''t trust Matthew, and now he was furious. He let out a coldugh. "You''re here with Reese. Of course you''d cover for her. No one''s going to buy that."

    "Whether they believe me or not isn''t your call."

    Reese stepped out from behind Matthew and looked around at the guests who had gathered. ¡°There are plenty of people here. Someone must have seen what happened.

    "Instead of arguing, why not call the police and have them check the security cameras? Or talk to witnesses. The truth wille out soon enough."

    At her words, Tara, who had been holding on bravely, suddenly grabbed Zach''s shirt, her voice weak and trembling.

    ¡°Zach... don''t call the police... Reese is my cousin, I can''t just watch her get taken away... Even if... even if I lose the baby, it''s just bad luck There will be other chances in the future..."

    Zach looked down at Tara''s pale, fragile face, and all their years together shed through his mind.

    Tara had always seemed gentle and

    kind in front of him. Her family had plotted to have Reese marry Sebastian and hidden that whole. two million dor mess, but that wasn''t something Tara couldhave stopped.

 Chapter 261

    Zach''s face softened for a split second when he noticed how bruised and shaken Tara was. He bent down, his voice unusually gentle. "Alright. We''ll do it your way. No police."

    Then he looked up at Reese, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. After a long pause, his tone cooled. "Reese, you''d better hope Tara and the baby are both fine. If not, I''m not letting this slide."

    He didn''t wait for a response. Carefully, he picked Tara up and turned to his assistant, barking, "Why are you just standing there? Call an ambnce!"

    The assistant snapped into action, grabbing his phone to dial for help. Guests around them shuffled aside, parting to make space as Zach hurried past with Tara in his arms. All eyes followed him, some curious, others suspicious, most of themnding on Reese.

    She barely seemed to notice. Instead, she watched Zach disappear with Tara, her lips twisting into a cold smile.

    Zach''s words made one thing clear: he knew what the Ramos family had been up to all these years. No wonder Tara had panicked and put on such a dramatic show in front of everyone.

    But no matter how ruthless Tara was, she was still a woman. Would she really use her own unborn child to frame someone?

    The thought left Reese unsettled. Unless... there was something wrong with the baby from the start.

    Sirens wailed in the distance, getting closer with every second.

    Standing at the entrance, Reese watched paramedics and Zach gently load Tara into the ambnce before speeding away to the hospital.

    "Should we follow?" Matthew asked, ncing at Reese. "If your cousin tries to put this on you, Zach might not let it go so easily."

    "No," Reese answered, shaking her head. "I didn''t do anything. If I follow them now, it''ll just look suspicious."

    She hesitated, her voice dropping. ¡°Besides, Zach''s never let me off the hook anyway."

    First he hated her for marrying Sebastian. Then, after learning the truth about the past, he just wouldn''t leave her alone. Even if he knows she didn''t push Taras he really going to cut her out of his lifefor good? Probably not.

    "But I''m not about to just take the me for this," she said, her eyes steely.

    Matthew understood right away. "So, what''s your n?"

    Reese thought for a second. "Can you help me get Tara''s medical records?"

    "The sooner the better. We have to move before the Ramos family does."

    She knew it was possible to get to the bottom of what was going on with Tara''s pregnancy. Last time she was at the hospital, the Ramos

    family managed to cover everal ne

    up and kept Sebastian in the dark. They clearly had

    connections

    Reese''s ownwork couldn''t

    He frowned, thinking it over. "Medical records are private. I can''t just take a look. But if we make an official request, say it''s to help investigate the ident, we might get them."

    Matthew looked at her, his voice calm and steady. "I''ll handle it. Don''t worry."

    Reese met his eyes, a rare warmth flickering through her guarded expression.

    If it were anyone else, they wouldn''t have stepped up for her or believed her without question. Matthew''s trust and support felt like a ray of light breaking through the chill in her heart.

    "Thank you," she said quietly.

    Tara left and Zach did not n to press charges, so the crowd slowly drifted away.

    Some people still nced back at Reese, whispering as they left.

    Matthew stepped in front of her, blocking their stares. "Too many people, too much gossip. Let''s get out of here. We''ll figure out our next move once we have those records."

    "Yeah," Reese agreed, sticking close to Matthew as they slipped out of the venue together.

 Chapter 262

    The shrill cry of the ambnce cut through the night as Tara, unconscious and ghostly pale, was rushed into surgery.

    The hospital corridor was thick with the smell of disinfectant. Zach leaned against the wall, running a hand through his hair, nerves stretched thin.

    "Zach!"

    Footsteps thundered from down the hall. Dylon and Rosie burst in, breathless, eyes wide with panic.

    "How''s Tara? And the baby? What did the doctors say?" Rosie grabbed Zach''s arm, her voice shaking, her face crumpled with worry.

    But more than the baby, she was desperate to see how Zach was taking all of this.

    "I heard Reese shoved her at the conference. What happened between them? Did they fight?

    "Why would Reese do that?" Rosie pressed, searching Zach''s face for answers. "Is she still mad at us? Is this her way of getting back at our family?

    "But what''s any of this got to do with Tara? Why drag her and the baby into it? Tara didn''t even know what happened back then!"

    "That''s enough, Rosie." Dylon stepped forward and pulled Rosie into his arms, her eyes red and swollen. He patted her gently, trying to calm her down.

    Zach stayed where he was, Rosie''s words echoing in his mind. Tara had no idea about any of it. Was that true? Had she really been in the dark all these years?

    "Let''s not rush to conclusions." Zach''s mom, Wendy, hurried in, worry etched all over her face. "Zach, I just heard Reese pushed Tara. There has to be some mistake, right?"

    Wendy had known Reese since she was a child. She just couldn''t believe Reese would do something like this.

    Zach dropped his gaze, reying the scene from earlier in his mind.

    He''d wondered if Tara had set Reese up, if she''d risked everything just to make Reese look bad. But if Tara honestly didn''t know about the past, then all the things she''d done couldn''t have been an act. She wouldn''t put her own baby in danger just to frame Reese.

    There was only one exnation left.

    "It was probably an ident," Zach said quietly. "Reese pushed her harder than she meant to, and Tara lost her bnce."

    "But why would Reese push her at all?" Wendy demanded, her eyes wide with disbelief.

    Zach hesitated, then quickly exined how Reese and Matthew had shown up at the conference together.

    "Maybe she thinks we''re meddling in her business."

    Wendy staggered back, shock on her face. "How did Reese turn out like this?"

    "I know, right?" Rosie dabbed at her

    eyes. ¡°Wendy, you''re practically family to her. You''ve got to stand up for Tara She''s been so careful ever since she got pregnant. Just yesterday she was picking out baby clothes. Now she''s in surgery. If she loses the baby, how is she supposed to go on?"

    Wendy nodded, her face set and serious. She turned to Zach. "So what are you going to do?"

    Zach stared at the operating room light, his jaw clenched.

    "You can''t just let this go," Wendy pushed, her voice suddenly cold and hard.

    "Tara is your fianc¨¦e. That was your child. No matter what, she deserves justice."

    Zach''s hands curled into fists at his sides. His voice was low and tight. "Let''s wait for the doctor. If something happens to Tara or the baby, I won''t let Reese get away with it."

    Just as he finished speaking, the light above the operating room switched off.

    Everyone hurried forward. The doctor stepped out, pulling off his mask, lines of exhaustion carved deep into his face.

    "I''m sorry. We did everything we could."

    "The baby didn''t make it. Ms. Ramos lost a lot of blood, and her uterus was severely damaged. I''m afraid... she won''t be able to have children again."

    "What?!"

    Rosie''s knees buckled, the world spinning around her.

    She''d thought that losing a baby who never got the chance to live would be enough to make Zach resent Reese and ignore what the Ramos family did. She nev

    ever

    imagined the price would be this high.

 Chapter 263

    No one ever expected things to end up like this. Just because of this one thing, Tara had lost her chance to ever be a mom.

    Her knees buckled and she fell straight back. Dylon caught her just in time, his heart in his throat.

    If Tara couldn''t have children anymore, would Zach still want to marry her?

    "How could this happen? Are you sure you know what you''re doing?" he snapped at the doctors.

    "Mr. Ramos, we really did everything we could," the doctor said, sighing heavily.

    Wendy staggered, her voice trembling. "She can''t have kids anymore... How could Reese be so cruel? How could she do this?"

    She suddenly red at Zach, eyes wet with anger. "Zach, do you see what''s happened? Reese didn''t just make Tara lose her baby-she ruined her whole life! She can''t just walk away from this. She has to pay for what she''s done."

    Zach stood there, stunned, his mind going nk for a second.

    The doctor''s words kept echoing in his head, each one hitting him like a hammer.

    She can''t have kids...

    He remembered Tara''s smile the first time they heard the baby''s heartbeat, remembered her touching her belly and whispering about how their baby would grow up healthy. Then he thought of Reese''spletely heartless face, and all the anger he''d been stuffing down finally exploded.

    "Reese..."

    He gritted his teeth, his eyes colder than ever. "Alright. Fine."

    He yanked out his phone, his fingers shaking with rage as he called his assistant. His voice was icy.

    "Let everyone know¡ªfrom now on, anypany working with Wiles Financial will be banned from investing in Ramos Corporation or anything connected to Reese. I don''t care what project she''s running or what she''s after. If anyone helps her, they''re going against me."

    The assistant hesitated for a split second, then quickly answered, "Yes, Mr. Wiles. I''ll take care of it."

    When Tara finally woke up, it was almost evening. Her hand went straight to her stomach before she''d even opened her eyes. She stared up at the ceiling as tears slid quietly down her face.

    Her baby was gone.

    "You''re awake," Zach said, stepping over to her bedside as soon as he saw her open her eyes.

    She noticed the guilt in his face and managed a weak smile.

    Looks like her n had worked after all.

    The Ramos family was safe, and now she could finally marry Zach, just like she wanted.

    As for the baby... she could always try again someday.

    But then Tara turned her head and saw Rosie sitting in the chair nearby, tears streaming down her face. Suddenly, Tara felt a wave of dread.

    "Mom, what''s wrong?"

    Had something else happened?

    "Tara, you have to stay strong," Rosie said, her eyes red and swollen as she squeezed Tara''s hand tight. "You just focus on getting bett okay? Don''t think about anything else."

    "Reese took your baby, she hurt you, but Zach will make things right."

    ¡°And about having another baby..." Rosie hesitated, her voice trembling, "With all the medical advances now. you and Zach can always go abroad for surrogacy..."

    Tara stared at her, confused. She and Zach could just clear things up and have a

    baby themselves, so why would they need surrogacy?

    She looked at Zach, but he avoided her eyes and turned to Dylon instead.

    "Dad, I''m stepping out for a smoke."

    Tara''s heart sank. She gripped Rosie''s hand even tighter. "Mom, please. What''s going on? What did the doctor say?"

    "Tara, the doctor said... your uterus was badly damaged. You... you won''t be able

    to have children anymore," Rosie said, bursting into tears again.

    Never have children again?

    My uterus is damaged?

    Rosie''s words kept reying in Tara''s mind, squeezing her heart until she could barely breathe.

    How could this happen... How could this really be happening?

    Tears kepting, soaking her pillow. Tara thought of the little life she''d never get to meet, realized she''d never get to be a mom, and her broken sobs filled the quiet room

    as grief washed over her, wave after wave.

 Chapter 264

    "Reese... Reese!

    "Give me back my baby! Give me back my child!"

    Tara clung to the sheets, one hand pressed hard against her chest, gasping for breath. Her eyes were wild, burning with pure hatred.

    This was all Reese''s fault.

    If not for her, Tara could have talked things out with Zach, and chose a surgery. At least she wouldn''t have been forced to take such a huge risk or use the baby as a way to trap Reese. If she hadn''t been pushed this far, her life wouldn''t have fallen apart like this.

    It was all Reese''s fault. Because of her, Tara had lost her chance to be a mom.

    "Tara, please, don''t do this. You are scaring me..."

    Rosie was terrified seeing her daughter like this. She grabbed Tara''s shaking hand, her voice soft and desperate. ¡°Listen, Zach hates Reese now. He''s going to marry you, I promise."

    Tara turned, staring at her mother''s swollen, red eyes. Her own voice was raw, almost gone, and her face was full of hopelessness.

    "Mom, my baby''s gone. I can''t ever have kids again...

    "Even if I go overseas and get a surrogate, it won''t be my child, not really.

    "And Zach... he''ll have more children someday, but none of them will be mine. How is he ever going to look at me the same way?

    "Mom, it''s over. My whole life is over. And it''s all because of Reese. All of it.

    "Mom..."

    She looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks, and spotted Dylon standing in the doorway. "Dad, we can''t just let Reese walk away from this. She ruined my life!"

    Dylon''s face twisted with pain, his eyes dark with anger. He spoke through clenched teeth.

    "Tara, don''t worry. We''ll never let Reese get away with this.

    "She destroyed your future. She''s going to pay for what she''s done."

    Rosie nodded, her voice sharp and cold. "That''s right. We''ll make sure Zach knows the truth about Reese. And everyone else will know too.

    "We''ll make it so she can''t show her face around Bridger Lake ever again.

    "Please, Tara, stop crying. You just had a miscarriage-if you keep crying, your eyes won''t be able to take it."

    "She''s right, honey. You''re still recovering. Don''t make yourself worse."

    The hospital door swung open and Wendy walked in, carrying a thermal container. Her face was creased with worry.

    "I asked the kitchen to make chicken soup. You need to eat something and get your strength back."

    She set the container on the bedside

    table and sat down, taking Tara''s e

    hand in

    ers." "I know you''re hurting

    but you can always try again The

    important thing is that you''re okay."

    "Zach''s not the type who cares about heirs or anything like that. He won''t me you for this."

    Wendy had heard Tara''s cries from the hallway, but as someone who''d been through her own share of heartache, she understood her feelings.

    "You''ve gone through so much for him. If he ever treats you badly, he''ll have to answer to me."

    She hesitated for a moment, then continued, "As for Reese... Zach will make sure she pays for this. And our family will be done with her. Forever

    Dylon and Rosie caught each other''s eyes, finally letting out a breath of relief.

    With Wendy''s support, Zach couldn''t back out now. He''d have to marry Tara.

    "What did you say? Reese really caused Tara to lose the baby?"

    vel

    As soon as the news broke that Reese had pushed Tara at the conference, leading to her miscarriage, Zach went straight to cklisting Ramos Corporation.

    Bailey''s hand shook so hard he nearly dropped his mug.

    Hank nodded, his expression grim. "Dad, the word''s everywhere."

    "Everyone in the industry knows Reese crossed Zach. Anyone who helps Ramos Corporation now is basically picking a fight with the Wiles family."

    "Dad, what do we do?"

    "Ramos Corporation was Mom''s whole life. We can''t just stand by and let Reese destroy it!"

    Bailey''s face turned dark as he got up and started pacing the room.

    "She''s nothing but trouble!

    "All these years, our family has supported her and this is how she repays us? How could she do this to Tara?"

 Chapter 265

    Bailey knew exactly how much Marie had sacrificed for Ramos Corporation, and there was no way he could just watch it fall apart. Still, the thought of stepping in to save Reese... well, that left a bitter taste in his mouth. He thought about how Reese had treated him before, and resentment simmered beneath the surface. For a while, he just didn''t know what to do.

    "Dad, Bailey?" Sofia''s voice floated in as she walked in with a bowl of fruit. "What''s got you two so tense?"

    Bailey''s face lit up when he saw her. "You''re just in time. Come help us figure out what to do."

    He trusted Sofia''s instincts, so he quickly exined what had gone down at the conference.

    Sofia''s eyes sparkled with mischief as she listened, then she smiled. "I might have an idea. Not sure if it''ll work, though."

    She looked at her dad and said, "You don''t want to watch Ramos Corporation go down the drain, but you also don''t want to bail Reese out and let her think she can always rely on us. She''ll just get even more out of hand.

    "So why not just buy out Ramos Corporation while we still can?¡±

    Bailey stopped in his tracks and looked at her. "You mean, acquire it?"

    Sofia nodded, her voice steady. "Zach already cut off their funding, so Ramos Corporation is basically running on fumes. If we offer enough money and promise the shareholders their interests are protected, they''re not going to say no."

    ¡°Better that Ramos Corporation stays in our family than gets swallowed up by outsiders."

    Bailey''s eyes brightened. "That''s a solid n."

    When she saw Bailey agree, Sofia''s lips curled into a sly smile.

    This way, Reese would lose everything except her empty title as de''s project manager.

    Bailey thought for a moment, then turned to Hank. "Reese is in way over her head now. She''s got nowhere left to turn."

    "Go talk to her about selling thepany. Tell her if she agrees not to divorce Sebastian and to have another kid, the children can each inherit the Ratcliff family''s legacy and Marie''s. If she does that, I''ll let her keep a share of Ramos Corporation.

    ¡°But if she refuses, she gets nothing. Not a single thing."

    Hank''s eyes lit up. "Got it. I''ll reach out to her right away."

    With Ramos Corporation at stake, Reese would never risk divorcing Sebastian,

    and she might even agree to another child.

    That would tie the Meyer and Ratcliff families together for good.

    Hank shot Sofia a grateful smile.

    "I''ll leave you and Dad to it, then." Sofia was more than satisfied with herself for making Reese''s life harder, and she turned to leave the office.

    She was just about to close the door when Bailey spoke up again. "Hank, reach out to Mr. Marsh. See when we carfmeet with de''s project lead. We need to lock in that deal before anyone else does."

    Sofia froze, her heart racing.

    If Dad and Bailey met de''s project lead, they''d realize it was Reese behind everything. If that happened, not only would the buyout fall

    through, but if Reese brought up the suspicious car ident from years ago, they would definitely start digging.

    She hurried out of the office and called Grace.

    "Mom, Dad and Bailey are about tox find out Reese is de''s project

    lead.

    O worried she get them to

    what happened back

    How are things on your side?"

    On the other end, Grace sounded calm and unbothered, cards shuffling in the background. "Sofia, you''re not a kid anymore. Why are you panicking?"

    "Rx. Alex left Greenville a long time ago. Someone''s keeping an eye on him. Nothing''s going to happen."

    "Even if Reese tries, she''ll never find him."

    Meanwhile, Reese got a call from George.

    "Ms. Meyer, Alex left Greenville with Grace''s people helping him. He''s at Bridger Lake now. Our team is watching him. Do you want us to arrange a meeting?"

 Chapter 266

    Reese stood at the window, watching the endless stream of cars below, her heart pounding so hard it almost hurt. There was a tightness in her throat she couldn''t

    swallow away.

    So Alex really was in touch with Grace. And now he was here at Bridger Lake.

    "Keep an eye on him. When he settles in, let me know. I want to meet him," she said quietly.

    She wanted nothing more than to finally learn the truth about that car ident all those years ago, to expose everything Grace had done and make her pay. But she couldn''t risk blowing her cover now-not after everything she''d put into this.

    "I''ll handle it. I''ll update you when it''s set," came the reply.

    As soon as the call ended, Reese tried to steady herself with a deep breath, but her phone rang again before she could even exhale.

    It was Patrick, the guy Mr. Ratcliff had tasked with helping run Ramos Corporation.

    She pressed her fingers to her temples and answered. "Ms. Meyer, is this a good time for you?"

    "Yeah, go ahead," Reese replied, leaning against the cool window. She found herself absentmindedly scratching at the ss, leaving faint marks behind.

    "Word about the incident at this morning''s conference is everywhere. Everyone knows the baby didn''t make it.

    "Now the whole town thinks you caused Ms. Ramos'' miscarriage on purpose.

    "And Mr. Wiles from Iron Financial has gone nuclear. He''s cklisting Ramos Corporation.

    "All our partners sent termination letters at noon. Even the banks have frozen our credit. We won''tst another three days at this rate.

    "And Mr. Meyer is meeting with the shareholders, trying to buy up their shares.

    "They''re scared you''ll drag them down with you, even more scared Mr. Wiles will take it out on Ramos Corporation. They''ve banded together and want answers from you.

    "If you don''t give them something, they''ll sell all their shares to the Meyer family first thing tomorrow. If this goes on, I''m scared-"

    Ramos Corporation won''t survive.

    Reese felt a cold weight settle in her chest. She frowned, exhaustion washing over her.

    Those shareholders had been loyal to Dylon''s side for years. She''d always expected they''d turn on her eventually. She''d wanted to buy them out and get rid of them once and for all. Their mutiny now didn''t really surprise her.

    But Bailey moving now? That, she hadn''t seening.

    They were trying to corner her, to leave her with nowhere to run.

    "I get it," Reese said, her voice scratchy. "Anything else from the Meyer family?"

    "Mr. Hank Meyer wants to meet you," Patrick replied. "Should I set something up?¡±

    Hank wanted to see her? What for?

    Reese hesitated, then nodded to herself. "Alright. I''m at ckOak. I''ll be free tonight. Set it up.¡±

    She needed to know what Hank was nning.

    The moment it she hung up, Reese leaned against the wall, feeling like all her energy had drained out through her feet. Her phone slipped from her hand and hit the carpet. with a dull thud, but she couldn''t bring herself to pick it up.

    Thete autumn sunlight streamed through the window, warming her skin, but it did nothing to melt the chill inside her.

    Was she really supposed to just watch her mother''s legacy get snatched away by the Meyer family, handed over to Bailey and Grace?

    No way. She couldn''t let that happen. But she didn''t have the money to buy out the other shareholders.

    Outside her office, Matthew stood holding a stack of data reports, watching her through the ss. His eyes softened with concern.

    He lingered for a moment before turning and heading to the lounge, pulling out his phone.

    "Get in touch with all Ramos

    Corporation shareholders. If the met

    want to

    sell, I don''t care what the

    terms are buy up every share.

    they''re offering

    "And make sure nobody knows who''s buying. Tell them it''s just a third-party investment.

    "And one more thing-make things difficult for the Meyer family. Don''t let them get toofortable financially."

    He hung up and walked back to Reese''s door.

    Reese was still leaning against the wall, eyes closed, lost in thought. Matthew

    took a breath,posed himself, and knocked gently.

    "What''s on your mind?" he asked.

    Reese opened her eyes and managed a small smile when she saw him. "Nothing much. Just tired.

    Is the mess from the conference getting to you?

    Matthew didn''t call her out on pretending to be fine. He just smiled back and

    shook his head. "Nothing I can''t handle."

 Chapter 267

    "I had someone check Tara''s prenatal records. We''ll have them by tomorrow or the next day, tops."

    "And if there''s really something wrong with the baby, what are you going to do?"

    Reese''s eyes shed with steely resolve. "I''ll give everything to Zach. He has a right to know the truth.

    "I''ve also got proof that Dylon''s been shorting Ramos Corporation. They keep making trouble for me this time, I''m not letting any of them off easy."

    "Good," Matthew said, his eyes full of quiet pride. He smiled. "If you need anything, just tell me. Don''t be a stranger."

    "Thanks. Really," Reese replied softly.

    She should have thanked him back at the conference, when he stood by her without a second thought.

    Matthew smiled again, reaching out as if to ruffle her hair, but then he saw how tired she looked and just shook his head with a helpless littleugh.

    "You''re still so polite with me," he teased.

    He''d watched Reese fight her way out of one impossible situation after another. At first, he just thought it was a shame that her talent in Al was getting wasted on marriage and motherhood. Then he heard from Annie that her husband and son barely treated her like family.

    He felt bad for her, but he admired her strength even more.

    When he found out her husband was Sebastian, he did think about keeping his distance. After all, he left the army and came back to Bridger Lake for one reason -to settle the score with the Ratcliff family.

    But the more he worked with Reese, the more he was drawn in. He wanted to see how far she could really go.

    Honestly, once the de project wrapped up and they had military backing, neither the Wiles family nor the Meyer family would dare try anything with her.

    But even so, he still wanted to help. He wanted to make things a little easier for her, to be someone she could lean on.

    Yet no matter how much they''d been through, she still kept him at arm''s length.

    As those thoughts drifted through his mind, Matthew remembered what n had mentioned earlier.

    "Oh, by the way, the Vista Tech CEO wants to set up a meeting. He''s asking when you''ll have time to talk about a de partnership."

    Reese smacked her forehead, suddenly remembering. "Sorry, things have been nonstoptely¡ªI totally spaced."

    She thought for a second. "They want to work with us on civilian applications for de. I''m fine with that."

    "But honestly, we''re so close to finishing the project that it might be smarter to wait before we negotiate. Once we have the final product, we''if have way more leverage: That''s better for ckOak, too. What do you think?"

    Matthew watched her, the smallest smile tugging at his lips. He loved that about her-no matter what, she always stayed clearheaded and determined.

    "I think you''re right. I''ll let n know and get back to Vista Tech."

    Big X CEO''s Office.

    Leslie stood behind her huge desk, trying not to shiver as Sebastian sat across from her-cold, collected, and quietly terrifying.

    "Leslie, I want to know how Big X got their hands on the de data."

    Sebastian lounged on the guest sofa, fingers drumming on the armrest. His gaze was sharp, never leaving Leslie''s face.

    "And I want to know why he tried to take that data out of the country.

    ¡°He says he was following orders from Ratcliff Global''s senior management. But when I asked who exactly gave the order, he suddenly had nothing to say. Any idea why that might be?"

    Yesterday, right after court, Sebastian got a call from National Security. They were at Ratcliff Global for an investigation Ele rushed over and found out someone from Big X had tried to smuggle out confidential data, iming the order came from Ratcliff Global''s top brass. Since then, Sebastian had been putting out fires nonstop.

    Leslie had never seen Sebastian like this before. She bit the inside of her cheek, forcing herself to stay calm. Somehow, she managed a tight smile.

    ¡°Sebastian, I honestly have no idea what''s going on.

    "You know I''m just the regional director. When headquarters sends someone over,

    I just go along with it. I had no idea what he was really here for.

    "You said he tried to smuggle out confidential data. Did you catch him?"

    Ten minutes ago, Leslie had been sitting in her office, daydreaming about finally getting her green card and moving abroad She never expected Sebastian to suddenly barge in, ignoring her assistant, and confront her like this.

 Chapter 268

    The news that someone had been caught smugglingpany data left her feeling weak all over.

    But from the way Sebastian was talking, it sounded like that person hadn''t given her up. Instead, the me had been pushed onto Ratcliff Global.

    She finally let out a shaky breath, relieved.

    "What kind of data did he take? Was it that important?"

    Leslie''s face was tight with worry. "Is this really the work of someone high up at Ratcliff Global, or is it just foreignpetition trying to frame them and drag their name through the mud?"

    Sebastian studied Leslie, his eyes narrowing.

    Her face gave nothing away, and what she said actually made sense.

    They''d known each other for years. Everything he knew about her told him she wasn''t the type to get mixed up in something like this. But he couldn''t rx. People could always surprise you.

    His phone buzzed. Sebastian nced at the screen and his expression changed as he read his assistant''s message.

    Reese pushed Tara, and that caused her miscarriage?

    Ramos Corporation was under pressure from Iron Financial, and now the Meyer family was circling, trying to snatch it up?

    He knew Reese. She loved kids. There was no way she would hurt Tara''s baby.

    But why was she involved with Tara and Zach again?

    Just thinking about Reese''s past with Zach made his chest feel tight, like there was a rock sitting on his heart.

    Did she still have feelings for Zach?

    "Sebastian."

    Leslie noticed he was lost in thought, staring at his phone, and assumed he''d gotten more news about the data leak.

    Her heart dropped. Her face went pale, and her voice came out rushed. "Those people from headquarters are just here for a routine inspection, really. I had nothing to do with him trying to smuggle data out of the country. You have to believe me."

    Sebastian looked up, his gaze cold and distant. "You''d better hope that''s true." "Leslie, I don''t ever want to see you betray your own people.

    "And another thing I haven''t forgotten what I promised you. But don''t forget who you are now. Don''t do anything reckless. Don''t make me choose."

    He stood up and grabbed his coat, ncing at Leslie. "I have things to take care of. Watch yourself. Don''t do anything stupid, or I won''t be able to protect you."

    He was desperate to find out what had really happened at the conference, what was going on between Reese and Zach.

    But more than anything, he wanted to help Reese. He needed her to know that as long as they were still married, she could always count on him.

    He had no interest or patience for Leslie''s drama right now. "Sebastian-"

    He ignored her and walked off without looking back.

    Leslie red at his retreating figure, teeth clenched.

    "Are you kidding? Did you forget it was you who vouched for Big X and ckOak and brought us all

    yel

    together? We''re all in this together. If go down, you''reing with me.

    "And don''t forget, I got that data through your mother, Jane."

    Her eyes narrowed as she realized something.

    How did headquarters know to intercept at the airport? That USB was specially

    made to block all signals. Unless the data itself was tampered with.

    Did Jane tip off Reese, or did Reese figure it out and mess with the files herself?

    Rage shed in Leslie''s eyes.

    She grabbed her phone and dialed Jane.

    "Jane, I have proof of all the shady things you''ve done.

    "You really think you and Reese can team up and set me up? Aren''t you afraid I''ll

    tell everyone what you''ve been up to?"

    Jane was out in the garden watering

    her flowers when the call came

    through, c

    < clie''s

    confused by

    usation. "What are you

    talking about? How did I set you up?"

    All week, Jane had been wracking her brain trying to figure out how to convince

    Reese to have a baby. She hadn''t thought about Leslie at all.

    But Leslie didn''t care. "I''m warning you-if you don''t want everyone to know what you''ve done you''d better find a way to get Reese out of her job.don''t care how you do it. Just make it happen."

 Chapter 269

    "One month... No, two weeks. You have two weeks, that''s it," Jane snapped. "If Reese is still at ckOak after that, I''ll tell everyone what you did. All of it."

    As soon as she hung up, Jane''s face was a mess of frustration and humiliation. In all these years, no one had ever dared yell at her like that. But the threat had rattled her. She was genuinely scared Leslie might actually spill her secrets. She dropped the garden hose, clenched her jaw, and headed back inside to figure out her next move.

    Dusk was just settling over ckOak when Reese slid behind the wheel and headed out, on her way to meet Hank for dinner.

    She barely made it out of the parking lot before a ck G-Wagon swerved in front of her, blocking her way. The window rolled down and Zach''s sharply cut, stone- cold profile appeared.

    He''d told himself he''d let it go if Reese just reached out if she called, swallowed her pride, apologized to Tara, made things right. He''d even lift the cklist on Ramos Corporation. Simple.

    But she hadn''t called. Not even a word.

    When he couldn''t stand it anymore, he came straight to ckOak.

    Reese spotted him and froze, her hand halfway to the door handle, ready to get out and argue. Instead, she locked the doors, shifted to reverse, and tried to swing around his car.

    Zach wasn''t about to let her get away. He opened his door, stepped out, and walked right up to her window.

    "Stop."

    Reese nced in the rearview and saw a ck sedan blocking her from behind. She sighed, rolled her window down just enough to talk. "What do you want?"

    "What do I want?" Zach let out a coldugh. Just seeing her refuse to even look at him made his anger burn hotter. "Tara''s still in the hospital. She lost the baby. They''re not sure she''ll ever have kids again. And you want to know what I want?

    "Don''t you think you owe me an exnation?"

    "You already cklisted Ramos Corporation, didn''t you?" Reese shot back, her voice ice-cold. "You''ve already out for me. What else do you want?"

    For a second, Zach looked caught off guard. He hadn''t expected her to stand her ground like this. His face tightened, and his voice softened just a bit. "Reese, I never meant to push you this far This is serious. Just apologize to Tara. If you do that, I''ll lift the cklist. If you need money, I''ll give you anything."

    Reese rolled her eyes, a bitterugh escaping her. "First, I don''t need your money. Second, I didn''t push her. She fell by herself.

    "If you don''t believe me, fine. I''ll find proof and clear my own name."

    Zach''s patience snapped. ¡°There were so many people at the event, all watching. You''re really going to stand there and say you didn''t do it?"

    "I''m giving you onest chance. Come with me to the hospital, apologize to Tara, make things right. If you do, I''ll let the whole thing go."

    "Zach, who do you think you are? I didn''t do it, and I''m not going to admit to something I didn''t do."

    She checked the time, started the engine, her tone dropping to ice. "Move. I don''t have time for this."

    Zach stepped in front of her car, right in front of the hood. "I''ll say it

    one more time Either youe

    with

    me now and apologize, or you''re not leaving tonight."

    Annoyance flickered across Reese''s face. She mmed the car in reverse and

    rammed into the sedan behind her.

    Zach''s assistant jumped out, just as she figured.

    Reese let out a cold snort,

    determination shing in her eyes. She shifted gears and hit the gas, driving straight at Zach. He leapt out of the way at the fast second as her white SUV crunched into the side of his Wagon and finally stopped.

    She grabbed her purse, got out, and barely nced at Zach, who just stood there

    by his battered car, frozen.

    "I''m not apologizing. Don''t waste any more of your time on me," she said, voice cold.

    Without another look back, she walked away, leaving Zach staring after her, fists clenched tight and eyes full of tangled emotions.

    When did Reese get this tough?

 Chapter 270

    Reese didn''t bother checking Zach''s reaction. She walked straight to the curb, called her assistant toe handle the mess, then gged down a cab and headed off to meet Hank.

    Half an hourter, the cab pulled up in front of Maple Street Diner. Reese paid the driver, stepped out, and walked inside.

    "You''rete."

    Hank looked up as she entered, ncing at his watch. His eyes were cold, sizing

    her up.

    "Something came up," Reese said, sliding into the seat across from him. She didn''t waste time. "So what do you want?"

    Hank scoffed, not hiding his annoyance at her calm attitude. "What do I want? Reese, you are so heartless. Grandpa and Mom gave everything to Ramos Corporation, and now you''re just about to ruin it."

    Reese''s eyes narrowed. "Funny you say that. None of you cared about Ramos Corporation for years. Now, with thepany falling apart, suddenly you show up acting all concerned."

    "Dad and I just don''t want to watch you destroy what they built."

    Hank pulled a document from his briefcase and pushed it across the table.

    "This is a buyout agreement. Take a look."

    He continued, "Dad says if you agree to have another kid with Sebastian, to inherit Ramos Corporation and the Meyer family shares Mom left you, your current share will stay the same."

    Reese didn''t even nce at the papers. She took a sip of coffee, then let out a coldugh. "Keep dreaming.

    "All these years you ignored me and Ramos Corporation. You even let Sofia worm her way between me and Sebastian. And now you want to force me to have another child? Please."

    "You''re only doing this because Sofia''s no longer of use, and you''re desperate to strengthen your ties with the Ratcliff family."

    She shot Hank a look, then stood up. "Go tell Bailey I''m not agreeing to anything. He should just give up."

    She turned to leave, annoyed she''d even bothered showing up.

    "Reese!"

    Hank called after her, pulled out his phone, tapped the screen, and pushed it toward her. "At least look at this first."

    Reese nced at the screen and instantly froze. Her face went cold.

    Trending on social media was the hashtag

    #Reese RamosPushed HerCousinCausing Miscarriage, right at the top with a bright red "trending"bel.

    She tapped into the post. The first thing she saw was a tweet from Dylon. He''d just posted a video from the conference, cut so it only

    showed her arguing with Taral ne

    part where Tara fell was slowed down, with a big red arrow pointing to "Reese''s hand movement." The caption screamed: "How can anyone be this cruel? Tara was pregnant and just tried to talk to Reese, but Reese pushed her and now she''s lost the baby. She''s still in the hospital, fighting for her life. Please help us get justice for my daughter!"

    It was obvious Dylon had bought bots. Comments flooded in by the thousands,

    updating faster than she could read:

    "Reese is evil. Who hurts a pregnant woman like that?"

    "No wonder Ramos Corporation is getting cklisted with her in charge."

    "I heard she stole thepany from her uncle''s family and now she''s hurt her own cousin. She''s toxic."

    "I always wondered why the CEO''sst name was different. Now it makes sense -she stole it."

    "Someone needs to investigate her. I bet there''s more dirt!"

    Hank scrolled to a local forum post

    "The Truth About Reese Ramos

    Sleeping Her Way to the Top- Crushing Her Uncle''s Family and New Causing a Miscarriage."

    It was full of wild stories about how Reese supposedly slept with a powerful man seven years ago to be CEO. It used her of mistreating employees and stealingpany money and thements

    were all just hate and insults. C¨®ntent

    "See?"

    Hank took his phone back and looked right at Reese. "This is what everyone''s saying about you. How much longer do you think you can keep this up?"

 Chapter 271

    He tapped the file with his finger. "Dad said as long as you sign this, after the Meyer family buys Ramos Corporation, your shares won''t change."

    Reese nced at the contract, ck ink on white paper, and didn''t move a muscle. She gave a half-smile. "I''m not signing that."

    If Dylon hade after her with something else, she might have been worried. But he was clueless enough to stir up drama about her fighting for control of Ramos Corporation.

    He must''ve forgotten she still had proof of how he shorted Ramos Corporation back then.

    "Reese!" Hank, frustrated with her stubbornness, raised his voice. "Have you seen what''s happening right now?"

    He opened the stock market app, and the sharp drop on the green line stung the eyes.

    "Ramos Corporation''s stock has dropped twenty-three percent since this morning. Almost a billion dors in value, gone. The banks have frozen our credit. All our partners have pulled out. Even the factory workers are threatening to strike!"

    He leaned in, his face tight with anxiety. "Let me be honest with you. I''ve already talked to the other shareholders. Tomorrow morning, they''re handing their shares over to Dad and me."

    Reese looked at him calmly. "And what good will that do?"

    "I own nearly forty percent of Ramos Corporation. As long as I don''t agree, you can''t acquire thepany. I''m still the legal owner."

    "You"

    Hank jumped up, jabbing a finger at her. "You''re being ridiculous. Are you really going to watch mother''s hard work go up in smoke?"

    Reese brushed his hand away before he could poke her in the nose and let out a coldugh. "That''s still better than having someone who would betray their own family take it over."

    She didn''t want to argue anymore. She grabbed her bag and walked out of the room.

    Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Matthew.

    She opened it and saw Tara''s prenatal medical report. Reese slowed down as her eyesnded on the words: "Chromosomal karyotype 47,XYY. Termination rmended."

    XYY syndrome?

    So the baby really did have issues. No wonder Tara staged that scene at the conference.

    Reese narrowed her eyes and called Patrick.

    "Ms. Meyer-"

    "I''ve got Tara''s prenatal records. There''s a problem with her baby. That whole scene at the conference was her doing."

    Before Patrick could say anything, Reese went on, "Check the surveince footage from the conference. Focus on anything strange Tara did."

    With how much blood there was, it couldn''t have been just a fall. She probably took something beforehand.

    "And see if you can find any hospital records of her being prescribed abortion medication."

    "What about the stuff online? Should I have PR clear things up?"

    Patrick sounded unsure, probably wondering if Reese had seen the trending posts.

    "Stay put for now."

    Reese chuckled. "Let them talk. The more noise the better. Gather all the liquid funds we have and find a way to get third parties and shareholders to break ties. Buy up whatever shares we can. Every bit helps."

    That was the only way to push the shareholders to dump Ramos Corporation.

    They were already spoiled by Dylon. If they didn''t see a chance to cash out, there was no way they''d let Bailey get their shares so easily.

    Plus, judging by how desperate the Meyer family was to get in with the Ratcliff family, they probably didn''t have the money to buy everyone out. They just couldn''t pull it off

    She needed the drama to get bigger. When the Meyer family couldn''t follow through and shareholders got desperate to sell, that would be her chance.

    It was just a few nastyments online; Reese had dealt with worse. She didn''t care at all.

    Patrick knew Reese had always nned to deal with the shareholders. Now he understood exactly what she was aiming for.

    "Got it.

    "But Ms. Meyer, it''s not just the Meyer family reaching out to the shareholders. There are otherpanies bidding, and their offers are higher. Three shareholders have already agreed to sell."

 Chapter 272

    ¡°I checked. All thosepanies are backed by the same person.¡±

    Someone else was buying up Ramos Corporation shares? And they were offering more than the Meyer family?

    Reese stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing in confusion.

    Ramos Corporation had been circling the drain for years under Dylon''s leadership. They''d just scraped through a bankruptcy, and if Mr. Ratcliff hadn''t

    asked Patrick to step in, the whole thing would''ve been history by now.

    Who would want to buy into Ramos Corporation at this point?

    "Did they say anything about actually buying Ramos Corporation?"

    Just the thought made Reese tense up.

    "Not yet," came the response.

    Reese let out a quiet breath, her shoulders rxing. That was something, at least. "Don''t mind them for now."

    She didn''t have enough money to make a move anyway, and there weren''t any better options on the table. If those shares ended up in someone else''s hands, that was still better than letting the Meyer family have them. She''d rather see anyone but Grace and Sofia benefit in the end.

    If whoever was behind this wasn''t out to hurt her, she could just wait until the deal went through, then step up and clear the air. She''d even count it as a favor.

    Stepping out of Maple Street Diner, Reese felt the cool evening breeze brush across her face, carrying away some of the weight she''d been feeling.

    She pulled out her phone and shot Matthew a quick message: "Thanks. Got the medical records."

    He replied almost right away. Just six words, but they made her smile: "If you need anything, just ask."

    Reese stared at his message, a small, involuntary smile tugging at her lips.

    The Ratcliff family''s old house was quiet, but the living room was full of tension. Jane sat on the couch, cradling Robbie in her arms. He had a big purple bruise on his cheek, and she couldn''t hide how worried she was.

    "Why were you fighting at school, sweetheart?"

    She''d nearly dropped the phone earlier when the teacher called to say Robbie had gotten into it with Jamie.

    "Jamie called me a murderer''s kid," Robbie grumbled, frowning hard. The movement made his bruise ache, and he let out a sharp hiss. "It''s Mom''s fault. She shouldn''t have pushed her in the first ce."

    If it had been anyone else, maybe it wouldn''t matter. No one else knew

    Reese was his mom. But Jamie was close,

    different their families we out

    and Jamie knew everything about him and Reese. They''d never gotten along, not even as kids.

    Jamie finally got his chance to rub it in, so of course he didn''t hold back.

    Robbie only fought back because he was terrified Jamie would tell everyone his secret. Luckily, Jamie kept quiet when the teacher asked what happened.

    If Reese wasn''t his mom, none of this would''ve happened.

    Thinking about it, Robbie looked up at Jane. ¡°Grandma, when is Dad finally going to divorce Mom?"

    Jane''s head started to throb. She

    wasn''t just trying toe up with a

    reason to convince Reese to have

    another baby and stall the divorce

    with Sebastian-now she had to figure out how to get Reese to guit her job at ckOak, too.

    Otherwise, Leslie would never let things go, and that evidence Reese had was a ticking time bomb.

    "They can''t get divorced right now," Jane finally said.

    Robbie immediately startedining. "Why not?"

    "Grandma, why won''t you let Dad and Mom split up? Having a mom like her is so embarrassing!¡±

    Jane''s headache only got worse. She was about to say something when the butler walked in.

    "Ma''am, the hospital sent over some reports."

    "What reports?" Jane asked, reaching for the envelope.

    "The ones Mr. Ratcliff arranged before he passed," the butler exined. "When he got sick, he had some gic testing done and found a hereditary condition. He had Mr. Ratcliff and Robbie tested, too."

    Jane opened the report. As soon as she saw that both Sebastian and Robbie carried the gene for the disorder, and that it could show up anytime, her heart clenched and her face went pale.

    "Is it confirmed?" she asked in a thin voice.

    "Yes, ma''am."

    Seeing how shaken Jane was, the butler hurried to reassure her.

    "Please don''t worry too much. It''s a recessive gene, and they''re not sure what inggers it, Mr. Ratcliff only showed symptoms veryte in life. Maybe"

    "Maybe what?¡± Jane cut in, her voice suddenly sharp. "They could get sick at any

    moment!"

 Chapter 273

    Jane realized she was letting her emotions get the better of her and took a deep breath to calm down. "So, what did the doctor say?"

    "The doctor says this kind of gic disease can only be watched carefully. A real cure is nearly impossible. There''s maybe a tiny chance if we can find matching stem cells."

    "But right now..."

    The butler didn''t finish the sentence.

    Both Sebastian and Robbie had tested positive for the same gic issue. The Ratcliff family had no matching stem cell donors at all.

    Jane''s eyes narrowed.

    Matching stem cells...

    Wasn''t this the perfect excuse to push Reese into having another child?

    This was about Robbie''s life. There was no way Reese would be able to turn her back when it came down to saving her son.

    If that was the case, Reese would definitely agree to have another baby with Sebastian.

    And once she was pregnant, Jane could insist that Reese stay home "for the baby''s health." She could get her to quit her job at ckOak, too.

    That would take care of what Leslie wanted as well.

    "Grandma, am I going to die?" Robbie''s small hand tugged at Jane''s sleeve, his face paper-white as he caught on to their conversation.

    "Of course not, sweetheart." Jane brushed his cheek, her voice gentle. "The doctor said as long as we find the right stem cells, you''re going to be just fine."

    "There''s nothing to worry about, Robbie. If your mom gives you a little brother or sister, we can use the baby''s cord blood to help you get better."

    Robbie''s eyes lit up for a second, but then the hope faded.

    If that happened, wouldn''t that mean his parents might stay together and not get divorced?

    He nced at the test report in Jane''s hand. As much as he wanted Reese to still be his mom, saving his own life mattered more.

    The butler, unable to keep quiet, spoke up. "But ma''am, even if Mrs. Ratcliff gets pregnant, there''s no guarantee the new baby won''t have the same gic problem."

    Jane''s face went cold. "Then she''ll just have to keep trying until we get a healthy one.

    "At sixteen weeks, we can do an amniocentesis. If there''s a problem, we end the pregnancy and try again."

    Once Reese was under her thumb, Jane could control everything she did.

    "Ma''am..."

    The butler''s expression was pained. This would do terrible damage to Reese''s body, and besides, neither Mr. Ratcliff nor Robbie was even showing symptoms yet.

    "Enough! You don''t get to have an opinion in this house," Jane snapped.

    After the butler left, Jane tidied Robbie''s hair. "You want to get better as soon as possible, right?"

    "Of course, do." Robbie nodded, his

    voice small but determined. He was still

    so young he hadn''t even gotten the chance to inherit the Ratcliff family''s empire. He didn''t want to die now.

    "Here''s what we''ll do..."

    Jane leaned down and whispered something in his ear. Robbie''s eyes grew wide with surprise.

    "Grandma, do you really think Mom will agree?¡±

    "She will," Jane said with confidence.

    "But... shouldn''t we keep this from Dad?"

    Grandma wanted him to pretend to be sick. When the doctor said he was getting

    worse, Mom woulde home and save him by having another baby.

    Robbie just knew deep down that Dad shouldn''t know about this n.

    "You''re such a smart boy." Jane smiled, ruffling his hair. "We can tet your dad know you''re sick, and that he is too and that your condition is getting worse. But he can''t know you''re faking it."

    The stem cells in the cord blood could be kept in storage. Once they had them, they''d be ready for anything-whether Robbie or Sebastian ever needed them.

    Even if Sebastian found out someday, Jane was sure he''d understand.

    "Okay, I get it." Robbie nodded. "Tomorrow I''ll tell Mom I''m not feeling well, so she''lle home to see me."

    Jane smiled, patting his back. "Good boy. Come on, let''s go make some strawberry pudding."

 Chapter 274

    Reese was on her way to Ramos Corporation when her phone rang, cutting off her GPS. Without thinking, she hit answer.

    "Reese, Robbie''s in the hospital. Can youe see him?" Jane''s voice was tight, clearly worried.

    Reese raised an eyebrow. "What did the doctors say?"

    "They said it''s his gic condition," Jane replied, her voice shaky under all the background noise. "He woke up this morning feeling off, had a low fever, so I brought him in. By the time we got to the hospital, it shot up and he passed out."

    Reese''s hands tightened on the steering wheel, her lips pulling into a faint, cynical smile.

    Of course. She already knew Sebastian and Robbie both carried that mutated gene, that time bomb just waiting to go off. And now, right when her divorce with Sebastian was heating up, right after she''d finally gotten proof he''d made her a surrogate behind her back, suddenly Robbie falls ill? The timing was just too perfect.

    "So what''s the doctor''s n?" Reese asked, her tone deliberately slow, not giving away the slightest bit of worry. "I''ve got a lot going on today. I''ll stop by when I can."

    She was honestly curious what they were trying to pull this time.

    But not right now.

    "Reese, do you even care about Robbie?" Jane''s voice went sharp, echoing in the car. "That''s your son in a hospital bed! And you''re still thinking about work? Even if you insist on divorcing Sebastian, you can''t just leave your own kid like this!"

    Jane had hoped Reese would rush to the hospital, see Robbie looking so pitiful, and then Jane could swoop in, persuade her to agree to another pregnancy to save Robbie.

    But Reese didn''t even flinch. She wasn''ting, and she wasn''t buying it.

    Had Robbie spent allst night freezing for nothing?

    Jane''s voice was practically screeching now. Reese frowned and turned down the volume. "He''s got doctors there. He''ll be fine for now. I have to go."

    She hung up before Jane could say another word.

    Jane stared at her phone for a second, fuming, her chest tight with frustration. Then she dialed Sebastian.

    He picked up. "Hello?"

    Before Sebastian could say anything else, Janeunched into everything that had just happened, barely pausing for breath, and throwing in plenty ofints about Reese.

    Finally, she said, "Sebastian, you can''t go through with this divorce. If the court sides with Reese, it means her evidence is song Do you know what that''ll do to Ratcliff Global''s reputation?"

    "And right now, Robbie''s only hope is for you and Reese to have another kid to save him!"

    "I''m not divorcing her," Sebastian said coolly from behind his desk. He picked up a cigarette, lit it, and stared at his tablet.

    The hot topics online were a mess. Reese was being used of pushing Tara, people trashing her in thements.

    "Reese doesn''t care about anyone anymore, Jane went on. "Now she''s even ignoring Robbie You need to

    act: If you have another child, it'' save both Robbie and yourself. You need to make it happen. Soon."

    Sebastian looked out at the endless city skyline, his voice low. "I know."

    As soon as he hung up, Brady stepped in, careful. "Sir, the press is all over Mrs. Ratcliff. Should we get PR on this?"

    "Ramos Corporation''s stock is tanking, the board''s a mess, and I''ve heard the Meyer family wants to buy them out. She can''t handle this alone."

    Sebastian gave a cold, thin smile, blowing out a stream of smoke. "Don''t bother. I''ll wait for her toe to me."

    He leaned back in his chair and nced at the screen again. He wanted her to see for

    herself without the Rateliff family She had nothing. Sooner orter, she''de crawling back.

 Chapter 275

    Brady caught the look on Sebastian''s face, hesitated like he wanted to say something, then thought better of it. He slipped out quietly, leaving the room in heavy silence.

    The shareholders had called for a meeting, and Reese would definitely be there. Patrick, always one step ahead, was already waiting downstairs outside Ramos Corporation.

    When Reese''s car pulled up, Patrick rushed over.

    "Ms. Meyer."

    "Morning."

    Reese stepped out and gave Patrick a quick once-over. He looked exhausted, like

    sleep had been a rumortely. She softened a little. "You''ve been working nonstop. Once this is behind us, take a real break. You''ve earned it."

    Patrick managed a small smile. ¡°Thank you."

    Honestly, he thought, Reese paid better than anyone else and never

    micromanaged. As long as he got results, she left him in peace. That alone made his life easier.

    "Besides the shareholders, who else is up there?" Reese asked.

    Patrick kept pace as they headed inside. "Upstairs, waiting to talk buyouts, are Bryce¡ªwho you asked for and another investor I mentioned yesterday. His name''s Karter, and he''s big in the investment world."

    He lowered his voice. "Also, Mr. Meyer showed up.¡±

    Patrick kept his tone professional as he reported, "He''s already talked with the shareholders. If he manages to buy out Ramos Corporation, he promised them he wouldn''t touch their shares."

    He hesitated. ¡°Once you go up, the shareholders will probably..."

    He didn''t have to finish. Reese understood. If given the choice between losing their shares and letting the Meyer family take over while their own stakes stayed safe, the shareholders would side with the Meyers every time.

    No doubt, they''d be waiting to throw her under the bus.

    Hank and Bailey had really yed their cards well, using the other shareholders to corner her. Even if she refused, she''d have no power to stop them from moving

    in.

    But they were kidding themselves if they thought it would be that easy. Her grandfather had seen thising ages ago. When he set up thepany, he made sure the legal representative had the final say in any transfer of ownership.

    That was the real reason her mother''s will named her as the legal rep, and probably why her uncle''s family had always resented her so much.

    It also exined why the shareholders were so desperate to force this meeting.

    "This other investor-does he want buy the wholepany too?" she asked, pushing through the ss doors as Patrick followed her into the elevator.

    "No, he just wants some shares," Patrick replied.

    Reese frowned, thinking it over.

    Just shares? That was basically a capital injection. With Zach blocking Ramos Corporation everywhere, who would dare step in and help her right now?

    Who was backing this guy?

    "Find out who''s behind him," she said.

    "I''m already on it," Patrick assured her.

    Reese nodded, satisfied.

    The elevator glided to the top floor and the doors slid open. The conference room was cracked open a few inches angry voices spitting out Patrick followed close, gripping a folder full ofpany bws.

    As soon as Reese walked in, a dozen pairs of furious eyes turned on her at once.

    The shareholders were all lined up on one side of the table, faces stony. Hank

    looked positively smug. Two men sat beside him¡ªBryce and, presumably, Karter.

    "Reese, you finally decided to show

    up!" Cameron, seated at the front, pped the table. "The inte''s blowing up about you pushing Tara and making her lose the baby. Ramos Corporation''s stock has

    dred twenty-three percent. We''ve

    fost almost a billion in value! You owe us an exnation!"

    "Yeah! Have you seen thements? Everyone''s bashing Ramos Corporation. Our shares are practically worthless now!" Jos added mming his tablet on the table. The screen was filled with angry posts.

    "I never wanted you as our legal rep anyway," someone else grumbled. "If Dylon hadn''t been running the ce all these years, we''d have crashed and burned a long time ago."

    "If you can''t fix this, just transfer thepany already. Or let Dylone back as CEO," another voice joined in.

    At the mention of Dylon, Reese''s lips curled in a faint, knowing smile. So, he was behind this too.

    She strolled to the head of the table, took her seat, picked up her coffee, and took a slow sip. Her eyes swept across the room, cool and steady, meeting every shareholder''s re head-on.

 Chapter 276

    Once the room finally settled down, Reese set her teacup aside. Her voice was calm and cool, carrying to every corner. "Did you all forget? When Ramos Corporation almost went underst time, I was the one who saved it.

    "And this time? I haven''t hurt a soul. Everything that happened was Tara''s own drama. So tell me, what exactly do I owe you?"

    "Tara''s own doing?" Cameron let out a sarcasticugh. "Reese, we watched Tara grow up. We know exactly who she is."

    "Yeah, that''s right," Josh agreed, nodding. "Things are different now, Reese.

    "Sure, you bailed us out when thepany was in trouble. But that doesn''t mean you get to push Tara out and drag Ramos Corporation into this mess.

    "Tara was supposed to marry Zach. That would''ve made Ramos Corporation and the Wiles family one big family-money would never be a problem. But you ruined all that. Now we really might go bankrupt!"

    Reese nced at the men who''d built thispany side by side with her mom and grandpa. She smiled, but it was cold, the kind of smile that never reached her eyes.

    They''d watched Tara grow up, sure. But hadn''t they watched her grow up, too? The truth was, they just trusted Tara more. Dylon had given them so much that they''d forgotten everything her grandpa and mom had ever done for them.

    "Ramos Corporation is my grandpa''s and my mother''s legacy. I''m not giving it up." Josh snorted. "That''s not your call."

    He mmed his hand on the table. "Every shareholder here agrees. Even if you have more than forty percent, it''s out of your hands now!"

    "I think thepany would be better off with the Meyer family anyway."

    Reese''s eyes shed with sarcasm. Just as she expected-they''d forgotten the agreement they''d signed when they first got their shares from her grandpa.

    "Maybe you all forgot. ording to thepany charter, as long as I''m the legal representative, it doesn''t matter if I own zero shares. I have the final say on any transfer of ownership."

    The room froze. Every face turned pale, especially Hank''s.

    "That''s impossible! Why would grandpa ever do that?" Hank shot up, voice trembling.

    "Because grandpa knew exactly who he was dealing with," Reese said with a shrug, turning to Hank. "So if I say no, nobody''s buying Ramos Corporation."

    "Hank, I told you this yesterday," she added, voice soft but firm.

    The shareholders bristled at her words. But remembering that the rule was real, all they could do was re at Reese, frustrated and helpless.

    "Fine then. I''ll buy everyone''s shares myself!" Hank snapped.

    He knew that with Reese blocking him, his n to have the Meyer family take over was dead. Still, he was determined to get some shares,

    to have a say in thepany

    Future. There was no way he''d

    Reese run it into the ground.

    "Everyone, if you sell your shares to the Meyer family, I promise you''ll get a ten

    percent premium over market price. You won''t lose out."

    Bryce nced at Patrick, who gave a tiny nod. ll offer yesterday''s market price for your shares," Bryce said. "Of course, I''m not as loaded as the Meyer family, so it''s firste first served."

    Karter, who''d been quiet until now, shot Reese a look of admiration and gave azy smile. "Count me in too. I''ll buy at yesterday''s price and can put down a deposit right now."

    The room went silent.

    The shareholders'' eyes lit up¡ªyesterday''s price was way better than the Meyer family''s deal.

    Hank''s face twisted. He hadn''t expected anyone topete with him for shares, let alone offer such a high price.

    "You''re all insane!" Hank blurted, panic creeping into his voice.

    Over thest two days, Ramos Corporation''s stock had crashed, and who knew what would happen next? If anyone bought at

    In

    yesterday''s prices, there was no way his dad of the board would ever

    approve it.

 Chapter 277

    Karter and Bryce didn''t even nce at him. They just kept their eyes on the shareholders, waiting for a decision.

    The shareholders looked at each other, clearly picking up on Hank''s silence.

    "Mr. Meyer, would you like to say something?" Cameron asked, sounding tentative.

    Everyone already knew the Meyer family was trying to muscle in on Ramos Corporation. Hank''s bid might even outdo the others.

    But Hank just opened his mouth and nothing came out.

    Karter shot him a look, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Mr. Meyer, if you don''t have the cash, maybe you should stop wasting everyone''s time."

    Hank''s face went from red to white in a sh. He sent Reese a furious re, all bitterness and frustration. "Don''t get too pleased with yourself, Reese. I can''t buy Ramos Corporation this time, but I promise you, I''ll make sure your life isn''t easy in the future."

    He grabbed his briefcase and practically ran out, mming the door so hard the room shook.

    The conference room went dead silent. Reese checked her watch and said, "You all can talk it over."

    A long pause. Finally, Cameron spoke. "I''m selling my shares. At least then I won''t get dragged down if Ramos Corporation goes under."

    The other shareholders nodded in quick agreement. "Yeah, that''s probably for the best."

    "Reese, it''s not that we don''t trust you," one of them added, "but at this point, bankruptcy is just a matter of time. We have to look out for ourselves."

    Reese nodded, her tone easy. "I get it. I wish you all the best."

    She nced at Bryce and Karter. "Do what you need to."

    An hourter, all the paperwork was signed and notarized online.

    Cameron clutched his copy of the

    agreement, looking grim. "Ram

    Corporation was your mother''s pride and by Don''t wreck if you do don''t expect us to stick around.

    Josh piped up, "That''s right. If Karter and Bryce hadn''t stepped in, we''d all be going down with you."

    "Next time, think things through. Don''t get yourself caught up in a mess like this again."

    Reese didn''t get mad. Instead, she just smiled, calm and cool.

    She stood, giving the room a long look-these so-called pirs of Ramos

    Corporation who had turned out to be nothing but dead weight.

    "Don''t worry. Ramos Corporation isn''t going bankrupt. And soon, you''ll all find out

    if I was wrong or not."

    Josh scoffed. "Yeah, keep dreaming."

    Then he turned to Karter and Bryce "No idea why you two want Ramos Corporation shares, but you''ve seen the

    State its in. Good luck-youre going to need it."

    "Thanks," Bryce replied, smooth as ever. "Good luck to you all too."

    Reese stood up and nodded at Karter and Bryce. "Thank you both for believing in

    me. Now, let me give you a little surprise."

    She turned to Patrick, her voice

    sharp and steady. "Patrick, get on the phone with PR right now. Send out the scans of Tara s prenatal checkup. Highlight ''chromosome karyotype 47,XYY'' and ''rmendation: terminate pregnancy.''

    "And don''t forget the proof she got abortion pills at the hospital, plus the surveince footage from the conference where she took the medication.

    "Make sure to zoom in, so everyone can see for themselves whether I pushed her or not."

    She paused, then added, "And file a police report andwsuit against Iron Financial for defamation. Zach is going to answer for trashing my reputation.

    "And send all the evidence we collected about Dylon and the other shareholders

    shorting Ramos Corporation''s stock to the police too."

    Patrick nodded right away. "Got it. I''ll get on it now."

 Chapter 278

    At exactly ten in the morning, the Ramos Corporation''s PR team dropped a bomb on Twitter. The first post was a scan of Tara''s prenatal checkup.

    Two sentences were circled in bold red: "Chromosomal karyotype 47, XYY" and "Termination of pregnancy rmended." The caption pulled no punches. "Medical reports don''t lie. The baby''s condition was diagnosed long ago. Was this miscarriage really just an ident?"

    Ten minutester, more evidence popped up.

    This time, it was a photo of a prescription for abortion pills, signed by Tara herself, dated just one day before the conference.

    Then came the full surveince video from the conference.

    The footage, slowed down for everyone to see, caught Tara hiding in a hallway, popping pills and washing them down with alcohol. Every move was clear as day.

    Even the confrontationter was obvious: after Reese pushed her away, it was clear she used the moment to fall back on purpose. The video tagged Iron Financial''s official ount and Zach''s personal one.

    The caption read, "Is Iron Financial really demanding answers from Ramos Corporation, or are they just taking advantage of the chaos?"

    It only took half an hour for social media to explode.

    Trending hashtags refreshed faster than anyone could keep up: #TaraStagedHerMiscarriage and #IronFinancialcklist. In a sh, the hate that was aimed at Reese flipped and now everyone wasing for Tara.

    Inside her VIP hospital suite, Tara nced at the clock on the wall, her lips curled up in a self-satisfied smile as she thought about all the nastyments online about Reese.

    The noise in the hallway made her frown. She was about to call the nurse to deal with it when the door burst open and a crowd of reporters rushed in, cameras shing nonstop.

    "Ms. Ramos, did you know about your baby''s condition from the start?"

    "Did you take abortion pills just to frame Reese?"

    "Why did you fake being pushed? Was it all to give Iron Financial an excuse to attack Ramos Corporation?"

    The questions kepting, sharper and sharper. Confusion flickered across Tara''s face, then panic. She wentpletely pale, then her cheeks turned bright red under all the cameras and microphones.

    What are they talking about?

    How did they know she took the pills? How did they figure out she faked the whole scene?

    "I don''t know what you''re talking about!" she yelled, covering her head and trying

    to hide from the cameras. "Who let you in here? Get out! Get out, all of you!"

    "Ms. Ramos, Ramos Corporation has already released proof of what you did at

    the conference. Please answer our questions."

    "Was this all Mr. Wiles'' idea to go after Ramos Corporation?"

    "Why is Iron Financial targeting Ramos Corporation?"

    A deep, cold voice cut through the chaos. Zach was standing in the doorway his face tight and stormy. "Iron Financial will hold a press conference to address this soon. For now, please leave."

    The room''s energy dropped in an instant. The reporters nced at the huge bodyguards behind Zach, muttered to each other, and finally shuffled out, still grumbling.

    "Zach..." Tara looked up, tears streaming down her face. "Don''t listen to them, please. The baby really was Reese''s..."

    "You''re still lying to me?" Zach''s voice was low, but the anger in his eyes was impossible to miss.

    "You knew from the very beginning the child was sick. You never nned to keep

    it. You used this as a way to frame Reese and turn me against her."

    He walked over, standing tall over Tara''s hospital bed. The disappointment and fury in his eyes made her shrink back.

    "Were you happy when you saw me go after Reese, cutting off Ramos Corporation for you?

    "Did you think that once I broke things off with him, everything would be perfect? That you''d finally get to be Mrs. Wiles?

    "In just thirty minutes, Iron

    Financial''s stock dropped three

    percent. That''s almost two hundred

    million dors gone, Tara. Do you

    really think you can handle the

    fallout from this?

    "Tara, we''re done. Iron Financial is ending all business with the Ramos family."

    "No, Zach, you can''t do this." Tara

    grabbed onto his pants leg, her eyes

    desperate and pleading "You said

    You love me forever. You promised

    give me a home."

 Chapter 279

    "You can''t just go back on your word!"

    "That was before you and the Ramos family pulled all that crap!"

    Zach stepped away from her, dodging her hand like it burned, his eyes full of open disgust.

    "So now everything''s my fault, is that it?" Tara felt the sting of his re but forced herself to meet it, her own eyes turning sharp. "Don''t twist this, Zach. You started all of it.

    "You were the one who gave up on Reese and went abroad, just so you couldtch onto the Wiles family''s power.

    "If you''d stayed with her, if you hadn''t left, she never would''ve gotten tangled up in our mess. She wouldn''t have broken up with you, she wouldn''t have ended up marrying Sebastian!"

    She was breathing hard now, voice shaking with anger. "All these years you''ve been obsessed with Reese, loving her, hating her, torturing yourself over her. Meanwhile, you kept me around, taking everything I gave, but always holding me at arm''s length. And after you came back, you just got colder.

    "Then when you found out the truth about the past, you were happy like you finally had a way to win her back. You never even thought about me, that I was still pregnant with your baby. You were ready to get revenge for her, no matter what it cost anyone else!""If I hadn''t been desperate to keep you, do you really think I would''ve done any of this?

    "Yes, the baby had problems-but now I can never have children again!

    "This is all because of you, Zach. Every bit of it!

    "And you honestly think you and Reese still have a shot?

    "You never trusted her. Not back then, not now. When did you ever actually stand

    by her side? Name one time!

    "You can''t-because it''s never happened!

    "You never deserved her love!"

    Zach took a shaky step back, face pale,pletely floored by her words.

    It was a long time before he found his voice again. When he did, it was ice-cold. "Believe what you want, Tara. But I''m telling you now the Ramos family is finished."

    Sweat trickled down Tara''s face as she watched him head for the door. Her eyes went hard and she gritted her teeth. "Zach, have they even found your uncle''s body yet?"

    He whipped around, staring at her like he''d just been hit. For a second, something like panic flickered in his eyes. "What did you say?"

    Tara just looked at him and startedughing, loud and bitter.

    She never thought things would end up like this between her and Zach.

    "I''ve been beside you for years. Did you really think I didn''t know about everything you''ve done?

    "If you go after the Ramos family, if you call off our engagement, I''ll make sure everyone knows exactly what you did to take control of the Wiles Group."

    Zach''s face went dark as thunder. He stared her down for a long, heavy moment, then pointed at her, voice hard as steel. "Fine, Tara. Good for you."

    He turned and walked out without looking back.

    Tara slumped onto the bed, watching his back disappear through the door. For a second, managed a twisted smile, but it crumpled as she broke down,

    Covering her face and sobbing so

    hard she could barely breathe.

    If she''d ever known things would end like this with Zach, she never would''ve tried

    to use the baby to manipte Reese.

    At least then, she''d still have the chance to be a mother.

    Zach left the hospital and drove straight to Iron Financial.

    The whole drive, Tara''s words kept reying in his head. He had no clue how

    much she''d figured out about what he''d done over the years.

    But one thing was clear; he couldn''t afford to take any more risks.

    He straightened his tie, stepped out of the car, and didn''t let the freezing look on his face slip for a second.

    ?

    Inside the conference room, the executives sat stiff and silent. A big screen on the table red with fron Financial''s plunging stock chart-a jagged green line that looked like a warning.

    "Mr. Wiles, the board called again," the risk director said, voice tense. "They want you to make a public apology and exin why you blocked Ramos Corporation.

    "They also want you to end all business with the Ramos family, and break off your engagement to Tara."

    Zach''s eyes shed with cold anger.

    Vultures, every single one of them.

    He walked straight to the head of the table and sat down, tapping his fingers against the polished wood. His gaze swept across the room.

    "First, issue a statement immediately cancel the embargo on Ramos Corporation. Second, have PR set up a press conference and nakera public apology as

    as possible. Third, reach out to all our partners, admit the mistake, and

    promise we''ll put stricter checks in

    ce from now on."

    It was the only way to fix the damage without dragging the Ramos family down

    with him. As for the Ramos family themselves.....

 Chapter 280

    After the meeting broke up, Zach called his assistant over. "Dig up every shred of dirt on the Ramos family from the past few years. Also, have someone tail Tara. I want to know everywhere she goes and everyone she talks to. Don''t leave anything out. Report it all to me."

    "Yes, sir."

    After the assistant left, Zach lit a cigarette and leaned back, exhaling a slow stream of smoke toward the ceiling. Whatever Tara thought she knew, he wasn''t about to let this slide.

    He kept reying what Tara had said at the hospital. Sitting up straighter, he grabbed his phone and tried calling Reese. The call wouldn''t go through; she''d already blocked him.

    A bitter smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Was it really over between him and Reese?

    Sebastian sat in his office, scrolling through financial news on his tablet. The headlines were everywhere: "Major Twist-Ramos Corporation Clears Its Name, Tara used of Orchestrating Scandal" and "Iron Financial Reverses Ban on Ramos Corp." Photos of Reese outside the Ramos Corporation building were all over social media. She looked calm and collected, answering reporters without even a hint of panic.

    A knock sounded at the door. Brady walked in.

    "Boss, the Meyer family just pulled out of the acquisition. Sge not only stabilized thepany''s stock price, but also managed to kick Dylon''s people out."

    "She kicked them out?" Sebastian drummed his fingers on the desk. "Where did she get the cash?"

    Brady hesitated. "She... managed to secure new investment."

    Sebastian scoffed. "She''s got more tricks than I thought." He felt a wave of irritation he couldn''t quite name. He''d expected Reese toe begging once her funding dried up. Instead, she''d flipped the whole situation and found new backers.

    But so what?

    "Stick to the n. Tell the bank to suspend Ramos Corporation''s credit line. Push the suppliers for payment."

    Brady looked uneasy. "But sir, the financial regtors just started investigating ''bigpanies interfering with small business financing.'' If we move now¡ª"

    "What''s the problem?" Sebastian cut him off, his eyes cold. "I''m only asking the bank to ''reevaluate the risk it''s all by the book. As for suppliers, they''ll go where the money is. Ratcliff Global can offer

    what Ramos can''t."

    He wanted Reese to have no choice but toe to him and admit defeat.

    Brady didn''t dare say more and slipped out the door. Sebastian''s phone lit up with

    a message from Jane-a photo of Robbie, cheeks flushed with fever.

    [Sebastian, Reese isn''t answering my calls. You have to get her toe see Robbie at the hospital!]

    Sebastian''s frown deepened. He strode out of his office. "Get the car. We''re going

    to Central Hospital. Tell Reese to meet us there."

    By the time Sebastian reached the

    hospital, Jane was waiting in the hallway, eyes red from crying. "Sebastian thank goodness you''re here. Please, get Reese toe see Robbie. He''s been asking for his mom. I showed him a photo of her and he just broke down."

    Sebastian looked over at the hospital bed. Robbie was lying there, small and pale, with a cooling patch stuck to his forehead. He heard footsteps and slowly opened

    his eyes. When he saw Sebastian, he whispered, "Daddy."

    "How do you feel?" Sebastian sat beside the bed, gently touching Robbie''s forehead. He was still warm.

    "I feel really bad..." Robbie''s voice shook. He sneaked a look at Jane, and when she nodded, he started to cry. "Daddy, am I going to die?"

    "The doctor said I have a weird sickness. I need special stem cells to get better..."

    Jane wiped her eyes. ¡°Sebastian, he''s so young. It''s just not fair."

    ¡°Talk to Reese. Ask her to stop the divorce. If she''ll have another baby, it could save Robbie''s life."

    "If she agrees, we''ll let the past go. And when ites to Ramos Corporation... you could help her out."

    Sebastian stayed silent, drumming his fingers lightly on the bed frame.

    Meanwhile, after wrapping things up at Ramos Corporation, Reese was already on her way to the hospital No matter what Jane was scheming, Reese knew she had to visit Robbie. If she didn''t, who knew what Jane might try behind her back?

 Chapter 281

    You can''t spend your whole life watching for thieves.

    As soon as Reese parked outside the hospital, her phone started ringing. She nced at the unknown number, frowned, and picked up.

    "Who is this?"

    "It''s me."

    Bailey''s voice slid through the line, smooth as ever. "You actually pulled off the Ramos Corporation mess by yourself. I guess you really are my and Olivia''s daughter."

    The way Bailey dropped her mom''s name, like they were still some happy family, made Reese''s stomach turn.

    She was about to hang up, but Bailey kept going. "If you want your mother''s shares, you''ll need to give Sebastian another child. It''ll tighten the ties between the Ratcliffs and the Meyers."

    "Get pregnant, and I''ll transfer your mom''s shares to you right away. I''ll even throw in an extra five percent. You''d be the legal owner of Ramos Corporation and hold twenty percent of the Meyer family shares. Even the Ratcliffs would have to respect you then."

    Reese let out a coldugh. "You think you can buy my uterus withpany shares? Dream on, Bailey."

    She didn''t give him a chance to reply. She hung up and blocked the number without a second thought.

    After locking her car, she headed into the hospital.

    She didn''t expect to run into Sebastian. Jane sat there, eyes red from crying, while Robbie looked pale as a ghost. Reese lifted an eyebrow, a sh of sarcasm in her eyes.

    What a perfect little family portrait.

    "Reese, you''re finally here!" Jane''s eyes lit up, and she rushed over, reaching for Reese''s hand. "I knew you wouldn''t just leave Robbie like this-"

    Reese sidestepped, her gaze settling on Robbie. "What did the doctor say? Does he need to be moved to a better hospital?"

    Robbie shrank under her stare, mumbling, "No... I''m okay..."

    Jane quickly tugged on Sebastian''s arm.

    Sebastian cleared his throat and gave Reese that bossy look she knew too well. "We need to talk."

    They walked to the far end of the hallway. Sebastian leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, eyes locked on her.

    "You''ve

    doctor

    Robbie''s condition. The

    s it''s a gic disordene

    What made Dad''s health get

    worse so suddenly.

    "The best shot at saving him is for us to have another healthy child. We''d need the cord blood.

    "If you agree, I''ll fix the Ramos Corporation''s cash flow problem for you."

    Reese arched an eyebrow. What a coincidence.

    Why did everyone suddenly want her to have another child?

    "Did the doctor say that, or was it Jane''s idea?"

    Sebastian''s frown deepened at the way she said Jane''s name. "Mom said it. But

    I''m sure she talked to the doctor first."

    Reese''s eyes narrowed. She

    understood gics way better than Sebastian or Jane ever could. Millie had exined everything to her Even if both Sebastian and Robbie carried the gene it wasn''t something that would just re up from a nap or a cold.

    If it was that simple, Mr. Ratcliff would''ve been sick ages ago.

    This was probably another one of Jane''s tricks-using Robbie''s illness to pressure her into having another baby Or maybe there was something else going on...

    Reese remembered that little ck box Jane had slipped into her coat pocket. Suddenly, a name popped into her mind.

    Leslie.

    Maybe Leslie was behind this too.

    Did Leslie want Jane to get her transferred out of ckOak?

    Thinking back to the guy she''d caught who never gave Leslie up, Reese almost smiled.

    If that was their n, maybe she could use this to her advantage.

    She could y along, let Jane think she was winning, and step away from

    ckOak for a while-just to see what Leslie was really up to.

    But actually going through with having a kid? Not a chance.

    She''d need to talk this over with Matthew first.

    "Let me think about it," Reese said quietly.

 Chapter 282

    Sebastian couldn''t hide his surprise. A breeze brushed past, cool against his skin, but all he felt was heat rushing through his body, his heart beating out of control.

    He''d been ready for her to shut him down. After everything from keeping secrets about the embryo to fighting it out in court-their rtionship was already hanging by a thread. But to his shock, Reese didn''t say yes, but she didn''t say no either.

    Did this mean he still had a chance?

    He swallowed hard, his hand clenching in his pocket. The sharpness in his eyes faded, and when he finally spoke, even his voice was softer, with a tremor he couldn''t hide.

    "What... what did you just say?"

    Reese nced up, catching the look on his face, and almostughed to herself.

    What was he hoping for? Did he really think that after everything, there could actually be a future for them?

    "I said I''ll think about it." Her voice was steady, like she was talking about somethingpletely ordinary.

    "But if I agree, we''re doing IVF-and I''m picking the hospital and the doctor. No negotiations."

    Sebastian''s hopeful expression froze. His brows knit together in frustration. "Why? I can arrange the best doctors at Bridger Lake. You won''t have to go through any more than you already have. Or... do you not trust me?"

    Reese remembered the pain of all those hormone shots fromst time, and her heart clenched. So he did know how hard it had been for her. But even knowing that, he still went behind her back and imnted someone else''s embryo.

    "You know exactly why," she said, meeting his eyes. Her gaze was cold, her words clear and sharp. "I''m not making the same mistake twice. Sebastian, just because I''m willing to have another child with you doesn''t mean I''ve forgotten what you did."

    Her words hit him like a punch to the gut. He opened his mouth, searching for something to say.

    But Reese didn''t even look at him. She turned and walked toward the hospital room. "If you agree to what I said, then we''ll talk."

    "Okay. Whatever you say."

    Sebastian watched her walk away, guilt twisting in his chest. How could he honestly expect her toe back to him after everything he''d done?

    Inside the hospital room, Robbiey in bed, cheeks flushed from his fever, voice so hoarse it was barely more than a whisper Grandma do you think Mom will really agree to have another baby?"

    "She will." Jane''s answer was firm as she gently patted his hand. "Your mom loves

    you more than anything. Of course she''ll say yes."

    And if she didn''t, Jane would make sure she did.

    Just then, the door opened.

    Jane looked up to

    see Reese walk in,

    her face calm and unreadable.

    Jane''s heart skipped, but when she nced at Sebastian and saw his small God relief washer over her A glimmer of satisfaction sparkled in her eyes.

    So Reese wasn''t actually determined to divorce Sebastian after all. All that drama

    was just her way of getting what she deserved.

    Jane jumped up, her smile bright and eager as she hurried to Reese''s side. "Reese, I knew you''d never let Robbie down. Don''t worry about a thing at home. As long as you agree to try for another baby, I''ll take care of everything else."

    Robbie''s eyes lit up with hope. Of course his mom loved him most. No matter what, she''d never give up on him.

    He pushed himself up, his body weak but his smile sweet and full of effort.

    "I knew it, Mom. You love me the most. I promise I''ll be good from now on. I won''t

    ever make you mad again. And when the new babyes, I''ll y with them and tell them stories."

    Reese looked down at his eyes that were full of calction, and her heart went cold.

 Chapter 283

    This was the child she carried for nine months, her own flesh and blood. God only knew what Jane had promised him to get him so ready to plot against her.

    But this time, they were in for a disappointment.

    She had no intention of ying along with their ns.

    Jane was watching Reese stare at Robbie, her face calm and unreadable¡ªnot a trace of happiness or sadness. The uncertainty made Jane uneasy, a bad feeling creeping up her spine.

    Worried that Reese would suddenly change her mind, Jane jumped in. "Reese, if you''re trying for another baby, you really need to take care of yourself.

    "You''ve lost so much weighttely. Why don''t you quit your job and move back to the family house for a while? I''ll ask the kitchen to make you some nourishing soups. It''ll do you good."

    Reese raised an eyebrow.

    She''d guessed it. Jane was so eager to get her out of ckOak-no doubt Leslie was behind it.

