Reece, sensing Carrie’s breathing steady, eased back but kept his hands on her shoulders.

    “Forget the rest for now,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “I brought medics to check you over. Even if you look fine, we need to make sure the baby’s okay. That scare could have done more than you think. You might brush it off for yourself, but this child—it’s a miracle, Carrie. You know how delicate your health is.”

    “Absolutely, get yourself looked at,” Jacob added, guiding Kelsey through the cluster of people.

    Jacob and Kelsey had exhaled in relief when they heard Carrie was safe, but deep down, there was also disappointment and a touch of fear. Seasoned as they were, though, they masked it well.

    Carrie’s head snapped up at the sound of a familiar voice, her eyes catching Jacob and Kelsey standing nearby. A flicker of unease danced across her face, her brows knitting together as she tried to piece together their presence.

    Reece caught the shift in her expression, sensing her confusion could spiral into suspicion. He leaned closer, his voice soft but steady. “Ms. Hinks and Mr. Dury came to assist in tracking you down,” he said.

    Jacob waved off the praise with a self-deprecating chuckle. “Mr. Morrison, you are far too kind,” he said. “I only picked up some whispers through my contacts. The police had already pinpointed her location by the time I reached the station. I barely contributed.”

    Seeking praise now might paint him as scheming, Jacob thought, his mind sharp despite his casual demeanor. Better to let the Morrison family and Carrie see his intentions as pure—perhaps even mend the distrust they harbored toward him and Kelsey.

    Footsteps interrupted their exchange, a group of police officers approaching with purpose.

    The team leader stepped forward, his badge glinting under the station’s harsh lights. “What is the situation?” he asked, his voice clipped.

    The officers hesitated, their eyes darting to Jacob and Kelsey. One of them, a younger man with a nervous twitch, pressed his lips into a thin line. Finally, he spoke, his words halting. “Sergeant, Mr. Morrison, may we speak privately?”

    Reece’s gut tightened. The officers’ unease likely pointed to Jacob and Kelsey’s involvement. If they had yed a role in this mess, questions woulde eventually. Better to confront it now, he reasoned, his jaw set. If the Hinks family had any part in this, he and the Morrison family would ensure they paid dearly.

    He met the team leader’s gaze, his voice firm. “No need for secrets. Everyone here is involved. Speak freely. What do you think?”

    The team leader nodded, his expression mirroring Reece’s resolve. Dodging the issue would onlyplicate matters, especially with such prominent figures entangled. A misstep could unravel everything.

    “Go ahead,” he instructed the young officer, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.

    The officer swallowed hard, his eyes flicking to Jacob and Kelsey before he spoke. “The suspects apprehended by Mr. Norris’s men confessed that Mr. Jacob Dury sent them.”

    Upon hearing this, the expressions of Reece, Kristopher, and Carrie turned cold as they all looked at Jacob.

    A chill slithered down Carrie’s spine, her mind racing. She had sensed something off about Jacob and Kelsey’s sudden appearance at the station with information.

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