Reese watched Sebastian leave,pletely clueless, and the image of what she''d seen that night in the storm shed through her mind, her eyes full of bitter irony.


    Even if he''de running to exin himself after realizing she''d seen him with Leslie, it didn''t change anything. She''d disappeared for three days and he hadn''t bothered to check on her, hadn''t even wondered if she was okay. Now that she finally had her mother''s ne back, Reese was done letting herself get tangled up with him. She pulled out her phone and scrolled until she found George''s number.


    "Hi George, it''s Reese,” she said, her voice a little steadier than it had been with Sebastian. "I''d paused the divorce before, but I want to start things up again. Can you move the process forward? I''d like to file as soon as possible."


    George didn''t ask questions. He just said, "Of course, Ms. Meyer. I''ll need to get a new date on the calendar. As soon as I know, I''ll let you know right away."


    "Thanks, I appreciate it."


    Reese hung up and wandered into the living room, staring at the bowl of half- eaten cereal on the coffee table. Suddenly, she wasn''t hungry at all.


    The next morning, she slept in for the first time in ages. With work on hold, she figured she might as well clean up the apartment. She''d just finished tidying when her phone rang.


    She picked up, and Millie''s voice immediately exploded through the speaker. "Reese! Where have you been? I''ve called a million times! I was about to file a missing person report!"


    Reese felt a rush of warmth. "I''m okay, really. Something came up and I didn''t have my phone with me, that''s all."


    "Something came up? What could possibly keep you off the grid for three days?" Millie pressed, her voice turning serious. "We promised not to keep secrets, remember?"


    Reese hesitated, then finally told her everything that had happened over the past few days.


    Millie was silent for a second, then she practically shouted, "What is Zach''s problem? Seriously, why does he keep messing with you? If you hadn''t helped him out with that money, he wouldn''t even be where he is!"


    She let out a long sigh, her tone softening. "Are you okay, Reese?"


    "I''m fine," Reese said quietly, then tried to change the subject. "Didn''t you say you needed some new clothes for the season?"


    "Yeah, and I just happen to be free this afternoon. Wanna go shopping together?"


    Half an hourter, they were downtown at the bright, bustling mall.


    "Come on, let''s go," Millie said, linking her arm through Reese''s.


    "I''ve had my eye on a few trench coats here," Millie said as they went up the esctor, “but I couldn''t decide which one to get. You have to help me pick."


    She led Reese straight to a boutique filled with stylish disys and designer vibes. Millie greeted the sales assistant like an old friend.


    "Can see the beige cashmere


    trench and the ck satin dress I triedst time? Both in medium, please."


    The sales assistant smiled, nodded, and disappeared into the back.


    Reese nced at the price tags and nearly choked. Clearly, Millie''stest business was doing great.


    Soon, the sales assistant wheeled out the clothes Millie had requested.


    "What do you think?" Millie asked, holding the trench and dress against herself. "They''re gorgeous," Reese said honestly.


    Millie had always had a killer figure, and Reese had to admit she looked amazing.


    "These two pieces actually go really well together," Reese added.


    Suddenly, a sweet, syrupy voice chimed in from behind. "That trench is gorgeous. Can you bring me one in medium too?"


    Reese turned around and spotted


    Tara a few feet away, nked by two assistants loaded with shopping bags. Tara smiled politely, but there


    was something.calcting in her


    eyes as she looked Reese up and down. "Reese! What a coincidence, seeing you here."


    "Yeah," Reese replied, keeping her voice cool.


    "I''m sorry," the sales assistant said, looking apologetic. "We only have one of each


    size in this store."


    Millie knew all about Reese''s mess with the Dylon family, and after she''d gotten on Sebastian''s bad side and almost ended up at the police station she decided it was better to just let it go. She handed the trench coat to Tara.


    "Tara, you can have it if you want."


    "Thanks, that''s really sweet of you," Tara said, taking it with zero hesitation. Then her gazended on the ck dress. "Actually, I love that dress too. Would you mind if I took that one as well?"