"Grandpa, I''ve got something to do tomorrow, so I can''t stay with you tonight. I''lle visit again once things calm down."


    Mr. Ratcliff didn''t insist, just let out a long sigh. He knew these two were drifting further away from him.


    "Fine. Do whatever you want."


    Sebastian grabbed his jacket from the sofa and draped it over his arm. “Let''s go. I''ll drive you both home."


    The drive back was even quieter than before.


    Reese had no idea what Matthew and Mr. Ratcliff had talked about, but the tension in the car was suffocating.


    When they reached the parking lot, Matthew nced at them, then walked off on his own.


    Reese watched him go, sighing to herself. Life really had a twisted sense of humor. Who would''ve guessed Matthew was the Ratcliff family''s illegitimate son? Or that Jane''s supposedly perfect husband was really a cheater?


    She didn''t want to think about all the mess from the previous generation. She started heading for the elevator, but Sebastian''s voice stopped her.


    "Reese, don''t you have anything you want to say to me?"


    She turned, confused. "What am I supposed to say?"


    Sebastian looked at her, worry clouding his eyes. "You saw how Grandpa''s doing. The doctor says he doesn''t have much time left.


    "Finding Matthew gave him some peace, but now he just wants to see us doing well.


    "You''re not working at ckOak right now, so why not move back in? You could rest, get better. When you''re feeling stronger, maybe we could have another child. That would mean a lot to Grandpa."


    Reese let out a coldugh. "Another child? How? IVF?"


    Another child? Did he really just see her as a baby machine?


    "There are other ways."


    Sebastian''s mind shed back to when they first got married. He''de home drunk one night and tried to get close to her. She''d pushed him away, almost in a panic, and even pped him. After he sobered up, he''d seen the fear in her eyes.


    "If you''re notfortable, we could do IVF. It''s your choice."


    Reese gave a bitterugh, wiping away a tear before it could fall. Her voice turned cold.


    "I''m not doing IVF.


    "Sebastian, you have Robbie to carry on the family name. If you want more kids, go have them with someone else."


    Sebastian frowned, irritation clear in


    his voice. "Reese, I thought I''d done everything you wantedtely. Whatever you asked for. Igooit for you. What more do you want?”


    Reese turned away, her posture saying it all. "I don''t want anything else."


    He had gotten her ne back, sure. But he''d ignored Zach''s threats and only


    cared about supporting Leslie, even forcing ckOak to work with Big X.


    She wasn''t giving him any more chances—no more chances to hurt her.


    Sebastian called after her, his words echoing behind her. "If you moye back in Umake our ftionship public. You won''t have to worry about getting investigated again."


    Reese kept walking, swallowing the ache in her chest as she stepped into the elevator.


    With or without Sebastian, she was done with messes like that.


    Sebastian stood there, watching the elevator doors close. His fists clenched tight. He really wanted to fix things between them, but Reese kept shutting him out.


    Frustration burned in his chest. He kicked a stone, the sound sharp against the pavement.


    Finally, he loosened his tie, got in his car, and mmed the door. The ck Bentley''s engine growled as he sped off into the night.


    The next morning was bright and clear, not too hot.


    Reese woke up early and finished her breakfast. She thought about how she''d barely said goodbye to Millie yesterday before rushing off to the stables. Maybe she''d ask Millie out for coffee or something, just to catch up.


    Before she could decide where to go, her phone rang. It was Millie.


    "Reese, something happened. You need to check the trending news-right now!"