Zach froze, staring at the figure weaving through the crowd. There was something familiar about them, stirring a memory he couldn''t quite ce. Before he could move closer, Tara grabbed his wrist, holding him back.
“Zach, my stomach really hurts all of a sudden. Do you think it''s because I got scared earlier?"
Zach looked down at Tara, noticing how she was hunched over, her face tight with worry.
He nced once more at the receding figure in the crowd, frustration pulling at his brow, then turned and gently supported Tara. "Let''s get you to the hospital."
The emergency room was all harsh white lights and the sharp smell of antiseptic.
Sebastian got the hospital''s call just as he was ending a meeting. Ignoring the annoyed looks from the board, he rushed out. He arrived breathless, just in time to see Leslie waiting outside the ER doors.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, scanning her face and then the doors behind her.
Leslie gave a small smile. "Maybe I should be asking you that?"
"There was a car ident..."
"You''re okay, right? You''re not hurt?"
She watched him quickly look her over, anxious. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
Leslie caught the worry in his eyes and brushed her hair behind her ear. "No, not me. I just happened to be there. Someone fainted and I couldn''t just leave, so I followed them to the hospital."
"Then why are you at the hospital? Are you feeling sick?"
"No, I just..."
Before she could finish, a nurse came out, helping Reese walk through the doors. "Family for Reese?"
Sebastian stepped forward. "I''m here."
Reese looked pale, a piece of gauze stuck to her forehead.
Leslie''s eyes widened in surprise. She nced at Sebastian, then at Reese, her gaze lingering on Reese''s stomach. It was t-no sign of pregnancy at all.
A sh of resentment crossed Leslie''s face, but she smoothed it away with a bright smile and stepped up to Reese.
"You''re awake! Are you feeling okay? You scared me half to death when you suddenly passed out."
Reese managed a small, tired smile. "You brought me here, didn''t you? Thank you."
"It was nothing," Leslie replied, forcing another smile. She shot Sebastian a teasing look. "I can''t believe you''re actually Sebastian s wife guess that means he owes me a big favor now."
Reese nced past her at Sebastian. "You two know each other?"
"Yeah. We met during an interview a while ago."
Sebastian''s anxious look faded, reced by his usual cool expression. He
reached out. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
Reese pulled back, avoiding his hand. “No, just a little dizzy. The doctor wants to run some more tests."
"I''ll go with you," Sebastian said, taking her hand before she could protest.
Leslie''s eyes dropped to their joined hands, her smile faltering.
"That''s not necessary," Reese said, pulling her hand free. "I can do it myself. You should get back to work."
She took her paperwork and headed for the stairs.
Leslie watched her go, her ownposure slipping as her eyes filled with tears.
"So that''s your wife?" she said, her voice shaky. "You''ve really kept her safe all these years. A little car ident and she faints."
Sebastian heard the edge in her words and looked down at Leslie.
"She''s not usually like this. Maybe it''s because she just lost the baby. She''s still weak," he said quietly.
"Oh?" Leslieughed softly, her voice bitter. "And what''s she usually like? Sweet and gentle? The perfe housewife is that what you think a Mrs. Ratcliff should be?"
"She''s good to me." Sebastian hesitated, his words heavy. "She''s a good woman."
"Good to you?" Leslie''s voice broke as tears spilled down her cheeks. "And me, Sebastian? Wasn''t I good to you?"
"Back then, those old men on the
board were so afraid you''d take
away their power that they sent
people after you, chased your all through the city. I risked everything to save you. I got hurt so badly that I can never have children again!" Cóntent