“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 accident. 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 Blade 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 flat. “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 Blade’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 accident?”
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 flashed 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 blankly at the floor.
“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. He didn’t stand a chance.
Just then, two more men raced up the stairs and launched themselves at Grace’s guards. They moved fast and efficiently, taking both men down in seconds.
“Alex, come 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 the lawyer who’d come with Reese before.
He nodded quickly. “Please, I need to see Ms. Meyer. Take me to her right away!”

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