    "I''m not quitting. Not right now."

    She caught the quick sh of disappointment on Jane''s face and couldn''t help but let a teasing smile tug at her lips.

    "Even if I do need to focus on having a baby, I have to wrap up my work first. I can''t just leave everything hanging. Give me a few days."

    "And about moving back-I''m good. I already have a ce to stay."

    Jane''s smile stiffened for a second, but she quickly smoothed it over, pretending not to care. "Alright, alright, whatever you say. Stay wherever you like."

    As long as Reese agreed to have another baby, Jane figured she''d have enough time to make all those documents Reese was holding ontopletely useless.

    Once Reese left ckOak, Jane could finally answer to Leslie.

    Reese didn''t miss the scheming glint in Jane''s eyes. The air in the hospital room felt thick and suffocating, making her stomach turn. She wasn''t going to waste another minute here.

    She nced at Robbie, her voice cool. "Take care. Call me if you need anything."

    The moment Reese left, Jane grabbed Sebastian''s arm, anxious. "What does she mean? Did she agree or not?"

    Sebastian hesitated, then said, "She''ll probably have another baby."

    But if they wanted her to suddenly forget about the divorce, that was a whole different story.

    Aplicated look shed in his eyes. After thinking for a moment, he pulled out his phone and texted Brady.

    "Make sure the bank cuts off Ramos Corporation''s credit line. No leaks. And get someone to put more pressure on them."

    He wanted Reese to see that whatever Matthew could do, he could do better.

    He''d show her his strength and sincerity. He''d prove he was the one she shoulde back to.

    Eventually, he was sure she would.

    Reese stepped out of the hospital and sucked in a deep breath, letting the cool air wash away some of the tension inside her.

    She nced back at the hospital building, eyes icy, then turned and headed for her car, driving back to ckOak.

    Half an hourter, Reese walked into the R&D team''s office. She spotted Matthew at his desk, focused on the numbers on his screen. For some reason seeing him there softened something inside her, and all the exhaustion she''d been fighting off suddenly caught up with her.

    Matthew heard here in and turned around. The tired look in Reese''s eyes and her pale face made his heart clench. He quickly got up went to the water dispenser, and poured her a cup of warm water.

    "Here, drink this. You don''t look so good. Did something go wrong with Ramos Corporation?"

    Reese took the cup, her fingers brushing against his. The gentle warmth made her heart skip. She lowered her head and took a sip. nothing. I was just at the hospital too long. It gets stuffy in there."

    The word "hospital" made Matthew even more worried. He noticed the pink flush

    on her ears and reached out to check her forehead, thenpared it to his own.

    "No fever..."

    So why were her ears so red?

    "Why were you at the hospital? Are you feeling sick?"

    "I''m fine."

    Reese felt her face get even hotter. She shook her head. "Not me. Robbie''s the one in the hospital."

    Thinking of what happened there, her expression turned serious as she looked at Matthew.

    "Matt, I need to talk to you about something."

 Chapter 284

    Reese took a deep breath andid it all out for Matthew-what happened at the hospital, what she suspected, and exactly what she nned to do.

    "I told Jane yes," she said. "I''m going along with her idea. For now, I''ll leave ckOak and see if that''s enough to get Leslie to slip up."

    Matthew''s expression darkened immediately. He didn''t even hesitate before shaking his head. "No way. Do you even realize how rough those IVF hormone shots are on your body?

    "There are other ways to catch Leslie stealing data. You don''t have to put yourself through that."

    He watched Reese, worry and frustration written all over his face. If he hadn''t been so careless before, maybe they would have caught Leslie already. Then Reese wouldn''t be stuck in this mess.

    "But this is the fastest way," Reese said, meeting his gaze, her voice firm. "Leslie''s hiding in the shadows and we''re out in the open. Dragging this out only helps her.

    "de''s about to go into mass production. If we don''t catch Leslie now, we''ll never have peace of mind."

    She paused, and a mischievous smile shed across her lips.

    "Besides, I''m not actually nning to go through with it.

    "I came back because I wanted to talk this over with you. Think you can help me set things up? I just need a trusted hospital and a doctor. All I need is a positive pregnancy report and a prenatal checkup slip¡ªjust enough to make everyone believe I''m really pregnant.

    "I''ll leave ckOak publicly for a while. Leslie won''t be able to resist making a move."

    On her way back, Reese had thought through every detail. A fake pregnancy would not only bring Leslie out of hiding, but also give her an excuse to get the shares her mother left in the Meyer family business back from Bailey.

    Those shares belonged to her mom, and there was no way she''d let Sofia and Grace get their hands on them.

    Matthew saw the stubborn look in her eyes and felt his resolve slip.

    He knew Reese-once she decided on something, there was no changing her mind.

    And she was right. This really was the quickest way to expose Leslie. After a moment, he nodded. "Alright. Leave the hospital and doctor to me. I''ll make sure everything''s taken care of and you won''t have to go through anything for real."

    It wasn''t totally by the book, but they weren''t hurting anyone just setting a trap for Leslie. It should be fine.

    "Thanks," Reese said with a smile.

    She picked up a pen and started jotting down notes "Now that the biggest hurdles out of the way the next thing is figuring out how to actually draw Leslie out..."

    Matthew moved closer, watching her work out the details, sunlight catching the

    ends of her hair and giving her a soft, golden glow.

    He found himself holding his breath, not wanting to disturb her. All he could do was smile, warmth in his eyes.

    "Oh, one more thing¡ª"

    When their nning was done, Matthew suddenly remembered something n had mentioned that morning.

    "Vista Tech''s lead reached out to n again," he said. "They want to meet, talk about a partnership. de is basically ready. When do you want to set it up?"

    Reese thought for a second.

    "Anytime these next few days works. The sooner the better. Leslie''s-

    probably watching that deal too. We need to lock things down and get everyone under NDAS."

    "Got it. I''ll talk about it with n and let you know."

    Matthew noticed the shadows under her eyes and softened his tone. "There''s

    nothing urgent here. Go home and get some rest, okay?"

    "Alright."

    Reese nodded, grabbed her bag, and walked out.

    Once she was in the hallway, she took out her phone and called Bailey.

    "Reese?" Bailey sounded surprised, like he hadn''t expected her to call.

    "I''ve made up my mind," Reese said, leaning against the ss window, her voice steady and unreadable. "I agree to your proposal. I''ll have another child with Sebastian."

 Chapter 285

    Bailey stared for a solid three seconds, her voice full of disbelief. "Are you

    serious?"

    "Yeah."

    "But why?"

    He still couldn''t wrap her head around it. Just at lunch, Reese had been adamant it would never happen. How did she change her mind in just a few hours?

    "Robbie''s sick." The sunlight was bright, almost blinding. Reese lifted a hand to block it. "Both he and Sebastian have a gic condition. They need stem cell treatment. You can look it up if you want.

    "I said yes to their request. I''ll have another baby."

    "You''re not messing with me, are you?" Bailey''s voice was shaking with excitement. He was practically out of breath.

    If this was real, it was huge. Even the universe seemed to be on the Meyer family''s side.

    "Of course I''m serious." Reese let out a coldugh. "But I have conditions. As soon as I''m pregnant, you transfer all the shares my mom left me-right away.

    "If you try to stall or secretly move the shares, I''ll end the pregnancy.

    "And if that happens, not only will you lose the Ratcliff family''s support, I''ll make sure they think it was your idea. Think about it."

    Silence hung on the line. Bailey was clearly weighing his options.

    He knew Reese wasn''t bluffing. If Reese got pushed too far, she''d absolutely go through with it.

    Besides, once Reese was pregnant with Sebastian''s child, the Meyer and Ratcliff families would be tied together for good. Getting the shares backter would be easy.

    "Alright. As soon as you''re pregnant, I''ll have thewyers get the paperwork ready and call a shareholders'' meeting."

    As soon as he hung up, Bailey called Hank right away, unable to hide the glee in her voice. "Hank, Reese agreed! She''s going to have another baby with Sebastian!"

    Hank was stunned. "Seriously? What made her change her mind? She was totally against it this morning."

    Did something happen with Ramos Corporation again?

    "What else could it be?" Bailey scoffed. "Women are soft, especially when ites to kids. Mention Robbie, and she crumbles.

    "As long as she has the baby, we''ll have her under control."

    He paused, sounding even more smug. "Once she''s carrying Sebastian''s child, the Meyers and Ratcliffs are stuck together. For good.

    "And even if we don''t end up taking over Ramos Corporation, we can still throw her a bone, make her owe us.

    "After that, she''s just a piece on our chessboard. We can use her however we want."

    "That''s amazing," Hank said, his excitement picking up. With this, the Meyer family''s problems suddenly didn''t seem so bad.

    "Oh, by the way, Dad-" Hank hesitated thinking about their

    current situation. "de''s people got back to me. They''re free to meet any

    day this week They want to talk partnership."

    "That quick?" Bailey''s eyes lit up. "Let''s set it for tomorrow. Perfect We''ll handle de, then check in an Reese. Who knows maybe well get a double win."

    After the call, Bailey leaned back in her chair, a smug smile spreading across her face.

    Meanwhile, over at ckOak.

    n was at his desk working through a stack of files when his phone rang.

    He checked the screen: Mr. Marsh, Vista Tech''s point of contact.

    "Hello?"

    "Hi, n." Mr. Marsh''s tone was formal and polite. "We''ve discussed the timing and were hoping de''s rep could meet tomorrow attent Would that work?  fo

    n thought about what Matthew had just said, and about Reese''s n. "That''s

    fine. We''ll see you at ten tomorrow in the ckOak conference room."

 Chapter 286

    Hank was still riding the high from finding out he''d finally get to meet the de project head tomorrow, when Mr. Marsh casually mentioned the meeting would be at ckOak.

    He repeated the name under his breath, feeling his excitement instantly drain away. Sweat prickled at his back.

    Wasn''t that where Reese worked now?

    Was it possible she really was involved with de, just like he''d suspected all along?

    That thought sent him straight to Bailey''s office, his nerves buzzing. He barely paused before pushing the door open.

    "Dad, we have a problem," Hank said, not even bothering to knock. "Mr. Marsh just told me the meeting with the de project lead is at ckOak. That''s Reese''spany!"

    Bailey was rolling an ornament between his fingers, but he froze at Hank''s words and narrowed his eyes. "And? Why are you so worked up? So she works at ckOak. What''s it to us?"

    Hank leaned over the desk, hands braced, his voice urgent. "Don''t you remember? Reese studied Al development in college! What if she''s involved in de? What if she hears about our partnership and tries to mess things up for us?"

    Bailey scoffed and set the ornament down. "No way. She dropped out of college to marry Sebastian, then spent years as a stay-at-home wife. She probably doesn''t even know what''s happening in the industry anymore, let alone touch something as big as de."

    "She''s lucky they even hired her at ckOak. There''s no chance they''d let her anywhere near a major project like that."

    "Just focus on meeting the de lead tomorrow. Don''t let yourself get distracted by people who don''t matter."

    Hank wanted to believe him. Maybe Bailey was right. Still, he couldn''t shake the uneasy feeling all night.

    The next morning, Hank showed up at ckOak with his assistant, nerves wound tight. He scanned the lobby for Reese, but didn''t see her anywhere. He let out a breath he hadn''t realized he was holding.

    Maybe he really had been overthinking it.

    But then the receptionist led them into the conference room, and Hank''s heart stuttered when he saw who was sitting at the head of the table.

    Matthew.

    Matthew stopped drumming his fingers on the table when the receptionist said, "Mr. Meyer from Vista Tech is here."

    He lifted an eyebrow, a cool look on his face. "Mr. Meyer. Long time no see."

    Hank could feel sweat soaking into his shirt, but he forced a polite smile and held out his hand "Mr. Wiles. Nice to meet you didn''t expect you to be the de project lead."

    Matthew didn''t bother to stand. He just leaned back in his chair, chin tilted, eyes sharp. "Imagine my surprise, finding out Vista Tech

    belongs to you

    are you here, t?

    talk partnership, or did you just want

    tor make more trouble for your

    sister?

    "Reese is one of our key people at ckOak. It doesn''t look so great for you to

    keep showing up, trying to give her a hard time, does it?"

    Hank''s face flushed deep red. His hand hung awkwardly in the air, and he suddenly wanted to disappear.

    His assistant stood beside him, barely daring to breathe. The whole room felt frozen.

    Hank started to exin, but Matthew was already getting to his feet. ¡°If you''re here about a partnership, I don''t think we have anything to discuss."

    "ckOak doesn''t work with anyone who can''t tell right from wrong, or who treats our people badly."

    Matthew nodded toward the door. "Mr. Meyer, please see yourself out."

    Hank couldn''t get out of ckOak fast enough. His mind reyed every time he''d misjudged Reese, and the cold look Matthew had given him.

    He never would''ve guessed Matthew was the head of de. After seeing how he stood up for Reese, it was obvious even if Reese wasn''t on the core de team, there was no

    way they''d ever get the partnership now.

 Chapter 287

    "Damn it!"

    He jumped into his car and tossed hisptop bag onto the passenger seat, barely caring where itnded.

    Sofia had been involved with Ratcliff Global and ckOak during the whole de project. She''d known from the beginning, so why had she never said that de was actually developed by ckOak?

    Now everything had blown up in his face, and he had no idea how he was supposed to exin any of this to his dad.

    Hank hadn''t even gotten back to Orion Tech before word spread that Matthew had kicked him out of ckOak. Before he could catch his breath, Bailey called him straight into his office.

    "Useless! You can''t even handle something this basic?"

    Bailey was furious, his anger practically vibrating in the air. Hank stood frozen, not daring to move as Bailey hurled a cup at his feet, hot tea sshing all over his pant leg.

    "Dad, this isn''t my fault. I had no idea Matthew cared so much about Reese.

    "We had everything worked out before, but when I saw Matthew, he wouldn''t even look at me.

    "Do you think Reese said something to him? Maybe she turned him against us.¡± There was no way Hank was going to admit he''d gone to ckOak and caused a scene just to defend Sofia. Instead, he dumped all the me on Reese.

    Bailey took a deep breath, trying to rein in his temper. He paused for a moment, then nodded. "You might be right. This probably has everything to do with Reese. That troublemaker!"

    He pulled out his phone, found Reese''s number, and hit call. The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up. Eventually, the call was cut off.

    Bailey''s face darkened. He called again, but this time all he got was a cold,

    automated message telling him the phone was turned off.

    Meanwhile, Reese was standing outside an old apartment building.

    She noticed Bailey''s call and, without thinking, switched her phone off.

    She''d finally managed to arrange a meeting with Alex. There was no way she was

    letting anyone¡ªespecially Bailey-mess this up.

    "Alex has been living here for a while," George said, standing next to her and

    squinting up at the run-down building. "Ready to go up?"

    Reese nodded. "Yeah. Let''s go."

    The stairwell smelled damp and moldy, making Reese wrinkle her nose. They stopped in front of a battered metal door, and begge George Knocked.

    There was some shuffling inside, then the door cracked open, revealing a wary, dark-skinned man.

    "Who are you looking for?"

    Reese took a deep breath, trying to sound calm. "Hi, we''re here to see Alex."

    Alex squinted at her, and the second he got a good look at Reese''s face, his eyes went wide. He tried to m the door shut.

    "You''ve got the wrong ce. I don''t know any Alex."

    "We wouldn''t be here if we hadn''t

    done our homework." George blocked the door with his foot and pushed tropen Reese caught the panicked look on Alex''s face.

    Alex stumbled back, staring at them in fear. "What do you want from me?"

    The worst mistake of his life had been taking that woman''s money-doing what she asked, and causing another woman''s death.

    Now, standing in front of him, this woman looked exactly like the one he''d helped kill all those years ago.

    Reese let him stare, then stepped closer, her eyes cold and sharp. "Alex, do you remember why you spent over a decade in prison?

    "Do you have any idea who was behind the overseas ount that wired you money?

    "You haven''t been out long, right?

    "Should I go to the police and tell them about the deal you made with Grace?"

    Alex''s eyes went huge with disbelief, and he started stammering, unable to get a word out.

    "You-you were just a kid back then. How do you even know any of this?"

    Reese''s eyes filled with tears of rage. She clenched her fists so tight

    her nails dug into her palms, fighting. the urge to throw herself at Alex.

    the wood throw herself at Ale

    Her mother''s death had never been an ident. Someone had made it happen.

 Chapter 288

    Grace was the one who paid for the hit. She bribed Alex to stage the car ident -the one that killed Mom.

    The second Alex caught the look in Reese''s eyes, he practically jumped back, his hands shaking. ¡°No, no, it wasn''t my fault! I swear!

    "It was Grace. She''s the one who killed your mother, not me!

    "She gave me a ton of money to cause that ident on Marie''s way to meet Bailey. She didn''t want them to see each other.

    "Yeah, I''d had a few drinks, but I never meant for anyone to die. I just wanted to damage the car a little. I didn''t even realize the brakes were messed with until I tried to stop!

    "Don''te after me. Go after Grace if you want revenge. She''s the one who had someone tamper with the brakes!

    "I''ve already spent more than ten years in prison for this. I paid my dues. Please, just leave me alone!"

    Reese''s voice was tight, every word dragged out through clenched teeth. "Why should I believe you? Where''s your proof?"

    She red at Alex, forcing herself not to break down. "You were behind the wheel. You hit her. She''s dead because of you. Why do you get to keep living?"

    "No, please! Don''t do this! Have mercy!"

    The moment their eyes met, Alex''s whole body went rigid. It was like he was right back in the nightmare he''d been running from for years.

    Cornered, he stumbled backward andnded hard on the coffee table. The jolt seemed to snap him out of his panic, and he nodded frantically.

    "I have proof! I swear, I do! It''s buried under the tree behind my old house in Greenville!

    "I recorded Grace when I confronted her. She admitted to ordering the brake sabotage. She told me to take the me and promised she''d take care of my family.

    "But after I went to prison, my wife got sick and died. My daughter doesn''t even speak to me anymore.

    "I''ve lost everything. I''m a victim too!"

    Reese and George exchanged a look-both of them realizing how serious this

    was.

    "You take us to that recording," Reese said, her voice ice-cold, "and agree to testify in court. I''ll talk to my client about letting you go."

    George stepped forward, crouched down in front of Alex, and handed him a business card.

    Alex took the card, and when he saw George was just awyer not some

    of

    kindster, he finally rxed a

    little He wiped the sweat from his forehead and tried to negotiate.

    "That''s not enough. If I give you that evidence, my charge goes from drunk driving to murder."

    Reese stared him down. "Isn''t that what you did?"

    "You think just because you served your time, I can''t put you right back inside?"

    "If you help me, maybe I''ll let you

    walk. If not..." She narrowed her

    eyes, her tone turning sharp

    "T

    me know thousand ways make your life a living hell

    "Oh, and you still have a daughter, right?"

    Reese tilted her head and gave Alex a chilling look. "If you don''t help me, I''ll make

    sure you and your daughter are reunited-and not in this world."

    Alex''s eyes flickered with something like hope. "You can find my daughter?"

    Reese raised an eyebrow. "Of course."

    "I''m working on some big projects with the government here in Bridger Lake. There''s nothing I can''t get done."

    She was bluffing, but Alex didn''t need to know that. All he saw was power-and a threat.

    He hesitated, then slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out an old, worn photo. It showed a girl, maybe ten or eleven, beaming at the camera.

    "I haven''t seen my daughter in over a decade. Let me see her, and the recording is yours."

    That was his only real regret not watching his daughter grow up.

    If he could see her, just once, he wouldn''t have any more regrets.

    "Her name''s Nicole. I heard she''s somewhere in Bridger Lake. That''s why I came here, but I couldn''t find her."

    Reese took the photo and stared

    down at the bright, smiling girl.

    There was something familiar about her but she just couldn''t ce where she''d seen her before.

 Chapter 289

    With Al tech and the police sketch artists, it wouldn''t be hard to figure out what the girl looked like now. Finding her shouldn''t be much of a problem.

    "I hope you mean what you say."

    "In ten days, call mywyer. I''ll let you see your daughter. If you don''t..." Reese''s voice dropped, her eyes narrowing in warning.

    "I will, I promise, I''ll call..." The words tumbled out in a rush.

    Satisfied, Reese managed a quick smile before turning to leave the stuffy little room. She didn''t let herself rx until she reached the stairwellnding, where she paused to press a hand over her racing heart.

    "Good job. You handled that like a pro," George said as he caught up with her at the corner, his tone reassuring. "If we really get our hands on the evidence he has, we can finally take Grace down."

    Reese tried to smile, though it came out a little shaky. "Did you get everything on tape?"

    George nodded. "All of it. But this recording won''t fly in court."

    She already knew that. Just because it couldn''t be used as evidence didn''t mean it was useless. That was why she''d gone so hard-mixing threats and promises until Alex said what needed to be said.

    "It''s fine. Send it to me. I''ve got a friend on the force. With this recording, he can at least open an investigation. We''ll find something solid."

    They climbed into the car and pulled away from the shabby apartment building. George checked the rearview mirror, his brow furrowing. ¡°We''re being followed."

    Reese twisted around. Sure enough, a ck sedan stuck to them, never more than thirty feet away. The windows were so tinted, it was impossible to see who was inside.

    "Grace''s people?" Reese''s nerves spiked.

    "Can''t say for sure, but they''re definitely not friendly."

    George kept his voice even, though his knuckles whitened on the wheel and his eyes flicked between the road and the mirror.

    "There''s an intersection up ahead-if I take a left, we''ll hit the old city alleys. Lots of turns, super narrow. Perfect for shaking a tail."

    He put on his blinker and eased the car toward the sidene. The ck sedan followed every move, glued to their bumper.

    At the intersection, the light turned red. George didn''t even hesitate. He jerked the wheel and mmed his foot on the gas. Tires screeched, people on the sidewalk jumped back with startled shouts.

    The car behind clearly hadn''t expected them to run the light. By the time the driver

    hit the gas, George was already tearing into the maze of backstreets.

    The alleys were tight and winding, some barely wider than their car. Buildings crowded in on both sides,undry dangling so low it almost brushed the roof.

    Reese clung to the door handle, her pulse thundering in her ears, the whole world reduced to the roar of the engine and the shriek of tires.

    She nced back. The ck sedan was stilling, scraping its side along a

    brick wall and leaving a long streak, but refusing to give up.

    Just then, George spotted a tiny sidene, only wide enough for one car, with some old cardboard boxes piled at the entrance. Without missing a beat he swung the wheel and floored it, the car squeezing through and sending boxes flying.

    The sedan behind hesitated a second too long. Its front end mmed into the wall

    with a heavy crunch, headlights exploding in a shower of ss.

    George kept going, weaving through three more alleys, then finally burst onto the main road and melted into traffic.

    "Looks like we lost them."

    Reese slumped against her seat, letting out a shaky breath. When she finally felt steady, she pulled out her phone, found Roman''s number, and sen over the recording along with the photos Alex had given her.

 Chapter 290

    Once the audio file and Nicole''s photo finished loading, Reese''s phone lit up. She took a steadying breath and answered the call.

    "Ms. Meyer, we''ve received the recording. With this evidence, I''ll be working with my colleagues to set up a special task force and reopen the investigation from back then," the officer said, voice crisp and professional. "We also got the documents you sent about Dylon shorting Ramos Corporation. The police have officiallyunched an investigation."

    When the call ended, Reese stared out the car window, watching the scenery blur by. She finally let out a shaky sigh.

    After the police reopened the case, it would be only a matter of time before the truth behind her mother''s ident came to light.

    Her phone rang again. Bailey''s name shed across the screen. Reese hesitated before picking up. Now that she''d tracked down Alex and uncovered the truth, she knew she owed the Meyer family a call-no matter howplicated things were.

    She barely had time to say hello before Bailey''s furious voice exploded through the line.

    "Reese, what the hell were you doing? Why didn''t you answer your phone?

    "Did you find out your brother and I were trying to win the civilian side of the de project? Did you go behind our backs and say something to the project lead? Is that why Vista Tech got rejected?

    "Do you just not want the Meyer family to seed?

    "As if it wasn''t enough that you caused your mother''s death-now you''re pretending to agree to have a second child with Sebastian just to get your hands on the Meyer shares, all while sabotaging Vista Tech''s de deal behind our backs!

    "Reese, what exactly are you after?"

    Reese blinked, stunned.

    She''d actually arranged for Matthew to meet Vista Tech''s representative today. But George had called that morning to say Grace''s people had left Alex''s ce, and Reese knew her window to meet Alex was closing fast. So she''d handed off the Vista Tech meeting to Matthew.

    She honestly had no idea Vista Tech was tied to the Meyer family.

    Thinking back to how Hank had made a scene at ckOak over Sofia, Reese realized Matthew must''ve figured things out and probably hadn''t treated Hank kindly. Now Bailey was calling, looking for someone to me.

    When Reese didn''t answer right away, Bailey doubled down, her anger rising.

    "I don''t care what you did, but you have three days to make this deal between Vista Tech and ckOak happen if you don''t, I don''t care if you''re pregnant with Sebastian''s child-you won''t see a single share your mother left you!"

    Reese''s lips curled into a bitter smile. Those shares were supposed to be her and Hank''s safety. her mother''s way of protecting them after discovering Bailey''s affair and Sofia''s existence. Now Bailey was using them as leverage.

    "Bailey, I didn''t even know Vista Tech was connected to the Meyer family. If I had,

    I never would''ve even set up that meeting for you.

    "If Vista Tech wants the de contract, fine. But you''d better prove you have what

    it takes. Oh, and get the share transfer agreement ready. Otherwise, there''s nothing to talk about."

    Bailey was caught off guard by her confidence. His voice rose, defensive. "Are you threatening me now?"

    But the de project meant everything for Vista Tech, and for the Meyer family''s future. He forced himself to calm down. Secure the partnership and get pregnant with Sebastian''s child, and I''ll transfer the shares to you. That''s my promise."

    Reese''sshes trembled. "Those shares were always meant for me. Mom left them for me," she said quietly.

    "You have no right to talk about her!" Bailey snapped.

    Marie''s death was the wound Bailey could never let heal. Hearing Reese mention her mother, something in him snapped. "If it hadn''t been for you, she''d still be alive!"

    Reese''s throat tightened. After a long silence, she finally spoke, voice barely above a whisper. "All these years, you''ve ignored me. Is it because you''ve always believed I was the reason Mom died?

    "What if... what if I told you it wasn''t me? Would you regret how you''ve treated me all these years?"

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    "Enough!" Bailey''s patience snapped. He cut her off, voice sharp. "Don''t start making excuses. And don''t you dare try to guilt me using your mom.

    "Just get it done. Even if you really were the reason Marie died, I''ll give you the shares, just like she wanted."

    Reese closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. She knew even if she told him the truth right now, Bailey wouldn''t believe her. She was done trying to convince him. Without another word, she ended the call.

    She couldn''t help but wonder-if he ever found out the truth, that it was Grace who caused their mother''s death, how would he react? Would he finally see Grace and her daughter for who they were? Or would he keep treating Sofia like his precious little girl?

    Either way, Reese was determined to im the shares her mother left her. No way was she letting Grace and Sofia walk away with them.

    With that thought, she turned to George. "Can you take me back to ckOak?" Thirty minutester, she was back in the ckOak R&Db.

    Matthew was there, organizing thest of de''s data. When he saw Reese, he smiled. "How''d it go? Did you see him?"

    "It went pretty well," Reese said, nodding as she walked over to check the numbers on his screen.

    "You ran into Hank today?"

    Matthew''s expression shifted, darkening for a second. So she knew. Was the Meyer family causing trouble again?

    "Yeah, I did. I told them no on the Vista Tech deal," he said. "I looked into their tech¡ªthere are way too many holes in their core algorithm. They can''t handle de. Not even close." He handed Reese a folder. "Here''s the report."

    He''d called Hank out in front of everyone partly because of what Hank had done to Reese over Sofia, but also because the evidence was clear. Vista Tech just wasn''t up to the task.

    Reese took the file and set it aside without even looking at it. When it came to work, she trusted Matthewpletely. She knew he wouldn''t mess around. Still...

    "What''s up? Are you actually thinking about working with them?" Matthew asked, picking up on her hesitation. "Why?"

    "Bailey is using my mom''s shares to force me into the deal," Reese admitted, "I figured, if we could work with them, I''d agree for now, just until get the shares. But since they''re not qualified, I''m not going to push it."

    She couldn''t let apany like Vista Tech get their hands on de. She and Matthew had built this system from the ground up-it was like their own creation.

    If they were going to coborate, it had to be with someone worthy.

    Matthew saw the conflict in her eyes and felt a pang of sympathy. He thought for a moment. ¡°There''s actually a way we can y this.

    "We could agree to the partnership, but put in the contract that if Vista Tech can''t actually support de, they''re responsible for any fallout de isn''t even on the market yet, so you''d have time to settle things with your family and get your shares. Then, once they inevitably fail, we end the deal because their

    tech isn''t up to par.

    "That way, the Meyer family can''t me you, and de can go to someone who actually deserves it."

    Reese stared at him, a little surprised.

    Matthew, catching her look, rubbed his nose, suddenly sheepish. "What? You think I''m being too sneaky?"

    She shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "No, actually¡ªit''s a great idea."

    "Are you sure it''s not too much trouble for you?" she asked. With her n to draw out Leslie, she''d be away from ckOak for a while. That would leave most of the work on him.

    "Trouble?" Matthew looked at her,

    amusement flickering in his eyes. He

    couldn''t help but find her concern

    adorable. Heughed softly and

    when Reese nced at him, he quickly changed the subject

    "Anyway, how''s it going with Ramos Corporation?"

 Chapter 292

    "Sounds good." Reese couldn''t help but think of Karter as soon as Ramos Corporation was brought up. ¡°I managed to buy out some of the shareholders, but the rest of the shares were scooped up by a guy named Karter."

    "I''d never heard of him back in Bridger Lake and have no clue who''s behind him, but he poured a ton of money into Ramos Corporation. Things have finally stabilized a bit.

    "And now, with Iron Financial and Cameron getting roasted by public opinion, all that cklisting they tried to do just turned into free advertising for Ramos Corporation.

    ¡°I just wish I knew what Karter''s backer actually wants..."

    Matthew''s eyes flickered. He lifted his coffee and took a slow sip, masking any reaction. "Who cares, as long as they''re taking care of the problem. Don''t overthink it."

    "Yeah, you''re right." Reese nodded. "Did you tell n about Leslie?"

    Since she''d decided to get personally involved, she needed every detail sorted before de officiallyunched.

    "Mm, I did." A trace of regret shed in Matthew''s eyes. "He said he''d spread the word about your resignation from ckOak as soon as possible."

    Once Reese left ckOak, he''d hardly get to see her anymore.

    "I''ve lined up the hospital and doctor, too."

    ¡°Perfect.¡± Reese paused, thinking things through. "Then I won''t being back to ckOak starting tomorrow. I''ll leave things here to you."

    "If it gets to be too much, let me know. I can help out with Annie."

    Matthew''s eyes brightened. That was the perfect excuse to see her more often. "Deal."

    As dusk settled, Reese stepped out of ckOak, ncing at the hospital address and doctor''s contact info Matthew had written out for her. Everything was organized down to thest detail-even the doctor''s specialty and appointment process were clear as day.

    She took a deep breath and called Sebastian.

    Sebastian was sitting at the head of a conference table on the top floor, listening to a market evaluation report for the de project. As soon as the name Reese popped up on his phone, the icy look in his eyes faded. He lifted his hand, cutting off the report mid-sentence. Let''s pause here. We''ll pick up in ten minutes."

    He was already out the door before he''d finished speaking.

    "What''s up? Why are you calling me now?" His voice had lost its usual distance and sounded unexpectedly gentle.

    "I''ve left ckOak," Reese said evenly. "I''ve sorted out the hospital and the doctor. When do you want to go in for IVF?"

    ¡°That fast?¡± Sebastian had thought she''d drag her feet, not jump right in.

    "We don''t have time to waste. Robbie''s condition can''t wait." It was the best reason Reese could think of.

    Sebastian swallowed. Did this mean she still cared about their son? Maybe there was still hope for the two of them.

    "Tomorrow, then?" He nced at Brady, signaling him to clear tomorrow''s schedule. He couldn''t wait to see her.

    "Okay."

    Once the n was set, Reese hung up.

    Sebastian stared at his darkened phone screen, the corners of his mouth lifting. He called Jane, told her about the hospital appointment, and asked her to get everything at. home ready-just in case Reese needed to stay during the

    pregnancy.

    Listening to Sebastian''s barely contained excitement, Jane rolled her eyes, but she couldn''t help feeling happy herself. She''d been wishing every day that Reese would agree to the pregnancy, so she could finally leave ckOak and finish the job Leslie had given her.

    With that in mind, she dialed Leslie.

    "Reese has left ckOak. You can destroy those photos of that woman now, right?"

    ¡°Sure,¡± Leslie replied, her voice calm butced with a subtle hint of mockery.

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    Jane didn''t even pick up on the sarcasm. She just felt this huge weight finally drop from her chest and let out a cold snort. "Don''t call me again. And don''t even think about using those photos to ckmail me into helping you. I''m done."

    She hung up, dropped her phone on the coffee table, and slumped into the couch, finally able to breathe easy. At least now she had some time to deal with the evidence Reese was holding over her.

    Meanwhile, over at Big X''s office, Leslie tossed her phone onto her desk, her face dark with frustration as she read thetest update. There were so many ways to force Reese out of ckOak, but that idiot Jane had to suggest getting Reese pregnant with another of Sebastian''s kids as an excuse to leave.

    Even if Leslie had given up on marrying Sebastian, they went way back. How could she just stand by and watch Reese give Sebastian not just Robbie, but another child? That was a p in the face.

    "Reese, you really know how to y the game," Leslie muttered. "One minute you''re threatening to divorce Sebastian, the next you''re agreeing to have another baby with him. If that isn''t ying hard to get, what is?"

    She''d seen through Reese from the start. Reese never really wanted to leave Sebastian, or the Ratcliff family. Who in Bridger Lake''s social circle could evenpare to him?

    Back then, Leslie had risked her life to save Sebastian from being kidnapped, even taking a hit for him. And still, Mr. Ratcliff never gave his blessing for her to enter the family. But Reese just breezed in like it was nothing.

    The thought made Leslie''s chest tighten with resentment. Why did Reese get to be the one to have Sebastian''s children?

    She forced herself to calm down, taking a long breath before picking her phone back up. She scrolled to Sebastian''s number, hesitated for a second, then pressed call.

    "Yeah?" Sebastian was workingte, trying to clear his desk so he could spend time with Reese tomorrow. When he saw Leslie''s name, he paused, frowning, his voice instantly cool and distant. "What is it?"

    All he felt for Leslie nowadays was a sense of responsibility, maybe a bit of guilt-nothing else. Sure, she''d saved his life and lost her ability to have kids because of it. He''d kept his promise to her even going behind Reese''s back to have their embryo imnted in Re¨¦se. He''d even helped her out by forcing a partnership between Big X and ckOak.

    But he''d paid the price for all that-his rtionship with Reese had nearly fallen apart. Now, things were finally getting better. Reese was willing to have aner child for Robbie''s sake, and he wasn''t about to let Leslie mess that up again.

    "I heard Ms. Meyer quit. Is she really going to have another baby with you?" Leslie''s voice trembled, like she was trying not to cry, but her face was calm. The hatred she felt for Reese was hidden deep.

    ¡°Sebastian, I really envy her. Sometimes I wonder if I''ll ever get to be a mom."

    Sebastian''s grip on the papers tightened until they wrinkled. He knew everything Leslie had given up, and that was why he''d always gone easy on her. But that didn''t mean she could keep interfering in his life. His tone turned colder.

    "That''s my personal affair. I told you before-I''m already looking for a surrogate for you overseas. As soon as I find the right one, you''ll have your child. You don''t need to involve Reese anymore."

    "But when will you find one?" Leslie''s

    voice softened. "Even if you do, I

    don''t have many eggs left. If something goes wrong, I''ll never get to be a mother Sebastian, cant you find a way to use Reese as a surrogate one more time? You know she''s the best choice."

 Chapter 294

    When Leslie spoke, Sebastian''s brow twitched. He stared down at the stack of paperwork on his desk, barely hiding his irritation.

    "Leslie."

    His deep voice echoed through the empty office, sharper and colder than she''d ever heard before. "You know exactly who you are and what lines you shouldn''t cross."

    He wasn''t about to make the same mistake twice.

    "Sebastian, I just want a child," Leslie said, her voice tight with frustration after a few seconds of silence. "Back then, I gave up my chance to be a mother for you. Can''t you at least-"

    "That''s enough." Sebastian cut her off, his warning clear as day. "I told you I''m already looking for a surrogate. Don''t guilt-trip me with the past, and don''t even think about involving Reese."

    He set his pen down and nced at the photo of Reese he''d just ced on his desk, determination shing in his eyes.

    "She''s my wife. I won''t let anyone hurt her. Not even you. If it''s not urgent, don''t call me again."

    He didn''t wait for another word. Sebastian hung up, tossed his phone onto the desk, and the sharp smack as itnded shattered the silence. Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Reese had finally agreed, for Robbie''s sake, to try for another child. He wasn''t about to let Leslie mess that up again.

    Leslie listened to the dial tone, her face darkening.

    "Reese!¡± she spat, teeth grinding, eyes filled with spite. "I really underestimated you. All that drama about leaving him, and it was just a trick to get him back on your side."

    She got up and went to the massive windows, yanking the heavy curtains aside. The city lights below shimmered, their glow reflecting against the ss and painting twisted shadows across her face. But none of that light reached her eyes. Only stormy darkness remained.

    He''d once agreed without hesitation to let Reese be her surrogate. Now, he shot

    her down just as easily.

    She''d given up on marrying

    Sebastian the moment she''d

    followed Mr. Ratcliff''s orders and

    left him. Still, the way Sebastian now defended Reese, the cold warning every word, left her seething.

    "Don''t get toofortable," she muttered at the city lights. "This isn''t over."

    Across town,

    n in the

    heart of the city, Tara curled up in the corner of an Italian leather sofa, barely noticing the cashmere nket slipping off her shoulders. She looked around at the home she and Zach had poured their hearts into limited edition paintings on the walls, a crystal vase on the coffee table, even the pattern on the rug was a piece of their story.

    The more she looked, the sadder she felt.

    She hadn''t seen Zach since he''d left the hospital. Calls and texts were met with silence.

    Suddenly, her phone rang, the sound cutting through the quiet house and making her jump. She scrambled to grab it and saw Rosie''s name on the screen. Dread crawled up Tara''s spine.

    "Tara! Your dad-he''s been taken by the police!"

    "Mom, slow down. Tell me what happened," Tara said, her voice shaking as she heard her mother''s sobs. "Did they say why?"

    "They said it was about him shorting Ramos Corporation''s stock!" Rosie cried, her panic spilling through the line as she remembered the police showing up and taking Dylon away.

 Chapter 295

    "The police said someone reported him and the evidence was solid. They just took Dad away, no questions asked!"

    "I know it was Reese. That snake has been gathering evidence for ages. She went quiet for so long I actually thought she''d let it go, but clearly not..."

    "Mom, please, calm down. Crying isn''t going to help." Tara bit the inside of her cheek, trying to force herself to stay steady. "Right now, we need to figure out how to get Dad out."

    "Reach out to the Ramos Corporation shareholders. Maybe they''ll testify for us, exin what really happened. Just say Reese faked all that evidence. Dad was only trying to stabilize the stock price, not mess with it..."

    "I already did. It''s useless." Rosie''s voice sounded hollow, defeated. "Reese bought out all their shares a few days ago. She forced them out of thepany.

    "Now they''re all scrambling to protect themselves. None of them would dare speak up for us.

    "And it gets worse. Josh and Cameron are caught up in this too. The police took them in along with Dad.

    "Anyone who wasn''t implicated is avoiding me altogether. They keep saying they can''t help even if they wanted to." Rosie''s voice broke, her crying getting louder. "I tried calling our business partners for help. Not a single person even picked up. Some sent people over to pay penalties to break their contracts, just so they''d have an excuse to cut ties.

    "Tara, what are we supposed to do now?"

    Tara felt her face drain of color. Those business deals had only ever happened because of the Ratcliff family name and Zach. Now that everything was falling apart, Zach hadn''te after them, but he hadn''t lifted a finger to help either. The Ratcliffs had totally disappeared. Of course everyone was pulling away. None of that surprised her.

    What did surprise her was how fast Reese had put all this together. She''d found evidence against not just Dad, but the shareholders too.

    "After all the years we raised Reese, how can she be so heartless?" Rosie sobbed. "You can''t even have children because of all this, and she still wants to ruin uspletely. Doesn''t she care at all?

    "She''s just an ungrateful brat. If I''d known, I''d have left her in that orphanage instead of taking her in!"

    Those words "can''t even have children"-wrapped around Tara''s chest like a vice, crushing her from a the inside out. She stared nkly at the antique vases by the door, her mind spinning What was she supposed to do now? Was there even anything left to try?

    "Tara, are you still there? Say something! Don''t scare me!" Rosie''s panic was rising again. "Why don''t you callzach? Ask him for help the steps in, the partners will conte back, and he can talk to the police! He''s the only one who can fix this."

    The fact that Zach hadn''te after her family had given Tara just a sliver of hope. She clung to it even though she knew better.

    "I''m here," Tara said quietly. She leaned back, closed her eyes, and dug her nails into her palms, trying to ground herself with the pain helped a little, but not much.

    Zach wasn''t going to help.

    "Don''t worry, Mom. I''ll figure something out."

    Tara hung up and, after a moment''s hesitation, tried calling Zach.

    "The number you have dialed is not in service. Please try againter.¡±

    He''d blocked her.

    Whatever hope she had left vanished. Tears blurred her vision as her phone slipped from her hands andnded with a dull thud on the sofa.

    "Zach... how could you do this to me..."

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    Tara''s voice shook with tears, her whole body trembling. "After everything I''ve done for you, how could you just pick Reese over me?"

    She grabbed a throw pillow from the sofa and mmed it onto the floor, watching it bounce once beforending in silence. Then she slumped back onto the couch, tears streaming down her cheeks, her heart aching with loneliness.

    Right now, the only people who could possibly help the Ramos family were the Ratcliffs and Zach. But Zach had already blocked her everywhere. And as for the Ratcliffs, who could she even ask?

    Then she remembered-Leslie.

    Leslie had once saved Sebastian''s life. To repay her, Sebastian had even risked the entire Ratcliff Global empire, forcing ckOak and Big X into a partnership. If Leslie was willing to speak up now, maybe Sebastian would actually listen.

    Clinging to that hope, Tara wiped her face, found Leslie''s number, and hit call.

    On the other end, Leslie''s brow furrowed when she saw Tara''s name on the screen. She sighed, annoyed. Ate-night call from Tara could only mean more drama. She considered ignoring it, but the phone just kept ringing.

    Finally, she picked up, voice cool and a little fake. "Ms. Ramos, sorry, I was in the shower and just saw your call. Is something wrong? It''s prettyte."

    "Leslie, sorry to bother you," Tara said, swallowing her pride. She could hear the impatience in Leslie''s voice, but she had no choice. She quickly exined that Dylon had just been arrested.

    "I was hoping you could reach out to Mr. Ratcliff, maybe ask him to help us."

    Leslie''s eyes shed with

    annoyance, her tone turning sharp. "That''s not really possible, Ms. Ramos. Everyone knows you''re on Reese''s bad side these days. And since she and Sebastian are nning for a second baby, I doubt anyone could convince him to help you," she said bluntly.

    "That''s ridiculous!" Tara shot back. "She was just threatening to divorce him after finding out he secretly used another woman''s embryo. She even had the baby terminated Why would she want another child with him now? That doesn''t make any sense!"

    Tara had been the first to uncover that secret. She knew exactly what had happened. No woman would ever agree to have another baby with a man who betrayed her like that. It just didn''t add up.

    Leslie''s eyes went wide, her

    thoughts spinning. She''d always assumed Reese had ended the pregnancy to punish Sebastian or try to get him back, which exined her sudden willingness to try again. But if Beese had actually known the baby wasn''t hers, that changed everything.

    So why would Reese agree to another child? Was it for the shares Mr. Ratcliff left her, or was something else going on?

    "Leslie?" Tara''s voice finally broke the silence, anxious and desperate. "Even if Sebastian won''t help, you''re smart. There has to be something you can do, right?"

    Leslie arched an eyebrow, her voice cool. "I think you''ve got the wrong idea about how much power I have, Ms. Ramos..."

    "Leslie!" Tara snapped, her patience gone. "You have to help me. I know the truth about how Mr. Ratcliff died.

    "If you don''t help me get my dad out of jail, I''ll tell Sebastian everything. I''ll tell him you''re the one who murdered his grandfather."

    Leslie let out a dry, mockingugh, finally dropping the polite act. "You really think you can threaten me with that? I only got into Mr. Ratcliff''s hospital room because your family helped me. Don''t forget¡ªyou''re just as involved in this as I am."

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    Jane''s words echoed in Leslie''s mind. Reese had already quit ckOak, made arrangements at the hospital, and tomorrow she and Sebastian were starting medical tests. Leslie changed the subject.

    "But Reese really is nning on having a second baby with Sebastian.

    "If Sebastian really did those things to her, there''s no way she wants this kid for real. She has to be up to something.

    "Doesn''t your mom''s side of the family have connections in the medical world? I''m sure you know people at all the big hospitals.

    "Instead of threatening me, maybe you should find out what Reese is really after.

    "Once you figure it out, you can tell the Ratcliff family everything. Or use it to negotiate with Reese-maybe she''ll back off your family."

    Tara felt a spark of hope. Leslie actually made sense.

    "I got it."

    She hung up. Leslie''s eyes turned cold.

    You brought this on yourself, Reese.

    Whatever Reese was plotting, it was obvious she never meant to actually have another child with Sebastian. Tara would dig up the truth soon enough. And when that happened, Leslie smirked, let''s see how Reese exins it to the Ratcliffs. Sebastian hated nothing more than being lied to.

    With a scandal like this, Reese would have toe back to ckOak sooner orter. de was in its final development phase; they needed her.

    Leslie knew she had to make her move now. Once Reese was back and on guard, her shot at getting de''s core data would be gone.

    She grabbed her phone without hesitating and dialed an encrypted number.

    When the call connected, she kept her voice low, tinged with urgency and steel. "It''s me. Start the job I mentioned. Don''t wait.

    "And remember-keep it clean. No traces. No one can know it''s us.

    "If you screw this up, you know what will happen."

    A voice on the other end, masked and robotic, replied, "Understood. We won''t let you down."

    It was well past midnight, but the lights in ckOak''s R&Db were still zing.

    Matthew lounged in his chair, fingers flying over the keyboard, the ck of keys rapid fire in the silent room. Multiple monitors glowed before him-one showed thepan

    streamed live security footage, and the third disyed an encrypted

    interface for the de project''s core

    data.

    "I gave Leslie too much credit," Matthew muttered, rubbing his tired eyes. "She

    isn''t bold enough to go for it this soon."

    He had set this trap for weeks, just waiting for Leslie to bite.

    Suddenly, red warning lights began shing across the server racks, apanied by a shrill rm. On his main screen, a giant red alert window popped up.  fo

    "WARNING! Unknown IP detected. Attempting to breach firewall!"

    A tiny red dot skittered across thework map, darting past defense protocols and hammering away at the firewall''s weak spots. Whoever was behind this was good-really good. In just minutes, they''d already broken through two securityyers. and were getting dangerously close to the core server.

    Matthew narrowed his eyes and sped up his typing. The sharp tter echoed through theb.

    "So you finally showed up. You want de''s core data? Not a chance. Let''s see you try to walk away from this."

 Chapter 298

    Matthew hit the button to silence the ring rm, his fingers flying over the keyboard. On the main screen, a red dot-marking the intruder-had already wormed its way through thest firewall.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± he muttered. Too bad they picked the wrong guy to mess with.

    He let out a low chuckle and tapped a key. Instantly, his carefully crafted data trap sprang open. A fake "ess Granted" window shed on the screen, and a transfer bar rocketed from ten percent, to fifty, then ny-nine, and finally to a hundred.

    The red dot froze for a moment, then darted back the way it came, clearly thinking it had scored and now rushing to deliver the "core data" home.

    If only they knew. In those few seconds, Matthew had already attached a Trojan program-one he''d pieced together just for Leslie-hidden in fragments at the end of the file. It wouldn''t just log the IP and time every time someone opened it. It would also quietly switch on theputer''s camera and snap a photo of whoever was sitting there.

    As soon as Leslie opened it, everything would be uploaded straight to the encrypted server at the national security bureau.

    "You''re not getting away," Matthew murmured, as he finished thest bit of code. A green "Sync Sessful" popped up at the bottom corner of his screen.

    Now all he had to do was wait for Leslie to take the bait. Then the authorities would have all the evidence they needed to nail her for stealing ssified files.

    And the files themselves? Totally fake.

    Matthew leaned back, rubbing his tired temples. He thought back to what he''d overheard when he helped the national security team nab that Big X executive.

    "Ratcliff Global''s CEO personally vouched for Big X''s director here. Swore she''d never leak state secrets," someone had said. "So even though we''re suspicious of Leslie, we can''t do anything without hard proof.¡±

    Matthew remembered Sebastian''s history with Leslie and couldn''t help but scoff. "Guess my brother is loyal to a fault." Loyal to the wrong person, anyway. He''d had Reese and didn''t know how lucky he was, hurting her over and over for Leslie.

    Well, that was over now. Matthew wasn''t about to let anyone hurt Reese again.

    His expression softened as he picked up his phone and texted her.

    "Mission''s done. Bait''s out. Don''t worry."

    Reese didn''t see the message until the next morning. Knowing Leslie would soon be caught, and that this danger would finally be gone, made her feel lighter about the thought of seeing Sebastian again.

    She smiled and texted back.

    "Thank you. Take care of yourself and get some rest. I''ll pick up Annie this afternoon, so don''t worry."

    Reese stretched, got out of bed, and started getting ready. When she opened her door, she was surprised to find Brady waiting outside.

    ¡°Ma''am, Mr. Ratcliff asked me to pick you up," he said.

    "Thanks, Brady," Reese replied, giving him a nod, though she couldn''t help feeling a little amused. Last time she''d done IVF with

    Sebastian, there was definitely no special treatment like this

    At the hospital, Sebastian was already waiting, holding a pale thermos. As soon

    as she stepped out of the car, he hurried over.

    "Reese, you''re here," he said softly. He lifted the thermos a little. "I had the kitchen make you some chicken soup. I told them to add extra ginger, just how you like it.

    "You can have it for breakfast after your blood test."

    Reese nced at the thermos and instantly remembered that day in the hospital, how he''d just stood there while Robbie grabbed the so

    Millie

    had made for her. The memory was bitter and almost funny.

    "No, thanks,¡± she said, not even looking at him as she walked straight inside.

    Sebastian watched her go, his grip tightening on the thermos. His face darkened with disappointment, but he followed her in.

 Chapter 299

    Reese signed in under the doctor''s name Matthew gave her. The reproductive clinic was quiet that morning, so the wait was short. Before long, their number was called.

    Inside the exam room, Dr. Bruce took the file from Reese and pushed up his gold- rimmed sses, giving her a friendly smile. He flipped through her chart, asked a few routine questions about how she''d been feelingtely, then started filling out the paperwork for some tests.

    When they left the office, Sebastian nced back at the doctor, then at Reese, who hadn''t shown a single emotion the whole time.

    "Reese, do you know that doctor?" he asked.

    She didn''t look up from the list of tests. "First time meeting him."

    "Then why wouldn''t you go to the hospital I picked?" Sebastian frowned. This was a military hospital, not a specialized fertility clinic, and he didn''t trust it was as good.

    Reese stopped walking and turned to face him, her expression dripping with sarcasm. "What, you don''t think this ce is professional enough?

    "Sebastian,st time we did IVF, we went to the specialist clinic you arranged. The doctors there were top-notch, right? And what happened?" She paused, her voice cold. "Their professionalism was for you-not me.

    "As far as I''m concerned, any doctor or hospital that isn''t arranged by you is professional enough for me."

    Sebastian was stunned. He watched her turn and walk away, then hurried after her. "Reese, I messed up before. I wasn''t thinking straight, and I never should''ve done what I did."

    "Just trust me this onest time. I promise, it won''t be like before."

    "Nope," Reese said tly. In her mind, Sebastian''s trust ount was already overdrawn.

    She walked into theb, handed over her paperwork, and sat by the window, rolling up her sleeve for bloodwork.

    A nurse took a seat on the other side, picking up a needle. As she grabbed Reese''s arm, Reese instinctively turned her head away. She hated needles- shots, IVs, blood draws, all of it.

    Sebastian noticed and stepped in, blocking her view. His voice was tense. "Please be gentle. She''s afraid of needles."

    The nurse hesitated for a moment, a little startled by his intensity.

    "Don''t mind him," Reese said, pushing Sebastian aside and giving the nurse a small, apologetic smile.

    Sebastian wasn''t used to being shut out like this. He looked embarrassed, like he wanted to argue, but Reese ignored him, closing her eyes and bracing herself for the prick of the needle.

    The needle slid in. Her fingers curled

    for a second, then rxed. She opened her eyes and saw Sebastian standing over her, his face full of worry The irony almost made her

    the start, maybe the ''t have

    ended up like this.

    Back when she''d done IVF before, she''d gone through every appointment alone-the checkups the hormone shots, even the egg retrieval. Sebastian only started showing up afte imnted, suddenly eager to join her for every prenatal visit. Back then, she''d stupidly thought he was finally making time for her, that maybe the baby would save them.

    3 the embryo had...

    But the truth was, he only cared about the baby-a baby that wasn''t even hers.

    Now, everything was flipped.

    Sebastian was the one desperately

    trying to win her back, trying to act

    like he cared. But she didn''t want

    him anymore. She didn''t want & child, either. This was just her way make everyone believe she was pregnant, so Leslie woule make a move and she could finally im the Meyer family shares her mother left behind.

    Sebastian''s feelings didn''t matter. Not to her.

    "All done,¡± the nurse said, pulling out the needle and handing Reese a cotton ball. "Keep pressure on it for five minutes. Don''t rub."

    Sebastian immediately reached out to help, but Reese ignored him, bending her arm and holding the cotton ball herself.

    "You''re up next," she said, ncing at the forms. "Let''s get this over with. We still have more tests to do."

 Chapter 300

    Sebastian let out a long breath, forcing down the frustration that threatened to spill out, and sat quietly across from her icy silence.

    Two hourster, after all the exams were finally over, they found themselves back in Dr. Bruce''s office.

    "The results will be avable on the hospital app within forty-eight hours," Dr. Bruce said, ncing up from hisputer. "From what I can see so far, Ms. Meyer is in good health. If nothing unexpectedes up, you can start the hormone shots next week."

    Sebastian nodded and looked over at Reese. "I''lle with you next week."

    Reese didn''t even spare him a nce. Honestly, she''d rather he didn''te at all. She had no intention of going through with the injections anyway. "That''s fine. I cane by myself."

    She threw a quick look at Dr. Bruce, catching the almost-invisible nod that told her Matthew had already filled him in. She smiled politely, then turned to leave.

    Sebastian''s lips parted, but the words got stuck in his throat. Disappointment flickered in his eyes, quickly slipping into guilt. He knew he''d hurt her deeply before. He wanted nothing more than to make things right. Why wouldn''t Reese just give him a chance?

    After they walked out, Dr. Bruce started tidying up their files. There was a knock at the door, and the hospital''s deputy director, Jon, came in with a file in hand and a wide grin.

    "Busy, Dr. Nace?" Jon asked. "That couple who just left were here for IVF, right?" "Yeah. Their health looks good. If all goes smoothly, they''ll start treatment next month." Bruce shot Jon a look, trying to signal that he was busy.

    Jon either didn''t notice or pretended not to. His eyes darted to the files stacked on the desk. "The woman''s name is Reese, isn''t it?

    "I recognized her from the news. There is this whole scandal with Iron Financial''s

    CEO''s fianc¨¦e and her miscarriage. I remember seeing her picture.

    "And the guy is the CEO of Ratcliff Global, right? I had no idea they were married."

    "That''s confidential, Jon. You''re a doctor-you know the hospital''s rules." Bruce cut him off, closing the file and letting his patience run

    "If you don''t have anything else, I

    need to get back to work."

    Jon just smiled, unfazed by the cold shoulder. "Of course. I won''t keep you. By the way, I''ve finished checking the inventory for the ovtion meds you asked about."

    "Thanks," Bruce replied curtly.

    As soon as Jon left Bruce''s office, he pulled out his phone and sent a quick text.

    [Confirmed. Reese and the CEO of Ratcliff Global are doing IVF at the military hospital. They finished their physicals this morning.]

    Satisfied, Jon tucked his phone away, a sly grin spreading across his face. He didn''t really know why the Barnard family was so obsessed with finding out where Reese was knew this

    going IVE but here tel

    would pay off. They''d promised him a fat stack of cash and a promotion if he kept tabs on Reese. Easy money. All he had to do was keep an eye on her-no real risk involved.

    Meanwhile, over at the Ramos family house, Rosie stared at the text from Jon in shock. She grabbed her phone and hurried over to Tara.

    "Tara, we found out which hospital Reese is using!"

    Tara sat up straight, shrugging off her cashmere nket, and took the phone from Rosie. As she read, a cold, calcting look shed in her eyes.

    "That''s perfect," she said. "Have someone keep watch. There''s no way she actually wants to have Sebastian''s baby. Something''s up. We just need to find out what.

    "If we get something on her, we can force her to drop the charges and let Dad go.¡± Rosie nodded, already tapping out a message. "I''ll have Jon look into it right away."

    "Wait," Tara said, her voice low and

    sharp. "Maybe we can tell Jon to fake a medical report. Make it say Reese''s health won''t allow her to get pregnant or that it would be way too risky if she tried."

 Chapter 301

    "That way, Sebastian will see for himself that she never nned on having another kid. Let''s see how she exins that to the Ratcliff family."

    Rosie''s eyes lit up. "Tara, you''re brilliant. I''ll tell Jon right away."

    Outside the hospital, Reese turned down Sebastian''s offer to grab lunch and waved down a cab. As soon as she slid into the back seat, her phone started buzzing. Bailey''s name shed on the screen. She hesitated for a moment, finger hovering over the answer button, then finally picked up.

    "Reese, have you talked to ckOak''s execs? When are we getting de''s civilian contract?" Bailey''s tone was sharp, barely hiding his irritation.

    "I''m telling you, this project is everything for the Meyer family. The bank loan already came through and we''re bleeding interest every month. If you keep dragging this out, I''ll make sure you eat the cost."

    "I quit ckOak," Reese replied, her voice even.

    "You what?" Bailey''s voice shot up, almost yelling. "Who told you that you could quit? The contract isn''t even signed yet. How could you do this?"

    "Reese, I''m warning you. Screw this up and you can forget about your mother''s shares."

    Reese let out a silent, bitterugh. Threatening her with those shares was the only trick Bailey ever had.

    "I already spoke to ckOak''s senior team. Matthew agreed to keep talks open with Vista Tech. They''ll reach out when they''re ready to meet. Just wait for their call."

    Bailey''s tone softened, a little skeptical. "Really?" He didn''t buy that Reese could still pull strings at ckOak, especially after quitting.

    "Of course." Reese let a small, confident smile slip. Getting those shares from her mother was a non-negotiable part of her n. No way she''d let anything mess it up.

    "What''s going on between you and Matthew? Why would he listen to you?" Bailey sounded uneasy. "Don''t forget, you''re still Mrs. Ratcliff. Don''t go doing anything stupid."

    "You''re reading way too much into this," Reese said, her voice cool. "Matthew and I are just coworkers. That''s it."

    And partners in battle, she thought to herself.

    "Then why is he listening to you?" Bailey pushed. "And why''d you quit out of nowhere?"

    Reese wasn''t about to tell him that de was something she and Matthew built together. "We worked together a lot built some trust. He''s

    X to give Vista Tech

    another shot because of that."

    "As for why I quit..." She paused for effect. "Weren''t you the one who wanted me

    to have another kid with Sebastian, so I could get my inheritance?"

    "I had to quit to focus on getting pregnant."

    "Pregnant?¡± For the first time, Bailey sounded surprised¡ªand a little hopeful. "Seriously?"

    "Of course," Reese said, looking out the window at the city shing by. "Sebastian and I just left the hospital. We had some tests done. Ask him if you don''t believe me."

    "And don''t forget to get the share transfer papers ready."

    "Good, good." The mention of Sebastian seemed to put Bailey at ease. His tone softenedpletely. "Take care of yourself then. I''m looking forward to the baby."

    "Once you''re expecting and Vista Technds the de contract, I''ll transfer your mother''s shares to you. With those, you''ll finally have something to fall back on. The Ratcliffs won''t be able to look down on you anymore."

    Reese let out a coldugh. Something to fall back on? The only person she could

    ever count on was herself.

    ¡°Got it. I''ll let you know if there''s any news."

    She hung up and stared out at the city racing past, her eyes cold and distant Bailey said he''d already taken out a loan tounch the de project Her lips curled into sly, almost cruel smile.

    "So what if you get the de contract, Bailey?

    "With Vista Tech''s tech, do you really think you can handle it?

    "When your dreams crash and burn, don''te ming me."

 Chapter 302

    Reese never actually nned to go through with the IVF, so she hadn''t bothered checking her medical report at all. When Sebastian called, she was at home, using a photo Alex sent to digitally age Nicole''s face and see what she might look like as an adult.

    She picked up the phone, still absently rolling her stylus between her fingers as the software slowly brought Nicole''s features into focus. There was something strangely familiar about the woman''s eyes, but Reese just couldn''t remember where she''d seen them before.

    "What''s up?" she said, not looking away from her screen.

    "Reese, we''re still married. What have you been up totely? How did you catch something like this?" Sebastian''s voice was tight, barely holding back his anger.

    Reese frowned,pletely lost. "Catch what? What are you talking about?"

    "Didn''t you see your medical report?" Sebastian was practically crushing his phone in his hand. "Or is this what you wanted all along? You agreed to the tests just to let me know you''ve moved on, hoping I''d finally give up and agree to a divorce?

    "Don''t even think about it, Reese. Who is it? Matthew, or is it Zach?"

    That was it. Reese''s patience snapped. The way he fired off questions felt like being hit with a hail of bullets. Her voice turned cold. "What the hell are you even using me of?"

    Sebastian let out a bitterugh, his sarcasming through loud and clear. "Did you really think I wouldn''t see your test results?"

    Reese blinked, then put him on speaker and opened up the hospital app on her phone.

    The report was blunt. High-risk HPV infection with reproductive system inmmation. Diagnosed with genital warts. The medical note below was just as harsh: Not suitable for pregnancy. Forced conception could mean birth defects or miscarriage, and there was a risk of passing the virus to the baby. With her history of miscarriage, they rmended immediate antiviral treatment and postponing any ns for a baby.

    Reese stared at the report, stunned.

    dat

    This had to be a mistake. She refreshed the page again and again, but the results didn''t change. Her heart raced. She knew her ow body-shed always been faithful, never crossed any lines. How could this be happening?

    ¡°Sebastian, there''s something wrong with this report," she said quietly.

    He just scoffed. "Wrong? You''re the one who picked the hospital and the doctor.

    What could possibly be wrong with it?"

    He paused, and when he spoke again, his voice sounded tired. "Reese, I know I messed up before But I''ve really tried to make things. right. Why would you do this to me? Why would you be with someone else...?"

    He didn''t finish. He didn''t have to. It was obvious he''d already decided she''d cheated and brought this disease home.

    "The Meyer family has been blowing up my phone thest couple days," Sebastian went on. "Bailey keeps asking if we''re really nning on another kid. "Did you two make a deal? Have a baby so you can get your mother''s shares?

    "Tell me, Reese, do you think Bailey will still give you those shares after he sees this report?"

    Reese stared at her phone. For a second, she almost wanted to go along with it-bring up divorce again. Maybe this time he''d actually agree. As for the Meyer shares she''d figure Something out.

    But then she remembered Leslie. There hadn''t been any movement from that side, and they still didn''t have proof she''d stolen the de data. If things blew up now, who knew what would happen?

    She couldn''t let all her work go to waste.

    Reese narrowed her eyes and said, ¡°Sebastian, I''m telling you, there''s something wrong with this report. If you don''t believe me, call the hospital and ask them yourself."

 Chapter 303

    After she hung up, Reese refreshed the page again just to be sure-nope, the hospital system showed the same result. She was about to call Bruce to figure out what was going on, but before she could even find his number in her contacts, Bailey''s name shed on her screen.

    "Reese, you''ve really let me down. I can''t believe someone like you came from the Meyer family."

    Reese let out a cold littleugh. So Bailey had seen the health report and was calling to throw usations at her.

    "Sorry to disappoint, but since when did I count as a real member of the Meyer family?"

    Her words only seemed to piss Bailey off more. His voice shot up. "Reese!"

    "I''m warning you, you''re not getting a cent of your mother''s shares. I''m calling thewyer right now. You''ll be cut out for good!"

    "Do whatever you want," Reese said, getting up and pouring herself a ss of water. "Just be ready to deal with the fallout.

    "If I don''t get those shares, Vista Tech can forget about getting the civilian de contract!"

    "You-!"

    Reese didn''t bother listening to the rest. She hung up, found Bruce''s number, and called. All she got was that t, robotic voice: "The number you''ve dialed is currently unavable."

    She pressed her fingers to her temples, suddenly feeling exhausted and tense. Bruce was Matthew''s guy. If something weird was happening at the hospital, it had to be serious.

    Who had the influence in Bridger Lake''s medical circles and also wanted to mess with her?

    Only the Barnard family. Rosie''s family.

    A chill flickered in Reese''s eyes. Dylon was locked up, and Tara and Rosie must

    be desperate. This was their underhanded way of trying to split her from Sebastian, hoping she''d drop the charges against Dylon.

    Pathetic.

    She didn''t need the Ratcliffs to handle them. Reese grabbed her phone and called George.

    "George, where are we at with Dylon''s shorting of Ramos Corporation?"

    "Ms. Meyer, Dylon''s already been arrested. The police are still investigating, but our evidence is airtight. Shouldn''t be long now."

    "Good," Reese said, nodding, pleased. "I want you to stay on it. No settlements, no deals. He returns every cent he took, and he pays for what he did."

    "Understood, Ms. Meyer."

    She hung up and had barely slipped her phone into her pocket when the doorbell rang.

    She turned away from the sofa and headed for the door. Through the peephole, she saw a familiar figure waiting outside.

    When she opened the door, Matthew stood there, his eyes searching her face, picking up on her tiredness but also the stubborn strength in her expression. He looked a little less tense as he spoke.

    "You okay? Really?" His voice was gentle, but there was real concern there. Thest time Reese had been attacked online he''d shown up to find her wrists still marked with blood. He hadn''t forgotten.

    ¡°I''m fine,¡± Reese said with a small smile, stepping aside so he coulde in.

    ¡°Actually, you''re just in time. I can''t get through to Bruce."

    "That''s why I''m here." Matthew

    pulled out his phone and opened his

    chat with Bruce. The most recent

    message was from three hours ago

    "Someone inside the hospital is

    looking into Ms. Meyer."

    Matthew switched to a private group chat and showed her thetest post-a notice from a police ount.

    "Bruce is being questioned at the hospital police office for allegedly sending medical data overseas.

    "They''re setting him up," Matthew said, his expression dark. ¡°Back when I got hurt on a mission, Bruce was the one who brought me back from the edge. I owe him everything."

 Chapter 304

    "I trust him. He''d never do anything shady with data-honestly, he wouldn''t even nce at something that wasn''t his."

    Reese nodded, eyes on the alert that just popped up on her phone. "I believe you."

    She pulled up her medical report and handed her phone to Matthew. "Someone tampered with my results. It says I have high-risk HPV and genital warts. Apparently, I''m ''unfit for pregnancy.""

    "This is definitely a setup. I think the Barnard family is behind it," she said, making sure Matthew caught the reference. "That''s my lovely aunt''s side, by the way."

    "That''s exactly why I''m here," Matthew replied. He didn''t even bother looking at the phone-he''d seen the report as soon as he heard Bruce was in trouble. None of this surprised him. After everything that had gone down, it was clear someone was working against them.

    "The guy who reported Bruce is Jon. He''s deputy director at the fertility clinic," Matthew exined. "He''s not military, just been stuck in the same position for years with no way up.

    "The Barnards must''ve promised him something if he got Bruce out of the picture.

    "Once Bruce was taken away, Jon swooped in and took over your and Sebastian''s IVF case. Your medical report? That was all him."

    Reese nodded, connecting the dots. "Makes sense now." Tara and Rosie were desperate after Dylon got arrested. They wanted to mess up her rtionship with Sebastian by faking her medical report, hoping the Ratcliff family wouldy off Dylon. At the same time, they needed Bruce out so Jon could take over the IVF process. Two birds, one stone.

    "Leslie hasn''t made a move yet, so we need to keep up appearances. The IVF act has to go on." Reese handed Matthew a ss of water. "But Jon is working for Rosie. We can''t let him run the show. We have to get Bruce out first."

    Matthew finished the water in one gulp. He''d rushed over, worried Reese would spiral after seeing the report, and now his throat was dry.

    "They''re using Bruce of illegally transferring data, so the main evidence must be the hospital''s server logs.

    "I found out Jon''s been hanging around the IT department a lot. He probably faked the logs to frame Bruce.

    "We need to get to the hospital now," Matthew said. "Find the holes in Jon''s story, and make sure no one in IT destroys the real evidence."

    Reese nodded. "No time to waste. Let''s go."

    She grabbed her coat, opened the door, and turned to say something-then froze. Someone was standing right outside.

    "Sebastian? What are you doing here?"

    Sebastian stood in the doorway, cold fury radiating off him. His stare could cut ss as he looked from Reese to Matthew, both stepping out of the same apartment

    After their phone call, he couldn''t shake the feeling something was

    off. Reese had never cared about the Meyer family''s shares before-why

    now? He came over for answers,

    What he didn''t expect was to see her with Matthew, alone.

    A man and a woman, behind closed doors. Add in that medical report, and anger

    shot through Sebastian so fast he could barely think straight.

    "Not going to invite me in?¡± His voice was icy, his eyes flicking between Reese and Matthew, lips curling into smirks Oram

    amocking

    interrupting something?"

    "Sebastian, don''t be ridiculous," Matthew said, stepping slightly in front of Reese.

    "We were just talking business."

 Chapter 305

    Matthew''s brow furrowed as he stepped in front of Reese, protective and unyielding.

    "What''s so important?" he asked.

    Sebastian''s voice was raw and dangerous, like he was barely holding himself back. "What business is so urgent?"

    Matthew and Reese exchanged a quick look. This involved Leslie and the de case-stuff that was top secret. And with Sebastian''s history of covering for Leslie, there was no way they could let him in on it. Telling him would be a disaster.

    Sebastian caught their nce and lost itpletely. He lunged, fist flying at Matthew''s face, fury written all over him.

    "How dare you touch her! We''re still married! She''s your sister-inw!" he shouted.

    Matthew''s eyes went cold. He caught Sebastian''s wrist with a grip so strong Sebastian winced in pain, his arm locked in ce.

    "Sister-inw?" Matthew''s lips curled in a chilly, mocking smile. His eyes were razor-sharp as he stared Sebastian down. "Since when has the Ratcliff family ever treated me like family?"

    Even when Mr. Ratcliff found out about the inherited gic disease and made everyone get tested, Matthew had been left out.

    He released Sebastian''s arm with a shove. "Besides, there''s nothing between Reese and me. Not like you can say the same."

    He took a step forward, his years in the military written in every line of his posture. The air around him was tense and dangerous, even more so than Sebastian''s simmering rage.

    Reese shut the door behind her and nced from Sebastian, whose eyes were bloodshot with anger, to Matthew. "Don''t waste your time. Let''s just go."

    "Yeah," Matthew agreed.

    They turned to leave, walking side by side. Watching them, Sebastian''s anger red even hotter.

    "Did I say you could leave?" he spat.

    He red at Matthew, then turned to Reese, his voice rising. "What''s with that medical report? Does Matthew Or was it

    know youre sick him whe

    gave it to you? Is this what you call loyalty? Cheating on your husband?"

    His voice rang down the hallway, loud enough to make the motion sensor lights flicker on.

    Reese stopped and turned around, her eyes icy and distant. She looked at Sebastian like he was a stranger.

    "You know what, Sebastian? You are disgusting."

    He had paraded Sofia and Leslie in front of her, never once thinking about whether he was cheating. But now he was using her?

    "You want me to make a public announcement? I can grab a megaphone, record my confession about cheating and some ''dirty disease,'' and y it for the whole building. Would that make you happy?"

    Sebastian''s face twisted with even more rage. Im the disgusting one? I knew you only married me because you wanted something. And now that you''ve got Matthew, you''re just going to leave me, is that it? Keep dreaming, Reese!

    "Robbie''s still waiting for us to have another kid to save his life! If you don''t go along with it, I''ll tell everyone you''re a heartless woman who abandoned her husband and son!"

    Reese felt a stab of pain in her chest, but she just smirked, bitter and cold. she

    Typical Sebastian. He knew she never wanted this marriage, but he still used it against her. He used a

    son who had never cared for her and had even tried to hurt her-to guilt-trip her.

    "You don''t get to judge me, Sebastian," she said, her voice steady. "You want to

    know about the medical report?"

    She shot him a steely look. "Fine. Come with us. I''m going to the hospital right now. I''ll give you every answer you want."

 Chapter 306

    Reese didn''t slow down for a second as she headed straight for the elevator. The doors slid open and she and Matthew stepped in side by side, never once ncing back at Sebastian.

    Sebastian stood rooted to the spot, his chest rising and falling with angry breaths. He stared at his reflection in the metal, his face twisted with frustration. Reese didn''t care at all, and Matthew was openly on her side. The sting of it burned deep.

    He wanted to just walk away, but something inside him kept nagging, pushing him to follow, to find out what Reese and Matthew were up to. After a few seconds of hesitation, he finally took off after them, striding quickly toward the elevator.

    Reese didn''t care whether Sebastian followed or not. She drove to the hospital with Matthew, and as soon as they got out of the car, a sleek ck Bentley pulled up beside them. Reese just raised her eyebrow, ignored Sebastian, and walked straight inside. Matthew nced back at Sebastian with a faint, knowing smile, then hurried to catch up with Reese.

    Sebastian was practically fuming, his jaw clenched tight. He managed to slip into the elevator at thest second before the doors closed.

    When the elevator opened on the hospital floor, the sharp scent of disinfectant hit them, mixed with that faint smell of medicine. Both Matthew and Sebastian had a certain presence that made people turn and stare as they walked by. Reese ignored all the attention and headed straight for the information desk to ask if Bruce was working today.

    The nurse at the desk looked a little startled. She already knew what happened to Bruce, and could only tell Reese that Bruce wasn''t seeing any patients for now.

    Reese nced at Matthew. He gave her a barely noticeable nod.

    "I saw Bruce''s car in the parking lot," Matthew said in a low voice. "He''s probably still in the security office. Let''s check there first."

    They walked down the hall to the security office. Through the small ss window in the door, they could see Bruce sitting calmly on a bench inside, hands resting on his knees.

    Sebastian, trailing a step behind, let out a coldugh. "Is he being investigated because he helped you trick patients?"

    Reese shot him a sharp look. "Sebastian, I never expected you to be any help, but until you actually know what''s happening, maybe just keep quiet."

    Themotion caught the attention of a security guard, who marched over and tooked ready to send them all away before Before he could could say

    anything, Matthew pulled a badge from his pocket, flipped it open, and showed it to the guard.

    "We need to talk to him," Matthew said. "Thanks for your cooperation."

    The guard''s attitude changed instantly. He nced at Reese and Sebastian, then unlocked the door.

    Reese couldn''t help but look at Matthew with curiosity. She had no idea what kind of credentials he had, but whatever it was, it got them into the security office without any trouble.

    Bruce looked up, surprised to see them walk in. "What''s going on? How did you

    "I think I understand most of what''s happening," Matthew interrupted. "I just need

    you to confirm something. Was it Jon who set you up?¡±

    Bruce nodded, ncing between Reese and Sebastian. "This morning, I was in my office, working on your and Sebastian''s test results toe up with a detailed IVF n. Out of nowhere, don showed up with a few police officers. He handed over some ''illegal data transfer record'' and used me of sending the hospital''s core medical data out of the country.

    "I never did anything like that. That record has to be fake!"

    Matthew gave Bruce''s shoulder a reassuring pat. "We believe you. Don''t worry." He turned to Reese.

    get

    "I''m beading to IT. I see if hean get into their server and find proof that

    Jon faked those records."

    Reese nodded. "Okay. Be careful." She still didn''t know what Matthew had shown

    the security guard, but at this point, only he could handle things.

    Matthew nodded back. "Don''t worry." He gave Sebastian a meaningful look, shook his head, and walked out.

 Chapter 307

    Sebastian felt that look cut right through him and was just about to snap back when Bruce spoke up again. "Ms. Meyer, Jon changed your medical report. Someone behind the scenes clearly doesn''t want you and Mr. Ratcliff having another child."

    Sebastian''s eyes went wide, stunned. "You mean Reese''s test results were faked?"

    Bruce looked genuinely guilty. "I should''ve caught it sooner. I''m sorry. This is on me."

    "No way." Sebastian shook his head and actually took a step back. "With our hospital''s system, test results are uploaded straight to the app as soon as theye out. There''s no way anyone could''ve messed with them."

    Then something clicked and his expression turned sharp and mocking as he stared at Reese. "So this was your n all along? Did you two set this whole thing up, just to make me believe the report was a fake? That way, you could walk away with the Meyer family''s shares without a fight.

    "Reese, you''re really something. Always thinking two steps ahead."

    Bruce knew about the n between Reese and Matthew, and he was willing to y along for the sake of national security. But Sebastian''spleteck of trust in Reese still caught him off guard. He started to exin. "Mr. Ratcliff, that''s not " "Don''t bother," Reese broke in, her tone cool. "He''ll know the truth soon enough." She turned to Bruce. "Dr. Nace, think back. Is there anything we missed? Has Jon been acting weirdtely? Or maybe getting close to someone in IT?"

    Bruce frowned, thinking hard. Suddenly his eyes lit up. "Actually, yeah. Three days ago, Jon went out of his way to find Mr. Tyrrell from IT. He said he needed some old medical data from years ago, and the two of them were in the office talking for ages.

    "At the time, it struck me as odd. The data wasn''t sensitive, so he could''ve just had a nurse request it. No reason to go to Tyrrell himself.

    "Now that I think about it, he was probably setting me up from the start, working together with Tyrrell."

    "Thanks," Reese said quickly. She pulled out her phone and messaged Matthew, letting him know what Bruce had just told her.

    Meanwhile, in the hospital''s IT

    department, Matthew was already at

    a server, typing fast As soon as h

    gor Reese''s message,

    as he

    gar he pulled up all the server ess logs from the

    past three days.

    Just then, Jon burst in, clearly in a hurry. His face changed the moment he saw Matthew at the server. He rushed over, trying to block him?

    "Who

    are you? What gives you the right to go through our hospital s data?

    "You''re not allowed back here. You''re messing with our work, and that''s illegal. I''m telling you, leave now or I''ll call the police."

    Matthew turned around slowly, his eyes cold as ice. He actually smiled, pulled out his ID, and held it up.

    "See this? I''m here on official business. You can file aint if you want, but don''t get in my way."

    The second Jon saw the badge, his heart dropped. That was a top-level military investigation pass. Who was this guy?

    Jon didn''t say a word, so Matthew just snorted. "Jon, you''re being investigated for faking evidence and framing a colleague. Got anything you want to say?"

    Jon''s face turned chalk white, sweat already beading on his forehead. He clenched his jaw and tried to keep it together. "I have no idea what your te talking about

    "I didn''t frame Bruce. The illegal data transfer was real. Someone in IT found it and reported it."

