Chapter 66

Early next morning.

Tristan left for the office early-he had a big video meeting to attend.

Meanwhile, Megan drove alone to Meridian University,waiting by the gate for Rachel.

Soon enough, Rachel slid into the passenger seat.

"Morning,Megan."

Megan handed her a dessert. "Grabbed this from Fuki's Sweets on the way."

"Being this nice for no reason? Feels fishy.Ow!"

Before she could finish, Megan smacked her lightly on the forehead.

"Ouch! That hurt,Meg."

Megan chuckled. "Well, you're not totally wrong

Today, we're skipping class together."

"Skipping class? Heck yeah,living the dream!"

Megan's lip twitched. Typical slacker-totally proud of cutting class.

"So, where are we off to?"

Megan pulled a laptop from her bag. A crowded map popped up with one little red dot blinking on it. "We're ghost hunting."

"Huh?? Ghosts?" Rachel blinked, but Megan was already stepping on the gas, the car zooming off after that red dot.

On the way, Megan told Rachel to text Kai,have him follow along quietly, and not to breathe a word to Tristan.

Eventually, the red dot stopped at a narrow walkway between a café and a sushi bar.

Megan and Rachel hopped out and crouched behind a wall, camera in hand.

Rachel whispered, "Wait a sec, isn't that Aunt Sophia?What's she sneaking around for?"

"She's ghost-watching," Megan muttered.

That was all Rachel needed to grasp this wasn't some random errand. She watched Sophia, wearing sunglasses, constantly glancing around-total sketch vibes.

Suddenly, Rachel felt a weight on her shoulder.She turned to see Kai.

"What's with all the cloak-and-dagger stuff?"

Rachel raised a finger to her lips, "Shhh. Aunt Sophia's cheating. We're here to bust her."

Kai let out a low whistle. "Whoa, hardcore. Trying to collect dirt for Uncle?"

Megan rolled her eyes."." Not long after, a young guy with bleached-blond hair showed up, cigarette dangling from his mouth, eyes sharp and twitchy. He handed Sophia a small white envelope; she gave him a fat brown folder in return.

Nova Tech, the robot Megan brought, captured the whole shady exchange.

Rachel whistled. "I mean, wow. Didn't think someone her age would be popping pills. Maybe that night's big screen drama really wrecked her nerves?"

Megan was speechless.

Rachel grinned toward Kai, "Too bad you didn't see it,bro. That scene was pure chaos, unforgettable."

Kai bonked her lightly on the head. "You want me checking out other women.now?"

Rachel giggled, "Nope! Only allowed to look at me."

Megan took a deep breath. "Kai, your job is to catch the young guy and make him talk. We need answers -whatever it takes."

Now Kai finally understood why he got dragged into this-manual labor. But hey, she was Tristan's wife, and when she said "whatever it takes," it oddly sounded cool.

He vanished like a shadow.

Megan and Rachel took off, following Sophia at a distance.

Sophia, for some reason, decided to play the good housewife today. She loaded up on fruits, vegetables, and meat at the grocery store before heading back to the Reid family estate.

She dumped the groceries in the kitchen,which left the maids stunned. A pampered woman like Sophia,who never even peeled a fruit, actually went grocery shopping herself?

She asked around and was told Mr. Reid was in the study, playing chess with Bruce.She quickly adjusted her sad expression and walked over to greet Mr. Reid.

"Dad,Nathan's already asked for a divorce. I've signed the papers too. Today's probably my last day in the Reid family. I wanted to cook for everyone myself,one last meal before I go. After all, I've been part of this family for so many years. it's hard to let go."

Mr. Reid sighed. "Sophia, I can't interfere in matters between you and Nathan. But I still care about Wyatt's situation-he's my grandson after all. I've already asked Tristan to send people to investigate. Don't worry too much."

Tristan again? Always Tristan!

Why the hell hasn't that man dropped dead yet?

And where the hell is her son right now?

Sophia kept her grateful smile on the surface, but inside she was boiling with hate. If Mrs. Reid was still alive, there's no way she would've let Nathan divorce her. And Tristan? He wouldn't have become the head of the family. As for that nobody Megan? Dream on about stepping into the Reid household. But too bad-for her, there's no "if" in life. She couldn't care less about what Mr. Reid said about Wyatt. His "concern" didn't move her one bit.

Today,she was ready to burn every bridge behind her.

If she had to go down, nobody was getting out clean.

Sophia nodded gently, squeezing out a few crocodile tears. "Dad, I'll go start cooking. Could you please let everyone know? I'd like to say goodbye properly."

Mr. Reid watched as she dabbed her tears and walked out of the study. He dropped the chess piece in his hand with a heavy thud.

"See? The marriage I didn't approve back then is finally falling apart. My wife won't rest easy even in the afterlife."

Bruce let out a belly laugh. "Shouldn't you start worrying about whether you're gonna see your wife again soon?"

Mr. Reid scoffed, "Not yet. I want to meet my great-grandkids first."

Bruce flicked a white piece right on top of a black one "You know what they say-people who act too nice when they don't need to usually have bad intentions.And when they show up with a favor out of nowhere?Definitely plotting something nasty."

Mr. Reid's hand slipped-the black chess piece crashed into the board, ruining the game in an instant.

-Lunchtime, family gathering. The dining table was packed with mouthwatering dishes. Everyone from the Reid family was present,except Wyatt.

Well,not really a surprise. He'd already been removed his name from the will-technically, he's no longer part of this family.

Sophia's eyes looked puffy and red, her voice thick like she'd been crying for hours. "I've been a part of this family for twenty-five years. Never thought I'd be walking away from such a warm home. It's all my fault.I wasn't a good wife, nor did I raise my son right. I've brought a lot of trouble over the years. Just wanted to have one final meal with all of you-chances are, there won't be another. Here's a toast from me."

With that, she tilted the glass back and downed the wine in one go. Then wiped the corner of her mouth,scanning the faces around the table.

Megan stood with a smile, raising her glass. "I don't hold my liquor well, Sophia. Mind switching drinks with me?"

Sophia froze, clearly caught off guard. Her smile twitched."Oh...maybe Tristan could drink for you?"

Megan picked up Tristan's glass too. "We're trying for a baby. Doctor's orders-no alcohol for either of us."

Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Trying? Since when?"

Evelyn stood up quickly, lifting her own glass. "Well,then let me toast my lovely cousin first." Megan held up a hand."Wait."

She gently slid both glasses toward Evelyn,still smiling "You've always had a strong tolerance, Auntie. Why not toast Sophia for the both of us?"