Sebastian spotted Reese from across the room. His brow barely furrowed, and he shifted as if he wanted to go to her, but Leslie grabbed his wrist and held him back.


    "n."


    Leslie''s voice cut through as the three of them walked in, her tone already edged with impatience.


    "We literally just signed the partnership this morning, and now this? ckOak needs to give Big X an exnation, don''t you think?"


    n''s face was stone cold. He''d already been annoyed that Leslie used Mr. Sanchez to pressure ckOak into the deal, so now he wasn''t even trying to hide his irritation.


    "This partnership was your idea, Leslie. If you think this is going to be a problem, we can call it off right now."


    Leslie''s face turned red at his response. She nced at Sebastian for support, but he was too busy watching Matthew and Reese.


    Reese didn''t even look at them. With Matthew''s help, she headed straight for the lounge.


    "Reese!" Leslie''s voice rang out, sharp and using. "All this drama started because you leaked information. Don''t you think you owe everyone an exnation?"


    Reese stopped and turned to face her, her eyes still red and her voiceced with


    sarcasm.


    "Even the FBI has cleared me. Are you saying your detective skills are better than theirs?"


    "If you''re going to use me, at least show some proof."


    She nced at Sebastian. "Just because you''ve got Mr. Ratcliff in your corner doesn''t mean you can throw whateverbel you want on me."


    She turned away, not giving them another nce. "If you want answers, go ask Zach. He already admitted he was the one who reported it."


    Leslie was left speechless, her face switching from red to pale as she red at Reese''s back disappearing into the lounge.


    Sebastian just stood there, eyes dark and stormy, his fists clenched tight at his sides.


    Inside the lounge, Matthew helped Reese sit down and poured her a ss of water.


    "That was amazing. You really shut her down."


    Reese took the ss, sipped some water, and stayed quiet.


    Matthew watched her for a second, taking in her tired, beat-down look.


    Remembering how Sebastian had stood with Leslie at the front desk, he let out a coldugh.


    "Sebastian''s unbelievable. His wife''s


    in the middle of a scandal and instead of helping you, he''s siding with Leslie and demanding answers from ckOak."


    Reese traced the rim of her ss, a sh of pain in her eyes. "He was never going to help me."


    "You really think those reporters camped outside my house would show up without his go-ahead?"


    Just thinking about the press crowding her door made Reese even more anxious. "I have to call the police. They need to find out how my address got leaked."


    Matthew nodded after a moment. "I''ll handle it. You just try to get some rest."


    The door suddenly opened and Sebastian walked in, eyesnding on Reese. He looked at Matthew.


    "I need to talk to her alone."


    Matthew nced at Reese. She nodded, so he stood and left.


    "You shouldn''t have gone after Leslie like that. She just wanted an exnation." Reese looked down at the white bandage on her wrist, her heart twisting painfully.


    Back at the stables, Leslie and Neal had humiliated her in front of Mr Sanchez, and Sebastian hadn''t said a word for her. Now, the second she


    finally stood up for herself he


    couldn''t wait to criticize her.


    Sebastian''s eyes lingered on her bandaged wrist before he sighed. "Move back home. If you have another child with me, I''ll take care of everything online."


    "Sebastian, I''m a human being, not your baby machine."


    The anger that had been simmering inside Reese finally boiled over. She remembered the text she''d gotten from George and decided she was done pretending with this man.


    "You got the court notice, right?


    "Sebastian, in one week, I''ll see you in court. This marriage is over."