    ¡°We''ll see about that,¡± Matthew said, giving Jon onest sharp look before turning back to theputer.

 Chapter 308

    It didn''t take him long to dig up the truth. Three days ago, Mr. Tyrrell''s ount had logged into the core server. Not only had he changed some of the original medical records, but he''d also forged a fake illegal transfer log.

    "The time, the IP address¡ªit all points to theputer in your office. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Matthew''s voice was calm but cold.

    Jon''s legs went weak. He nearly crumpled to the floor. "I... I...¡±

    He was scrambling for an excuse, but in the end, he cracked, his voice shaking. "I didn''t want to. The Barnard family made me do it!

    "They said Bruce was in their way. They wanted me to find a reason to get him suspended so the Barnards could do what they needed. They promised they''d clear Bruce''s name once it was over."

    Matthew caught a glimpse of two people lingering outside the IT department. He smirked. "Then tell me, what exactly was Bruce getting in the way of?"

    Jon stammered, "The Barnards found out that Mr. Ratcliff and his wife were doing IVF at our hospital. They wanted to know if there was something suspicious going on."

    "And?" Matthew pressed.

    "So... they told me to try and take over the case. To dig up anything unusual. They seemed to think Mrs. Ratcliff didn''t really want a baby."

    Out in the hallway, Sebastian let out a bitterugh and nced at Reese. "See? Even strangers don''t believe you''d actually want to have another child with me, Reese..."

    He didn''t get to finish before Jon''s voice carried on from inside. "They also told me to fake Mrs. Ratcliff''s medical report. They wanted Mr. Ratcliff and his wife to start fighting..."

    Sebastian didn''t hear the rest. He stared nkly into the office, then turned to Reese.

    She just smiled, but there was a sharp edge to it, half mocking, half heartbroken.

    "So that''s what our rtionship looks like to everyone else, Sebastian. So fragile that a little trick is enough to break us apart.

    "You think I''m not serious about saving Robbie, but you''re not any better than me.

    "You''re just using all of this as an excuse to smooth things over between us. You want me to stop talking about divorce for a while, isn''t that right?"

    Reese tilted her head, her eyes full of tired sarcasm.

    "You don''t love me. You don''t really care about Robbie, either. You''ve even doubted whether he''s your son. Am I wrong?"

    Sebastian''s eyes went wide. His throat felt tight. He tried to say something, but Reese kept going.

    "Did you really think I was clueless all these years in the Ratcliff family?

    "I knew everything. I was just waiting. Waiting for you to finally turn around and see me. But you never did.

    "You keep saying you love me. You tell me not to leave. But what have you actually done, Sebastian?

    "Even Robbie knows I''m not the one in your heart. That''s why he keeps trying to hurt me. He knows you''d never do anything to stop him."

    Sebastian swallowed hard. He

    remembered the moment he saw the medical report, how his first thought was that Reese had cheated

    on him how he never even

    considered something else might be

    going on And when he saw her with Matthew, he instantly assumed the worst.

    Regret washed over him. His voice was raw. "Reese, I''m sorry. I was wrong shouldn''t have used you without proof. I shouldn''t have said those things. I shouldn''t have-"

    He stopped. Reese was staring at him with cold, tired eyes.

    "You never trusted me, Sebastian. I don''t need your apology," she said quietly.

    "All these years, the misunderstandings and the hurt-it was never just this one time."

 Chapter 309

    She didn''t even spare him a nce as she turned and walked away. If she wasn''t still trying to catch Leslie, she would have told him right there she never wanted anything to do with him again.

    Sebastian watched her go, his heart feeling like it was being squeezed by some invisible hand. The pain made it hard to breathe.

    The IT room door swung open and Matthew strode out, patting Sebastian''s arm with a smirk. "Let it go this time. But if you ever use me without evidence again, I won''t just let it slide."

    Upstairs, in the Big X office, the blinds were pulled tight, only a thin strip of harsh daylight sneaking in. Leslie sat at her desk, eyes glued to herptop while a red progress bar inched across the screen, decrypting a set of encrypted data.

    Last time there had been issues, so she hadn''t rushed to open the file the second she got her hands on it. She waited a few days, keeping an eye out in case national security showed up. When no one did, she finally rxed enough to check the data.

    A cheerful chime signaled the decryption was finished. Leslie''s eyes brightened. She scrolled through the data at lightning speed, her smile growing with every confirmation. When thest crucial set matched perfectly, she let out a soft, triumphantugh.

    "Finally got it."

    This data wasn''t the same as what Reese had sent before, but it fit perfectly with what she knew about de.

    "So now, even if Reese goes back to ckOak, it won''t matter," she muttered under her breath. The thought of Reese made her eyes sh with cold determination. With quick, steady hands, she started editing the file, swapping out her own secret server''s IP address for Reese''s personalputer.

    Watching the new address flicker across the screen, a dangerous glint shed in Leslie''s eyes.

    "Don''t me me for this, Reese. You''re the one who took away my child."

    She gave a cold littleugh and hit send.

    The transfer bar crawled across the screen. When "Sessfully Sent popped up, Leslie threw herself back in her chair and startedughing, th? sound echoing around the empty office.

    "Now, even if national security traces it, they''ll only find Reese. She''ll never talk her way out of this."

    She could already picture Reese under interrogation, struggling to defend herself.

    "Perfect. I get the job done and pin it all on Reese."

    Down in the hospital parking lot,

    Matthew and Reese got into the car. Matthew''s phone buzzed. A grin

    tugged at his lips as he

    checked the

    ¦«¦Ï¦É

    screen which showed a new encrypted message and a surveince video clip.

    He scanned the message quickly, his brows pulling together for a second before

    his whole expression sharpened with satisfaction.

    "What''s up?" Reese asked as she buckled her seatbelt, catching the look in his eyes.

    He turned to her. "Leslie has the stolen data. The surveince cameras caught her going through it. We''ve got all the proof we need. It''s time for the arrest."

    Relief crashed over Reese. The tension she''d been carrying for so long finally let go. She slumped back in her seat, letting out a deep breath. "Thank God. I don''t have to keep pretending with Sebastian anymore." Honestly, she''d almost pped him at the hospital today.

    Matthew chuckled softly. "You did great. I know it wasn''t easy."

    He picked up his phone and dialed his national security contact.

    "This is Matthew. We have solid evidence against Leslie¡ªshe''s in possession of

    the stolen core data. Requesting immediate approval for the arrest."

 Chapter 310

    After Matthew dropped Reese off at her apartment, he headed straight to ckOak. With solid evidence in hand showing Leslie had stolen de''s data and worked with foreign operatives, it was only a matter of time before she was arrested. Matthew needed to meet up with the agents from the National Security Bureau and help them piece together exactly how Leslie pulled off her scheme using their Trojan horse trap.

    Back at her apartment, Reese had just finished making dinner when there was a sudden knock on her door. She figured it was Matthewing back to talk, so she opened up without a second thought. Instead, she found several agents standing in the hallway. Reese froze, caughtpletely off guard.

    "Ms. Meyer," the lead agent said, holding out his badge, "you are suspected of illegally transmitting ssified national medical data overseas. We need you toe with us for questioning."

    He shed his credentials before turning his tablet toward her. The screen showed a transmission log with her personalputer''s IP address, evidence that pointed straight at her.

    Reese nced at the badge, her heart sinking as she realized this was legit. It had to be Leslie setting her up. Not only had Leslie stolen the de data, she''d pinned the crime on Reese just to ruin her.

    "There''s something wrong with this record," Reese said, forcing herself to stay calm as she looked over the faces of the agents. None of them were familiar- they weren''t the team handling Leslie''s case. "That''s my IP, but I never sent out any secret files. Someone must have forged this or hacked mywork."

    She quickly pulled her de project badge out of her bag on the shoe rack. "I''m with the de research team. Foreign organizations have been targeting us, and my colleagues and I have been fighting back. I would never do anything like this. Please, you have to believe me."

    The agents checked her ID and exchanged uneasy nces. "Ms. Meyer, we''re just following up on a report. We don''t have details about your project. The evidence we have has already been verified-the timing and data signature match what was intercepted abroad."

    The lead agent stepped closer, voice polite but leaving no room for argument. ¡°We need you toe with us and cooperate with the investigation."

    Reese frowned. "Can I at least let my coworker know? We have a project handoff tonight." She had to find some way to warn Matthew.

    "I''m sorry, Ms. Meyer," the agent said, not budging. "Please don''t make this harder on yourself."

    Reese swallowed her nerves and took a long breath. She knew how the agents worked-resisting was pointless. "Alright. Let me just

    ange real quick."

    The agents nodded, so she hurried to her bedroom. Grabbing a pen, she scribbled a message on a sticky

    note, then, careful to avoid beinmet

    seen stuck it to the fridge. Pulling on her coat, she headed to the door

    Before leaving, she nudged the doormat out of ce with her foot¡ªa signal to Matthew. They''d nned to celebrate Leslie''s takedown tonight. Hopefully, he''d notice something was off, use his key to get in, and find her note.

    The agents gave her a once-over, but Reese kept her face calm and unreadable.

    Satisfied, they surrounded her and escorted her to the elevator.

    Meanwhile, down in the parking garage, a few in ck sedans sat parked near Reese''s building entrance. Tara''s hired paparazzi had their cameras pointed at the elevator lobby, waiting for something big.

    "Those people looked pretty official," one whispered. "You think they''re with that

    Ratcliff family Ms. Ramos mentioned?"

 Chapter 311

    Tara thought everything would go exactly as nned. Sebastian would see Reese''s fake medical report, storm over to confront her, and the paparazzi would be there to capture the whole messy scene. Even if they were too scared to make a scene with a Ratcliff involved, they could at least get some footage-perfect for leverage against Reeseter.

    But what she didn''t seeing was how quickly Reese and Matthew cleaned up the mess. Within half a day, the whole medical report issue was sorted out, and Sebastian found out it was all Tara''s doing. Worse, the paparazzi she''d sent were now too scared of the Ratcliff family to even get close.

    "I''ve got no idea," one whispered, shaking his head. "Those guys gave off serious bodyguard vibes. Way too intense."

    "Let''s just wait it out. See if Reesees down with them."

    "Are you sure this is going to work? Ms. Ramos wants video."

    "We''re talking about the Ratcliffs!" another snapped. "A couple of photos will have to do. I''m not risking my neck over this."

    As they argued, Reese appeared with several agents from the National Security Bureau. The elevator doors slid open and there she was.

    "Quick, there she is!" someone hissed.

    Cameras shed. Someone started filming.

    "Where are they even taking her?"

    "No clue."

    They watched, confused, as Reese and the agents headed straight for a car with

    a government emblem on the door. The paparazzi just stared.

    "That''s an NSB car, right?"

    "She looks like she''s being taken away."

    "What''s going on? Why would the National Security Bureau arrest Reese?" Shock rippled through the group. Their leader snapped out of it first. "Don''t just stand there¡ªget the shot! This is way bigger than a fight with Mr. Ratcliff!"

    They scrambled for their cameras, but before they could get more than a few snaps, a stern voice cut through the chaos.

    "No pictures! Leave, now!"

    An NSB agent strode over, cold-eyed, confiscating memory cards and forcing everyone out. In themotion one paparazzo¡± managed to text a photo to Tara before he was shoved from the parking garage. His heart raced with a mix of fear and excitement. This was front-page stuff.

    [Ms. Ramos, Reese just got taken away by the NSB!]

    Meanwhile, Tara was sprawled on her living room sofa, a face mask stered on, waiting impatiently for updates. She couldn''t help but smirk, picturing Reese and Sebastian going at it over the medical report. Once she had hard proof she could pressure Reese into dropping the charges against Dylon-and the Ratcliffs would owe her big time.

    The second her phone buzzed, she snatched it up. One look at the photo and she nearly dropped her phone and the mask.

    The image showed Reese, surrounded by NSB agents, heading for an official car.

    Her face was set and serious, tension practically radiating off her.

    "The NSB?" Tara''s eyes went wide. She immediately called her mom, Rosie, barely able to keep the excitement out of her voice. "Mo Something huge just

    happened Reese got arrested by the National Security Bureau!"

    Rosie, busy with paperwork in her home office, froze mid-sentence. "What did you

    say? The NSB arrested Reese? What for?"

    "I don''t know the details, but the paparazzi got a photo-it''s real!" Tara babbled. "Mom, what if she actually did something illegal? Like... I don''t know, stealing state secrets or something?"

    Rosie was silent for a moment, her eyes sharpening. She set her pen down and walked to the window, her voice low and calm. "If that''s true, things are about to get very interesting."

 Chapter 312

    "We was going to spread rumors she had some sort of disease, but we were worried it''d drag Sebastian in and piss off the Ratcliffs," Rosie said, her voice low and calcting. "But if this is about national security, it''s got nothing to do with them. We can totally use it to our advantage."

    "That''s what I thought too!" Tara''s eyes sparkled with excitement. "If we get something on her, we can force her to drop the charges and bring Dad home."

    A sly smile curled on Rosie''s lips. "Exactly. Get someone to find out what Reese is being investigated for dig up as much as you can."

    "And make sure it''s all done quietly. The Ratcliffs can''t know we''re behind this."

    "Rx, Mom. I know what I''m doing."

    Tara hung up, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction. She could already picture Reese, desperate and defeated, begging for mercy. Tapping her phone, she started making arrangements to get someone on the case.

    Neither of them noticed that at that exact moment, Sebastian was standing in a hospital hallway, clutching his phone so tightly his knuckles had gone white. The words he''d overheard in IT kept echoing in his head: the Barnards had faked Reese''s medical report and framed Bruce, just to keep him and Reese from having another kid.

    A rush of guilt and fury hit him. He called his assistant, his voice rough but firm. "Look into everything the Barnard family''s been doingtely. If they dared to set Reese up, I want them to pay for it."

    The interrogation room at the national security bureau was cold and bare, all white walls and harsh lighting, the air thick with the smell of disinfectant Reese sat at the table, a ss of water in front of her that had gone cold hours ago.

    Two agents sat across from her, eyes sharp and unyielding. "Ms. Meyer, we''ve traced a file containing state secrets sent from your personalputer''s IP address to an overseas server just moments ago. Care to exin?"

    "My personalputer?¡± Reese met their gaze, calm and steady. ¡°Like I''ve said, myputer''s been at home the whole time, and it''s protected by severalyers of encryption. There''s no way it could''ve sent anything."

    "We''ve checked the IP address. It''s yours," one agent replied, sliding a report across

    printout of the rott

    the table. And the

    And the files directly

    rted to the de Project at

    ckOak Labs. You were a core

    member. You had ess.

    Reese stared at the report, taking a deep breath. "You can check myputer logs. I haven''t touched it all afternoon. Besides, that file isn''t even de Project data. It was bait, something my colleague and set up to catch Leslie stealing files. She fell for it, and your team was supposed to arrest h¨¦r. This has t?, be her doing. She''s trying to pin it on me."

    Remembering herst time in a room like this made her skin crawl. She couldn''t stop shaking, her whole body buzzing with nervous energy.

    The agents exchanged a look, then one got up and left to check her story. He

    came back a few minutester, shaking his head. "There''s no update about Leslie''s arrest."

    "What?" Reese shot to her feet, shocked. "I heard Matthew make the call himself. How is there nothing?"

 Chapter 313

    "Ms. Meyer, please keep quiet for now." The interrogator rapped his knuckles on the table, giving Reese a pointed look. "We need you to tell us the truth. It''s in your best interest."

    Reese leaned back in her chair, feelingpletely drained. Where did it all go wrong?

    The door swung open. Matthew strode in, dressed in a crisp ck suit, every inch the calm professional, but his eyes gave him away. The second he spotted Reese, his worry was obvious.

    He didn''t hesitate. He crossed the room to her side, gently resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Then he turned to the interrogators and handed over a USB drive. "Everything''s on here-proof that Leslie stole the ssified data and tampered with the IP address. The files include surveince videos and the technical reports. Reese is innocent. She and I have been working with your team to catch Leslie from the very start."

    The agents took the drive, plugging it in and scanning the files. As the evidence piled up, their stern expressions softened. The lead interrogator finally realized what''s happening, and reached out his hand to Reese, a little sheepish. "I apologize, Ms. Meyer. We made a mistake. Thank you for everything you''ve done for national security."

    Reese nced at Matthew, standing tall and steady beside her. Her emotions tangled up inside-relief, gratitude, something more.

    He caught her looking and gave her a gentle smile. "Sorry I got here sote," he said quietly. "I stopped by your ce first..." He shot a nce at the agents, leaving something unsaid he must have seen the note she left behind. "When you weren''t home, I came straight here to check on the Leslie situation. This was all top secret. Most people here weren''t cleared for the details."

    Sunlight filtered in through the interrogation room window, outlining Matthew''s profile in a warm glow. There was so much kindness in his eyes, it almost made Reese forget where she was.

    Her heart stuttered. Just minutes ago, when she''d heard there was no record of Leslie''s arrest, she''d actually doubted him. But seeing him now; hearing his exnation, it was like finding solid ground after a storm. She realized she could trust him, no matter what.

    The tension left her body all at once and her knees nearly gave out. Matthew noticed right away, slipping his arm around her before she could fall.

    "It''s over," he murmured. "Let me take you home."

    She nodded, letting him guide her out of the room.

    They had just reached the lobby when a group of agents marched someone inside. The woman''s hair was wild, her clothes wrinkled and dirty, her face smudged. It''s Leslie.

    She spotted Reese and Matthew immediately, her re venomous. She tried to break free from the agents, lunging at them.

    "Reese! You bitch! This is all your fault!" Leslie''s voice was raw, almost feral. "You stole data too! You sent it out of the country why arent you in. trouble? Did Matthew cover for you?"

    She was desperate, clinging to the hope that the agents would find something on Reese. If she went down, she wanted to drag Reese with her. After all, she still had Sebastian''s promise backing her up. He wouldn''t let the government convict her so easily. At least, that''s what she told herself.

 Chapter 314

    Reese slumped against Matthew,pletely drained, her gaze icy as she stared at Leslie''s face. Leslie looked wild with anger and resentment, and Reese just felt tired-bone-deep tired. She forced herself upright, ready to speak, but Leslie cut her off with a furious shout.

    "This was all Reese''s idea! She''s the one who pulled the strings. She was already under investigation for working with people overseas! And when the de data got leaked, her cousin and half-sister got dragged in, and so did I, just because Big X partnered with ckOak. She was scared I''d spill the truth, so she got her husband, Mr. Sebastian Ratcliff, to show up at the national security office and cover for me!"

    The lobby went silent. Every eye was on Reese.

    "Ms. Meyer, you''ll have to stay here until we sort this out," one of the agents said, stepping in front of her.

    Reese shut her eyes, feeling a fresh wave of disbelief. Sebastian had vouched for Leslie? She never saw thating.

    Matthew looked like he was about to jump in, but Reese gave his sleeve a subtle tug, telling him not to make things worse. Leslie''s story had just enough truth mixed in that it all checked out on paper. Officially, it would look like she was right. The only way Reese could clear her name now was to prove she and Leslie weren''t on the same side-that Leslie was setting her up out of spite.

    "There''s a recorder and a folder in the nightstand at home," she whispered to Matthew. "They have proof Leslie tried to hurt Mr. Ratcliff and frame me for it. There''s also evidence she talked Sebastian into trying to get me to be a surrogate."

    Matthew looked at her like he couldn''t believe what he was hearing. Before he could say anything, Reese added, "Bring me that recorder. We need to spin this so it shows Leslie hates me, because I ended her and Sebastian''s pregnancy. That would exin why Sebastian vouched for her. And about the Big X and ckOak partnership-I never agreed to it. Sebastian forced it through by putting pressure on Mr. Sanchez. Try to get Mr. Sanchez to testify for us."

    Matthew clenched his jaw, worry clear in his eyes. "Hang in there. I''ll be back as soon as I can."

    Reese nodded with a weary, crooked smile. She didn''t have the luxury of copsing now.

    As Matthew hurried away, Leslie smirked, watching Reese get left behind. "Face

    it, Reese, you and I are in this together. If I go down, you''reing with me!"

    Reese just shot her a cold look, then followed the agents back into the interrogation room.

    Since Leslie was the one who filed theint and the agents already knew Reese''s background, they didn''t rush to question her again. They just left her alone in the room.

    Reese sat there, head bowed,

    silently counting the minutes. About half an hourter, the door finally opened. Her heart skipped a bear as she looked up and saw Sebastian stride in, his expression dark.

    He caught the disappointed look in her eyes, and his face grew even more

    somber. ¡°I just talked to Leslie. Why did you make her do this?"

    Reese couldn''t help the bitter smile that tugged at her lips. "Sebastian, did you already forget what you said at the hospital this afternoon? You always think you know best you trust Leslie but not me. Do you honestly believe I''d do something like this?"

    ¡°No,¡± he said right away, shaking his head. ¡°I know how much de means to you. You''d never leak its data."

    That threw Reese for a loop. She

    was about to ask why he''d even said all that earlier, when Sebastian went on, "All that supposed evidence.

    about data theft and working we ne

    fareign forces you faked it didn''t you?"

 Chapter 315

    "Leslie told me you found out the baby''s hers. She said you''re only doing all this to get back at her," Sebastian said, his voice tight with frustration.

    "Reese, are you out of your mind? You actually forged evidence just to drag Leslie down? Do you even realize that''s illegal?"

    He paused, his tone a shade softer. "It''s not toote to stop. Go to the NSB, tell them you messed up, admit you faked the evidence. Turn yourself in. I''ll back you up, I promise. I''ll figure out a way to get you out of this."

    "Oh, like you did for Leslie?" Reese let out a bitterugh that quickly dissolved into tears she couldn''t hold back. "Sebastian, is that really what you think of me? That I''d do anything for revenge?"

    She swiped at her tears, her eyes suddenly steely. "I didn''t set Leslie up. And I''m not taking anything back or apologizing. Her whole ''aplice'' story is a joke. She''s just trying to drag me down with her and you can''t even see it!"

    "That''s impossible," Sebastian shot back, frowning. "Sure, Leslie can be a little scheming, but when ites to national matters, she''d never go that far."

    "Oh, so she wouldn''t, but I would?" Reese nced at the security camera in the corner, then fixed her re on him. "Remember, Sebastian, you pushed for the Big X and ckOak deal. And I had no idea you vouched for Leslie at the NSB until today. Want to deny that?"

    "Yeah, I did it, but only because Leslie saved my life. I¡ª"

    "I''m really sick of hearing that excuse," Reese cut him off. "You get that the only reason I''m even still here is because Leslie told them you order? That

    Vouched for her on my.

    was behind it all? If you hadn''t done

    that, I''d be out by now, free and

    clear. You wouldn''t even have a

    reason toe in here and lecture

    me."

    "That''s not true." Sebastian''s frown true." deepened. That''s not what Leslie had said to him. Even if she could be conniving, she wouldn''t lie about something that could clear her name. "Reese, just stop. Sooner ofter, NSB''s going to realize your evidence is fake. If you confess now, I can still help you."

    "You think I need your help?" Reese had had enough. She leaned back in the interrogation chair, lifted her chin, and stared him down, her eyes cold. "Just wait.

    It won''t be long before you figure out who''s really lying."

    Once Matthew showed up with the surrogacy proof and that recording, Sebastian would be lucky to save himself, let alone her. And he thought he was the one in control?

    "Wait for who?" Sebastian looked at

    her, irritation ring at her stubborn silence. "You don''t actually think Matthew can get you out of you? Reese, stop being so stubborn. Just admit you were wrong, and I''ll take you home. Isn''t that better?"

    Matthew? Seriously? He was just some tech guy who spent a few years in the army. He was just a civilian now-how could he possibly help?

    Reese had nothing left to say. She closed her eyes, her longshes casting soft shadows on her cheeks, shutting Sebastian and all his words out. She looked like she wouldn''t listen to him no matter what he said.

    "You''re impossible!" Sebastian pointed at her, his finger trembling with anger, but her icy silence just made it all bounce back on him. Finally, he dropped his hand and kicked the table hard. The dull thud echoed through the empty interrogation

    room.

    Meanwhile, in the observation room right next door...

 Chapter 316

    Every word of Sebastian and Reese''s conversation carried clearly into the observation room.

    Matthew stood at the one-way ss, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Thinking about everything Reese had gone through made his chest ache, but his eyes only grew colder, anger simmering just beneath the surface.

    "You all heard what Sebastian said," Matthew said, taking a deep breath that barely smoothed out the rage in his voice. He swept his gaze over the group, still visibly furious. "Sebastian admitted it himself. The decision to vouch for Leslie was his alone. Reese had nothing to do with any of it. And let''s not forget-Reese was against the Big X partnership from the start. Mr. Sanchez can back me up on that."

    He nced at Peter Sanchez, standing right next to him.

    Peter''s expression was sour as he nodded, a note of regret in his voice. "That''s right. Sebastian convinced me. He said Big X was trustworthy and Leslie was an old friend. That''s why I agreed. Honestly, after what we just heard... this could ruin him." Peter let out a heavy sigh. "Back then, I figured, de is a joint project between ckOak and Ratcliff Global, Sebastian''s rmendation should be reliable. When Reese, as co-lead, disagreed, I invited her to the equestrian club to talk it over."

    Peter paused, reying those memories. "Because Reese objected, Sebastian, Leslie, and their friends actually humiliated her in public. They told her that if she had doubts about Leslie, she should prove it. Reese said it was just a gut feeling and gotughed at for it. Turns out, her instincts were spot on. We were the ones who got it wrong."

    n, who had rushed over after Matthew''s call, nodded. "Leslie approached ckOak about working together right at the start of the de project. Reese immediately gged Leslie as a risk, so we turned down the offer to y it safe. It was onlyter..."

    n nced at Peter, then shifted the conversation. "Even after Big X and ck Qak did start working together, Reese never let her guard down around Leslie. And when the de data leak happened, it was Reese and Matthew who figured it out. Everyone on the de team went through the strictest background checks. Reese''s record is spotless. She''d never do anything to put national security at risk."

    Matthew stepped forward. "It''s true, thest leak involved Sofia and Tara, and yes, they both have a history with Reese, but it''s not what people think. Reese left the Meyer family when she was just six because Sofia and her mother tore her parents apart. When her own mom died at nine, Reese cut ties for good. While they were both at ckOak, Sofia even tried to hurt Reese There''s no way they''d team up to steal des data. As for Tara and her family, they''ve been gunning for Reese for years over business disputes with Ramos Corporation. All of this is on record."

    He shot a scathing look at Sebastian through the ss. "And let''s not forget, Sebastian''s mother Jane once nted a data device in

    Reese''s pocket. If Reese were Really behind any of this, she wouldn''t have bothered faking data to mislead Leslie, and she definitely wouldn''t have worked with us to take down Big X''s overseas exec. Even her recent resignation from ckOak was part of her n. Jane was trying everything to force Reese into having a baby, and Reese only pretended to go along so she could catch Leslie off guard. Leslie has always resented Reese. Now, with all the evidence stacked against her, she''s just trying to drag Reese down with her."

    The lead agent from the security bureau nodded as he listened. Someone beside him immediately handed over a file containing the evidence they''d just discussed.

 Chapter 317

    The lead investigator took the folder and flipped through the documents, his brow furrowed in concentration. After about ten minutes, he finally looked up. "Is there any other evidence to prove Reese and Leslie have a personal vendetta?"

    Matthew, who had been tense this whole time, let out a quiet breath and nodded. "Yes." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small recorder. "Reese asked me to get this from her ce. She said it''s a recording of some private conversations between her and Leslie."

    The investigator took the recorder and checked what was on it-two audio files. He pressed y on the first one.

    Reese''s voice came through, steady and clear. "You were the one who cut the oxygen tube in Mr. Ratcliff''s hospital room, right?"

    "So what if I was? So what if I wasn''t?" Leslie''s reply was sharp and unapologetic. "Everyone in the Ratcliff family, even Sebastian, thinks you did it. What does any of this have to do with me?"

    ...

    "And that baby you''re carrying? That''s mine, too."

    The agents all stopped and stared at each other, stunned. No one had expected to hear something like this. Not only that Leslie had tried to hurt Mr. Ratcliff, but that Sebastian would go so far as to make Reese a surrogate for Leslie.

    Matthew felt a sharp ache in his chest. He thought he was prepared for anything after what Reese had told him, but hearing the cold truth still hurt like hell.

    The investigator took a deep breath and yed the second recording. This one was from right before Mr. Ratcliff passed away. In the audio, he named Leslie as the one who hurt him and promised Reese a share of Ratcliff Global.

    "These two recordings make it very clear. Leslie''s been hostile to Reese for a long time," Matthew said, his voice tight with anger. "And listen to the second one. You can hear Sebastian''s mother, Jane. That means she knew Leslie hurt the old man. But she never said a thing. Why? Because she was working with Leslie from the start. That''s why she helped Leslie sneak the data transmission device into Reese''s pocket."

    The investigator''s face was grim. He nodded, then nced at one of his colleagues. The man understood right away. "I''ll go to the interrogation room and release Reese."

    Matthew finally let himself breathe and followed the man out of the observation

    room.

    The interrogation room was dead silent until the door swung open. Reese jumped, startled, like a frightened rabbit.

    "Scared now?" Sebastian''s words were harsh, but he still instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her from the agents. He turned to the officer "Look, she just made a stupid mistake. We''ll admit guilt, or pay whatever fine you want. Just let me take her home."

    The agent, who had already heard the recordings, shot Sebastian a look of pure disdain. When he turned to Reese, though, his tone softened. "Ms. Meyer, everything''s been cleared up. You''re free to go."

    Reese nodded without saying a word. She stood up, her face unreadable.

    Sebastian lookedpletely

    thrown. He''d been sure that Reese would be in serious trouble for forging evidence and wasting police time. He hadn''t expected her to walk away this easily. He sighed with

    relief, but quickly remembered Leslie. "What about Leslie? Is she...''

    "Leslie isn''t going anywhere," the agent replied, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "There''s solid evidence she stole core national data. It''s a serious crime. She''ll be prosecuted to the full extent of thew."

    "No way!" Sebastian blurted, his face pale. He started to argue, but the agent cut him off.

    ¡°And Mr. Ratcliff, since you vouched for Leslie before, we''ll need you to stay and assist with our investigation. Please cooperate."

 Chapter 318

    Leslie stole state secrets?

    The words hit Sebastian like a punch to the gut. His face went pale in seconds and he just stood there, frozen.

    "No way... That can''t be true. Leslie isn''t like that. You''ve got to be mistaken!" He''d known Leslie for years. He knew her better than anyone. There was no way she''d ever do something like this; she just didn''t have it in her.

    "Mr. Ratcliff, the evidence is solid," the agent replied. "Don''t worry. If you''re not involved, you don''t have anything to be afraid of." But even as he said it, Sebastian could tell the case was big-big enough to drag Ratcliff Global through the mud. "Also, your mother, Jane Ratcliff, is involved. We''ve already sent people to your family estate to bring her in."

    "What?" Sebastian''s head snapped up, shock written all over his face. "How could my mother be involved?"

    The agent could see Sebastian really had no idea. He exined what he''d just heard in the observation room.

    Sebastian stood there, dazed. "You''re saying my mother and Leslie tried to steal the data together? And Leslie killed my grandfather... and my mom knew?"

    So why did his mother me Reese all that time? Was she covering for herself and Leslie? He remembered those days when his grandfather was in the ICU- how Jane kept insisting it was Reese''s fault, even pushing him to call the police. A cold chill crept up his spine.

    So his mother wanted him to report Reese, even though she knew Reese was innocent? Why? Why would she do that?

    His mind was spinning. He looked at Reese, but she just stared back at him calmly, like she''d known everything all along.

    "You knew, didn''t you?" His voice was barely more than a whisper.

    Reese met his red, desperate eyes and nodded. "Yeah. I knew."

    "Then why didn''t you tell me?" Sebastian shouted. "If you''d told me earlier-"

    He could have done something. Maybe none of this would have happened.

    1

    "I tried," Reese said, looking him straight in the eye. "I told you, Sebastian. I said Leslie was trouble. said ckOak shouldn''t work with Big X. You didn''t listen. You had Mr. Sanchez put the pressure on us anyway. I told you I didn''t hurt your grandfather. You didn''t believe me. You called the cops, you threatened me-said if I insisted on a divorce, you''d make sure I went to jail in the end you never trusted me that'' A meg that sever why things are the way they are. As for Jane and Leslie, their n didn''t work, so there was no point telling you."

    Sebastian''s shoulders slumped. For the first time, he looked defeated.

    "Reese, are you ready?" A knock broke the silence. Matthew poked his head in. "Yeah." Reese stepped toward him. "Sorry for dragging you into this again." "Don''t worry about it." Matthew gave her a gentle smile and moved to steady her when he saw she could barely stand.

    Sebastian''s eyes locked on Matthew''s hand around Reese''s arm. Reese''s words kept echoing in his head. Suddenly, anger res up, burning away hisst bit of restraint

    "Matthew, let go of her! Reese is my wife. You don''t need to y the hero here!"

    Matthew shot him a look. "Can''t you see she''s about to copse?"

    Reese nced back at Sebastian, her eyes empty. .There was no angry, not even hurt. She''s justpletely done.

    "Reese!" The look in her eyes stung more than anything she''d ever said. "We''re still married! And Robbie''s waiting for you. How can you just walk away?"

    He moved toward them, but the agent stepped in his way.

    "Mr. Ratcliff, you''re not allowed to leave yet. The agent''s expression said it all Couldn''t Sebastian see Reese was barely holding on And here he was, still obsessing over her and Matthew.

 Chapter 319

    He was so careful about his reputation, but when it came to plotting to have his own wife be a surrogate for another woman, he never hesitated for a second.

    Matthew nced back at Sebastian. "Come on. I''ll drive you home."

    Reese didn''t even look at Sebastian. She just nodded and let Matthew lead her out of the interrogation room.

    At the Ratcliff family''s old mansion, Jane stood frozen, staring at the credentials in front of her.

    "Mrs. Ratcliff, I''ve already exined the situation. Pleasee with us," said the National Security Bureau officer as he put away his badge and gestured toward the door.

    Jane''s face went pale. "How could I possibly steal state secrets?" She stumbled back, panic rising in her eyes. She never expected that the little ck box Leslie told her to slip into Reese''s pocket was actually a transmitter. She never thought that doing Leslie this tiny favor would drag her into such a mess.

    She shot a re at the butler and barked, "What are you standing around for? Get them out of here! I am not going to the National Security Bureau!"

    Then, turning back to the officers, she demanded, "And what proof do you have that I put that thing in Reese''s pocket? For all you know, Reese is just trying to set me up to save herself! Everyone knows she''s my daughter-inw, and everyone knows we don''t get along!"

    The agent gave her a half-smile. "Mrs. Ratcliff, I never said you put anything in Reese''s pocket. But since you''ve already admitted it, why don''t youe with us and exin everything?"

    He nced at the butler, his voice cold. "At this point, there''s no one left who can save you."

    Before Jane could say another word, the agents each grabbed one of her arms and dragged her out to the car, ignoring her protests.

    By the time they arrived at the Bureau, Jane''s legs felt like jelly, and she was practically carried out of the ear. As they walked inside, they passed Matthew, who was gently helping Reese out. The lead agent, who''d worked with Matthew before, gave him a nod as they passed.

    Jane spotted Reese and instantlytched onto her like a lifeline. She struggled against the agents, calling out desperately, "Reese! Please, help me! I didn''t know what that little box was, swear! I had no idea Leslie was a spy! I''m sorry, I''ll never go after you agam, just help me this once! Robbie''s all alone at home. You''re not really going to just leave him, are you?"

    She thought that mentioning Robbie would at least make Reese stop, even if they never got along. But Reese didn''t pause for even a second. She didn''t nce at Jane, didn''t say a word. She just leaned on Matthew and walked straight out the front doors.

    Matthew, on the other hand, did look back at Jane. The look in his eyes wasplicated, full of things Jane couldn''t understand. Her heart skipped a beat, a sudden sense of dread washing over her. It felt like he knew everything, and the realization made her panic.

    While she was still in shock, the agents led Jane into an interrogation room. Sebastian was already inside.

    Sebastian had already been questioned once; his statement had been taken to Leslie''s room. When he saw Jane dragged in and dropped into a chair, he froze for a moment, then lowered his head as if nothing happened.

    ¡°Sebastian, what''s going on? Why did they bring me here? Is this something you did?" Jane demanded, her voice trembling.

    Sebastian slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot and tired. He stared at Jane. "Mom, was Grandpa killed by Leslie? Did you help her put something in Reese''s pocket? Why would you help her?"

    Jane''s heart skipped a beat. She

    looked away, trying to avoid his

    gaze. "What are you talking about? It

    was Reese who hurt your

    grandfather not Lestre! And I didn''t even know what that thing was was just doing Leslie a small favor. I never thought she''d dare go this far!"

    Her panic was growing by the second. She looked at Sebastian, her voice shaky.

    "This is all Leslie''s doing, right? It''s got nothing to do with us, has it?"

 Chapter 320

    "This is all Reese''s fault, you know," Jane said, her voice getting sharper. "If she''d just spoken up for me at the door, I wouldn''t be sitting here right now."

    "Enough!" Sebastian snapped. He shot to his feet and kicked the table, the crash echoing through the empty interrogation room and making their ears ring. "Even now, you''re trying to me Reese for everything? She''s my wife, your daughter- inw. She''s part of the Ratcliff family!"

    Jane sneered. "Didn''t Grandpa talk to you before he died? Didn''t he say Leslie was the one who killed him? Reese is no daughter-inw of mine"

    Sebastian red at her. "What did you just say?"

    "I said Reese isn''t really a Ratcliff," Jane spat. "After all these years, when have you ever treated her like a real wife? She''s just some girl who tricked her way into this family. She doesn''t deserve the Ratcliff name."

    "Mom!" Sebastian''s voice cracked.

    Her words cut deep, stabbing right through him. Jane wasn''t wrong. He''d never truly seen Reese as family, never treated her as his wife. She''d just been the convenient answer to his grandfather''s wishes, a way for him to inherit Ratcliff Global without a fuss. He''d never cared about her feelings, never defended her when others looked down on her. Even now, now that he finally realized his feelings for her, he was still selfish-always seeing things from his own point of view and pushing her further away every time.

    A government agent walked in, face cold. "Quiet down. This isn''t your living room, it''s an interrogation room. Save it for your official statements, and keep it down."

    Sebastian took a shaky breath and forced himself to sit. Frustration and regret burned in his chest. He reyed everything that had happened recently, and the more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. He''d never really seen Leslie for who she was. She yed him like a fool, and by covering for her, he''d nearly destroyed everything his family built.

    Half an hourter, Jane was still insisting she knew nothing, but it didn''t matter. The evidence was solid. She was arrested for helping steal national secrets, and her refusal to cooperate only made it worse.

    Sebastian, meanwhile, was cleared. The investigation showed he hadn''t known what Leslie was up to, so he was free to go.

    But Bridger Lake was full of gossip, and everyone was watching the Ratcliff family. The moment Jane was taken away, rumors started flying around town, each more dramatic than thest.

    The next morning, Ratcliff Global''s stock tanked the minute the markets opened. Billions vanished from thepany''s value in the blink of an eye.

    In the boardroom, the directors'' faces were stormy. Anger and frustration hung thick in the air, all of it aimed at Sebastian, even though he wasn''t there.

    "Looks like since Mr. Ratcliff passed, even Sebastian can''t keep it together," one of the senior directors said, breaking the tense silence.

    "This has been a disaster for thepany. The stock price is in freefall our partners are pulling their investments, and we''re losing clients. We need to do something about Sebastian

    Another director nodded. "His personal mess cost us too much. If we don''t act, he''ll drag the wholepany down with him."

    "I think it''s time for a new chairman. Changing leadership is the only way to save our reputation."

    "I agree."

    "Me too."

    Hands went up around the table-it was clear. Most of them wanted Sebastian out.

    Meanwhile, Tara had already heard the news and rushed back to her parents'' house first thing in the morning.

    "I can''t believe Sebastian would

    go

    this far for another woman," Tara said, pacing in the living room. Her face was flushed, either from excitement or total disbelief.

    "Will you sit down already?" Rosieined, rubbing her temples. "What are we going to do now?

    Reese got out of the NSB without scratch, but your father''s still locked up. No one can see him except his<pwyer."

 Chapter 321

    "Now that everything''s blown up, what do we have left to bargain with Reese?" Rosie asked, her worry clear in her voice.

    "Oh, we''ve still got cards to y," Tara replied, eyes narrowing with confidence. "Ramos Corporation is strapped for cash right now. You really think they can survive Ratcliff Globaling after them? We''ve built up a decent fortune. If Ramos Corporation''s finances copse, we could offer to bail them out on the condition that Reese drops the charges. Trust me, thatpany probably means more to her than anything else in the world."

    Rosie''s eyes lit up. "That''s perfect! If it works, your dad could finallye home. But how do we actually pull this off?"

    "I''ve got it covered," Tara said, sliding onto the couch next to her mom and giving her a reassuring hug. "Just leave it to me, Mom. We''ll have our family back together before you know it."

    By early afternoon, a new rumor was making waves through Bridger Lake''s upper crust. Word was out: Reese and Sebastian had secretly gotten married ages ago, but Sebastian was still hung up on his first love, Leslie, leaving Reese a total outsider in the Ratcliff family.

    Everyone in town knew how intense Sebastian and Leslie''s rtionship had been. Reese''s marriage to Sebastian wasn''t exactly public knowledge, but people had definitely heard whispers. So when the story broke that Reese had set Leslie up, dragging Jane and Sebastian into the mess, nobody thought twice. Most people figured, who could me her? What woman wouldn''t snap if her husband publicly humiliated her for someone else?

    Of course, the Ratcliff Global board caught wind of all of this. To them, it just

    confirmed what they already thought, that Reese was from a small-time background and had no sense of the bigger picture. Airing out jealousy and drama like this, and dragging thepany''s name through the mud? Totally uneptable.

    They decided right then to hit Ramos Corporation where it hurt. To them, going after Ramos Corporation was the same as taking revenge on Reese.

    Ratcliff Global turned all its power on Ramos Corporation. They snatched up key projects, teamed up with major partners to end their contracts, and even took losses themselves just to make sure Ramos Corporation had nowhere to turn.

    Thepany was already in trouble with its tight finances, but now it was a disaster. Orders dried up, warehouses filled with unsold

    goods and employees startedel

    handing in their resignations deft and right. The whole ce felt like it was falling apart.

    Rosie looked at Tara, pride shining in her eyes. "You always know what to do," she said warmly.

    Tara grinned. "Mom, text Reese. Ask her if Ramos Corporation can hang on. Tell her we''re willing to invest, but only if she drops thewsuit."

    Rosie nodded. "I''ll do it right now."

    Reese was in her office at Ramos Corporation, listening to Patrick''s bleak update about thepany''s situation when Rosie''s message came through. She nced at her phone, then tossed it on the desk and shut her eyes for a moment.

    It was true. Thepany''s cash flow was on the verge of copse. But even now,

    she wasn''t willing to let Dylon''s whole family get off easy.

    As she hesitated, someone knocked on her door.

    "Is something wrong?" she asked, surprised to see Karter walk in. Seeing him, brought a wave of guilt His boss had just spent a fortune. buying up shares to help her, and now all of that was at risk. Not only would they see no return, but they might lose everything they''d already put in.

    Karter nodded and handed her a folder. "This is my boss'' authorization for funding. Whatever Ramos Corporation needs, you can use these funds."

 Chapter 322

    Reese froze for a second, still processing what Karter had just said.

    She''d always known the person backing Karter was powerful. There was no way they could''ve scooped up all those shares from the previous shareholders if they weren''t. After Zach tried to shut them down, Ramos Corporation had picked up a handful of new partnerships thanks to the media attention, but they still hadn''t made back the money Karter had invested in the first ce. Now, with Ratcliff Global breathing down their necks, Karter was willing to bail them out with such a huge sum.

    Who exactly was this mysterious backer?

    Lost in thought, Reese took the funding authorization papers from Karter and skimmed them. Everything looked legit.

    Just then, the phone rang, snapping Patrick out of his shock over the massive offer. He picked up, listened for a moment, and his face immediately darkened.

    "Ms. Meyer, there''s a problem," he said quietly. "The bank just rejected our emergency loan application fromst week. They say they''ve received a risk alert and suspect Ramos Corporation is insolvent. They want us toe up with ten times the coteral, immediately."

    Reese''s chest tightened. The Ratcliff Global board was clearly out for blood. They weren''t just trying to hurt Ramos Corporation. They wanted to finish them, no questions asked.

    "Ms. Meyer..." Karter nodded toward the documents in her hand, making his point clear.

    Reese pressed her lips into a thin line. She still hadn''t figured out if Karter''s mysterious boss was an ally or an enemy. She didn''t want to put the fate of Ramos Corporation entirely in his hands.

    While she hesitated, there was a knock at the door. The admin manager burst in, looking frazzled.

    "Ms. Meyer, there''s a crowd of suppliers downstairs. They all have contracts and are demanding payment. Some of them are threatening to go into the warehouse and take goods to settle their ounts if we don''t pay up."

    She paused, ncing nervously at Reese. "And there are rumors online that Ramos Corporation won''t make it through the week. With Ratcliff Global''s pressure, three of our partners have already asked to break their contracts."

    Reese closed her eyes for a moment, forcing herself to stay calm. She walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down. Outside, a crowd was gathering, holding up signs with "PAY YOUR DEBTS" written in bold ck letters. The sight was like a punch to the gut.

    She pressed her forehead against the cool ss, took a deep breath, then turned back to face the room.

    "Have security guard the warehouse. No one goes in or out without my approval she said, her tone steady "Finance needs to pull together a detailed list of what we owe every supplier, sorted by how critical they are to us. Admin should write a public statement right away, making it clear that Ramos Corporation has the resources to meet all its obligations and that we''ll go after anyone spreading false rumors. I want every department head in the conference room in ten minutes."

    Once the admin manager left, Reese went back to her desk. She double-checked

    the funding agreement for any hidden uses that might put Ramos Corporation

    at risk. There were none. Finally, she signed her name.

    "Mr. Shaw, please tell your boss I owe him one," she said.

    Karter nodded, unbothered. "You''re too polite, Ms. Meyer."

    Reese smiled faintly, tucked the paperwork away, and headed straight to the conference room. Everyone''s eyes followed her as she took her seat at the head of the table and epted the list from finance.

    "Pay off our core suppliers today," she ordered. "For everyone else, we''ll give them an exact payment schedule and apany-stamped letter ofmitment."

    "But Ms. Meyer, our cash flow..." the finance head started.

    Reese looked around the room, her voice leaving no room for doubt. "The funding issue is handled. We have enough to cover every

    Qu

    outstanding debt. Our job now is to hold steady and survive Ratcliff Global''s attack.

    She remembered Rosie''s earlier text and let out a cold snort.

    Ratcliff Global had chosen this

    moment to strike, right when Sebastian was out of the picture.

    Clearly, they''d been convinced was the reason for Sebastian''s downfall and thepany''s stock crash. Rosie and Tata were almost certainly the ones stirring up all the rumors online¡ªthey wanted to use Ratcliff Global to force her into a corner, then swoop in with their own money and demand she drop the charges against Dylon.

    Not a chance.

    And as for the Ratcliff board trying to pin Sebastian''s mess on her? They''d have

    to dream on.

 Chapter 323

    Reese pulled out her phone and fired off a quick message to Matthew, who''d been at the National Security Bureau all morning, helping with the investigation.

    Can we go public with the details of Leslie''s case?

    Matthew smiled at the text. He already knew what Ratcliff Global was up to. That''s why he''d told Karter to get Reese her funding approval right away.

    [If it''s about what the Ratcliffs did, go ahead.]

    [Alright.]

    With that green light, Reese grinned.

    By two in the afternoon, the crowd of suppliers outside Ramos Corporation had started to thin out. Reese had handled things herself, paying off the debts to their three main suppliers right then and there. For everyone else, she signed clear payment ns on the spot. At the same time, thepany''s official ounts posted a public statement,plete with proof of funds and a list of new orders. The rumors lost steam almost instantly.

    Later that evening, local Bridger Lake news broke the story: Leslie was being investigated for stealing state secrets. The report didn''t go into detail about her, just mentioned the case was ongoing. But it did make it clear how she''d gotten ess, thanks to a guarantee from Ratcliff Global''s chairman, Sebastian, and a helping hand from his mother, Jane.

    The news hit the city''s upper crust like a bomb. People who''d thought Reese was just being jealous and dragging Ratcliff Global down realized the truth-it was the Ratcliff family''s own mess that had pulled theirpany under.

    The Ratcliff Global board finally got it too. They''d been misled by those rumors, pushed Reese to defend herself, and ended up forcing her to reveal the real story. Their carefully maintained reputation was in shreds, and their stock value had tanked even more. They started tracking where the rumors hade from and, before the night was over, traced everything back to the Ramos family.

    The very next day, word spread that Dylon''spany-the one he''d started after leaving Ramos Corporation was going bankrupt.

    Reese sat at her desk, scrolling through her phone and tapping her fingers in a good mood. She was just thinking about what to do next when Karter knocked on her door and walked in, holding a freshly printed document.

    "Ms. Meyer, here''s thetest breakdown of the fund transfers for your review."

    She took the papers, ncing over the numbers. As she looked up, she noticed Karter''s phone light up with a message preview. The contact wasbeled "Mr. Wiles."

    Seeing that name made her heart skip. An idea started taking shape in her mind.

    She set the file on her desk, trying to sound casual. "Mr. Shaw, I keep meaning to ask-what does your boss actually do? He''s helped me

    out so many times, and don''t even know his name. It feels a little weird."

    Karter''s eyes flickered for just a second. "He''s a very private person. He''d rather

    keep his identity confidential. I hope you understand, Ms. Meyer."

    "Is that so?" Reese arched an eyebrow, locking eyes with him.

    Karter looked nervous under her stare and nodded stiffly. "Yeah." He remembered Matthew''s warning. Reese could never find out.

    Just then, there was another knock. Her secretary poked her head in, with Matthew right behind.

    "Ms. Meyer, this gentleman is here to see you."

    "Thank you," Reese said with a smile. "You can go."

    The secretary left, and Matthew came in carrying a folder, breezing past Karter without even ncing at him.

    "Leslie''s case is almost wrapped up," Matthew said. ¡°Sebastian didn''t know what she was doing, so he''s not on the hook as an aplice, but he''ll still have to deal with some civil ims."

    He sounded a little regretful, but Reese barely registered it. What caught her attention was how, the moment Matthew walked in, Karter gave him a

    straightened up ally

    respectful rod the kind you''d only give a boss. Matthew acted like he didn''t even recognize Karter, which just made it more obvious. It was all way too deliberate.

    Reese tilted her head, watching Matthew, and suddenly it all clicked. Karter''s mysterious boss had to be Matthew. Who else would go this far to help her? She remembered, the file she''d seen back when they''d started putting together the de project team.  t¨¦

 Chapter 324

    Reese let out a quiet sigh. There was no way Matthew''s story was as straightforward as it looked on paper. He wasn''t just a tech guy who left the military after an injury. Something wasn''t adding up. But why would he want to hide who he really was?

    "What''s on your mind?" Matthew asked, noticing how distracted she''d been since he walked in. He waved his hand in front of her face to snap her out of it.

    She blinked and shook her head. "It''s nothing." Whatever his secret was, it didn''t change the fact that he''d helped her out more times than she could count. And honestly, she didn''t have anything he could possibly want. If he didn''t want to talk about it, she''d let it go. "Just got a lot on my mind.¡±

    "What kind of things?" Matthew asked, raising an eyebrow and shing a teasing half-smile.

    "Nothing important," she said, not about to push him or call him out.

    Karter, who''d been hovering nearby, couldn''t help but notice the way Matthew was looking at Reese. It was so obvious he felt like he was intruding on something private. He just wanted to get out of there before he turned into a full-on third wheel. "Mr. Meyer, if you''re busy, I''ll leave you to it."

    "Yeah, go ahead," Matthew answered out of habit, only realizing his slip after the words were out. He nced over at Reese, worried she''d caught on, but she was already looking down at the file he''d brought.

    "Mr. Meyer?" Karter called again, nerves making his voice shaky.

    Reese, still pretending not to have heard anything, finally looked up. "Sorry, Mr. Shaw, I''ve got something I need to finish here..."

    "It''s alright," Karter said quickly, practically tripping over his own feet as he backed out of the office. "Take your time."

    Reese gave a polite smile, her suspicions basically confirmed. The way everyone tiptoed around Matthew made it obvious he was the real power behind Karter.

    Once Karter was gone, Matthew leaned against the edge of the desk and spoke up. "Leslie''s case is in the hands of the authorities now. de''s development is done, so next up is sorting out the licensing for its civilian use. I set up a meeting with your dad... Bailey, this afternoon. Is there anything you want me to handle ahead of time?"

    A gentle warmth filled Reese''s chest.

    Matthew always thought of

    everything always looked out for

    her. She couldn''t help but trust him. "Theres noth else. Just when

    you''re signing the contract with him, remind him to get the share transfer agreement ready. That''s all I need."

    That one sentence would be enough. Even if Bailey didn''t want to cooperate, he wouldn''t dare show up unprepared.

    "Consider it done," Matthew said with a nod.

    For a moment, it looked like the

    trouble with Ratcliff Global had finally died down. But barely an hour

    after Matthew left Ramos

    Corporation, the city''s E

    Protection Agency hit them with a notice. Every production line had to shut down immediately to cooperate with an investigation into "historical environmental vitions and excessive pollution discharge."

    As if that wasn''t enough, a group of former employees showed up outside the building, holding signs saying "Unpaid Wages" and "Stop Exploiting Workers." The media wasted no time, snapping photos and broadcasting the protest live.

    "Do we know what''s really going on?" Reese asked, standing at her office window and watching the chaos unfold below.

    Patrick''s face was grim. "Yeah. Mr. Ratcliff held a press conference after leaving the National Security Bureau. He admitted he was set up by Lestie when he vouched for her, but then he threw us right under the bus. He said we used to cut costs by ill¨¦gally dumping wastewater, imed he saw it himself when he was working with Dylon. As for

    those former employees, I tracked it back to the Ramos family. They paid them off toe cause trouble."

    Reese scrolled through her phone and saw thepany rocketing up the trending topics.

    #RatcliffGlobalChairmanuses RamosCorpOfEnvironmental Vitions

    #RamosCorplgnoresSocial Responsibility

    #RamosCorporation BackInHotWater

    Every article was a hit piece,plete with blurry old videos. It''s nothing clear, but more than enough to get the public riled up.

    With the regtors swarming and production at a standstill, orders couldn''t be filled and the penalty fees were going to be massive. Meanwhile, the protest was only getting louder, and thepany''s reputation was taking a serious beating.

 Chapter 325

    The bank wasn''t pushing any harder, but they made it clear: until the investigation wrapped up, every credit line would stay frozen.

    Reese sat in the conference room, listening to department updates, weighed down by a wave of helplessness. So Sebastian had found out what the board had done, and his first move was to protect Ratcliff Global. Of course. With Sebastian, she was always the one left behind.

    "What''s the real story with the environmental paperwork?" Reese finally asked, letting out a long breath. She looked over at the ountant, who''d started thepany with her grandfather and knew every detail of its past.

    He sighed, looking troubled. "Back then, when we were just getting started, money was tight. We didn''t update the environmental equipment as quickly as we should have and the paperworkgged behind, but we never went over the legal emission limits. We fixed things pretty fast, got everything up to code, and our inspections have all been fine since. Those videos online must''ve been from before we upgraded, and someone blurred the dates and locations on purpose."

    "And what about the former employees?" Reese asked.

    "They were let gost month for underperforming," the HR manager said. "We gave them severance ording toborws."

    Reese rubbed her forehead. This was messier than she''d thought. Sebastian might be twisting the truth, but Ramos Corporation really did havepliance issues in the early days. That gave him the opening he needed. The investigation would take time, but thepany couldn''t afford the daily losses from the shutdown. Even with Matthew backing her up, she couldn''t just throw his money away.

    Back in her office, Reese slumped in her chair, exhaustion settling deep in her bones. The sky outside was turning gray, shadows filling the room. She scrolled to Matthew''s number on her phone, hesitated, but didn''t call.

    Suddenly, the lights flicked on. Reese squinted, hand over her eyes. Matthew was standing in the doorway. She blinked, caught off guard.

    "What are you doing here?"

    "I saw what''s ''s been going on online," Matthew said, stepping in and taking a seat beside her. "As soon as I finished with Bailey, I came over. called a friend at the agency. They''re going to double-check everything. They won''t just take Sebastian''s word for it." He pulled a folder from his bag and handed it to her. "I just picked this up from the agent handling Leslie''s case. You should see this."

    "Leslie''s been trying to cut a deal for a lighter sentence. Since she couldn''t pin anything on you, she turned around and went after Ratcliff Global.

    "She ims that back in the day, Ratcliff Global and Big X struck a deal to share Al technology, which meant core domestic tech was transferred out. ording to Leslie, Sebastian not only knew about this-he was directly involved.

    "Ratcliff Global kept it quiet, especially when they wanted the de partnership with ckOak."

    Matthew nced out the window, a flicker of disdain in his eyes. "The Ratcliffs are connected, no doubt about it. Whatever strings they pulled no one found this during background checks. If Sebastian hadn''t vouched for Leslie this time, maybe none of this would''vee out. But now, he can''t just y the innocent victim. The NSB has already put Leslie''s testimony together and sent it up the chain. Ratcliff Global is about to be investigated. Sebastian won''t be able to stir up any more trouble."

    Reese stared at him, stunned. Ratcliff Global had worked with Big X? So Sebastian had been in touch with Leslie all these years. No wonder he was so desperate to have her be Leslie''s surrogate. Now that the past was catching up may Sebastian was finally getting what he deserved.

 Chapter 326

    The peaceful hush of the office shattered as noise erupted in the hallway, furniture scraping, hurried footsteps, voices raised in rm. Reese and Matthew locked eyes for an instant. Matthew arched a brow, moving toward the door just as someone mmed it open from the other side.

    "Ms. Meyer, it''s Mr. Ratcliff-he says it''s urgent, we tried to stop him..." Reese''s secretary stood behind Sebastian, wringing her hands so tightly her knuckles were white. She watched Reese with something like panic in her eyes.

    Sebastian had pretty much bulldozed his way past the front desk, storming through the executive floor with such raw energy that no one dared get in his way.

    "It''s fine. Go on, get back to work," Reese told her, giving a calm, reassuring smile. The secretary practically melted with relief and hurried away. Only then did Reese turn her attention to Sebastian.

    He wore his usual custom-tailored suit, his tie perfectly straight. But the cool, untouchable look he always had was gone, reced by something cold and furious. The tension rolling off him was almost suffocating.

    "What are you doing here?" Reese asked, her tone t. Given everything that had gone down between Ramos Corporation and Ratcliff Globaltely, she didn''t see any reason for them to meet again.

    "I need to talk to you," Sebastian replied, his voice as chilly as his expression. His gaze flicked past her,nding on Matthew. There was a sh of anger in his eyes, sharp and unmistakable. "Can you leave us? I want to speak with her alone."

    Matthew let out a low, mockingugh. "Last I checked, this is Reese''s office. Who made you the boss here?" He paused, voice dripping with sarcasm. "And even if you were, why would I give a damn what you say?"

    Sebastian bristled, his re practically burning holes through Matthew. His hands clenched so

    hard his knuckles went white his et

    breathsing faster, rough with

    anger. What really set him off was seeing Reese and Matthew together, alone. If it weren''t for whatever urgent thing he had to say, he

    probably would''ve lost it right there.

    Reese couldn''t help the hint of a smirk. She knew exactly what was going on in his head. ¡°Sebastian, just spit it out. There''s nothing you can say that Matthew can''t hear."

    Matthew''s lips curled into a subtle smile, a little less mocking this time, and something softer flickered in his eyes.

    Sebastian, on the other hand, looked like he was about tobust. He took a long, shaky breath and stalked across the room, dropping onto the sofa across from Reese. He yanked a folded financial newspaper out of his briefcase and pped it onto the coffee table. There it was-front-page news fromst night, all about him vouching for Leslie.

    "You leaked this, didn''t you?" he used. "Do you have any idea how much Ratcliff Global''s value tanked because of this? How many of our partners are suddenly ying hard to get? Reese, why do you have to go this far? Can''t you just leave things a little less messy between us?"

    Reese looked at him, a little amused, a little incredulous. "Didn''t you already hold a press conference to clear things up? Didn''t you hit back using Ramos Corporation''s old mistakes? So why are you here, trying to y the victim now?" Seriously, did he have no shame?

    Sebastian''s expression faltered, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face. He let out a heavy sigh, his tone suddenly much softer. "Reese, can you at least try to see it from my side? My mom got dragged into the scandal because of Leslie. Ratcliff Global''s already lost a tor of value and now the board and every senior exec are all ming me. They''re ming the whole family."

 Chapter 327

    "And after everything you did, if I didn''t step in, there''s no way I could face the board," Sebastian said, leaning forward, his tone strained.

    Reese let out a low, bitterugh. In the silence of the office, it sounded almost cruel. She straightened, leaning in so their eyes met, her gaze sharp enough to cut through steel. "Sebastian, are you really ying the victim here? Do you expect me to feel sorry for you? Ratcliff Global believed Tara''s lies and went after Ramos Corporation first. They cut off our loans and sent the suppliers after us. What was I supposed to do, just sit here and watch you run mypany into the ground?"

    First, Ratcliff Global targeted Ramos Corporation. Then Sebastian himself dragged them through the mud with the environmental scandal. Everything she''d done was just to protect what was hers. How did he even have the nerve to stand here and throw usations at her?

    "Reese, I know how much Ramos Corporation means to you. I''d never let it go under," Sebastian said, sighing like he was the one suffering.

    Reese actuallyughed, sharp and loud. "Really? Because everything you''ve done has pushed us right to the edge of bankruptcy."

    If Matthew hadn''t stepped in with the money and helped smooth things over, who knew what would have happened to thepany by now?

    Sebastian looked taken aback. For a second, he had nothing to say. Then he collected himself and his voice turned cold. "It''s pointless to argue about this now. I can make the board back off Ramos Corporation. I can make the environmental investigation disappear."

    "And?" Reese cut him off, her tone calm, like she''d seen thising a mile away.

    "In return, you''ll post a statement online. Say you were wrong about me guaranteeing Leslie''s loan, that you acted without checking the facts, and publicly apologize to Ratcliff Global." He watched her with total confidence, like he couldn''t imagine her saying no.

    Reese shook her head, a bitter smile ying at her lips. "Not a chance."

    "Reese!" Sebastian''s voice dropped, warning clear as day. He shot to his feet, hands braced on the coffee table feaning in close W¨ºre "We''re

    married. If Ratcliff Global goo

    down, what good does that do you? And Robbie''s still waiting for us to

    have another kid, to save his life."

    At that, whatever was left of Reese''s humor disappeared. Her eyes turned icy as she looked up at him. Her voice was calm, but there was no warmth in it at all.

    "Married? Have another kid to save Robbie? Sebastian, after everything that''s happened, do you honestly think I''d agree to that?"

    The truth was, she''d never agreed to IVF to save Robbie. She''d only done it to figure out what Jane and Leslie were plotting, to draw Leslie out. Now that Leslie had been caught Jane was tangled up in the mess, and Reese had what she wanted, there was no reason to keep ying along. And as for Robbie-she knew the truth. He was never sick. God knows what Jane had promised him to convince him to fake it, just to force Reese into another pregnancy.

    "Sebastian, I''m not having another child with you. And we''re getting a divorce. There''s nothing left to talk about."

    "What did you just say?" Sebastian''s

    body went rigid. He stared at her like

    he couldn''t believe his ears. "Reese are you out of your mind? Robbie''s still in the hospital waiting for you to save hint How can you say something like that?"

    "He''s waiting for me to save him?" Reese shook her head, her eyes full of scorn. "Sure, you and he both carry the gene for the disease. But has Robbie ever even gotten sick?"

    Her words hit Sebastian like a p, leaving him stunned and speechless.

 Chapter 328

    "What''s that supposed to mean?"

    "Exactly what it sounds like." Reese leaned back in her chair, calm and unbothered. "If you''re so curious, why don''t you go look it up yourself?" She didn''t give Sebastian another nce. Instead, she raised her voice toward the door. "Security, please show Mr. Ratcliff out."

    Sebastian''s face turned stormy, his chest rising and falling with barely controlled rage. But he didn''t lose it. He just locked his eyes on Reese, voice low and icy.

    "Reese, I hope you know what you''re doing. With the state Ramos Corporation is in, I could destroy it whenever I want. Don''t push me."

    A while ago, that would have scared her. In Bridger Lake, Sebastian definitely had the power to ruin Ramos Corporation. But things had changed. Now that Leslie had dragged him into trouble, the government was bound toe knocking again. This time, he wouldn''t get away so easily. Reese wasn''t about to be threatened anymore. Besides, Ratcliff Global had already starteding after them.

    She just nodded, her facepletely nk, as if he hadn''t just threatened her livelihood. "Go ahead. You can leave now."

    There was noise at the door as security arrived. Sebastian nced at them, then shot Reese a re full of resentment and cold fury. "Well, Reese, you really don''t give an inch, do you? I never noticed that before. Just wait. I''ll be here when youe crawling back."

    He straightened his suit jacket, gave Matthew onest venomous look, and walked out, each step heavy with anger.

    Finally, the office was quiet.

    Matthew, who had heard everything, walked over to the water dispenser, filled a cup with warm water, and handed it to Reese.

    She took it with a strained smile. "Sorry you had to see that."

    Matthew caught the flicker of hurt in her expression and felt something twist in his chest. "It''s okay. If anyone looked ridiculous just now, it was Sebastian."

    "Yeah," Reese murmured. She took a sip of water, but the warmth only made her more aware of the cold knot in her chest.

    Sebastian didn''t waste any time. The next morning, before sunrise, Reese was jolted awake by her phone buzzing nonstop. She rubbed her eyes and checked the screen: the warehouse manager was calling. Her stomach dropped.

    "Ms. Meyer, something''s happened! They''ve sealed the warehouse!" The manager''s panicked voice echoedan her ear. "A bunch of uniformed officials showed up before dawn. They said our raw materials failed safety standards and pped a closure notice right on the door. We couldn''t stop them!"

    Reese''s heart sank. She shot upright in bed, voice tight. "What? Which warehouse?"

    "The big one, out by the city limits! We''ve got all the raw materials for the Eastbase Group and Southern Machinery orders in there. If we can''t deliver on time, we''ll owe millions in penalties!"

    Reese hung up, not even thinking about getting ready. She threw on a coat, grabbed her keys, and ran for her car.

    When she got to the warehouse, she

    had to push through a worried

    crowd before she saw the official seal on the iron gates and the police tape blocking everything off. She closed her eyes, anger burning in her chest but nowhere to go. After a long moment, she forced herself to calm down and walked over to the

    warehouse manager and the nervous employees.

    This wasn''t just about a few big orders. That warehouse held everything Ramos Corporation

    needed to keep going for the nexet

    half year. If it stayed shut, they wouldn''t just lose money on date orders; their reputation would be trashed, and other clients would start backing out, too.

 Chapter 329

    Reese took a long, steadying breath, trying to bury her anger and anxiety. She opened her eyes and nced around at her staff, who were whispering nervously, faces full of panic. Drawing herself up, she walked over to the warehouse

    manager.

    He was pacing back and forth, sweat running down the sides of his face, lookingpletely lost. When he saw Reese, he rushed over like she was his lifeline.

    "Ms. Meyer, thank goodness you''re here! You have to help us figure this out!"

    "What''s going on?" Reese kept her tone as calm as she could, refusing to let her own emotions spill over and make things worse for everyone. "Did they say exactly which raw materials didn''t meet safety standards? Did they show you any test results or reports?"

    The manager shook his head, practically stomping his feet in frustration. "Nothing. All they did was wave around a sealing order and say they got a tip-off. They wouldn''t answer any of our questions, just said they had to lock everything down for inspection. Ms. Meyer, someone is definitely trying to mess with us! We do mechanical work, not chemicals. There''s no way our materials are unsafe."

    Reese clenched her fists at her sides, her jaw tight. She didn''t need to guess who was behind this. Sebastian. Of course it was him.

    Yesterday, he''d gone on about how they were a team, a married couple-like they were supposed to be in this together.

    When it suited him, suddenly they were united, and she was supposed to be understanding. But the second she pushed back, he had no problem throwing her under the bus. She''d never felt so sick of his double standards.

    "I''ll take care of it as soon as I can," she told the manager, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Just keep everyone calm. Don''t let this turn into a bigger mess."

    As she turned to leave, her mind was already racing with possibilities. That''s when Karter appeared, leading a group of uniformed officials right toward her.

    "Mr. Shaw?" she said, her surprise clear.

    "Ms. Meyer." Karter gave her a friendly smile and nodded to the people behind him. "This is the supervisor in charge of sealing up our warehouse.¡± He made a point of saying "our" and shot Reese quick wink. "I know a few people here. We''re about to go in and

    double-check if there actually are any unsafe materials. After all, we''re a mechanical shop, not a chemical nt. There shouldn''t be anything out of line. You go take care of what you need to."

    "Thanks," Reese replied, understanding his meaning. She watched as Karter and the officials broke the seal and headed into the warehouse. Relief loosened the knot in her chest, but another heavier feeling took its ce. She owed, Matthew again. The favors were piling up, and she had no idea how she''d ever pay them all back.

    She turned away, her face cold and determined.

    Sebastian, if you want to y dirty, then don''t me me for going all out.

    Pulling out her phone, Reese dialed George. He picked up almost immediately. "Ms. Meyer."

    "George, I need you to draft awsuit for me," Reese said quietly, standing just outside the warehouse door, the wind tossing her hair around her face.

    "Of course. What''s the situation?" George''s voice instantly turned serious.

    "Use the evidence we found about Sebastian forcing me into

    surrogacy want to press crimina charges for illegal surrogacy. Gather everything we have, hand it over to the police, and ask them to open case."

    Her eyes narrowed. During the divorce, Sebastian had asked her to prove her evidence was real. Letting the police investigate would be so much easier than fighting this battle on her own.

    "...Alright."

 Chapter 330

    After she hung up, Reese lingered at the warehouse door, her thoughts all over the ce.

    She hadn''t missed the doubt in George''s voice. She knew that once she handed this evidence over to the police, Sebastian''s scandal would explode into the open for everyone to see.

    But honestly, Sebastian had crossed way too many lines. If she didn''t push back, Ratcliff Global and Sebastian would always act like she owed them.

    A sharp gust kicked up dust from the lot, stinging her skin with the cold. Reese hugged her coat tighter and looked up just in time to see Karter walk out with a group of uniformed officers.

    The officer in front held a folder and wore an awkward, apologetic smile-a total 180 from his earlier, all-business attitude.

    "Ms. Meyer, I''m really sorry about all this."

    He hurried over and handed her the folder. "We checked everything thoroughly. All

    the quality control reports for the warehouse''s materials areplete, and

    everything is up to safety standards.

    "We got a real-name report, so we had to investigate. I''m sorry for the inconvenience. I hope you understand."

    Reese took the folder, her eyes turning cold. "A real-name report?

    "Whoever this ''concerned citizen'' is, I wonder how they even managed to turn our steel supplies into a safety risk," she said, her voice t.

    The officers instantly froze, ncing at each other, their eyes flicking over to Karter.

    Karter''s face gave nothing away. The lead officer fidgeted, his smile tight and his tone suddenly vague.

    "We have to protect theinant''s identity, Ms. Meyer. And... well, the person who filed the report is someone we really can''t afford to upset. Please, don''t make it harder for us."

    "Can''t afford to upset?" Reese gave a soft, humorlessugh, but there was no warmth in her eyes.

    In Bridger Lake, there was only one person with that kind of pull, someone who''d go after Ramos Corporation this relentlessly. Of course it was Sebastian.

    She let it drop, closed the folder, and handed it back. "Since it''s all sorted dut, you can take off the seal Next time someone files a int,'' I hope you''ll check the facts first."

    "Absolutely. Of course," the officers said quickly. They signaled to their team to remove the tape, apologized a few more times, and then hurried off.

    l

    As their car turned the corner and disappeared, Karter walked over. "Ms. Meyer, you don''t have to worry. My boss already made some calls about all this. It won''t happen again."

    "Thank you," Reese said with a nod, knowing she''d just created another headache for Matthew.

    She needed to get stronger, and fast. She couldn''t keep letting people hold leverage over her. She had to make sure nothing like this happened again.

    She narrowed her eyes, thoughtful. "Mr. Shaw, there''s something I''d like you to do for me."

    "Your boss has a lot of connections. Can he help look into Mr. Ratcliff''s will, the one he made before he died?"

    Mr. Ratcliff had told her, right before he passed, that he was leaving her shares in Ratcliff Global.

    If she had those shares, she could get inside thepany, have a real voice on

    the board. This whole mess might never have happened.

    It had been a while since the old man died, but she hadn''t seen a trace of that will. Something was definitely off.

    "...Alright. I''ll ask him," Karter said, a flicker of doubt crossing his face.

    He''d only ever heard his boss

    mention, once in passing, that the Ratcliff family had hidden the will after the old man''s death. Nobody talked about it. The family was tight tipped But somehow. Ms. Meyer seemed to know Matthew might be able to find it.

    "Is there a problem?" Reese asked, picking up on his hesitation.

 Chapter 331

    "No, no, it''s no trouble at all!"

    Karter waved his hands in a hurry. "I''ll text him right away. As soon as I get an answer, I''ll let you know."

    Matthew had always said Reese''s business came first. That''s why he''d called Karter back from overseas and made him drop a promising market expansion just to be here for her. Honestly, Matthew himself had been wondering why Mr. Ratcliff''s will was still a big secret and had already started digging into it.

    "Thank you. I really appreciate it."

    Once the warehouse situation was handled, Reese said goodbye to Karter and got into her car. As she buckled her seatbelt, she sent a message to George.

    "George, can you help me find out whichwyer Grandpa met with before he passed?"

    If she could just figure out who drafted the will, she''d have a better idea of what was really happening. With Matthew busy wrapping up the de project, she couldn''t just pile everything on him.

    Pulling up the GPS, Reese headed toward Ramos Corporation. After the chaos at the warehouse, she needed to show her face and calm everyone down.

    She had just merged onto the expressway when her phone rang. The number wasn''t saved, but after a second''s hesitation, she picked up.

    "Hello?"

    "Reese, what''s going on between you and Sebastian?"

    Bailey''s voice was sharp with anger.

    "You two are married, so why are Ramos Corporation and Ratcliff Global fighting like this?

    "I heard you exposed him for vouching for that woman. Do you have any idea how much trouble this causes for Sebastian? How could you be so reckless?

    "She''s just some woman. Sebastian already told you she took advantage of him. Is that really worth dragging out in public?

    "If you keep fighting like this, how are you ever going to have another child with him?

    "Do you still want the Meyer shares or not?"

    Bailey fired off his questions without giving Reese a chance to respond. Reese''s hands tightened on the wheel, her eyes turning cold.

    "Of course I want the shares my mother left me," she answered calmly, "but I''m not having another child with him."

    Bailey''s dream of using her to get closer to the Ratcliff family was just that¡ªa dream.

    "You-" Bailey''s anger finally boiled over. "Reese, didn''t we agree on this? You and Sebastian have

    another kid. Robbie gets the Ratcliff inheritance, and the other gets the Meyer shares. Only then will transfer them to you.

    "If you won''t have a baby, why should I give you the shares?"

    "Why?" Reese let out a coldugh. "Because they belong to me. My mother left them to me.

    "And don''t forget, without me, would you even have the civilian contract for the de project?

    "Bailey, you can''t have it both ways."

    ¡°So what?¡± Bailey sounded unimpressed. ¡°That contract''s already signed. Vista Tech has the rights now."

    "Your brother and I are on our way to ckOak right now. Any idea why?

    ¡°We''re about to discuss the next

    phase of the partnership. Reese

    a little bit of skill go to your head If you want those shares, you''II have to give Sebastian another child.

    "That''s all you''re good for anyway.

    "Think about it. Go apologize to Sebastian. Live like a proper wife. Call me when you''re pregnant."

    The call ended with a sharp beep, leaving only the empty dial tone echoing in the car. Anger shed in Reese''s eyes.

    Bailey was trying to cut her off now that she''d served his purpose. Even if she really did have another child, he''d just find some new excuse to hold the shares over her head.

    She couldn''t let this drag on any longer. She needed to get those shares¡ªcleanly,

    decisively, and on her own terms.

 Chapter 332

    Reese pulled her car over to the curb, exhaling sharply as she grabbed her phone. First, she called Patrick, quickly filling him in on the warehouse situation and asking him to keep everyone calm and not let things get out of hand.

    Then she shot Matthew a message.

    [Matthew, I''m heading to ckOak now. Wait for me, okay? Let''s talk about the Vista Tech partnership when I get there.]

    She hit send, started the car again, and turned around, heading straight for ckOak.

    Inside the ckOak R&D conference room, Matthew lounged back in his chair, fingers drumming absentmindedly on the table. He was trying to figure out how to buy Reese enough time to get her shares from the Meyer family without raising suspicion.

    His phone buzzed. The moment he saw Reese''s text, the almost-smile on his lips faded, his eyes going cold. So Bailey was making trouble for her already.

    He and Reese had agreed she wouldn''t reveal she was the other lead on the de project until she secured her inheritance. If she wasing here in person, Bailey must have really pushed her buttons. The Meyer family had way too much time on their hands.

    He quickly sent a message: [Give the Meyer family something to keep them busy. They''re getting restless.]

    If Reese''s shares weren''t tied up with them, Matthew would have dealt with the Meyers a long time ago. He wasn''t in the mood to let their antics slide.

    As he put his phone away, footsteps echoed outside the door. Matthew looked up just as Bailey and Hank walked in.

    Bailey looked smug, briefcase tucked confidently under his arm. Hank was all smiles. They clearly thought the de contract was theirs for the taking.

    Matthew''s lips curled in a hint of a smirk. He knew Vista Tech''s setup didn''t stand a chance of running the de system, no matter how confident they looked.

    "Matthew, sorry to keep you waiting," Bailey said, striding forward and holding out his hand. "Vista Tech is ready tounch de. When can you transfer the system to us?"

    Matthew didn''t bother getting up. He nced at Bailey, his voice cool and even. "Mr. Meyer, have you finished preparing the share transfer agreement for Reese?"

    Bailey''s hand hung awkwardly in the air before he pulled it back, the smile slipping from his face. He''d thought Matthew was just making

    conversation when he not

    it up,

    during the contract signing He never expected Matthew would bring it up the moment they met.

    He cleared his throat and looked away. "We''re working on it. With so many shares

    involved, we need to double-check everything.

    "How about we focus on the next steps for the Vista Tech and ckOak partnership?"

    Matthew didn''t answer. He just leaned back, fingersced together, watching Bailey with an unreadable look and the faintest trace of a smile.

    Bailey shifted under Matthew''s

    stare, a sense of unease creeping in. He tried to brush it off, pulling a tobi

    folder from his briefcase and offering it to Matthew. "Here''s they updated integration data for de. We''ve made all the rmended changes. Take a look?"

    Matthew didn''t move to take it. He just tipped his head back, studying Bailey with open amusement.

    Dylon, standing by, scowled. "Matthew, we have a signed contract. If ckOak doesn''t cooperate, we could face serious penalties for breach of contract.

    "You''re just one of de''s project leads. Are you really willing to risk that much, just for Reese? Do you really think you can take the fall if ckOak loses big because of this?"

    Bailey had to admit, Matthew was a genius with Al. But if he wasn''t running de, Bailey wouldn''t even bother to remember his name. Now he was sitting here acting like he owned the ce.

