Mr. Ratcliff let out a grunt and shot Sebastian a look, making it clear he expected him to handle his own son.
Sebastian''s expression hardened. His voice was low and serious. "Robbie. Apologize."
Robbie shrank back, burying himself deeper in Jane''s arms, clearly refusing.
Jane wrapped her arms around him protectively. "Sebastian, just let it go."
Reese nced over, watching as the housekeeper finished bandaging up Annie''s scraped knee. Her expression turned cold. Her voice was sharper than usual. "Robbie''s six. He knows right from wrong. He hurt someone. He should apologize."
Robbie stared at Reese,pletely stunned. His mom had always been on his side-why was she backing someone else now?
He didn''t get it. Annie had taken his swing. He''d only pushed her away. How was this his fault?
Dylon knew Annie was Matthew''s daughter and noticed how protective Reese was of her. He realized how important Reese would be for patching things up between the Ramos and Ratcliff families. He chimed in, "Robbie, you were out of line."
Robbie''s eyes got even wider, staring at his great-uncle. The one person who always thought he was right was calling him out, too. The world had turned upside down. It was all Mom''s fault. If she hadn''t taken Annie''s side, no one else would me him.
"Robbie, apologize to Annie." Reese stepped forward, gently but firmly guiding Robbie toward Annie.
If he didn''t learn this lesson now, if he kept thinking it was okay tosh out over little things, who knew what kind of trouble he''d stir up in the future?
"I won''t! She stole my swing! I didn''t do anything wrong, so why do I have to say sorry?" Robbie pulled away from Jane, backing up to the swing set, ring at Reese with pure resentment.
"You''re all so mean! You only care about that stupid girl. Especially you! How could I even have a mom like you?" The anger he''d been holding in finally burst out as Reese came closer.
Then, suddenly, Robbie grabbed the swing with both hands and hurled it at Reese with all the strength he had.
A loud crash split the air.
Everything happened in a blur. The swing, heavy and wooden, snapped off its rope and flew straight at Reese.
She barely had time to react. The wind from the swinging seat whipped past her face. She could see the chipped paint on the wooding right at her.
"Ma''am!"
"Reese!"
"Watch out!"
Reese instinctively threw her arms up and squeezed her eyes shut.
The next second, a tall figure leapt in front of her, knocking her out of the way.
Reese hit the ground hard, pain
jolting through her side. She barely noticed before she heard a heavy
thug
Matthews muffledgrunte
pain.
A chorus of gasps broke out from everyone around.
Reese pushed herself up on the grass, her heart pounding.
Matthew was crouched beside her, his face twisted with pain. He clutched his lower back blood
already seeping between his fingers: and staining his shirt.
"Are you okay?" Reese reached out to steady him, and only then did she notice
her own wrist was scraped, blood bubbling to the surface.
But Matthew didn''t even care about his own injury. He gently took her wrist, checking her wound. His voice was soft but worried. "I''m sony should''ve protected you better."
His hand was warm and steady. For a second, Reese forgot to breathe.
No one had ever shielded her so selflessly since her mom passed away.
Sebastian had been right there, ready to jump in the moment Robbie grabbed the swing, but Matthew had gotten to her first.
Now Sebastian just stood there, jaw clenched tight, eyes dark, watching Matthew holding Reese''s hand, the two of them close together.
Matthew''s gaze was full of concern as he studied the blood on Reese''s wrist. Reese''s ears turned pink.
Sebastian''s whole body was tense, his emotions impossible to read.
Meanwhile, Robbie caught sight of the blood on Matthew''s back and suddenly panicked. He stumbled backward, then took off running from the yard.
"Robbie!" Jane called after him, her voice tight with worry. She quickly told the staff to follow, afraid he''d get into even more trouble.