Roman frowned. "Are you sure about that?"


    "I''m sure. There''s no way I could be wrong," Reese replied, nodding with certainty.


    Roman nced at the two traffic cops. "Looks like we''ll have to hand this case over."


    He turned back to Reese. "Take care of yourself, alright? If you need anything, just call me."


    Once Roman and the officers left, the hospital room fell quiet again.


    Reese leaned back against the headboard, but she couldn''t rx. Worry for Mr. Ratcliff kept swirling in her chest.


    After a while, she took out her phone and dialed his number.


    "Reese, how are you feeling?" Mr. Ratcliff''s voice sounded weaker than usual, which made Reese frown.


    "Grandpa, I''m fine. I just heard you''re sick. How are you doing?"


    She could hear a faint smile in his voice. "It''s nothing new. Just my usual problems. A couple days of rest and I''ll be back on my feet."


    "Don''t worry about this old man. You need to take care of yourself first."


    He paused for a second, his breathing heavier. "About the baby... If it''s gone, then it''s gone. Your health matters more. You''re still young. Focus on getting better.


    "Now that you know Sebastian and that woman are just working together, you don''t have to worry anymore. Try to get along with him. Don''t talk about divorce again.


    "When you''re feeling better, you can try for another baby. I''m still hoping to see my great-grandchild someday."


    Reese stared out at the gloomy sky, hershes trembling. She wanted to say no, but thinking of her grandpa''s health, the words stuck in her throat.


    She could only answer softly, "Okay, Grandpa. I understand."


    After hanging up, Reese let out a slow breath, feeling like something heavy was pressing on her chest.


    Losing the baby had hit Mr. Ratcliff hard. If anything else went wrong, she wasn''t sure his body could take it.


    Divorce would have to wait. She needed to get her mother''s ne back, and only when Mr. Ratcliff was better could she bring it up again.


    As for having another child...


    Reese gave a bitterugh. After all these years, she and Sebastian never spent a night together. Even the child they lost had been the result of IVF.


    That gave Sebastian the perfect chance to swap her embryo, leaving her with a child that wasn''t actually hers.


    She remembered all those hormone shots, the stabbing pain in her lower belly, the swelling. She could still feel the cold sting of the needle in her skin.


    And in the end, the child had nothing to do with her. She could never go through IVF with Sebastian again.


    Reese stayed in the hospital two more days. Once her test results came back clear, she checked out.


    Stepping out the hospital doors and pulling out her phone to call a ride, she spotted a ck Bentley parked at the curb.


    Sebastian was leaning against the car, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, his face unreadable.


    "Get in. I''ll take you home," he said.


    Reese sidestepped him. “No thanks. I''m going to the office first." Sebastian blocked her way. "When are you moving back home?"


    "I''m not going back." Reese met his eyes, calm and steady. "You said you wouldn''t interfere with my work after the baby was born. Now that''s not happening, I have no reason to go back."


    Sebastian''s expression barely changed, but his brows tightened. He didn''t say anything, just opened the passenger door and looked at her.


    The air between them was tense, but Reese didn''t care. She walked around him, opened the back door, and got in.


    "My mother''s ne. When will you get it back for me?"


    If it weren''t for the ne, she never would''ve let Sebastian send Sofia back to


    Brookfield without calling the police.


    "I already talked to Zach. He''ll get to you soon," Sebastian replied, starting the engine. Things have been crazy at work, and my dad wants me to... find my brother."


    Reese raised her eyebrows. After seven years of marriage, she''d never heard


    but in mention a brother,


    but it didn''t really matter. Onger everything was settled, they''d be done anyway.


    When they reached ckOak Center, Reese got out of the car without looking back, missing theplicated look in Sebastian''s eyes.


    She went upstairs, greeted the front desk, and headed for the research team.


    Walking past Sofia''s old office, she nced in and saw L hunched over her keyboard, typing away.