 Chapter 333

    "Mr. Meyer, are you threatening me?"

    Matthew raised an eyebrow, his voice growing even colder. "You don''t actually think signing a contract means Vista Tech automatically owns the rights to de''s civilian applications, do you?"

    Bailey''s heart skipped a beat at Matthew''s tone. The contract was signed, sure, but they hadn''t finished the integration yet. He didn''t want things to get ugly, so he swallowed his irritation and managed a stiff smile.

    "That''s not what I meant. I just want to remind you that we''ve already signed the agreement, so we should stick to what it says."

    "Stick to what it says?"

    Matthew let out a low chuckle, picked up the contract from the table, and flipped to a certain page. He pointed it out to Bailey. "Mr. Meyer, maybe you should read this part a little more carefully.

    "It''s spelled out right here. If Vista Tech''s tform doesn''t meet de''s operational requirements, we have the right to end the partnership on our own. And if that happens, Vista Tech is the one responsible for the breach, which means you''ll owe the penalty."

    Bailey''s face darkened for a moment. He quickly grabbed the contract and looked at the page Matthew indicated, eyes scanning the lines.

    It was right there: "Vista Tech mustplete the operational integration of de within one month of starting the partnership. If not, it''s considered a breach of contract and a penalty must be paid."

    He''d been counting on Reese to help keep things smooth. Since ckOak was willing to work with them because of her, he''d figured there wouldn''t be any traps in the contract, so he hadn''t bothered to read the fine print.

    Now, reading that use, his nerves started acting up again. Still, he reminded himself the tform was built by Sofia and her team, which gave him some

    reassurance.

    "Matthew, you know we''ve got the technical chops. My daughter Sofia is handling de''s integration herself. She''s a top grad from a world-ss university. It''ll be fine,¡± Bailey said, his voice full of pride.

    "Oh really?"

    Matthew studied him, the corners of his lips curling in a subtle, almost mocking smile Since you''re so confident, let''s go ahead and run de on Vista Tech''s tform for a test."

    "But when ites to technical stuff, I can''t make all the decisions alone. We''ll need the other lear developer toe with me to Vista Tech and help with the testing."

    "The other lead developer?" Bailey perked up, hope flickering in his eyes.

    He''d heard plenty of rumors about this person, a genius who''d fixed the city''s traffic system within days of joining ck Oak andter led the de project Without her, de never would''ve been finished so quickly.

    Bailey had been trying to find out who this mastermind was, hoping to connect, but their identity was tightly guarded because of the military. He didn''t even know their name.

    He hadn''t seen her at any of their previous meetings and had pretty much given up on the idea of meeting her at all. Now, hearing this, he almost couldn''t believe his luck.

    Matthew caught the excitement in Bailey''s eyes and smirked. "She''s on her way up now. In fact, she''s already downstairs."

    Right on cue, the conference room door swung open and someone stepped inside.

    Reese walked in, her long hair pulled back neatly, a hint of a smile on her face. Her eyes were sharp and focused as she strode into the room.

    Bailey and Hank locked eyes, both of thempletely thrown.

    Hadn''t Reese said she''d already quit ckOak?

    So why was she here now?

 Chapter 334

    Bailey just hung up with Reese, so he figured she must havee straight to ckOak. She was definitely hoping to use Matthew to put pressure on him for Marie''s shares.

    He shot Hank a look, silently telling him to get Reese out of the room before she could stir up any more trouble.

    Hank caught on in a sh. He strode over and, before Reese could react, grabbed her wrist and started pulling her toward the door. "Come on. We need to talk."

    "If you''ve got something to say, say it here."

    Reese frowned and tried to yank her arm free, but Hank''s grip was unyielding. As she struggled, red marks bloomed on her skin.

    "Reese, could you just listen to me for once? Stop interrupting while Dad and Matthew are having a serious conversation."

    When she kept resisting, Hank''s hold tightened. He gave a hard tug, and Reese stumbled, her heel screeching across the polished tile. The sound sliced through the tense silence.

    Matthew''s hand clenched on the table, his eyes turning icy as he red daggers into Hank''s back.

    He stood up, ready to intervene, but Bailey blocked his way.

    "Sorry, Matthew. Reese was spoiled by her uncle and never learned when to stop. Please don''t mind her."

    Bailey forced a smile, relieved as Hank dragged Reese out of the room.

    "By the way, when is this de project manager you mentioned supposed to arrive?" he asked, changing the subject.

    Matthew''s jaw tightened as he watched Reese get pulled out, the atmosphere in the room turning even colder.

    He kept his eyes on the conference room door, barely open, his voice sharp as ice. "She was already here. But you just kicked her out."

    Bailey blinked, then let out a disbelievingugh. "You can''t be serious, Matthew.

    "I know exactly what Reese is capable of. She didn''t even finish college let alone understand anything about artificial Intelligence. How could she possibly be the lead on de?"

    He hesitated, his tone growing "If you want to help her get the

    Meyer family shares, let''s talk about

    it directly. Don''t pretend she''s the

    de project manager hel.ne

    ??????

    "And anyway, de is a top-level military project. They wouldn''t just hand it to anyone. Reese isn''t cut out for that."

    Just as he''d thought, Reese was here to scheme with Matthew for the shares. And Matthew had actually gone along with it, making up this story about her being de''s lead.

    "She is qualified," Matthew said, his voice clipped.

    He didn''t want to argue anymore. Grabbing his jacket off the chair, he strode for the door.

    As he passed Bailey, he shot him a look full of disdain.

    "Funny, Mr. Meyer. You''re supposed to be Reese''s father, but you don''t know the first thing about her. Maybe you should ask yourself why that is.¡±

    Bailey flushed, stung by the words. He wanted to snap back, but nothing came to mind. He could only watch as Matthew walked out, realizing he''d just burned a bridge.

    He cursed Reese in his mind. If she hadn''t shown up and made a scene, he wouldn''t be in this mess. Not only had missed meeting de''s real. project manager, now Matthew was furious with him.

    Outside the conference room, Hank pulled Reese into a quiet corner before finally letting go of her wrist.

    She rubbed the sore spot, ring at the red marks on her skin, her eyes cold as ice.

    "Hank, what the hell is your problem?"

    Hank let out a shortugh, crossing his arms and looking down at her like she was nothing.

    "Reese, I know you want Mom''s shares so badly, but you can at least pick a better time to throw a fit.

    "Do you even get how important this project is to Dad? If you can''t help, the least you could do is stop making things worse for him.¡±

 Chapter 335

    "Don''t think you''re untouchable just because Matthew''s on your side. You really think you can just barge in, mess with the Vista Tech and ckOak deal, and threaten Dad over his shares?

    "And what have you ever done for this family, huh? Why do you think you get to just show up and take what you want?"

    "Take what I want?" Reese let out a low, coldugh. "Hank, do you really think the Meyer family would be where it is today if it weren''t for my mom?"

    "Those shares? They''re mine. She left them for me. Why shouldn''t I have them?

    "And look at you. You''re enjoying everything she built, calling someone else ''Mom'' like it''s nothing. All these years, you never once tried to find out what really happened in that car ident. You just med me for everything.

    "You really think that''s what Mom would have wanted? That it makes you feel any better?"

    "Say that again, I dare you!" Hank snapped. He was so furious he lunged at her, hand raised to shove her away.

    But before he could even touch her, someone grabbed his wrist in a vice-like grip.

    Matthew''s gaze flickered to Reese''s reddened wrist, his eyes turning stormy. His grip tightened. Hank''s face twisted in pain, sweat instantly popping out on his forehead.

    "Mr. Meyer," Matthew''s voice was icy and sharp, every wordced with anger. "Reese is your sister. You really think it''s okay toy a hand on her?"

    "Matthew, this isn''t your business," Hank ground out, trying to ignore the pain. "She''s my sister. It''s my right to discipline her."

    Matthew''s eyes narrowed. His grip tightened even more. "Apologize."

    Hank bit back a groan, his pride warring with the pain that shot up his arm, but he still wouldn''t budge.

    Matthew''s tone turned casual, but anyone could hear the warning simmering underneath. ¡°I guess Vista Tech isn''t that serious about this partnership."

    He nced at Hank. "You really think just after the contract''s signed, the rights to de will be yours? Your tform still has to prove it can even run our system."

    Bailey, who''d hurried after Matthew, broke out in a cold sweat. He knew Matthew was in charge of de, and if he said the tech wasn''t up to standard that was it. Even if Sofia could get things running, Matthew could make their lives hell if he wanted to.

    The bank loan had just cleared. If the de project didn''tunch this month, the Meyer family wouldn''t even make it to the official release¡ªthere''d be no money

    left.

    Bailey quickly jumped in. "No, really, we can do it. Matthew, please don''t take it to heart Hank just lost his temper. He didn''t mean to hurt Reese. Please fogive him."

    He shot Hank a look that could kill, silently telling him to apologize.

    Hank was more aware than anyone how desperate things had gotten Recently, lots of their deals failed to work out. He swallowed his pride. "I, uh, went too far just now Don''t take #personally."

    "Not good enough," Matthew said, his grip tightening.

    "Ah! I''m sorry, Reese! I''m sorry, okay? I shouldn''t have acted like that. Can you forgive me?"

    Only then did Matthew finally let go.

    Reese didn''t even acknowledge Hank. She just turned to Matthew. "So, how did your talk go?"

    Matthew didn''t answer right away. Ever since Hank had dragged Reese out of the meeting, Matthew had been right behind. He just shot Bailey a look.

    Bailey got the message loud and clear-and for a second, he was actually shocked at how much Matthew clearly cared about Reese.

 Chapter 336

    He kept a close eye on Matthew, trying to read his mood as he spoke. "Matthew wanted to check out Vista Tech, see if their tform can handle the de system. We figured we''de find you."

    Typical-always looking for an in.

    Matthew''s eyes shed with a trace of sarcasm. He turned to Reese. "Let''s go. We''ll check it out together."

    Bailey hesitated, clearly uneasy. "Matthew, is Reese...ing too?"

    "Why? Is Vista Tech not weing her?" Matthew arched an eyebrow, his tone unmistakably icy. "Because if that''s the case, then forget it. I''ll just assume Vista Tech''s tform can''t run de."

    Bailey''s face changed instantly. He rushed over, grabbing Matthew''s arm. "No, no, don''t get the wrong idea! That''s not what I meant at all!"

    "It''s just that... Reese is still Mr. Ratcliff''s wife. If word gets out she''s with us on business, it might not look good for you."

    "Whether it looks good or not isn''t up to you," Matthew replied, his face darkening at the mention of Sebastian. ¡°So, are we going or not?"

    "Let''s go," Bailey said quickly, making an awkward gesture for them to move ahead.

    Reese just smirked, stepping toward the elevator without waiting for anyone.

    Matthew watched her with a half-smile, then followed.

    Bailey caught up to Matthew, dropping his voice. "Matthew, Reese is stubborn and proud. She''s really not worth your time.

    "Besides, she only has eyes for Mr. Ratcliff. I doubt she really cares about you. She''s probably just trying to use you for her own ends. Don''t let her fool you."

    "My business isn''t yours to worry about, Mr. Meyer," Matthew cut in, shooting Bailey a warning look before stepping into the elevator behind Reese.

    When they got to the car, Matthew held the door for Reese first, then stood outside, his stare practically drilling holes in Bailey.

    "If you really don''t want us both there, Mr. Meyer, then¡ª"

    Bailey panicked, waving his hands. "No! Matthew, I swear, that''s not what I meant! Let''s go, let''s go now, straight to Vista Tech!"

    He hurried into the elevator, ring at Reese as he passed.

    Reese distracted herself by lightly rubbing the red marks on her wrist, ignoring Baileypletely.

    She was here now, and she was definitely going to Vista Tech. That was the only way she could prove her worth-and im the shares her mother left her.

    Thirty minutester, the car pulled up in front of Vista Tech.

    Sofia was already waiting by the entrance, dressed in a white

    ??

    sundress, her hair in soft curls and She looked

    makeup perfectly done

    every bit the picture of gentle elegance.

    Her expression changed, though, when she saw Matthew get out and walk around to open the car door for Reese. Her eyes narrowed with thinly veiled contempt.

    The whole city knew about the

    drama between Ramos Corporation and Ratcliff Global. Sofia had figured that without Sebastian, Reese would

    be down and out. She had would

    expected Matthew to be sticking around.

    She could only cover up her resentment with a forced smile, stepping forward. "Reese, hello.

    "You and Matthew are still so close, huh? He even brings you along to his meetings..."

    Reese didn''t even nce her way, just kept walking straight into the building.

    Sofia tried to get in another jab, but Bailey shot her a re that shut her up.

    "Sofia! What are you saying?" he snapped. "Reese and Matthew are here to work. Don''t start anything!"

    Sofia pursed her lips, but she didn''t

    dare argue. She turned toward

    Matthew, forcing out, "Matthew, I''m sorry I was just joking. Don''t take it to heart

    "I''m not the one you should be apologizing to." Matthew''s voice was cold, his eyes

    on Reese. He left no room for argument. "You owe her an apology."

    Sofia''s expression froze. She stared at Matthew in disbelief, then nced at her father for help.

    Bailey ignored her desperate look. He leaned in and muttered, "Just apologize. Don''t make things worse."

    Sofia bit her lip, ring daggers at Reese''s back, and squeezed out the words, "I''m sorry."

 Chapter 337

    Reese stopped in her tracks and turned around, but instead of looking at Sofia, her eyes went straight to Bailey.

    "Where''s the developmentb? I want to see if your tform can actually run de."

    Sofia''s face went pale with anger at Reese''s cold tone, but when Bailey gave her a look, she had no choice but to walk over and gesture down the hallway. "This way. I''ll show you."

    Matthew trailed after them, a subtle smile tugging at his lips as he watched Reese''s confident stride.

    Theb was spotless, filled with rows ofputers and several techs huddled around a central workstation. Sofia walked right up to the main console, grabbed the mouse, and clicked through a few windows until a cascade of code filled the screen. Clearing her throat, she started her pitch. "Matthew, this is the tform we built at Vista Tech. We''ve already tweaked it several times for de''s specs. There shouldn''t be any issues."

    "That''s not for you to decide," Matthew replied, pulling a USB drive from his pocket. "This has a partial build of de''s system. Let''s see if it works."

    "Of course." Sofia took the drive, plugged it in, andunched the program. Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she set everything up.

    A progress bar appeared, steadily rising. Sofia gave a confident smile. "See? I told you it''d work."

    Her smile barely had time to settle before it froze. The progress bar stalled at fifty percent, then a red error message shed across the screen.

    Warning: Insufficient system resources. Unable to run program.

    Warning: Data mismatch. Integration failed.

    Sofia''s back broke out in a cold sweat. She frantically started typing, but nothing changed. The error message stayed put, and the progress bar didn''t budge.

    Bailey''s expression darkened as he hurried over. "What''s going on? I thought you already sorted out all the issues."

    "Sofia, fix it! Didn''t you say you''d worked on de''s development and knew the system inside and out?"

    But the truth was, when Sofia was part of the de team, she''d never touched the core data. The critical integration with Ratcliff Global''s The Vault was all done by Reese. Sofia had relied on her years of standard experience to build this tform, never once thinking Reese had rewritten the rules when she

    developed de. Now, staring at the

    stalled program, Sofia was

    Matthew leaned back against a desk, arms folded, watching Sofia flounder before ncing at Reese. When Reese gave him a tiny nod, he spoke up. "How about we let Reese take a shot?"

    Sofia''s face burned, but she tried to hold her ground. "Matthew, even if Reese was involved with de, wasn''t she just your assistant? How would she know what''s wrong? Why don''t you take a look yourself?"

    Hank jumped in. "Yeah, exactly. Sofia''s a top Al grad from an international university. If she can''t solve it, what could Reese possibly do?"

    Bailey kept quiet, watching Matthew closely. He figured Matthew was just covering for Reese, trying to make her look good. There was no way she could actually fix something thisplicated.

    Reese ignored all the chatter. She stepped up to theputer and started typing, focused and fast.

    A few minutester, she stopped and pointed to a line of code on the screen, her voice calm. "Here''s your problem. The logic in this algorithm is off is causing the system resources to be allocated unevenly. That''s why de can''t run."

    She pointed again. "And this protocol doesn''t match up with de''s core module.

    That''s what''s triggering the error."

    Theb went silent. The other techs leaned in to look at the screen, and

    recognition dawned on their faces.

    "That''s it! That''s exactly the issue!"

    "We''ve been debugging this for days and never caught it. No wonder she works in

    de. Incredible!"

 Chapter 338

    Sofia''s face went pale. She stared at Reese like she couldn''t believe what she was hearing.

    Everyone knew Reese had helped out with the de system, but she was just Matthew''s assistant, always doing odd jobs. Yet, here she was, not only understanding the code but pointing out the problem in seconds.

    Sofia shot a panicked look at Bailey and Hank. Their faces mirrored her disbelief. Her heart dropped. If Reese was really this talented, Bailey and Hank would see her in a whole new light. And if Reese asked to reopen the investigation into Marie''s ident, they might actually agree.

    Trying to steady herself, Sofia pressed her thumb into her palm, forcing her nerves to calm. She opened her mouth to say something, but Matthew stepped forward first. He nced at the code on the screen, a mocking smile tugging at

    his lips.

    "Mr. Meyer, is this what you call wless?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Vista Tech''s tform can''t even handle basic logic. There''s no way de can run on this."

    Bailey snapped out of his daze, anxiety flickering across his face. He turned quickly to Sofia. "Sofia, you can fix this, right?"

    "I... I''ll try." Sofia hesitated, then stepped up and started typing furiously. Fifteen minutes passed. Still, de refused to run.

    Reese leaned back, watching Sofia''s cheeks flush deeper with every failed attempt. She couldn''t help but chuckle. Looks like she''d given Sofia too much credit. Even this basic problem was out of her reach.

    Bailey grew more anxious by the minute. "Sofia, is it working yet?"

    "Dad, I''m trying..." Sofia''s voice cracked. She''d already switched through several different algorithms, desperate to make depatible with Vista Tech''s tform. Every time she tried, something else went wrong.

    "You''re going about it all wrong." Reese let out a quiet sigh, watching Sofia fumble. "The two systems just aren''tpatible. No matter how you tweak it, they won''t work together."

    She paused, then added, "If you can''t fix it, maybe I can give it a shot?"

    That was thest straw. Sofia snapped, her voice sharp and shaky. "Reese, stop pretending you know everything!

    "What do you even know? I''m using the best frameworks from overseas. I''ve spent a week debugging, and I still can''t find the problem. You think you can solve it after ncing at the code for two seconds?

    Bailey''s face darkened even more. He stepped closer, pointing at the ring red error on the screen, his voice tight. "Reese, Sofia''s been working with Al since she was a kid. I spent a fortune sending her abroad for training if she can''t solve this What makes you someone WFTO didn''t even finish college-think you can?"

    Hank jumped in, trying to calm things down. "Bailey''s right, Reese. Even if you

    know de better than Sofia, fixing this is real technical work.

    "You''re just making things worse. If you mess this up and we lose the partnership, can you handle the consequences?"

    Matthew''s eyes darkened as he heard them piling on, and he started to say something, but Reese gave him a quick, subtle shake of her head. He caught the spark in her eyes and just smiled, saying nothing.

    Reese looked totally unfazed. She shrugged. "Alright, if you all think I can''t do it."

    She walked over to theputer anyway, fingers flying across the keyboard. Within seconds, a new window popped up. Lines of pale blue code scrolled by, stopping on an encrypted input screen.

    Bailey started to step forward to stop her, but the window on the screen made him freeze in ce, a wave of unease washing over him.

    Sofia recognized it instantly, her voice tight. "That''s the destruction authorization for de." She''d only seen it back when she worked with the ckOak team.

    But how did Reese know how to ess it?

    Before Sofia could even ask, Reese spoke up. "Since Vista Tech''s

    tform can''t run de, protocol says we have to wipe the system data from the drive. It''s the only way to protect our core technology."

 Chapter 339

    Reese didn''t even nce at them. She just typed a string ofmands into the input box, hit enter, then looked up at Matthew. "All done on my end. Now it''s your turn."

    Matthew arched a brow, his gaze drifting over to Bailey and the others, who

    looked like they''d been frozen in ce. He wandered over to theputer, casual

    as ever.

    "Wait, hold on!"

    Bailey finally snapped out of it, pointing a trembling finger at the screen before turning to Reese. "How do you even have the authority to destroy de''s data?" Wasn''t that ess supposed to be for the project''s technical lead only?

    Reese tilted her head, acting genuinely puzzled. "I am the other technical lead on de. Didn''t Matthew mention that to you?"

    Matthew just shrugged, looking innocent. "I told him, but Mr. Meyer didn''t believe me. Not much I could do."

    He hovered his fingers over the keyboard, ready to type in his own authorization code. "Since the partnership''s over, we might as well get the data destruction over with."

    "No, please, don''t!"

    Bailey lunged forward and pped his hand over Matthew''s, sweat beading on his forehead and running down his face. "Reese, look, I didn''t give you enough credit, and I haven''t really paid attention to you.

    "I honestly had no idea you''d made such big strides in Al-that you''d be a technical lead on de."

    He turned toward Reese, his anger gone, reced by a forced, almost desperate smile. ¡°You spotted the problem, so I know you can fix it. Why don''t you help your dad out and get de running properly for the tform?"

    Reese''s eyes sparkled with mischief. "Mr. Meyer, stop acting like we''re close. If even Sofia, your star pupil, couldn''t solve this, there''s no way I can."

    "That was... I mean, earlier, I just¡ª"

    Bailey''s cheeks burned with

    embarrassment. The words he''d said earlier felt like a p in his face. He wanted to apologize to He wanted to an

    Reese but the

    int quite g

    words out, so he turned to Sofia and Hank instead.

    "What were you two thinking, talking to Reese like that? Apologize to her right now."

    ¡°Dad!" Sofia protested, her voice sharp. She was about to argue, but Hank, finally realizing the gravity of the situation, pulled her back.

    As soon as Hank learned Reese was the other lead on the de project, regret washed over him. He knew now wasn''t the time to bicker. He lowered his head, voice subdued.

    "Reese, was out of line shouldn''t I have doubted your skills."

    Sofia nced at Hank''s pale face, then looked back at Bailey, who shot her a stern look. Clenching her fists

    so tightly her nails.dug into her palms, she barely managed to choke out, "Reese, I''m sorry."

    Reese watched their forced apologies and lifted an eyebrow, her tone cool. "Fine, apology epted. But if you want my help, there''s something I want in return."

    She paused, her gaze locking on Bailey. "I want the shares my mother left me."

    "You-"

    Hank was stunned, not expecting Reese to turn the situation to her advantage. His frustration and humiliation quickly boiled over into anger. "Reese, don''t go too far.

    "Do you even understand how important de''smercial rights are to Vista Tech? The shares from your mother are always yours. You can have them anytime. Do you really have to make this demand right now?

    "So if we don''t hand them over, you''d just watch Meyer Group go under?"

    "Meyer Group going bankrupt?" Reese tilted her head, pretending to think it over, then smiled. ¡°Honestly? That doesn''t sound too bad.

    "I''m only asking for the shares so Sofia and Grace don''t get them. If the Meyer family does go bankrupt and they walk away with nothing, I''d actually find that pretty satisfying."

    Hank waspletely floored, staring at Reese in disbelief. He had always thought she wanted the shares to honor her mother''s legacy. He never imagined she didn''t care at all about thepany''s fate.

 Chapter 340

    Sofia stared at Reese, her whole body shaking with anger and disbelief. "You... how could you do this?"

    Reese just raised an eyebrow, her voice cool. "Do what, exactly? Sofia, you''re the bastard parading around as the Meyer family''s precious heiress. You''ve been living off everything that should''ve been mine. So tell me, why should I care what happens to the Meyer family?"

    Bailey could see things were spiraling out of control. He took a steadying breath, fighting to keep his voice calm, and pulled out his phone. "I''m calling thewyer now. Get a share transfer agreement ready as soon as possible. All the shares from the will that go to Reese, transfer them to her immediately. Bring the paperwork to Vista Tech right away."

    He hung up and fixed Reese with a look. "Is that enough for you? Will you fix the issue now?"

    Reese shook her head and made her way to the sofa, sinking into the cushions. "We''ll talk after I sign the agreement."

    Hank clenched his fists, barely holding himself back. He wanted nothing more than to drag Reese over to theputer and force her to solve the tform problem right now.

    Before he could move, Matthew stepped up, blocking his path. His stare was icy, his tone sharp. "Mr. Meyer, what exactly are you nning?"

    Years in the military had given Matthew a presence that filled the room. Hank shrank back without thinking, his bravado gone in an instant. "Nothing. I''m not doing anything."

    He slunk over to stand beside Bailey, throwing a helpless nce at Sofia. Sofia watched her big brother, the one she''d always thought was unstoppable, flinch in front of Matthew. Disappointment flickered in her eyes.

    She turned that dark look back to Reese. If Reese really got those shares, and if she fixed the problem andnded the de deal for Vista Tech, Bailey and Hank would start seeing her in a whole new light. That couldn''t happen.

    She narrowed her eyes, mind racing. No way she''d let Reese walk away with this win.

    Half an hourter, thewyer hurried in with the paperwork. Bailey signed, then handed the agreement to Reese. She read every line, then added her signature, finally letting out a breath. A small, genuine smile broke through on her face.

    Bailey caught the smile and tried again. "So, about fixing the problem..."

    Reese waved the papers in her hand. "Well. This is just a signature. When the shares are actually in my name, I''lle back and take care of it."

    She nced at Sofia, who looked like she might faint, and smiled. "And just so you know, you might want mave quickly. Even though Vista Oak

    tech has a contract with Bat

    given everything that''s happened, I''m free to start looking for other partners too.

    ¡°I hope my mother''s shares are settled before that happens.¡±

    Sofia felt a cold sweat break out. She watched as Reese left theb with Matthew. For a second, she actually felt relieved. Reese hadn''t mentioned anything about reopening the investigation into her mom''s ident. Did that mean she didn''t care, or... had she already

    found something out?

    Relief turned to panic in a heartbeat. Sofia rushed out and called her mother.

    "Mom, Reese is de''s technical lead. She used that to threaten Dad and got the shares her mom left her.

    "But she didn''t say anything about having Dad reinvestigate her mom''s ident. Do you think she already knows something?"

    Grace''s voice came through after a pause, calm as ever. "Why are you freaking out? Even if she suspects something, she has no proof. She was just a kid back then, what could she possibly remember? And don''t worry about Alex. I''ve already handled things with him. He won''t, and he doesn''t dare, tell Reese the truth."

    Grace sounded so sure, but Sofia''s nerves refused to settle. After hanging up, she

    slumped against the wall and closed her eyes.

    What was she supposed to do now? How was she going to fix this?

 Chapter 341

    Reese already had Sebastian in her corner, and now Matthew was standing up for her too. If she managed to win over Bailey and Hank, it would be game over for everyone else.

    Sebastian. How could she have forgotten about him?

    She took a steadying breath, pulled herself together, and walked into the developmentb.

    "Useless!"

    Bailey was in full-on rant mode, his anger aimed right at Hank. "You''ve been at Bridger Lake for ages, following the de project from day one, and you didn''t even know Reese was one of the leads? Now she''s got us right where she wants us. We have to agree to all her terms. What exactly have you been doing all this time?"

    "Dad." Sofia stepped forward, trying to calm things down. "Please calm down. Don''t me Hank. This is my fault. That''s how we ended up here. Right now, the only way to secure the de partnership is to give Reese the shares she wants."

    She paused, watching Bailey''s reaction. When she saw he wasn''t mad at her, she went on. "But I think you should let Mr. Ratcliff know what happened today. After all, Reese and Matthew caused quite a stir at Vista Tech. He deserves to hear about it."

    Bailey''s eyes brightened. "You''re right. There''s definitely something going on between Reese and Matthew. Matthew''s been spoiling her, letting her think she can get away with anything. Sebastian needs to step in and remind her who''s in charge."

    He grabbed his phone and called Sebastian on the spot.

    Sebastian listened to Bailey with a darkening expression. He paused in the middle of signing papers, his mind racing.

    He''d reported the Ramos Corporation warehouse incident that morning and had been waiting for Reese toe to him, maybe ask for help or at least reach out. But she hadn''t even called. Instead, she''d managed to get the warehouse reopened on her own.

    He couldn''t figure out how she''d pulled it off-until now. So Matthew had been the one backing her up. The two of them had put on quite a show and even managed to grab Meyer Group''s shares.

    Sebastian narrowed his eyes,

    thinking quickly. He pressed the inte "Brady, get in touch with all of Ramos Corporation''s business partners. Spread the word that nobody is to work with Ramos Corporation unless they have approval from Ratcliff Global."

    He hung up, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. He wanted to see just how tough Reese would be when everyone started dropping their contracts with her.

    Right then, someone knocked on the office door. His secretary walked in, looking pale. ¡°Mr. Ratcliff, there are a few agents from the National Security Bureau here. They say they need to ask you some questions."

    Sebastian frowned, confusion flickering across his face. Wasn''t Leslie''s case already wrapped up? Hed spent a lot of effort smoothing things over because Jane was involved, and he was still trying to get her out on bail.

    So why was the NSB here again?

    "Let them in."

    He shoved down a wave of anxiety, straightened his suit, and got up to greet them. He barely made it to the door before it opened from the outside.

    A group of men in dark suits walked in, shed their badges, and nodded at Sebastian. ¡°Mr. Ratcliff, sorry for the intrusion."

    "We have evidence that suggests you''ve been involved in leaking ssified data and threatening national security."

    The lead agent ced a file on the desk in front of Sebastian. "This is Leslie''s statement. She''s named you directly, saying you hid your previous coboration on artificial intelligence technology with Big X Headquarters. so Ratcliff Global and ck Oak could jointly develop the de system.

    "This means your im that you didn''t know about her involvement in leaking secrets when you vouched for her doesn''t add up. We need you toe with us to the National Security Bureau for questioning."

 Chapter 342

    Sebastian stared at the file, surprise flickering in his eyes. He remembered working with Big X before, but it was only for six months and ended ages ago. Later, when he went after the de project with ckOak, he kept that old partnership quiet. He even made sure Leslie understood not to bring it up. He never thought it would turn into a big deal. Now, somehow, Leslie had dragged it all into the light.

    He took the file and saw Leslie''s signature. The veins on his hand stood out as he gripped the papers.

    "My work with Big X ended long before the de project ever started. There was no breach." Sebastian kept his anger in check, forcing his voice to stay steady. "I only kept it quiet to avoid unnecessary trouble."

    The national security agents didn''t care about his exnations. They just trusted the evidence. "Mr. Ratcliff, pleasee with us for further investigation."

    Sebastian''s brows drew together, disbelief all over his face. "I want to see Leslie." They didn''t object, just motioned for him to follow.

    He adjusted his suit jacket, straightened his back, and walked out behind them. Outside, the staff who''d been sneaking nces looked stunned to see him leaving with the agents. People remembered how he''d vouched for Leslie before, and now their shock mixed with worry.

    Sebastian was the head of Ratcliff Global. If word got out that he''d been taken away by national security again, thepany could be in for a disaster.

    He tried to keep his face calm, but inside, regret was eating him alive. Trusting Leslie hadnded him in this mess.

    At the bureau, he was led into the interrogation room. Across the table, Leslie looked exhausted, her face pale, dark circles under her eyes. She shrank a little under his re, then forced a weak smile.

    "Sebastian, I''m just telling the truth."

    She didn''t have a choice. She never expected Reese to fake quitting ckOak just to trap her. Now the evidence was stacked up and she couldn''t clear her name. But she was determined not to serve time here. She had to find a way to get transferred out of the country She remembered her training before she came back: if you get caught, drag as many people down with you as possible. Make it big. Only then would headquarters step in to negotiate her extradition.

    Sebastian felt like he couldn''t breathe.

    "You said you needed help getting your footing there. That''s why I agreed to help you.

    "When you came home, you said you needed to work with ckOak for your performance. I vouched for you again.

    "And when you were used of

    leaking information, I stuck my

    Veck

    out and took the heat for you. I tried

    to protect you. Is this really how you repay me?

    "Wasn''t I good enough to you?"

    Leslie dropped her gaze, hershes hiding her eyes. Her voice was rough and quiet. "How were you ever good to me?

    "We were together for years, but as soon as you married Reese, you forgot about me.

    "And me? I lost the chance to ever have children because I tried to save you. All I wanted was a child, and you couldn''t even give me that."

    Her words were soft, but they cut right through him. Sebastian stared at her in shock, not expecting her to say these things.

    He thought about everything he''d done. He''d kept Reese in the dark and arranged for her to be Leslie''s surrogate. That secret had torn his marriage apart. Even when he realized his feelings for Reese, hed tried to find a surrogate overseas for Leslie. He thought he''d done more than enough for her. He never imagined she saw it this way.

    "If that''s how you feel," he said quietly, "there''s nothing left for us to talk about."

 Chapter 343

    Sebastian drew in a slow breath, locking eyes with Leslie for a moment before forcing himself to settle down.

    "While I worked with Big X, we never got into anything technical. I definitely didn''t leak any state secrets. You can check all the records. It''s easy to prove."

    It was only a matter of time before the truth came out.

    He walked over and sat in the interrogation chair, meeting the interrogator''s gaze.

    "Ask whatever you need. I''ll answer everything I can."

    Right now, all he wanted was to get out of this ce as fast as possible and limit the damage to Ratcliff Global.

    ...

    By evening, the city was glowing. Reese stood outside Maple Street Diner, tugging her coat tighter around her shoulders.

    "Ms. Meyer."

    George''s car rolled up next to her. He got out, handed his keys to the valet, and came over. "Have you been waiting long?"

    "Not at all. I just got here," Reese replied, shaking her head. "Sorry to pull you out after work. It was urgent."

    She hadn''t expected Bailey to call her the same afternoon she''d signed the share transfer agreement, insisting shee by that evening with herwyer to wrap up the details.

    They must really be panicking.

    She gave a slight smile and walked in with George, heading for the private booth Bailey had reserved.

    Bailey let out a frustrated noise when they walked in. "So you''re keeping us waiting now? Getting a bit full of yourself, aren''t you? Do you even want the shares?"

    Reese nced at her watch, a teasing light in her eyes. "It''s only been an hour since you let me know. If that''s too long, I can always go."

    Bailey was at a loss for words. He looked like he wanted to argue, but Hank quietly tugged on his sleeve.

    Knowing this was the wrong time for a fight, Bailey just shot Reese a re, then turned to the man beside him.

    "This is Tyler, Meyer Group''s chief legal advisor. He came in from Brookfield today to handle the share paperwork."

    "Miss Meyer." Tyler nodded politely.

    The formality threw Reese for a second. She looked up at him. He was about forty, handsome in a quiet, refined way.

    Noticing her nce, Tyler adjusted his sses and smiled, pushing a file across the table to her.

    Share Transfer Application was printed on the cover. Bailey''s signature was already in the representative''s box. She looked to George, who nodded, and then signed her own name as the transferee.

    Tyler smiled again, split the documents into two sets, and handed one to Reese.

    "I''ll head back to Brookfield as soon as we''re done and file the paperwork tomorrow. We''ll also handle the tax deration for the transfer. The public notice should be up within three business days, and after that, the shares are officially yours.

    "Miss Meyer, this is your copy for your records. We''ll need your ID for verificationter."

    Reese took the file, looking up at Tyler. "So once the notice is posted, the shares are mine?"

    He nodded. "Yes."

    With that confirmation, Reese let out a real, rxed smile.

    Bailey watched her, his patience clearly wearing thin. "Now that the paperwork''s basically done, when can you go to Vista Tech and fix the tformpatibility issue?"

    Reese''s smile faded. She slipped the documents into her bag and looked up, her tone light. "Whenever I feel like it."

    "What''s that supposed to mean?" Bailey''s face darkened. "Reese, don''t push your luck."

    "The shares were my mother''s. They should have been mine all along." Reese''s voice cooled. "I don''t owe anyone the de partnership just because I''m finally getting back, what''s rightfully mine. And anyway, the shares aren''t officially in my name yet, are they?"

    She pointed at the second copy of the application on the table. "How do I know

    you won''t just screw me over again likest time after I solve your problem?"

    "Reese!"

    Bailey''s temple throbbed as he mmed his hand on the table and shot up. "Ramos Corporation is barely hanging on because of a few core projects. Aren''t you worried I''ll tell Sebastian about you and Matthew? If he finds out, Ramos Corporation is finished."

    "You haven''t told him already?" Reese shot him a cold look. After she''d left Vista

    Tech that afternoon, Patrick had already called her.

 Chapter 344

    Sebastian had already made his move. Every partner was cutting ties with Ramos Corporation, and he had thepany''s credit lines frozen at all the major banks.

    "You really think that''s enough to make me give in?"

    "Dad, calm down." Hank stepped forward quickly, trying to smooth things over when he noticed Reese''s cold look. "Reese, we''re not trying to make things hard for you. Ramos Corporation is struggling, and if Mom were still around, she wouldn''t want to see everything she built fall apart, right?

    "If you''re willing to help Vista Tech out, the Meyer family will start a partnership with Ramos Corporation. We''ll even give Ramos thirty percent of the profits. What do you say?"

    Reese squinted at her phone instead of answering. She was so over Bailey and Hank''s good cop, bad cop routine.

    Her phone lit up with a news alert. Her longshes fluttered as she opened it.

    Bailey took her silence as a good sign, like maybe Hank''s words were actually working. He softened his tone. "Reese, if you help Vista Technd this deal, I promise I''ll handle things with Sebastian."

    Reese finished reading and looked up, the corner of her mouth curving into a knowing smile. "Do whatever you want with that partnership. As for Ramos Corporation, don''t worry about it."

    She got up and left.

    "Stop right there!"

    Bailey was furious at her attitude. He grabbed his phone and immediately dialed Sebastian''s number, muttering, "Fine. Let''s see how you like the consequences of saying no."

    But all he got was a cold automated message. "The number you have dialed is unavable. Please try againter."

    Bailey frowned and tried again. Still nothing.

    "What''s going on?"

    "Dad..." Hank was staring at his own phone, face pale and anxious. He had just finished reading thetest breaking news. "Something happened to Sebastian..." "No way." Bailey shook his head. "This is Sebastian. Who in Bridger Lake could touch him?"

    "It''s true." Hank''s hands were shaking as he passed the phone to Bailey.

    Bailey read the headline: "Ratcliff Global CEO Sebastian Ratcliff under investigation for alleged leak of state secrets, detained by National Security Bureau."

    All his anger vanished in an instant, reced by panic.

    "This... how can this be?" Bailey''s voice was shaky. "How could he be involved in something like that?"

    "That''s not the point right now,"

    Hank said, snapping out of his

    shock. "Dad, we can''t count on Sebastian to deal with Ramos Corporation anymore. What are we going to do? If we lose de''s partnership, it''s not just Vista Tech at risk, the whole Meyer family is finished."

    Bailey took a long, shaky breath, trying to steady himself. He nced at the open door, then ordered, after her. Talk to Reese again. Whatever it takes, don''t let her walk away Get her to fix Vista Tech''s tform situation."

    "Got it."

    Hank bolted out of the room.

    Downstairs, outside Maple Street Diner, Reese and George stood by the curb, waiting for the valet to bring their car. Behind her, hurried footsteps echoed on the sidewalk. Reese instinctively stepped aside.

    "Reese, wait, let me talk to you."

    She turned, expression cool as she faced Hank. "I don''t want to talk."

    ¡°Don''t be like this.¡± Hank took a deep breath, forcing a smile. ¡°I know I was out of line earlier. I''m sorry. But Mom and Dad built Meyer Group from scratch. You can''t just stand by and watch it fall apart, can you?

    "That de partnership means everything to Vista Tech and the family. Just help us this once. If you do, I''ll give you my share of Mom''s inheritance too. What do you say?"

    Reese stared at Hank for a long moment. His desperate sincerity almost looked real. She smiled slightly. "Are to save the Meyer family because of

    you trying so hard et

    Mom, or is it because you just can''t let go of everything you have now?"

    Hank froze, his smile faltering. "What''s that supposed to mean?"

    "Nothing." Reese''s smile faded, her gaze turning sharp. "I just wanted you to know, Mom''s car ident wasn''t actually an ident. There''s more to it than you think."

 Chapter 345

    "Are you really saying Grace did it again?" Hank''s eyebrows pulled together, his tone edging toward impatience. "Reese, why are you still hung up on this? I''ve told you before, Grace isn''t like that. The crash was just an ident. The police looked into it..."

    "Looked into it?" Reese cut him off, her voice cold and sharp. "Who exactly looked into it? Was there ever a real investigation?"

    "I... wait, why are you suddenly bringing this up?" Hank blinked, thrown off. They''d been talking about the Vista Tech and de partnership just a second ago. How did things end up here again?

    Reese noticed his confusion and realized there was no point in arguing. She waved him off, her voice t. "Doesn''t matter. I''m already investigating. If I find proof, I expect you and Bailey not to stand in my way when I bring whoever''s responsible for my mother to justice.

    "If you can promise me that, maybe I''ll consider giving Vista Tech some of de''s civilian contracts."

    She didn''t bother looking at Hank again. Instead, she walked straight to the car parked at the curb, got in, and shut the door behind her.

    Bailey hurried over, just in time to see Reese''s car turn the corner and disappear. "Well? Did she agree?" he asked, barely hiding his anxiety.

    Hank was still lost in thought, his face clouded with uncertainty. He told Bailey what Reese had said, then muttered, "Dad, do you think... is it possible something else happened with Mom''s ident?"

    Bailey''s face tensed, his eyes fixed on the spot where Reese''s car had vanished. He frowned, deep lines creasing his forehead as doubt churned inside him. For years, he''d believed it was just a tragic mistake, but Reese sounded so sure, saying she even had leads. Could she really be right? Was someone pulling strings behind the scenes?

    At the same time, in a shabby old house on the outskirts of town, Alex sat on a rickety wooden chair, scrolling absentmindedly through the news on his phone. Suddenly, a headline about Sebastian shed across the screen. His eyes went wide. He tapped it, and as soon as he saw the article and the photos of Sebastian and Leslie, his hand started shaking so badly the phone slipped from his grip and hit the floor with a loud smack.

    "How... how is this possible?" he stammered, his face drained of color as he stared nkly at the floor.

    "Nicole... how could it be Nicole?" he whispered again and again, his whole body trembling. "How could she be used of leaking state secrets?"

    He couldn''t just sit here. He had to get answers.

    Reese hade to see him, promising to help him find his daughter. That wemony folted bir upright. He rushed to the door desperate to find Reese and beg her to took into this.

    But as soon as he opened the door, two tall men blocked his way, faces set and unfriendly. "Alex, where do you think you''re going?"

    "Orders are clear. You''re supposed to stay inside. Things are tense. If anyone

    finds out what happened back then, it''s bad news for all of us."

    Alex knew these two were Grace''s men. She''d sent them to keep an eye on him, to make sure he stayed quiet. But all he could think about how was his daughter. Heart pounding, he bent low and tried to

    ve

    dart between them.

    He barely made it a few steps before one of them grabbed his arm in a tight grip.

    "Let me go! You can''t keep me

    locked up Alex yelled, thrashing as

    hard as he could. Years in prison

    had left him weaker, and age was

    catching up with him fe didn''t stand a chance.

    Just then, two more men raced up the stairs andunched themselves at Grace''s guards. They moved fast and efficiently, taking both men down in seconds.

    "Alex,e with us," one said, helping him up. He leaned in close, lowering his voice. "We''re with George. You''re safe."

    Alex froze, then the name clicked. George was thewyer who''de with Reese before.

    He nodded quickly. "Please, I need to see Ms. Meyer. Take me to her right away!"

 Chapter 346

    The ck sedan had barely pulled away from the Maple Street Diner when

    George''s phone started buzzing, the ringtone sharp and persistent in the quiet car. An unknown number shed on the screen. He shot a quick look at Reese in the passenger seat, then answered.

    "Mr. Meyer, this is Alex." The voice was quick and anxious. "I need to talk to you, in person. It''s urgent."

    Reese''s fingers brushed absently over the leather bag in herp. Her brow creased. Alex? She hadn''t found any trace of his daughter yet. Why was he reaching out now? Had something gone wrong?

    "Where are you?" Reese took the phone from George, her voice calm and steady.

    "I''m at Green Cafe, in the old west alley. I''ll wait here. I''m alone." Alex sounded breathless. "It''s about my daughter. Please, you have toe."

    Reese felt her heart jump, but she didn''t press for details. "Alright. Twenty minutes."

    She hung up, and George pressed the gas. The car glided forward, picking up speed.

    "You just brought up your mother''s ident to Hank, and now Alex calls. You think it could be a trap?" George''s eyes flicked to Reese in the rearview mirror.

    Reese stared out at the city rushing by, her eyes dark and thoughtful. "No. I have the recording. He already admitted to what he did to my mother. Even Grace can''t talk her way out of that now. Alex has no reason to set me up."

    What really bothered her was how Alex, who was supposed to be locked away and watched by Grace''s people, suddenly had news about Nicole.

    Green Cafe hid at the end of a quiet alley, its old wooden door worn and faded. It creaked as they stepped inside.

    Alex sat in the farthest private room, hunched over a cup of untouched, cold coffee. As soon as he saw Reese and George, he jumped up. His face was tight with worry. "Mr. Meyer, thank you foring."

    His voice shook. As he stood, his knee hit the table with a dull thud.

    Reese took the seat across from him, giving a small wave to calm him down. "Alright, what happened?"

    Alex sucked in a breath, like he was trying to Steady himself. He looked up at Reese. "Mr. Meyer, did you catch the news tonight? The case about the Ratch Global chairman... I saw Nicole''s photo in the report."

    It felt like a switch flipped in Reese''s mind. For a second, everything went silent.

    Of course she''d seen the news. The only faces in those photos were Sebastian''s and Leslie''s.

    Leslie... was Nicole?

    She remembered thatposite image she''d made using Alex''s old photos. The woman in the picture had always seemed oddly familiar, but she could never put her finger on it.

    It was Leslie. The world felt way too small.

    "Are you sure?" Reese sat stiff, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°She''s been overseas for years. She only just got back After what happened to Alex, how could Leslie have managed to study abroad?

    Alex nodded hard, his eyes rimmed with red. "I know it''s her. She looks

    just like her mother, same eyes,

    "1

    same little dimples she''s had sinc¨¨ she was a kid He scrubbed a hand dawn his face, his words raw When Saw her name in that news story, I thought I was going to pass out."

    "She''s not that kind of person, Mr. Meyer. Please, help me figure out what happened. Did someone set her up, or did she just make a mistake?"

    Reese nced at George. They both knew the truth. Leslie''s arrest was exactly what Reese had nned for. She knew every detail.

    But seeing the hope and desperation on Alex''s face, she couldn''t bring herself to say it. Not yet. Not before she got the proof she needed, not before Alex pointed the finger at Grace for hiring him.

    "I''ll look into it," Reese said, eyes on the cold tea in front of her. "Calm down, alright? We don''t know the whole story yet. Give me a little time."

    Alex''s shoulders sagged, relief softening his face. "Thank you, Mr. Meyer. Seriously, I''ll do anything. As long as we can find out what really happened."

    He hesitated, then added, "I''m not going back to the old apartment. Grace''s people are probably already looking for me."

 Chapter 347

    Reese was stumped. She honestly couldn''t think of anywhere safe to put Alex right now.

    George picked up on her hesitation. "Don''t worry, Alex. I''ll take care of your amodation. I promise you''ll be safe."

    Reese let out a breath she didn''t realize she''d been holding, then looked at Alex. "So, when do you think you can head back home to get the recording with Grace? "Or, if it''s easier, just tell me where it is. I can have someone pick it up for you."

    Alex opened his mouth, paused as if weighing something, and finally said, "Ms. Meyer, it''s not that I don''t trust you, but let''s be real. This is a transaction between us. How about this? When you tell me what''s going on with Nicole, I''ll tell you exactly where the recording is. Deal?"

    Reese''s disappointment flickered in her eyes, but she nodded. "Alright."

    She knew there was no point in pushing. Standing up, she said, "Okay, that''s settled. Go with George for now. I''ll reach out as soon as I have any updates." Alex gave her a grateful look, then followed George out of the private room.

    Left alone in the cafe, Reese sat quietly, tapping her fingers on the table as she got lost in thought. After a while, she pulled out her phone and called Roman.

    "Mr. Sanchez, can I ask you something?"

    "Go ahead, Ms. Meyer." Roman sounded busy, with distant office noise in the background.

    "I ran into Alex recently. He admitted to me that Grace was the one who told him to hit my mother with his car. Is that enough to reopen the investigation?"

    "Are you serious?" Roman''s voice sharpened. He signaled for quiet on his end. "I have a recording. He also said Grace reached out to him afterward, and he recorded that conversation as well. The catch is, he won''t tell me where the recording is until I update him about his daughter. And his daughter is Leslie."

    Silence stretched between them.

    Everyone in Bridger Lake had heard about the case with Sebastian and Leslie, and Roman definitely knew who Leslie was. Through Peter, he also knew that Reese and Matthew had set up the sting that caught Leslie.

    "Where''s Alex now?" Roman asked.

    "He''s been under Grace''s watch, but after seeing the news tonight, he ran. He''s with mywyer now," Reese replied honestly.

    "George?"

    "Yeah."

    "Got it. I''ll reach out to George and send some people over. Maybe we can get him to talk." Roman paused for a moment. "Send me the recording you have. I''ll get the case reopened right away."

    "Will do."

    After she sent the file to Roman, Reese hesitated for a second, then dialed Matthew''s number.

    "Hey, Reese?" His deep, smooth voice came through the line, instantly easing some of her tension.

    "Matthew, I need your help with two things," she said, skipping any small talk. "First, can you dig up everything you can about Leslie, especially what she was doing before and after she went overseas?" She really needed to know how Leslie

    managed to leave the country at all.

    ¡°And second, what''s thetest on the espionage case?¡±

    Keystrokes clicked in the

    background. After a moment,

    Matthew answered, "I''ll have Leslie''s

    info for you by tomorrow, at thetest As for the case, I just got an update. Sebastian''s interrogation wrapped up. He''s standing by his story that he only worked with Big X on regr business consulting, nothing rted to core technology. All files were archived and destroyed when the partnership ended."

    Reese arched an eyebrow. "And Leslie''s statement?"

    "She''s still insisting there was a tech exchange,¡± Matthew''s voice was cooler now. "But I checked. The coboration between Big X and Ratcliff Global at the time

    didn''t involve any artificial intelligence whatsoever."

    So Leslie really was trying to drag Sebastian down with her.

    "Also, something else. Big X''s headquarters has been moving. Two of their top executives entered the country three days ago. They''re headed for Bridger Lake. Most likely, theyre here to lock in the espionage charges and deal with Leslie, since she''s be a liability."Matthew paused for a beat. "I''ve got people watching them. I''ll update you if anything happens."

 Chapter 348

    Reese leaned back in her chair, staring at the worn patches on the wall. "Did Leslie ask to be sent abroad?"

    "She did. Herwyer already filed the paperwork," Matthew replied, his voice tinged with amusement. "Looks like you''re thinking what I''m thinking. Leslie isn''t really after Sebastian. She''s using this case to get herself out of trouble and pin it on someone else."

    Reese''s lips curled into a cool smile. "Can you set up a meeting with her?"

    Matthew sounded puzzled. "Why do you want to see her?"

    With a sigh, Reese exined what Alex had told her. "I have to let her know about Alex. If I don''t, I won''t know how to exin things to him without exposing my connection to Leslie."

    Matthew was quiet for a moment. "Alright. I''ll talk to the team tomorrow."

    Reese hung up, rubbed her forehead, and left the teahouse.

    Meanwhile, over at the Meyer family''s old estate in Brookfield, Grace was stretched out on a chaise lounge, a face mask on, picking at some fruit. Her phone rang. She checked the screen, then answered with a sly little smile.

    "What? How could you let Alex get away?" Her voice snapped like a whip.

    Alex had slipped away and her people hadn''t managed to stop him. Grace shot upright and tore off her mask.

    "What happened? Why would he just run off like that?"

    On the other end, the man sounded miserable. "Ma''am, we think he saw the news and got spooked. The people who picked him up were professionals. We couldn''t stop them."

    "What news? And when did he set up a pickup?" Grace started pacing across the bedroom.

    "It was the financial news from Bridger Lake tonight. Ratcliff Global''s chairman got pulled into some confidential case. That''s what Alex saw. He kept muttering about needing to find his daughter. We don''t know who picked him up. Never seen them before. Maybe it was the same person who visited him the other day."

    Grace''s anger simmered. These two idiots had already let Alex meet an outsider, and now they''d lost him. Still, she needed them, so she bit back her rage.

    "I don''t care how you do it. Find Alex. Turn the whole city upside down if you have to, but bring him back. Got it?"

    "Yes, ma''am!"

    Grace ended the call, fuming. She swept the fruit tter off the table, sending it crashing to the floor.

    "Useless. They can''t even keep track of one guy."

    For a moment, panic threatened to overtake her. Sofia had called her again and again, worried that Reese suspected something about Marie''s ident. The person who''d met with Alex had to be Reese.

    Grace had thought the whole thing was in the past. Reese had no evidence, so even if she guessed the truth she couldn''t do anything about it. But now Alex was gone, and he''d probably run straight to Reese.

    With Alex as a witness, even if there wasn''t any real proof, Bailey and Hank would

    start doubting her the second Alex told his story.

    She chewed on her nail, mind racing. Something the man said on the phone stuck

    in her head. She grabbed her phone and called Sofia.

    "Hey, Mom?"

    Grace walked over to the window, staring out at the perfect rows of flowers in the garden. Her eyes narrowed. "Tonight''s financial news. The case

    n. Besides.

    in

    Sebastian, who else showed up m

    the report?"

    Sofia sounded confused. "Mom, why are you suddenly asking about that?"

    "Just tell me. Who else was in the photos?"

    Sofia heard the tension in her mother''s voice and didn''t dare argue. She thought for a second. "There was a photo of Leslie. You know, Sebastian''s old me..."

    Grace ignored her daughter''s jealous tone. "Ask your dad if he knows whether Reese is involved in this case. Try to find out."

    "Why do I have to do that?" Sofia

    sounded irritated. "You have no idea what Reese''s been up to. She used. the de system deal with Vista Tech to squeeze Dad into giving her all of her mom''s shares!"

 Chapter 349

    "I wish she''d just disappear already. I couldn''t care less about her problems."

    "Sofia!" Grace''s voice snapped through the phone, sharp andmanding. "If I ask you to look into something, you do it. This is about whether we get to stay in the Meyer family. If they want to give her a few shares, let them. Don''t forget, what really matters is the Meyer Group itself."

    Sofia''sints died in her throat as Grace''s words hit her. A nervous chill crept up her spine. She hesitated, then asked, "Mom, is something wrong? Does this have anything to do with Reese''s mom''s ident?"

    "That''s none of your business," Grace replied, taking a steadying breath. Her voice softened. ¡°Just remember, Sofia, you''re my most important girl. Everything I do is for you."

    After ending the call, Grace picked up a photo frame from the table. The picture showed her younger self and Sofia, both of them smiling so brightly it almost hurt to look at. She stared at it for a long time before finally setting it down. Then she left the bedroom and called for a maid.

    "Help me pack some clothes. I want to go to Bridger Lake tomorrow."

    The maid headed into the closet, pulling out a suitcase as she spoke. "You''re going to see Mr. Meyer?"

    Grace nodded, a gentle smile on her lips. "It''s getting cold out. With him and Hank at Bridger Lake, I just worry they''ll catch something."

    At Bridger Lake, Sofia set her phone down, her anxiety twisting tighter with every second. She couldn''t shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen. If Reese dug up anything, her mother would get dragged in too. She couldn''t sit around and wait.

    She went to the kitchen, grabbed a te of fruit, and headed upstairs, pausing outside the study to knock on the door.

    Inside, Bailey and Hank were glued to the TV, sighing over thetest news about Sebastian. Ratcliff Global''s powerful chairman, brought down by a woman. The whole thing was a disaster, and worse, it was messing up their own ns.

    When Sofia walked in with the fruit, both men forced smiles.

    "Why aren''t you in bed?" Hank asked, taking the fruit from her hands.

    "Couldn''t sleep," Sofia said quietly. She nced between them. "Dad, Hank, did you see the news? Is Sebastian really in trouble? Is it serious?"

    Bailey''s expression darkened. He was already irritated that Sebastian''s mess had wrecked his scheme with Reese. "Why do you care about that?¡±

    Sofia''s heart skipped. She instantly dropped her gaze, twisting the hem of her shirt, looking every bit like the worried daughter. "I... I just worry about him..."

    "Do you know how he got into this mess?" Hank grumbled, sounding annoyed. Why did his sisters always get tangled up with Sebastian?

    Sofia looked up, confused. "What happened?"

    "He got dragged in because he vouched for Leslie," Hank said, shaking his head. "It was all fine until Leslie started talking, exposing that Ratcliff Global had worked with Big X and kept it secret from ck Oak when they were developing de. You act like you care about him, but it''s obvious he''s lost his mind over Leslie."

    "So this is all about the de project?" Sofia''s eyes lit up with understanding. "Does that mean Reese is involved too?" She hesitated, then quickly added, "I''m just worried. don''t want us to get caught up in any of this."

    "Don''t worry," Bailey said, his tone softening a little. "We''re not involved."

    "I heard Leslie''s arrest had

    something to do with Reese. She''s

    being praised for it.

    "

    ailey''s face

    clouded again, thinking of how this forced him to give Reese the shares just to secure the de partnership.

    Sofia finally rxed. She smiled, relief clear in her eyes. "That''s all I wanted to

    know. As long as you and Dad are safe, that''s what matters."

 Chapter 350

    After getting the info she wanted, Sofia told Bailey and Hank goodnight, then slipped out of the study and headed back to her bedroom. She locked the door, barely able to wait another second before dialing Grace''s number.

    "Mom, you''re not going to believe this. Leslie''s case really is tied to Reese!"

    Grace was sitting on the couch, watching the maid carry her suitcase out to the car. She straightened up immediately. "Are you serious? What''s going on?"

    "Dad said it himself. Leslie getting arrested wasn''t some ident. Reese nned the whole thing." Sofia''s words came out in a rush as she repeated everything she''d overheard in the study. "The National Security Bureau only got the evidence because Reese was working behind the scenes. She''s basically being treated like a hero right now."

    For a second, Grace was stunned. Then a sly, satisfied smile crept across her face, and she let out a softugh, feeling all the tension of the night dissolve.

    Back then, she''d gone to Alex because she knew how much he loved his daughter. He''d agreed to her n just to make sure his daughter had a better future. If he found out now that it was Reese who had set his daughter up, everything would change.

    With the way Alex doted on Leslie, there was no way he wouldn''t hate Reese after this. He wouldn''t just refuse to testify for Reese. He might even help Grace take her down instead.

    All she had to do was find Alex and tell him what Reese did to Leslie. Without Alex as a witness, Reese could be as powerful as she wanted, but she''d never be able to dig up the past.

    "Mom?" Sofia''s voice broke through her thoughts.

    "I''m here," Grace replied, her tone lighter now that her n wasing together. "I''ll be at Bridger Lake tomorrow. We''ll talk more when I get there."

    Once she hung up, Grace went over to her vanity and looked at her reflection. Her makeup was wless, but her eyes had a sharp, almost dangerous glint.

    The next day, just before noon, Grace walked out of Bridger Lake International Airport.

    Sofia was already waiting at the VIP exit, driver by her side. As soon as Grace appeared, Sofia hurried over. "Mom, finally! You''re here!"

    Grace smiled, squeezed her daughter''s hand, and got into the car with her. She turned to the driver. had to leave in a rush and forgot a bunch of things Take us shopping first, then drop the luggage off ande back to pick us up."

    "Yes, ma''am."

    The driver took them out to a brand-new shopping center on the city''s edge, then left them there.

    Sofia looked around, a little lost. "Mom, what are we doing here?"

    Grace gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You''ll find out soon. You''re not a kid anymore. There are some things you need to know."

    She led Sofia inside and up to a private club on the top floor. When she opened the door to a private suite, two men were already waiting there the same ones who had been watching Alex.

    "Seth, did you find him?" Grace asked as she sat down on the sofa, pulling Sofia down next to her.

    "We have a lead," Seth said, nodding and handing her a folder with a respectful look.

    "Just like you told us, we focused on the people Reese has been aroundtely. We found out she and herwyer were near a cafest night. We checked the cameras around there and saw herwyer leave with a man who matches Alex''s build."

    "They left the cafe, drove out toward the suburbs, and went into a neighborhood called Serene Gardens."

    "We asked around. Security''s tight there. All visitors and cars have to register."

    Grace flipped through the photos and info in the folder, a cold little smile tugging at her lips. "Reese sure knows how to pick a hiding spot. That neighborhood is way out of the way, and nobody would think to took there. Perfect ce to stash someone."

    "What about now? Is Alex still inside?" she asked.

    Seth nodded. "He is. We''ve got people watching the area. So far, neither Alex nor George has left."

 Chapter 351

    "We''ve got people in the neighborhood. They confirmed Alex is in apartment 502, building 3. There are two bodyguards downstairs keeping watch."

    "Just two?" Grace waved her hand like it was nothing. "Keep an eye on them, but don''t tip them off. We''ll handle things tonight."

    She knew now wasn''t the time to go up against Reese head-on. If Reese got spooked and moved Alex, tracking him down again would be almost impossible.

    "Yes, Ma''am," Seth said, respectful as always.

    Grace patted his shoulder, her voice carrying a warning. "This is too important. Be careful. Not one mistake, understand?"

    "Don''t worry, we''ll get it done." Seth nodded quickly.

    Satisfied, Grace left the club with Sofia, nning to browse some shops on the way out.

    Sofia nced back at the two men, curiosity in her eyes. "Mom, who are they?"

    "That''s not something you need to worry about." Grace smiled at her. "Sofia, you just need to remember, whatever I do, it''s for your good."

    "Okay, I get it." Noticing how serious her mother looked, Sofia didn''t push any further. Still, she couldn''t help but ask, "So what''s the n for tonight? Are we just going to barge in and take Alex out?"

    "No way, that''s way too risky." Grace shook her head. "If we storm in, it''s going to cause a scene. If the police get involved, we''re done."

    "And besides," she added, "Alex still has hope for Reese. Even if we get him out, he probably won''t believe a thing we say."

    "So what are we supposed to do?" Sofia was getting anxious. "We can''t just sit around watching, right?"

    "Rx, I''ve got it covered." Grace lowered her voice as she browsed through the luxury disys. "Tonight, I''ll have someone pretend to be from building maintenance. They''ll knock on Alex''s door, say they need to check the pipes or something.

    "If I can just talk to him for a minute, I''ll find a way to tell him what Reese did to Leslie.

    "If he believes us, he''lle with us on his own."

    ***

    At that same moment, Reese was in her apartment, looking through the file Matthew had sent her about Leslie.

    It said that before the Ratcliff family sponsored Leslie, she went by Nicole. All her expenses for studying abroad had been paid by Mr. Ratcliff himself.

    Reese frowned, confused. If Mr. Ratcliff liked Leslie so much, why would he force Sebastian to marry someone else? And if he didn''t like her, why did he give her so much money and arrange her whole life overseas?

    A new thought hit her. Maybe Leslie had left Sebastian on purpose, following Mr. Ratcliff''s n.

    Reese let out a coldugh. So both Mr. Ratcliff and Leslie had kept Sebastian in

    the dark. No wonder he''d been hung up on Leslie for so many years and let things get this messy.

    Just then, her phone rang.

    She answered and heard Matthew''s voice. "Reese, I took care of things at the detention center. You can see Leslie now."

    "I''m downstairs. I''ll go with you."

    "Thanks." Reese shook off her thoughts, grabbed her coat, and hurried downstairs.

    Matthew was leaning against a

    ck sedan. When Reese came out

    of the elevator, he tossed his cigarette in the trash and waved smoke away from his clothes. "Sorry, I didn''t think you''d be down

    So

    fast."

    Something warm stirred in Reese''s chest at his gesture. "You don''t have to do that." Back when she was with Sebastian, he

    never cared whether she minded the smell of cigarettes.

    "I want to.¡± Matthew pulled open the passenger door for her. "Secondhand smoke

    is bad for you."

    Forty minutester, the car drove straight through security and into the National Security Bureaupound. They didn''t even get stopped for a check.

    Reese looked over at Matthew, surprised.

 Chapter 352

    Matthew parked and nodded toward the main building. "I knew we''d being, so I pulled some strings to make sure it was all clear. This way, no one will know you were here."

    "You really think of everything," Reese said, honestly impressed.

    "It''s all taken care of. Go ahead." Matthew tilted his chin at the lobby. "I''ll wait out here. If you need anything, juste find me."

    Reese nodded. She knew the rules¡ªno phones inside. "Alright."

    After a round of serious security checks, an officer brought Reese to a meeting room. The ce was bare, just a long table and two chairs facing each other. Reese sat down and waited quietly.

    It wasn''t long before the door opened. Leslie came in, nked by two officers. She was still wearing the same clothes from the day she was taken in. Her hair was a mess, her skin looked washed out, and dark circles hung under her eyes. She looked worn out and tense, her gaze wary and sharp.

    "What are you doing here?" Leslie''s voice was cold. "Are you here tough at me? To rub it in that you won?"

    Reese didn''t bite. Instead, she slid a photo of Alex across the table. "Someone asked me to check on you."

    Leslie stared down, and the instant she saw the picture, her whole body stiffened. "I don''t know him," she said, voice shaky.

    Reese didn''t call her out. "He says you''re his daughter. Nicole."

    "Don''t say that name!" Leslie snapped, her voice suddenly shrill. Themotion made the guards outside nce in, but Reese gave a quick look to show it was fine, and they turned away.

    Reese watched Leslie closely. "Alex saw you on the news. He said you look just like your mother."

    "He has no right to talk about my mother!" Leslie practically broke apart at those words. "If he hadn''t been arrested for killing someone while drunk driving, I never would''ve beenbeled the murderer''s daughter! My mom wouldn''t have had to work herself to the bone just to raise me, only to get sick and die for it!"

    If none of that had happened, Mr. Ratcliff wouldn''t have looked down on her. She wouldn''t have been pushed away from Sebastian. She wouldn''t be sitting here now, with everything in pieces.

    Reese closed her eyes for a

    moment. If it hadn''t been for that same ident, her own mother

    would still be alive. She wouldn''t

    have been tricked by her uncle into manying Sebastian, and her dife wouldn''t have spiraled into this mess.

    "I don''t care how you found out about him or how you even tracked him down, Reese You won''t use him

    to threaten me Leste red he anger raw. "Tell him I don''t have a

    father. My father died a long time ago."

    She''d done everything she could to cut ties with him, to break free from the shadow of being a killer''s daughter. She''d even risked everything, stealing de''s data just to get her visa.

    Reese didn''t push any further. She stood up. "Alright."

    She hadn''te for a fight, just to see how Leslie felt about Alex so she''d have something to tell him. That way, she''d get the recording about Grace. Reese gave Leslie onest look, then turned and walked out leaving her sitting alone, st?ring after Reese with aplicated expression.

    Back outside, Reese got in the car. Matthew noticed her face right away. "What''s up? Didn''t go as nned?"

    "No," Reese said, tired, shaking her head. It wasn''t really about sess or failure. It just felt like life had yed a cruel joke. "It doesn''t matter. I saw her. That''s enough to tell Alex."

    She paused, then asked, "Are you busyter?" She wanted to go see Alex as soon as possible.

    "Nothing going on." Matthew shook his head. ¡°Just send me the address. I''ll take you."

    "Alright." Reese forwarded him George''s location, then closed her messages and noticed one from Roman.

    "Ms. Meyer, my colleague already made contact with Alex at the address George sent. We have people watching the area, just in case."

    "Thank you," she replied. She looked out the window. It waste autumn now, and the sun set earlier than before. Even though it was only around five or six, the sky was already turning dark.

    Matthew started the car but didn''t drive straight to Ashbourne Park. He circled the area a couple of times, making sure they weren''t being followed, then picked up speed and headed toward the edge of the city.

 Chapter 353

    Meanwhile, in a ck sedan parked just outside Ashbourne Park, Grace''s men kept their eyes locked on the entrance and exit of the neighborhood.

    One of them grabbed the walkie-talkie and spoke up. "Seth, a sedan just pulled into theplex.

    "We didn''t see this car leave this morning. Looks suspicious to me. There are two people inside, but I can''t see their faces."

    When the car didn''t stop in front of Alex''s building and instead drove further into theplex, the man finally let out a breath. "Probably not here for Alex."

    Seth''s voice came through the walkie-talkie. "Keep an eye on it. Don''t do anything reckless. She will be here soon. Report any changes right away."

    "Got it."

    Matthew had already noticed the ck sedan at the gate. He kept driving until they were two buildings deeper into theplex before stopping in front of the unit''s entrance. Reese gave him a puzzled look, and Matthew exined quietly, "That car by the entrance seemed a little off."

    When Reese tried to nce back, Matthew slipped his arm around her shoulders and gently steered her into the lobby, pressing the button for the basement parking. "Don''t look back."

    The apartmentplex was old, and the underground parking always fell short. Visitors usually had to leave their cars above ground, but you could still get to Alex''s building from the basement level.

    As they walked together, Reese caught a faint, clean scent of soap from Matthew. Her ears turned a little pink, and the warmth lingered even after they stepped into the elevator and Matthew let go.

    Upstairs, Alex had been waiting for Reese. The moment he heard a knock, he hurried over, checked the peephole, and opened the door as soon as he saw it was her. "Ms. Meyer, you''re here!"

    His tone was anxious, his eyes searching her face for any sign of news. "Nicole... How is she?"

    Reese walked in and took a look around. The two-bedroom apartment was simply decorated but tidy. Clearly, George had put thought into picking a safe ce to hide.

    "Let''s sit down first," she said,

    settling onto the sofa. She motioned

    for Alex to sit, and he quickly

    the seat across from her, lean

    forward, unable to hide

    his worry Matthew sat down in the armchair nearby, shaking his head a little as he watched Alex. He couldn''t help thinking how lucky Leslie was to have a father who cared so much.

    "I visited Leslie at the National Security Bureau today." Reese''s gaze softened with sympathy, but she didn''t sugarcoat the truth. "She saw your photo and got really emotional."

    Alex tried to smile, but it looked more like he was about to cry. "She... she mes me, doesn''t she?"

    "She''s not doing well. She''s been under a lot of pressure these past days," Reese told him gently. "But she hasn''t been mistreated. They don''t do things like torture anymore."

    "That''s a relief. Really." Alex wiped the corner of his eye, trying topose himself. "Why would she do something like this? She used to be such a good kid. She would never get herself into trouble on purpose."

    Reese paused before answering honestly. ¡°Alex, people change. The environment they''re in, the things they go through it all shapes them. The truth is, Leslie really did steal national secrets. There''s solid evidence. No one can change that n¨®w. She only has two options."

    "Either she gets sent back home, but that would take some serious behind-the- scenes negotiation. Or she stays here and serves her sentence."

    Alex seemed to copse in on himself, but he still nodded. "I understand, Ms. Meyer. Thank you for going out of your way for me."

    "Alex, I know this might sound a bit harsh," Reese said, her voice careful, "but can you tell me now where the recording of your conversation with Grace is?"

    Alex took a deep breath, like he was finally ready to let go of a heavy secret. "The recording from back then... It''s with my cousin, back in my hometown. He lives in..."

 Chapter 354

    Alex''s voice was rough, barely more than a whisper. Reese held her breath, giving him a gentle nod to let him know he could take his time.

    Out of nowhere, a thunderous crash rattled the security door. Someone started pounding on it, fast and desperate. Grace''s voice rang out, sharp and urgent. "Alex, don''t let Reese fool you. You think telling her the truth about back then means you''re off the hook?"

    While she called for Seth to force the door open, Grace kept shouting, "She''s always known what really happened. She''s here for payback. If you give her that evidence, you''re just setting yourself up. It''s because of the evidence she helped find that your daughter got arrested."

    Alex nced at Reese. Her face had drained of color, and for a second, it looked like he was starting to believe Grace.

    Reese felt his eyes on her and met his gaze, steady and clear. "Alex, I didn''t hurt Leslie and I''m not out for revenge. I just want justice for my mom. That''s all I''m after. You have to believe me. Leslie really was a foreign spy. The National Security Bureau had been watching her for a long time."

    With a loud click, the old security door gave way. Grace strode in, four men in ck trailing behind her.

    "Reese, do you really expect us to believe Leslie''s arrest had nothing to do with you?" Grace''s eyes swept the living room, a glimmer of relief in her expression. She''d gotten here just in time. Reese had gotten better at dodging her people, managing to sneak in and meet Alex. But now, Grace was sure she''d keep the evidence out of Reese''s hands.

    Grace turned to Reese with a thin, cold smile. "You can only fool Alex. Everyone at Bridger Lake knows what you did. You helped the authorities catch Leslie stealing data, and then you didn''t hesitate to turn in your own mother-inw and husband."

    As Alex looked at Reese, doubt flickered in his eyes. Grace saw it and smirked. "Alex, you and I are in the same boat. Trust me, I''d never hurt you. Do you really think someone as ruthless as her, who would even set up her own father, is going to let you walk away just because you hand over that recording?"

    She pulled out her phone and tapped on a recording. Hank''s voice filled the room. "I''m sorry, Grace. I don''t know why Reese keeps saying Mom''s ident had anything to do with you. Of course I believe you...

    "... You wouldn''t believe how out of line Reese has beentely. She hid the fact that she runs de, all so she could get her hands on the shares...

    "... You know we borrowed a lot just to get that civilian contract with de... If Dad doesn''t give her the shares, the Meyer family''s finances are going to fall apart...¡±

    Reese listened to Hank''s voice, watching the trust in Alex''s eyes fall apart piece by piece. She felt herself sway and had to close her eyes for a moment.

    Hank.

    "You hear that, Alex?" Grace''s eyes sparkled with triumph as she looked at Reese. "Is someone like that really worth your trust?" She was d, she''d convinced Hank to say all that earlier and had the sense to record it.

    "Grace, you''re mixing up two totally different things." Matthew reached out to steady Reese, then faced Alex, his tone low and steady. "Alex, even if you don''t hand over the evidence, you really think the police won''t eventually dig up the truth? You''l end up just as guilty as Grace You might as well help us and tell us where the recording is."

    Matthew nced at Grace and then back at Alex. "Besides, if Grace really cared about you so much, why would your wife work herself sick just to take care of your daughter? Why does your daughter resent you so much?"

    "Shut up. I''ve been sending him money all these years," Grace shot back.

    Alex''s head was spinning. He looked at Reese, then at Matthew. Reese hadn''t exactly denied what Grace said, but Matthew''s words made sense too. He turned to Grace. Co Money really had been showing up in his ount over the years, and maybe, just maybe, Grace wasn''t to me for everything that happened to his wife and daughter...

 Chapter 355

    Grace''s eyes sparkled with a n as she nced at Seth, then turned to Alex. "Come with me. I''ll make sure everything''s taken care of for you. I''ll even find a way to clear your daughter''s name."

    Her words sounded convincing, almost hypnotic, but they snapped Alex back to his senses. Clear Nicole''s charges? How? She''d stolen state secrets. No one could make something like that disappear.

    He remembered the days trapped in his old house, Grace''s people watching his every move. He wasn''t about to go back to that life. But right now, he didn''t trust anyone-not Grace, not even Reese.

    Seth started moving toward him, slow and steady. Alex''s expression hardened. He snatched up his ID and the little cash he had on the table, shoved open the balcony door, and climbed over the railing. He didn''t stop to think. He grabbed the drainpipe and slid down as fast as he could, barely noticing as the rough metal tore at his hands. He hit the ground running and vanished into the trees beyond the apartmentplex.

    "Alex!" Reese shouted, dashing to the balcony. All she caught was a glimpse of his back as he disappeared.

    Matthew wanted to go after him, but he hesitated. He couldn''t risk leaving Reese alone with Grace''s people. Frustration flickered across his face.

    Reese took a deep breath, pushing down the panic rising in her chest. She red at Grace. "Do you really think you''re off the hook just because Alex ran and I don''t have the evidence?"

    Grace just smirked, her eyes full of challenge. "The police want witnesses and proof. Your witness is gone, and you don''t have any evidence. What can you do? Even your father and brother think your mom''s ident was just an ident. Maybe you should let it go."

    She turned to leave. As she walked past Seth, she whispered low, "Find Alex. Don''t let him cause any more trouble."

    Seth''s eyes narrowed. He answered softly and hurried away, skipping the elevator and taking the stairs instead.

    "Grace, you think you can just leave?" Reese called out, her voice sharp. She hadn''t heard what Grace told Seth, but she knew it couldn''t be good.

    Grace turned, looking annoyed. "And who''s going to stop me?"

    "You broke in." Reese pointed at the busted lock. "Let''s just wait for the police."

    Graceughed, shaking her head. "Still so naive, Reese. Do you even have proof?" She hadn''t noticed any cameras in the hallway. "And what makes you think you can actually stop me?"

    She walked to the elevator and pressed the button. The doors slid open, and a group of uniformed officers stepped out. Without hesitation, they moved in and cuffed Grace and her people.

    "What is this? Do you know who I am? You can''t just arrest me!"

    ?

    The lead officer stayed calm. "Grace, you''re suspected of uwful entry. Pleasee with us to the station He recognized her immediately the police had been keeping an eye on her for a while. There weren''tany security cameras in the corridor, but Alex had been under police watch They''d set up their own cameras inside and outside the apartment. They''d seen everything.

    "If you have anything to say, you can do it at the station," the officer told her. "We''ll

    also be notifying your family."

    Grace''s face finally changed. If Bailey or Hank found out about this, how could she possibly exin it?

    Reese watched as the police led

    Grace away, but there was no

    triumph in her heart. She just felt a wave of disappointmen She''d been

    so close to finding out where Alex had hidden the recording.

    Matthew saw the look on her face and tried to reassure her. "Don''t worry. Leslie''s verdict gets

    announced tomorrow. When Alex hears about it he definitely makeTM move. You''ve done everything you could, and the police are involved now. Let them handle it."

 Chapter 356

    "Okay." Reese didn''t want Matthew to worry anymore, so she managed a small smile. "You''re right. Let''s go home."

    ***

    The next evening, Bridger Lake was buzzing after the news reported the final verdict in Leslie''s case.

    Leslie had been found guilty of illegally obtaining ssified state secrets. Even though no information had actually leaked, the court decided she was a severe threat to national security and sentenced her to five years in prison. Jane, who had helped her, got two years. Since she cooperated with the investigation, her sentence was suspended for one year, but she wasn''t allowed to leave the country during that time.

    As the verdict was read, Jane''s whole body shook. Tears streamed down her face, but she didn''t make a sound. She just bit her lip and tried to hold herself together, her shoulders trembling.

    When it was Sebastian''s turn, he looked up quickly, hope flickering in his eyes. "I wasn''t involved. Jane handled all those transfers on her own!"

    The investigation cleared Sebastian of helping leak any secrets. Still, because he was supposed to be supervising Leslie and failed at his job, he was fined six hundred thousand, had his spending restricted for a year, and couldn''t leave the country either.

    As soon as the news broke, chaos erupted all over Bridger Lake. The fine was nothing to Sebastian, but his reputation was wrecked. Ratcliff Global took a hit too.

    The board of directors at Ratcliff Global called an emergency meeting, scrambling to limit the damage by removing Sebastian as chairman.

    The boardroom was thick with tension. The older directors sat stiff and serious, while the younger ones whispered among themselves, energy buzzing between them.

