"What are you watching?"


    Sebastian came over to the bed. "The doctor said you need to rest."


    He gently slid the tablet from Reese''s hands, pausing when he caught a glimpse of the screen.


    "Just looking at the international Al market," Reese said, grabbing the tablet back. She scrolled to where she''d left off. On the screen, a woman in a crisp white suit was talking about artificial intelligence, her eyes lit up with excitement. Her voice was cool and steady, every wordnding right on target. She was even breaking down military applications like an expert.


    "Leslie''s kind of a legend," Reese said under her breath. "No wonder she''s MIT. She gets the big picture-where Al is going globally, how it could totally change warfare. She''s got it all figured out."


    Her smile faded for a second. If she hadn''t gotten married back then, she would''ve said yes to that MIT offer.


    Sebastian followed her gaze, his lips twitching in a half smile.


    Reese traced the edge of the tablet with her finger. "It''s a waste, someone like her stuck at Big X."


    Too bad she was a citizen. No chance she''d ever get into de Research.


    "I heard she didn''t officially graduate from MIT."


    Sebastian said quietly, his face darkening a little. "I''ve met her. She didn''te from much. Everything she''s got, she earned herself."


    "Not like you. You grew up with everything."


    Reese froze. The words hit her like icy water, sharp and stinging.


    Everything?


    Her parents split when she was six. Her mom died in an ident when she was nine. After that, she''d moved in with her uncle, always careful not to upset anyone, always giving in to Tara.


    Now, her uncle had tanked his ownpany just to win Sebastian''s favor, and they barely even talked anymore.


    If that was privilege, she''d rather have had nothing.


    She lowered her eyes, hershes throwing faint shadows across her cheeks, hiding the sting behind them.


    She didn''t argue, and she didn''t want to.


    In Sebastian''s eyes, she''d always be the spoiled heiress. The woman who''d do anything for her family''s interests.


    Sebastian noticed her silence and thought of everything that had happenedtely. He realized he''d gone too far.


    He wanted to say somethingforting, but the words just wouldn''te. All he managed was, "That''s not what I meant."


    He remembered Grace''s call earlier. If the Meyer family really wanted to back


    Sofia, the Ratcliffs and the Meyers were on a collision course.


    "Your uncle said your dad is Bailey from Brookfield. Are you two—"


    "My father died when I was six," Reese cut in, her voice t.


    She remembered how, after her mom took her away, Bailey had rushed to bring Sofia and her mom into their old house.


    Later, when her mom passed, Bailey hadn''t even shown up at the funeral. He''d never reached out since.


    As far as Reese was concerned, her father had died years ago.


    Sebastian watched her lips press into a thin line. He thought about how she''d held herself together all, these years, about everything he d done, and a flicker of guilt crept in.


    He swallowed, about to say something, but his phone rang.


    "Boss?" It was Brady. "The Meyer family just pulled out of several projects with us. The shareholders want answers."


    "Got it. I''ll be right there."


    Sebastian hung up and looked at Reese. "Something came up at work. I''ve got to go."


    He paused, then said, "Get some rest. Nothing''s more important than your health."


    His footsteps faded down the hall, and the room went quiet again. Reese stared up at the IV stand, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.


    They had been married for 7 years, and he''d always kept her at arm''s length. Sometimes he''d even looked at her like she was a burden. No matter what she did, no matter how hard she tried, he''d never shown her an ounce of real care.


    Now, just when she''d finally decided to stop chasing after him and the Ratcliffs,


    when she''d finally decided to leave, he suddenly changed his tune.


    Was he feeling guilty about the baby? Or did he just not like the way she''d started ignoring him?


    Reese shut her eyes, pushing those


    useless feelings away. She didn''t care about his attitude anymore.


    The moment she decided divorce, she''d stopped caring.


    Her phone rang, pulling her out of her thoughts. Reese picked up.