Zach''s eyesnded on Reese''s chin and wrists, where harsh red marks stood out. He''d left those marks himself just minutes ago.


    The memory of his usations hit him all at once, guilt squeezing his chest so tight he could barely breathe. He thought of how Reese had looked at himtely, her eyes always guarded, always hurt. The regret was overwhelming.


    "Not that kind of person, huh?" Her voice was rough, almost mocking. "You kept asking me, remember? Why I always said I didn''t choose to marry Sebastian?"


    Zach''s head snapped up. He stared at her, his breath suddenly shaky. This was the thing that had haunted him for years. They''d been so happy once. She''d even been getting ready to move overseas for him. Then, out of nowhere, she dumped him and married Sebastian. He never understood why.


    Reese took a slow breath, like she was talking about someone else''s life. "At that time, someone drugged Sebastian. He... forced himself on me."


    Zach''s expression darkened. Tara had told him about this. He''d always believed Reese was the one who did it, just so she could marry into the Ratcliff family.


    "But it wasn''t me," Reese said, herugh small and bitter. Everyone thought she''d done it, but she''d been the one hurt most of all.


    "After that, I found out I was pregnant with Robbie. Sebastian''s grandfather came to me and said if I married Sebastian, they''d give me two million dors."


    She looked up, meeting Zach''s stunned gaze. "Do you know who really drugged Sebastian? Sebastian thinks it was Dylon."


    "No way," Zach blurted out, shaking his head. "He''s your uncle. He raised you."


    Reese watched him, saw how hard he was fighting to deny it. Her heart twisted painfully.


    She suddenly felt foolish for even trying to exin herself to Zach, for hoping he''d ever believe her.


    She gave a soft, bitter snort, her eyes turning empty. "You know, Zach, you never disappoint when ites to letting me down.


    "I really feel sorry for the girl I used to be. She put her heart on the line for someone who never deserved it."


    She gave him onest look, her eyes full of a pain and finality Zach would never understand.


    "I''m not telling you this for pity," she said quietly. "I just want you to know-I never owed you anything.


    "From now on, we''re done. We go our separate ways, no more crossing paths.


    "If we can, let''s just pretend we were never in each other''s lives."


    Then, Reese walked into her apartment and didn''t look back.


    Zach tried to follow, but all he heard was the sharp m of her door.


    He just stood there, frozen, all the strength gone from his body. He leaned against


    the cold wall, barely able to keep himself upright.


    Reese''s words reyed in his mind, every sentence hitting him like a punch, leaving him dizzy and hollow.


    The truth was, deep down, he knew she was probably right.


    When he''d firste back, he''d asked someone to look into Reese''s life over the years. But before he even saw the report tara had destroyed it.


    Later, when he found out Reese hadn''t chosen to marry Sebastian, his doubts crept in again. He''d


    secretly asked someone to


    vestigate what happened.


    He''d even tracked the drugging back to a waiter, and found hints that Dylon''s


    hand was behind the car ident after.


    But by then, Tara was pregnant with


    his child. He just couldn''t believe


    Psomething like that,


    Dylon would do


    so he forced himself to forget and let it all go.