    The board secretary stepped to the center of the table, holding a stack of papers. "This emergency board meeting is now in session. Today''s agenda: the removal and election of the chairman." She paused, then read aloud, "Due to involvement in a national security case and the resulting administrative penalties, Mr. Sebastian Ratcliff no longer meets thepany''s requirements for chairman, which include a clean record and maintaining our public image. The board is moving to remove him from his position."

    Nobody said a word. The silence stretched on.

    "We''ll proceed to a vote."

    One by one, hands went up around the table. The motion to remove Sebastian passed unanimously. He wasn''t even there-hiswyer was present instead, casting his vote and waiving Sebastian''s right to plead his case. Thewyer stood up, his face nk, and read Sebastians statement. "I respect the board''s decision and will fully cooperate with the investigation."

    As soon as that was over, talk of the next chairman exploded around the room.

    "I nominate Matthew Ratcliff," one of the older directors said, his hair nearly white. "He''s family, has a military background, and leads de. If he''s chairman, we can rebuild Ratcliff Global''s image."

    A few other senior directors chimed in right away. "Agreed. Matthew is the only one who can steady things right now."

    The rest of the directors nced at each other but kept quiet. Everyone knew the truth. The older directors weren''t really praising Matthew. They just saw him as inexperienced and easy to control, someone who wouldn''t challenge their authority.

    "I disagree," a young director said sharply. "Matthew is only the Ratcliff family''s illegitimate son, and hardly anyone even knows about him. He own''s just five percent of thepany, which doesn''t meet the basic requirements for chairman."

    "I nominate Joseph Ratcliff," he added.

    Joseph was Sebastian''s cousin and had managed thepany''s southern region for years. He owned twelve percent of the shares and had a ster reputation.

    After Sebastian, he was the most promising member of his generation.

    "Thank you for your trust," Joseph said, straightening his suit. "The southernregion has brought in thirty-eight percent of our total revenue over thest three years with annual growth over twenty percent. If I be the new chairman, I''ll lead Ratcliff Global to an even brighter future."

 Chapter 357

    He had no intention of ending up like Sebastian, whopletely lost his mind

    over a woman.

    "Mr. Joseph''s results are certainly impressive, but he''s just a side branch," one of the older board members argued. "For chairman, the direct bloodline is what matters most. That''s what keeps the foundation of thepany stable."

    Clearly, Joseph wasn''t nearly as easy to control as Matthew.

    "This is a business, not some ancient family n," one of the younger directors shot back, clearly supporting Joseph. "We need someone who can actually lead us to profit, not just someone with the rightst name."

    The room quickly split into two camps. One side argued for bloodline, the other for ability, and the whole discussion turned into a shouting match. No one was backing down.

    Matthew stayed out of it. He didn''t try to defend himself or argue his case. He just watched them, calm and distant, as if none of this had anything to do with him.

    The meeting dragged on untilte at night. In the end, nothing got decided. The board dumped the decision back on Matthew and Joseph. They each got a task. Whoever finished first would be chairman.

    As everyone was filing out, Joseph stepped in front of Matthew, blocking his way.

    "Don''t get cocky just because those old guys are on your side," Joseph said, his voice dripping with disdain. "The Ratcliff family business isn''t something an illegitimate nobody like you can touch."

    Matthew stopped and turned, raising an eyebrow at him. "Joseph, this is business. What matters is what you can do, not where youe from." His voice was even, but there was a quiet force behind it. "Whoever manages to keep Ratcliff Global steady through this mess deserves to stay. That''s the only thing that counts."

    Joseph let out a low, mockingugh.

    "Your ''strength'' is just whatever scraps Mr. Ratcliff left behind for you. He leaned in lowering his Voice Give me five days and make sure everyone on the board sees how useless you are Then you''ll understand what it means to be the real heir."

    Matthew didn''t even blink. "I''ll be waiting," he said, cool as ever.

    He honestly didn''t care about being chairman of Ratcliff Global. He''d onlye back to Bridger Lake to get justice for his mother. Now that he knew she was alive, he was going to find out exactly where Jane had sent

    her. His eyes narrowed at the thought. And he still wanted to help Reese break free from the Ratcliff family for good.

    ***

    Meanwhile, Roman''s office was glowing with harsh white light. A few officers huddled around aputer, eyes locked on the security footage ying on the

    screen.

    "Mr. Sanchez, we''ve got something!" one officer suddenly called out, excitement in his voice. ¡°Alex used a bank card this morning to take out five hundred at an ATM on the outskirts of the city."

    Roman moved in fast, focusing on the screen. "Are you sure it''s him?"

    "Absolutely," the officer replied, pointing at the grainy image. "He changed clothes, wearing something old and beat up, but it''s definitely Alex. He looks jumpy, like he''s running from someone."

    "Get the location of that ATM and start tracking him right now," Roman ordered, hope flickering in his eyes.

    "We already did," another officer added. "The ATM is in a little town outside the city. We checked more surveince and saw him heading toward an abandoned brickyard." He nced at his phone. "I called the local precinct. Two officers are already on their way. Just got word, they''ve found Alex."

    Roman finally felt some relief. "Tell Ms. Meyer. We''re heading out."

 Chapter 358

    Reese had just finished dinner with Matthew and Annie when Roman called.

    "Ms. Meyer, we found Alex. He''s at an old brickyard outside the city. He''s safe for now. I''m heading over with my team. The local police are on their way too."

    "Alright, I''ming."

    She hung up and nced at Matthew, who was holding a sleepy Annie. "Can you send me the location? I need to get over there."

    "Where are you going?" Matthew asked, worry creasing his brow.

    "They found Alex. I want to make sure he''s okay."

    "I''ming with you."

    Reese looked at Annie, who was nearly asleep in his arms, and shook her head. "No, you should take Annie home."

    Matthew didn''t argue. He handed Annie to the nanny and told the driver to take them back. His eyes said he wasn''t about to let Reese go alone. She could see how worried he was, so she didn''t push back. She just reached for the car door, ready to go.

    "I''ll drive," Matthew said quietly.

    Reese knew she was too anxious to argue. She nodded. "Okay."

    They got in the car and sped through the city. Streetlights streaked past, the world outside rushing by in a blur. Reese stared out the window, her mind racing, her jaw tight.

    Matthew kept ncing at her, trying to sound calm. "Don''t worry. We''ll get there in time."

    Reese forced a small smile. ¡°Yeah. I hope so."

    About half an hourter, they pulled up a few hundred meters from the brickyard. Roman wasn''t there yet but a police car sat nearby, engine off, hidden in the shadows. The whofe area was dark Trees on either side, their branches shifting in the night breeze.

    med

    Reese didn''t wait. She stepped out of the car, eyes narrowed, scanning the outline of the crumbling brickyard. Matthew started to tell her to stay put but the SUV was too bright, too obvious. He decided it was safer to stick together

    "Stay close. Whatever happens, don''t leave my sight."

    "Okay." The darkness pressed in around them, making Reese''s skin prickle. She

    nodded, crouched low, and followed Matthew along the old brick wall, moving

    quietly toward the brickyard.

    The ce looked even creepier up

    close. Broken walls and empty

    windows stared out from the

    darkness. The air felt heavy, almost haunted. As they crept forward

    muffled sounds drifted towards:

    the-grunts, angry voices the thud of bodies struggling.

    Reese''s heart jumped. She nced at Matthew.

    His eyes went cold and sharp. He pulled her down behind a broken b of concrete. "Stay here. Don''t move."

    "But..." Reese''s voice trembled. She wanted to wait for Roman. Maybe it was safer to let the police handle it. But the look Matthew gave her said there was no time.

    He understood her hesitation, but if something happened to Alex, they might lose the evidence against Grace. Who knew what would happen then.

    "We can''t wait for Roman." Matthew tried to sound calm, offering a quick smile. "I''ll check things out. I''ll be quick."

    He took a few steps, then turned back. He dug a pen from his pocket and handed

    it to her. ¡°There''s a de hidden in the end. Use it if you need to."

    He twisted the cap to show her. Reese nodded, gripping the pen tight. Matthew hesitated, almost reached out to touch her hair, then stopped himself and slipped away into the shadows.

    He moved fast, silent and focused, disappearing into the night like he belonged there.

 Chapter 359

    Reese clutched the pen, her eyes glued to where Matthew had disappeared, worry twisting inside her. She knew exactly why he''d run off like that. He was afraid that if they waited for Roman, they''d be toote. If anything happened to Alex, they might never get the proof they needed to show Grace was behind her mother''s ident.

    ***

    The brickyard was a mess. Broken bricks littered the ground, dust hanging thick in the air. In the faint moonlight, Matthew took in the scene.

    Two copsy on the floor. One was out cold, blood seeping from his temple. The other was clutching his stomach, face ghostly pale, blood at the corner of his mouth. Four men in ck surrounded him.

    Seth stood in front, gripping a rusty steel pipe, his eyes hard and cold. "Hand over Alex, and maybe I''ll let you live."

    The officer struggled to catch his breath, teeth clenched. "Forget it. We already called backup. You''re not getting away."

    Sethughed, hefting the pipe. "Maybe you should start worrying about who are going to find your bodies." He flicked his hand at his men. "Finish him. Then go get Alex."

    One of the men lunged. The cop barely dodged, but pain shot through him and he grunted.

    Suddenly, a shadow burst from the side, moving fast. There was a heavy thud. The man in ck didn''t even see iting. He dropped to the ground, knocked out cold.

    Everyone spun toward the noise, eyes wide.

    Matthew stood there, tall and steady, his presence icy andmanding. "Four on one? That''s your idea of a fair fight?"

    Seth squinted at him, sizing him up. "You should mind your own business," he snapped.

    Ever since Alex had run off, Seth had been on his tail, waiting for a chance to finish things. He''d finally cornered him in the brickyard, only for two cops to show up. Now Matthew was here too. Seth had a bad feeling about him back at the estate, but with his guys around, he thought he had the upper hand.

    "Take him down," Seth said, nodding.

    His men exchanged a look, then rushed Matthew. But Matthew moved quicker than any of them. He threw a punch, flooring the first guy. The second swung at him, but Matthew dodged and caught his wrist, twisting hard. There was a sharp crack. The man howled and copsed, clutching his arm.

    In just a few seconds, two were down.

    Seth''s face twisted with shock and rage. He gripped the pipe so tight his knuckles

    turned white. "All of you, now! Take him out!"

    Thest two rushed in, one aiming high, one low. Matthew didn''t back down. He kicked one right in the knee, dropping him to the floor. Then he sp¨² and mmed his elbow into the other''s chest. That guy flew backward, but a broken wall, and sird to the ground.

    Just like that, all four men were down, sprawled across the floor.

 Chapter 360

    Seth''s eyes went wide, pure panic flickering behind his forced calm. "Who are you, really?"

    Matthew kept moving closer, his steps steady and heavy, almost like Seth could feel each one in his chest. "You don''t need to know."

    Seth knew he was outmatched. His gaze darted around, searching for a way out. Suddenly, hurried footsteps and the wail of police sirens echoed from the entrance, growing louder by the second.

    "The police are here!" The wounded officer''s voice rang out, hope shining through his pain.

    Seth''s face drained of color. Without another thought, he spun around and sprinted toward a narrow path behind the brickyard.

    Matthew was about to chase after him when he spotted someone huddled in a corner. Alex. He hesitated, then made his way to the injured officer instead. "Can you hang on?"

    The officer nodded, struggling to speak. "Thank you... for stepping in."

    Matthew opened his mouth to reply, but a sharp gasp cut through the chaos behind him.

    "Reese!" His whole body tensed as he whipped around.

    Seth had somehow slipped behind a wall and now had Reese in a tight grip. He pressed a small knife to her neck, its de already drawing a thin line of blood.

    "Don''t move!" Seth''s voice shook with terror, but his eyes were wild and desperate. "Anyonees closer, and I swear I''ll kill her!"

    Reese''s heart thudded in her chest. The sting at her neck made every muscle tense, but she forced herself to stay calm. Her eyes locked on Matthew''s, filled not with fear, but worry for him.

    Matthew''s eyes narrowed, his whole presence turning cold and dangerous. He slowly raised his hands, voice low and steady. "Let her go. If you want someone, take me."

    He never took his eyes off Seth''s hand, just waiting for any sign of weakness.

    Roman arrived with a swarm of officers, stopping short when he saw what was happening. He

    signaled for everyone

    everyone to hold back.

    "Seth you''re surrounded! Drop the

    knife, let her go, and this can go

    easier for you!"

    Seth''s eyes darted around at the wall of police, closing in. The re from their headlights washed over everything leaving him nowhere hide. His face went even paler breathing in ragged gasps. He gripped the knife so hard his

    knuckles went white. "Stay back! All of you, stay away!"

    He dragged Reese backward until his heels hit the broken wall behind him. He was cornered. "Get me a car with a full tank or I''ll kill her, do you hear me?"

    Reese felt his grip tighten around her neck, making it harder to breathe. She knew she couldn''t wait any longer. Her eyes flicked to a jagged piece of rubble at her feet.

    As soon as Seth nced away,

    distracted by the police, Reese

    dropped down fast. The small knife

    she''d been hiding shed across,

    Seth''s bs. At the same time, she

    drove her heel onto the sharpstone

    with all the force she had.

    Seth let out a choked scream, shock and pain ripping through him. His hold slipped.

    Now!

    Reese wrenched her head away from the de, grabbed Seth''s wrist, and twisted

    it back with everything she had.

 Chapter 361

    Seth yelped in pain, dropping the utility knife with a loud tter.

    Matthew, who had been watching every move, didn''t hesitate for a second. He rushed forward, grabbed Reese, and pulled her behind him, shielding her with his

    body.

    "You''re dead!" Seth shouted, his voice full of rage. He yanked a switchde from his belt and lunged straight at Matthew''s chest.

    Matthew''s eyes sharpened. He blocked Seth''s arm, shoving Reese farther out of harm''s way. The de sliced across his forearm, blood instantly blooming through his ck sleeve.

    Reese''s eyes went wide. She gasped, her voice breaking. "Matthew!"

    But Matthew didn''t flinch. He swung back,nding a punch right on Seth''s face. Blood gushed from Seth''s nose as he staggered back.

    "Go!" Roman barked.

    A group of officers rushed in, tackling Seth to the ground and snapping handcuffs on him. The danger was over.

    Reese ran to Matthew''s side, her eyes brimming with tears as she saw the blood pouring down his arm. "Are you okay? Does it hurt?" She reached out, then hesitated, afraid to hurt him more.

    Matthew reached up and gently ruffled her hair, a faint smile on his lips. "I''m fine, really. Just a scratch." He was a little pale, but his eyes stayed calm and steady, full of warmth and reassurance. That quiet confidence made Reese''s heart skip.

    Roman strode over, his face set and serious as he checked Matthew''s arm. "Let''s get the medics over here."

    Matthew nodded and nced toward the corner where Alex was still frozen.

    Alex stared at Seth being dragged away, then at the blood on Matthew''s sleeve. All the terrible things Grace had said, and the way Seth had just tried to kill him, can crashing down on him. He started shaking.

    It finally hit him. Grace never meant to help him. All her promises, all her talk about protecting him and getting her daughter off the hook, were lies. She just wanted the recording, and once she hadit he was as good as dead. If it werent for Reese, Matthew, and the police, he''d be a corpse already.

    The officers lifted their unconscious colleague onto the ambnce stretcher, while

    the medics rushed to help the others who were hurt.

    Alex stepped slowly out of the shadows, looking pale and shaken. He made his way to Reese and bowed deeply. "Ms. Meyer, I''m so sorry. I believed Grace. I almost got you hurt."

    Reese looked at him, her emotions all tangled up¡ªanger, disappointment, and finally, relief. ¡°It''s over now. You''re safe."

    Alex looked up, took a shaky breath, and finally found his resolve. "Grace wanted me dead. She was never going to let me go. Grace really was involved in your mother''s ident. If you need someone to testify. I will k still have the recording. I made it by ident all those years ago, and I asked my cousin to hide it for me."

    Roman''s eyes lit up with hope. "Where''s your cousin?"

    Alex answered, his voice clear and steady. "He''s in Greenville. The address is..."

 Chapter 362

    After Alex rattled off the address, Reese nced at Roman. He gave her the smallest nod and said, "I''ll get the local police on it."

    Then he turned to Alex, his tone all business. "You know what it means to be a witness, right?"

    Alex''s eyes flickered with a hint of hope. "Does this mean I''m making up for what I did?"

    Roman, who''d been doing this forever, saw right through him. "Your case is

    special. In the end, the prosecutor will decide. But you helped us out, so your life isn''t on the line anymore."

    Alex''s face fell. One mistake had led to another, and there was no going back. Still, this was better than sticking with Grace and ending up dead.

    As the cops led Alex away, Reese finally felt like the nightmare was wrapping up. She let out a shaky breath, but then she noticed Matthew swaying beside her. She turned, saw his face was ghostly pale, and reached out to steady him. Her hand came away wet with blood. Her heart jumped into her throat.

    "Matthew!"

    He''d said it was nothing, just a scratch. So why was there so much blood?

    The paramedics who''de with Roman rushed over, pulling out a first aid kit. Matthew sat down on a makeshift bench as they cut open his ck sleeve, revealing a nasty, bleeding wound.

    Reese dropped to her knees next to him, clutching his shirt so hard her knuckles turned white. Her eyes were rimmed with red, her gaze locked on the injury. She barely dared to breathe.

    "We don''t have much to work with. This is going to hurt," the paramedic warned,ing closer with some antiseptic.

    "I''m fine. I can take it." Matthew didn''t even look at his arm. Instead, he turned to Reese and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Don''t worry. It''s just a scratch, I promise."

    Reese looked up and met his eyes. There was no sign of pain, only a calm meant to steady her. Her nose stung as she fought to hold back tears. She turned her head and mumbled, "Okay."

    The medic worked fast, cleaning the wound. The sting of alcohol made Matthew''s jaw clench, but he sat straight as ever, just squeezing Reese''s hand a little tighter. The needle slid through his skin again and again. Reese couldn''t bring herself to watch, but she heard every tiny sound, every stitch pulling through flesh. Each one felt like it was threading straight through her heart.

    "All done. It''s deep, so he needed seven stitches," the medic said, bandaging the wound. "Change the dressing every day, keep it dry, and watch for infection."

    Reese nodded and hurried to help Matthew up.

    "I''m good. I can walk," Matthew said, standing steady despite the fact that his face was even paler now.

    Reese didn''t let go, her hand even firmer on his arm. "Take it slow. Don''t push yourself."

    Matthew caught the worry still glimmering in her eyes, and his lips curled into a faint smile. "I''m tougher than I look."

    Roman wasn''t about to let Reese drive an injured Matthew back alone, so he sent a cop with them before heading off with Alex and the rest of the team. The ride back was quiet, just the soft whir of the air O conditioning filling the car Reese kept sneaking nces at Matthew. He was leaned back, eyes closed, longshes casting shadows across his too pale face. Somehow, he still managed to look dignified Sensing her gaze, Matthew opened his eyes, a yful glint in them. "Is there something on my face?"

    Reese''s cheeks flushed and she looked away fast. "No. Just... get some rest, okay?"

    Matthew closed his eyes again, and soon his breathing was slow and even.

    ***

    Meanwhile, over at the Bridger Lake

    shopping center, the sound of

    shattering ss shattered the calm

    inside a private club. Grace stood in her bedroom, her face as pale as the sheets, chest rising and falling as she tried to hold it together. Her most trusted aide stood by the wall, head down, too scared to say a word.

    ¡°Useless,¡± Grace spat, her eyes cold and sharp. "He can''t even handle one person, and now the police got him!"

    She knew Seth would never betray her. But Alex was still alive, and he had the recording. She couldn''t escape this. Was she really about to watch everything she''d built fall apart?

    "Mom, what''s going on? You look awful." Sofia came in, fresh from the spa next door, and froze at the scene. Dread crept up her spine.

    Grace snapped out of her thoughts, grabbed Sofia''s hands, and pulled her close. "Sofia, Seth''s been taken in, and the police have Alex. You need to pack your bags and leave Bridger Lake right now.

    ¡°Go abroad. Yes, your visa''s still good, isn''t it? Leave right away. Tell your dad there''s a project and you have to go, just make something up."

    If there was still a chance to fix this, Sofia could alwayse hometer. But if things really went south Grace would make sure her daughter stayed clear of it all. Bailey and Hank would know that Sofia had nothing to do with any of this.

    Sofia stared at her, panic spreading across her face. "Mom, what about you?

    You''ll be okay, right? You have a n?¡±

 Chapter 363

    With the evidence and witness in the hands of the police, what options did Grace have left? Even if she could get away, there was no way she would drag Sofia into a life on the run.

    Grace''s eyes grew misty. "Don''t worry about anything else. If anyone asks you about Marie, just say you don''t know anything. Promise me, okay?"

    Sofia met her mother''s steady gaze, bit her lip, and nodded. "I promise."

    ¡°Good girl.¡± Grace gently touched Sofia''s cheek, her fingers lingering. "Go on now, pack your things. I''ll have someone drive you to the airport."

    They hurried back to the Meyer family vi by Bridger Lake. Sofia threw her belongings together in a hurry while Grace handed her several credit cards.

    "Take these. When it''s safe, someone will contact you toe back."

    "Okay." Sofia took the cards, then paused before getting in the car. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Grace. "Mom, what about you? What are you going to do?"

    Grace turned away, her voice rough. "Don''t worry about me. Just take care of yourself."

    As the car with Sofia pulled away, Bailey and Hank''s car rolled through the gates and stopped at the front door.

    "Grace, why is Sofia suddenly leaving the country? And why all the rush?" Hank asked, frowning at the sight of Grace standing alone, looking so lost.

    Grace managed a shaky smile. "Her professor called from overseas. There''s a project they want her on." She''d exined this on the drive back, but Hank still thought it was odd for a project to require such urgency. Vista Tech still needed someone to coordinate with ckOak, and even though Reese had agreed to help once she got the shares, without Sofia, they were left scrambling.

    Bailey didn''t look that far ahead. He just noticed how pale Grace looked. "What''s going on? You look terrible."

    Something clicked in Grace''s mind and she made up her mind. Tears welled up again as she spoke. ¡°I... I saw Reese today while Sofia and I were out shopping."

    Hank scowled. He remembered Reese bringing up the car ident again and again, hinting that Grace was behind it. "Did she say something to you?"

    "What could she say?" Grace wiped her eyes. "That girl''s been through enough. I can''t me her. I just worry that her resentment might ruin Vista Tech''s deal with de."

    Bailey and Hank shared a look. Hank clenched his jaw. "So it''s her again. No wonder Sofia had to leave so fast. Dad, I don''t think she ever wanted us to get the de contract We handed over the shares and it stiff wasn''t enough. Now she''s forcing Sofia to leave! We can''t just sit back and do nothing."

    They''d already been talking about what to do if Reese refused to cooperate with Vista Tech.

    "You''re right. Looks like it was smart to have a backup n," Bailey said, nodding. "Call Reese. Ask her what she really wants. Does she still want the shares or not?"

    A hint of satisfaction flickered in Grace''s eyes. Even if the truth about Marie got out, she would never let Reese get away with everything.

    ***

    Reese and Matthew had just stepped out of the car when her phone rang. She saw Hank''s name and frowned, confused about why he was calling sote. She almost ignored it, but when the phone kept ringing, she sighed and answered. "Reese! Are you seriously going to keep pushing things this far?" Hank''s angry voice exploded through the speaker, making her ears ring.

    She pulled the phone away a little. "What did I do now?"

    "You actually have the nerve to ask?" Hank''s voice shook with anger. "You wanted Mom''s shares. We gave them to you. Was that not enough? Now you''ve forced Sofia to leave the country Are you ever going to let the past go and stop making things so hard for Grace and Sofia?"

    Sofia left? Realization shed in Reese''s eyes. Grace must have heard about Seth''s arrest and was already putting her escape n in motion she wondered what story

    Grace had spun this time to get Hank so riled up. The woman really knew how to y the victim,

    dragging Reese into it even now.

    "What does Sofia leaving have to do with me?" Reese said calmly, helping Matthew out of the car at the same time. "Do you have enything else? If not, I''m hanging up."

    On the drive home, Matthew had started running a low fever. Reese wanted to take him to the hospital, but he wouldn''t go.

    "Reese, I told you before, that car ident had nothing to do with Grace. Can you please stop stirring up trouble?" Hank sounded tired and angry. "If you really want Mom''s shares, drop this. Come by tomorrow, apologize to Grace, and tell Sofia toe home."

 Chapter 364

    Reese couldn''t help but let out a coldugh when she heard Hank. She already had both a witness and hard evidence. And after all that, he was still trying to talk his way out? "I''m not apologizing to her. And it''s not up to you to decide if she''s involved. The police will figure it out."

    "You called the cops?" Hank''s voice shot up. "Reese, do you even realize what you''ve done? You can''t put this back in the box now. Even if Grace is cleared, this is going to mess up the Meyer family''s reputation. It could ruin everything with Vista Tech and de. We might not pass the background check now."

    He always figured Reese would pull something like this once she knew Vista Tech belonged to the Meyer family. Well, fine. He had Joseph on his side now. That deal was already in the bag.

    His voice turned sharp. "Go to the station and drop the report. If I don''t hear it''s done by tomorrow morning, I''m telling Dad. The share transfer isn''t finished yet. You really want to lose everything Mom left you?"

    Reese guided a shaky Matthew into the elevator. She took a slow breath and pushed down the anger burning in her chest. "I''m not dropping anything. Hank, I''m not like you. I''m not turning my back on my own mother. I''ll find out what happened the day of that crash. I''ll make sure whoever did it pays for it."

    As for the shares... Once the truth was out, who even knew if the Meyer family would still be around. She''d fought too hard to give up now.

    "You!" Hank was so furious he could barely get the words out. "Fine. Have it your way. But if you''re going to be this stubborn, don''te back crying to me me when I cut you off. And don''t be surprised if the Meyer family does the same."

    He hung up on her, leaving nothing but a t dial tone.

    Reese looked at her phone and rolled her eyes. Like they''d ever really treated her as family.

    "Don''t let them get to you." Matthew was leaning against the elevator wall, voice gentle.

    She hadn''t thought she''d cry, but his words made her eyes burn. She blinked fast, refusing to let the tears fall. "I''m not mad. I just... it''s not fair to my mom."

    Her mother had always loved her and Hank, never ying favorites. Even during the divorce, just for Hank to inherit the Meyer name, she''d given up everything but the shares for her kids. She''d even forced Bailey into a vasectomy. Hank had promised he''d never forget his mother, that once he took over, he''d bring her home, make things right. And now, after just a decade, he''d forgotten all of it.

    Matthew watched her trying to hold it together. His heart ached for her. "They''re not worth your pain," he said softly.

    He lifted his hand to wipe the tears from her eyes, but the fever made him sway and suddenly he pitched forward.

    "Matthew!" Reese''s heart stopped. She caught him as he fell, his weight almost knocking her over.

    Matthew tried to straighten, shaking his head. "I''m fine. Just a little tired." But even as he said it, his breathing turned ragged and his eyes rolled back.

    Reese''s hands flew to steady him, panic flooding her chest. His head lolled to the side, lips drained of color, skin paper-white. He was out cold.

    "Matthew! Matthew!" Her voice broke, fear and tears mixing together. She barely remembered how she managed to pull out her phone and call for an ambnce, stammering out their location.

    When she hung up, she grabbed his icy hand and squeezed tight. "Matthew, don''t do this. Please wake up..."

    This time, she couldn''t hold back. The tears she''d swallowed all day finally spilled over, dotting his hand as she cried. She couldn''t even imagine what she''d do if she lost.

    m. What would Annie do

    The ambnce came in a blur of sirens and lights. Paramedics loaded Matthew

    onto the stretcher and Reese climbed in after him, her mind spinning all the way to the hospital.

    The red light above the operating

    room door glowed. Reese sat on a bench in the hallway, her hands clenched so tight her knuckles were white She couldn''t look away from the door. Her heart pounded every second dragging on forever All she could do was pray, over and over, that Matthew would be okay.

    Finally, after what felt like hours, the light went out. A doctor stepped out, pulling down his mask, his face tired and serious.

    Fear twisted in Reese''s chest as she shot to her feet. "Doctor, how is he?"

    "He''s stable for now, but things aren''t looking good," the doctor said.

    Reese''s thoughts jumped to the hereditary illness she knew ran in Matthew''s family. Her stomach dropped. "What do you mean? What happened to him?"

    The doctor nced

    over Matthew''s

    chart. "He has a rare gic

    disorder. His body''s been through a

    lot. Thistest trauma, even though

    we treated it quickly, triggered a severe reaction. The disease red up. It''s very serious."

 Chapter 365

    The blood drained from Reese''s face and she felt herself sway, struggling to stay upright. She knew it. Matthew had inherited the same gic disease as Mr. Ratcliff. She should have made him get checked the moment she found out, but life had gotten so busy. One thing after another, and she just... forgot.

    The doctor nced her way, assuming she didn''t know the details. "This disease is hard to detect. Most of the time, there are no symptoms. It only shows up after serious trauma or stress. We''ve managed to stabilize him for now, but he''ll need long-term treatment and monitoring. He can''t be exposed to any more stress."

    Reese''s tears fell before she could stop them, guilt twisting painfully in her chest. If only she''d remembered to take Matthew to see Millie for a checkup, maybe things wouldn''t have turned out like this. He had risked everything for her again and again. This time, he''d gotten hurt protecting her, and now the disease had been triggered. All because of her.

    "Doctor, please, you have to save him," she pleaded, grabbing his hand, her voice shaking. "I don''t care how much it costs or what I have to do. Just please, save him."

    "We''ll do everything we can," the doctor promised. "He needs rest now. You can visit him, but please keep it quiet."

    Reese nodded, ready to follow the nurse, when something clicked in her mind. She turned quickly. "I heard this kind of illness can be treated with stem cells..." That was the excuse Jane had given, when she wanted Reese to get pregnant for Robbie.

    The doctor''s eyebrows shot up, surprised by her question. "There''s a possibility, yes, but the stem cells have toe from a blood rtive. Even then, there''s no guarantee they''ll be a match."

    Reese let out a shaky breath. As long as there was a chance, that was enough. It would be painful to even bring this up with Annie, but if it could save Matthew, she knew Annie would agree. And if Annie couldn''t help, there was always Sebastian. They were brothers by blood.

    A weight lifted from her chest as her thoughts settled. She followed the nurse down the corridor. Matthew was lying on the hospital bed, his skin still pale, eyes closed, brow furrowed like he was fighting through pain even unconscious. Reese walked over quietly and sat on the edge of the bed. Her heart ached at how fragile he looked. She reached for his hand, careful not to wake him. It was still cold, but not as icy as before.

    "Matthew, I''m so sorry. This is all my fault," she whispered, voice thick with tears. "Please wake up. I still need you. We have to get justice for Mom together, remember? You promised me as long as you were here nothing was impossible you gave me alf that money to keep Ramos Corporation running. I haven''t even paid you back yet... And Annie... if she saw you like this, she''d be so scared. She''s already lost her mom. You can''t let her lose her dad, too."

    The thought of Annie, and what she might have to ask her, made Reese choke

    up. Tears blurred her vision and she couldn''t keep talking.

    As the hours passed, Reese stayed by Matthew''s side until exhaustion pulled her under. She fell asleep with her head on the edge of the bed, still holding his hand. In her dreams, she saw Matthew open his eyes, smiling gently and calling her name. She startled awake, searching his face for any sign of movement, but he was still unconscious.

    Dawn was just beginning to brighten the sky outside the window. Reese took a

    steadying breath and reached for her phone, dialing n.

    He answered groggily. "Hello? Reese? It''s so early... what''s going on?"

    Reese kept her voice low so she wouldn''t disturb Matthew. "Sorry to call so early, n. Something happenedst night." She exined everything quickly, then hesitated before asking, ¡°know you have connections to the military. Is there any way you could get a military doctor to check Matthew? And that special medicine they used on Mr. Ratcliff... do you think Matthew could use it?"

    n was quiet for a moment. "I get it. I''ll see what I can do." He didn''t really have military connections. His real connection was Matthew himself, and with Matthew in this state, n could only reach out to Mr. Sanchez and hope he''d help for Matthew''s sake.

    After hanging up, Reese dragged herself to the bathroom and sshed cold water on her face. She had just sat down by Matthew''s side again when her phone lit up. Roman was calling.

    "Ms. Meyer, we just got the recording from Alex. We''re heading to the Meyer family vi now to arrest Grace. Do you want to be there?"

 Chapter 366

    The only thing you could hear in the hospital room was the soft, steady beep of the monitors. Matthewy there,pletely still, his face so pale under the harsh lights it was almost see-through. Reese''s eyes lingered on the thick bandages wrapped around his arm. She clutched her phone tighter, her knuckles turning white.

    She''d spent so long gathering evidence, fighting for the truth, determined to see Grace get what she deserved and finally get justice for her mom. But now, Matthew was lying here because of her. He''s sick and helpless, and she couldn''t leave him alone. He needed her more than anything.

    "Mr. Sanchez," Reese said quietly, her voice scratchy from exhaustion and worry. "I can''t leave right now. Please, just keep me posted on whatever happens."

    "Absolutely," Roman answered right away. "I''ll call you the moment there''s any news."

    She ended the call, moved to the edge of Matthew''s bed, and sat down. Watching him sleep, so vulnerable and quiet, she realized she didn''t even know when it happened, but Matthew had be so important to her. She couldn''t imagine not being here for him.

    ***

    At the Meyer family vi, the morning calm was shattered by the sh of red and blue lights outside. Sirens echoed through the house, making Grace''s hand shake so badly she almost dropped her ss of milk.

    "What''s going on?" Bailey asked, setting his tablet aside and looking toward the hallway.

    The butler hurried out to check, but before he could reach the foyer, Roman was already walking in with a group of police officers behind him.

    "Grace Meyer, you''re under suspicion of hiring someone tomit murder. We''re here to take you into custody. Please cooperate," Roman said, showing his badge as he led the officers straight into the dining room. He found Grace and gave his team a quick look. The officers moved in, ready to put her in handcuffs.

    Grace''s face went sheet white when she saw the warrant. She tried her best to stay calm. "Officer, there must be some mistake. I''ve been home all along. I haven''t done anything wrong."

    "Grace," Roman said, his eyes sharp

    as he held out his phone, the

    set

    recording already ying. "This is the evidence Alex gave us. You can hear everything you ordered Seth to cause the car ident that killed Marie Meyer, and threatened Alex afterward to keep him quiet. Is there anything you want to say for yourself?"

    "No, that''s not possible!" Grace turned to Bailey, desperation in her eyes. "Bailey, you have to believe me. I didn''t do this!"

    Bailey just stared,pletely shocked. He''d always thought Marie''s ident happened because Reese had been crying and distracted her. What did any of this have to do with Grace?

    Hank, though, was already angry,

    thinking about the call he''d had with Reesest night. He was convinced she was behind all this. He stepped forward, putting himself between Grace and the officers, forcing a smile. "Officer, there''s got to be some misunderstanding. We know Grace. Was it Reese who called the police? She''s always med us for our mother''s ident, and she''s never really forgiven Grace. She''s probably convinced herself Grace had something to do with it. For all we know, this evidence is fake. You should really double-check before you let her mislead you."

    Hank''s words snapped Bailey out of it. His face darkened. "Officer, are you really going to arrest my wife based on one random recording? That seems reckless."

    "We have plenty of evidence. The recording is just one piece,¡± Roman replied, calm but firm. He''d heard enough stories about this family, and he just shook his head. quietly. He signaled the officers to move forward. "Grace, you need toe with us now. You can exin everything at the station."

    Hank tried to block their way. "You can''t just take her! You need real proof."

    "Mr. Meyer, please cooperate. If you interfere, you could be charged with obstructing justice," Roman said, his tone turning icy.

    The officers took that moment to step in and fasten the handcuffs on Grace. She realized there was no way out. Swallowing her fear, she stood up and tried to steady her voice. "Don''t make this harder on them," she said. "I''ll go.¡±

    She turned to Bailey and Hank, her eyes red and ssy. "Take care of yourselves while I''m gone. And Sofia''s all alone overseas. Hank, you''re her big brother, you need to look out for her. Don''t me Reese. She''s been through enough."

 Chapter 367

    "If you get the chance, talk to her. Don''t let her get blinded by hate."

    Bailey and Hank stood by the door, both of them looking furious as the police led Grace out and pushed her into the back of the car.

    "Dad, look at this!" Hank was so angry his chest was rising and falling fast. "This is all Reese''s doing. Taking the shares wasn''t enough. Now she''s sending Grace into the prison."

    "Call Tyler." Bailey''s voice was cold and hard. "Tell him to stop the transfer of shares to Reese." He picked up his phone and dialed Reese''s number himself. "I want to hear from her mouth what exactly she thinks she''s doing."

    ***

    In the quiet hospital room, Reese''s phone started ringing, Bailey''s name lighting up the screen. She nced at it, a sh of sarcasm in her eyes. So Grace had been taken away by Roman, and now Bailey was calling. She could guess he didn''t believe a word of Roman''s evidence. Even now, they were on Grace''s side, still thinking Reese was out for revenge.

    Without thinking twice, Reese declined the call and switched her phone to silent. She didn''t have the energy for another pointless argument with those two. Grace had only herself to me for how things turned out.

    Just then, the door opened quietly. n walked in, holding a little hand in his. Annie, dressed in a pink dress with her hair in two neat pigtails, still had tear stains on her cheeks. The second she saw the bed, she let go of n''s hand and ran straight over, throwing herself against the side of the bed, her voice shaking. "Daddy! Daddy, please wake up!"

    Reese hurried over, kneeling beside Annie and gently holding her trembling shoulders. "Annie, it''s alright. Daddy''s just sleeping. He''ll wake up soon, I promise."

    "Really?" Annie looked up with big, worried eyes. Her cheeks were wet with tears. "n said Daddy was really hurt. Is that true?"

    Reese felt a sharp pain in her heart. She managed a soft smile. "Daddy did get hurt, but the doctors are working very hard to help him. As long as he rests, he''ll get better."

    n came closer, letting out a tired sigh. "As soon as you called, I got in touch with Mr. Sanchez. He took it seriously. He''s already sent military doctors to help."

    "Thank you, n." Reese nodded gratefully.

    n rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking a little ufortable. He''d been hiding his connection with Matthew from Reese all this time.

    "Auntie, if the army doctorse, will Daddy wake up?" Annie''s voice was tiny, hopeful.

    Reese smoothed Annie''s hair, her fingers gentle and slow. For a moment, she hesitated, searching for the right words. "Your daddy has something different in his body, something that needs a special kind of stem cell to fix."

    She saw confusion flicker in Annie''s

    eyes, and after a long pause, she finally let out the words that had been weighing on her all night. "These stem cells have toe from family. Annie, would you be willing to donate some to help your daddy?"

    She knew it was too much to ask of a child so young. Reese couldn''t even meet Annie''s eyes.

    "But... I''m not Daddy''s real daughter." Annie''s tears started again as she clung to Reese''s sleeve, her voice choked. "Does that mean he won''t wake up?"

    Reese wentpletely still, shock washing over her. Annie wasn''t Matthew''s biological daughter?

    n stepped in, his voice gentle.

    met

    "Annie''s parents died in the war. Matthew was close friends with them. He adopted her because he gould bear to see her alone. He''s:

    always treated her like his own and never exined it to anyone.

    C¨®ntent

    Reese''s mind spun. She remembered the first time she''d seen Matthew awkwardly trying toz fix Annie''s hair She''d thought he was a grieving widower, still learning how to be a single dad. She never imagined Annie wasn''t his

    If she''d known, she never would have said those things and scared her.

    After a few seconds, Reese forced herself to calm down. She hugged Annie

    close, gently rocking her. "No, sweetheart, that''s not it at all. I will find another way to help your daddy. I promise."

 Chapter 368

    "Really?" Annie looked up at Reese with teary eyes, her voice shaky from crying.

    Reese felt a pang in her chest. She blinked back her own tears and managed a gentle smile, tapping Annie''s nose lightly. "Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"

    Annie wasn''t Matthew''s biological child. That meant the only rtives who could help were Sebastian and Robbie. Robbie was just a kid, about Annie''s age. Even though she''d been hurt by him before, Reese couldn''t bear to ask Robbie to go through something like this unless there was truly no other way.

    That left only Sebastian.

    Hope sparked in her chest. She let go of Annie, stood up, and pulled out her phone, quickly dialing Sebastian''s number.

    "Ms. Meyer," a voice answered.

    "Brady?" Reese was caught off guard. Sebastian never let anyone else touch his phone unless something serious was going on. "Where''s Sebastian? I need to talk to him. It''s urgent."

    "Mr. Ratcliff isn''t able toe to the phone right now," Brady said, ncing over at Sebastian, who was sprawled on the bed,pletely out cold and reeking of alcohol. ¡°He''s been staying at the family estate since he was removed from his position. If it''s urgent, maybe you shoulde talk to him in person."

    Brady had actually been thinking about calling her for help, wondering if she could talk some sense into Sebastian. Now, she''d beaten him to it.

    "Alright," she agreed, hanging up.

    Turning to n, she hesitated. "n, I..."

    n gave her a reassuring nod. "Go ahead. I''ll handle things here. The doctors will be here soon, and I''ll make sure everything is taken care of. Don''t worry."

    "Thank you." Reese bent down, brushing Annie''s hair back with trembling fingers. "Annie, be good and wait here for me, okay? I promise I''lle back with good news."

    Annie nodded her little hand

    tightening around Reese''s fingers. She paused; searching Reese''s eyes. "Don''t let Uncle Sebastian pressure you, okay? If he asks you for

    ve

    something... don''t do it just to save my dad. You''re the most important Que and Daddy if you

    person to me and B

    make a bad deal, even if Daddy

    wakes up, he won''t be happy."

    Reese swallowed, her throat tight. "Okay," she whispered, unable to meet Annie''s gaze. She turned and hurried out of the hospital room, one hand pressed over her mouth to keep from sobbing out loud. If only Annie were her own daughter. If only she''d married Matthew in the first ce.

    ***

    When she arrived at the Ratcliff estate, Brady was already waiting at the gate for her.

    "Ma''am." He walked quickly to meet her as she got out of the car.

    "Where is he?" Reese managed a small smile. No matter what happened between her and Sebastian, Brady was always polite and respectful.

    "Mr. Ratcliff just woke up," Brady said.

    "Just now?" Reese stopped in her tracks.

    Brady nodded and led her upstairs to the master bedroom. "After everything that happened with his mother and thepany, he''s been drinking every day."

    A bitter smile tugged at Reese''s lips. She''d watched Sebastian w his way to the top of Ratcliff Global over the years, surviving every power struggle and backstabbing rival. He was not the kind of man to fall apart over business trouble or Jane. No, the real reason he was drinking himself sick was Leslie. He''d thrown everything away for his first love, even used his status as chairman to make her life easier. In the end, Leslie had just yed him for a fool. The whole thing was almostughable, except it hurt too much.

    She stepped into the master bedroom. Sebastian was sitting by the window in a heavy, carved armchair, sunlight carving shadows acros his sharp profile. He looked exhausted, distant lost in thought When he heard her footsteps, he turned and looked at her There was no surprise in his eyes, just a cool, careful kind of curiosity.

    "What are you doing here?" His voice was t. "Did youe to see how pathetic

    I am?"

    "Is that really something I caused?" Reese asked quietly. She sat down in the chair across from him, her expression calm and unreadable. There had been times in the past when she''d wished for something bad to happen to him, but now, seeing him like this, she felt nothing at all.

 Chapter 369

    She didn''t bother with small talk. "Matthew has the same gic disease that your grandfather had. After his injury, things got worse fast. He needs a stem cell transnt from a blood rtive if he''s going to make it." She met Sebastian''s eyes, her voice steady but full of hope. "You''re his half-brother. You might be the only one who''s a match. I''m asking you to go to the hospital, get tested, and if it works, donate your stem cells to save him."

    Sebastian didn''t react at all. He looked at her like she''d just told him the weather, a hint of a mocking smile on his lips. "And why should I care if Matthew lives or dies?"

    "He''s your brother." Reese''s words caught in her throat, sharper than she expected.

    "Brother?" Sebastian let out a short, coldugh, his gaze turning hard. "He''s a bastard. That doesn''t make him my brother." He paused, then looked at her with a strange kind of disappointment. "You''re my wife, Reese, yet you''re here begging me to save another man. Why would I ever agree to that?"

    Reese didn''t expect this to be easy. "I''ve reported the surrogacy to the police. If you help Matthew, I''ll withdraw my statement." That was the biggestpromise she could offer.

    But Sebastian shook his head, his eyes growing darker. ¡°That''s not enough.¡±

    Reese stared at him. "Then what do you want?"

    "Drop the divorce," he said, voicepletely in control. "Have another child with me. Stay as Mrs. Ratcliff. Stay by my side."

    "No." Reese didn''t even have to think about it. "Sebastian, we''re done. There''s nothing between us anymore. If I stay, I''ll just be a shell, going through the motions. Is that what you want?"

    "I decide if it''s worth it," Sebastian said, his smile loose andzy, but his words heavy. "Reese, you don''t really have a choice. Neither I nor Robbie can be a donor. We both carry the same gene. If you want to save Matthew, you''ll have to have another child with me. Only a heathy child can be a donor. We''ll use that child''s stem cells to save Matthew. And Robbie. And me."

    Reese felt dizzy, her hands clenching tight in herp. His words cut right through her, leaving her torn

    between Matthew''s life and her own freedom. She''d fought so hard to escape Sebastian''s control, to finally get her chance at a real life. Now he wanted her to walk right back into the darkness she''d just escaped. She looked at his handsome, unyielding face and knew he meant every word. He''d never lie to her about something like this. But the idea of being his wife again felt unbearable.

    "So? Have you made up your mind?" Sebastian''s voice was low and impatient.

    "Matthew doesn''t have much time left. You''re running out of options."

    Reese felt like her heart was in a vice. She shut her eyes, memories shing through her mind-Matthew shielding her from a knife, Matthew lying pate and still in a hospital bed, Annie sobbing and begging her to save her dad. She couldn''t let Matthew die.

    She opened her mouth, ready to answer, but then she remembered something Annie had whispered before she left. "You''re the most important person to me and Daddy. Don''t agree to anything weird Uncle Sebastian says."

    Reese went quiet. After a long pause, she finally said, "Let me think about it."

    "Alright." Sebastian''s eyes grew a shade darker. He could see her hesitation, and it twisted something in his chest. He hadn''t expected Matthew to mean so much to her.

    Suddenly, his phone started ringing, shattering the heavy silence.

    "Reese!" n''s voice burst through the speaker, breathless and excited. "The military doctors are here! They''re treating Matthew right now. The doctors said he''ll wake up as soon as they finish!"

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    "Okay, I''ll be back right away."

    Reese''s voice shook, barely able to contain her relief. All the worry, guilt, and tension she''d carried since Matthew fell into aa finally broke, melting into a rush of pure, dizzying joy. It flooded her chest and made her eyes sting with tears.

    She looked up at Sebastian, and for the first time in ages, the weight in her heart was gone. Everything felt so clear now.

    "Sebastian, I can''t agree to your terms." Her voice was steady, calm, and sure. There wasn''t a hint of doubt in her eyes. All those days of swallowing her pride and pretending to be fine had ended the moment Matthew stepped in front of that knife for her, the moment she watched him lying unconscious in that hospital bed. She wasn''t looking for someone to control her, or a golden cage to keep her safe. She just wanted to breathe freely, to feel at peace, and Sebastian had never given her that. He never could.

    She didn''t bother looking at him again. She got up and headed straight for the door. She didn''t want to waste another second here. She just wanted to get to the hospital, to see Matthew, to wait for him to wake up with her right there.

    "Reese, don''t you care about saving Matthew anymore?" Sebastian''s voice was sharp, almost desperate. He didn''t know what the call was about, but the happiness on her face told him Matthew was probably awake. For another man, she could look this radiant, this alive, right in front of him.

    Reese didn''t even slow down. Her back was to him, her voice cold and firm. "Sebastian, the only thing left between us is divorce."

    The door mmed behind her, shutting him outpletely.

    Sebastian''s temper snapped. He swept his arm across the table, sending the teapot and cups crashing to the floor. Porcin shattered everywhere, the sound sharp and jarring, just like his pride splintering inside him.

    "Damn it!" His voice was a low curse, his breathing hard. Matthew was supposed to be on death''s doorstep. The only way to save him was through their child, and yet Reese had turned him down without hesitation.

    "Brady!" His shout was thick with fury, the kind that made the air in the room feel heavy.

    "Boss." Brady rushed in, stopping short at the mess on the floor and the stormy look on Sebastian''s face. He didn''t dare make a sound.

    "Find out everything."

    Sebastian''s

    words came out through gritted teeth. "Look into those military doctors, their backgrounds, the exact treatment, Matthew''s Condition want to know

    detail. Don''t miss a thing." He knew exactly how deadly a gic disease like Matthew''s could be. There was no way things could turn around this easily. He refused to believe it.

    "Yes, Mr. Ratcliff." Brady didn''t waste a second, quickly leaving the room to start the investigation.

    Now Sebastian was alone. He walked to the window, watching as Reese''s car sped away from the house, his jealousy and anger burning even hotter.

    At the hospital, Reese was almost running down the hallway. The sharp, quick clicks of her heels echoed off the floor matching the frantic beat of her heart. Every step felt urgent, like she couldn''t get to Matthew fast enough.

    She pushed open the door to his room. Her steps slowed.

    Inside, everything was quiet. The only sounds came from the gentle beeps of the medical equipment. The military doctors were already packing up. The lead doctor caught her eve nodded and pressed a finger to his lips, giving herra silent reassuring gesture.

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    Reese got the hint and tiptoed over to the hospital bed. Sunlight spilled through the window, falling softly across Matthew''s face and giving his skin a little more color.

    His forehead had lost that tense, worried crease. His long eyshes made gentle shadows on his cheeks, and his breathing sounded strong and steady.

    Reese held her breath and eased herself into the chair, her eyes never leaving his face.

    Annie was curled up at the side of the bed, both hands wrapped around

    Matthew''s fingers. She watched him closely, scared she''d miss the exact moment

    he woke up.

    She sensed Reese there and looked up, her tear-stained cheeks still damp. But she managed a tiny smile and whispered, "Auntie, the doctor said Daddy''s going to wake up soon."

    Reese nodded and reached out to smooth Annie''s hair, her voice barely above a whisper. "He will. Let''s just wait a little longer, okay?"

    Right then, Matthew''sshes trembled.

    Reese''s heart jumped. She froze, barely daring to breathe.

    Annie saw it too. Her eyes went wide and bright, and she whispered, all excited, "Daddy! Daddy!"

    A few secondster, Matthew''s eyes opened slowly.

    His gaze was gentle, still a little lost from sleep. He looked around the room before his eyes finallynded on Reese.

    As he saw her face, the confusion faded. All that was left was warmth, worry, and a soft relief he didn''t quite hide.

    "Reese," he said, his voice rough and low, "I made you worry."

    That was all it took. Reese felt her eyes sting and suddenly tears were running down her cheeks.

    She turned away fast, wiped her face with the back of her hand, and took a shaky breath before turning back with a smile. You''re awake, that''s what matters. How do you feel? Are you hurting anywhere?"  Matthew saw her red eyes and just saw her felt his heart twist. He wanted to reach out and touch her face, but his arm was still too weak. All he could do was move his fingers a little "I''m fine he managed his voice still hoarse m sorry for making you worry."

    "Daddy!" Annie threw her arms around his and hugged him tight, her voice trembling. "You scared me so much. You can''t ever do that again!"

    Matthew''s eyes softened. He stroked Annie''s back, voice gentle. "I''m sorry, sweetheart. I didn''t want to scare you. I promise, it won''t happen again."

    n slipped out of the room to give them some privacy.

    It was quiet again. Matthew looked at Reese, not even trying to hide how much he cared.

    His gaze made her blush. She quickly looked away and tried to change the subject. "The doctor said your episode is under control. You need to rest now."

    Matthew nodded, still watching her, then said quietly, "Did everything with Grace get sorted out?"

    "Yeah. Mr. Sanchez should''ve taken her away by now." Reese nodded. Just saying Grace''s name made her expression go cold for a second, but then she looked worried again. You should be focusing on getting better, not worrying about that."

    "I just didn''t want you to have to deal with it alone." Matthew''s voice was soft and serious. "I''m just d it''s over."

    Reese felt warmth spread through her chest. Her nose stung and she had to blink quickly.

    When everything was falling apart, when she''d felt most alone, Matthew had been there. He was the one who stood by her, shielding her from everything, even if it meant putting himself at risk.

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    That feeling had been growing inside her for a long time, quietly taking root until it was as strong and steady as an old tree. She watched Matthew, his face pale but still so handsome, and spoke earnestly. "Matthew, thank you. If it wasn''t for you, I don''t know what would have happened to me."

    Matthew shook his head, cutting her off before she could say more. His eyes were soft, overflowing with affection. "You don''t have to thank me. I just want to help you. I want you to be happy."

    His words made her heart race, her cheeks growing hot. She quickly turned away, pretending to focus on the view outside the window. Sunlight streamed through the leaves, creating warm and patchy shadows on the floor. The light felt soothing, almost as if it could heal.

    The door swung open and the military doctor stepped in.

    Reese pulled herself together and stood up. "Doctor, how is he doing?"

    The doctor offered a reassuring smile. "Mr. Wiles is recovering well. The acute episode is under control and there''s no immediate danger." His tone shifted, bing more serious. "But the mutated gene in his system is still there. It''s hereditary, so we''ll need to keep a close watch on his condition for a long time."

    Reese''s anxiety bubbled up again. "Is there a way to cure it?" She remembered what Sebastian had said and felt a wave of dread.

    "For now, the only real cure is a stem cell transnt from a close blood rtive," the doctor replied, regret in his voice. "This treatment only helped with the immediate symptoms. To get rid of the mutated genepletely, we have to find a suitable rtive for the transnt."

    He nced at his chart before looking back at her. "It would be better for him to recuperate at the military hospital. I''ll get started on the transfer paperwork."

    After the doctor left, Reese felt her heart sink. A stem cell transnt from a blood rtive. Annie wasn''t Matthew''s biological child, and Sebastian and Robbie...

    Did it really mean that the only way to save Matthew was to have another child with Sebastian?

    She nced at Matthew, worry etched deep in her eyes.

    Matthew caught her staring and reached out. "What''s wrong?" He noticed the way her brow was furrowed and the faraway look in her eyes. "What are you thinking about?"

    Reese pulled herself back to the

    moment and forced a smile. "It

    nothing. I was just wondering if

    things are

    going smoothly for

    Roman."

    Matthew looked at her, clearly not convinced, but he didn''t push. He knew she''d talk to him when she was ready.

    He gently rubbed Annie''s back and spoke softly. "Don''t worry too much. Things will work out."

    His gentle eyes made her feel safe, and she nodded, feeling a little calmer.

    She sat down by the bed and pulled Annie into her arms, holding her close. Then she reached for Matthew''s hand, holding it tightly The warmth of his palm steadied her. Her anxiety slowly faded reced by a quiet resolve

    If there really was no other way, she would go through IVF with Sebastian again. She couldn''t let Matthew go.

    Matthew looked down at their joined hands, a flicker of emotion in his eyes. This was the first time she had ever held his hand like that.

    "Don''t worry," he whispered. "We''ll figure something out."

    Reese met his calm gaze and felt some of her tension melt away.

    She nodded and answered quietly, "Okay. You just focus on resting. Don''t worry about anything else."

    Matthew smiled at her, his eyes lingering on her face, full of tenderness and longing.

    ***

    In the police station''s interrogation room, the lights were harsh and cold. Grace sat slumped in the chair, her hair a mess and her face as pale as paper. She didn''t look anything like her usual elegant self.

    No matter how many questions Roman asked, she refused to admit to anything.

    She just sat there, stubborn and silent, clinging to her pride.

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    "Officer, I swear, I''m innocent." Grace''s voice shook, barely holding itself together. "Alex''s recording doesn''t prove anything. For all we know, Reese paid him off just to set me up."

    "I never told anyone to hurt Marie."

    Roman watched her with an icy stare,pletely unfazed by her performance.

    "Grace, even now, you''re still denying it?" He dropped a stack of papers right in front of her. ¡°This is Alex''s full statement. He spelled out exactly how you found him, how you got Seth to stage the ident, how you threatened Alex to keep quiet afterward."

    He pushed another report across the table. "This is the forensic analysis from the crash. Every mark matches exactly what Alex described."

    He tossed down another pile, this time bank records. "And here are your transfers to Alex. Every payment, every detail, right here.

    "You say Alex and Reese framed you. So how do you exin these money trails? Did you really think running the cash through offshore ounts would hide it from us?"

    Grace stared at the pages, her body trembling harder with each second.

    She never dreamed they''d dig up all this. When did Reese start suspecting her? How did ite to this?

    "No... this can''t be..." Grace shook her head, her gaze falling apart as her voice faded.

    "You know the truth better than anyone," Roman said, his tone hard. "You bribed Alex. You nned the ident. You tried to kill Marie. It''s all right here. We''ve already sent everything to the prosecutor. You''ll be waiting for your trial from a holding cell."

    Grace just copsed, all her fight gone. She knew there was no way out now. The evidence spoke for itself.

    "So what if I did it?" she spat, her voice raw with anger. "Why did Marie get to marry into the Meyer family?"

    Roman''s eyes narrowed as the pieces fell into ce. "Tell us. What really happened?"

    Grace took a shaky breath. ¡°Years ago, Bailey and I... spent a night together. I got pregnant."

    "Marie found out, left Bailey, and walked away from the Meyer family with Reese." She paused, her eyes burning with bitterness. "She left, but then she said she''d talk things over with Bailey."

    "How could I just sit back and watch them get back together? Was I supposed to let my daughter be branded illegitimate forever?

    "So I went to Alex. I paid him a fortune to stage an ident... to get rid of Marie."

    Sheid out every detail. How she nned it all, how she told Alex exactly what to do, how she

    threatened him afterward vel

    the secret buried.  fo

    All these years, the guilt had pressed down on her, crushing her. Now that it was out, she felt a weird sense of retret, but it only deepened her despair.

    Roman listened and the clerk wrote down every word.

    When she finished, Roman slid the transcript over to her for her signature.

    Grace stared at the confession, her hands shaking so badly she could barely grip the pen, but she slowly signed her name, letter by letter.

    As soon as she finished, all the strength drained from her. She sank into the chair, her eyes empty as silent tears slid down her face.

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    Ratcliff Global''s top-floor office had a wall of ss overlooking a city packed with skyscrapers. Joseph spun a pen between his fingers, his mouth curled in a smug,

    satisfied grin.

    "So, Matthew''s been transferred to the military hospital?" Joseph nced at his assistant, his tone light and openly pleased.

    The assistant nodded and handed over a folder. "Yes, Mr. Ratcliff."

    "A military doctor is following his case. Word is, things don''t look great. He had an acute attack of a gic illness. He''ll need a long time to recover. There''s no way he cane back to work anytime soon."

    "Out ofmission, huh?" Joseph let out a quietugh, tapping his fingers on the desk. "So he''s out of the running for chairman."

    He leaned back, eyes glinting for a moment. ¡°Doesn''t matter that my grandfather lost all those years ago. In the end, Ratcliff Global is stilling back to my side of the family.¡± His gaze turned sharp. "Sebastian''s already been forced out, now Matthew''s stuck in a hospital bed. There''s no one left in thispany who can stand in my way."

    His assistant was quick to agree. "You''re absolutely right, sir. Everyone at Ratcliff Global is saying you''re the obvious choice for chairman."

    Joseph paused, then seemed to remember something. "Didn''t that old man leave Reese a chunk of Meyer family shares when he passed?"

    The assistant hesitated, then replied, "He did, but for some reason, the will hasn''t been made public yet."

    "You''re wondering if...?"

    Joseph nodded. "Reese is still Sebastian''s wife, and she''s close to Matthew. I need to figure out how to get those shares from her. Then I''ll have shares than Sebastian."

    Joseph''s lips twitched. "Too bad about de though. Even after getting kicked out, Sebastian won''t let go of it. He''s keeping it locked up tight, won''t share even a piece."

    His expression grew darker. "If I could just get the de system, the board would have to ept me."

    But for now, he''d have to prove himself another way.

    Just then, his phone rang. Bailey''s name popped up on the screen. Joseph shot his assistant a knowing look.

    "Speak of the devil." He pressed a finger to his lips and answered. "Mr. Meyer. What a surprise."

    "Joseph, sorry for the sudden call.

    There''s something I''d like to

    discuss." On the other end, Bailey

    frowned at Joseph''sid-back tone

    Still, thinking of what Reese had done, he pushed down his annoyance.

    "Go ahead, Mr. Meyer," Joseph replied, leaning back and spinning his pen.

    "It''s about the de project,¡± Bailey said, taking a slow breath. "I know Ratcliff Global is a key yer. The Meyer family would like to work together with you and get involved.

    Joseph''s eyebrows lifted, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.

    So Bailey didn''t realize that de was actually a private deal between Sebastian

    and ckOak, and had nothing to do with Ratcliff Global.

    Still, this could work in his favor. If he could use the opportunity to bring in more

    for thepany, the board would have to recognize his leadership.

    Joseph''s eyes narrowed with calction. "The de project isn''t open to just anyone, Mr. Meyer. If

    the Meyer family wants in, you''ll have to show you''re serious. What are you willing to put on the table?"

 Chapter 375

    Bailey seethed, but with Reese constantly getting in the way, their only shot atnding the de system was to work with Ratcliff Global.

    Usually, Bailey would have hung up without a second thought, but they''d already sunk so much into securing this deal. If they couldn''t lock down the civilian rights to de, the Meyer family would be staring down bankruptcy.

    He pressed his lips together and forced himself to say, "For the east side project with Ratcliff Global, we are willing to offer an extra five percent."

    Five percent wasn''t a small number. It hurt to even say it out loud.

    Joseph''s eyes lit up with satisfaction. Bailey was clearly desperate.

    "You''re generous, Mr. Meyer," Joseph replied, his tone cool. "But Ratcliff Global doesn''t really have a leader right now. It''s not just up to me."

    He paused. ¡°Still, if you''re true to your word, I can try to bring it up at the next meeting."

    That was all Bailey needed to hear. Relief washed through him. Joseph was the obvious sessor for Ratcliff Global. If he was willing to speak up, there was hope.

    "Thank you, Joseph. Really."

    After he hung up, a smile grew on Joseph''s face. "Let the legal team know. I want a new contract ready for Bailey to sign, fast."

    "Yes, Mr. Ratcliff." The assistant nodded and left the office.

    Now alone, Joseph walked over to the window, staring down at the city lights. Matthew was done for, Bailey had given up profits for a project he''d never get, and that was bound to spark drama between Bailey, Reese, and Sebastian.

    He thought back to thest time he''d seen Reese at the family home, running around, handling everything. Joseph narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.

    ***

    In the chairman''s office at Meyer Group, Bailey set down the phone, a hard look in his eyes. Joseph was proving even tougher to deal with than Sebastian, Still, they could just get a piece of de, the Meyer family might survive this. And one day, Bailey promised himself, he''d get back every penny of profit he''d lost today.

    "Dad, something happened!"

    The door mmed open. Hank rushed in, looking rattled.

    Bailey''s heart dropped. "Weren''t you going to the police station to bail out Grace? Why are you here alone?"

    Other than the de deal, Grace''s case was the only thing eating away at himtely.

    "They closed Grace''s case. The police won''t allow bail."

    Bailey stared, shocked. "Closed the case? Wasn''t all that evidence faked by Reese?"

    "No." Hank shook his head, looking sick as he remembered what the detective had told him.

    "Reese didn''t fake a thing. I saw the evidence and the statement myself."

    Hank''s

    did voice wavered. "Grace really

    ¨¤lex to do it. Dad, we just

    med Reese for everything, all these years..."

    The memory of Reese yelling at him, calling him out for siding with the wrong person, stung worse than ever. Hank felt nothing but regret. He couldn''t believe they let Reese suffer so much, forced her togrow up with the Ramos family, left her to deal with all that pain alone.

    She hadn''t been lying. If Grace really nned it, she could have easily set up the

    dash cam recording ahead of time.

 Chapter 376

    Even if the police had handed over the dash cam recording at the time, she could have switched it out in a heartbeat.

    "What did you just say?"

    Bailey''s smile vanished. His eyes went wide, staring at Hank like he couldn''t believe what he was hearing.

    "I said Grace confessed," Hank repeated, voice steady but quiet. "She admitted it herself. She hired someone to stage the ident that killed Mom."

    "I heard her talking to Alex afterward. I saw her sign the confession with my own eyes."

    Bailey stumbled back, grabbing the edge of his desk for support. His face had gonepletely pale.

    He couldn''t process it. Grace, the woman who had always seemed gentle and refined, was actually capable of something so cruel.

    All this time, he''d believed Marie''s death was because of Reese''s tantrums. He''d med Reese for years, never imagining it was Grace pulling the strings the whole time.

    A wave of anger hit him so hard he could barely breathe. His fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.

    "That evil bitch!" he muttered.

    Because of Grace, he''d spent years resenting Reese, pushing her away, letting their rtionship fall apart.

    If none of this had happened, he would have brought Reese back to the Meyer family, raised her himself. Maybe they wouldn''t be so distant, so close to cutting ties for good.

    If Reese had wanted to stay close, the Meyer family could have locked down that de partnership with no trouble. Honestly, with how capable Reese was, de''s whole R&D could have ended up under Vista Tech by now.

    "Dad, what do we do now?" Hank stepped up, steadying Bailey as he swayed. "We''ve been wrong about Reese for years. Shouldn''t we talk to her, make it right?"

    "Yeah... yeah, call her." Bailey took a shaky breath, trying to pull himself together. "Tell her we''ll transfer her shares right away.

    "And I''ll give her another five percent of thepany''s stock."

    "Ask her to drop the case..." Bailey''s words faded, his voice growing weaker He knew the truth about the past now, and thinking of everything Reese had stered made his heart

    ache.

    But the Meyer, family was at a breaking point. They couldn''t survive a scandal like this. If it came out that Grace had murdered Marie the

    wholepany would go up in

    mes. The stock would crash.

    Partners would run.

    He''d just managed to close that deal with Joseph. The Meyer family was finally looking at a way out of this mess.

    If this exploded, there was no way they''d pass the government''s background checks. It would all be over.

    Hank just stood there, stiff as a board. "Dad, what did you say?"

    He had to have heard wrong.

    Grace killed their mom. Reese must have gone through hell to get this evidence. And now Dad was asking him to call Reese and ask hento drop the case?

    Why? How was that even fair?

    "I said call Reese. Tell her to drop the case," Bailey said, voice tight. "Whatever she wants, we''ll give it to her."

    Hank felt lightheaded. He leaned against the desk, staring at his father like he didn''t even know him.

    "But Grace killed Mom. We''re just supposed to let that slide? And Reese... she..." "There''s no way we''re just letting it slide."

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    Bailey''s eyes grew red as memories of the past crashed over him. There was a

    hard edge in his voice. "Grace killed Marie. How could I ever let her get away with that?"

    ¡°But... but thepany is under a microscope right now. If the police really bring charges and this gets out, we''re done for!" He looked at Hank, desperation flickering in his eyes. "Hank, I''m the chairman. I''m responsible for the wholepany, for every single person who works for us. This can never get out.

    "Don''t worry. As soon as Grace leaves the police station, we''ll send her straight back to Brookfield. She won''t get peace, not for a second."

    "And Reese... we''ll bring her home again. We will give her whatever she wants."

    Hank''s brow knitted together, torn up inside. As the family''s heir, he understood why Bailey was so desperate to protect the Meyer name. But just letting Grace walk free? He also couldn''t ept that.

    "Reese won''t go along with this," Hank said quietly, lowering his head. If he were in her shoes, he wouldn''t either.

    It was one thing to get why Bailey made this decision, but emotionally, he just couldn''t swallow it. The thought that Grace had yed the perfect mother for years, all the while hiding her part in his mother''s death, made him want to tear everything apart.

    "She has to agree," Bailey said, his grip tightening on Hank''s arm. His voice was soft but there was no room for argument.

    "Hank, do you think I don''t want Grace to pay for what she did to Marie? But this is bigger than us. The Meyer family is the work of generations. We finally got this far with me in charge. I can''t let it fall now.

    "Call Reese. Talk to her. Help her see what''s at stake.

    "If the Meyer family goes down, her shares will be worthless. Even if she doesn''t care about herself, she should at least think about her future."

    Hank closed his eyes, heart aching so much it hurt to breathe. After a long pause, he finally said, "Alright. I''ll call her."

    "That''s my good son." Bailey patted Hank''s arm, not noticing the distant look in his son''s eyes.

    When Hank left Bailey''s office, the weight in his chest felt almost unbearable. He took out his phone, found Reese''s number, and stared at it for a long time before finally pressing call.

    The phone rang again and again, but no one picked up.

    Hank let out a long sigh. He typed a message, exining that Grace kad confessed, that Bailey wanted her to drop the charges. At the end, he'' added, "Dad says he''ll make it right with you." He hit send.

    Afterward, Hank leaned against the wall, eyes closed. A single tear slid down his cheek.

    He could already picture Reese''s reaction. She wouldn''t just refuse to drop the case From now on he and Bailey would be strangers to her nothing more.

    So be it. By sending that message, he''d done all he could for Bailey.

 Chapter 378

    Sunlight poured through the tall windows of the military hospital''s VIP room,

    casting a warm glow across the white sheets. Matthew was pinned down on the bed, doing his best to wiggle free from West Palmer, who was both his doctor and, unfortunately for Matthew, way too dedicated to the job.

    "West, I keep telling you, I''m fine. Why can''t you just believe me?" Matthew grunted, pushing at West''s arms. "I know my body better than you do. I''m ready to leave."

    West was sweating, trying to keep Matthew from moving and still avoid hurting him. "Matthew, the doctor said you need to rest. Why do you always ignore medical advice? You''re as stubborn as ever."

    "You nearly died this time, do you get that? Even if you''re stable now, we have no idea when you might rpse." West''s voice was tight with worry. "This is a gic condition. You need long-term monitoring. Leaving now is way too risky."

    Matthew huffed, still squirming. ¡°I can''t just sit around here. There''s too much going on. I know my limits."

    The door swung open and Reese walked in, only to freeze at the sight of the two of them tangled on the bed. Her face ran through about five different expressions in a second.

    Themotion made both men stop and look up.

    "Ms. Meyer, can you please talk some sense into him?" West asked, as if she was hisst hope. "This is a hospital. Patients are supposed to listen to their doctors, right?"

    "It''s my body. I get to decide," Matthew shot back, and while West was distracted, he managed a quick kick, just enough to break free.

    "Hey!" West stumbled back, ring. "I''m just trying to help, you know."

    "Matthew." Reese gave him a look. Then she turned to West. "Dr. Palmer, it''s alright. I won''t let him sneak out."

    "Reese, the de project isn''t done. I can''t waste time here," Matthew insisted, his tone almost desperate.

    "I''m on top of the de project," Reese said, trying not tough at the look on his face.

    Matthew was always so calm and collected, the person she could lean on no matter what. Seeing him act so childish was new to her. It made him seem more alive, more real.

    He looked like he was about to argue again, but Reese just handed him a cup of water with a straw, cutting him off.

    "You''re a patient. You need to listen to your doctor," she said gently. She picked up an apple from the table and started peeling it, her eyes drifting back to Matthew as she worked.

    The sunlight softened the lines of his face, chasing away some of the paleness. His longshes cast shadows across his cheeks. He still looked a little weak, but he was as handsome as ever.

    Reese felt her heart soften. She''d been so worried these past few days, but now that she could see him getting better, she could finally breathe again. Still, the doctor''s words echoed in her mind. Matthew would need a stem cell transnt from a blood rtive. The thought weighed on her.

    "Exactly. You''re a patient, so act like

    one," West said, grinning a little now that Matthew had finally stopped Looks like someone ca

    fighting."

    finally keep you in line."

    "Reese, I just don''t want you to wear yourself out," Matthew said, looking at her with a pleading softness in his eyes.

    Reese snapped back to the moment, cutting the apple into little chunks. She handed him a piece, her voice gentle but firm.

    "Dr. Palmer is right. You need to rest. Don''t even think about leaving."

    Matthew looked at the apple, then at her, and sighed. He took it and started eating, chewing slowly, like he was still working through his frustration.

    West looked relieved. "See? Just do what Ms. Meyer says. Rest, recover, and once you''re stable, you can leave."

    "I get it. You can go now," Matthew muttered, nodding but still with a stubborn glint in his eyes.

    Reese had tough at his sulky expression. "Come on, don''t pout. They''re only trying to help you. Your healthes first."

    Matthew''s eyes lit up at her smile. It made all the fighting melt away. For a second, he looked almost shy. "Really?"

    "Really," Reese replied, her cheeks turning a little pink under his gaze.

    "Then I''ll listen to you," Matthew said. He finally stopped arguing about leaving.

    "But if you get overwhelmed, you have to promise to tell me."

    "I will," Reese said with a smile. Grace got arrested and the Leslie situation was

    handled. There wasn''t much left for her to be stressed about.

    Suddenly, her phone rang, cutting through the quiet. Reese nced at the screen. When she saw Hank''s name her smile raded and a trace of annoyance shed in her eyes. Without hesitating, she hit decline.

    Matthew caught the change in her mood. "Something wrong?"

    "It''s nothing. Just someone not worth worrying about," Reese said, setting her phone aside. She wasn''t about to let anything from the Meyer family ruin this moment.

    Matthew didn''t push. He just studied her with a thoughtful look.

    A momentter, her phone buzzed with a text. Reese picked it up, unlocked it, and read the message from Hank. It was long. As she scrolled, her face grew colder, and a bitter smile tugged at her lips.

    Bailey wanted her to drop the charges? He promised he''d make it right, said he''d

    give her anything she wanted?

    She''d thought that after they learned the truth about the ident, at least they''d hold Grace ountable.

 Chapter 379

    She couldn''t believe they actually wanted her to drop the case. Honestly, did they think she was a toddler? It was almost funny, if it wasn''t so pathetic. Bailey and Hank had been living their best lives for years, acting like her mother never existed. Now, they were willing to forgive the person who killed her mom, and expected her to do the same, as if she would ever fall for their lies.

    Reese''s fingers clenched around her phone, knuckles white. A heavy mix of anger and heartbreak rose inside her, almost too much to bear.

    This was her family. Her own blood. And for money, forfort, they could ignore someone''s life, stomp all over her dignity, and let her mother''s memory go unavenged. She felt sick.

    She Seth a steady breath, swallowing down her rage. She deleted the message, tossed her phone back on the table, and her eyes were nothing but cold determination.

    She would never back down. Grace owed her mother a life, and Reese would make sure that debt was paid in full.

    As for Bailey and Hank, as far as she was concerned, they didn''t exist anymore.

    "I need some air," she muttered. She noticed Matthew looking at her with concern, but she didn''t want him getting dragged into her mess. Standing up, she left the hospital room, shutting the door behind her.

    She needed to breathe, to escape these people and memories that made her skin crawl.

    The hallway was quiet, sunlight spilling through the windows, painting broken patches of light on the floor as she walked, her anger slowly giving way to bone- deep exhaustion.

    Then she saw him. At the far end of the corridor, a familiar figure she''d rather never see again.

    Sebastian. ck suit, tall and rigid, face as cool and unreadable as ever, eyes sharp as knives, locked right on her.

    She stopped. Disgust twisted in her chest. She turned, ready to walk away.

    "Reese." Sebastian''s voice was low, back to that chilly, bossy tone she hated. "Come on. We need to talk."

    She paused, still facing away. "Sebastian, there''s nothing for us to talk about," she said, her voice ice cold.

    He closed the distance, blocking her path.

    Brady''s report was still fresh in his mind. Matthew''s illness is gic and severe. Only a stem cell transnt from family could save him, but Matthew had no suitable rtives. The only hope left was a child from him and Reese.

    Determination flickered in Sebastian''s eyes.

    "I wanted to know if you''ve thought about my offer," he said.

    She looked up at him, pure sarcasm in her eyes. "What offer?"

    "That you don''t divorce me. That we have another child to save Matthew." His words were blunt, his tone pushing her into a corner. "You know Matthew''s situation. Without our child, he doesn''t have long."

    Reese''s heart clenched. She hadn''t realized Sebastian knew so much about Matthew''s condition.

    She stared at those cold, self-satisfied eyes and felt a new wave of disgust and helplessness. She hated his arrogance, his threats, but most of all, she hated that he could use her weakness against her.

    "Keep dreaming, Sebastian," she said, voice sharp as ss. "I am not having another child with you."

    "Do you even have a choice?" Sebastian stepped closer, his presence suffocating. "Unless you want to watch Matthew die."

    His eyes pinned her in ce, searching for any sign that she might give in.

    Her chest heaved. His words stabbed her straight in the heart.

    Of course she couldn''t let Matthew die.

    But that wasn''t a card Sebastian could y, and it wasn''t a reason for her to get trapped in that miserable marriage again.

    She stepped back, putting space between them, her eyes colder than ever. "You and I ended a long time ago I''m not having another child with you Sebastian. You can forget it."

    "As for Matthew, I''ll find another way to help him."

    Sebastian''s face darkened, anger boiling in his eyes.

    He couldn''t believe that after everything, Reese was still talking about divorce.

    He let out a cold, humorlessugh. "What other way do you have, Reese?"

    "Matthew needs stem cells from a blood rtive. Unless you have another option, what can you do?"

    Reese frowned.

    He was right. Matthew needed healthy stem cells. But... why did the child have to be with Sebastian?

    If all that mattered was a match, wouldn''t Matthew''s own child becan even better donor than a child with Sebastian who was only his Half-brother?

    The realization hit her. Slowly, she looked up and met Sebastian''s stare. The

    struggle left her face, reced by a calm, almost fearless resolve.

    She studied his handsome, unfeeling face, noticing the certainty in his eyes and suddenly a small, almost mocking smile yed at her lips. Then she said something thatpletely blindsided him.

    "Sebastian, why are you so sure that having a child with you is the only way to

    save Matthew?"

    Her voice was soft, but it exploded in his mind.

    Sebastian''s brow furrowed. "What are you saying?"

    Reese took a deep breath, her eyes steady, her tone quiet but unbreakable. "I''m

    saying I''m going to divorce you.

    "And then, I''ll marry Matthew. I''ll have a child with him.

    "Our child will save his life."

 Chapter 380

    When Reese spoke, Sebastian''s eyes went sharp and cold. The air between them felt like it could freeze.

    He stared at her, lips pressed into a thin, tight line. His eyes were dark with shock, confusion, and something much hotter and angrier simmering just beneath the surface.

    "What did you just say?" His voice came out rough and low, strained, like he couldn''t quite believe what he''d heard.

    Reese met his gaze head-on, no fear at all. There was just the faintest hint of a mocking smile on her lips.

    "I said I want a divorce. I''m going to marry Matthew, and use our child to save him." She said it slowly, each word clear and unflinching.

    Sebastian let out a short, coldugh, but his face was stormy. The tension in the room was almost suffocating.

    "Reese, you really think you''re something, don''t you?"

    He looked her up and down. ¡°You honestly believe Matthew would marry a divorced woman?"

    Reese''sshes trembled for a second. She didn''t know if Matthew would marry her. But she knew one thing for sure: she couldn''t keep living like this with Sebastian.

    When she didn''t answer, Sebastian let out a heavy breath. "Besides, we''re not even divorced yet."

    He stepped closer. "Reese, let me make one thing clear. You''ll only leave me over my dead body.¡± The words came out hard and possessive. His presence felt like a wall closing in around her, his eyes burning with obsession.

    "You''re my wife. You always will be. Don''t even think about being with someone else."

    Reese raised her chin and looked at him, her eyes full of scorn, like he waspletely ridiculous.

    "Sebastian, do you honestly think you can still keep me here?" Her voice was icy, calm, like she''d already moved on inside.

