Millie and L''s argument had already caused a scene, drawing curious nces from people nearby. It didn''t take long for Sebastian and his longtime friend Neal, who had just walked in, to notice themotion.


    Sebastian shrugged Neal''s hand off his shoulder and made his way over, his sharp eyes scanning the group before finallynding on Sofia.


    "What happened here?" he asked, his tone calm butmanding.


    Sofia smiled, gentle andposed. "It''s nothing, really. I think Ms. Meyer just misunderstood something. My friend got upset and they had a few words, that''s


    all."


    "You''re way too nice, Sofia. If you keep letting things go, people are going to walk all over you," L jumped in, looking right at Sebastian. "Mr. Ratcliff, you should really stand up for Sofia. She deserves some fairness."


    She raised her voice so everyone could hear: "Someone just spread a rumor that you''ve been married all along, and that Sofia''s the other woman!"


    She almost spat out the word "married," then shot Reese a smug look. She''d finally caught Reese in a lie. Now the man at the center of it all was standing right there.


    Sebastian turned his gaze to Reese, his voice cool and almost bored. "Really? Then who exactly is Mrs. Ratcliff?"


    Millie was about to say, "Who else? It''s Reese, of course," but Reese grabbed her wrist in a tight grip.


    Millie looked back, confused, until Reese gave a tiny shake of her head. That''s when Millie remembered. Reese had told her their marriage was a secret, and her uncle''spany was still tied up with Ratcliff Global. The words died in her throat.


    "Well? Nothing to say?" L sneered. "Reese, do you still want to call Sofia a homewrecker right in front of Sebastian?"


    "Did you really think you could spread rumors and no one would hold you ountable?"


    The crowd started to murmur, some people pointing at Reese, others whispering behind their hands.


    "She looks so put-together, but who knew she''d be the type to talk trash behind someone''s back?"


    "Yeah, and look at those two. They look perfect together. Obviously a real couple."


    "Wouldn''t surprise me if she was just jealous and made up the whole mistress thing to stir up trouble."


    Reese''s face went from flushed red to pale as the gossip washed over her.


    The lobby manager rushed over, and when he saw Sebastian and Sofia, his expression changed immediately.


    "Mr. Ratcliff, Ms. Meyer, I''m so sorry for the disruption. I''ll have these two escorted out right away."


    Millie wasn''t having it. "Are you blind? Didn''t you see they''re the ones who started it? Why should we be the ones to leave?"


    The manager nced nervously at Sebastian, then made a polite gesture toward the door. "If you''d please."


    His tone sounded respectful, but he was already signaling the security guards.


    Reese stared at Sebastian, searching his face for any sign that he might defend her. For any hint that he was still the man she once knew.


    But he just stood there, cold and unmoved, watching her like a stranger.


    Her heart sank.


    This was his warning: don''t you dare reveal our marriage, and tell Millie to stop calling Sofia a homewrecker before she embarrasses herself.


    "It''s really nothing. Let''s not ruin everyone''s night over this," Sofia said, slipping her arm through Sebastian''s and giving a warm, gracious smile. "Shall we head upstairs?"


    Sebastian looked away from Reese and started up the stairs without another word.


    The lobby manager looked relieved and turned to Reese and Millie. "Please, don''t make this difficult. That''s Mr. Ratcliff. He''s not someone we can afford to offend."


    Reese nced up at Sebastian as he disappeared up the stairs, then turned to Millie. "Come on. Let''s just go somewhere else."


    Millie''s eyes were red, furious for Reese. "How does it make sense that the real wife gets kicked out while the mistress walks around acting like she owns the ce?


    "Sebastian is unbelievable. After everything you''ve done for him, this is how he treats you.


    "No one even knows the truth. Everyone thinks you chased after him, when in reality, he was the one drugged and out of his mind. He forced himself on you, and you married him because you had no choice."


    "Millie, stop," Reese said quietly. The past was over. She didn''t want to dig it up again.


    "He forced himself on you?"