Leslie''s eyes widened. "Sebastian, are you... in love with her?"


    The thought hit her hard, leaving a dull ache in her chest that she couldn''t even describe. It made sense now. Sebastian had promised they''d try IVF with Reese one more time, let Leslie carry his child. But nothing had happened, and he''d never brought it up again.


    Was it because he''d fallen for Reese?


    Sebastian''s hands tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. His


    heart skipped a beat, but he forced himself to shake his head.


    "No. I married her. I have to take care of her. Don''t read too much into it."


    But as soon as he said it, his heart pounded even harder.


    Leslie fell silent, her fingers curling into her palms so tightly that she didn''t feel her nails digging in.


    The ck Bentley rolled to a stop in front of the house. Sebastian got out, opened Leslie''s door, and asked the housekeeper to set up a guest room for her.


    He watched Leslie disappear inside, then checked his watch. "I''ve got to go. Get some rest."


    Leslie hesitated in the doorway, looking back at him in surprise. "You''re not staying tonight?"


    Sebastian shook his head. "I''m staying at the old house for now. My grandfather needs me around."


    And honestly, it was still early-he wanted to get to the hospital, see if Reese was still there.


    As his car pulled away and melted into the night, the softness faded from Leslie''s face, reced by a sharp, bitter frustration.


    Sebastian had barely paid attention to hertely, except for work. The distance made her anxious. Tonight, she''d even let that creep follow her, just so Sebastian would worry and let her stay here. She''d pulled it off; she was in his house. But even now, he kept his distance.


    He said he only felt responsible for Reese. Leslie didn''t believe a word of it. Sebastian''s heart was already gone, probably swept away by Reese before he even noticed.


    Now he''d left her again, refusing to stay. What was the point of all the games she yed tonight?


    She didn''t want a baby-she wanted him to care about her.


    She bit her lip hard, anger simmering inside.


    Reese, don''t me me for being ruthless. It''s Sebastian''s fault for falling for you.


    Sebastian sped to the hospital, only


    to find Reese and Matthew were already gone. He drove straight to Reese''s ce city lights shing past as he reyed Leslie''s words in his mind.


    He didn''t want to divorce Reese. Seeing her with Matthew made his skin crawl. When she got hurt, his first instinct was always to protect her.


    Was it just responsibility? Or was it love?


    He mmed the brakes and pulled over, heart racing, body rigid.


    So this was love. He was in love with Reese and he hadn''t seen it until now.


    He started the car again, desperate to see her, to check on her, to finally tell her how he felt.


    But the closer he got, the slower he drove. Just an hour ago, he''d left Reese alone at the hospital for Leslie''s sake.


    He''d paraded Sofia in front of Reese, just to show how unhappy he was in their marriage.


    He''d kept the truth about nting Leslie''s baby inside her, all because he felt he owed Leslie.


    Did he even deserve another chance?


    He pulled over again, hands shaking as he lit a cigarette. Smoke curled around him as he exhaled clinging to the one thing he could still hope for-at least Reese didn''t know the child wasn''t hers. Maybe it wasn''t toote.


    sto


    The Vault''s main hall throbbed with pounding electronic music. The air was heavy


    with alcohol and perfume, but none of it touched the tension in Sebastian''s corner booth.


    He sat there, a cigarette dangling


    between his fingers, eyes distant as he watched the crowd move with the music. The mood around him was so heavy that the waiters instinctively kept their voices dow and hurried past.


    Neal finally spotted him tucked away in the corner and walked over, surprise shing across his face.


    "You hate noisy ces. Why are you out here in the middle of everything?"


    Sebastian didn''t look up. "Where''s the person you were supposed to pick up?"


    He was too wound up. Silence would have driven him crazy tonight. Only the noise and chaos out here could take the edge off, even a little.


    Neal''s smile vanished. He clenched his jaw. "Dead."