Sebastian and Brady hurried down the hallway toward the VIP suite at the end. Brady kept his voice low as he leaned in, “Your grandfather found out you put your brother on lockdown. He thought something was fishy, so he sent someone to check it out."


    "And when he heard about Reese''s miscarriage, the shock nearly took him out right then."


    Sebastian lifted a hand, signaling him to stop. He pushed open the hospital room door.


    Mr. Ratcliff was curled up in bed, looking so small and fragile now, like a dry leaf about to fall.


    Sebastian stood at the bedside. For once, all the steady calm in his eyes was gone, reced by pain. Even his shoulders sagged.


    Jane was sitting at the edge of the bed, pressing a handkerchief to her mouth as she tried to hold back her sobs. When she saw Sebastian, she stood up to give


    him space.


    "Talk to your grandpa," she whispered.


    Sebastian knelt by the bed and took his grandfather''s hand.


    The old man opened his eyes slowly. They were cloudy, but he still recognized Sebastian. His voice was thin but clear. "Sebastian, find your brother. Bring him home."


    Sebastian hesitated, surprised.


    “Don''t me him,” Mr. Ratcliff said, coughing weakly. “If you want to me someone, me your useless father. If not for him, the family wouldn''t be in this mess."


    "And don''t me me, either. I could see Reese was a good kid. That''s why I pushed you to marry her, even if it meant breaking up you and..."


    "Grandpa," Sebastian interrupted gently. "I never med you. Reese... she''s great."


    The old man looked at him and managed a faint, relieved smile. "That''s good. Just promise me you''ll find your brother. Bring him back where he belongs."


    "I will,” Sebastian said softly, his fingers brushing over his grandfather''s thin hand.


    "Go on with your work. Let me get some rest," Mr. Ratcliff murmured, closing his eyes.


    Sebastian and Jane slipped out of the room as quietly as they could.


    Out in the hallway, Jane''s grief turned into a stormy scowl. Her voice was tight with frustration. "Your grandfather''s really losing it.


    "That woman seduced your father and had a bastard. That''s a scandal, and now he wants to bring that kid back to split the inheritance?"


    Sebastian frowned. "Mom, I know this is hard, but it''s Grandpa''s wish. We have to at least try."


    He knew this was a wound Jane had carried for years. His father''s affair had nearly destroyed her.


    Jane just huffed and turned away, not wanting to argue anymore.


    Sebastian offered a few gentle words, then asked Brady to take her back to the


    house. He headed toward Reese''s room by himself.


    He opened the door softly. Reese was asleep in bed.


    Sebastian walked over and tucked the nket around her shoulders His fingers brushed her cheek by ident, and the soft, cool touch made his heart skip. He puffed his puffed hig


    hand back quickly.


    He stood there for a while, just looking at her pale lips, then at her thin wrist.


    He promised himself that once she was out of the hospital, he''d take her home and take care of her—until she looked just like she did when they first met, soft and full of life.


    His phone buzzed in his pocket. Sebastian stepped outside to answer.


    Grace''s voice was a little shaky. "Sebastian, can you please not send Sofia back


    to Brookfield? Her father doesn''t know yet-"


    Sebastian cut her off, his voice cold.


    "Sofia killed my child. The only reason Thaven''t gone after her is out of respect for the Meyer family."


    "I wonder how Mr. Meyer would react if he found out what she did."


    Grace was silent, clearly at a loss for words, then hung up in frustration.


    She couldn''t let Bailey find out that Reese was at Bridger Lake—and that she''d married Sebastian.


    A few momentster, as if struck by a new idea, Grace''s angry frown faded. She smirked and made another call.


    Sebastian headed back into the hospital room. Reese was awake now, propped up in bed with her tablet.


    On the screen, a recent interview was ying-Sebastian and Leslie, the head of Big X''s North American division.


    The camera caught Sebastian in profile, a faint smile on his lips, his eyes warm as he looked at Leslie.