When Reese walked into the dining room, the table was already set and the foodid out. Mr. Ratcliff sat at the head, Robbie on his left and Annie on his right, carefully serving food onto their tes.
Down at the other end, Dylon and Rosie sat with Tara. When Reese and the others came in, the three of them traded a quick look. Rosie tried to smile but it came out awkward.
"Reese, so nice to see you."
"Good evening," Reese replied, her voice even, almost cool. Still, she
remembered what Mr. Ratcliff had said earlier and managed.
"Yeah," Rosie said,ughing nervously and ncing at Dylon.
Dylon''s jaw tightened like he was about to snap, but then he caught Mr. Ratcliff''s eye and instantly backed down.
"Come sit, Reese." Mr. Ratcliff''s tone was warm and weing.
Jane had picked up on how much Mr. Ratcliff was looking out for Reese after everything that happened, so she didn''t say anything about her beingte. Instead, she waved everyone over. "Alright, let''s start dinner."
"Okay, Mom." Reese slid into a seat in the middle of the table, right across from Zach. She didn''t look at him, just smiled at Annie, who was beaming back at her, eyes full of excitement.
Robbie''s face darkened for a second before he spoke. "Great-grandpa, can I have some fish?"
"Of course." Mr. Ratcliff used the serving chopsticks to give Robbie a piece. "Everyone, dig in."
Reese picked up her fork, but her phone buzzed. The screen lit up—it was a message from Zach.
[What did you mean earlier, that you didn''t want to marry Sebastian?]
She hit the lock button and ced her phone face-down on the table.
Just then, a perfectly peeled shrimp dropped into her bowl. Reese looked up and met Sebastian''s deep gaze. He wiped his hands with a napkin, his tone casual. "Who messaged you?"
"Spam," Reese said, dropping her gaze as she fished the shrimp out of her bowl.
She never liked seafood; the taste was always too off. Sebastian, after all this time, had never noticed.
Tara nced over, surprised that Sebastian, who used to be so cold and distant most of the time, had actually peeled shrimp for Reese A flicker of envy crossed her face She
turned to Zach. "Zach, can you get some shrimp for me?"
Her voice was soft, but Zach didn''t even hear her. His eyes were glued to Reese, his brows drawn together.
Tara''s smile slipped. She gripped her fork so tight her knuckles turned white.
A staff member, sensing the tension, hurried over and put several peeled shrimp on Tara''s te.
After dinner, the men disappeared into the study for drinks. Jane took Rosie to the conservatory to show her the new flowers she''d been growing.
That left the backyard to Reese, Tara, and the kids who were chasing butterflies across the grass.
"Reese," Tara finally broke the
silence, her tone a little too sweet, "it''s my first time at the Ratcliff estate. Will you show me around? heard there''s a little garden in the back."
"I''m busy," Reese answered without looking up.
Tara''s smile froze, but she sat down next to Reese and lowered her voice. "You''re
still mad about what happened, aren''t you?"
"Honestly, we didn''t have a choice.
Things got out of control. If Dad hadn''t cut ties with you right away,
people ontine would have found out about us. His newpany would have been done for."
Reese raised an eyebrow, her expression almost amused. Wasn''t it their mess that started all this? Now they were acting like she was the one dragging them down.
She didn''t bother arguing. She stood up to leave, but suddenly, a loud wail rang out behind her.
Reese''s heart dropped. She turned around.
Annie was on the ground, small body trembling with sobs. Blood was trickling from her temple, running down her cheek and soaking her cor.
The swing behind her was still moving. Robbie stood next to it, fists clenched, his face twisted with anger as he stared at Annie.
Reese rushed forward, but right then her phone chimed with a new message.
It was from an unknown number.
[Reese, it''s Hank. When can we meet?]