    Sebastian''s brow furrowed. For a second, something like doubt flickered across his face, but he tried to keep his cool. "What''s that supposed to mean?"

    "Did you forget?" Reese narrowed her eyes, something sharp glinting in them You tricked me and made me carry someone elses baby already gave the evidence to the police."

    Sebastian''s face twisted in disbelief. "What did you say?" There was a hint of panic in his voice, his gaze searching her face for any sign she was bluffing.

    Reese just smiled, but it was cold. "You''ve already been fired from Ratcliff Global, haven''t you?"

    She watched his expression darken. Inside, she felt nothing. Just emptiness.

    "If people find out what you did, not only will you lose the de project, but Ratcliff Global will drop you instantly. Everything you have left will be gone."

    She took a step closer, her eyes sharp and unyielding. "So, Sebastian, is it worth

    it? Are you really going to ruin yourself just to keep me trapped here?"

    Sebastian''s chest heaved with anger, his eyes practically burning, but Reese''s words kept him frozen in ce. He''d never imagined Would actually go to the police

    He always thought he knew her well enough. He was sure she''d never take it this far.

    "When did you call the police?"

    Seeing him so rattled, Reese just felt a bitter kind of amusement. Back when she went to the old house to beg him to save Matthew, she''d warned him.

    Even after losing his job, Sebastian hadn''t changed. He only cared about what he wanted to hear. Everything else meant nothing to him.

    She curled her lips in a cold, small smile. "Last time I came to see you, I told you I''d drop the charges if you helped Matthew.

    "But I guess you weren''t really listening."

    Sebastian''s face was stiff and unreadable. After a moment, he finally femembered-she had said something like that, but back then he had taken her seriously at all.

 Chapter 381

    Sebastian stared hard at Reese, his eyes swirling with a mess of emotions. Anger, frustration, panic, and a trace of something like fear flickered behind his re.

    The de project was hisst shot, his one chance to take back control of Ratcliff Global. He couldn''t afford to lose it. The government partnership mattered even more. If that fell apart, Ratcliff Global would take a devastating hit, and his own future would be finished.

    He stayed silent for a long time, letting his fury simmer down until he could think straight again.

    "So, you''re threatening me now?"

    "Yes." Reese didn''t hesitate. Her eyes were steady, her answer firm, not the slightest hint of backing down.

    Sebastian finally let his fists rx, his face so dark it looked like it might rain. He gritted out, "Fine. I''ll agree to the divorce."

    Relief loosened something inside Reese. The weight she''d been carrying finally eased, but it didn''t bring her any happiness. She just felt tired, worn out by everything she''d been through.

    "When do we go to the civil office?" Sebastian''s voice was ice-cold.

    "Why would we go there?" Reese let out a short, humorlessugh. "Sebastian, don''t even think about stalling."

    She paused, watching his expression twist with frustration. "If we go through the civil office, there''s a whole month-long waiting period. Our divorce case is already in court, and it''s just on recess. If we file for mediation, everything will be settled much faster."

    Sebastian''s eyes narrowed.

    He had been nning to drag things out. If he could buy a month, that would give him enough time to finish the de project''s handover. With that done, he''d have the leverage he needed to take back Ratcliff Global. At that point, Reese''s threats wouldn''t mean a thing to him.

    He hadn''t expected Reese to see right through him so quickly, or toe up with a way to cut off his escape.

    He shut his eyes for a moment, then finally muttered through clenched teeth, "Fine. We''ll do it your way."

    "I''ll have mywyer get in touch."

    Reese had grown a lottely, but in Sebastian''s eyes, she was still too inexperienced. Whether they ended up with a divorce ruling or a mediation agreement, once he was back in control, he''d f control,

    e''d find a way to keep her by his side if he wanted to

    He gave Reese onest long look, as if trying to memorize her face.

    Then he turned around and left the hallway, his steps heavy. He didn''t look back.

    Reese watched him leave and let out a long breath. The tension in her muscles melted away, leaving her weak and shaky. She only now realized her back was damp with cold sweat.

    She leaned against the cold wall, closed her eyes, and tried to calm the storm inside her.

    The idea of having a child with Matthew through IVF to save him had already taken root in her heart. No matter how she tried to shake it, it wouldn''t go away.

    It really did seem like the only way left.

    She knew how much IVF could take out of a person. She knew she was acting on impulse, But Matthew had saved her so many times, and this time, his condition had gotten worse because he was trying to protect her. She couldn''t just watch him die.

    After a while, Reese opened her eyes again. Determination settled over her face

    as she headed toward the doctor''s office.

    Right now, she needed answers. She needed to know how much time Matthew had left.

    In the hospital room, Matthew was leaning against the doorframe. His face was pale, and his eyes were filled withplicated emotions as he stared down the hall.

    He had been worried about Reese and forced himself out of bed to find her. He hadn''t meant to eavesdrop but ended up hearing every word she said to Sebastian.

    Each sentence hit him like a punch to the gut.

    He knew his illness was serious. He knew a stem cell transnt was the only cure. But he never imagined Reese would even consider having a child with him just to save his life

 Chapter 382

    When Reese said she was going to divorce Sebastian, marry Matthew, and have their child to save him, Matthew could barely process it. Shock crashed into him first, then this wild, almost dizzy happiness. But right after, something else hit even harder a guilt he couldn''t shake, and a pang of emotion he could barely

    name.

    He''d never dreamed Reese would make a choice like this, not for him. The more he thought about it, the more the guilt settled in, heavy and cold. How could he let her go through with this? How could he let her walk out of one marriage, only to step right back into another for his sake? And risking her health, even her happiness, just to save him? That wasn''t right.

    Matthew didn''t want to be anyone''s burden, especially not Reese''s. Most of all, he couldn''t stand the idea that she might do this because she felt she owed him, or because she felt guilty. He wanted her to be with him because she wanted to, not because she felt trapped by gratitude or responsibility.

    That thought made his chest tighten until he felt almost breathless. He couldn''t let this happen, not if it meant Reese was sacrificing herself. He had to find another way, some way to fix things without asking this of her.

    Just then, Reese walked in. She found Matthew leaning against the doorframe, looking pale and lost in thought. He didn''t even seem to notice her at first.

    "Matthew, what are you doing up?" Reese hurried over, worry written all over her face. She reached for his arm, steadying him. "The doctor said you''re supposed to rest. Come on, get back in bed."

    Snapped out of his thoughts by her voice, Matthew tried to smile. The concern in her eyes was afort, but it only made his guilt worse. He tried to sound casual, even though he wasn''t sure he could pull it off. "I''m fine. Honestly, I was getting stiff lying there all day. I just needed to move around."

    He studied her. "Where did you go just now? You look upset."

    Reese guided him back to the bed, making sure he wasfortable and tucked in before she answered. "It''s nothing. I just needed a little air."

    She didn''t mention what had happened with Sebastian. She didn''t want to add to his worries.

    But Matthew could see through her. He saw the tiredness in her eyes, the way her calm seemed forced. The guilt inside him only grew.

    "Reese..." He reached out and gently took her hand, his expression serious. "I heard you talking with Sebastian earlier. I heard everything."

    Reese froze, the calm she''d tried to keep slipping away. Her eyes went wide with panic. "Matthew, I..."

    She couldn''t find the words, didn''t know what to say or how he''d react.

    Matthew shook his head, cutting her off. His voice was steady, even though he felt anything but. "I know you''re trying to help me, but you can''t do this for me."

    "Matthew, I..." she started, but he stopped her again.

    "I know you want to save me," he said, his voice hoarse but sure. "But I can''t let you leave Sebastian, marry me, and have a child just because of me.

    "It''s not fair, Reese. You deserve so much more. You shouldn''t be tied to me just because you think you owe me your life."

    His words made her eyes fill with

    tears. She shook her head, her voice trembling. "Matthew, it''s not

    because feel guilty or responsible." want to do this. I want to be with you."

    She took a shaky breath, searching for courage. "I''ve been in love with you for a long time. Being with you is what I''ve always wanted, not something doing out of obligation."

    Matthew stared at her, stunned, his heart pounding. He saw the tears shining in her eyes, saw how serious

    how much she meant

    she was, how

    every word. For a moment it felt like,

    the world had stopped and nothing

    else mattered but her.

 Chapter 383

    He never expected Reese to have feelings for him.

    For as long as he could remember, he thought she just saw him as someone to lean on, a friend she could count on, a partner by her side. It never even crossed his mind that she might want something more.

    The happiness that hit him was like a tidal wave. He could barely breathe, the joy was so big it almost hurt.

    But underneath that rush, the guilt and conflict crept back in, deeper than ever.

    "Reese, thank you," Matthew said, his voice catching. "Hearing you say that... I don''t even know how to describe it. I''m so happy I can hardly think straight."

    He looked at her, his eyes growing serious. "But I can''t let myself be selfish. I can''t ask you to take such a huge risk just to have a baby for me. I can''t let you give up your future because of me.

    "There has to be another way to treat this. I''ll find something. I promise."

    Reese stared at him, torn between anger and worry. "Matthew, this is the only way we know. Are you seriously just going to sit there and wait to die?"

    "That''s not what I mean," Matthew said quietly, squeezing her hand. His voice was soft, but his determination was clear. "I just can''t let you make that kind of sacrifice for me.

    "Please trust me. I''ll figure something else out."

    He grabbed his phone from the nightstand and, even though Reese tried to stop him, he called West''s supervisor anyway.

    The call connected quickly. The voice on the other end was old but lively. "Matthew? How are you doing?"

    "Dr. Brandon, I''m okay," Matthew said, trying to keep his nerves steady. "I wanted

    to ask... is there any other way to treat my condition, besides a stem cell

    transnt from a blood rtive?"

    There was a pause before Dr.

    Brandon answered. "Matthew, your situation isplicated. Hereditary gic diseases are very hard to cure Right now the stem cell transnt from a blood rtive is the most effective treatment. Honestly, it''s the only reabcure we have."

    Matthew''s face went pale. A wave of hopelessness swept over him, but he refused to give in. "Really? There''s nothing else? Not even a way to ease the symptoms for white... or just buy more time?¡±.

    "There are ways to manage it for a short period," Dr. Brandon said, "but they don''tst. As your illness gets

    worse those treatments still

    working. Sooner orter, you

    have to face the worst of it.

    "And your gic defect is severe. Even temporary treatments wouldn''t hold for long."

    Matthew''s hand shook as he held the phone. He looked lost, the fight in his eyes flickering in and out.

    Was this really the only choice?

    Did he really have to let Reese throw away so much for him?

    "Dr. Brandon, is there honestly nothing else?" Matthew''s voice was quiet, but the desperation was clear.

    Dr. Brandon went silent for a long time. "Matthew, I wish I could do more. Your condition is very rare, and medicine just isn''t there yet. There''s no better option for you right now."

    "Unless, by some miracle, we find a stem cell match with an extremely highpatibility. It doesn''t have to be a blood rtive, but the odds are tiny. Almost impossible."

    A tiny spark of hope flickered in Matthew''s chest. "So... you''re saying there''s a chance, even if the donor isn''t family?"

 Chapter 384

    "Theoretically, it''s possible, but the match needs to be over ny percent. The risk of rejection is way higher than with a blood rtive," Dr. Brandon said quietly.

    "And honestly, the chances of finding that kind of match are even lower than winning the lottery. It''s almost impossible."

    Matthew''s brief flicker of hope faded at those words, like someone had poured ice water right over his head.

    "Thank you, Dr. Brandon. No matter how unlikely, I have to try," he replied, his voice steady. When he hung up, he realized his palm was slick with sweat.

    Reese had been watching him the whole time. She could guess the oue from the look on his face, but she didn''t ask. Instead, she just handed him a ss of water.

    Matthew took it, letting the coldness from the cup calm his shaking nerves.

    "Reese." He looked up, trying to sound casual. "Dr. Brandon said there''s a chance with a non-rtive donor. I''ll have West reach out to the best bone marrow registries."

    Reese''s heart sank a little. She knew how much uncertainty hid behind words like "there''s a chance."

    "Matthew, I know you don''t want me to risk anything, but we only have three months. We can''t just wait and hope," she said, her voice soft but determined. "We need to be ready for IVF too."

    Matthew''s grip on the cup tightened, the calm look slipping from his face, reced by pure conflict.

    "No," he said, his voice firm. "IVF is so hard on your body. I can''t let you go through that just for me."

    "What if we find a match? There''s no reason for you to go through that pain if we don''t have to."

    Reese stared at him, her heart aching with love and frustration.

    "You call that a pointless sacrifice? Matthew, for you, it''s not even a sacrifice. It''s what I want to do.

    "I love you. This isn''t just some impulse or because I feel guilty. I really want to spend my life with you." She took a shaky breath, her eyes shining with tears. "Even if you weren''t sick, I''d still want to marry you. I want us to have a child together."

    Matthew felt his heart twist. He was overwhelmed, caught somewhere between pain and love strong enough to knock the air out of him.

    He knew Reese. Once she set her mind on something, she never backed down.

    But watching her take this risk for him felt impossible. He couldn''t let her do it.

    "Reese, please, just give me a little more time." He reached for her hand, his voice gentle and pleading. "Give me one month if we don''t find a match in that time, we''ll talk about other options. Please?"

    Reese saw the struggle and guilt in his eyes. Her urgency softened. She knew this was the most he could give.

    "Okay," she said quietly, nodding. "But you have to promise me you won''t keep anything from me. I want to know everything, no matter what."

    A month. That was enough time for her to finally put Sebastian behind her.

    "Okay," Matthew said, feeling a warmth in his chest. He nodded, meaning it. "I promise."

    He reached up, gently brushing a tear from her cheek. The touch of his fingers made her heart skip.

    Sunlight streamed through the window, spilling over their joined hands, wrapping them in a soft, golden glow.

    Only the two of them knew how much fear and uncertainty hid behind that warm light.

    Later that afternoon, West grabbed Matthew''s medical records and hurried over to the biggest bone marrow registry in the country.

    §Ö§ä

    Matthewy in his hospital bed, endlessly scrolling and refreshing the group chat on his phone. Every time he heard a message notification, his heart tightened.

    Reese sat on the sofa nearby, pretending to read through her paperwork, but she kept ncing up to check on him.

    She noticed the tense set of his jaw, the stress hidden in his eyes, but she didn''t push him.

    She knew what he needed right now wasn''t pressure. He just needed someone to believe in him.

    The hours slipped by. The sun set, and the room filled with a warm, golden light.

    Finally, a message came from West "Initial screeningplete. No suitable donors yet. I''ve reached out to three more registries and will start searching them tomorrow.

 Chapter 385

    The moment Matthew saw the message, the light in his eyes faded a little. He took a slow, deep breath, locked his phone, but when he turned to look at Reese, his face was calm again, almost unreadable.

    "Still nothing?" Reese asked softly. There was a gentle caution in her voice, like she was afraid her words might break the fragile peace between them.

    "No, nothing yet. The first round of checks didn''t turn up anything. West has reached out to some other registries," Matthew replied. He tried to keep his voice even, but a hint of disappointment slipped through. "But it''s okay. This is just the beginning. We still have time."

    Reese stood up and walked over to his bedside. She reached out and wrapped her fingers around his hand, her touch warm and steady. "Whatever happens, I''m here. I''m not going anywhere."

    A soft warmth bloomed in Matthew''s chest. He held her hand a little tighter, his eyes shining with emotion. "Thank you, Reese. Really."

    Night settled over the hospital, pressing in soft and quiet. The only sound was the steady beeping from the monitors, filling the silence with a gentle rhythm.

    Reese had fallen asleep by his bed, her arms folded on the edge of the mattress, her brow drawn together like she was trapped in a restless dream.

    Matthew watched her, his heart aching with guilt. She had barely slept these past few days, running herself ragged between caring for him and trying to untangle Grace''s case. He reached out and gently smoothed the furrow between her brows, his touch light as if she might break.

    Reese, I''m so sorry, he thought, watching her sleep. I swear, I''ll find a match. I''ll get better. I won''t let you down.

    At the Meyer family estate, the air was thick with tension, heavy enough to make breathing feel like work.

    Bailey sat in the middle of the living room on a stiff mahogany sofa, his face stormy and closed off. His

    hand mped around a mug,

    knuckles pale from the pre

    The porcin breaked under his grip. He mmed the cup down on the coffee table, the sound sharp and final. Water sshed over the rim and soaked into the expensive rug, leaving a dark stain.

    "Hank, what''s going on with Reese? It''s been days. Why haven''t we heard a word from her?" Bailey''s voice was clipped and cold, his eyes drilling into Hank as he stood nearby.

    Hank stood straight, his shoulders set, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. He hadn''t gotten a reply from Reese, and deep down, he already knew what that meant. She wasn''t going to drop the case.

    Their mother''s death was the wound Reese could never heal from, the kind of pain that settled into your bones and never left. Grace was the reason for that pain. There was no way Reese would just let her go.

    Giving up on the case was never an option.

    But Hank didn''t want to spell that out for his father. He knew exactly how Bailey operated. If Bailey found out Reese was refusing, he''d do

    her

    whatever it took to for a

    no matter what cost the family. Hank couldn''t let that happen. He already felt guilty enough for not being able to protect her all these years. Thest thing he wanted was to see her pushed even further.

    If there was anything he could do for her now, this was it. Maybe it could help

    make up for all the times he''d let her down before.

    As for the Meyer Group, Hank hadn''t been sitting idle. He''d spent the past few days reaching out to old college friends and every contact he''d ever made turning over every possible solution in his mind. He waso determined to get thepany through this, without forem ng Reese to make a sacrifice she''d never forgive.

    "Dad, Reese just said she needs time. She asked us not to push her," Hank said.

    He kept his tone as neutral as he could and looked down, dodging his father''s hard stare.

    Bailey let out a bitter scoff, clearly unimpressed. "Time to think? That''s her answer?"

    "How long does she need? Until Grace spills everything? Until thepany copses?" Bailey shot up from his seat and strode over to Hank, eyes cold and unblinking. "Do you really think I don''t know how much Grace knows about us? If she starts talking, we''re finished."

    Hank''s heart raced. He understood exactly what was at stake, but he still couldn''t bring himself to push Reese any harder.

 Chapter 386

    "Dad, just give Reese a little more time. I''ll talk to her again." Hank looked his

    father in the eye, his voice steady and sure. "Maybe after she calms down, she''ll change her mind."

    Bailey''s gaze lingered on him, a mess of anger and something like helpless. He knew Hank too well. He might look easygoing, but underneath he was stubborn as stone. Once he made a decision, prying him away from it was nearly impossible.

    After a long silence, Bailey finally said, "Fine. I''ll give her one week. If she still won''t drop the charges after that, I''ll think of something else." His voice was icy, the threat in as day. He was clearly ready for the worst.

    Hank felt a knot tighten in his chest, but he nodded. "Okay."

    He understood this was as far as his father would bend. One week. That was all he had to persuade Reese or find some other way to keep thepany intact.

    Once his father left, Hank headed back to his room and closed the door behind him, shutting out everything heavy and chaotic from the rest of the house.

    He sat at his desk, opened hisptop, and pulled up every record he had of Grace''s dealings with the Meyer family. Bank statements, call logs, old partnership files-he had it all on the screen in front of him.

    The glow from the monitor lit his face, sharpening his features.

    He couldn''t shake the feeling that his mother''s ident wasn''t as simple as everyone thought.

    Grace was greedy and ruthless, but back then she was just his father''s mistress. She had no power, no influence. How could she possibly have had the guts and the means to n something as serious as murder?

    Someone must have helped her. Someone in the background, providing resources and protection.

    And that someone might be part of the Meyer family. Maybe even someone close to him.

    Once that thought took hold, it spread through him, cold and fast. It sent shivers down his spine.

    He had to get to the truth. Not just for his mother, but for Reese too.

    He couldn''t let Reese stumble into danger, not knowing what she was up against. He couldn''t let history repeat itself.

    He stared at the sea of text and numbers on the screen, his eyes growing sharper by the second. His fingers moved quickly over the keyboard, chasing down every possible clue.

    Night settled over the Meyer estate, a heavy nket of silence. Only Hank''s light burned on, a single spot of brightness in the dark, chasing answers that wouldn''te easy.

    Miles away, in a high-rise apartment in a foreign city, the air was thick with fear and hopelessness.

    Sofia sat curled up on a leather sofa, her face so pale it looked almost translucent, her lips dry and cracked. She hugged her knees tight to her chest, her whole body shaking.

    Her phone glowed on the table in front of her disying a text from an unknown number. Just one short sentence but it felt like a punch to the gut "Grace has been arrested. She confessed to everything even hiring a hitman. She probably won''t escape prison."

    Sofia felt like she''d fallen into a frozenke. Every drop of blood in her body went cold.

    How did ite to this?

    When Grace sent her abroad, she swore there were powerful people behind her. No matter what happened, she''d have a way out How could she have been arrested

    so fast, and why would she confess

    to it all?

    Sofia remembered the man who''d gone after Alex called Seth. He moved like a

    pro, definitely not part of the Meyer family.

    That meant Grace had backup outside the family.

    So where were those people now? Why hadn''t anyone tried to save Grace?

    Panic crashed over her, stealing her breath.

    She knew the truth. The luxury

    apartment, the designer clothes, the chauffeured cars-her entire life offort wasn''t just because she was Bailey''s daughter. Most of it was thanks to Grace''s careful nning and help.

 Chapter 387

    Grace was the reason she could hold her head high in the Meyer family. Grace made this wholefortable life possible. Now Grace was in trouble, and just like that, her safety was gone.

    What scared her even more was how Bailey and Hank''s attitude toward her had changed overnight. Before, if something big happened, Hank would call right away, no matter how busy he was, just to check in and make sure she was okay. But now, days had slipped by, and she hadn''t heard a single word from him. Not even a short text. She didn''t even find out about Grace''s arrest from them-it was some stranger who gave her the news. Neither Bailey nor Hank had bothered to reach out.

    That could only mean one thing. Had she lost all her value to the Meyer family? Had they already written her off?

    She''d gotten so used to living like this, pampered and protected, that she''d forgotten how hard it used to be those early days when she''d always felt like an outsider, always trying to read the room, afraid to step out of line. There was no way she was going back to that.

    "No... no way, I''m not going back to that life," Sofia murmured, shivering at the thought. "I have to figure something out. Maybe I should go back home for a bit."

    At the very least, she needed to see for herself where she stood with Bailey and Hank. But the truth was, without the Meyer family, she didn''t have anyone else in the country to lean on.

    That thought made her hesitate, but then her eyes hardened.

    This was all Reese''s fault. If Reese hadn''t meddled, Grace wouldn''t be in jail, and Sofia wouldn''t be sopletely alone right now.

    She stood up and started pacing her apartment, back and forth, like a wild animal trapped in a cage. Outside, the night was deep and the city lights flickered, but none of it could push away the darkness clouding her mind.

    Suddenly, a loud knock at the door broke the silence. Sofia froze, her face going pale.

    Who would show up at this hour? Was it someone from Bailey and Hank,ing to check on her atst? Or maybe someone Grace had sent?

    The knocking came again, harder this time.

    "Ms. Meyer, I know you''re in there."

    The voice was deep, smooth, and carried easily through the door.

    "I''m not here to hurt you. I came to help."

    Sofia''s heart was pounding. She had no idea who he was, or if she should even open the door. Still, there was something in his voice, something. that made her want to trust him just Tittle. Content Belongs to

    She took a shaky breath and walked to the door, peeking through the peephole. There was a man outside, maybe in his forties, dressed in a sharp suit that looked expensive and fit him perfectly. He stood tall, calm, and confident, like someone used to being in control.

    His face was striking, with strong features and eyes that seemed to see right through her. Behind him, two big m?n in ck suits waited silently their expressions unreadable, giving off an

    ¦¯¦«¦¯¦©

    unmistakable ¡°don''t mess with us" vibe.

    Even with a door between them, Sofia could feel the power this man carried.

    She didn''t know him. She had no idea what he wanted.

    "Who... who are you?" Her voice shook as she spoke through the door.

    The man gave a slight, calm smile. His tone was gentle, but there was no room for argument.

    "Open the door. I know what you''re going through. I can help you get home. I can fix everything."

 Chapter 388

    Sofia''s fingers trembled on the doorknob, barely able to hold on. Her heart was racing, her mind spinning.

    "Who are you?" she asked again. Her voice was shaky, fear bleeding through every word.

    The man in the hallway didn''t even blink. His faint smile stayed perfectly in ce. "My name is Nathaniel."

    "Maybe Grace never mentioned me. But the reason she could marry Bailey, the reason she has any standing in the Meyer family, is because of me."

    Sofia felt like she''d been struck by lightning. Because of him? She pressed her eye to the peephole, studying the man outside. The hallway light caught on his expensive suit, making the fabric shimmer. Behind him, two bodyguards stood so still they looked like they''d been carved out of stone. Sofia noticed the suspicious bulges under their jackets and swallowed hard.

    "Grace already confessed. You really think you can help?" There was a sharp edge of doubt in her voice. The chill of the metal doorknob crept up her arm and made her shiver.

    Nathaniel''s dark eyes met hers, steady and unblinking. "So what if she confessed? You are still here, right?"

    He leaned in, his gaze intense. "Are you really going to just sit here, waiting for the Meyer family to throw you away?"

    It was like he''d reached in and twisted something inside her. That was her biggest fear. If Grace went down, Bailey and Hank would turn on her next.

    Carefully, Sofia opened the door just a crack. Cold air rushed in, carrying a faint hint of cedar from Nathaniel''s cologne. Sensing her nerves, Nathaniel gestured, and his bodyguards backed off down the hallway.

    "What can you do for me?" Sofia kept her eyes on him, wary. The dim light finally let her see his face clearly. He looked surprisingly young for a man his age, his skin barely touched by time. But a thin scar shed from his jaw up to his ear, giving his smooth features a dangerous edge.

    Nathaniel smiled, warm but unsettling. "I can get you home. I can help you win back your ce in the Meyer family."

    He said it quietly, but every word dug deep. It was like he could see the things she tried to hide. The things she wanted most.

    Sofia stared hard at him, searching for any trace of a lie. But Nathaniel''s eyes were steady, calm, almost bored, as if he was just stating a fact.

    "Why would you help me?" Her words came out slow and careful. "What do you want? Nobody does something for nothing.¡±

    Nathaniel gave a little shrug, twisting his fingers together. For a moment, something wistful flickered in his eyes. "Bailey has something want. need you to get it for me."

    "What is it?" Sofia''s mind spun. If whatever he wanted would hurt the Meyer

    family, she''d be destroyed right alongside them.

    Nathaniel saw the worry in her face and offered a small, reassuring smile. "Rx. It''s nothing that will hurt the Meyer family.

    "You give me what I want, and I''ll make sure you never have to worry again.¡±

    Sofia''s heart pounded so hard it was almost painful. Logic screamed at her not to trust this man. But what choice did she have? Grace was in prison The Meyer family had cut her loose. She felt like a kite with

    snapped string, drifting with

    nowhere tond.

    Nathaniel was all she had left. Even if he was dangerous, she had to take the risk.

    "Okay. I''ll do it." She Seth in a

    steadying breath, her eyes cold and

    determined. But you better keep

    your promise. If you lie to me, l make you pay for it. I''ve got nothing left to lose."

    Nathaniel''s smile grew, just a little. There was something mocking in his eyes, but

    he covered it quickly. "I always keep my word."

 Chapter 389

    He pulled a document and a pen from his briefcase and held them out to her. "Sign it. From now on, you''ll do exactly as I say, no questions asked."

    Sofia took the papers, flipping through each page. The terms were straightforward. She was supposed to work with Nathaniel to get close to Bailey and secure a paper marked "Top Secret." In exchange, Nathaniel would make sure she stayed safe, help her get settled when she returned home, and support her n to get back at Reese. On top of that, he''d give her a hundred thousand dors a month until the job was done.

    She didn''t even hesitate. Picking up the pen, she signed her name at the bottom.

    Nathaniel slipped the document away, looking pleased. "Pack up. We''re leaving in an hour."

    So soon? The thought shed through Sofia''s mind, but she remembered what she''d agreed to. She just nodded and walked to her bedroom.

    Nathaniel waited by the door, taking in the apartment. The ce was small, but chaos lingered in every corner. An Herm¨¨s Birkin bagy open on the floor, a limited-edition lipstick poking out. A wine ss had tipped over on the carpet, the deep red stain spreading out, ugly and raw. On the sofa sat a crumpled Chanel gown, a couple of pearls missing from the hem and rolling under the coffee table.

    All of it told him just how rattled Sofia had been before he arrived.

    In her bedroom, Sofia yanked open the closet, grabbing designer clothes and tossing them into her suitcase without a second thought. Then she remembered and reached back for her passport and bank cards on the nightstand, gripping them tight.

    An hourter, she followed Nathaniel out of the apartment. Downstairs, a sleek ck Bentley waited, its windows tinted so dark it was impossible to see inside. A bodyguard took her suitcase, loaded it in the trunk, and never said a word.

    Inside the car, the leather seats seemed to swallow her up. Nathaniel handed her a cup of water, the bone china delicate in her hands.

    "Have some water. Once we''re back home, that''s when things really start."

    Sofia wrapped her fingers around the cup. The heat pressed into her skin, but it couldn''t touch the cold inside her she stared out the Window Neon lights shed past and blurred together, just like her tangled thoughts.

    She had no idea what was waiting for her with Nathaniel, but she knew there was no turning back now.

    Reese, just wait. The words echoed in her mind, her eyes dark with hatred. Her nails dug into her palm until she felt the sting, but she didn''t stop. Everything I lost, I''ll get back myself.

    The car glided out of the city, heading for the airport. Night pressed in, thick and heavy, swallowing them up and erasing every trace they left behind.

    ***

    Back home, the hospital''s VIP room glowed with soft yellow light, catching tiny dust motes drifting in the air.

    Matthewy propped up on the bed, memory foam pillows at his back, a light silk nket covering him. He held his phone and read the message from West.

    "All three registries just finished searching. We found a

    He''s

    donor-ny-two percent match, male thirty five, no health issues... We''ve already made contact. agreed to further gic testing and a physical. He shouldnd at ten tomorrow morning."

    A smile broke across Matthew''s face. "They found a match."

    On the nearby sofa, Reese sat curled up in a cream knit cardigan, the color

    making her skin glow. She looked up, hope flickering in her eyes. "Really?"

    He nodded. The relief in her gaze made him smile, a weight finally lifting from his chest.

    For weeks, he''d been trapped

    between hope and despair, watching Reese exhaust herself day after day-managing his care, handling Grace''s case, neverining. The guilt was overwhelming He''d even prepared himself for the VF n, but the thought of putting Reese through that... he just couldn''t.

 Chapter 390

    He''d heard the stories about how painful egg retrieval could be, all the risks that came with pregnancy, and how much recovery could take out of someone afterward. Thest thing he wanted was for Reese to go through any of that.

    Now, it felt like the clouds in his life had finally parted with this sudden bit of good news, letting in a little sunlight.

    "But it''s only a 92 percent match. Isn''t that still risky?" Reese took Matthew''s phone, her eyes scanning the message again and again.

    She remembered what Dr. Brandon had said. The risk of rejection was already higher when the donor wasn''t a rtive. Even if the numbers looked good, there could still beplications after surgery-some of them serious, maybe even life- threatening.

    "Any surgeryes with risks," Matthew said gently. He patted the back of her hand, his warmth calming her nerves just a bit. "Dr. Brandon told us, as long as the match is over ny percent, it''s worth a try."

    "We''ll use the best anti-rejection meds, and the doctors will be watching over me the whole time. We''ll figure it out."

    He understood how much she was worrying. Honestly, he was worried too. Still, right now, he just wanted her to breathe easy for a minute. She''d been through so much already.

    "Don''t worry about it, okay?"

    Matthew reached for his phone, taking it back from Reese. He was about to lock the screen when it buzzed with a new message. He opened it without thinking.

    There was only one line, but it made his heart stop.

    [Stay away from the Meyer family, or your donor will disappear.]

    The words were cold, sending a chill straight through him. Matthew''s eyes darkened as he stared at the screen.

    "What''s wrong?" Reese noticed the shift in his mood and looked at him with concern.

    "It''s nothing," Matthew said, slipping the phone under his pillow and forcing a smile. "I''m just hungry."

    Reese nced down at her watch. It was almost lunchtime.

    "What do you feel like eating? I can have something ordered in."

    Matthew thought for a second. "How about we eat from the hospital cafeteria today? I smelled the pork from the room next door yesterday. It made me jealous."

    Reese grinned. "Alright, just wait here. I''ll go grab some for you." She picked up her phone and headed out of the room.

    As soon as Reese got into the elevator, Matthew pulled his phone back out and called Patrick.

    "Patrick, get in touch with West.

    "He found a stem cell donor. I need you to go there yourself, take a team, and make sure nothing happens. The donor''s safetyes first."

    He took screenshots of the threatening message and the number, then sent them to Patrick.

    "Also, trace the source of that anonymous number. Keep a close eye on the Meyer family. I want updates on everything Bailey and Hank do."

    "Understood, Sir," Patrick replied, his tone serious after seeing the message "I''ll take care of it now. I''ll get the tech team to track number and send out twenty bodyguards in four groups to keep the donor safe."

    "I''ll also tell the guards at the hospital to step up security around your room."

    After hanging up, Matthew stared at the message for a long time before finally deleting it.

    ***

    Meanwhile, at the Meyer family''s vi, Hank sat at his desk, eyes fixed on a long

    list of bank transactions scrolling across hisputer screen.

    One transfer caught his attention. It''s a payment made a week before his mother''s car ident. Nearly ten million hadnded in Grace''s

    personal ount from an overseas source.

    The name on the ount was

    Hank paused. That namet

    sounded familiar. Wasn''t it the same as a distant cousin of Bailey''s assistant, Dous?  fo

    His heart started pounding, loud in the quiet room. He quickly pulled up Dous'' file and read through it carefully.

    Dous had been with his father for years, starting as a driver before bing a trusted assistant. He''d always seemed loyal.

    But if this money was really connected to him, then his mother''s ident was a lot moreplicated than anyone thought.

    Hank''s fingers flew across the keyboard, the keys cking as he dug for more clues, hoping he''d finally find the truth.

 Chapter 391

    He opened up the traffic footage from the day of Marie''s ident, the file he''d gotten from the police. On the screen, his mother''s car moved calmly down the road, keeping to the speed limit, just another ordinary drive. Then, out of nowhere, a huge truck barreled in from the right and smashed straight into her car.

    The truck didn''t slow down. It shoved the car across the street and into the side of

    a building. The front of the car crumpled, metal twisting in on itself, barely recognizable anymore.

    At first, the police called it a tragic ident, med it on Alex, the truck driver who''d been drunk behind the wheel.

    Now they knew. Grace had paid him off. The money she used was clearly meant to hire a killer.

    Was it just a coincidence, or was someone else working behind the scenes? Did Grace really kill his mother just because she was scared their parents might get back together? The questions wouldn''t stop circling in Hank''s mind. He pressed his lips together, thinking hard, then finally closed hisptop and leaned back in his leather chair. He let his eyes slide shut.

    Whatever the truth was, he had to figure it out. He couldn''t let Reese deal with this on her own anymore.

    His phone rang, the screen lighting up with "Dad." The word stung, making his eyes ache.

    Hank took a long breath and picked up, trying to keep his voice steady. "Dad."

    "How''s it going with Reese?" Bailey''s voice was sharp, cold, urgent. "You don''t have much time. Three days. You have to make her drop the case. If she doesn''t, she''ll have to deal with the consequences."

    Hank felt his heart drop.

    "Dad, Reese... she..." He faltered, stuck between not wanting to lie and being too scared to tell the truth. "She still won''t drop it. Mom was everything to her. How do you expect her to just walk away from this?"

    "She won''t?" Bailey''s voice went up, full of anger. "That''s not her decision to make."

    "The Meyer Group is barely surviving as it is. If Grace goes to jail, our whole family is finished!"

    "Dad, Grace has already confessed. This is a criminal case now. Whether or not Reese drops it, that''s not something she can control."

    Hank tried to get through to him.

    "Then she''d better find a way." Bailey''s shout was full of rage. "Listen to me, Hank. Three days Want to hear she dropped the case If you can''t do it, I will."

    The call ended. The dull beep in the receiver was almost painful.

    Hank set his phone down and walked over to the window. Outside, the sky was pitch ck, but the lights in the Meyer estate''s garden were bright as day it didn''t make a difference. The darkness inside him was worse.

    He knew exactly what his dad meant about "taking care of things himself." Bailey wouldn''t just have a talk with Reese. He''d use whatever he could, maybe even the evidence he had about problems in Reese''spany, or something even more extreme.

    After a long time, Hank made up his mind.

    He picked up his phone and called Reese. No matter what, she deserved to know.

    She answered fast, her voice cool. "What''s up?"

    "Reese, do you have a minute?" Hank tried to smile, but it came out tired.

    "No." Reese nced over at Matthew, asleep in the hospital bed.

    "I really need to talk to you. It''s about Mom''s ident." Hank''s voice grew serious.

    "I want to meet in person. There are things I can''t say over the phone."

    Reese''s heart skipped. She could tell, just from how he sounded. He wasn''t brushing off their mother''s death this time.

    She hesitated, then finally said, "Okay. Tomorrow morning, ten o''clock. Coffee shop by the hospital."

    "I''ll be there," Hank said, then hung up.

    He sat back down at his desk and opened hisptop, eyes sharper than before.

    He needed to find more proof before he met her tomorrow.

 Chapter 392

    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."

 Chapter 393

    Reese''s chest tightened at his words. She was about to say something when her phone rang. Quickly, she wiped the tears from her eyes and answered. "What is

    it?"

    "Reese, I''m already at the coffee shop outside the hospital. When will you get here?" Hank''s voice was steady on the line.

    She nced at Matthew, hesitating. "I''ll be there soon. Can you wait?"

    "Is there anything more important than Mom right now?" Hank pressed. "Juste over, I only need ten minutes. I promise I won''t keep you."

    She and Matthew shared a look. He gave her a small nod, silently telling her to go. "Okay, I''ll head over now," she said.

    Reese gave a few instructions to the nurse about Matthew''s care, then hurried out.

    Inside the coffee shop, Hank was sitting by the window, a full cup of coffee untouched in front of him. Dressed in a dark suit, his face was serious. The moment Reese walked in, he stood up.

    "Reese, have a seat," he said, gesturing to the chair across from him.

    She sat down and skipped the small talk. "So, what do you need?"

    Hank pulled a folder from his briefcase and slid it across the table. "I found something. A week before Mom''s ident, someone named Drew wired half a million to Grace''s ount."

    He paused, watching her reaction. "Drew is a distant rtive of Dad''s assistant, Dous."

    "There''s more. After the ident, Drew disappeared from the city and left for another country. He did it using a fake identity."

    Reese flipped through the papers, her expression darkening as she read the bank statements. ¡°You''re saying Grace had someone behind her, and this person even nted someone in Bailey''s inner circle?"

    Hank nodded, pain flickering in his eyes. "That''s what I think."

    "Grace was just a pawn. Whoever was really after Mom is still out there."

    "Why are they doing this?" Reese''s voice shook.

    "I''m still digging. There''s something off about a business deal from twenty years ago,¡± Hank answered quietly. ¡°And I think Dad is pressuring you to drop the case, not just for Meyer Group, but also to keep this secret hidden."

    Reese frowned. Bailey was involved too?

    In her memory, life had been good between Marie and Bailey before Grace and Sofia ever appeared. Bailey had always seemed like the perfect husband and father. That was exactly why Grace and Sofia''s arrival had shattered her mother sopletely.

    Now, it turned out the real culprit in her mother''s death was the person behind Grace.

    "Do you have any proof?" Reese asked, her eyes cold and sharp.

    "Not direct evidence yet, but all the signs are there," Hank said, meeting her gaze. "Reese, please trust me. I''ll get to the bottom of this."

    He hesitated, then said, "By the way, Dad keeps asking me to convince you to give up the case."

    Reese''s impatience must have

    shown, because Hank rushed to exin I know you''re not going to quit just worry bad might do something desperate to stop you. You need to be careful."

    She raised an eyebrow, surprised. Was this really Hank? First he was out chasing the truth, now he was telling her to watch out for Bailey Since when did he stop ming her for not thinking about the family?

    Noticing her surprise, Hank''s cheeks reddened. "I saw Grace''s statement and the evidence the police have," he said.

    "Reese, we''re siblings. Your mom is my mom too." He looked down, voice softening. "I was wrong about you before."

    "You were right. I grew up in the Meyer family, I let myself get fooled by Grace''s nice act. I forgot how much Mom suffered."

    His shoulders slumped, regret clear on his face. "I even forgot that it was Sofia''s presence that made Mom divorce Dad and leave the family with you."

    He took a shaky breath. "I messed up. I put all my attention and care on Sofia instead of you.

    "I broke the promises I made to you and Mom.

    "Reese, I''m not asking you to forgive me. Just... can we stop being strangers?"

    He gave a wry smile. "Honestly, I was just d you answered my call yesterday. And that you came to meet me today, that means a lot.

    "Don''t worry, I''ve already hired a private investigator to track down Seth. I''m also looking into that old Meyer family deal with the overseaspany.

    "I really believe if I follow this trail, I''ll find out who was behind Grace.

    "When I have proof, I''ll bring it to the police. I swear I''ll get justice for Mom."

    Reese felt a storm of emotions inside. There was a time when ske

    had really wanted Hank to care about her But after he pped her, at their mother''s funeral, whatever bond they had was gone.

    She looked out at the patch of sunlight beneath the trees and nodded quietly. "Okay. I''ll wait for your news."

    She stood up, grabbed her bag, and left the coffee shop.

    She had barely reached the hospital entrance when her phone rang again. Reese pulled it from her bag and saw an unfamiliar number. She hesitated, then picked

    up.

    "Reese. Long time no see." A voice came through, sharp and mocking.

    Reese narrowed her eyes. "Sofia? Didn''t you run off abroad? Why are you back?"

    "Why shouldn''t Ie back?" Sofia''s voice was smug. "I''m here to take back everything that belongs to me."

    "Your happy little life with Matthew is over, Reese."

 Chapter 394

    Reese''s fingers tightened around her phone as she listened to Sofia. She stood in the shade just outside the hospital, sunlight flickering across her face through the leaves. Her eyebrows drew into a cold, sharp line, and her eyes were still clouded with a chill that wouldn''t fade.

    "So you think just because you got the police to arrest my mother, I''ll just sit here and do nothing?" Sofia''s voice came through the phone, rough with static and venom. "I heard Matthew''s sick. Needs a stem cell transnt, right?¡±

    Reese''s mind jumped to the call Matthew had gotten earlier at the hospital. Instinctively, she braced herself. "What are you trying to say?"

    "Oh, rx," Sofia replied with a cruel littleugh. "If you want Matthew to survive, you''d better go to the police and drop the case."

    "Otherwise, everything you''ve done will be for nothing."

    Reese''s eyes darkened. Why was Sofia so sure of herself? What was she counting on? If she knew Grace had already been arrested, why would she risking back now?

    Her thoughts raced, but her face gave nothing away. "I''m not dropping the case, Sofia. You know a lot more about what happened back then than you let on, don''t you?"

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Sofia snapped, her voice sharp with panic and anger. ¡°Don''t get cocky, Reese. I''ll drag you down with me. I''m taking it back everything you took from me."

    "We''ll see about that." Reese''s voice was icy calm. She didn''t wait for a reply. She hung up quickly, her swipe across the screen smooth and final.

    The phone''s screen went ck, and for a moment, Reese stared at her own reflection, her eyes cold, her lips pressed in a hard, determined line.

    Was Sofia''s backup the same person behind Grace? And if so, did that mean the real killer-the one who''d taken her mother''s life-was back in the country too?

    They''d moved fast. The donor''s disappearance was no coincidence.

    Reese didn''t hesitate. She walked back into the hospital and typed a message to Matthew,ying out everything she''d just learned from Sofia.

    Inside, Matthew sat on the hospital bed, phone pressed to his ear.

    "Boss," Patrick''s voice came through, a little breathless like he''d just run across half the city. "We found traces of ck wool fibers in the bushes outside the airport §Ö restroom window. They''re from a high end custom suit, definitely no the donor''s clothes. More like something a professional bodyguard or an operative would wear.

    "We also tracked the car that took him. It was a ck sedan with no tes. Security cameras caught it driving away from the airport toward the suburbs, but then it disappeared into a surveince dead zone."

    Matthew''s eyes narrowed. "So we''ve lost him?"

    "...Yeah." Patrick took a shaky breath. "But I''ve expanded the search. We''rebing through every bit of surveince in the suburbs and have the local police helping too.

    "There''s still no concrete lead, but we know the donor''s still in the city. He''s being kept hidden by pros. Whoever''s behind this knows exactly what they''re doing."

    Matthew''s expression stayed calm, but his fingers tapped a steady beat on the edge of the bed. His eyes grew darker, more thoughtful.

    "What about the number? Did you trace who''s behind it?"

    "The registration''s fake." Patrick hesitated, nerves creeping into his voice. "But we tracked the money. It leads to an overseas shellpany, controlled by someone named Nathaniel Phillips."

    "I checked out all of Nathaniel''s

    exactly with when the Meyers were working overseas, twenty years ago."

 Chapter 395

    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 caf¨¦.

    "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.

 Chapter 396

    Reese''s gaze turned sharp and cold. Her reply was immediate. "Stay calm, find a crowd, and don''t go anywhere alone. I''m sending Patrick''s team to pick you up. Send me your location."

    She forwarded Vivian''s location to Patrick, a flicker of confusion passing through her mind.

    Vivian was the daughter of one of her mother''s old subordinates from the Meyer Group. Over the years, she and Reese had kept in touch, though only asionally. Not long ago, Vivian graduated from college. When she heard Reese had taken over Ramos Corporation, she applied for a job and ended up bing Reese''s assistant.

    ***

    At Vista Tech, Bailey sat in his oversized leather chair, a thick stack of documents

    in front of him. The folder held all the evidence of Dylon''s misconduct back when

    he worked at Ramos Corporation. Bailey''s fingers tapped fast and impatient against the cover, his face unreadable. No emotion at all, except for the simmering anger in his eyes.

    There was a knock at the door. Dous, his assistant, stepped in and stood respectfully at the desk, head lowered, not daring to meet Bailey''s eyes.

    "Mr. Meyer, it''s done. Negative news about Ramos Corporation is spreading online." Dous spoke carefully. "The partners have also received our risk alerts. Two of them already said they''re pausing cooperation."

    "Good." Bailey''s voice was icy. "Send Reese an email. Attach part of this evidence. Let her know she has two options. Drop the case, or I''ll make sure Ramos Corporation goes bankrupt."

    "Yes, sir." Dous nodded and turned to go, but Bailey stopped him.

    "Wait." Bailey looked up. "Any word from Joseph?"

    "Not yet." Dous shook his head, hesitating. "But it seems Mr. Phillips is back in the country."

    "Mr. Phillips?" Bailey stared at him, confused.

    "Nathaniel. Nathaniel Phillips," Dous reminded him. "He ran that overseaspany we worked with before."

    "Him?" Something seemed to click for Bailey, his expression shifting. "Did he talk to you? What did he want?"

    Dous''s eyes flickered. "He said he wants to pick up the partnership from twenty years ago. If you agree, helfuse his overseas resources to Help the Meyer family

    t of this mess, and he can keep the worst of

    the Grace case out of the public

    eye."

    Bailey''s face darkened and he let out a coldugh. "Tell him whatever we had ended twenty years ago.

    "And make it clear. If he tries anything, we both go down together. He can''t walk away untouched from what happened back then."

    Dous said nothing more, only nodded quickly. "Yes, sir."

    Once he left the office, Dous took out his phone, typing a message with trembling fingers. His face was a mess of worry, fear, and something like helplessness.

    He''d worked for Bailey for years, climbing from ordinary driver to trusted assistant. But the truth was, Nathaniel had had him in his grip for a long time Dous son was studying abroad, secretly watched by Nathaniel''s people. There was never a choice. Dous had to follow every order, ying the spy right under Bailey''s nose.

    Some things, once you got tangled up, you could never escape.

    ***

    In a hidden vi outside the city,

    Sofia curled up on a plush sofa, a ss of red wine in hand. The deep red clung to the crystal, leaving streaks like tears. She wore thetest designer dress her makeup

    wless, but there was no hiding the

    tension and unease in her eyes.

    Nathaniel sat across from her, flipping through a file, a slow, cryptic smile on his lips. The air around him was thick with mystery.

    "Mr. Phillips, has Reese done anything yet?" Sofia couldn''t hold back. Her voice was tight, her fingers gripping the wine ss so hard her knuckles turned pale.

 Chapter 397

    Nathaniel nced up at her, a sly smile curling at his lips, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Why are you in such a hurry? The real show''s just getting started."

    He set the folder down on the coffee table, sliding it across to Sofia. The sound of paper skimming the wood was almost loud in the quiet room.

    "That''s everything on Dous. He''s Bailey''s right-hand man, and he''s the key to unlocking their biggest secrets. I''ve got leverage over him, so he has no choice but to y along. Still, I need you to run interference.

    "Your job is simple. Pretend you''ve juste back to the country looking for help. Get close to Dous and find out exactly where he keeps the confidential files. That''s all I need from you.

    "And don''t let Bailey catch on. You''re the Meyer family''s second daughter, remember? That''s your perfect cover."

    Sofia picked up the folder, flipping through the pages quickly. A greedy, ruthless glint shed in her eyes.

    "So if I do this, Mr. Phillips, you''ll help me get back everything the Meyer family owes me? You''ll make sure Reese''s reputation is ruined, right?"

    "Of course." Nathaniel''s voice was calm, absolutely certain. "I keep my promises. You get me those secrets, I''ll get you your revenge. We both get what we want."

    He paused, his gaze sharpening. "But don''t try to outsmart me."

    Sofia''s expression tightened and she nodded right away. "I understand. I''ll do exactly what you ask. I won''t mess this up."

    She knew she was out of options now. Her only shot at revenge was to stick close to Nathaniel, no matter what.

    Reese, Sebastian, Matthew... anyone who had ever hurt her, she''d make sure they paid for it.

    ***

    Meanwhile, in Sebastian''s private apartment, the city lights glittered through the huge windows. Sebastian was at his desk, a thick folder on Vivian spread open in front of him.

    It had everything-her family history, her job records, even her parents'' medical files and her brother''s university overseas.

    He ran his finger over one line, a cold, twisted smile appearing. His eyes were icy,pletely unfeeling.

    Vivian''s brother was still studying abroad, and the cost was sky-high. Her parents were sick always needing expensive medicine Vivian was the only one holding her family together. That was her weak spot, and he was going to use it.

    "Come here," Sebastian said, his voice t and cold, like a gust of winter air.

    A bodyguard dressed in ck stepped in right away, head lowered. "Mr. Ratcliff."

    "Get in touch with Vivian," Sebastian said, watching him closely. "Tell her that if she helps me, I''ll pay every cent of her brother''s tuition and living expenses. I''ll make sure her parents get the best doctors and treatment."

    He waited a beat, his tone turning sharper. "But if she refuses, her brother will be shipped home. No

    more school. And tell the hospital to

    stop any extra treatments for her

    parents, Make her wat

    Make her watch her family watch me fami

    suffer."

    "Yes, Mr. Ratcliff." The bodyguard bowed and left, not wasting a second.

    Sebastian got up and walked to the window, staring down at the bustling city below. His eyes were dark with obsession, a dangerous energy surrounding him.

    Reese, you''re mine. You''re not going anywhere.

    That bastard Matthew doesn''t deserve you. Only I can give you the life you want. Only I can protect you.

    If you still want to choose him over me, then don''t me me for what happens next. I''ll tear apart everything you care about until you have no choice but toe back to me.

 Chapter 398

    By early evening, Patrick''s bodyguards had safely delivered Vivian to a five-star hotel close to the hospital. The suite was booked ahead of time, and security was airtight.

    As soon as she stepped inside, Vivian called Reese. Her voice trembled, caught between relief after a near-miss and an unspoken vulnerability.

    "Reese, I''m okay. Patrick''s people got here just in time. Honestly, I was terrified."

    "I''m just d you''re safe." Reese''s voice was gentle, warm and reassuring, like sunlight after a storm. ¡°Did those men hurt you at all?"

    "No, they didn''t get the chance. They were just following me, but Patrick''s team showed up before anything could happen," Vivian said. She took a shaky breath, starting to calm down. "But I think I know why they were after me. Something came to mind."

    Reese straightened up, her curiosity piqued. "What is it? Take your time."

    "My dad was going through some old Meyer Group files a while back and identally found one of Dous'' private journals," Vivian said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "He read about a deal the Meyer family made with some overseaspany twenty years ago. There was also something about a ''core document'' hidden in a secret room at the old Meyer house. He doesn''t remember exactly where, but he saw the words ''study, bookshelf, hiddenpartment.¡±¡± Reese''s breath caught. "Are you sure? Did the notebook say anything else? Like apany name or someone involved?"

    "My dad said there was a name. He thinks it was Nathaniel."

    Nathaniel.

    Again, Nathaniel.

    Reese and Matthew exchanged nces, both of them instantly realizing what this meant. Everything started to fit together.

    Now it all made sense. Nathaniel

    was after that core file, the one

    hidden in the secret room at the old Meyer estate. That file must hold proof of the fflegal partnership from twenty years ago, the kind of evidence Nathaniel and Bailey would do anything to keep buried.

    Reese gripped her phone a little tighter, trying to contain her excitement. "Vivian, you''re sure you remember those words? ''Study, bookshelf, hiddenpartment"?"

    "Absolutely." Vivian sounded certain. "After I realized I was being followed, I kept thinking about it. I just called my dad to double-check. He confirmed it."

    "There''s something else, Reese." Vivian paused, then her voice grew steadier. "Sebastian''s people reached out to me. They threatened my family and tried to get me to spy on you and Mr. Wiles, and to stealpany secrets."

    Reese felt her heart drop. Annoyance flickered in her eyes.

    They''d already agreed to settle things in court, to go through with a mediated divorce. And here Sebastian was, pulling this behind her back. Was he really pushing her to burn everyst bridge between them?

    him no," Vivian said

    "But I told him

    quickly, a hint of pride in her voice. "Reese, you have always been so good to us. Even if it costs me, I''d never betray you. I secretly recorded the whole thing. Thave proof of everything he said.

    "These recordings could be evidence against Sebastian. Maybe they''ll help you."

    Reese felt a rush of gratitude. "Thank you, Vivian."

    "Don''t worry about your family. I''ll make sure they''re protected. From now on, I''ll cover your brother''s tuition and your parents'' medical expenses. You won''t have to worry about anything."

    "Reese, that''s too much..." Vivian began, but Reese cut her off.

    "This isn''t up for debate. It''s a decision." Reese''s voice was steady and kind. "Right now, your only job is to stay put at the hotel and look after yourself. Don''t go anywhere."

    "If you need anything, call me anytime. Patrick''s guys are right outside, so you''repletely safe."

 Chapter 399

    "When all this is over, I''ll give you a long break. Take some time for your family, and maybe we''ll get away somewhere overseas, just to clear our heads."

    "Okay. Thanks, Reese."

    After she ended the call, Reese passed Vivian''s message to Matthew. There was a spark of hope in her eyes.

    "Matthew, we finally have a lead. If we can get our hands on that key file, all the answers will be right in front of us."

    Seeing the light in her gaze, Matthew felt something gentle settle in his heart. He reached out, brushing his hand softly through her hair, his voice warm and certain.

    "You''re right. What matters now is getting that file as soon as possible, and finding out where the candidate is. We can''t let Nathaniel or Bailey get another chance."

    "I already talked to Hank," Reese replied. "We''re meeting tonight at eight, at a coffee shop near the old house. We''ll exchange information."

    "I''ming with you," Matthew said without hesitation. His tone left no room for argument.

    "I can''t let you take this risk alone."

    "Alright." Reese didn''t try to argue. She nodded, resting against his chest. "But promise me you won''t overdo it. Take care of yourself, okay?"

    "For you, I will," Matthew whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. The moment was sweet, but there was a fierce determination in his eyes.

    By seven-thirty that night, Matthew and Reese were on their way to the coffee shop.

    The car glided through the city, neon lights flickering outside the windows.

    Matthew traced soft circles on the back of Reese''s hand, his touch gentle and steady. His voice was quiet.

    "There''s no need to be nervous. I''m right here. Nothing''s going to happen. Hank has woken up to the truth. He wants the same things we do. We can trust him for now, but we still need to be cautious."

    Reese nced up at him, her lips curling into a small smile.

    "I''m not nervous. As long as you''re here, I''m not afraid of anything. And I''ll be careful with Hank."

    She knew Matthew never trusted people easily and always thought things through. That was one of the things she admired most about him.

    At exactly eight, their car stopped in front of the coffee shop.

    A few bodyguards were already waiting. They stepped forward as Reese and Matthew got out, speaking in lowered voices.

    "Mr. Wiles, Ms. Meyer, everything''s set. Nothing suspicious here. Our team is covering the cafe and the perimeter. You''re safe."

    Matthew gave a nod. He took Reese''s hand and led her inside.

    The coffee shop had an old-fashioned charm, with the faint scent of coffee in the air. It was quiet, and the handful of customers spoke in soft voices, keeping the atmosphere calm.

    Hank was waiting in a private booth, a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. He wore a dark suit and looked worn out, his eyes ringed with red.

    As soon as he saw them, Hank stood up quickly, a hint of nervousness in his eyes. "Reese..."

    Reese didn''t say anything. She just nodded and sat down across from him with Matthew at her side, her expressionposed and unreadable.

    Matthew spoke first.

    "Mr. Meyer, let''s get straight to it. We don''t have much time. What did you find out about the overseas partnership from twenty years ago?"

    Hank took a steadying breath, then pulled a stack of documents from his briefcase and set them on the table. The pages were creased from being handled so much.

    "This is everything I found. Twenty years ago, the Meyer family worked with an overseaspany called Apex on something called the Voyager Project. The real owner of thatpany was Nathaniel.

    "The project involved a huge amount of money, mostly import and export business. But suddenly, the project was shut down, and all the records were sealed. The official story was that the market crashed and the losses were too much.

    "But what I discovered is that not long after the project ended, Nathaniel vanished. At the same

    time, the Meyer Group suddenhet

    received a massive sum of money that helped them survive a financial crisis. I think that money was the illegal profit from the Voyager Project. And I believe my mother was killed because she found out the truth."

 Chapter 400

    Reese picked up the stack of documents and flipped through them, her eyes moving fast. Inside, she found a copy of the old contract, records of money transfers, and even some anonymous statements from past employees. The evidence wasn''tplete yet, but it was enough to lead straight to Nathaniel and Bailey.

    Piece by piece, the confusion in her mind started to fade. That partnership from twenty years ago had been nothing but a cover. Nathaniel and Bailey used the project tounder money. Her mother had discovered the truth, and that was why they killed her so brutally.

    Grace was just a pawn, someone they put in the spotlight to hide what really happened, and to keep Bailey under control.

    "The key file is hidden in a secret room at the old Meyer mansion," Reese said, lifting her gaze to Hank, her voice steady and sure. "Dous mentioned it in his private notes. It''s in a hiddenpartment, somewhere in the study''s bookshelf."

    "One of my mom''s old colleagues told me about it," she added. She wasn''t ready to say Vivian''s name, not yet. There was still a part of her that kept a careful distance from Hank.

    Hank''s eyes widened, his whole face lighting up. "Are you serious?"

    "I had no idea there was a secret room in that house," he admitted, shaking his head a little. "No wonder I couldn''t find anything, no matter how hard I searched."

    "Dous was Bailey''s personal assistant. He has to know how to open thatpartment," Hank added, his voice taking on a sense of urgency. "We need to get that file before Nathaniel or Bailey realize we''re onto them. If they do, they''ll destroy everything."

    Matthew looked at each of them, his gaze sharp, his tone collected. "So now the question is, how do we get into the mansion, find the secret room, and take the file without raising any rms? And we have to make sure the donor stays safe."

    "Bailey definitely has people watching the house. We''ll need to be careful. If he catches on, he might do something desperate," Matthew warned.

    Hank thought it over. "No one lives there anymore, just the old housekeeper. He''s been taking care of the ce."

    "I could visit the housekeeper, say I''m there to remember my mom. While I''m there, I can check the study and look for the hiddenpartment," Hank offered.

    "I''m going with you," Reese jumped in without hesitation. Her eyes were determined. "Two sets of eyes are better than one. Plus, I know that house inside out. I might spot something you''d miss."

    "No." Matthew''s response was immediate and firm. "Bailey''s going to be suspicious of you. It''s too risky. If he finds you, it could end badly."

    He turned to Hank. "Mr. Meyer, we''re counting on you. Go inside and find the file We''ll stay outside and keep watch. Patrick will have people in ce. As soon as you have what we need, get out, and we''ll cover you.

    "In the meantime, we''re still searching for the donor. We should have news soon. Once we have that file, we''ll finally have what we need to take down Nathaniel and Batley. The donor will be safe then too."

    Hank nodded, epting the n. "Alright. I''ll go tonight. The housekeeper trusted my mother for years, and he trusts me. I''m sure I can get him to help me out. It should go smoothly."

    "Be careful,¡± Reese said quietly, her tone softening just a little. She still had her doubts about Hank, but right now, they were on the same side, fighting for the same thing.

    Hank looked at her, his eyes shining with emotion. "Thank you for trusting me, Reese. I''ll get that file. I''ll make sure our mother gets the justice she deserves."

    Matthew stood up, getting ready to move. "Let''s not waste any more time.

    "Mr. Meyer, head to the mansion now. I''ll have my people keeping an eye on

    things outside. If anything happens, let us know right away.

    "Reese and I will stay at the hospital,

    keep looking for updates about the

    donor, and coordinate with the

    police. We''ll get the paperwork ready

    to arrest Nathaniel and Bailey. The second

    e have that file we bring

    them down.¡±

 Chapter 401

    "Alright." Hank stood up and grabbed the files. "I''ll head out now."

    Reese watched him go, her feelings tangled up inside. She never thought she''d see the day when she and Hank would work together, both fighting for justice for her mom.

    "Don''t worry. Hank''s really on our side this time." Matthew squeezed her hand, his voice steady and sure. "He''s already lost his mother. He won''t give up on the truth. And the Meyer Group meant everything to his dad. He''s not going to watch Nathaniel tear it all down."

    Reese nodded and leaned into him. "I hope you''re right. We''ve waited so long. We can''t afford for anything else to go wrong."

    "It won''t." Matthew''s words were quiet but strong. "We''re going to get the evidence soon. Everyone responsible will finally pay for what they did. Your mom will finally be able to rest."

    ***

    At the old Meyer estate, the longtime housekeeper was outside, watering the flowers in the courtyard. When he saw Hanke in, his eyes widened in surprise.

    "Hank, what brings you here? It''ste and the night air is chilly. Come in,e in."

    "Duncan, I just wanted to check in on you." Hank gave him a warm smile and spoke with respect.

    "There''s been so much happening with the familytely. Have you been keeping well?"

    "I''m well, still strong as ever." Duncan smiled, leading Hank inside. "Come have a seat. I''ll get you some water."

    Hank sat down on the living room sofa. His eyes drifted toward the study, and a nervous tension crept into his chest. He took a deep breath and tried to steady himself.

    "Duncan, I''d like to visit my mother''s study," Hank said softly. There was a hint of longing in his voice. "It''s been a while. I want to see her things again, remember her."

    Duncan''s gaze grew gentle and a little sad. He nodded.

    "Of course. The study is just as she left it. I''ll show you in."

    Hank followed Duncan into the study. Nothing had changed. Marie''s fountain pen and her old notebook stil sat on the desk sunlight Stilling through the window and dancing across their surfaces.

    A wave of sadness hit Hank. He could almost see his mother there, smiling at him. Quietly, he promised himself he would find the proof they needed and make things right for her

    "Duncan, you can go back to your work. I''d like a few minutes alone," Hank said.

    "Of course. If you need anything, just call." Duncan nodded and left, closing the door gently behind him.

    Hank moved quickly to the

    bookshelf, scanning every d

    The

    b Shelves were packed with e

    books, nothing out of the ordinary.

    Remembering Vivian''s clue, he started tapping carefully on the wooden panels, listening for any difference.

    §´§Ñ§â. §´§Ñ§â. §´§Ñ§â.

    Each sound echoed in the silence, making his heart beat faster. Sweat broke out on his palms.

    Then, he hit a panel that sounded different-hollow, almost empty.

    His pulse jumped. He felt around, found the edge, and pushed. The panel slid

    aside, revealing a small, shadowy space.

    Inside sat a metal box with a tiny lock.

    Hank picked it up, hands trembling. He was sure this was it-the files they''d been searching for.

    He was just about to open it when footsteps sounded outside the door, along with muffled voices.

    "Hank''s here?"

    "I thought he was busy with that de project. What''s he doing back?"

 Chapter 402

    Hank froze, a chill running down his spine as cold sweat prickled across his back.

    He recognized the voices right away. It was Jose and Danny, Bailey''s closest men from the Brookfield headquarters.

    Why were they here at the old house?

    He didn''t have time to figure it out. In one quick motion, he slipped the metal box into a faded book sleeve on the very top shelf, then grabbed two heavy volumes of historical records and lined them up to cover the spot perfectly. At a nce, nothing looked out of ce.

    With that done, he crossed over to the desk. His fingers brushed over the old fountain pen his mother Marie used to write with, and his eyesnded on the family photo that always sat there.

    It was thest picture they''d taken together, back when Reese was five. After the photo was developed, Reese had insisted on putting it right on the desk, so their mother could see her whenever she worked.

    The memory made Hank''s eyes sting, his breathing softer, almost shaky.

    The door creaked open. Jose and Danny stepped in, their polished shoes making heavy, dull sounds on the floorboards.

    "Hank, what brings you back to Brookfield all of a sudden?"

    Jose''s voice was cautious, his eyes darting around the room, taking everything in.

    Hank looked up. His eyes were rimmed with red, his face clouded with quiet sadness. ¡°There''s just been a lot going on. I''ve been missing my mom, so I wanted toe back and see the old ce for a while."

    Danny drifted over to the bookshelf, running his hand along the spines with a casual air, but his eyes were sharp. "Trouble with your dad?" he asked.

    They''d gotten a call from Bailey, telling them to check if Hank had snuck back to the family house. Both of them thought it was unlikely and hadn''t expected to actually find him here.

    Danny''s fingers brushed right past the books hiding the metal box. Hank''s heart skipped a beat, his grip tightening on the fountain pen.

    "No, nothing like that. He''s my father. Whatever he decides, I know it''s for my own good." Hank''s voice was calm, but it sounded a little tired. Things at work have been overwhelming. The deal with de stiff hasn''te together, and the pressure''s been a lottely. I thought maybe being here, where I can feel my mom around me, would help me clear my head."

    Jose leaned against the doorway, arms folded, watching him closely. "You and Mr. Meyer really are cut from the same cloth. He''s been thinking about your mom, too. He''s too busy toe himself but he called and asked us to pick up something of hers for him."

    Hank nodded, his eyes flickering with just the right amount of guilt. "He''s been stressed outtely because of Grace. He''s worried things could get out of hand and mess up the partnership between Vista Tech and de."

    He let out a quiet sigh. "It''s my fault. I just... I couldn''t get Reese to drop the case."

    He nced at Jose, his voice softening. "Could you talk to my dad for me? Tell him to take care of his health."

    "Of course," Jose replied, nodding. He shot a quick look at Danny.

    Hank''s red eyes and heavy expression made it really seem like he''d juste back here looking forfort after a rough patch with Bailey They both wondered what secrets this empty old house could possibly hold that had Bailey so on edge.

    Still, they had to y their part. Danny pulled his hand away from the shelf and shrugged, "Since you''re here, maybe you can help us pick what to send to Mr. Meyer."

    Hank held out the fountain pen. "Take this to him. I remember he gave it to Mom for their tenth anniversary."

    Danny took the pen and met Hank''s gaze. "You''re not leaving?"

    Hank looked back at the photo on the desk, his eyes darkening. "I just want to stay a little longer."

    At that, Danny and Jose exchanged another nce. They didn''t say anything, and they didn''t leave either.

    The room fellpletely silent, thick with unspoken tension.

 Chapter 403

    Hank could feel two pairs of eyes circling the study, and every time they nced at the bookshelf, his heart skipped a beat.

    That was when Duncan came in, carrying a steaming cup of tea. When he saw Jose and Danny, he didn''t even blink, just smiled knowingly at Hank. "It''s getting chilly, sir. Have some tea to warm up."

    He set the cup down at the edge of the desk, his eyes flickering for just a second to the top shelf of the bookcase. Then he turned smoothly to Jose. "Gentlemen, why don''t you head out to the backyard and snap a few photos for Mr. Meyer?"

    He added, "All those flowers out back were nted by Mrs. Meyer herself. If Mr. Meyer sees how beautiful they look this year, he''ll be thrilled. Want me to show you the way?"

    Jose nodded, giving the study onest look before ncing at Danny. "Sure, let''s go."

    The two of them walked out, closing the door softly behind them. Their footsteps faded away, and suddenly the room was quiet again.

    Hank just stood there, frozen. He didn''t know how long he stayed like that, not until he heard a car engine growling to life outside the gates. He let out a shaky breath and realized there was a chill running down his back. His shirt was damp with cold sweat.

    He hurried over to the bookshelf, carefully pulled out the metal box, and slipped it into his briefcase. His hands were still trembling as he zipped it up.

    Duncan came back in, worry etched on his face. "Sir, are you alright?"

    "I''m fine, Duncan. Really. Thanks to you." Hank tried to smile, but his voice was still tight. "You don''t think they noticed anything, do you?"

    Duncan shook his head. "I don''t think so." He knew Hank hadn''te back to the old house just to remember his mother, but he kept that to himself. His loyalty was to Hank, not Bailey.

    Hank nodded. He took out his phone and quickly called Matthew.

    "Mr. Wiles I''ve got it. It''s a metal box with a lock. My father''s men were just here, and m worried they might still be watching the ce can you get someone over to check things out?"

    At the military hospital by Bridger Lake, Matthew picked up Hank''s call and moved to the window his gaze sharp Alright ht just stay

    his

    he sat put and keep the box safe. I''send

    someone to you right away

    He hung up and turned to Reese, who was watching him with anxious eyes. He took her cold hand in his, holding on tight. "Hank has the box. I''ve got people on the way. Don''t worry."

    Reese managed a tiny smile, finally letting herself rx a little. Then her phone rang, making her jump. Matthew squeezed her hand a bit tighter and reached over to grab the phone from the nightstand.

    When he saw who was calling, his brows knit together. "It''s Bailey. Do you want to answer?"

    "Yes," Reese said, her eyes going cold and clear. She wanted to hear what Bailey had to say for himself.

    Matthew stepped back to the bed. He answered the call and put it on speaker.

    "Reese, Marie''s memorial ising up in a few days," Bailey''s voice came through, soft and gentle in a way that didn''t feel right at all. year, I was thinking, maybe we could actually hold a proper memorial for her. What do you say?"

    Reese''s reply was ice-cold. "Just get to the point."

    She didn''t believe for a second that after trying to make her drop the case, Bailey

    suddenly wanted to honor her mother. Not a chance.

    There was a pause. Then Bailey said, "Reese, for everything your mother did for the Meyer family, can you just let the case go?"

 Chapter 404

    "You don''t really want to see the Meyer family fall apart, do you?"

    "Not a chance." Reese shot back, not even pausing to consider it.

    "Don''t be so quick to say no." Bailey''sugh was soft but smug, like he already knew what she''d say. "I''ve got dirt on Dylon from his early days at Ramos Corporation. We''re talking embezzlement, fraud, all felonies. What do you think would happen to Ramos Corporation if I went public with this, or handed it to the police?"

    Reese''s eyebrow lifted, a sh of sarcasm in her eyes. Her father was unbelievable. Always using thepany to guilt her, trying to make her protect the Meyer family. He never stopped to think that her mother had poured just as much into Ramos Corporation. That was her mother''s legacy too.

    Still...

    "You think you can ckmail me with that?"

    "ckmail is a strong word," Bailey replied, all calm confidence. "Let''s just call it a reminder. If you drop the charges, this evidence disappears. No one ever needs to know."

    Matthew moved closer, quietly resting his hand on her shoulder. He didn''t say anything, but his touch said it all. I''m here. You''re not alone.

    Reese let out a quietugh. "Bailey, it doesn''t matter what you say or do. I''m not dropping the case. Nothing is more important to me than getting justice for my mom."

    "If

    f you really have proof of what Dylon did, just give it to the police or leak it. Go ahead." Her tone was steady, almost relieved.

    Honestly, it was perfect timing. The police still needed more solid evidence on Dylon''s scheme with Ramos Corporation''s stocks. Bailey''s information, however he''d found it, could be exactly what she needed.

    Bailey clearly didn''t expect her to call his bluff. He went silent for a few seconds, then his voice turned cold. "Reese, don''t make me regret giving you this chance."

    She met his anger with icy calm. "Respect is earned, not given. Do what you want. I''m ready."

    She didn''t wait for an answer. She just hung up.

    Matthew looked down at her, pride flickering in his eyes as he gently messed up her hair. ¡°You handled that perfectly."

    Reese leaned into him, breathing in the familiar scent of his shirt. "Dylon''s gotten away with too much for too long," she said quietly. "It''s time he finally pays for it."

    Matthew nodded, pulling out his phone to call Karter. "Take the tech team to the old Meyer house now. Help

    Pretend to be electr keep it

    Hank open the metal box keep low profile."

    "Got it, boss."

    He ended the call, then pressed a soft kiss to Reese''s forehead. "I''m here. Nothing will happen to you, not while I''m around."

    His kiss was warm and reassuring, finally melting away thest of her anxiety.

    Across town, in a luxury hotel room, Vivian sat on the edge of the bed, phone pressed to her ear. Sebastian''s voice was low and sharp.

    "Have you figured out Reese''s weak spot yet?"

    "Not... not yet, Vivian replied, ying up her fear. "Mr. Ratcliff, the only big thing happening at Ramos

    Corporation right now is their

    development n for the nex

    Wo

    years. But Reese and Patrick said it''s

    confidential..."

    She and Reese had cooked up this story together yesterday, after finding out Sebastian had someone tailing her.

    "Oh? Confidential, huh?" Sebastian sounded interested now. He was obviously intrigued. It might not be as explosive as the surrogacy

    evidence Reese held, but with

    how

    much Reese cared about Ramos Corporation, it could be just the leverage he needed.

 Chapter 405

    "Find a way to steal that project n and send it to me."

    Vivian almostughed when she heard Sebastian fall right into her trap. "But that''s a Ramos Corporation secret," she said, trying to sound worried. "Their security is super tight, you know."

    "I don''t care. Figure it out." Sebastian''s voice was cold,pletely merciless. "I already have your parents'' medical records. I know where your brother goes to school, too."

    Vivian''s hands shook from anger. She couldn''t believe the boss of Ratcliff Global would actually stoop to threatening her family like this. If Reese hadn''t arranged for her parents and brother toe back home ahead of time, more horrible things would have happened.

    "...Fine, I''ll try." Her voice was shaky, defeated. "But I need some time. The n isn''t with Reese. I''ll have to wait for a chance to get into her office."

    "You have two hours." Sebastian''s tone was final. "I want results. If I don''t get them, you''ll have to deal with the consequences."

    "Alright," Vivian replied.

    She hung up and stared at her phone, a cold little smile curling at her lips. Without hesitating, she opened her messages, found Reese''s chat, and sent the recording of her call over.

    Night crept in around the old Meyer family house.

    Karter walked toward the house with two tech guys, all three dressed as electricians in blue uniforms, tool bags slung over their shoulders.

    Jose and Danny crouched in the shadows outside, sharing a cigarette while keeping an eye on the front gate.

    "Don''t you think Mr. Meyer''s being a bit too careful?" Danny muttered, hunching his shoulders against the cold. "What''s so special about this old dump?"

    Earlier, they''d called Bailey to report that Hank hade back to the house, but everything had seemed normal. They were about to head out for a drink when Bailey told them to stay put and watch for anyone going in or out, or if Hank left.

    Jose blew a smoke ring and kept his eyes on the gate. "We do what Mr. Meyer says. No questions."

    Through the haze, he spotted three people walking up. He frowned, stood up, and he and Danny moved to block the path.

    "Where do you think you''re going? This is private property. You can''t just walk in."

    Karter nced at a paper in his hand, then at the house number.He kept his tone casual and friendly "Hey this is the address we got There''s a wiring problem inside, and we''re here to fix it."

    Jose and Danny exchanged a look, sizing them up. "Who told you toe fix the wiring?"

    "Someone from inside called for

    repairs," Karter said, pulling out a

    work order and handing it over. "You right? Call in and

    guys are

    ecurity,

    check if you want." He grumbled

    under his breath, "Rich folks and

    their rules."

    Jose took the work order and squinted at it under his phone''s light. Everything seemed legit.

    "Wait here. I''ll check." He pulled out his phone and dialed Duncan. "Hey, Duncan, I just passed by the old house. It looks like the lights are off. Is there something wrong with the power?"

    "You must be seeing things. The lights are fine," Duncan replied. ¡°But the sprinkler system in the back garden is acting up, so I called someone to fix it."

    Jose hung up, nced at Karter and his crew, and nodded. "Go ahead, but don''t wander around. Just get your job done and leave."

    "No problem. Thanks, man," Karter replied with a grin, leading his team inside the old house.

 Chapter 406

    "This way, please."

    Duncan was already waiting in the courtyard, his hand gesturing for Karter and the others to follow. Hepletely ignored Jose and hispanion at the front gate, leading the group straight through the garden and into the back of the house. Once inside, they slipped through a rear door and climbed the stairs to the second floor, heading for the study.

    Hank stood at the window, peeking through a narrow gap in the curtains, watching for any sign of movement outside. The old house had been empty for ages. Only the main building had lights on, the rest of the courtyard was lost in darkness. If Hank hadn''t caught a quick sh of light at the front gate earlier, he would have never guessed someone was standing guard out there.

    He heard footsteps and spun around. Karter caught the sh of panic in Hank''s eyes right away.

    "Mr. Meyer, it''s alright. Mr. Wiles sent us," Karter said quietly.

    Hank let out a small breath and pointed at a metal box on the desk. "It''s right there. The lock isplicated. Thanks foring."

    The box hadn''t been so big and conspicuous, or he would have tried to sneak it out himself instead of calling Matthew for help.

    The two guys who came in with Karter shared a look, then stepped up to the desk. The box was about the size of aputer monitor, old and heavy, with a mechanical lock that looked impossible to pick.

    "I''ll give it a shot," one of them said, pulling out a set of lock-picking tools. His fingers moved quickly and confidently.

    Hank hovered nearby, tense and silent. Karter leaned against the doorframe, his eyes glued to the hallway, listening for any sound from outside.

    Minutes crawled by. The only thing breaking the silence was the faint click and scrape of metal tools against the lock.

    Suddenly, there was a louder click. "It''s open," the technician whispered.

    He carefully lifted the lid. Inside, the box was lined with deep red velvet, and three items sat nestled in the fabric.

    First was a thick ledger. On the cover, in neat handwriting, was the title: "The Voyager Project." Hank picked it up, flipping through the first page. Every transaction was there, clear as day-dates, amounts) names. Nothing was left out.

    Next was a partnership contract signed by both Nathaniel and Bailey. The agreement spelled out exactly how the profits would be spit and the confidentiality use was brutal. Anyone reading it would feeka chill run down their spine.

    Thest item was a faded sheet of paper, yellowed with age, listing over a dozen names. Next to each name was an organ-no clue whether these people were donors or recipients.

    The second technician pulled out a scanner and started making fast digital copies of the ledger and the list.

