As soon as the door swung open, Sebastian started to step inside, but Reese quickly shifted to block him.


    Annie was curled up, fast asleep in Reese''s arms, her soft breaths warm on Reese''s neck and carrying that sweet milky scent.


    "I said I''d watch him for one day. That''s it." Reese''s voice was quiet but cold enough to freeze someone in their tracks. "I never said you coulde in."


    Sebastian stopped, eyesnding on the tense set of her jaw.


    The hallway light threw a faint shadow across hershes. She held Annie steady with one arm, her fingers absentmindedly tracing gentle circles on the little girl''s back.


    It reminded him so much of how she used to hold Robbie.


    If only they could have another daughter together...


    Sebastian pulled his foot back and tapped Robbie lightly on the back of the head. "Robbie, inside. Be good."


    Robbie hunched his shoulders, sneaking a nervous nce at Sebastian''s clenched jaw. He shuffled reluctantly into the apartment.


    The entryway was small, and when Robbie turned, he bumped into the shoe cab with a loud tter. He froze, holding his breath, then darted an anxious look at Sebastian.


    But Sebastian didn''t even seem to notice. He was still watching Reese, about to say something else when she cut him off.


    "Bring the ne this afternoon if you want your son back."


    Before he could answer, she shut the door right in front of his nose.


    A bitter taste crept into Sebastian''s mouth as he walked toward the elevator, rubbing his fingers together. He headed down to the parking lot, got in his car, and lit a cigarette.


    Smoke curled around him as he stared up at the apartment windows. Ash built up on the end of his cigarette before he finally grabbed his phone and called Brady.


    "Set up a meeting with Mr. Wiles at Iron Financial. Tell him I''ll take the deal."


    Inside, Robbie rxed the second Sebastian left. He kicked off his shoes and stormed into the living room, taking one look at the small two-bedroom apartment before wrinkling his nose in disgust.


    "This is it? It''s smaller than the bathroom at the old house."


    He kicked the leg of the sofa. "This couch looks like it''d stab you if you sat down."


    Reese didn''t even look at him. She carried Annie toward the bedroom. The little girl shifted in her sleep, her eyebrows scrunching up like the noise was getting to her.


    "Quiet." Reese turned and fixed him with a chilly stare. "If you keep this up, I''ll call your dad toe pick you up right now."


    Robbie''s lips started to tremble. When he saw Reese gently patting Annie''s back, his eyes immediately turned red.


    He just stood there, fists clenched, tears gathering but refusing to fall.


    "I''m going to bed," he muttered.


    Reese didn''t nce his way, just carried Annie into the bedroom. "Figure out something to do. Don''t make a sound. If you get hungry there''s instant noodles in ther kitchen. Make it yourself."


    "You''re really making me eat instant noodles?" Robbie''s voice shot up, full of


    disbelief and hurt. "You''re not making me breakfast? I want toasts!"


    "Didn''t you always say instant noodles were your favorite?" Reese''s voice floated out from the bedroom, light as air. "Andst time I told you not to eat them, you went crying to your grandma and told herd was Starving you. Now you''ve got all the noodles you want. No one''s stopping you."


    The bedroom door closed with a soft click. Fury shed in Robbie''s eyes. He kicked the sofa hard, missed, and stammed his foot into the wooden frame instead He dropped down, clutching his foot, tears finally spilling over-but he didn''t dare cry out loud, just muffled his sobs in his palm.


    Reese had pulled an all-nighter, so as soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out cold.


    When she woke up, the spot next to her was empty. Annie was already gone, out of the bedroom.


    Reese had barely sat up when a wail from the living room echoed through the apartment.


    She opened the door and her face instantly darkened.


    The living room was a wreck.


    Crayon marks covered the walls, the couch, the floor-red, green, purple—like a rainbow had exploded all over everything.


    Annie stood in the middle of it all, her pink bear dress smeared with paint, a jagged cut at the hem where scissors had gone through. Her eyes were red, and she bit down on her lip.


    Robbie was on the floor, bawling his eyes out. When he saw Reese, he shoved Annie aside andtched onto Reese''s leg.


    "Mom, she pushed me! Kick her out! My butt hurts!"


    Annie stumbled from the shove, almost falling.


    Reese stepped right around Robbie and knelt to pick Annie up. The moment her


    hand touched Annie''s back, she felt the little girl trembling.