"What did you just say?"


    Mr. Ratcliff stared at Reese, stunned, his voice turning cold. "You want to divorce Sebastian?"


    His eyes dropped to her stomach, his tone even icier. "That''s not happening. You''re carrying his child. Sebastian finally agreed to this. You two had through IVF for this baby."


    Reese felt something heavy settle in her chest. She''d thought that, given how bad things had gotten between her and Sebastian, Mr. Ratcliff would finally let her go. But apparently not.


    Seeing her face fall, Mr. Ratcliff tried to soften his voice. "I know you''ve been through a lot. But if you really want a divorce, at least wait until after you have the baby."


    Reese pressed her hand to her stomach, a bitterugh rising in her throat. So much for not letting her suffer. In the end, he was no different from Sebastian- they both saw her as nothing more than a tool for carrying their heir.


    Good thing she''d already gotten rid of the baby that never should have been hers. They''d only try to control her if she hadn''t.


    "Grandpa, after everything with Sebastian and Sofia, there''s no way I can stay with him.


    "No one even knows who I really am outside this house. Once we''re divorced, Sebastian can marry Sofia right away. You''ll have all the grandchildren you want."


    Mr. Ratcliff''s face turned hard, all his usual warmth gone. "I''m not agreeing to this. Remember, Ratcliff Global has done plenty for your uncle''s family over the years."


    "I hear he''s trying to win that big eastside project. If you just focus on the pregnancy, I''ll make sure he gets what he wants."


    Reese went stiff, her smile fading. Mr. Ratcliff hadn''t changed at all; he still knew exactly how to threaten her.


    But she wasn''t the same naive girl from seven years ago. She had proof that Sebastian had had his and Sofia''s embryo imnted in her.


    It was just a couple more weeks. Thewyers almost had all the evidence they needed. Once it was done, not even Mr. Ratcliff could stop her.


    The iron gates creaked open, and a sleek ck Bentley rolled to a stop beside them.


    Sebastian stepped out, looking even taller in his dark suit, his face as cold as


    ever.


    Mr. Ratcliff''s anger snapped to him. "You break it off with that woman, right now. Don''t make me get involved. If you keep this up, your wife''s going to leave you for real."


    Sebastian''s eyes flicked over to Reese, his lips curling in azy, dismissive smile. "Grandpa, she''s just mad. She won''t actually leave. Who else could give her the life she has with the Ratcliffs?"


    Mr. Ratcliff scowled. "Can you stop provoking her? You''re still trying to rile her up!"


    Reese listened to the two of them, feeling a wave of disgust. She couldn''t stand to be here another second, let alone argue with Sebastian.


    She forced a small smile at Mr. Ratcliff and said, her voice rough, "Grandpa, I''ve got somewhere to be. I''m heading out."


    She walked out of the old house, called a rideshare, and as soon as she got in the car, her phone buzzed.


    Her uncle Dylon''s worried voice came through. "Reese, someone''s offered a huge amount for that old townhouse your mom left you."


    "I''m not selling it." She didn''t even have to think about it. "You know I never would."


    She nced at her phone, frowning. People had tried to buy that ce before, but Dylon always turned them down as he knew it was all she had left from her mom. It''s the ce that had been their only home once they''d left the Meyer family.


    Dylon hesitated. "But Reese, the buyer is Sebastian. We can''t afford to upset him. And I''ve been hoping to get the Ratcliffs'' help with the eastside project. Maybe we should just agree-it''s all in the family, right?"


    Not for much longer.


    Reese rubbed her forehead, baffled at why Sebastian suddenly wanted her mom''s house.


    "I don''t care who wants it—I''m not selling. I''ll talk to Sebastian myself."


    Back at the Ratcliff estate, Mr. Ratcliff sat in his ornate armchair, watching his grandson sip tea with a nk expression. All he could do was sigh.