Sebastian''s finger had just brushed the phone screen when a knock sounded at the hospital room door.
Dylon and Rosie stood together at the threshold, faces still stiff with leftover anger. But the second they saw Sebastian inside, their scowls vanished, reced by eager, almost desperate smiles.
"Reese, are you okay?" Dylon''s eyes darted over Reese''s pale face before flicking to Sebastian. “Mr. Ratcliff, what happened? Why did Reese faint all of a sudden?"
Sebastian absently rubbed his phone with his thumb. "The security footage just came through."
"I want to know what happened too. Maybe we should step outside and take a look?"
Dylon hesitated, ncing at Rosie. She gave the tiniest nod, so he followed Sebastian out toward the smoking area.
Sebastian lit a cigarette, pulled up the footage, and held his phone out to Dylon.
The video showed Sofia had arrived at ckOak a little after ten. When cries for help came from theb, Sofia ignored it. She didn''t use her iris scan to open the door. Instead, she turned and hit the emergency power cutoff.
Sebastian stared at Sofia''s retreating figure on the screen, Robbie''s warning echoing in his mind. His eyes narrowed.
Was Sofia really trying to kill Reese?
If that was true, then just now...
Sebastian leaned against the wall, took a long drag, and called Brady. His voice was low and tense. "Bring Sofia to the hospital."
Dylon''s lips twitched in a half-smile. Sebastian''s reaction told him everything. "Mr. Ratcliff, you can''t let her get away with this. Reese deserves justice."
Sebastian didn''t answer. He just looked at Dylon. "How do you n to handle shorting Ramos Corporation for the Eastside project?"
Dylon froze, rubbing his hands together awkwardly. "That was just... to help Ms. Meyer get the house..."
Catching Sebastian''s cold stare, he quickly added, "But Reese is my niece. I''ll make it up to her."
Back in the hospital room, Rosie watched them leave, quietly closed the door, and sat beside Reese, her voice barely a whisper.
"Reese, why were you so reckless with the baby?"
"Tara found out and called the doctor in time. That''s why he said the baby was lost because of the ident. Do you think Sebastian would forgive you if he knew the truth?
"Even if you don''t care about yourself, you should think about your uncle''s situation."
Reese looked at Rosie, and suddenly everything clicked.
So that''s what this is about.
She forced a crooked smile. "You really go all out for me."
They were like leeches, impossible to shake off as long as she was still married to Sebastian.
"We were worried sick about you, and this is how you act?” Rosie
nudged her. "Are you sel
to divorce Sebastian over
"Think about it. If you leave the Ratcliff family, what do you have left?"
Reese stared at the IV drip, her tone t. "Ever since I found out about Sebastian and Sofia, I''ve wanted a divorce."
Rosie''s face went pale. "Are you out of your mind? Why would you give up being Mrs. Ratcliff?"
"Reese, listen to me. Men are all the same. If you just tough it out, it''ll pass." Reese didn''t reply.
She didn''t care who Sebastian loved anymore. All she wanted was to get her mother''s ne and run far away, where none of these le. could ever find her.
The door clicked open.
Rosie quicklyposed herself as
Dylon walked in, pulling a check
from his briefcase and handing it to Reese, his face twisted in pain.
"Reese, this is from your uncle. Take it. It should cover the losses for Ramos Corporation."
Reese nced at the check, said nothing, and tugged it out of his hand.
Rosie''s face flushed red. She red at Dylon, signaling furiously with her eyes.
Had he lost his mind? Giving Reese that much money was basically tossing it away.
Dylon shot her a look and jerked his head toward Sebastian, silently telling her to watch his reaction.
Sebastian saw the whole exchange and realized just how fake all those years of affection from Dylon and Rosie really were.