    Just then, Hank noticed something odd under the velvet. He carefully pulled the fabric back and found a folded slip of paper The note was old and worn, the writing almost faded away, but he could just make out a partial address: "West Side... old pier... warehouse thr¨¦e..." The rest was smudged and unreadable.

    Hank stared at the note, brow furrowed. What could this ce be?

    He was about to take a closer look when someone knocked at the door. "Mr. Hank, there''s something going on outside!"

    Hank''s heart hammered in his chest.

    Karter moved instantly, crossing to the window and pulling back a corner of the curtain. Shadows flickered across the yard. A crowd of people was racing toward the house.

    "Is it Bailey''s people or Nathaniel''s?" Karter asked, his voice tense.

    "I... I don''t know," Hank stammered. He stuffed the note into his pocket and turned to the technician. "Are you done copying?"

 Chapter 407

This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !

 Chapter 408

This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !

 Chapter 409

This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !

 Chapter 410

This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !

 Chapter 411

    "That''s a relief," Reese said, her smile growing a little brighter.

    Now, with Dylon''s market maniption on record, and charges of embezzlement and fraud stacked on top, he was looking at years behind bars. Ten years might even be the bare minimum.

    "Oh, and Detective Sanchez, there''s something else I need to give you." Her voice turned serious. "It''s about Grace paying Alex to cause the ident that killed my mother."

    She turned, opened her safe, and pulled out a USB drive. She handed it to Roman, meeting his eyes. "This holds evidence that Bailey and Nathaniel trafficked human organs twenty years ago. There are ount books, partnership agreements, and a list of everyone involved. I think my mother must have discovered something, and that''s why Grace had her killed."

    Roman immediately understood how serious this was and plugged the drive into hisptop.

    The screen lit up with the words "The Voyager Project." Every transaction, every profit-sharing detail,id bare for anyone to see.

    "Was this evidence obtained legally?" Roman asked, looking up at her, his eyes sharp and searching.

    "I got it from the old Meyer family housest night," Reese said quietly. Her voice caught as she remembered her mother. "Detective, please help me find out who else was involved."

    "I will," Roman promised, putting the USB drive away carefully. "But Ms. Meyer, if anything elsees up, you have to tell me right away. Don''t take risks like this again."

    "I promise," Reese nodded. For the first time in a long while, she felt some of the heaviness in her chest begin to ease. "Thank you, Detective Sanchez."

    When Roman and his team left, Reese leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and let out a long, shaky breath.

    At the same time, over at Ratcliff Global, Bailey sat in the meeting room, grinning as he looked at the new agreement he''d just signed with Joseph.

    Sure, Joseph had taken advantage of the situation and forced him to make some big concessions, but as long as he secured the de partnership, it was all worth

    it.

    Besides, Bailey had just gotten word that the police had already shown up at Ramos Corporation. Reese must realize that his threats weren''t empty If she wanted to protect herpany, she''d be forced to withdraw theint against Grace. If she didn''t, he''d just hand over the rest of the evidence to the police, and Ramos Corporation''s reputation would bepletely ruined.

    Once Reese dropped the charges, de would be his.

    "Pleasure working with you, Joseph," Bailey said, sliding the agreement across

    the table. His eyes sparkled with barely contained greed. "So, how soon can I get the de partnership?"

    Joseph picked up the agreement, tracing his finger over his signature, maybe a little too casually. There was a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Don''t worry, Mr. Meyer. I''ll have the project lead contact you as soon as possible."

    Joseph had already gotten the concessions he wanted from the Meyer family. It was a clean win, and he''d look great in front of the board The thing was, the core technology'' and all the real authority over de were still in Sebastian''s hands. Bailey would never get anything real out of it.

    This blow would hurt the Meyer family, and Reese was sure to me Sebastian. With Matthew sick, the chairman''s seat at Ratcliff Global would be his for the taking.

    "I''ll be waiting for your good news, Mr. Ratcliff," Bailey said, getting up to shake Joseph''s hand.

    After leaving Ratcliff Tower, Bailey slid into the back seat of his car, feeling on top of the world. He called his assistant, Dous. "Spread the word. Start building the de operating system tform. Iwant all the people and resources we need and I want them now."

    The car pulled into the underground garage at Vista Tech. Bailey walked into his

    office, only to see two people standing by the windows.

    Sofia was wearing a in white dress. She looked so much thinner, her once- round cheeks hollow, dark circles visible under her eyes.

    "Dad," she said, turning to face him. Her voice was scratchy.

    Bailey stopped in his tracks, an ache of worry rushing through him. ¡°Sofia? When did you get back? Why are you so thin?" He stepped forward, wanting to ruffle her hair like he used to, but as he looked at her face, so much like Grace''s, his hand froze in midair.

 Chapter 412

    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?"

 Chapter 413

    ¡°Still...¡± He rubbed his chin, turning to nce at the barely breathing man behind him. "Good thing I came prepared."

    He kicked the man square in the chest. The impact made a heavy, muffled sound. The man coughed, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

    Nathaniel watched him coldly. "I wonder what Matthew will do when he has to choose between his own life and the woman he loves."

    He pulled out his phone, snapped a photo of the battered man, and sent it to Matthew with a message.

    "Matthew, this is the donor who can save your life. Tonight at eight, the abandoned factory on the west side of the city. Come alone. Bring the metal box you took from the Meyer family estate. If you show up with anyone or without the box, you cane collect his body instead."

    Nathaniel waited for the message to send and then grinned in satisfaction. "Let''s see if Matthew knows what''s good for him. Don''t let me down."

    ...

    At the hospital, Matthew stared at the photo on his phone, his face growing darker by the second.

    Derek was definitely in Nathaniel''s hands.

    But as far as Matthew knew, Hank had put the box back where it belonged. So why did Nathaniel think they had it?

    Karter, lying on the next hospital bed with bandages wrapped around his waist, spoke up. "Boss, let me go instead..."

    Last night, Karter had managed to stop Jose and his men, but he''d gotten badly hurt in the process. Matthew''s people had searched all over Brookfield before finally finding him under a riverbank.

    "No," Matthew said, shaking his head. "You need to stay here and recover. As soon as you''re better, head straight back to Ramos Corporation. Don''t let Reese notice anything''s off. Nathaniel got his hands on that guy because of me. He''s suffering because of me. If I don''t go, he might be in more trouble."

    Matthew looked at him, determined. "Don''t worry, I won''t do anything reckless. Nathaniel''s pushing his luck if he thinks he''s above thew."

    Reese had just seen Roman out when she got back to her office. She barely had time to sit down before someone knocked on her door again.

    "Come in," she called.

    Vivian walked in, her face lit up with excitement Reese, I gave Sebastian the fake development n just like we talked about." She handed her a, USB drive looking a little shaken. "He was grilling me so hardst night, I almost slipped up."

    Reese took the drive, plugged it in, and nced through the files. She''d made sure

    the n had a few subtle mistakes. Sebastian wouldn''t catch on right away.

    "Thanks, Vivian. You did great,¡± Reese said with a gentle smile.

    Vivian raised her chin, a little proud. ¡°Of course. I told you I wouldn''t drag you down."

    "You''re the best," Reese replied,

    pulling a card out of her drawer and

    handing it over. "Take a long

    vacation. Go see your parents and

    your brother use this card for

    whatever you want."

    ¡°Thanks, Reese." Vivian took the card without any fuss and walked out.

    The office felt quiet again. Reese''s eyes turned cold for a moment as she picked up her phone and called George.

    "George, the recording I sent you can it prove that Sebastian and Leslie tricked me into being a surrogate?" She knew theck of solid evidence had stalled her divorce

    case.

    "Ms. Meyer," George replied, "secret recordings usually aren''t enough on their own, but with this, the court will be a lot more confident in our other evidence. Also, the police got in touch. They''ve found new proof about Mr. Ratcliff''s involvement in the surrogacy."

    A sharp determination shed in Reese''s eyes. "Good. That means I can finally end

    this marriage and make sure Sebastian pays for what he''s done."

 Chapter 414

    At seven in the evening, Reese finally set aside thest stack of files. She rubbed her tired eyes and reached for her phone, dialing Matthew''s number. Now that the box was in Roman''s hands, she figured the rest was up to the police. For the first time in days, it seemed like she and Matthew could finally get a decent break.

    But the call rang and rang. No answer.

    Her heart started to pound. Reese frowned, anxiety twisting in her chest. She hurried through the halls to the parking garage, got into her car, and drove straight to the military hospital.

    When she pushed open the door to Matthew''s room, everything was quiet. The bed across from his had signs of someone moving in, but both beds were empty. Reese''s confusion grew. She stepped back into the hallway, found a nurse, and asked about Matthew. When she heard he had checked out and left, her worry spiked.

    Somewhere across town, Matthew was driving toward an old, abandoned factory on the west side.

    Inside the factory, Nathaniel watched Derek, who was tied tightly to a pir in the middle of the room. He checked his watch, then signaled to his men, who were already getting into position.

    "Stay alert," Nathaniel said. "As soon as Matthew hands over the box, take him down. If he tries anything, kill this one on the spot."

    "Yes, sir," his men replied, all of them itching for action.

    Outside, Matthew''s car rolled to a stop. He got out, grabbed the metal box from the passenger seat-just like Hank had described-and walked toward the factory.

    The ce was poorly lit, with one bright bulb hanging over Nathaniel''s chair. Derek sat nearby, covered in bruises and barely conscious.

    "Matthew, I knew you''d show," Nathaniel called out, grinning as soon as he spotted the box. People always made the same choice. When it came down to what they wanted most and the women they loved, they picked themselves every time.

    Matthew scanned the room, then locked eyes with Derek. Guilt hit him hard. Derek hade to help, and

    now he was beaten and trapped, caught up in something he never should have been a part of

    "Let him go,¡± Matthew said, raising the box. "You want this? It''s yours, but only if you let him walk out of here."

    Nathaniel spun a dagger in his hand, looking bored. "You really think you''re in a position to make demands? Put the box down. Once I know it''s legit, I''ll let him go."

    Matthew''s eyes shed with

    something cold, but he did as he

    was told, setting the box on the

    ???

    ground. You''d better keep youet

    Word, Nathaniel. If you don''t

    everything in this box will becall over the police department by morning."

    Nathaniel didn''t even blink. He waved a hand, and one of his men stepped out of

    the shadows. The guy kept his gun trained on Matthew while he crouched to check the box.

    "Open it," Nathaniel ordered.

    The man flipped the lid. Inside, everything looked perfect-the red velvet, the ledger, the agreements, the lists Even the old paper looked real. He skimmed through a few pages, then gave Nathaniel anod. "It''s real."

    Nathaniel''s smile widened. "Bring him over."

    Two men came forward, untied Derek, and dragged him toward Matthew.

    Matthew moved in, ready to catch him, but before he could reach Derek, Nathaniel whistled sharply.

    Suddenly, more men rushed out from the shadows, weapons ready. They

    surrounded Matthew and Derek, guns pointed straight at them.

 Chapter 415

    "Nathaniel, you promised." Matthew stepped in front of Derek, shielding him. His eyes were cold, hard as winter ice.

    Nathaniel just smirked. "I never said I''d keep my word. I''m not just after that box. I want your lives. If you''re both gone, no one can ever pin this on me.¡±

    The words had barely left his mouth when the sharp wail of police sirens sliced through the air outside. The sound grew louder, closer, echoing through the old factory.

    Nathaniel''s face went pale. "How did the cops get here?"

    ¡°Did you really think I''d show up alone?¡± Matthew''s lips curled in a mocking smile. "The second I got your message, I called in the SWAT team."

    He''d expected Nathaniel to double-cross him and had already arranged with the team. The sirens were their sign to move in.

    "Dammit!" Nathaniel snapped, eyes wild. "Kill them!"

    His men fired without hesitation. Bullets tore through the air toward Matthew and Derek.

    Matthew was ready. He dragged Derek down to the ground, then pulled a smoke grenade from his belt. He yanked the pin and threw it into the crowd. Thick white smoke exploded across the room, instantly blinding everyone. Coughs and curses filled the air.

    "Hang on," Matthew said, scooping Derek into his arms. Using the smoke for cover, he sprinted toward the back exit.

    Nathaniel saw what was happening and knew he''d lost his chance. He rushed to the metal box, grabbed what was inside, and barked out, "We''re leaving!" He ran straight for a hidden escape tunnel.

    His men fired a few more rounds toward the iing sirens, doing their best to keep the police out a little longer before following Nathaniel into the tunnel.

    When the SWAT team finally burst inside, all they found was chaos. Debris was everywhere. A few of Nathaniel''s guys had been too slow and were caught. In the middle of the fading smoke, Matthew was holding Derek up, steadying him.

    "Mr. Wiles, are you hurt?" an officer called, rushing over.

    "I''m fine. Derek''s badly hurt, he needs a hospital. Nathaniel got away he must have had another exit." Matthew scanned the room, still on guard.

    The officer''s face tightened. He turned to his team. "Seal off every road around the factory. Search everything. We have to find Nathaniel."

    The ce came alive with shouts and shing lights. Sirens, running boots, orders being yelled. Matthew just shook his head. He knew Nathaniel was gone.

    Nathaniel didn''t stop running until he''d made it through a pitch-ck tunnel and out into an

    abandoned t

    sewer. He was filthy, covered in mud, but he didn''t even pause fo wipe himself off. He tore off his

    outer jacket and chucked it in a

    trash can by the street, revealing the

    casual clothes he''d put on

    underneath.

    He checked the street, making sure no cops were around, then waved down a cab

    and rattled off an address.

    As the taxi sped off into the night, Nathaniel slumped back in the seat, his expression thunderous. When he''d first learned Matthew was

    secretty helping Reese, he''d start t

    digging into his background. But Matthew had spent years in the army and there wasn''t much to find. It had taken ages, but he''d finally hed finally discovered Matthew was sick and searching for a bone marrow donor. That was when he''d cashed in old

    favors and found Derek, a perfect match.

    The n was supposed to be

    simple. Use Derek to draw Matthew

    out, get Sofia to steal the files Bailey had on their old partnership, and take control. Without Matthew

    Reese would have more

    Bailey

    biggest secret would also me

    be in his

    hands, and the whole Meyer family would belong to him.

    Instead, everything had blown up in his face. Matthew escaped, the police showed

    up, and the cost was huge.

    When the cab finally stopped outside a fancy apartment building, Nathaniel paid the fare, hurried inside, and took the elevator up to the fifteenth floor.

 Chapter 416

This chapter is missing , we are fix soon !

 Chapter 417

    "The box!" Nathaniel''s voice was sharp and cold. "Didn''t you say Hank took it and handed it over to Reese? Then why are all these files fake?"

    Sofia''s eyes widened. The color vanished from her cheeks. "Actually... Hank never got the box,¡± she admitted, barely above a whisper. ¡°Dous told me Hank tried to get it from the old housest night, but Bailey caught him. He didn''t get it. Bailey moved the box somewhere else."

    Nathaniel let go of her so suddenly that Sofia stumbled back, dropped onto the couch, and started sobbing. She just wanted Nathaniel to me Reese. She never thought her lie would fall apart so fast.

    Nathaniel stood there, looking like he could explode at any second. If he had known the truth, he wouldn''t have rushed to go after Matthew. He wouldn''t be stuck here now, desperate and on the run.

    "You idiot," he spat. ¡°You ruined everything! Do you have any idea what you''ve done?"

    He could hardly believe it. His own daughter''s lie had wrecked his ns. Not only did he lose his chance at the real evidence, he''d exposed himself and now the police were after him. Rage made his whole body shake. He almost wanted to shut Sofia up for good. But then he saw her face, so much like Grace''s, and remembered she was his only daughter. He couldn''t do it. His hand fell uselessly to his side.

    Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. The sound shattered the heavy silence in the room.

    Sofia''s cries died in her throat. She went pale, her eyes wide with fear. The police. It had to be the police.

    She shot Nathaniel a frantic look, her lips trembling. "It''s the police. Hide under the bed, now." She hurried to the guest room, yanking up the bed skirt.

    Nathaniel took a deep breath. This wasn''t the time to argue. He grabbed the papers on the table and squeezed himself under the bed.

    Sofia tried to fix her hair and clothes, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. She took a shaky breath, then walked to the door and opened it just a crack. She forced a smile. ¡°Hello, officers. Can I help you?"

    "Good evening. We''re with the West Side precinct," one of the officers said, shing his badge. ¡°Are you Ms. Sofia Meyer?"

    "Yes... I am," Sofia answered, her voice quivering as she avoided looking them in the eye.

    "Our records show you and

    Nathaniel Phillips flew back on the

    het

    same flight. Both tickets were bought with the same phone number," the officer told her. "We believe you''re in contact with him. He''s wanted for several crimes. Have you seen him recently?"

    Sofia''s heart dropped. She shook her head quickly. "No. I don''t even know a Nathaniel. My friend bought my ticket for me."

    The two officers nced at each other, clearly suspicious.

    "Ms. Meyer, we need toe in and take a look around. Please cooperate," the second officer said.

    "Do you have a search warrant?" Sofia asked, instinctively blocking the door. "I live here alone. You can''t juste in."

    The officers hesitated. They didn''t have a warrant yet and it showed on their faces.

    Sofia let out a quiet sigh of relief. "If

    you don''t have a warrant, then

    please leave she gently closed the. door and waited until their footsteps faded.

    Finally alone, she leaned against the door, breathing hard, her back slick with cold sweat.

    Out in the hallway, the officers spoke in low voices.

    "There were two used sses on the coffee table," one said.

    "The doormat was out of ce. Someone''s definitely here," the other replied They shared a look. "We d to report this. Nathaniel almost definitely hiding in Sofia''s apartment

 Chapter 418

    The two officers standing in the hallway didn''t waste a second. One of them dialed their boss, voice low but urgent.

    "Sir, something''s off at Sofia''s ce. There are two used sses on the coffee table, the doormat''s clearly been messed with, and she''s acting super jumpy, barely making sense. We think Nathaniel might be hiding inside. Requesting a search warrant right now, and backup to block every exit. We can''t risk him slipping away."

    The answer came almost before he finished talking. "Approved. The search warrant''s on its way to your phones. SWAT is already rolling. Lock down the entire building. Don''t let Nathaniel escape, no matter what."

    The police kicked into high gear. In less than twenty minutes, five unmarked cars slipped through back streets and parked in the shadows near the apartment building. Officers in in clothes stepped out, moving fast and quiet, spreading out to cover every entrance, every corner, even the underground garage.

    Frank, the SWAT leader, was already at the makeshiftmand post, all in ck and scanning the building''s floor n. He gave his orders without hesitation.

    "Team one, cover the main entrance and the parking garage. Check everyoneing or going. No exceptions. Team two, block off all the fire escapes. I want someone on every floor, keep your heads down and don''t tip him off. Team three..."

    He switched to the radio. "Listen up. Nathaniel''s wanted for multiple felonies. He''s armed and extremely dangerous. If you spot him, warn him first. If he resists, you''re cleared to use force, but I want him alive. Understood?"

    "Yes, sir!¡± The answer was sharp and instant. The officers disappeared into the building and the surrounding streets, turning the whole ce into a trap with no way out.

    ...

    Inside the apartment, Sofia leaned against the door, forcing herself to stay still until she was sure the hall outside was silent. Only then did she finally stand up straight. She was just about to head to her bedroom when she heard a faint noise from the guest room. Her heart jumped into her throat.

    She turned and saw Nathaniel crawling out from under the bed. Dust clung to his clothes, his face as dark and stormy as ever. He brushed himself off, his eyes fixed on her with a mix of anger and something she couldn''t read.

    "Where did Bailey move the box?" His voice was hoarse, rough at the edges.

    The way he looked at her made Sofia''s skin prickle. She stepped back, bumping into the arm of the sofa, barely catching herself from falling.

    "I... I don''t know. I really didn''t ask."

    "You don''t know?"

    Nathaniel closed the distance in a blink. He grabbed her wrist before she could react. His grip was painfully tight, like he could snap her bones if he wanted. She sucked in a

    sharp breath pain shooting

    go her

    arm, and tears sprang to her eyes.

    "Dous is Bailey''s right hand. You knew the box was moved but didn''t even think

    to ask where? Are you serious?¡± His frustration burned hot, almost as if her answer was a personal insult.

    Sofia''s eyes filled with tears from the pain. She struggled, trying to pull her arm free.

    "I swear, I have no idea! Dous just said the box was moved. He never told me where!" At the time, all she could think about was pinning the me on Reese so she could get Nathaniel to deal with him. She

    hadn''t thought any further than that.

    C¨®ntent

    Nathaniel stared into her eyes, searching for a lie. But all he saw was fear and pain.

    Almost without thinking, he eased up on her wrist, just a little.

 Chapter 419

    She was his daughter, the only person in the world he truly cared about. No matter what she''d done, even after her lie had backed him into a corner, he could never really hurt her. Still, thinking about how his careful ns had been ruined, about how he was now running from the police like a stray dog, made anger rise inside him all

    over again.

    ¡°Sofia.¡± Nathaniel''s voice was quiet and heavy, each word dripping with

    disappointment. ¡°You really let me down. I could have given you everything you wanted. I could have helped you put Reese beneath your feet. But what did you do? You lied to me. Don''t think I didn''t realize you were trying to use me to get at Reese. Do you really not see the big picture? Do you have any idea how badly your little lie almost destroyed me?"

    Sofia bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears. "I didn''t mean it... I never thought things would end up like this."

    Nathaniel took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. Now wasn''t the time to dwell on me. He needed to get out of there. The police had alreadye once. They didn''t believe Sofia, but without a warrant, they couldn''t barge in. If he stayed, he''d be caught as soon as they got what they needed.

    He let go of her wrist and looked at her with cold eyes. "Three days. That''s all you get. I don''t care how you do it. Find out where Dous keeps the box. If you don''t, you''ll have to deal with the consequences."

    Sofia rubbed her sore wrist and nodded, too scared to say a word.

    Nathaniel turned away and went to the window, pulling back the curtain just enough to peek outside. Down on the street, a few people were hanging around the entrance looking out of ce. His heart dropped. The police were already setting

    up.

    He frowned, running through his options in his mind. He knew the building''syout pretty well. There was the main entrance, the

    underground garage, and a fire root The entrance and garage would be watched for sure. Trying to leave through either would be suicide. The roof was the only way left.

    escape that led to the fire ne

    He nced at Sofia onest time. His expression was hard to read, a strange mix of resentment, disappointment, and a trace of something softer he didn''t want to admit. "I''m leaving. Take care of yourself."

    He didn''t look back. He opened the apartment door and headed straight for the fire escape.

    Sofia watched his back until he was

    gone, her feelings tangled and

    messy. With Nathaniel out of the way, she didn''t have to worry about the police finding her. She also didn''t have to worry about tonight'' mess dragging her down. But now that Nathaniel was running from thew, could he still keep his promises to her? Could he still help her fight Reese or win back the Meyer family''s approval? Without his help, how was she supposed to stand a chance against Reese? How would she ever get Bailey to notice her again?

    The questions swirled in her head, leaving her dizzy and exhausted. She sank into the sofa, feeling totally lost and helpless. For the first time, she had no idea what to do next.

    Nathaniel climbed the fire escape all the way to the top floor. There, he found the heavy iron door that led to the roof. He paused, listening

    closely When he was suren

    wa

    safe, he eased the door open and stepped outside.

 Chapter 420

    The wind on the rooftop roared, tossing Nathaniel''s hair in every direction and sending his jacket pping behind him. The chill in the night air helped snap his mind into focus, clearing away some of the fog. He wandered to the edge, grabbed the railing, and nced down.

    Below, the apartment building was wrapped up tight. Police cars, their lights off, waited in the shadows. Cops stood at every doorway and corner, making sure not even a stray cat could slip through. Getting out of here felt hopeless.

    Nathaniel dug a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, breathing in deep. The smoke hit the back of his throat, making him cough, but it steadied his nerves. He leaned against the railing, a bitter smirk tugging at his lips. How had ite to this? One careless move with Reese and suddenly he was public enemy number one, hiding on a rooftop like a stray dog.

    Bailey was useless. If he really cared so much about what was in that box, how could he have let his own son get that close? And Sofia... she was nothing like Grace. Nowhere near as sharp.

    Nathaniel took another drag, his eyes narrowing in the haze. He refused to go down like this. That box held everything. His future. He needed it back. And as for Matthew and Reese... he would make them pay, one way or another.

    He dropped the cigarette to the ground and crushed it, then took his time scanning the rooftop. One side was close to another apartment building, maybe five or six meters apart. Most people wouldn''t even think about jumping that distance. But Nathaniel wasn''t most people. If he was going to get out, this was his shot.

    At the same time, the search warrant came through.

    Frank held up the paperwork and marched back to Sofia''s apartment with a few officers in tow. He knocked hard. "Ms. Meyer, this is the West Side police. We have a search Warrant. Please cooperate and let us

    in

    Inside, Sofia''s heart pounded so loud she was sure they could hear it through the door. She hadn''t expected them back so soon, and with a warrant already At least Nathaniel was gone. As long as they didn''t find him, she could deny everything.

    She took a slow breath, walked to the door, and peeked through the peephole. Eive officers stood

    outside. The one in front was then et

    same no-nonsense cap from before before and the four behind him wore

    uniforms, hands hovering near their guns.

    Her palms were slick with sweat. She tried to sound steady as she opened the door and forced a smile. "Officers, you''re back again? I thought we already talked."

    "We have the warrant. Please step aside," Frank replied, his voice cool and his eyes already searching the apartment.

    Sofia didn''t argue. She moved out of the way as the officers entered, fanning out to search every corner. They checked the bedroom, the living room, the kitchen, even looked in closets and under the bed.

 Chapter 421

    Sofia stood off to the side, her palms slick with sweat.

    When the officers reached the living room, they spotted the fake documents scattered everywhere. One of them bent down, picked up a file, flipped through a few pages, and then eyed the two water sses sitting on the coffee table. His expression grew even more serious.

    "What are these documents?" Frank asked, lifting one of the fake agreements as he looked at Sofia.

    Her heart skipped a beat. She nced at the coffee table, quietly cursing Nathaniel. He''d left in such a hurry he hadn''t even bothered to take the evidence with him.

    ¡°That''s... just some old paperwork from a project at work," she managed. "It''s useless, I just haven''t gotten around to throwing it out yet."

    Frank didn''t push further, but he gave her a long, searching look.

    After more than half an hour of searching every corner of the apartment, the officers came up empty. There was no sign of Nathaniel.

    "Captain, there''s no trace of the suspect," one of the officers reported.

    Frank''s brow tightened. He had been sure Nathaniel was hiding here. How could he just disappear? He turned to Sofia, watching her carefully. "Ms. Meyer, you''re certain Nathaniel hasn''t been here?"

    "I really don''t know him. Why would hee here?" Sofia replied. Her eyes darted away for a split second, but her voice sounded steady.

    Frank stared at her for a while, looking for any hint of a lie, but her face gave nothing away. Finally, he told the team, "We''re done here."

    The officers packed up their gear and filed out of the apartment. Frank paused at the door before leaving. atth

    He nced back at Sofia, his voice serious "Ms. Meyer, if you remember anything, or notice anything strange, you need to call us right away. And just so you know, hiding a fugitive is a crime."

    "I understand, officer," Sofia said quickly, nodding. Relief flooded through her as she watched them go.

    As soon as the hallway was clear, she closed the door and leaned against it, breathing hard. Sweat soaked her back. Her legs gave out and she slid down to the floor, fighting to catch her breath.

    Meanwhile, over at the military hospital, Matthew rushed Derek into the emergency room, practically holding him up as they moved.

    "Doctor, please, he''s badly hurt!" Matthew called out, his voice tight with worry.

    The medical team moved fast, lifting Derek onto a gurney and wheeling him into the trauma room.

    "Family members, please wait outside," a nurse said before the door closed.

    Matthew was left standing in the hallway, staring at the glowing red light above the door. Guilt twisted in his chest Derek was only here because of him. If not for him, Derek would still be living a normal quiet life, not lying in an emergency room fighting for his.

    He leaned back against the wall and rubbed his forehead, feeling the fatigue catch up to him. His own body still hadn''t fully recovered, and the chaos at the factory had teft him exhausted. His chest ached, but he couldn''t bring himself to leave. He needed to wait for news.

    Minutes ticked by, every second stretching out. The only sounds were the distant hum of machines and footsteps echoing down the corridor. Eventually, the red light above the trauma room flickered off.

    A doctor stepped out, peeling off his mask. He looked tired, but his voice was calm. "He''s out of immediate danger. He has a lot of injuries, and he''s severely dehydrated and malnourished. He''ll need time to recover, but he''s stable now."

 Chapter 422

    Matthew finally felt some of the tension leave his shoulders after hearing the doctor speak.

    "Will there be any aftereffects?" he asked, voice tight.

    Derek had gone through hell because of him. If anything happened to Derek, Matthew knew he would never forgive himself.

    The doctor pulled off his mask, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. He looked exhausted.

    "It''s hard to say. He''s got a lot of soft tissue injuries, and some of the stab wounds are pretty deep. He lost a lot of blood," the doctor exined. "Plus, being locked up for so long left him dehydrated and malnourished. He''ll need to stay in the hospital for a while and get plenty of rest. We have to keep a close eye on him."

    Matthew nodded. Some of the anxiety inside him faded a little. ¡°Thank you. Please, take care of him. I know it''s a lot to ask."

    "It''s our job," the doctor replied with a small nod. "He''s been moved to a regr room now. You can go see him, but please do not to wake him. He needs all the rest he can get."

    "Thank you, Doctor."

    Matthew thanked him again and hurried down the hall toward Derek''s room.

    Inside, Dereky on the hospital bed, pale as a ghost, wrapped in thick bandages. A few of his deeper wounds still oozed blood. Even unconscious, his brow was furrowed, and his breathing came in quick, shallow bursts.

    "How is he?" West asked, hurrying in after hearing the news.

    "Not great," Matthew said with a tired, crooked smile. "Let''s let him rest for now. I''ll handle all the bills and anything else he needs,"

    West said, letting out a sigh. He ced aforting hand on Matthew''s shoulder. "You''re still a patient too. Let''s call it a day, alright? Go get some rest. I''ll stay here and keep an eye on him."

    "Alright."

    Matthew stood there for a moment, then turned and left.

    He really did need to rest, but something else was weighing on him. He had to call Reese back. During the chaos at the factory, his phone had buzzed in his pocket over and over, but there''d been notime to check it. Later, when they were

    making their getaway in the smoke, he managed a quick look at the screen. Missed calls. Messages. All from Reese.

    She was always so sensitive to little changes. He''d gone missing, and the nurse must have told her he''d left the hospital. She was probably worried sick by now.

    Back in his own room, Matthew

    pushed open the door and froze.

    Reese was sitting in the chair by his bed arms crossed. At the sound of the door, she lifted her head. Her face was icy, and her eyes shed with anger.

    Matthew''s heart skipped a beat. He straightened, suddenly feeling nervous.

    He knew Reese too well. That look meant she already knew everything.

    "Reese..."

    He softened his voice, trying to sound gentle, hoping she''d go easy on him.

    ¡°Oh, you finally decided toe back?¡± Reese''s words cut through the silence, cold and sharp. ¡°Matthew, I can''t believe you."

    The way she spoke, so calm and collected, was scarier than if she yelled. Matthew, who could face flying bullets without blinking, actually felt his hands start to sweat.

    He walked over and knelt in front of her, resting his hands on her knees, looking up at her with pleading eyes.

    "I... I got permission from the hospital. I swear."

    "You''re not even healed yet," Reese shot back, turning her head so she wouldn''t have to look at him. "You

    ve

    barely survived, and you still went to see Nathaniel alone."

    She refused to meet his gaze, afraid she might forgive him too quickly.

    If she didn''t give him a serious warning now, who knew what kind of trouble he''d get

    into next?

 Chapter 423

    "Do you think you''re untouchable? That nothing can hurt you?"

    Matthew knew Reese was only scared for him. She was shaken, still caught up in the what-ifs, so he didn''t try to defend himself. He just kept quiet and listened.

    Owning your mistakes was something he''d learned as soon as he joined the army. You don''t argue, you face up to what you did.

    When Reese finally started to calm down, Matthew eased himself onto the edge of the bed beside her. They sat close, barely a hand''s width apart. He could smell the gentle scent of her shampoo, see the tired red in her eyes.

    "I know you''re worried. I know I shouldn''t have gone behind your back," he said softly. "But Derek''s the one who was gonna give me a second chance. My bone marrow donor. He''s the reason I''m still here."

    "Nathaniel only grabbed him because of me. He tortured him. I couldn''t just stand by and do nothing."

    "And I didn''t go in alone." He tried to meet her eyes, searching for a sign she understood. "Before I left, I called Frank from SWAT. We set a n. The siren was our signal. The whole team was ready to move in. I wasn''t being reckless. I knew I could protect myself and get Derek out."

    He reached out, wanting to take her hand, but Reese pulled away so fast it stung.

    "Confident?¡± Her voice rose, trembling at the edges. "You think that matters? Bullets don''t care if you''re confident. Nathaniel deals in human organs, Matthew. There''s nothing he won''t do.

    ¡°What if he''d lost itpletely? What if he''d pulled the trigger? Would your

    confidence have stopped a bullet?

    "If something happened to you... what would I do?

    "Did you ever think about me?¡± Her voice cracked. "Did you ever think about your body, what you''ve already been through?"

    "If something went wrong, if you left me...¡± She choked on the words, unable to finish. The rest caught in her throat Hereyes filled with tears spitting over before she could even wipe them away.

    She knew his sense of duty, the weight he carried. She just cared about him so much it hurt. The thought of losing him scared her more than anything. The more she picture what could have happened the colder she felt, her chest growing tight.

    Watching her eyes go red, seeing each tear sliding down her pale cheeks, Matthew''s heart cracked wide open. He couldn''t take it.

    He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tight.

    "I''m sorry, Reese. It''s my fault,¡± he whispered. "I shouldn''t have kept you in the dark.

    I never wanted to make you worry like this."

    He stroked her back gently, trying tofort her, his voice low and soothing. "No

    more crying, okay? I''m here. I''m safe. Nothing happened to me."

    Reese leaned into him, letting herself rx in the circle of his arms, listening to the steady rhythm of his Heartbeat Her anger faded, leaving only fear and something softer, raw and aching.

    She hugged him tighter, burying her face in his chest. Her tears soaked through his hospital gown, but he didn''t let go.

    ¡°Nathaniel''s a wanted man now," Matthew murmured quietly, his breath warm by her ear. ¡°The police are after him. He can''t hide, not anymore. He''s not going to hurt anyone else.

    "And Derek is safe. He''s hurt, but he''s going to recover. He just needs time to heal.

    ¡°And Bailey... the cops know everything now. His deals with Nathaniel are out in the open. He won''t get away with it. Not this time."

 Chapter 424

    He spoke again, voice steady and sure. "Your mother''s case will be solved soon. Everyone who hurt you and your mom will get what they deserve."

    "It''s all handled now. No more trouble, not ever."

    He pulled her in tighter, arms wrapped around her as if he could shield her from the world.

    Reese knew he had done all of this for her, and she knew he had kept things from her just to keep her from worrying. Still, what scared her most was the idea of him facing danger somewhere out of her sight.

    She snuggled closer and gave his chest a gentle little punch, more yful than anything. "If you hide something like this from me again, I swear, I''ll stop talking to you. For real this time."

    "I wouldn''t dare. I promise," Matthew said quickly, a smile in his voice that was nothing but soft and affectionate. "From now on, I''ll tell you everything. I''ll listen to you. I won''t go off on my own and I''ll never put myself at risk again."

    He hesitated for a second, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.

    He thought about his mom, about getting Karter to help Reese. Did those really count?

    "What''s wrong?"

    Reese picked up on it right away. She looked up at him, one eyebrow raised. "Are you hiding something else from me?"

    "No, nothing at all," Matthew answered, looking away as his throat tightened.

    "Are you sure?" Reese narrowed her eyes at him.

    "I''m sure."

    He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, his eyes shining with so much love and tenderness.

    "Reese, meeting you is the best thing that''s ever happened to me."

    "From now on, I''ll protect you, I''ll love you. I won''t let you get hurt again, and I''l never make you worry about me."

    His words rang with honesty, filling the small hospital room with a promise that wrapped right around her heart.

    Reese closed her eyes, letting herself sink into the warmth andfort of his arms.

    ***

    The lights in the Meyer family''s vi were bright, chasing away every shadow.

    Bailey sat on the sofa, brows drawn tight, face heavy with worry. He held a cigarette between his fingers but he wasn''t smoking it Ash had built up and fallen onto the shiny marble floor, but he didn''t even notice.

    The police raid at Bridger Lake tonight had been huge. Sirens had echoed all over

    the city, impossible to ignore, no matter how much he wanted to.

    Bailey had felt uneasy all night. He made call after call, finally learning that the police were after Nathaniel.

    He couldn''t believe Nathaniel had actually shown up at Bridger Lake, let alone gotten into a shootout with the police at an abandoned factory on the west side of town.

    Now Nathaniel was a wanted man, running from the police with nowhere to hide. At first, Bailey was too shocked to even react.

    He never thought Nathaniel would be reckless enough to actually exchange gunfire with the cops. That was just asking to get killed.

    But once the shock faded, a wild surge of relief and even happiness washed over him, so strong it was almost overwhelming.

    Nathaniel was finally in over his

    head. The man who had haunted et

    him for twenty years, the threat he could never shake, was now nothing but a fugitive, desperate and alone

    All those things they''d done together, back in the day, had hung over Bailey''s head like a de. Even when Nathaniel was forced to leave the country, to go on the run, Bailey couldn''t rx. Not as long Nathaniel was still out there somewhere, alive.

 Chapter 425

    Nathaniel was on the run now, wanted by the police andpletely out of options. He could barely protect himself, let alone threaten Bailey anymore.

    If Reese knew what''s best for her, withdrew her report against Grace and stopped digging into her mother''s ident, then Bailey would have nothing to worry about.

    Once Vista Technded the civilian contract for the de system, he''d still be sitting at the top as chairman of Meyer Group. He could keep living the good life, surrounded by respect and luxury, just as he always had.

    That thought brought a real smile to Bailey''s face, something he hadn''t felt in a long time.

    He flicked his cigarette into the ashtray, stood up, and walked over to the bar. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey, poured himself a full ss, and took a long drink. The warm burn slid down his throat, and he let out a satisfied sigh.

    It had been years since he felt this rxed.

    All he needed now was for Reese to drop the case.

    As he thought about it, a frown creased his brow.

    Yesterday, he''d told Dous to spread everything about Dylon online. The inte had exploded, people couldn''t stop talking about it. And this morning, he got word that the police had already shown up at Ramos Corporation.

    Reese should have gotten the message by now. She knew he had more dirt on Dylon, so she should havee running, ready to negotiate, ready to back off and drop the charges.

    Dylon was her uncle and had run Ramos Corporation for years. His mistakes were thepany''s mistakes. Reese always put thepany first, so protecting Ramos Corporation should have been her top priority.

    But as the day slipped into night, there was still nothing from her. No calls, no messages, not even a hint that she cared. It was like she wasn''t worried at all.

    A knot of anxiety twisted in Bailey''s stomach.

    Reese always so headstrong and impossible to sway. Once she made up her mind, she wouldn''t let go, no matter what.

    What if she refused to drop the case? What if she was determined to drag Grace down, even if it meant destroying everything in the process?

    Bailey let out a low, annoyedugh.

    He had to admit, out of all his kids, Reese was the one most like him. She was sharp, calcting, and always knew how to y the game.

    But she was still too young, too set in her ways. She didn''t understand that being too stubborn would only break her in the end.

    Did she really think he was out of moves?

    Bailey took another drink, his fingers drumming on the bar, thinking. If Reese wanted to y hardball, he''d just have to show her how it was done. .

    He started plotting his next move, but before he could get far, the butler came rushing in, looking pale and frantic.

    "Sir, something''s wrong!" The

    butler''s voice trembled. "There are police outside. They''ve surrounded. the vi. They said they want to take, you to the station for questioning."

    The ss slipped from Bailey''s hand, crashing to the floor. Whiskey sshed over

    his clothes as shards of ss scattered everywhere.

    He didn''t care about the mess. All the color drained from his face. His and

    eyes went wide with shear

    "The police?" he managed to gasp. "Why would they be here?"

 Chapter 426

    The moment Bailey heard the police at his door, his heart started racing.

    Were they here because they''d uncovered the secret he''d buried with Nathaniel all those years ago? No, that was impossible! Only the people directly involved knew what had happened. Organ trafficking waspletely forbidden. Nobody who''d taken part would ever risk exposing themselves. Bailey had even been careful to keep everything from Nathaniel, never handing over any evidence. That was why Nathaniel could threaten him, but never actually do anything about it. He didn''t have proof.

    This had to be about Grace and what she''d done to Marie. The thought calmed Bailey a little. He knew exactly what Grace had done. She''d paid Alex to stage an ident and take Marie out of the picture. Sure, it was a scandal, something that would stain the Meyer family name, but it had nothing to do with him personally. The police were probably just here to ask some questions.

    "Let them in," Bailey said, forcing himself to sound calm. Annoyance flickered in his eyes. They were making such a scene. Anyone watching would think the Meyer family was in real trouble.

    "Yes, sir." The butler hurried off, fumbling with the door.

    A group of officers stepped inside, uniforms crisp, their leader''s face set in a hard line. His eyes swept over the room, finallynding on Bailey.

    "Mr. Meyer, we''re from the West Precinct. There''s a case we need to discuss with you. Please cooperate."

    The officer''s tone was steady, but there was no room for argument.

    Bailey raised one eyebrow. "Sure, but isn''t this a little much? The Meyer family might be new to this city, but we''re respected. You just barge in like this? Doesn''t that risk our reputation?"

    The lead officer didn''t react. He reached into his bag and handed Bailey a document.

    "Mr. Meyer, this is a search warrant. We have reason to believe you were involved in illegal transactions with Nathaniel, a fugitive, twenty years ago. We need to search the house."

    "What?" All the bravado drained from Bailey''s face. He felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over him.

    How could this possibly be about that? How did they know?

    His heart pounded and he struggled to catch his breath.

    "No way!" Bailey''s face turned red. "You''ve got the wrong guy! I don''t even know a Nathaniel, let alone do anything illegal. This has to be a mistake!¡±

    That deal from twenty years ago was his worst nightmare, the one thing he''d always been afraid woulde to light. Not even Nathaniel had any real proof. How did the police get wind of it?

    "A mistake?" The officer let out a sharpugh. ¡°Mr. Meyer, we wouldn''t be here if we didn''t have enough evidence."

    "If it were just a misunderstanding, we wouldn''t show up in the middle of the night."

    "Evidence? What evidence?" Bailey shot back. "You don''t have anything. This is a setup!"

    Hank had never opened that iron box. No one had seen what was inside. How could the police have anything?

    "We''ll see after we search," the officer replied, signaling his team. "Go ahead."

    The officers split up, searching the house from top to bottom. They checked every shelf, every drawer, even looked through the rock garden outside.

    Bailey stood there, shaking with anger as he watched them turn his home upside down.

    "You can''t do this! You''re trespassing! I''ll file aint!"

    No one paid him any mind. The search continued.

    Minutes dragged by. Bailey grew paler, his panic mounting. He''d moved the ol

    old iron box from the

    family home to somewhere else, but he''d brought some records of his dealings with Nathaniel here. All he could do was hope the police wouldn''t find anything.

    However, luck wasn''t on his side.

    One officer came out of the study holding a battered iron box he''d

    found in a hiddenpartment. It Nathaniel had always

    wasn''t the o

    wanted, but inside were enough letters and transaction records to

    prove Bailey and Nathaniel had a history.

    "Mr. Meyer, anything you want to say?" the lead officer asked, holding the box out. His tone was icy.

    Bailey stared at the evidence, his legs giving way. He barely managed to catch himself on the edge of the sofa, his face ashen, lips trembling. He tried to speak, but nothing came out.

    "Take him," the officer said quietly.

    Two officers moved in, grabbing Bailey by the arms.

    ¡°No! You can''t do this!" Bailey fought them, his voice raw. "This only proves I knew Nathaniel. It doesn''t mean anything else!"

    The officers ignored him, marching him toward the door.

    As they pushed him into the police car, Bailey turned for onest look at his vi. He''d bought this house for Marie, never imagining he''d end up leaving it in

    handcuffs for something that happened twenty years ago.

    The police car sped away from the Meyer estate, heading for the West Precinct.

    Inside, Bailey Jeaned back and

    closed his eyes, mind racing. His

    only hope was that hiswyer would

    arrive soon and find a way out this mess, As long as he stuck to his story, as long as there was no direct evidence, maybe he still had a chance.

 Chapter 427

    The police car pulled up outside the West Precinct. Bailey barely had a moment to take in the building before he was marched inside and guided straight into an interrogation room.

    A metal table sat in the middle of the room, two chairs facing each other. Bailey was shoved into one of them, and a pair of handcuffs snapped around his wrists, locking him to the table''s underside. He nced up at the two officers sitting across from him, his eyes hard and guarded.

    ¡°Let''s get to it, Bailey," one officer said, his voice steady. "Tell us about the deal you made with Nathaniel twenty years ago."

    Bailey let out a short, bitterugh, turning his head away. "I''m not answering a single question until mywyer gets here.¡±

    If he could just stall, maybe his attorney would find a way to get him out of this.

    The officers exchanged a look. Frustration flickered between them, but they didn''t push.

    "You should really think about your options," one of them warned, his voice heavy. "Nathaniel''s on the run. The evidence against him is solid. What makes you think you can just walk away from this?"

    "If youe clean now, you might get a little mercy."

    "Mercy?" Bailey scoffed, shooting a re their way. "I haven''t done anything illegal. I don''t need mercy."

    No matter how they pressed, Bailey kept his lips sealed. The room settled into a tense silence.

    The officers didn''t seem in any hurry. They just sat there, watching him, their eyes sharp and searching. Bailey could feel their stares burning into him. He closed his eyes and tried to look calm, though every muscle in his body was wound tight.

    The seconds crawled by. The only sound was the ticking clock on the wall. The longer he sat, the more anxious he became. He had no idea when hiswyer would show up, or how much the police actually knew.

    Just when he thought he couldn''t take it anymore, the door opened.

    A familiar figure stepped inside. It was Roman¡ªthe same detective who had pulled Grace away right in front of him.

    Bailey''s brows drew together in confusion. Wasn''t Roman supposed to be handling Grace''s case? What was he doing here?

    Roman didn''t acknowledge Bailey''s questioning look. He walked to the table, pulled out the empty chair, and sat down. He ced a thick file on the table and looked at Bailey with a calm, almost unreadable expression.

    "Mr. Meyer, long time no see."

    Bailey''s jaw tightened. "Mr. Sanchez? Why are you here?" His tone was wary.

    "I thought you were dealing with Grace''s case."

    "I am," Roman replied, flipping through the file. ¡°But I''m not here just for Grace this time."

    A chill ran through Bailey. "What''s that supposed to mean?¡±

    "It means you, Bailey, aren''t just tangled up in the old business with Nathaniel. You''re also connected to Grace''s case-the one about Marie''s death."

    Roman''s words hit hard. His gaze was steady, almost cold. "We''ve decided to link both investigations. From now on, we''re looking at them together.¡±

    Bailey stared at him, stunned. His heart pounded. He tried to stand, but the cuffs yanked him back down.

    "No way. That''s impossible." His voice came out rough, almost frantic. "Marie was the one person I ever truly loved. Why would I hurt her?"

    "It was Grace! She''s the one who killed Marie. She paid someone to do it."

    He couldn''t wrap his head around it. He''d only recently found out what Grace had done. Why did the police think he was involved?

    Roman gave a short, coldugh and slid the file across the table. "We don''t use people for no reason, Mr. Meyer. This is the evidence Miss Reese brought us. Take a look."

    Bailey''s hands trembled as he reached for the file. Reese? How could she have evidence? What did she know?

    He flipped it open. Inside were audio recordings of Grace and Alex, bank transfers, witness statements. Everything pointed to Grace paying Alex to stage the ident.

    Bailey''s shoulders rxed a little.

    None of it linked back to him. He

    looked up, forced a small, dismissive smile This just proves Grace is guity, not me. Are you sure you''re not confused, Mr. Sanchez?"

    Roman only nodded to the file, urging him to keep reading.

    A knot formed in Bailey''s chest. He turned the pages, and then stopped cold when he reached the end. His eyes widened, color draining from his face. The file fell from his hands andnded on the floor.

    Thest pages revealed that before she died, Marie had discovered Bailey''s secret deal with Nathaniel She had gathered evidence and was nning to expose them. When Grace found out, she''d gone to desperate lengths to protect Bailey and the Meyer family, paying Alex to orchestrate the ident that killed Marie.

    Bailey''s voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°No..... that''s not possible...¡± His eyes were nk, haunted.

    He''d spent years believing Grace killed Marie just to get rid of her as an obstacle. Now it turned out the real reason was his own actions twenty years ago.

    The shock and fear were overwhelming. Bailey felt cold all over, his hands limp, his mind reeling.

    Because of what he''d done all those years ago, Marie was dead.

 Chapter 428

    Bailey sank into the interrogation chair, his shoulders caved in, looking small and worn out.

    The words on the paper in front of him seemed to burn into his eyes, each one stabbing at him until his vision blurred. He kept mumbling, "No, no," like a broken record, his voice so hoarse it barely sounded human.

    Roman stood quietly by the table, watching Bailey with steady eyes. He didn''t fire off any more questions. Instead, he nced at the officer next to him.

    The officer got the hint and brought over a cup of warm water, setting it gently on the table. ¡°Mr. Meyer, have some water."

    Bailey didn''t even react. His stare was locked on the floor, like he couldn''t see or hear anyone else.

    "We already have enough evidence." Roman''s voice finally broke the silence, calm but absolute.

    "Grace killed Marie back then to hide the illegal organ trafficking you and Nathaniel started twenty years ago."

    ¡°I never sold organs." Bailey''s head snapped up, his body tense. The handcuffs scratched loudly against the metal tabletop.

    "Grace is lying. She''s framing me. Marie was the woman I loved most in this world. I would never hurt her."

    Roman''s face grew even more serious. Without a word, he set another file on the table in front of Bailey.

    Bailey''s eyes went wide as he stared at the contents of the iron box inside. He couldn''t believe what he was seeing.

    Hank hadn''t taken that box, had he? So how did it end up with the police?

    Bailey''s face went from ghostly white to a dull, grayish blue. He didn''t have any strength left to argue. He slumped further into the chair, looking like a lion that had just given up, all the fire gone from his eyes.

    He remembered, suddenly, that night at the dinner table years ago. Marie had asked him, her voice gentle but uncertain.

    "Bailey, are you sure that business is clean? I just can''t shake this uneasy feeling."

    Back then, he had dodged her gaze, brushed it off, told her she was overthinking it. He even tried to reassure her that everything would work out.

    Now, thinking about it, he realized Marie must have sensed something was wrong all along. She didn''t want to believe it. She was giving tim a chance to be honest with her.

    He never took that chance. Not once.

    "This is all fake... you''re all in this e together." Bailey tried to protest onest time, but his voice was so weak that even be couldn''t believe what he was saying content

    Just then, the door opened. A man in a crisp suit walked in, his face tense and serious. It was Bailey''s high-priced attorney.

    Thewyer''s brows pulled tight the moment he saw Bailey''s state. He hurried to the

    table, shed his ID at Roman, and spoke up right away.

    ¡°Officer, I have reason to believe there were procedural issues with this interrogation. Also, this so-called evidence isn''t enough to convict my client."

    Baileytched onto hiswyer''s

    presence like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline. For a moment,

    Hope flickered in

    his tired eyes a

    he mped his lips shut, following hiswyer''s silent cue.

    Roman didn''t look surprised. He calmly pulled out another thick folder from his bag and spread the papers over the table.

    "These are the detailed records of every financial transaction between Bailey and Nathaniel. Every deposit and withdrawal lines up with payouts from their deals."

    "And here are the statements from third-party witnesses who were involved at the time. They''re all willing to testify in court."

    "The evidence isplete. The only thing your client can do now is decide whether he''ll cooperate. That might affect his sentence, but it won''t change the oue."

    Thewyer flipped through the documents, his expression growing more and more grim. Sweat started to bead on his forehead.

    He''d been in this business for years. He could see that this was airtight. There was almost no way out.

 Chapter 429

    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."

 Chapter 430

    Reese nced over the evidence spread out on the table, her voice steady and unyielding. ¡°I just want you to understand that if you do something wrong, you have to face the consequences."

    "My mom never got the justice she deserved. I''m going to make sure every single person who took part in that dirty deal pays for it. That''s the only way I can give my mom some peace."

    She didn''t wait for Bailey to respond. Without another look in his direction, Reese turned and walked out of the interrogation room. The door mmed shut behind her, cutting them off from each otherpletely.

    Bailey sat there, Reese''s words echoing in his mind, making it almost impossible to breathe. He felt the urge to confess welling up inside him, but before he could say anything, the phone in the corner started ringing, sharp and urgent.

    One of the officers picked up. After a few tense seconds, his face changed and he turned quickly to Roman.

    "Mr. Sanchez, we got news. They caught Nathaniel on the rooftop. He fought back, even tried to grab an officer''s gun. He got shot. He''s in the hospital now. The doctors say his condition is serious, but he came to and asked to see Bailey by name."

    Bailey felt like he''d been struck by lightning at the mention of Nathaniel. A mix of emotions flickered across his face.

    Hatred for Nathaniel, for dragging him into this nightmare all those years ago and for the years of ckmail that followed.

    Fear that Nathaniel would turn everything on him, letting Bailey take the fall for it all.

    And somewhere deep down, a hint of relief. Maybe, just maybe, Nathaniel''s capture would finally bring this twenty-year mess to an end.

    Bailey knew Nathaniel was the linchpin, the only one who could truly expose everything. Whatever Nathaniel said next would decide Bailey''s fate.

    Hiswyer jumped at the opportunity.

    "Mr. Sanchez, I''d like to request that we hold off on questioning my client any further until Nathaniel''s condition improves and he''s able to give a statement. His testimony is crucial to the whole case."

    Roman paused, looking over at Bailey and picking up on the turmoil in his eyes. Then he nodded.

    "All right. But let me be clear about something. We already have aplete chain of evidence.

    Nathaniel''s testimony isn''t

    necessary to convier your cl

    His

    Cooperation will only affect the final sentence."

    sto

    Thewyer nodded quickly, then leaned in close to Bailey, trying to keep his voice calm.

    "Mr. Meyer, you see where things stand. The evidence against you is overwhelming. We''re out of options."

    There was an urgency in his words now.

    "Come clean, If you cooperate,

    there''s still a chance at a lighter

    sentence Tell them about the others

    involved, how the dearwent down, and anything else Nathaniel did. It''s better to get some mercy than face the worst."

    Bailey didn''t answer. He bowed his head, letting his hair fall forward, hiding his face from view. Only the slight tremor in his shoulders gave away how hard he was struggling.

    Inside, it felt like he was being torn apart.

    If he confessed, everything he''d built would crumble. The Meyer Group, his life''s work, would be gone. He''d go from a powerful businessman to a criminal everyone despised.

    If he kept his mouth shut, the evidence would still bury him. He''d get an even harsher sentence, and he''d spend the rest of his life haunted by guilt and regret over what had happened to Marie.

    He couldn''t stop thinking about

    Marie''sst moments, about the fear and hopelessness she must have. felt He thought of Reese, growing up without her mother of all the innocent people he''d hurt, and of the years Nathaniel had held him captive with threats and ckmail.

 Chapter 431

    All the memories tangled together, weaving a tight around him until he could hardly breathe. Atst, he lifted his head. The panic and resistance in his eyes faded away, reced by exhaustion and a kind of quiet determination.

    He drew in a shaky breath. His voice was rough, but there was no hesitation. ¡°I..... I''m ready to confess. I''ll tell you everything about what happened back then. All of it."

    Thewyer looked relieved and quickly grabbed a pen and notepad. Bailey closed his eyes, like he was searching through the past or maybe just saying goodbye to it. After a moment, he opened them again and began to talk about the deal from twenty years ago.

    "Twenty years back, I''d just moved to Bridger Lake. I was struggling to get my business going. Nathaniel came to me... said he had a way to make real money. It was illegal organ trafficking."

    "The deals happened in an old warehouse on the west side of town. Nathaniel took care of finding the ''supplies'' and reaching out to buyers. I put up the money, found the ce, and handled any problems that showed up afterward."

    "It wasn''t just us. There was a middleman everyone called Old Ghost. He worked for Nathaniel, connecting the suppliers and buyers. And there were a few doctors Nathaniel brought in from out of town. They did the surgeries."

    Bailey fell into the details, his memory sharp. He listed the dates, the cash amounts, the people involved, what each person did. He held nothing back. Thewyer scribbled furiously, only stopping now and then to ask something important. Bailey answered every question.

    Just as he was about to say who the key supplier was, he started coughing hard, like something was stuck in his throat. His face went pale, then his lips turned dark. Ale hunched over, clutching his chest, his breathing fast and shallow. His eyes lost their focus.

    ¡°Mr. Meyer!¡± Thewyer jumped up, trying to keep him steady.

    "Something''s wrong!" one of the officers said, already stepping over to help. He checked Bailey''s pulse and his face went stiff. "Call a doctor! He''s having a heart attack!"

    Another officer grabbed the phone and called for the medical team.

    The whole room turned frantic. Thewyer kept calling Bailey''s name, while the officers tried to help however they could. Bailey slumped back in his chair, his senses fading. Everything around him sounded far away in his mind, he saw Marie''s gentle smile. He saw the way little Reese used to look at him, so full of trust. All he felt was regret and the ache of unfinished business.

    The medics burst in with their gear, moving fast and calm. They started working on him right away¡ªshocks,pressions, oxygen. Everything happened in a blur of motion.

    Roman watched from the side, his brow deeply furrowed. This was bad. If Bailey didn''t make it, the truth about those old deals might nevere out.

    Meanwhile, in the hospital''s ICU, Nathaniel, who had been unconscious for so long, suddenly opened his eyes.

 Chapter 432

    Inside the police interrogation room, everything felt tense and too quiet. Bailey was lying on the floor while the paramedics worked fast, loosening his tie and cor, turning his head to the side, and fitting an oxygen mask over his face.

    Hiswyer stood nearby,pletely at a loss, sweat running down his face as he watched.

    "Mr. Meyer..." Roman''s eyes were locked on Bailey''s chest as it rose and fell in quick, uneven bursts. His gut twisted with the sense that something was seriously wrong.

    "Heart rate''s dropping. Get the defibritor ready."

    The lead paramedic pped on the electrode pads without missing a beat, staring hard at the monitor.

    "Charging. 360 joules. Clear."

    There was a heavy thump as the shock hit Bailey. His body jerked upward, almost like some invisible force had yanked him, then he crashed back down. On the monitor, the green line barely fluttered, nearly t. Each tiny spike was thinner than a strand of hair, and it was obvious how fast his life was slipping away.

    "Again."

    No hesitation. The paramedic hit the button for a second shock. Bailey''s arms and legs twitched uncontrobly. His eyes rolled back, a cloudy film covering them as his awareness faded.

    "This isn''t good."

    An officer grabbed the phone right away.

    "Hello? Command center? We have a suspect with a heart attack in the

    interrogation room. It''s urgent. We need more medical help, right now."

    "The address is West District Police Station, third floor, interrogation building, room 302."

    ...

    Outside, Reese stepped through the station doors into the cold wind. Thete autumn air stung her cheeks and made her pull her coat tighter around her. Just then, an ambnce raced by, the shing lights blurring red and blue across her vision.

    The siren was sharp and loud, almost like it cut straight into her chest. Reese''s heart started pounding, a weird panic crawling up her spine. She nced back at the building. The ambnce had stopped at the entrance, and she watched as paramedics rushed inside with a stretcher and emergency kit.

    She stayed by the door, not moving, staring after them. Matthew noticed and got out of his car, walking over to her. He gently ced a shawl over her shoulders.

    "You okay?"

    ¡°I''m fine.¡± Reese shook her head. ¡°I just... suddenly feel really anxious.¡±

    Her phone rang before she could say more. Roman''s name shed on the screen. Her brow furrowed and the unease in her chest grew stronger.

    "Ms. Meyer, your father..."

    Roman hesitated, thinking about everything Bailey had done. "Mr. Meyer had a heart attack during questioning. He''s getting emergency treatment now. Do you want to

    A flicker of surprise crossed Reese''s face. Her fingers tightened around her phone until her knuckles turned pale.

    She turned and looked at the ambnce parked in the courtyard. After a long pause, she finally said, "No, it''s alright. I''ll let Hank know."

    "...Okay."

    Roman didn''t try to change her mind.

    Matthew saw how pale she was and asked, "What happened?"

    Reese took a slow, steady breath, pushing her emotions down. ¡°Bailey had a heart attack. They''re trying to save him. Can you call Hank for me? Ask him toe."

    Matthew seemed surprised for a second but didn''t argue. He just nodded and pulled out his phone.

    Reese stayed at the entrance, staring up at the building. She counted the floors, trying to guess which window belonged to the interrogation room.

    She already knew it was over for Bailey the moment she handed Roman what she''d found in the metal box. When Roman caffed earlier and told her Bailey would only confess if she came, she''d actually felt a bit impatient.

    She hadn''te to see Bailey out of love or loyalty. She''de for the truth, so the investigation could finally be finished and so hermother could test in peace.

 Chapter 433

    She knew, deep down, this would be thest time she saw Bailey.

    Once the verdict came in, with everything Bailey had done, there was no way he''d ever walk free again. Even if he escaped the death penalty, he''d spend the rest of his life behind bars.

    But being alive in a prison cell was still different from this, from him suddenly copsing with a heart attack, hovering between life and death.

    She looked up at the sky, the thick, heavy clouds piling up like the weight pressing on her chest. All she felt was exhaustion.

    A ck car sped up and screeched to a stop outside the station. Hank jumped out, looking frantic. He spotted Reese and rushed over. "Reese, Dad... is he okay?"

    Reese barely nced at him and shook her head. ¡°I don''t know. They''re still trying to save him. The ambnce just arrived."

    Right as she spoke, the paramedics came out carrying Bailey on a stretcher. He waspletely unconscious, his face pale as paper, lips blue, eyes tightly shut.

    Hank''s eyes widened in shock. He staggered forward. "Dad! Dad!¡±

    He tried to follow the stretcher but one of the medics stopped him. "Please don''t get in the way. Just follow the ambnce to the hospital."

    Hank nodded, scrambling into the ambnce. The doors shut, the siren wailed, and the ambnce sped off toward the hospital.

    "Should we go after them?" Matthew asked, catching the sh of sadness in Reese''s eyes.

    "No." Reese shook her head.

    What was the point? She wasn''t a doctor. There was nothing left between her and Bailey except a trace of shared blood.

    "Let''s go back to the hospital."

    Derek still hadn''t woken up, and Matthew was only here because he''d taken emergency leave.

    "Ms. Meyer."

    Reese stopped and turned. Roman was hurrying out of the station, looking serious.

    "Mr. Sanchez." Reese gathered herself. "Is something wrong?"

    Roman took a file from his briefcase and handed it to her. "There''s an update on the Dylon case. We''ve officially pressed charges."

    "Thanks to the evidence you gave us, we''ve finished the investigation into his maniption of Ramos Corporation''s stock."

    "We also found proof of embezzlement, contract fraud, illegal asset transfers, and a list of other financial crimes."

    "All the evidence is solid. The case will go to trial.¡±

    Reese barely nced at the file before handing it back to Roman. Her expression was calm.

    "Thank you, Mr. Sanchez."

    Once Dylon was convicted, Tara and Rosie would be done for too.

    "If you need anything else from me, just reach out."

    Roman watched her steady face and thought of Bailey''s total breakdown in the

    interrogation room. His feelings wereplicated.

    "We''ll let you know as soon as there''s news."

    "I need to get to the hospital, so I''ll head out."

    "Okay."

    Roman got into a police car and followed after the ambnce. Reese and

    an got in their own

    car

    and soon disappeared down the street.

    Outside the hospital''s emergency room, Hank was sitting on a bench with his hands clenched tight. His face was tense with worry.

    The doctors had already given him a critical condition notice. He knew things didn''t look good for Bailey.

    The light above the emergency room finally switched off, and a doctor came out.

    "Doctor, how''s my dad?" Hank asked. He rubbed his face, hurrying over.

    The doctor took off his mask. He

    looked tired, his voice heavy. "We

    things aren''t looking good et

    managed to resuscitate him, things aren''t looking good.

    "He already had severe heart problems. This heart attack did adot of damage. He''s in the ICU now Whether he makes it or not depends on the next seventy-two hours.¡±

 Chapter 434

    Hank felt his legs wobble. "Can I go see him now?"

    "Not yet. The ICU has strict rules. You can only visit during certain hours," the doctor said, shaking his head. "We''re doing everything we can, but you should be prepared for the worst."

    Hank slumped against the wall, his eyes fixed on the ICU''s closed doors. His thoughts were all over the ce, emotions tangled up inside him.

    He pulled out his phone, thinking he should call Reese, let her know about Bailey, ask her toe see him while there was still time.

    He found her number, but his finger froze over the call button. He let out a bitterugh.

    What was the point? Reese wouldn''te.

    He''d grown up with Bailey raising him, but even he couldn''t help resenting the man after learning the truth. Bailey''s actions had led Grace to cause the ident that killed their mother.

    And Reese? She''d left the Meyer family when she was just six. After that, she barely spoke to Bailey.

    When their mother died, Bailey and Hank had let Grace twist the story, ming everything on Reese. The family broke apartpletely after that.

    Even now, the only reason he and his father had reached out to Reese was to use her for the de project. There hadn''t been any real concern, not for a long time.

    He nced at the officers by the ICU door, then walked to the end of the hall and sat on a bench. Leaning his head back, he closed his eyes, feeling exhausted.

    ...

    Inside the ICU, Baileyy on the bed, tubes everywhere, the venttor hissing with every strained breath.

    He managed to open his eyes, though everything was hazy. All he could see was the blurry light on the ceiling.

    The pain in his body was nearly unbearable, but his mind was clear as ever. He knew he wouldn''tst much longer.

    "Hank.....¡± he whispered, his voice so soft it barely made a sound.

    The nurse by his bed pressed the call button, then leaned down. "Mr. Meyer, what do you need?"

    "Let... let Hanke in..." Bailey said, struggling with every word, desperation flickering in his eyes.

    The nurse nodded and left,ing back quickly with Hank.

    Seeing his father like that, so weak and helpless, Hank''s throat

    tightened. He nearly burst into you.

    swer

    "Dad, I''m here."

    Bailey''s gaze found his son, lips moving slowly. "I... I don''t have much

    time. There''s something. In Much

    tell you..."

    "Don''t talk, Dad. Just rest. The doctor said you''ll get better," Hank said, his voice thick.

    "It''s no use..." Bailey shook his head, his breathing growing weaker. "I know my own body."

    He looked at Hank, guilt heavy in his eyes.

    "I''ve put you through so much... Thepany, everything... You''ve carried all of it..."

    Hank shook his head fast. "Dad, it''s what I''m supposed to do."

    ¡°My shares.....¡± Bailey paused, gathering his strength. ¡°Give sixty percent to Reese..."

    "This is my way of making it up to her... Her mom died so young... and as her father, I wasn''t there for her..."

    "All these years, I treated her so badly... even used her..."

    His voice shook, pain crossing his face. "These shares... it''s the only thing I can do for her now..."

    "This is all I have to give... and it''s my way of saying sorry..."

    He looked at Hank, his eyes pleading. Promise me... don''t hold anything against Reese... Help her from now on. Look after Ramos Corporation... and the Meyer family too..."

    Hank nodded, tears streaming down his face. "I promise, Dad."

    Bailey seemed to rx a little and went on. "And about de... don''t go to Reese

    for it anymore..."

 Chapter 435

    "I got connected through Joseph, reached Ratcliff Global. If you handle things well,

    the Meyer family will pull through...¡±

    Hank wiped his eyes. "Alright. I understand. You don''t have to worry."

    He knew exactly what was happening. Bailey was caught up in illegal organ trafficking, and now the truth was out. The police were investigating everything, and all the terrible things from the past were finallying to light.

    The Meyer Group''s reputation was in shambles. Trying to bring the Meyer family back from this felt impossible.

    Bailey seemed to understand what Hank was thinking. He let out a quiet sigh. "The Meyer family... it''s been my life''s work... all for nothing..."

    When he first took over, the Meyer family was just a small, namelesspany in Brookfield. No one even noticed them.

    But after partnering with Nathaniel, he grew the business into something people actually talked about.

    Ironically, it was those things he did with Nathaniel twenty years ago that ended up destroying everything.

    Bailey''s breathing turned shallow, his eyes losing focus.

    "Did Reese...e?" he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

    He tried to keep his eyes open, searching the room for someone, but he never saw the face he wanted to see most.

    Hank kept his head down and said nothing.

    Disappointment filled Bailey''s eyes, fading into emptiness.

    He understood. Reese would never forgive him. She couldn''t even bring herself to say goodbye.

    Maybe it was better this way. A man like him didn''t deserve forgiveness.

    As his mind drifted, he thought he saw Marie.

    She was there in a white dress, standing in soft, golden light, smiling at him just like she always used to.

    "Marie, did youe for me..."

    He reached out, desperate to touch her, to get closer.

    Matterhow hard he tried, he O up. Her smile fadevet

    and farther away until it disappeared into the right

    "Marie... wait for me..." he whispered, tears sliding down his cheeks.

    Slowly, he closed his eyes. The venttor grew quiet. On the monitor, the line ttened out.

    "Dad! Dad!"

    Hank realized what was happening. He broke down, sobbing, his cries echoing through the room.

    "I''m so sorry for your loss." The nurse gently patted Hank''s shoulder and nced at the clock.

    At 1:45 in the afternoon, Bailey died of a heart attack.

    Hank copsed onto the floor, tears pouring down his face. Years of buried feelings finally broke loose all at once.

    He had hated Bailey. He hated him for cheating, for breaking thew, for always putting the Meyer family''s interests first.

    But now Bailey was gone. Really gone. And all Hank felt was overwhelming grief and regret.

    Outside the ICU, Roman stood

    behind the ss, listening to Hank''s

    cries and watching him clutch the

    hospital bed, Roman''s brow

    furrowed, his expression dark.

    Bailey was dead. Nathaniel was still unconscious in his hospital bed. The old organ trafficking case involved so many people, and Roman had no idea when or if the truth would evere out.

    He felt nothing but regret and helplessness.

    Just then, a police officer rushed over, face pale and voice tight with panic.

    ¡°Mr. Sanchez, something''s wrong. Nathaniel... Nathaniel escaped from his hospital room!"

 Chapter 436

    "What did you say?"

    Roman''s head throbbed as he listened to the officer. The young guy standing in front of him was sweating so much that drops were running down his face, soaking into his uniform cor and leaving a dark, spreading patch.

    "Mr. Sanchez, we checked the room during the shift change. We were careful."

    ¡°Nathaniel was still out cold. The heart monitor was steady, nothing out of the ordinary."

    "I just stepped into the hallway to sign the log. I was gone maybe five minutes, tops. When I came back... the room was empty."

    "The security bars," the officer said, swallowing hard, his voice barely there. ¡°Someone used a tool to cut through the window bars. The cut was really clean. Whoever did it had everything nned."

    "Damn it."

    Roman''s curse echoed down the corridor as he mmed his fist into the wall. ster dust rained down and his knuckles went red, but the pain didn''t even register. He couldn''t shake the anxiety wing at his chest.

    Bailey was dead, and Nathaniel was their only lead. Now he''d vanished.

    This case, the organ trafficking from twenty years ago, had too many people tangled up in it. How was he supposed to answer to the victims? What could he possibly say to his superiors?

    Roman forced himself to take a breath, trying to rein in his frustration. ¡°He''s hurt. There''s no way he got far."

    "Pull up every camera in the hospital. Focus on Nathaniel''s floor, stairwells, elevators, and the back door."

    "Call the traffic department. Lock down everything within three kilometers. Check every suspicious car. I want to know exactly where he went."

    "And get the word out. All precincts, all stations, full alert. Issue a warrant for Nathaniel. If anyone spots him, report it immediately. Be careful. He''s smart, and he could be armed."

    The officer didn''t waste a second, grabbing his radio to repeat the orders.

    Roman nced toward the ICU, then seemed to remember something. He lowered his voice. ¡°Keep an eye on Sofia. Nathaniel might try to reach out to her."

    "Yes, sir."

    The officer hurried away, passing a doctor in a white coat who headed straight toward the fire escape, shutting the heavy metal door behind him.

    Once the noise from outside was cut off, the doctor slid down the wall and sat on the floor, trying to catch his breath, chest rising and falling fast. He tore off his mask, revealing a pale, sharp face-Nathaniel himself.

    Blood had already soaked through the bandages on his abdomen, creating a dark, spreading stain. Pain radiated through him, making him grit his teeth. The cut on his arm from the window bars was even worse, the flesh split open, raw and aching.

    From his pocket, Nathaniel pulled out a phone he''d just stolen off someone in the hallway. He was about to call Sofia when he heard voices outside-two nurses chatting.

    "I heard from the ICU. That Bailey guy... he died."

    "No way. Didn''t they bring him back? How''d he just die?"

    "Guess he couldn''t hang on. It''s a shame. They hadn''t even finished the trial."

    The voices faded into the distance. Nathaniel stood there for a few seconds, processing.

    Bailey... dead?

    For a moment, he was stunned. Then a flicker of relief slipped into his eyes. Perfect. He''d been afraid Bailey might crack under pressure, spill everything, and then all his assets overseas, the stuff at Brookfield''s Pier 3... it would be game over.

    Nathaniel pressed a hand to his bleeding side and let out a low, humorlessugh.

    "Bailey, turns out you helped me after all."

    "You''re gone now, so it''s up to me to wrap this up."

    He didn''t wait another second, dialing Sofia''s number.

    The phone rang five times before someone finally picked up.

    Sofia sounded annoyed, tired. ¡°Who is this? Can''t you tell I''m busy?"

    "It''s me. Nathaniel." His voice was rough, barely above a whisper.

    Sofia paused, surprised. ¡°Mr. Phillips? I thought you''d been arrested. How are you even calling me?"

    She''d seen the police outside her

    apartmentst night. The whole building knew about the arrest. She

    hadn''t slept, terrified the cops would

    show

    up and use her of hiding a

    Criminal

    Only when the sun came up and no one knocked on her door did she rx enough

    to sleep. She never expected a call from him.

    ¡°I got out,¡± Nathaniel said, already moving down the fire escape.

    "And I have news. Bailey''s dead."

    ¡°What?¡± Sofia''s voice shot up, sharp and shaky. "When did this happen?¡±

    "Just now Nathaniel said, wincing at her volume and moving the phone away from his ear. "Police arrested himst night. He had a heart attack during questioning. They took him to the hospital, but he didn''t make it."

    Silence. Then there was a broken, muffled sob. Another. Each one sharper than thest.

    News of Bailey''s death seemed to

    hit Sofia all at once. Her legs gave out, and she slid down the wall onto the floor. Tears Streamed down fer cheeks, sttering onto the shiny floor and leaving dark stains.

    Before she turned five, Bailey hardly ever visited her and her mom, but he called every day just to check in.

    When it was time for her to start school, her mom, not wanting her to feel left out, brought her to the Meyer family''s house and forced Marie to face the truth.

    After that, she and her mom moved in. Bailey was angry that her mom made such a scene and pushed Marie into a divorce, but he never took it out on her.

    If anything, he spoiled her more than ever.

    She remembered finding out that Reese was studying Al programming in college. She''d immediately decided she wanted to learn it, too.

 Chapter 437

    Bailey had always gone above and beyond for her. He hired private tutors when she needed them, and once he realized she had a real gift, he sent her overseas to

    study, determined to give her every chance to shine. She never wanted for anything. Whatever Hank had, she did too, and sometimes, she had things even Hank didn''t get. Bailey gave her everything he could, except for shares in the Meyer familypany. That was the only thing he held back.

    And now, just like that, the man who had always protected and spoiled her he was gone.

    Sofia dropped to the floor, pulling her knees close. Her shoulders shook so hard she could barely breathe. Tears kept falling, hitting the floor and spreading into dark, blurry puddles.

    Grace was still in custody, waiting for her trial. Bailey was dead. Hank med her for what Grace had done to Marie and hadn''t spoken to her in ages. Just like that, Sofia realized she waspletely alone, with nobody left to lean on.

    Her sobs were muffled, but the pain in them was sharp, almost shattering. She cried for a long time, until the sobs faded into quiet sniffles and the room finally felt silent.

    Nathaniel''s voice broke the hush. It was calm and t. ¡°Are you done crying?"

    She sniffed and wiped her face with the back of her hand. Her nose was stuffy, her voice thick and hopeless.

    "What''s the point? What future do I even have?¡±

    She didn''t know why Bailey had ended up in police custody, but for the police to make such a big deal out of it, for it to end with someone dying, it had to be serious. If everything came out, the Meyer Group would crash, maybe even go under for good.

    Nathaniel had reached the bottom floor, listening at the exit before opening the door just enough to peek through. He spotted an old apartment building nearby and hurried over, grabbing a ck jacket from a clothesline on someone''s balcony. It was about his size, good enough.

    ¡°Bailey''s gone. Hank can''t handle the Meyer family on his own." Nathaniel''s voice was pragmatic. ¡°I checked. Their main focus now is artificial intelligence. You studied abroad for years for this. If you go back and help Hank keep things steady, he''ll be grateful, maybe even desperate for your help. The Meyer family will be yours. It''s just a matter of time."

    Sofia let out a bitterugh. "Hank? He''d never trust me."

    Ever since Hank found out about Grace and Marie, he hadn''t called her once. Not when Grace was arrested, not when Bailey died. It was like he''d forgotten she existed.

    "Instead of getting dragged into that mess, I might as well pack up and leave the country,¡± she muttered, half to herself. ¡°At least that way I''d befortable. I don''t need all this."

    She started weighing her options. Bailey had bought her plenty over the years¡ªa trust fund, an apartment overseas, enough to live on. Sure, it wasn''t the same as the easy money and freedom she''d had with the Meyer family, but staying now meant risking everything, losing even the little she had left. Better to walk away while she still could.

    Nathaniel''s voice snapped, "That''s stupid."

    He paused, halfway through putting on the jacket, clearly frustrated.

    "Whatever happened between your mother and me, it has nothing to do with you. If you run now, everyone''s going to think you''re guilty."

    He remembered why he''d gotten involved in all this in the first ce. Sofia had been born with a beart condition. He''d done things he wasn''t proud of, all so she could have a chance at a healthy life.

    Besides, now that the police were digging into everything, all the shady things he''d had Grace do for the

    ell

    Meyer Group would be exposed soonenorter. When that happened, Sofia would lose whatever Bailey left her. If he got arrested, his people wouldn''t help her, not for a second. She''d be on her own.

    Nathaniel couldn''t say all this out loud. So he just said, "If the Meyer Group goes under, do you really think you''ll get to keep any of what Bailey left you? You might end up in debt."

    He took a breath and softened his tone, trying to reason with her. "Why not take a chance? Help Hank get through this. You''re smart, Sofia. You shouldn''t just give up."

    He gave her a look, almost encouraging. "Let me help you. I can help you get the Meyer Group back on its feet. You could be the one in charge, the real leader."

    Sofia rolled her eyes. "Mr. Phillips, you can barely keep yourself out of trouble. How exactly are you supposed to help me?"

    "I''ve got my ways.¡± Nathaniel straightened his borrowed jacket, pulled on a mask, and stepped out of the building.

    "Set up a car for me. I need to get to Brookfield."

    He''d rented a warehouse at Pier 3 in Brookfield twenty years ago under the name Drew. It was where he''d stashed gold bars and all the leverage he''d collected on the fich and powerful¡ªthe ones who''d gotten organs through him all those, years ago with all that, he could start over.

