Neal sauntered over, a sneer tugging at his mouth. "Reese, I can''t believe you. Weren''t you the one who drugged him back then?


    "Funny how in your friend''s version, you''re suddenly the victim.


    "Let''s be real: he was the one who got hurt. You used that pregnancy to climb thedder, forced the Ratcliff family to make him marry you, and drove a wedge between him and his first love. He had to send her all the way overseas.


    "He''s finally found someone he actually cares about. Can''t you just take a hint and let him have a little peace?"


    Reese froze, every muscle tensed.


    Sebastian had someone else back then? Was it Sofia?


    And that child he secretly had imnted in her was Sebastian and Sofia''s?


    Did he go through all that just so their child wouldn''t be branded illegitimate?


    The thought hit her so hard she felt sick. She had to clutch the edge of the table to stay upright, her stomach twisting.


    She remembered how, after getting married, she''d cut off all contact with Zach and thrown herself into her family and Sebastian, hoping that maybe, someday, she could win his heart and make their life real. Now, looking back, she felt like the biggest fool.


    Millie''s hands shook with anger. "Keep running your mouth and I''ll shut you up myself!"


    Neal''s smile grew colder, his eyes on Reese icy. "What, did I say anything that wasn''t true? Didn''t you hand the spiked drink to him yourself?"


    That had always confused Reese. She''d just done what her uncle told her, grabbed a random ss from a server and handed it to Sebastian. She never thought there''d be anything in it.


    "So what, just because she handed him the drink, she''s the one who drugged it?" Millie snapped back, herugh sharp. "It was the Ratcliff family''s party. Maybe Sebastian was the one with the scheme, trying to drug Reese."


    Neal''s face turned stormy as he red at Millie. "Don''t talk nonsense. Sebastian would never do that."


    Reese stepped forward, putting herself between them. "A fact is a fact, Mr. Shaw. Or do the rules only count when you''re the one making them?"


    She took Millie''s hand. "Let''s go. No point wasting our energy here."


    They walked away without looking back, leaving Neal fuming.


    This was the first time Reese had ever shut him down like that. Usually, she was the one trying so hard to win his approval.


    Even after he made it upstairs to the private room, Neal couldn''t let it go. He knocked back a few more drinks, still stewing.


    Sebastian, sitting beside him, looked over. "What''s up?"


    "It''s Reese, obviously." Neal took another swig, then spilled the whole story. Only after venting did he feel a little better.


    L, who''d overheard, piped up, "Don''t let her get to you, Mr. Shaw. Reese has no shame. Who knows what she did to hook Iron Financial''s Mr. Wiles into a deal, and then forced our mentor to give her a spot at the institute."


    "Zach Wiles?" Sebastian raised an eyebrow.


    L nodded. "Even with all her little tricks, it won''tst. Mr. Wiles is investing in her project, sure, but he also put money into Sofia''s."


    Sebastian''s gaze slid to Sofia, his fingers absently tracing the rim of his ss, something dark flickering in his eyes.


    By the time the party broke up, the moon was high. Sofia slipped her arm through Sebastian''s as people started to leave.


    "Sebastian, will you take me home?"


    He opened the car door for her. "I''ve got something to do. Brady will drive you." He watched her car disappear, then turned to his driver. "Home."


    The sound of the front door echoed through the empty house. Inside, the foyer waspletely dark—so dark he couldn''t see his own hand in front of his face.


    The air felt cold and lonely, the only lighting from the faint glow of thewnmps outside, throwing a blurry doorway shape across the floor.


    Sebastian lifted his brow, surprised.


    Had Reese really note home for days?