The Doormat Wife’s Ultimate Glow-Up novel Chapter 409

“Don’t let it get to you,” Jose said softly. “Once he calms down, he’ll realize you were always looking out for him.”

Bailey let out a short, cold laugh. “He’s not a kid anymore. You think he’s that easy to fool? No, he just wants to do things his own way now.”

Jose could see Bailey was on edge, so he swallowed his arguments and kept his voice low. “Mr. Meyer, this was my oversight.”

But truthfully, it wasn’t all on him. The Meyer family had their footing in Brookfield now, everything above board. The people who knew about the old business from twenty years ago kept their silence, and Bailey never let anyone get too close to the old house. He always said the less they knew, the better. Most of the time, there was no reason for anyone to visit the place. That’s why they had no idea what was really going on inside, and why it was so easy to believe Duncan and let Karter’s group in.

Bailey’s anger eased a little when he heard Jose’s apology. Jose had been by his side for twenty years, sticking with him from nothing to where he was now. He was the definition of loyal. Bailey thought about the pained grunt he’d heard on the phone. Jose must’ve gotten hurt pretty bad. Eventually, Bailey forced himself to calm down.

“How bad is it?” he asked, his voice finally gentle.

“It’s nothing, just a scratch,” Jose replied, teeth clenched. “But letting that kid get away really stings.”

“It’s too late for regrets,” Bailey said, though his frustration was obvious. Hank had always been under his watch. He had no idea how his son managed to find someone so dangerous. Bailey knew exactly what Jose could handle. For someone to injure him and escape a dozen men, they had to be a real pro.

“Send someone to the study right now. Check if the metal box is still hidden in the secret compartment.”

Jose tensed up as he remembered the box. He quickly handed the phone to Danny. “Go upstairs, see if it’s still there.”

He lifted the lid. Everything was there—the ledger, the partnership agreement, the list—each piece laid out neatly on the velvet, just as he remembered.

“Mr. Meyer, everything’s here. Not a thing is missing!”

“I mean, honestly, that lock is impossible,” Danny added. “Even if Hank brought in the best, they only had ten minutes before we found them. No way they could open it in that time. And the lock itself is so tricky, you’d need special tools and the right know-how.”

Bailey paused, thinking it through, and had to agree. Relief washed over him.

No one had gotten into the box. That was one small bit of good luck in a day that had gone completely off the rails.