"What''s going on?"
Reese sounded a little confused.
Sebastian looked up at her. There was a soft, almost fragile smile on her lips-so pure it made his chest clench, like he was being crushed from the inside.
He wanted to ask her why she''d kept it from him, why she''d gone behind his back and ended the pregnancy. Did she really think their whole marriage was a mistake from the start? The question was right there, burning on his tongue, but before he could say anything, his phone started ringing, loud and urgent.
Sebastian took a deep breath, forced down everything he was feeling, and picked up.
Jane''s voice burst through the line, frantic. "Sebastian, where are you? Your grandfather just got a call and suddenly couldn''t breathe. We''re already at the hospital. Please, get here now!"
"I''ming," he said, and hung up.
He turned to Reese, his eyes cold. “Grandpa''s in the hospital. I have to go."
Panic flickered across Reese''s face. Did Hank go straight to Grandpa about the pregnancy?
"I''lle with you," she offered.
"No." Sebastian shook his head.
His mind was a mess, and having Reese there would only make things worse.
"I''ll have the driver take you home."
When Sebastian got to the ER, Jane was sitting on a bench, eyes red and swollen. As soon as she saw him, she jumped up and grabbed his arm.
“Sebastian, Grandpa''s still inside. The doctor says... it''s not looking good."
He squeezed her hand. "It''s okay, Mom. I''m here."
"Do you know who called him?" he asked gently.
Jane thought for a second. "It must have been his assistant."
"He got a call earlier. I don''t know what was said, but he got really angry. Then he told his assistant to check on something. When they called back, he got even more upset. That''s when he started having trouble breathing.”
Sebastian felt his stomach drop. Maybe Hank hadn''t just told him about Reese, maybe he''d told Grandpa, too. Maybe Grandpa found out what Reese did and it was just too much.
He tried to calm Jane, steadying her
as best he could, but his own thoughts were racing He needed
minute alone, maybe a cigarette, just to figure out what to do next. He needed to shield Reese from
Grandpa''s anger when he woke up.
Cóntent
He headed toward the stairwell, hoping for a breather, when he saw someone he recognized.
Leslie was there, holding a bag of medicine, her face full of worry.
Sebastian frowned. "Are you sick?"
His voice was t and distant, all his emotions buried under the weight of everything else.
Leslie stepped closer, her tone soft. "Yeah, my stomach''s been acting up. I was getting my prescription when I heard a nurse say Mr. Ratcliff was admitted, so I came over to check on you."
She looked up at him, searching his face for even a hint of the old care he used to show her.
But Sebastian just shook his head. "If you''re not feeling well, you should go home and rest."
"My grandfather has me, and the doctors. You don''t need to worry."
Before Leslie could say anything more, a nurse rushed over, looking serious, and handed them a clipboard. "Are you Mr. Ratcliff''s family?"
"Your grandfather doesn''t have much time left. Maybe three days, at most. If you have anything to say, you should say it soon."
Jane''s knees nearly buckled. She clung to Sebastian''s sleeve, sobbing. "What are we going to do? What now?"
Sebastian just stared at the critical condition notice, stunned, memories crashing through his head-Grandpa teaching him to ride a bike, bike, holding his hand, guiding him through every stage of life, always there, always steady.
But underneath all that was a darker truth. Sebastian knew better than anyone that the only reason he and Reese were still married was because Grandpa had begged her.
If Grandpa was really dying... what would happen to him and Reese?
The thought hit Sebastian like a punch to the gut. He squeezed his eyes shut, his brow furrowed tight, as dread and uncertainty closed in around him.