    ¡°Sofia, trust me. I won''t let the Meyer Group copse. I might even make it stronger.¡±

    Sofia hesitated. She didn''t know if he was telling the truth, but a guy like Nathaniel

    was always holding something back.

    Should she trust him and try to hang on to herfortable life, or just wait for everything to fall apart and the court to seize what little she had left?

    After a long silence, she made up her mind. ¡°Fine. I''ll help you. But if you lie to me, I swear I''ll make you pay for it, no matter what."

    Nathaniel smiled, just a little. "Don''t worry. We''re in this together. I won''t let you

    down. Once you sort out the car, text me the te number. I''ll be waiting for you behind the hospital."

 Chapter 438

    After hanging up, Sofia slumped back against the sofa, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the grain of the leather.

    Nathaniel was pushing hard. He needed a carpletely untraceable and off the police radar, with a driver included. If anything went wrong, everything Sofia had worked for would copse in an instant.

    She frowned, mind spinning through possibilities. Borrow a friend''s car? Too risky. If the police started digging, they''d find her connection in no time. Buy one herself? There wasn''t enough time, and the registration would point straight to her.

    She kept thinking, frustration building, until suddenly she sat up, determination shing in her eyes.

    She remembered the set of fake IDs she''d gotten years ago when she was overseas, just in case of emergencies. Name, address, credit history¡ªthe works. She had never needed them before, but now they were exactly what she needed.

    Feeling a surge of rity, she grabbed the beige trench coat from the sofa, changed her shoes, and headed out.

    A st of cold air made her shiver as she stepped outside, but it helped her focus even more.

    She waved down a taxi at the gate and gave the driver the address of a small car rental ce on the west side of the city. The ce was known for short-term rentals, barely any paperwork, and zero questions about your background. That was perfect.

    As long as Nathaniel got the car from there, even if the police stopped him, it couldn''t be traced back to her.

    For the first time that day, Sofia let herself smile a little. She didn''t notice that as her taxi pulled away, a nondescript ck sedan quietly followed.

    Inside the sedan, a inclothes police officer watched her taxi closely, speaking in a low voice into his radio.

    "Target has left her residence. She''s headed west to a car rental shop. Requesting backup. I''ll keep following."

    The reply came quick and clear. "Copy. Backup is on the way. Stay back, don''t alert her."

    The ck sedan kept its distance, sliding through traffic like a shadow as it followed Sofia''s taxi toward the west side of the city.

    Back at the hospital, Reese and Matthew walked down the hall and sat on a bench outside the room. Reese had barely settled when her phone buzzed in her pocket.

    She pulled it out and saw a message from Hank.

    "Dad didn''t make it. He passed away at 1:45."

    Just a single sentence, no extra words. Still, it hit Reese like a stone to the chest.

    She''d expected this. Bailey had done so many terrible things. He was always going to end up behind bars or die suddenly like this. But now that it had actually happened, her feelings wereplicated.

    There was no heartbreak, no sadness, not even regret. Just a tired sense of closure, as if a heavy weight she''d carried for years had finally dropped away.

    She didn''t n on seeing him onest time. There was nothing left between them. Every idea of a father''s love she''d ever had was stuck in faded childhood memories. She had never really felt safe or cared for by him.

    All that was left was distance. Cold, empty distance.

    She set her phone down on the bench, leaned back, closed her eyes, and took a long, deep breath.

    Matthew sat quietly by her side, saying nothing, just being there.

    Noticing his silence, Reese turned to look at him. "Bailey''s dead."

    Her voice was t, her eyes carrying a hint of irony. "I don''t want to go. I don''t even want to see his face again."

    "Matthew, do you think I''m cold?"

    "He was my father. He gave me life. Now he''s gone and I don''t feel sad at all. Honestly, I just feel... lighter."

    She said it with a little hesitation, as if asking for his opinion, or maybe just asking herself.

    Matthew saw the doubt in her eyes and felt a sharp pang in his own chest.

    He reached out and gently stroked her hair, his fingers moving through the soft strands with care and tenderness.

    "You''re not cold. You just learned to protect yourself."

    His voice was low and warm, steady

    and convincing. "Reese, he was a terrible father. Even when he found out you were running the de

    We kept using his title as

    your dad to pressure you, toget what he wanted."

    "It makes sense to feel relieved now that he''s gone."

    "You need to put yourself first. There''s nothing wrong with that."

    "And honestly, he never gave you much love to begin with." Matthew paused, thinking about his own father.

    "When my father died, I was actually happy. Really happy."

    Reese looked at him, a little surprised. She knew Matthew and Sebastian shared the same father When she married Sebastian, his father had already been gone for years, but S¨¦bastian always mad him sound like a good dad

    Matthew noticed her surprise and gave a small, almost bitter smile.

    "My mom was kind. She loved flowers, loved her garden, and she was always

    gentle. But my father-and Jane-ruined her life."

    ¡°Jane drugged my mom and sent her to his bed, just to keep his attention.¡±

    "After that night, my mom got pregnant with me. She wanted to leave Bridger Lake, to get away from the Ratcliffs."

    "But that family... there''s no way to keep secrets from them."

    "He tracked my mom down and brought her back. When I was born, he took me to the family house."

    ¡°Jane had my mom sent to a mental hospital. She broke her."

    "After that, I never saw her again."

    Matthew clenched his fist, his voice growing quiet.

    "I grew up with people always staring, always whispering, making cruel jokes. The bullying never

    stopped That was my who vel

    childhood."

 Chapter 439

    "I hated my father. I hated him for ruining my mother''s life, and for bringing me into this world only to trap me in a childhood that felt endless and dark."

    "When he died, I didn''t cry. Not even a little. Honestly, I felt relieved, like justice had finally caught up with him. It was what he owed my mom and me, and now it was finally over."

    Matthew squeezed Reese''s hand. "Reese, none of this is your fault. Not how you feel about Bailey, not any of it."

    "He was the one who failed you as a father. He hurt you, he used you, over and over, pushing you away every time. He was the one who broke your bond, not you."

    "You don''t have to force yourself to love him or feel sad just because he was your dad. Family isn''t supposed to be a one-way street.¡±

    "The real you, the honest you, no masks, no pretending... that''s what I treasure most."

    Reese looked up and saw the raw concern and love in Matthew''s eyes. The confusion and self-doubt swirling inside her slowly faded, reced by something softer, something that felt like hope.

    He really saw her. He understood that her coldness came from pain, and that her strength was hiding how fragile she felt inside.

    She couldn''t keep it in any longer. She reached for him, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her face against his chest, like she''d finally found a ce she could rest.

    She could feel his heart beating, steady and strong, right through his shirt. That simple rhythm made her feel safe.

    "Matthew, we don''t get to pick where wee from."

    The scent of his soap lingered between them, and all her tension and exhaustion just melted away.

    Matthew held her close, gentle as if he wereforting a scared kitten. He rubbed her back and whispered in her ear.

    "I know."

    "I''m just grateful the universe let me meet you."

    He leaned down and kissed her forehead, slow and soft, pouring all his tenderness and affection into that touch, as if she was the most precious thing in the world.

    "I''ll always love you. No matter what."

    Reese felt her eyes sting. Her heart was so full she could barely breathe.

    She''d spent so many years weathering storms alone, always putting on a brave face. But in Matthew''s arms, surrounded by his warmth, all her defenses broke apart.

    She looked up, caught the tenderness shining in his eyes. On impulse, she rose up on her toes and kissed him.

    The kiss was gentle and light, but it was filled with everything they felt, all the love andfort they had for each other.

    For a moment, the world slipped away. The hallway noises, footsteps, voices, even the distant beeping... it all faded, leaving only the heat of their bodies and the steady thud of their hearts.

    After a while, they pulled apart. Matthew rested his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling, his gaze soft and full of unspoken promises.

    "Do you feel better?" he asked quietly, his voiceced with a hint of worry.

    Reese nodded, feeling her cheeks burn. The heaviness in her heart was gone. "Yeah. Way better."

    Having him here made everything seem possible.

    No matter what happened, just thinking of him made her feel stronger.

    Right then, Matthew''s phone buzzed in his pocket, shattering the quiet between them.

    He frowned, let go of Reese, and checked his phone.

    As he read the message, the warmth in his eyes vanished, reced by a sharp, focused look.

    Reese immediately caught the shift in his mood and tensed up. "What is it?"

    Matthew slipped his phone away, and took her hand again. The touch

    of his fingers calmed her just a little

    gave me a note he found in

    "Hank ga

    that metal box. I had someone

    check out the address on it."

    "What did they find?" Reese pressed.

    Matthew''s eyes narrowed. "Warehouse Three, Pier Three, on the west side of Brookfield. It was rented out twenty years ago by someone named Drew. It''s still in use."

    Reese felt her heart jump. "Drew?"

    Wasn''t that the guy Hank found sending money to Grace''s ount? Some distant cousin of Dous, and the CEO of one of Nathaniel''spanies?

    "Yeah." His eyes shed cold.

    "Twenty years ago lines up exactly with when Bailey and Nathaniel

    started their illegal organ trade. The warehouse rental matches that timeline.

    "And get this, the rent''s always been paid through an anonymous ount. Not a single missed payment, all these years."

    "The ce is locked down tight, too. Multiple hidden cameras, regr patrols."

    "My people tried getting close, but they were chased off by guys they couldn''t identify. Someone''s definitely running the ce, keeping whatever''s inside protected."

    "That warehouse must mean a lot to Nathaniel. There''s got to be something in there he really doesn''t want found."

    Reese''s face lit up with a glimmer of

    hope. If they could get their hands on whatever was inside, and add it

    to the evidence they already had, maybe they could finally prove what Nathaniel and Batley did all those. years ago.

    Matthew clearly had the same thought. He gently ruffled her hair, then pulled out his

    phone and dialed Frank, the head of the special police unit.

    "Captain Frank, it''s Matthew."

    He got right to the point.

    "My team traced a warehouse at Pier Three, west Brookfield. It''s been under Drew''s

    name, one of Nathaniel''s men, for twenty years."

    "I think there''s something seriously important to Nathaniel hidden there."

 Chapter 440

    The taxi pulled up outside a car rental ce on the edge of town. Sofia paid, got out, and headed straight for the front desk.

    "I need to rent a car with a driver. As soon as possible."

    The guy at the counter nced up, saw how urgent she looked, and didn''t waste a second. "Sure, what kind of car do you want? And how long will you need it?"

    "Anything that can carry people. Three days," Sofia replied. She waved him off, her eyes already scanning the lobby.

    "Alright, just a moment. I''ll set it up for you." The clerk grabbed the phone and started making calls right away.

    A few minutester, a ck van rolled up from the back of the lot. The driver was a man in his forties, sturdy-looking, dressed in thepany uniform.

    Sofia hurried over, opened the passenger door, and slid into the front seat. She kept her voice low as she gave the address. "Take me to the alley behind the city hospital. We''re picking someone up."

    The driver nodded. "Okay."

    ¡°Oh, right.¡± Sofia paused, pulled out her phone, and snapped a picture of the license te. "Give me your phone number," she said.

    He recited it, and Sofia saved it quickly. She tapped out a text, sending the te number and the driver''s contact straight to Nathaniel.

    Everything felt airtight. She''d used a fake name for the rental, paid with an anonymous ount, and hadn''t left a single clue behind. In her mind, the n was already working. Nathaniel would get what he needed from the warehouse, use it to fight his way back, and help her finally get a solid footing at Meyer Group.

    She had no idea she was being watched. Not far away, a in ck sedan sat quietly at the curb. Inside, a inclothes cop kept close track of her every move.

    Mr. Marsh, sitting in the driver''s seat, spoke quietly into his radio.

    "Target is renting a car, driver included. Looks like she''s going to pick someone up. Should we move in and arrest now?"

    The radio crackled for a few

    seconds before his boss replied, calm and steady. "Not yet. We just got word Nathaniel is probably heading to Pier 3 west side of Brookfield. Don''t do anything to tip her off. Follow her, see if she picks up Nathaniel, and confirm if they''re headed for Brookfield."

    "Yes, sir." Mr. Marsh answered.

    Sofia watched the driver calmly steer the van through traffic. Her confidence grew. She was sure this time she''d pull it off.

    As the van pulled away from the rental ce, Mr. Marsh shot a nce at his partner in the passenger seat.

    "Go in and see what you can find out. I''ll keep tailing her."

    His partner nodded, got out, and walked inside the agency like just another customer. He headed- straight for the counter and smiled at the same guy who had helped Sofia.

    "Hi, I''m looking to rent a car, preferably with a driver. Something that can handle a

    long trip. Do you have anything like that?"

    "Absolutely, the clerk said, eager to

    help. "Thedy just before you

    dour

    rented our seven-seater van. Lots of

    space veryfortable. If youre

    interested, I can set you up right now."

    "No rush," the officer replied, waving him off, making it look casual. "Just asking around for now."

    "I''m thinking about taking my family on a trip. It''s a long way. Are your drivers okay with going that far?"

    "Of course. We cover the driver''s expenses for the trip."

 Chapter 441

    "Yes, sir, no problem."

    The clerk barely hesitated before answering. "Thatdy who just left, she''s heading to Brookfield."

    He added, "Brookfield''s a long way from Bridger Lake, but we still took the job."

    "Alright, got it."

    The officer nodded, satisfied with the answer. He pulled out his phone, pretending to check his messages. "I''ll go talk it over with my wife."

    He left the rental lot, walked briskly back to the ck sedan, and leaned in to report to Mr. Marsh.

    "It''s confirmed. She rented the car to go to Brookfield. That matches what we heard."

    ¡°Chances are, Nathaniel''s reached out to her. She''s probably nning to drive him to warehouse number three at Brookfield to pick something up.¡±

    Mr. Marsh''s eyes narrowed as he started the engine.

    ¡°I''ll keep tailing Sofia. You call it in to headquarters."

    "If you can, get a team set up near the warehouse before they arrive."

    At the same time, in an alley behind the city hospital, Nathaniel looked at Sofia''s text and the photo of the car''s license te. Some of the anxiety in his chest finally faded.

    He typed back, "Are you sure it''s safe? Anyone following you?"

    Her reply came almost instantly. "Rx, it''s totally safe. I used a fake name to rent the car. Nobody knows it''s me. The driver''s from the agency, he''s solid. Just get in when you see the license te.¡±

    Nathaniel read her message over and over before letting himself breathe.

    About fifteen minutester, the rumble of an engine echoed down the alley. Nathaniel stood up fast, watching the alley entrance.

    A ck van rolled in, and the license te matched the one Sofia had sent.

    Nathaniel narrowed his eyes, checking the area onest time. Satisfied, he walked quickly to the van, opened the back door, and climbed into the rear seat.

    "Drive."

    The driver looked startled. He nced in the rearview mirror at Nathaniel''s tense face, then kept quiet and started the engine, pulling out of the alley.

    The van raced toward Brookfield.

    Nathaniel said nothing the Whet

    way only opening his eyes. now and then to watch the scenery and make sure no one was following

    He never noticed the unmarked police car trailing them, keeping just enough distance to stay hidden but never letting them out of sight.

    Brookfield.

    Frank got to the docks early, acting on Matthew''s tip. He brought a big police team; hiding them in spots around the warehouse. Every

    entrance, and exit was covered

    Qu

    Surveince cameras had already been set up, scanning every corner of the area.

    "Keep your eyes open," Frank said in a low voice to the officers beside him. "Nathaniel''s dangerous and probably armed. Your safetyes fyrst. Wart until he inside the warehouse and has what hecame for. Then we move. We have to catch him before he slips away again."

    "Yes, sir!¡± the officers replied together, their faces serious and focused.

    Minutes crawled by. After hours on the road, Nathaniel''s van finally rolled up to Pier

    3.

    The driver parked in an open lot near warehouse three, just like Nathaniel told him.

    "This is good,¡± Nathaniel said, opening his eyes. "Wait here for me. I''ll grab what I need, and then we''ll head back to Bridger Lake."

    He pushed the door open, stepped out, and quickly scanned the area around him.

 Chapter 442

    The dock was packed with peopleing and going, most of them workers hauling crates and cargo. Everything looked perfectly normal. Nathaniel breathed a quiet sigh of relief and hurried toward Warehouse 3.

    The heavy doors were locked tight. He stopped in front of them, dug a rusty key out of his pocket, and slid it into the lock. He turned it carefully. The lock clicked open. He slipped inside, shutting the door behind him as quickly as he could.

    Inside, the warehouse was pitch ck and thick with the smell of damp and mold. Nathaniel moved with practiced ease, feeling his way along the wall until his fingers found a hidden switch. He pressed it. A dim light buzzed to life, throwing shadows across the chaos of stacked crates and junk.

    He didn''t hesitate. He went straight to a big wooden crate tucked away at the very back, crouched down, and lifted the lid. There were no old tools or scraps inside, just a single ck iron box. Nathaniel''s eyes lit up, a rush of excitement blooming across his face. His hands shook as he pulled the box out. It was heavy, solid. Inside were all the records from his illegal organ deals with Bailey, plus his secret ounts and a list of every contact he''d ever trusted. With this, he could build everything back again.

    He could already picture it, theeback he''d always dreamed of. But just as he reached to open the box, the warehouse doors crashed open. Blinding light spilled in. Boots pounded on the concrete. Someone shouted, and suddenly the ce was full of cops, guns pointed right at him.

    "Don''t move! Police!"

    Nathaniel froze, the color draining from his face. The iron box slipped from his grip and hit the floor with a loud ng. He tried to bolt, but hands grabbed him from every direction, pinning him down. In the chaos, cold handcuffs snapped around his wrists.

    All the fight left him at once. He slumped to the floor, eyes nk, mumbling, "No way... how could you possibly know..."

    Frank stepped forward, looking down at him with icy eyes. "Nathaniel, you''re under arrest for illegal organ trafficking, assault, prison escape, and more. You''reing with us."

    The officers dragged Nathaniel to his feet and marched him out of the warehouse. The humiliation burned. He knew it was over. For him, there was noing back.

    ***

    Back at Bridger Lake, Sofia woke up, blissfully unaware of the disaster in Brookfield. All she could think about was waiting for Nathaniel toe back. Once he did, she''d return to the Meyer family. Whatever Bank that of fer, hea have no choice but to lean on her if he wanted to restore the family''s name.

    With that in mind, she reached under her pillow, grabbed her phone, and

    I Hank. The gall rang and rang before he finally picked up. His voice was t and tired.  fo

    "What is it?"

    Sofia switched to her most worried tone. ¡°Hank, I''ve been calling Dad, but he won''t answer. Is something wrong?"

    Hank hadn''t told her about Bailey''s death, so she had to act clueless. He was still tangled up at the hospital handling everything that came after Barley''s passing, exhausted and at his limit. Hearing Sofia just made things worse.

    "Dad''s gone."

    ¡°Gone?¡± Sofia let out a gasp, her voice rising and trembling with an exaggerated sadness.

 Chapter 443

    "How could this happen? When did it happen? Why didn''t you tell me?¡±

    "Yesterday afternoon, at one forty-five. He passed away," Hank replied. His voice was t, almost emotionless. "I''ve only just finished handling everything here."

    Sofia went quiet for a few seconds, maybe trying to steady herself, then her tone changed. There was a note of hope in her voice.

    "Hank, Dad''s gone now. Meyer Group is basically leaderless, and there''s no way you can do all of this alone. Dad already said I coulde back to help you. Now''s the perfect time. I want toe back and support you, help keep the Meyer family together."

    She had been sure Hank would need all the help he could get after Bailey died. She thought if she offered, he''d have no reason to say no.

    But after what happened with Grace, Hank no longer saw Sofia and her mother the same way. Now, hearing her offer, he just felt cold inside. His father had only just passed, and all Sofia could think about was getting back into the family business. She didn''t even ask about their father, almost like she already knew what happened.

    Hank''s eyes narrowed for a moment. A wave of suspicion flickered through him.

    "That won''t be necessary. I can handle the Meyer family business myself," he said. "You just got back from abroad. Why don''t you take a few days to rest?"

    Sofia hadn''t expected him to turn her down so quickly. Her smile faltered, and a surge of frustration washed over her.

    "Hank, I really want to help you. Dad agreed to it while he was alive. How could you treat me like this?"

    "How am I treating you?" Hank''s voice was even colder now. "Sofia, Dad just passed away, and you''re already trying to get involved in the family business. Don''t you think that''s a little inappropriate?"

    He didn''t wait for her to answer. He hung up.

    The dial tone buzzed in her ear. Sofia''s face twisted with anger. She threw her phone onto the sofa.

    "Hank, who do you think you are?" she muttered through gritted teeth, her eyes burning with resentment.

    Let Hank act high and mighty for now. Once Nathaniel got what he needed and made hiseback, she''d see if Hank could still keep that attitude. Maybe then he''d be the one begging her for help to save Meyer Group.

    That thought made her feel a little better. She slumped onto the sofa, letting herself daydream about running Meyer Group, calling all the Shots. content belongs to

    Suddenly, a loud knock shattered the quiet in her apartment.

    Sofia frowned. Who could be here at this hour? She got up and walked to the door, peeking through the peephole.

    Two men in police uniforms were standing outside, their faces serious, their eyes sharp.

    Sofia''s heart jumped into her throat. Something felt very wrong.

    She forced herself to look calm, opened the door, and put on a confused face. "Can

    I help you? Are you looking for someone?"

    One of the officers held out a warrant.

    "Sofia Meyer, we''re with the city police. You''re suspected of

    harboring a fugitive, Nathaniel. We

    you toe with us to the tion for questioning."

 Chapter 444

    Sofia''s eyes widened, locking on the bold, ck letters at the top of the arrest warrant. Harboring a fugitive. The words hit her like invisible ice, stabbing straight through her chest. Numbness crept into her fingers and toes. She forced herself to stand upright, even as her legs threatened to give out. Her hand clung tight to the doorframe, her knuckles white, her smile shaky and stiff, more painful than tears.

    "Officer, there must be a mistake. I don''t even know anyone named Nathaniel, much less help him hide."

    The officer in charge looked right at her, his gaze sharp, unblinking, and cold. "We''ll sort that out at the station. Please cooperate ande with us."

    Sofia''s heart hammered so hard it hurt, her fingertips trembling. She wanted to keep arguing, but two officers stepped closer, boxing her in on both sides.

    "Ms. Meyer, if you work with us, we''ll let you keep your dignity. You don''t want us putting you in cuffs and dragging you out in front of everyone, do you?"

    The words hit her like a p. She felt the blood freeze in her veins. Instinctively, she nced down the dim hallway. Several doors were cracked open just enough for people to peek out. Curious, judging eyes watched her from the shadows, every stare a needle against her skin.

    "Alright. Let me grab a coat."

    She could barely feel her legs as she climbed into the police car. The city outside slipped past her window, familiar but suddenly distant. Her mind was nk. She had been so careful. How did they find out?

    The car sped toward the city police station. No one said a word. Only Sofia''s shaky breaths filled the silence, heavy with fear and anger she could barely swallow.

    At the same time, in a cold

    interrogation room in Brookfield, Nathaniel sat chained to a metal

    mess, his eyes

    chair His hair was a mim,

    t and empty. Across from him, Frank pushed a pile of photos across the table. They showed the iron box Bailey had hidden, and every scrap of evidence inside.

    "Nathaniel, care to exin these?" Frank''s voice was low and steady, all authority.

    Nathaniel stared at the photos, his whole body trembling. "How did you find that ce..."

    Frank cut him off, voice even colder. "You can''t cover up the truth forever. Thew always catches up to people like you."

    Nathaniel twisted against his cuffs, a wild, desperate look in his red-rimmed eyes. "Was it Sofia? Did she betray me?" She was his daughter. The thought made him Sick.

    As he struggled, his gazended on thest photo. A slip of paper, edges torn, handwriting faded. West Side Dock, Warehouse 3.

    Nathaniel froze. It was Bailey''s handwriting. He never thought anyone would find that ce, not after all these years. But Bailey had known even twenty years ago. The police must have found him

    because of that note.

    Nathaniel finally stopped fighting. Frank signaled the officers to take him away.

    ¡°Sofia''s been arrested too. She''s suspected of harboring a fugitive. She''ll face thew just like you."

    Nathaniel went still, then let out a bitterugh, one that sounded broken. ¡°After all my nning, all my schemes, in the end I lost to a dead man."

 Chapter 445

    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."

 Chapter 446

    Reese nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude as she looked at Matthew. If it hadn''t been for him, Nathaniel might still be out there. She might never have gotten the chance to finally get justice for her mother.

    Right then, her phone buzzed. Hank''s name lit up the screen. She answered, and his voice came through, sounding both anxious and exhausted.

    "Reese, do you have a minute?"

    She arched an eyebrow. "What''s up?"

    He must have caught the coolness in her voice, because he rushed to exin, "It''s nothing bad. It''s just... before Dad passed, he made sure to leave you some shares. Thepany needs to update the records, and you have to sign in person."

    Reese''s grip on her phone tightened. She hadn''t expected that. All this time, Bailey had only ever tried to use her or keep her at arm''s length, even scheming to take away what her mother had left behind. Now, at the end, he was actually leaving her something? And Hank was really calling about it, not some favor?

    She''d thought maybe he was going to ask her for help with the de project, since he''d helped expose Nathaniel. The Meyer family had been struggling for years, and de was just about theirst shotat survival. She never imagined he''d actually follow through on Bailey''sst wishes and offer her the shares.

    Reese stayed quiet for a long moment. Hank seemed to sense what she was thinking.

    "Don''t overthink it," he said. "You''re my sister, and Dad and I, we owe you. I just want to give you what you deserve. This isn''t about asking for anything in return. Dad already made a connection with the Ratcliff family through Joseph, and Joseph promised to help us get themercial rights. We signed an agreement and everything. From now on, we''ll just deal directly with him. know you don''t want to be tied I to the Meyer family anymore, so this is really just about the shares. Juste in, sign the paperwork, and you can go. If you don''t want them, if you''d rather cut ties, I''ll buy them back at market price. You know the Meyer family doesn''t have a lot of cash on hand, but I''ll pay you back over time, with interest..."

    Reese frowned. "ckOak and Ratcliff Global developed de together. Sebastian made the final call, sure, and Ratcliff Global will get their share, but that doesn''t mean they own the whole thing. Joseph can''t just decide who gets the rights. de was Matthew''s and my project. Sebastian just funded it. Even he couldn''t hand over the partnership without our say-so, and Joseph definitely can''t. You and Bailey have both been yed."

    Hank went silent. She could hear him scrambling for paperwork, flipping through it in

    a panic. Reese listened to the sound of pages turning, knowing he probably wasn''t

    in the mood to talk about shares anymore.

    She was about to hang up when she heard him suddenly gasp, shock clear even through the phone.

 Chapter 447

    "How did this happen..." Hank stared at the profit-sharing agreement, sweat trickling down his face. "It only says the Meyer family gives Ratcliff Global an eight percent cut. There''s nothing here about Ratcliff Global having to give us the de civilian partnership rights." As the words sank in, Hank realized he and his father had beenpletely yed by Joseph.

    The Meyer family''s finances were already barely holding together. They had loansing due at the bank, and keeping afloat depended on the money from the de project. Now, not only did they lose the civilian rights, but they''d handed Ratcliff Global a huge profit for nothing. It felt like they were scraping another wound into an already dried-up riverbed, only making things worse for the family.

    ¡°Reese, something just came up on my end.¡± Hank picked up his phone and saw their call was still connected. "Come to the office when you have time to sign the share transfer agreement. I''ve got things to handle right now. I''ll talk to youter.¡±

    Reese arched her brow, thinking back to the few times she had seen Joseph at Ratcliff family events. He always had that gentle smile, but there was something calcting in his eyes. Everything he said or did was perfectly measured, and she never could shake the feeling that he was hiding something.

    Now, with Sebastian kicked out by the board, Joseph, a rtive from a branch of the family, clearly couldn''t wait any longer. He never meant to keep his promises. He just took advantage of Bailey''s desperation to squeeze every possible benefit out of the Meyer family, all so he could look good in front of the board.

    "What''s on your mind?" Matthew noticed the change in her expression and gently covered her hand with his, worry softening his voice.

    Reese didn''t answer right away. Her

    gaze grew thoughtful. After her

    mom, Marie, passed away, she

    inherited a share of the Meyer family business. Now, with the extra fifteen

    percent will she

    Cfrom Batley''s

    actually owned two percent more of thepany than Hank.

    With Sofia in jail and left out of Bailey''s will she had no chance of fighting for thepany anymore As long as Hank didn''t get any bright ideas about helping Sofia, she would never get another cent from the Meyers. Judging from Hank''s attitude, he was probably done with her for good.

    If that was the case, Reese wasn''t about to let Joseph get away with this. She also couldn''t stand by and e watch the Meyer family copse, not when her mother had put so much into it, and not when her own future was on the line. Hank might be

    hopeless, but she wasn''t about to let

    Joseph get his way.

    A spark of determination shed in Reese''s eyes as she looked up at Matthew. After everything she''d been through, she was no longer that soft, easily pushed-around

    girl.

    If Joseph wanted to take advantage of the chaos, he''d have to go through her first. And the key to all of this was Ratcliff Global.

    She took a steadying breath and met Matthew''s gaze. "Now that Sebastian''s out at Ratcliff Global, who does the board want to make the new chairman?"

 Chapter 448

    Matthew nced down at Reese, his longshes casting gentle shadows across his skin. His eyes held something unreadable, a storm hidden behind calm, with a softness he barely let show. He didn''t bother with small talk. His thumb traced slow circles on the back of her hand as he spoke, his voice steady and almost casual, like none of this really mattered.

    "The board picked two candidates. Me, and Joseph.¡± He paused, then smiled a little, almost like he was amused by it all. ¡°Joseph lost his mind when he heard. Said someone like me someone born out of wedlock-had no business touching Ratcliff Global. But honestly, I''m not interested."

    Reese almost asked why, but stopped herself. She remembered when Ramos Corporation was on the edge of copse. Matthew had stepped in quietly, pouring in money, helping her pull everything back from disaster. He''d never asked for anything in return. There was no way his life was as simple as it looked. Maybe he really didn''t care about Ratcliff Global, not with all the fights and backstabbing going on inside. And she knew he hated thatpany, hated it all the way down to his bones. The Ratcliff family had hurt his mother, left scars that never healed. There was no way he''d want to take over a ce that only brought him pain.

    It was clear she''d have to think of something else.

    Just as she opened her mouth to say something, Matthew seemed to know exactly what was on her mind.

    "Joseph''s making a move now because he thinks I''m sick, that I can''t fight him. He wants to get the shareholders on his side and take over while he thinks I''m weak. If you don''t want to see him win, I can step in."

    Reese felt a warmth spread through her, calm and steady. She looked up at Matthew, a small smile tugging at her lips, relief softening her eyes.

    "You don''t have to do this for me. What you want is what matters. But... I really don''t want him to get his way. I''m heading to Vista Tech to sort out the shares and the project stuff."

    "I''ll go with you." Matthew''s answer came instantly, his voice sure and gentle, with none of the hesitation she usually heard from others.

    Reese didn''t argue. She just nodded, her fingers wrapping around his, palm against palm,fort flowing between them.

    They left the police station side by side, the afternoon sunlight breaking through the clouds, spilling over them and washing away the cold, heavy feeling left behind by the Interrogation room. ''

    ***

    When they got in the car, Matthew leaned in and buckled Reese''s seatbelt for her, then pulled a bottle of warm milk from the glove box and handed it over.

    "Drink this first. When we''re done, I''ll take you to your favorite Japanese ce."

    The milk was warm in her hands and in her chest. Reese smiled, soft and grateful. "Thank you."

    The car rolled out, smooth and quiet,

    following the line of the street.

    het

    They''d barely gone a few blocks when Reese''s phone rang. The Sereed showed a local number she didn''t know. She hesitated, then answered.

    "Reese."

    The voice on the other end was all too familiar, and it made her skin crawl.

    Her brows knit together and her voice dropped, cold and sharp. "What do you want?"

    "I heard what happened with the

    Meyer family Sebastian''s voice was low and t; impossible to read.

    "Bailey''s dead.

    harboring a fia got arrested f

    itive. The Meyer

    family''s out of money. And Joseph tricked them out of a huge project. I doubt they''llst much longer, will they?"

 Chapter 449

    "Your support system is gone, Reese. Matthew? He''s just a retired soldier. Sure, he still knows a few people in the military, but in the business world, he''s nothing. He can''t help you. So think about it. Do you really want to divorce me? If you drop the divorce ande back, you''ll still be Mrs. Ratcliff, living the good life."

    Reese let out a coldugh, her eyes sharp with contempt. ¡°Sebastian, you really overestimate yourself. The divorce is happening, no question. And just so you know, Matthew is a hundred times, a thousand times better than you. You''re not even in the same league."

    She didn''t wait for him to reply. She hung up and blocked his number in one fluid motion, not even hesitating for a second.

    Afterward, Reese was breathing hard, her fingers gripping her phone so tightly they turned white. The longer she thought about Sebastian''s words, the angrier she got. She realized she couldn''t stand anyone saying anything bad about Matthew, especially not from someone as selfish and fake as Sebastian. It made her want to rip apart his carefully crafted mask.

    Without another thought, she scrolled through her contacts and called Roman.

    He picked up almost right away, his voice steady and calm. "Ms. Meyer, how can I help you?"

    "Mr. Sanchez, the evidence I gave you before, about Sebastian forcing me into surrogacy... can we file a case?"

    There was a pause on the other end. Roman sounded serious. "We can file. But are you sure? If we do, this will go public. Your reputation could take a hit.¡±

    "I''m sure,¡± Reese replied, her voice clear and unwavering. Only by filing the case and having the evidence confirmed could she get the court to reopen her divorce.

    ¡°Understood. I''ll keep you updated as soon as there''s any news.¡±

    "Thank you."

    Reese hung up and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The anger was still there, simmering under her skin.

    Matthew had seen everything. He didn''t say a word at first. Instead he reached out and gently covered her clenched fist with his hand Slowly he loosened her fingers, smoothing them out one by one.

    "Don''t let him get to you. He''s not worth it. It''s just not worth getting this upset over someone like that. I''m fine, really."

    Reese looked up at him, her eyes

    still clouded with frustration and

    hurt, like a kitten with its fur all

    akit

    vel

    puffed up. Seeing her like this,

    Matthew''s heart softened

    glint in his eye. ¡°What, you don''t trust me?"

    He traced his fingertip lightly across her palm, making her twitch with surprise.

    "Forget about all that. Once we finish up at Vista Tech, I''ll take you to your favorite Japanese ce. They''ve got a new salmon belly sushi everyone'' talking about. I bet you''ll love it."

    Reese couldn''t help but smile, the tension in her eyes finally melting away. "Okay," she said softly.

 Chapter 450

    Matthew finally rxed when he saw her smile. He let go of her hand. The drive was smooth, the car weaving past all the usual traffic. In just over half an hour, they pulled up in front of the Vista Tech office tower. The building stood right in the middle of the old city, a familiarndmark in Bridger Lake''s business scene.

    They parked and walked into the lobby. The elevator took them up to Vista Tech''s floor, where the receptionist greeted them with a practiced smile.

    "Who are you here to see? Do you have an appointment?"

    "I''m here for Hank."

    She barely finished speaking before Hank stepped out of another elevator. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Reese and Matthew, shock all over his face.

    "Reese, what are you doing here?"

    Reese skipped the small talk. "I''m here about the de project and to sign the share transfer agreement."

    Hank looked stunned for a second, then hurried to show them in. "Let''s go to my office... It''s quieter there."

    Inside, Hank poured warm water into sses and set them down for Reese and Matthew.

    "Reese, you really don''t owe the Meyer family anything anymore. After everything that''s happened..."

    He trailed off, unable to meet her eyes. He clearly didn''t have it in him to ask her for help.

    Reese didn''t respond right away. She picked up her ss, took a slow sip, and finally spoke.

    "Because of the whole Bailey and Grace mess, Vista Tech''s reputation is in shambles. Thepany''s been dragged through the mud, and with Nathaniel now a wanted fugitive, there''s no way you''re getting the de partnership on your own."

    Hank''s face fell. He already knew all of this. He knew it better than anyone and it was exactly why he didn''t want Reese getting dragged in any further.

    "But I can help you," Reese said, changing the conversation.

    "I can get the de partnership through Ramos Corporation and then subcontract the work to Vista Tech."

    She and Matthew controlled the core tech behind de. Ramos Corporation was a major partner, which meant they could easily hand off the civilian side of the project to Vista Tech if they wanted.

    Hank just stared at her, totally floored. He''d always figured Reese was finished with the Meyer family. Maybe she even hated them now. He never thought she''d offer to help, not after everything.

    Before he could get a word in, Reese kept going."m not doing this for the Meyer family, and I''m definitely not doing it for you. I just don''t want Sebastian and Joseph to win. They want to see the Meyer''s crash and burn so they can swoop in for the leftovers. I''m not giving them that satisfaction."

    She paused, her tone turning serious. "But let''s be clear. I''m taking ny percent of the profits."

    A real smile finally broke through on Hank''s face. The Meyer family was hanging by a thread. Landing this project meant they might actually survive maybe even turn things around. At the very least, it would buy them time and restore some credibility.

    He got it. Reese was already going above and beyond. She didn''t owe them anything. If anything, they owed her.

    "Deal," Hank said, not hesitating.

    Reese nodded. ¡°My assistant, Vivian, will reach out to iron out the details. We''ll get the contract drafted soon. You''ll need to provide all yourpany''s documentation."

 Chapter 451

    "You need to get Vista Tech''s internal mess sorted out as soon as possible, especially everything Bailey left behind, and deal with anyone trying to drag thepany down. Don''t let any of it slow down the project. If there''s a problem with the project because of Vista Tech, I''ll end our partnership right away and hold you ountable for breaking the contract." Her voice was icy and sharp, making it clear she wasn''t ying around.

    Hank nodded fast, almost tripping over his own words. "I get it. I''ll handle everything inside thepany right away. The project won''t be affected. You have my word."

    When she saw the relief on his face, Reese couldn''t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. She wasn''t only helping the Meyer family to keep Joseph from getting what he wanted. Part of it was for her mom, Marie. Vista Tech was thepany her mom and Bailey had built together, filled with her mother''s hard work and all those memories. She couldn''t let Joseph ruin it. She just couldn''t let her mom''s life''s work go to waste.

    "Where''s the share transfer agreement?¡± Reese asked, changing the subject.

    Hank immediately opened a drawer and handed her the paperwork. "Everything''s ready. Take a look. If it''s all good, you can sign right here."

    Reese took the agreement and flipped through it. It clearly stated that Bailey was transferring fifteen percent of his shares in Vista Tech to her. Everything was in order. No tricks, no hidden uses. She looked it over onest time, then picked up a pen and signed her name. Her handwriting was strong and confident.

    She put her copy of the agreement in her bag. ¡°If there''s nothing else, we''ll head out."

    Matthew stood with her and took her hand without thinking, a natural, intimate gesture that made it obvious they were together.

    Hank walked them to the door, his face shining with gratitude. "Reese, thank you for being willing to help the Meyer family right now." After Bailey got scammed he''d tried

    calling their old partners for help, but nobody wanted to get involved.

    Reese didn''t look back. She just waved a hand, her voice cool and even. "No need

    to thank me. Just follow the contract."

    They left the office side by side and

    headed down the hallway to the elevators. As they passed the open workspace, plenty of employees nced up, sneaking curious looks at Reese and Matthew, trying to figure out what was going on.

    Reese ignored all the stares and stepped straight into the elevator. The doors slid

    shut behind them, shutting out the rest of the world.

    Matthew looked over at her, his eyes warm and gentle. "That''s it. Ready to get some Japanese food?"

    Reese looked up at him, a real smile touching her lips, and her eyes softened. "Yeah."

    Just as the elevator doors opened, Matthew''s phone started to ring. He checked the caller ID. It was Karter.

    "Boss, I just heard from the Ratcliff Global board. Joseph''s calling an emergency shareholders'' meeting Looks like he''s trying to get himself elected chairman as fast as possible, since he thinks you''re still out of the picture."

 Chapter 452

    Matthew paused at the elevator, a flicker of coldness in his eyes that disappeared almost instantly.

    Reese stood right beside him, catching every word from the phone call. Her brow creased just a bit. Joseph was really in a hurry, wasn''t he? He must think Matthew''s illness will keep him out of the Meyer family''s business, giving Joseph a perfect chance to move in.

    Matthew nced over at Reese, then slipped his hand into hers as they stepped out of the elevator. ¡°How many shareholders has he reached? What are they saying?"

    "He''s contacted most of them," Karter answered quickly. "Some of the older, usually neutral shareholders seem to have been convinced by promises of quick profits. They''ve already said they''ll back him."

    "And Joseph is spreading rumors, too. He''s telling people your illness did permanent damage, that you won''t be able to really run thepany anymore. He''s also hinting that, since you''re not a true Ratcliff, you''re just taking up space, like an outsider who shouldn''t even be a candidate."

    Matthew''s mouth curled up with the faintest trace of a mocking smile. Still, his fingers moved gently across the back of Reese''s hand, as if to quietlyfort her.

    "Got it. What time''s the meeting?"

    ¡°Three o''clock, in the boardroom on the top floor at Ratcliff Global.¡±

    Karter hesitated before adding, "Should I try to contact our shareholders and ask for

    a dy, maybe argue the meeting isn''t following proper procedures?"

    "Or I can go to headquarters right now and find some way to stall.¡±

    "No need." Matthew''s voice was calm and steady. "I''ll be there at three."

    He hung up and looked down at Reese. The coldness in his eyes had fadedpletely, reced with a deep, gentle warmth. "Sorry about this. Looks like our sushi ns are on hold."

    Reese shook her head and met his gaze. "This is more important. I''ming with you to Ratcliff Global."

    She remembered that Mr. Ratcliff

    had left herpany shares before he passed away. She still didn''t know why and the wit

    had never

    been made public, but it meant she

    was allowed at the board meeting.

    Matthew raised his eyebrows, surprised for a second before giving her a knowing smile. "You want to see it for yourself?"

    "Yes." Reese nodded, gripping his hand a little tighter. "Joseph has already tricked the Meyer family and taken so much. Now he thinks he can walk all over you. I want to see how he ns to take the charman''s seat while I''m sitting right there."

    And she still had something on Sebastian. Maybe she''d get a chance to use it at just the right moment.

    Matthew saw the determination in her eyes and felt a little spark inside. He reached up and gently messed up her hair, his tone soft and indulgent.

    "Alright. Time to show you what a Ratcliff Global family mess really looks like."

    They got into the car, but Matthew

    didnt right away. Instead, he

    his phone from the glove

    pand sent a few quick messages

    box

    to Karter.

    Reese nced over, a question in her eyes.

    "Aren''t we going straight to Ratcliff Global? We''ve got over an hour. Getting there early might give us time to prepare."

    Matthew set his phone down and turned to her, a mysterious smile on his lips. ¡°No need to rush."

    "The more desperate Joseph looks, the calmer we need to be."

    "He expects me to show up in a panic and ruin his ns. I''m not giving him that satisfaction."

 Chapter 453

    "Besides.¡± He paused, his voice carrying that easy, rxed tone. "I promised you sushi, didn''t I? I can''t just bail on that." He grinned. "Let''s eat first. We''ll need the energy to deal with those jokerster."

    Reese hesitated, but then it clicked. Matthew was pretending to beid-back, letting Joseph drop his guard. He wanted Joseph to think he wasn''t interested in fighting, only to strike when he least expected it.

    Her nerves settled. She smiled and nodded. ¡°Alright, I''ll go with your n."

    Matthew started the car, turned the wheel, and headed toward the sushi ce. Inside the car, he put on some mellow music. Instrumental notes filled the space, washing away that earlier tension. Every now and then, he''d turn to Reese and chat about the most ordinary things. New dishes at the sushi spot, how strange the weather had beentely, anything but Ratcliff Global. It was like he''d just decided to forget about the boardroom drama for the time being.

    Reese watched him, so calm and collected, and she felt her worries slip away. She knew Matthew never walked into a fight without a n. He might look casual, but he always had things under control.

    After about twenty minutes, they pulled up to Reese''s favorite sushi restaurant. The ce was hidden away on a quiet little side street, all clean lines and simple Japanese decor. It felt peaceful the moment they walked in.

    The owner spotted them right away and hurried over, beaming. "Mr. Wiles, it''s been a while. Want your usual table?"

    Matthew smiled. "Yeah, the usual." He took Reese''s hand and led her to the booth by the window. It had a great view of the alley''s greenery, and the whole corner just felt so calm.

    Once they sat down, the waiter handed over the menus. Matthew nced at them, then ordered without even looking. He picked out all the things Reese loved: salmon belly sushi, arctic surf m sashimi, grilled eel, and a sukiyaki hot pot. He added, "And two sses of plum wine, please."

    ¡°Coming right up," the waiter said, bowing a little before heading off.

    Reese watched Matthew, feeling a warmth spread in her chest. "You still remember what I like?"

    Matthew looked up, his eyes soft. "Of course I remember. I remember everything you like."

    Her cheeks heated up. She quickly turned toward the window, pretending to study the nts outside, trying to hide her embarrassment.

    Matthew noticed the flush on her ears, and his smile grew even wider.

    Before long, their food started

    arriving. The salmon belly sushi looked perfect, with just the right amount of fat, practically melting.in her mouth. The arctic surf m Sashimi was bright and crisp, the griffed eel had that smoky aroma and tender texture, and the sukiyaki was bubbling away, rich and inviting.

    Reese picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a piece of sushi, and popped it into her mouth. She closed her eyes, savoring it, feeling all the stress of the past few days just dissolve with every bite.

    Matthew watched her enjoy the food, and he couldn''t help grinning. He kept adding

    more to her te, not bothering to hide how much he cared.

    They ate slowly, talking in quiet voices. The restaurant felt like its own little world, far

    away from all the chaos and games of the business world.

    Every now and then, Matthew''s phone would buzz quietly. He''d nce at it, tuck it away, and go right back to talking with Reese,

    gon

    never letting anything interrupt their

    time together.

 Chapter 454

    Reese saw what was happening but didn''t ask about it. She already knew it had to be Karter texting, probably with updates from the Ratcliff Global board meeting. Still, she chose to trust Matthew. She believed he could handle whatever came up.

    They took their time with dinner, almost an hour, both of them eating until they werepletely satisfied. When Matthew finished paying, he took Reese''s hand and led her out of the sushi ce, his voice steady again. ¡°Had enough? Now we go see Joseph at Ratcliff Global."

    Reese nodded, her rxed mood shifting to one of focus and resolve. "I''m ready."

    They got back in the car. This time, Matthew started the engine without a second thought and sped off toward the Ratcliff Global headquarters.

    Meanwhile, over at Vista Tech, Hank sat in his office, staring at a stack of reports, his brow furrowed in frustration. Just a few minutes earlier, he''d gotten a call from an unknown number. The guy on the other end said he was calling on behalf of Ratcliff Global, and his voice was all arrogance and attitude.

    "Mr. Meyer, Mr. Ratcliff asked me to pass along a message," the caller said, barely hiding the mockery in his tone. "Vista Tech is tangled up with a wanted criminal now, your reputation''s ruined, and you still think you can win the de project subcontract? Completely delusional."

    He kept going. "If you know what''s good for you, you''ll pull out of the project on your own and tie yourpany to Ratcliff Global. Maybe then Mr. Ratcliff will take pity on you and help Vista Tech through this mess. Otherwise, you''re on your own."

    the

    Before Hank could even process threat, the PR department sent word that things were getting worse. All over the inte, rumors were popping up about Vista Tech

    .n

    running out of money and going bankrupt. Someone had even faked financial statements and posted them everywhere. The wholepany was on edge. People were whispering in the halls, and a few key employees had already turned in their resignations.

    Hank was at his wit''s end. He knew, without a doubt, that Joseph was behind all of

    it. Joseph wanted to force Vista Tech out of the de project and send Reese a clear warning.

    He stared at his phone for a long moment, then finally called Reese.

    Right then, Reese was in the passenger seat of Matthew''s car, watching the city blur past her window. Her phone lit up with Hank''s name. She felt a pulse of worry but answered with a steady voice. "Hey, Hank.¡±

    ¡°Reese, it''s bad," he blurted,

    sounding panicked and desperate.

    "Joseph sent someone to threaten me. They want us out of the

    de

    project Now there are rumors everywhere about us going under. The office feels like it''s falling apart, and people are already quitting. You have to do something."

    Reese''s expression turned cold, her eyes sharp. Joseph was fast. She hadn''t even

    made her move yet, and he was already bringing the fight to them.

    gan track.

    "I get it," she said, her voice calm and reassuring. "Keep everyone calm. Tell the team the rumors are fake Vista Tech isn''t going bankrupt, and the de project is still Have the PR department release a statement right away to clear things up. Get them to collect every bit of evidence about who''s spreading the lies. We''re taking this legal."

    "I''m on my way to Ratcliff Global right now. As soon as I finish there, I''lle straight to the office."

 Chapter 455

    Hank felt his nerves settle as soon as he heard Reese''s calm voice. "Alright, got it. I''ll take care of it right now." He hung up, and Reese turned to fill Matthew in on what was happening.

    Matthew''s eyes turned icy, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. "Joseph really can''t wait to dig his own grave, can he?"

    "He thinks this will scare us off? That''s just wishful thinking." Reese''s reply came with a trace of sarcasm. "He probably believes that if he snags the chairman''s seat at Ratcliff Global and takes down Vista Tech, he''ll have Bridger Lake''s business world in the palm of his hand."

    Matthew''s confidence was unshakable. "He''s in for a rude awakening. Today, he''ll learn what it means to set a trap for someone else and fall right into it himself."

    The drive didn''t take long. Soon, they pulled up in front of Ratcliff Global''s headquarters. The skyscraper towered above the city center, sleek and intimidating, a clear sign of Ratcliff Global''s dominance in Bridger Lake''s business scene. Yet to Reese, the building looked less like a symbol of power and more like a massive cage, filled with secrets and schemes waiting to unfold.

    Shoulder to shoulder, they walked through the revolving doors into the lobby. The receptionist spotted Matthew and immediately straightened, her face flickering with surprise and nervous respect. "M...Mr. Wiles, you''re here."

    Matthew barely nced her way as he strode toward the private elevator. "Boardroom. Top floor."

    The receptionist hurried to press the button and watched them disappear into the elevator, her posture nothing but respectful.

    The ride up was quick. As soon as the doors opened, they spotted Noah waiting in the hallway. He was Matthew''s assistant, always calm and collected Two men in sharp. suits stood at his side. Everything about them said they were used to power.

    "Sir." Noah nodded. His eyes paused on Reese for a second before

    moving away. "These are Mr. Riles

    and Lugo They''re senior

    Yard and the ones

    members of the

    who pushed hardest for you to

    be chairman."

    Mr. Riles and Mr. Lugo stepped forward, each giving Matthew a small nod. "Mr. Wiles."

    Matthew nodded back, cool andposed. "Gentlemen."

    He remembered how at thest board meeting, these two had been the first to suggest his name for chairman. That also meant they were the ones with the biggest ambitions. Since he''d never held a position at Ratcliff Global before, if he took the top spot, these two would be the real power brokers behind the scenes.

    Mr. Riles spoke first. "It''s the right thing to do. Joseph''s always had his eye on thepany, scheming for control. We can''t just sit back and let him get away with it.''

    Mr. Lugo added, "If it weren''t for Mr. Ratcliff, thispany wouldn''t even be here. Supporting you, Mr. Wiles, is only fair."

    Matthew didn''t waste words. "Let''s go. Time to see what Joseph''s up to."

 Chapter 456

    Footsteps echoed from the far end of the hallway. A group of people moved in, all clustered around one man. It was Joseph. He wore a sharp, expensive suit, his hair perfectly styled, and a confident smile tugged at his lips. Several shareholders and his inner circle followed close behind. When he spotted Matthew, Joseph''s smile faltered for a moment. Then his gaze shifted to Reese, who stood by Matthew''s side, and a flicker of disdain crossed his eyes. So the gossip was true. Ever since Sebastian got pushed out, Reese had been spending a lot of time with Matthew. Clearly, she was willing to do anything for a shot at the shares Mr. Ratcliff left behind. And Matthew, dragging himself here while still sick, just to show off for a woman. He should be more worried about his health giving out than impressing anyone.

    Joseph put on a look of fake concern. "Matthew, I heard you were in the hospital. You feeling any better?"

    "I''m fine." Matthew looked at Joseph''s phony smile and frowned. He didn''t want Reese tangled up in the drama brewing inside Ratcliff Global. He leaned closer and said quietly, "Go wait for me in the lounge, okay?"

    Reese''s eyes widened with surprise. She nced up at him and caught a mischievous spark in his eyes. After a moment, she yed along, pretending to be reluctant. "Alright."

    Joseph watched her walk away, obviously not thrilled about it, and a mocking grin appeared on his face. So much for all those rumors about them being inseparable. Looked like they were both just out for themselves.

    "Let''s go." Matthew didn''t like the way Joseph had been looking at Reese, so he headed straight for the boardroom without another word.

    Joseph''s face darkened at the brush-off. He let out a cold snort and mumbled under his breath, ¡°Don''t get too full of yourself, Matthew. This is Ratcliff Global, not your yground. Today''s board meeting is for electing a new chairman. As an illegitimate son, you don''t even belong here."

    Matthew had spent years in the military. His ears were sharp, so he heard every word. He stopped and turned to Joseph, a cold smile in his eyes.

    "Whether I belong here or not isn''t your call. That''s up to the shareholders. And by the way, I have fifteen percent of Ratcliff Global''s shares. That''s double what you have. Care to tell me again if I belong here?"

    Joseph''s face went pale. He stared at Matthew,pletely stunned. ¡°No way. How could you possibly have that many shares?"

    He''d always thought Matthew only had whatever Mr. Ratcliff left him, maybe ten percent at best. Nowhere near enough to be a threat.

    "That''s not your problem,¡± Matthew replied, his voice calm but tinged with sarcasm. Before he met Reese, his only goal in life was to get revenge on the Ratcliff family. Did Joseph really think he''d just show up without a n? Matthew had been quietly buying up shares for a long time, never making a fuss about it.

    "Did you really think I never wanted control of Ratcliff Global? I was just waiting for the right moment to clean house."

    Joseph was shaking with anger. He pointed at Matthew, but nothing came out. He never dreamed Matthew had been hiding so much, acting harmless while quietly building his power.

    "Enough. Let''s not stand around wasting time." Matthew didn''t want to argue anymore. He took Reese''s hand and led the way into the boardroom.

    Joseph took a deep breath, pushing down his rage. He shot a look at the shareholders and his loyal followers, then followed them inside.

    The boardroom was spacious, with a long oval table in the center. Around it sat more than a dozen

    shareholders, each wearing a

    different expression-cel

    cautious, Q

    tense The room

    inim¨¨diately

    went quiet when Matthew and Joseph entered. Every eye was on them.

    Matthew led Reese to one end of the table and took a seat. Mr. Riles and Mr. Lugo sat on either side of him and Karter stood behind his chair. Joseph sat at the opposite end his face dark and his gaze cold as he stared at Matthew.

    Joseph broke the silence. "Now that everyone''s here, let''s get started. I''ve called this meeting today to elect a new chairman for Ratcliff Global. As you all know, Sebastian has been removed from his position after being involved in several illegal activities. Thepany needs a strong leader to guide us out of this mess. I believe I have the ability and the right to be that leader." His confidence filled the room. "I''ve been a senior executive here for years, and know thispany inside and out. Besides, for the legitimate Ratcliff bloodline. That makes me more qualified than certain people whose backgrounds are... questionable." He shot a pointed look at Matthew.

    Matthew didn''t react. He just picked up his ss, took a sip of water, and lookedpletely unbothered.

    A shareholder spoke up. "Mr. Ratcliff makes a good point. He''s been here a long time and has done a lot for thepany. I''d feel better with him as chairman."

    Another added, ¡°Mr. Wiles might have a lot of shares, but he isn''t really a Ratcliff, and he''s never worked here before. He doesn''t know how things run, so he''s not the right fit for chairman."

    It was obvious Joseph had already lined up his support. Seeing that, his smile grew even more smug.

    "Thank you all for your trust. I promise I''ll lead Ratcliff Global to new heights." He looked around the room. "Let''s vote. If you agree with me taking over as chairman, please raise your hand."

    He raised his hand first. Several shareholders followed, one by one. The votes were piling up, closing in on a majority.

    At that moment, Matthew finally spoke. His voice was calm, but there was no mistaking the authority in it. "Hold on."

 Chapter 457

    Joseph froze, his face turning stormy. "What exactly are you trying to do, Matthew?"

    "Nothing at all." Matthew set down his ss and shed a calm smile. ¡°I just want to remind everyone that what Ratcliff Global needs most right now is to fix its reputation with the authorities."

    "If that weren''t the case, Sebastian wouldn''t have been ousted just for backing Leslie," he added, almost casually.

    ¡°We all know that. We don''t need you to tell us,¡± Joseph shot back, ring.

    Matthew raised his brows and looked right at him. "Then why don''t you tell us, Joseph? What''s your n to restore Ratcliff Global''s reputation?¡±

    "W¡ªwell, by delivering results, obviously..." Joseph stammered. He hadn''t really thought about it and couldn''te up with anything convincing. Flustered, he red at Matthew. "What, you think you have a better idea?"

    "Actually, yes.¡± Matthew nodded. ¡°I can guarantee that Ratcliff Global will keep working on the de project."

    ¡°de is backed by the military, and it''s mainly for military use. With their support, no one''s going to doubt Ratcliff Global''s credibility."

    "That means whatever damage Sebastian did to thepany''s reputation pretty much disappears."

    The room grew restless as the board members exchanged nces and started whispering among themselves. Joseph''s face went sour. He''d forgotten the main reason these old board members nominated Matthew was because he was the lead on the de project.

    He opened his mouth to argue, but Matthew was already speaking again. "Besides, sure, I took my mother''sst name and barely grew up with my grandfather, so I might not be the most experienced at running things..."

    "But isn''t that why you''re all here to help me?"

    At that, the board members perked up, especially Mr. Riles and Mr. Lugo. They looked almost excited.

    "No matter what, that''s still better than handing Ratcliff Global over to someone who''d sell out thepany, right?" Matthew said, giving Joseph a pointed look. Joseph''s expression turned even darker. ¡°What are you implying, Matthew?"

    "It''s not an implication. I mean it exactly as it sounds." Matthew nodded at Noah, who stepped forward and ced a thick folder on the table, sliding it toward the shareholders.

    ¡°Everyone, here''s proof of Joseph embezzlingpany funds, colluding with outsiders, and harming Ratcliff Global''s interests over the years. Take a look."

    The shareholders grabbed the file, flipping through the pages. Their faces grew tense, some even turning red with anger.

    "Joseph, is this real? You usedpany money to y the futures market and lost all of it?" one of them demanded.

    Joseph''s face went pale. He mmed his palm on the table, making the papers jump. ¡°Lies! Matthew, you made all this up to frame me!"

    He lunged for the file, but Noah blocked his hand.

    "Mr. Ratcliff, this evidence is backed by bank statements, transaction records, and sworn testimony. Nothing''s fabricated," Noah said quietly.

    Mr. Riles held up a page, pointing at a transaction. "What about this thirty million? It went from ourpany ount straight to a shell corporation you secretly own. Care to exin?"

    Mr. Lugo chimed in, "And the overseas deal? You leaked our core technology and cost us a huge contractst year. Is that fake too?"

    The shareholders erupted into a storm of conversation, voices ovepping in the tense air. Those who had supported Joseph now dropped their hands, looking uneasy and wary.

    Sweat trickled down Joseph''s forehead as he looked around, desperate. "It''s... it''s all a misunderstanding! The money was for expanding business overseas. And the tech leak. That''s nonsense Matthew is setting me up!

    Matthew gave a coldugh and pulled a recorder from his pocket. He clicked y.

    "Then you might want to listen to this."

    The whole room listened as

    Joseph''s voice yed. He was negotiating with a foreign investor

    clearly tradingpany for

    a fat kickback. He even promised, "Once I''m chairman, I''ll give you even more."

    The room went silent, then exploded in outrage.

    "I can''t believe he''d do this."

    "He never cared about thepany, just himself."

    "How could someone like that be chairman? He''d destroy Ratcliff Global."

    Joseph nearly copsed, his eyes empty. He had never imagined Matthew would have this kind of evidence.

    "No... that''s not real. It''s fake!" he stammered, voice shaking.

    Matthew tucked away the recorder, his tone icy. "The police can sort out what''s real and what''s not. Noah, the evidence has been sent to the economic crimes division, fight?''

    "Yes, sir. It''s already been submitted. The police have opened an investigation and are searching Mr. Ratcliff''s office for more evidence,¡± Noah replied.

    Joseph''s knees buckled and he almost hit the floor, only saved by his loyal aide. He red at Matthew, eyes burning with hatred. ¡°You''re ruthless, Matthew."

    ¡°Ruthless?¡± Matthew stood, looking down at him. ¡°After what you did to the Meyer family, you want to talk about ruthless?"

    At that moment, the conference room doors opened. Several police officers stepped in, Roman at the front.

    "Joseph Ratcliff, you''re under investigation for embezzlement, leaking trade secrets, and bribery. Pleasee with us," Roman announced, holding up a warrant.

    Joseph''s cronies tried to stop them, but the police shoved them aside.

    ¡°No! I can''t leave! I''m the heir to Ratcliff Global. I''m supposed to be chairman!" Joseph fought, but the officers held him fast and snapped the cuffs on.

    "Take him away," Roman ordered.

    The police dragged Joseph out. He twisted in their grip, screaming down the hallway.

    "Matthew, I''ll get you for this! Sebastian won''t let you off either!"

    His shouts echoed, fading until all that was left was silence.

 Chapter 458

    The old Ratcliff estate felt like it had been frozen in time. Sebastian stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in his second-floor study, his tall frame outlined against the fading afternoon light. His ck silk shirt sleeves were rolled up, showing off the sharp lines of his wrists. A cigarette smoldered between his fingers, burning all the way down until the ember stung his skin. That was when he finally snapped out of his thoughts. He snuffed the cigarette out in the crystal ashtray on the windowsill, the soft clink of ss and the falling ash the only sounds in the quiet room.

    The ashtray was already half full, cigarette butts stacked haphazardly. The bitter tang of nicotine mixed with the subtle scent of old camphor wood, creating a heaviness that seemed to hang in the air. Outside, the stone path winding through the courtyard was buried under a thick nket of golden ginkgo leaves. It should have been noisy, the crunch of leaves underfoot, but the estate was so still that Sebastian could hear his own breathing. Even the wind seemed to have stopped.

    He didn''t know how long he''d been standing there before the door opened a crack. Brady slipped in, moving quietly, almost on tiptoe, as if afraid to draw any attention to himself. He stopped a few steps away, standing straight as a board, his voice low and strained.

    "Sir, the police took Joseph away from the board meeting."

    Sebastian didn''t look up. He kept tracing the edge of the window with his fingertips, cool and smooth beneath his touch. He looked like he was hearing about someone else''s business, not his own.

    Brady went on, "They''ve confirmed three charges. Embezzlement, leaking trade secrets, andmercial bribery."

    He hesitated, then added, "They''ve got everything. Bank records, an audio recording, aplete chain of evidence. The economic crimes unit already filed the case."

    Another pause, this one longer. ¡°It''s a mess. The public doesn''t know yet, but all the big families in Bridger Lake are aware. Ratcliff Global''s stock is already taking a hit, and the board is falling apart."

    Sebastian finally reacted. He pulled his gaze away from the window, a faint smirk curving his lips. ¡°Let me guess. The old men on the board figured it out?"

    He nced back at the ginkgo leaves, the mockery clear in his eyes. He''d seen thising. Joseph''s ambition always outpaced his ability. Trouble at Ratcliff Global was just a matter of time.

    Joseph was arrogant, always convinced that Sebastian, the former president who''d been ousted, was no threat. After the old man died, Joseph only grew bolder. He''d usedpany funds to cover his own losses, leakedpany secrets topetitors, even bribed board members to try to secure the chairman''s seat.

    Sebastian''s n had been simple. Let Joseph climb to the top, then expose everything. He wanted to step in when the board was desperate, just to remind them who could really keep Ratcliff Global afloat.

    Brady shook his head, watching Sebastian carefully. "It wasn''t the board. It was Matthew. He''s the one who called the police and dug up all the dirt on Joseph.¡±

    Sebastian''s eyes narrowed, irritation flickering over his face. Matthew. Again. How did he even find out? Sebastian remembered how long it took him to find traces of Joseph''s embezzlement back when he was stiff on the inside, working throughyers of paperwork and calling in favors. Matthew was an outsider, someone who shouldn''t have hau ess to any of this. Yet he''d put together airtight evidence in no time at all, right down to a recording that would bury Joseph for good.

    "Matthew..." Sebastian said the name quietly, his lips pressed into a hard line. The

    air in the study felt like it dropped ten degrees.

    His half-brother had been in the military for years, only recently discharged. Where did he get the connections to pull this off who was he, really? And why had hee to Bridger Lake now?

    "Find out everything you can about him," Sebastian said, his gaze sharp. "I want a

    full report on Matthew''sst few years. Three days."

    Brady nodded and started to leave, then seemed to remember something. He stopped and nced back, hesitating before he spoke.

    "There''s one more thing, sir. Madam was at Ratcliff Global too. She was with Matthew."

    Sebastian turned, his eyes suddenly cold and piercing. "Reese? What was she doing there?" And with Matthew, no less.

    Was Matthew trying to get close to Reese to stir things up with the

    Meyer family? Was this some kind of payback for being ignored all these years? Sebastian almostughed. Reese, was this really the man you picked after fighting so hard to divorce me?

    Brady answered quickly. ¡°Mr. Ratcliff left her some shares. The paperwork wasn''t done yet, so she didn''t get to vote. She just waited for Matthew in the lounge."

    Sebastian''s frown deepened. Shares? The old man left Reese shares? Since when? Why didn''t he know about this?

    "When did this happen? Is there a will?¡±

    Brady thought for a moment. "I think there is. The news started circting inside thepany, but I think Madam only just found out herself."

    Sebastian shot Brady a look, impatience showing through. "Why didn''t you tell me sooner?"

    Brady swallowed, looking uneasy. "I never saw the will. I didn''t know about the shares. I thought it was just a rumor Joseph started to distract people."

 Chapter 459

    "It only hit me after I realized Madam walked right into Ratcliff Global without anyone stopping her..." The old man really had left shares for Reese.

    "You can go." Sebastian waved Brady off. He knew none of this was Brady''s fault. If even Sebastian didn''t know about the shares, it made sense for Brady to think Joseph was just spreading rumors. Still, his grandfather never left loose ends. If he wanted Reese to have shares, there''d be some trace. Unless... the will had been purposely hidden.

    With that thought, Sebastian left the study and stopped at the top of the stairs, calling for the butler. "Did my grandfather''swyer ever bring a will here?"

    The butler, standing in the hall, looked up at Sebastian''s impatient face and felt a jolt of panic. The will had been delivered, but thewyer had made it clear: Sebastian couldn''t see it until he and Reese got divorced. So the butler had handed it over to Jane for safekeeping.

    "Speak!" Sebastian barked, catching the butler''s nervous nce. "What, now that I''ve been kicked out of Ratcliff Global, you''re hiding things from me too?"

    "Sir, I swear I didn''t mean to keep it from you," the butler stammered. "Your grandfather''sst wish was that the will couldn''t be revealed before you and Madam were divorced."

    Sebastian frowned, irritation prickling under his skin. What did that even mean? If he never divorced Reese, did that mean the will would stay hidden forever?

    But from the butler''s reaction, Sebastian knew the will had definitely been brought to the house. If it wasn''t here with him, it had to be with Jane.

    He turned away and headed upstairs, straight to Jane''s room. The space looked just as it always had when his grandfather was alive. The pearl jewelry box sat perfectly on the vanity, a cdon vase stood in the corner, and the air still carried the faint scent of gardenia. Nothing had changed.

    Sebastian moved without hesitation to the vanity and knelt down to open the bottom drawer. Years ago, he''d had this secretpartment installed for Jane. She always kept her most important things there. The drawer was locked, but Sebastian felt around the cosmetics tray and soon found a key tucked at the bottom. He slid it into the lock and turned it. The drawer opened with a soft click.

    Inside, files were stacked neatly. He pushed them aside until his fingers brushed against a stiff man envelope. He pulled it out and opened it.

    There it was. The will, stamped by the notary, his grandfather''s personal seal pressed into the paper. Tucked underneath was a disc. It was obvious the will had been made after his grandfather became too weak to write, so he''d recorded his wishes and left everything with thewyer.

    Sebastian''s eyes narrowed. He thought about Leslie, about missing his grandfather''sst moments because of her. If it hadn''t been for Leslie maybe his grandfather wouldn''t have passed so soon, not just from the news of the surrogacy. His anger at Leslie burned even hotter.

    He took a slow breath, unfolding the will to read it. He needed to know what about this will was so secret it couldn''t be made public unless he and Reese split.

    "To recognize Reese Meyer as the Ratcliff family''s adopted granddaughter and grant her eight percent of Ratcliff Global''s shares. The transfer to be handled by thewyer..."

    Adopted granddaughter? Every wordnded like a punch straight to his chest.

    Sebastian let out a bitter, twisted

    let out

    smile. So that''s why the will could only be revealed after a divorce. His grandfather had known Reese would insiston leaving, that their marriage was never going tost. He''d hidden it to protect her. The shares the new title-none of this was just a will. It was a safety, a way to make sure Sebastian couldn''t hurt Reese if they parted ways.

    No wonder Jane was so convinced Reese had caused his grandfather''s

    death, calling her cold a

    for wanting a divorce. When

    Sebastian had rushed home from Leslie''s, desperate to see his grandfather onest time, Jane had med Reese for everything and refused to let them divorce. She was terrified the will woulde to light, that Reese would get a piece of

    Ratcliff Global.

    It all made sense now-why Jane helped Leslie steal the de project data from ckOak. They must''ve struck some kind of deal back then.

    The realization left Sebastian feeling hollow and powerless. He sank onto the stool

    in front of the vanity, bitterness flooding his chest. This was his mother. His grandfather. His whole life, he''d just been a pawn in their hands. What a joke.

    "If the will can only be revealed after a divorce, then it''ll never be revealed." Sebastian put the will back in the envelope and locked it away. He looked out the window, his eyes steely with determination.

    "I''m never getting a divorce. Not in this lifetime."

    It didn''t matter that their marriage had always been built on misunderstandings and business deals. It didn''t matter that Reese had kept her distance all this time or that so many lies stood between them. He''d never let her go.

    Reese was his wife. In this life, she could only ever belong to him.

 Chapter 460

    The chairman''s office at the top of Ratcliff Global had a view that could make anyone stop and stare. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the Bridger Lake skyline stretched out endlessly, skyscrapers crowding together, their ss walls catching the midday sun and scattering light across the polished marble floor. Bright patches danced on the stone, shifting with every cloud that drifted by.

    Matthew leaned back in his leather chair, giving himself a slow spin behind the massive desk. He looked around, eyebrows lifting with obvious satisfaction.

    ¡°This is what I call an office," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Noah, remind me, when we redo our headquarters, let''s use this ce as the blueprint.¡±

    "You got it, boss." Noah stood at the desk, grinning. He knew Matthew wasn''t serious. Their European headquarters had just been remodeled half a year ago. Still, now that everyone else had finally left, the room felt lighter, and Noah let out a quiet breath he''d been holding all afternoon.

    Thinking back to the board meeting, he hesitated, a furrow forming between his brows. "Boss, the proposals those directors put forward... It''s obvious they''re trying to sideline you. They want core business approvals to go through the board. And that so-called ''strategic oversight group'' they suggested? It''s made up entirely of their people. They''re basically trying to turn you into a puppet. Why did you agree to any of that?"

    On paper, the board''s suggestions sounded noble, all about "better management" and "steady growth," but every line chipped away at the chairman''s authority. Control over real estate and tech divisions was being split up, and the financial process was about to get buried in red tape. If things kept going this way, it wouldn''t be long before the old guard ran Ratcliff Global from the shadows, and Matthew''s fancy title wouldn''t mean a thing.

    Matthew looked up, his dark eyes impossibly calm. His voice came out t, as if he were talking about the weather. "It''s fine. I never wanted this job anyway." He paused, a hint of a smirk on his lips. "Besides, in their eyes, I''m still the sickly one who needs to take it easy."

    Noah just stared, stunned. He''d been by Matthew''s side for years, always thinking this was the endgame-taking over Ratcliff Global and getting back at the family for what they''d done.

    Matthew''s tone softened, almost thoughtful. "I only fought Joseph for this position because he pushed too far. He tried to mess with the Meyer family, and he picked the wrong target."

    Reese''s face shed through his mind-a cool, sharp profile. He remembered the tired lines under her eyes after nights spent upgrading the system, the way her back stayed straight even when Joseph tried to cut her down.

    "Now Joseph''s out of the picture, the board promised to tear up that unfair agreement he signed with the Meyers, and my work here is done."

    Power struggles never interested him. Running Ratcliff Global was just something he had to do, a temporary job to keep Reese safe from Joseph''s schemes. What mattered to him more than any title was finding out the truth about his mother''s disappearance and where she was now.

    He thought back to the funeral, remembering the conversation between Jane and Leslie. His eyes narrowed. He''d nned to investigate quietly, to find his mother without drawing attention. He never expected Joseph to act so fast against the Meyer family and drag Reese into the mess.

    A flicker of guilt crossed his face. He wanted to shield Reese from all this ugliness, but he hadn''t managed to keep her out after all.

    Noah, watching Matthew sink into his thoughts, suddenly remembered some fresh news. "By the way, boss, our people noticed Sebastian''s been digging into your past. He''s calling in favors from old friends at Ratcliff Global even reaching out to military contacts and people he knew abroad. Should we step in? Maybe clean up anything sensitive?"

    Matthew''s lips curled into a cool, almost amused smile. ¡°No need." His voice was light, but something sharp ran under it. ¡°Some things can''t stay hidden forever. If he wants to know, let him dig."

    He''d been ready for this since the day he came back to Bridger Lake. He just thought Sebastian would catch on sooner. Now, finally, his so-called perfect older brother+the one who idolized a man who didn''t deserve it, who clung to the fantasy of a perfect family-was about to leam the truth He wondered what Sebastian would do when he found out who his father really was, how Jane had pushed his mother to the brink.

    "Let him get to the bottom of it," Matthew said quietly, the barest trace of irony in his tone. He stopped tapping his fingers on the desk. ¡°Once he knows everything, he''ll finally understand what I''m after."

    Meanwhile, at Vista Tech, theb was buzzing, lights bright and the smell of coffee thick in the air. It was already ten at night, but the team was still going strong, the steady click of keyboards filling the room.

    Hank stood in the doorway, unable

    to hide the smile on his face. He held a share transfer agreement so tightly his hands shook. After a mountain of paperwork, the Meyer Group shares had finally been transferred to Reese. She was now the majority shareholder holding fifty-one percent.

    If this had happened before, Hank might have been annoyed that his little sister got such a big share. But now, none of that mattered. He knew she deserved it, whether aspensation from him as her brother or as recognition of her own hard work. Reese had earned every single share.

 Chapter 461

    To get Vista Tech''s system ready for the de project, Reese and her core R&D team pulled four all-nighters in a row. They barely slept, living on coffee and adrenaline while they upgraded every line of code and patched every w they found. More than once, he''d walked past theb in the dead of night and seen her slumped over her desk, fast asleep with herptop still glowing, code scrolling down the screen. The coffee by her hand was always cold by then. If it hadn''t been for her, the de project would have stalled outpletely, and the Meyer family would still be stuck in the mess Joseph left behind.

    Theb door clicked open, and Reese stepped out. She wore a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up to her elbows, her wrists slim and pale. There was a faint smudge of ink on one wrist, barely visible. She looked tired, with soft shadows under her eyes, but nothing could hide her cool, quiet vibe. She was like a white plum blossom blooming alone on a cold night.

    When she saw Hank waiting outside, she just gave him a small nod. Her voice was calm and almost distant.

    "It''s done. The system upgrade is finished, and all the security problems have been fixed. Once we hand things over to ckOak, de will be good to go."

    Hank''s relief was obvious. "That''s amazing! Reese, thank you, really." He stepped forward, holding out a folder with shaking hands. "This is the Meyer family''s share transfer agreement. With this, you''re now the biggest shareholder in thepany."

    He looked like he was about to cry. If Reese hadn''t stepped in, the Meyer family and the business both would have gone under a long time ago.

    Reese took the folder, flipped through the paperwork, checked the numbers, and nodded. ¡°You''re still running things. Unless it''s urgent, don''t bother me.¡±

    She spoke like it was just another day at work. Hank''s smile faded a little as he tried to figure out what to say next. He knew Reese still kept her distance from the family. She hadn''t done any of this out of love. It was business, pure and simple.

    Reese noticed his hesitation and sighed quietly to herself. She wasn''t made of stone, but years of hurt and distance couldn''t be fixed with a simple apology. She didn''t want Hank to feel like he owed her, and she definitely didn''t want to get tangled up in family drama. Keeping things transactional was just cleaner.

    "Don''t feel guilty," she said, breaking the silence. Her voice was still cool. "I did this for my own benefit."

    "If the Meyer family does well, my shares are worth more, and my dividends go up. That''s all there is to it."

    Hank nodded quickly, still looking nervous, like he was scared to say the wrong thing.

    "Even so, thank you," he said. "If you ever need anything from us, just say so. I''ll help however I can."

    Reese didn''t answer. She just nodded and walked away. Right now, all she wanted was to go home, crawl into bed, and forget about all this chaos.

    Outside Vista Tech, the autumn wind felt cool and sharp on her face. It cleared her head a little as she crossed the parking lot. Reese got in her car, buckled up, and was about to start the engine when her phone rang.

    Roman''s name shed on the screen. She connected her Bluetooth earpiece and picked up, her voice as steady as ever.

    "Hello, Mr. Sanchez."

    "Ms. Meyer, I have two updates for

    you." Roman''s tone was serious,

    every word clear. "First, we''ve

    verified at the evidence you gave us about Sebastian''s surrogacy arrangement. The bank transfers, chat records, witness statements... everything matches up. It''s all real."

    "We''re preparing to open a formal investigation. Sebastian will be required to cooperate."

    Reese''s fingers paused for a second, but her tone didn''t change. "Okay."

    She''d expected this.

    "Second, Dylon''s case has a trial date," Roman went on. "It''s next Friday at nine, in Bridger Lake Central Court."

    "As the main victim, will you be able to appear in court?"

    "That won''t be necessary." Reese''s voice turned even colder. "Mywyer will go for me. I don''t want any more contact with the Ramos family."

    Dylon''s betrayal had burned away any leftover feelings she might have had. All that fake affection, all the lies and maniption... she didn''t want to remember, and shee

    definitely didn''t want to see anyone from that family again.

    "Understood," Roman said, not pushing her. "If anything changes, I''ll update you."

    "Thank you, Mr. Sanchez,¡± Reese replied, then hung up.

    The car was quiet again. She stared out the window as the city slipped by, lost in

    thought. At the next red light, she pulled out her phone and called George.

    He picked up almost immediately, voice crisp and professional. ¡°Ms. Meyer, how can

    I help?"

    "George, the trial for Dylon''s case is set," Reese said, her tone calm but firm, Next

    1, nine eliger

    Bridger Lake Central Court. Your represent me."

    "Yes, Ms. Meyer. I''ll make sure everything''s ready," George said.

    "And one more thing." Reese paused, her eyes going cold. "The police have confirmed the evidence about Sebastian. The case is officially open."

    "Let the court know I want another hearing for my divorce from Sebastian."

    No matter what it cost, this time she was ending it for good.

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