"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—leading 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.