Keeping up a polite front long enough to see Mr. Ratcliff through his final days was all Reese had left to give.
Mr. Ratcliff patted Reese''s hand, gentle as ever. "I know you don''t want anything to do with the Dylon family, but they''re still family. Sometimes it''s better to just clear the air."
Reese lowered her eyes. "Grandpa, if they want to cut me off, then let''s just leave it at that. There''s no point pretending."
She refused to let the Dylons cling to her anymore, draining the Ratcliff family for their own gain.
Of course, Mr. Ratcliff understood what she meant. He let out a sigh. "Reese, you''re in charge of Ramos Corporation now. If you cut ties with the Dylonspletely, what will people say? You know how outsiders talk.
"I know you don''t want to see them, but for now, just do what''s necessary on the surface. That''s all I''m asking.
"I think after everything that''s happened, they''ve learned their lesson. Even if they want toe after you again, they''ll think twice."
Reese knew her grandfather was just looking out for her.
She looked at the old man-someone who once saw her as nothing more than a way to continue the family line, but who now protected her with everything he had. Her feelings were a tangled mess.
"Grandpa."
Sebastian walked into the courtyard. He saw Reese sitting quietly by Mr. Ratcliff''s side, looking so serene, and couldn''t help but smile a little.
He hadn''t seen her like this in a long time.
Mr. Ratcliff raised his eyebrows. "Did Matte? Did he bring his daughter?"
"Yeah, they''re in the front yard."
Hearing that, Mr. Ratcliff brightened and got up from his chair. "I''ll go see that girl. You two talk things through, alright?"
He gave Sebastian a look. "Don''t mess this up.”
"I know, Grandpa."
Sebastian helped Mr. Ratcliff over to the housekeeper, then sat down next to Reese. He pulled a jewelry box from his pocket and held it out to her.
"Do you like it?"
Reese didn''t take it. She just looked up at him.
All these years married, and Sebastian had never given her a single gift. She had no idea what he was after now.
Sebastian figured she was still mad about what happened before. He set the box on the side table and said softly, “About before... I nevedreally nned to leave you hanging."
"I just wanted you toe back home."
"If you don''t want more kids, then we won''t have more. Robbie is enough."
He''d already started looking for a surrogate overseas who could match Leslie''s blood type and physical condition.
It didn''t have to be Reese.
What he didn''t say was that when he heard from Grandpa that Reese had dropped thewsuit, he''d actually felt relieved.
"Grandpa''s not doing well. Mom''s taking care of him by herself, plus looking after Robbie. It''s too much if you move back home, we bring Robbieback too. The three of us can finally be a real family. Isn''t that what we wanted?"
For once, Sebastian put his pride aside and waited for her answer.
But Reese only found it ironic. For years, she''d begged Sebastian to let Robbiee home, and he''d always refused.
Now she didn''t want either Robbie or Sebastian anymore, and suddenly he wanted to be a family.
“Sebastian, let''s just stay like this.
"You know I never wanted to marry you in the first ce. Living on my own is actually pretty nice."
The calm way Reese said this sent a kind of panic through Sebastian he''d never felt before.
"Ree..."
"Sir, ma''am, dinner''s ready."
A housekeeper came down the corridor. When she passed a little side path she stopped and looked toward the bushes. Mr. Wiles, what are you doing out here?"
Reese and Sebastian turned at the same time. Zach was standing in the
shadows, a cigarette glowing between his fingers.
When he saw everyone looking at him, he stubbed out the cigarette, his face
unreadable. "Just came out for a smoke. Didn''t expect to get lost."
No one knew how long he''d been there or how much he''d overheard.
Reese wasn''t surprised to see Zach had shown up. She got to her feet, unbothered. "Come on. Let''s not keep Grandpa waiting."