In the photo, Reese stood at theb door, sunlight catching her profile, her lips lifting into the faintest smile.


    It was almost blinding.


    After a moment, Sebastian picked up the office phone.


    "Boss?"


    "Brady, send someone to the old house to bring Robbie. And find out where my wife is staying-fast."


    Sebastian''s voice was quiet, but there was no hiding the anger simmering underneath.


    Reese had really gone too far this time.


    She''d blocked his number, and even Brady''s, for days now.


    He got it that she was mad about the whole courtyard house situation. He''d bring Robbie himself to ckOak and get her back.


    She could ignore him all she wanted, but there''s no way she''d ignore her own


    son.


    Sebastian canceled his evening ns and drove to ckOak with Robbie. He parked by the curb, got out, and lit a cigarette.


    "Dad, are we really here to bring Mom home?" Robbie rolled down his window and stuck his head out.


    He didn''t want Reese toe back. When she was around, she was always on his case about everything. Since she''d been gone, he''d finally gotten a taste of freedom.


    "Yes.It''s time shee home," Sebastian replied, his voice cold.


    Robbie pouted and was about to roll the window up again when he suddenly perked up.


    "Mom!"


    He might have liked Sofia better, but he still couldn''t help smiling when he saw Reese.


    Sebastian paused, following Robbie''s line of sight.


    Reese was just leaving a restaurant with a little girl beside her.


    The girl was carrying a bag from Robbie''s favorite snack shop. Reese bent down to say something, her face soft and gentle.


    Before Sebastian could react, Robbie had already flung open the car door and dashed over.


    "Robbie? What are you doing here?" Reese''s smile faded as soon as she saw him. She realized she hadn''t even thought about her son in a long time.


    "We''re here to take you home," Sebastian said, flicking his cigarette into the trash and following after him.


    "Robbie''s about to start first grade. Grandpa wants him home so we can look after him. If youe back, you can help him with his homework and take care of him," Sebastian said, ncing at her stomach. "You should take a break from work, focus on your health and Robbie. After the baby''s born and Robbie''s settled at school, you can go back to work."


    Reese''s mouth twisted into a sarcastic smile. "You can hire a tutor for Robbie. As for the baby..."


    She gently touched her belly, remembering what George had told her. The divorce wasn''t finalized. Sebastian couldn''t know about the miscarriage yet, or that she had proof he''d used her as a surrogate.


    It was almost over. Just one more week.


    "You don''t get to tell me what to do," she said coldly. "I have work. You two can suit yourselves."


    With that, Reese took Annie''s hand and turned to leave.


    "Reese, how long are you going to keep this up?" Sebastian grabbed her wrist. "Can''t you see I''m trying to make this easier for you? What''s so great about working, anyway? It''s exhausting, and it''s not good for the baby."


    "I said I don''t need you to worry about me." Reese yanked her hand back, took a step away, and nced at Robbie. "I''m not going back. Nothing you say will change my mind."


    "Sebastian, I told you I want a divorce."


    Robbie''s face fell the second he heard Reese say he could get a tutor, that she wouldn''t be looking after him. When her cold eyes passed over him, all the color drained from his cheeks.


    "Mom, you don''t want me anymore?" His voice shook. "Why? Did I do something wrong?"


    Sensing Robbie was about to lose it, Reese quickly pulled Annie behind her, shielding her.


    That did it for Robbie. Tears filled his eyes and, without warning, he kicked at Reese''s leg.


    "I hate you! If you won''te home with me and Dad, then don''t evere back!"


    The kick came out of nowhere. Reese didn''t even have time to react. But Annie''s eyes went wide and she jumped in front of Reese, taking the hit for her.


    She was knocked straight to the ground.


    "Annie!" Reese cried, dropping to her knees and scooping her up.


    Annie''s palm was scraped and bleeding. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she bit her lip and didn''t let them fall.


    Reese''s heart clenched. She looked up at Robbie, her eyes icy. "Robbie! Apologize."


    Robbie stiffened. "I won''t! She shouldn''t have gotten in the way! Why do you have to protect her?"


    Reese was shaking with anger now. She shot a look at Sebastian. "You really think a son who would kick his own mother deserves my care?"


    She picked Annie up and walked straight past them, not looking back, and disappeared into the office building.


    Up in the research wing, Reese carried Annie into the break room and asked the receptionist to call Matthew.


    Matthew arrived quickly, his face darkening when he saw Annie''s hand. "What happened?"


    "I''m sorry. I should have protected her." Reese set Annie down gently. "I''ll go get some medicine and take care of her wound."


    "Does it hurt, Annie?" Matthew knelt and checked her hand as Reese hurried off. "I''m sorry you got hurt again. I promised your parents I''d look after you, and I keep letting you down."


    Annie wasn''t Matthew''s biological daughter. She was the daughter of his friend in the army. After her dad died, Matthew took her in and told everyone she was his


    own.


    "It doesn''t hurt," Annie said, shaking her head. "Daddy, Aunt Reese is so sad. Her husband won''t let her work; he just wants her trapped at home. And her son kicked her. If I hadn''t stepped in, she would''ve been the one hurt today."


    Matthew''s eyes narrowed as he nced at the door, in the direction Reese had gone.