Sebastian watched as her eyes widened, a hint of surprise lighting up her face. He couldn''t help the soft smile that yed at his lips. For the first time that night, she looked truly alive. It reminded him of the early days of their marriage, back when she''d sometimes let her guard down and show that shy, yful side.


    If only he''d figured out his feelings sooner. Maybe he could have kept that spark in her alive.


    His thoughts drifted back to his meeting with Hank earlier that afternoon. They were supposed to be talking business, but Hank kept bringing up Reese, acting like she was barely family, like he wanted to make sure everyone knew she didn''t matter. The memory made Sebastian clench his jaw.


    If the Meyer family didn''t want Reese, if they wouldn''t protect her, then he would. As long as he was around, nobody was ever going to hurt her again.


    Noticing Reese licking her lips, Sebastian guessed she was probably thirsty. "I''ll go grab you something to drink," he said, his voice gentle.


    He reached out and ruffled her hair with a tenderness he didn''t bother to hide, then turned and made his way downstairs to the convenience store. On his way through the lounge, he spotted a linen cushion, dusted it off, and grabbed it for her. Just thinking about her sitting morefortably made his steps lighter. Reese''s eyes lingered on his retreating figure, her expression unreadable. It''s caught somewhere between conflicted and resigned.


    Everything Sebastian had done tonight was so careful, so deliberate, like he was trying to win her back. She didn''t doubt that he was sincere right now.


    But she hadn''t forgotten the pain he''d caused her before. Those memories didn''t just disappear.


    And then there was Leslie, always between them, a shadow she couldn''t ignore. For all she knew, Sebastian could hurt her again for Leslie''s sake.


    Whatever. Once Mr. Ratcliff passed away, she''d file for divorce again. Until then, he could y the good husband all he wanted, as long as he didn''t mess up her life any more than he already had.


    Her phone started buzzing. Reese nced at the caller ID, hesitated for a second, then picked up.


    Hank''s voice came through, blunt as ever. "Reese, have you thought about what I said earlier?"


    Reese frowned. She knew exactly what he was talking about—he wanted her to defend Sofia in front of Sebastian.


    "There''s nothing to think about. I don''t owe Sofia anything. Do whatever you want," she said, then hung up.


    Hank stared at his phone, teeth gritted. "Fine, Reese. If you don''t listen to me, you won''t like what happens next."


    He thought about his conversation with Sebastian earlier. Sebastian had barely reacted when Reese''s name? came up, like he didn''t care about her or her connection to the Meyer family.


    Smirking, Hank picked up Reese''s medical file from his desk. He snapped a picture of the abortion record and sent it off.


    Sebastian was justing back with a hot drink when his phone chimed. He nced at the screen, opened the message, and instantly went still. His breath caught.


    He tapped on the image. The medical record was clear as day: "Elective termination of pregnancy." The date. Her signature. Every word stabbed at him.


    He just stood there, gripping his phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.


    All that warmth he''d felt earlier-the


    hope, the careful ns, the softness


    in his chest vanished in a


    heartbeat All that was left was tbeat


    storm of confusion, disbelief and


    anger.


    He looked up and saw Reese by the telescope, her face gentle in the low light, a


    small smile on her lips.


    But to Sebastian, all of it felt like a cruel joke.


    He''d cleared his whole schedule, nned every detail of tonight, humbled himself and promised he''d protect her. He thought, maybe just maybe he could save their marriage. He''d believed she still cared,even just a little.


    But the truth was, he''d been lying to himself all along.


    She hadn''t just ended their child''s life. She''d hidden it from him, watching him y the fool with his grand gestures and empty hope.


    His phone screen still glowed in his hand, the medical file burning into his mind.


    Standing in the shadows, Sebastian stared at the woman who had once filled him with hope but now left him numb. Thest bit of warmth left his eyes.


    Reese looked into the telescope, catching the bright streaks of a meteor shower cutting through the night sky. The colors were so dazzling they brought a sting to her eyes.


    It was so beautiful she wanted to call Sebastian over to see it with her. She turned instinctively, but stopped when she saw him standing in the darkness, his face unreadable.