Sebastian couldn''t tear his eyes away from the charm-the one Reese had given away like it meant nothing. Anger and disappointment crashed over him, sharp and sudden, leaving him breathless.


    He''d always thought that, even if things were messy between them, Reese still cared about how he felt. But now he saw it so clearly. His feelings meant nothing to her. His love was just something she could toss aside.


    Did she treat his grandfather''s love the same way? Was that why, when she found out about the shares he left her, she''d been willing to hurt him? Or maybe she didn''t even know about the inheritance. Maybe she just wanted out of the Ratcliff family so badly that she thought the only way was if grandfather was gone.


    He remembered the look on Reese''s face when his grandfather was rushed into the ICU. It''s a sh of relief, gone in an instant. That memory twisted inside him, feeding his suspicions until he was sure.


    Sebastian''s fists clenched so hard his knuckles went white. The warmth in his eyes was gone, reced by something cold and hard.


    So grandfather never convinced her to stay. Reese had been nning to leave him all along, dreaming of breaking free from him and the Ratcliff family.


    Well, she could keep dreaming!


    Leslie, standing nearby, caught the change in Sebastian''s mood right away. A tiny smile yed at the corner of her mouth. He was angry, and that was all she needed.


    She didn''t really care why. All she had to do was add a little more fuel to the fire.


    She crouched down beside Annie, her face full of concern. "Sweetie, how long was Auntie with you? Are you sure she didn''t leave your room while you were asleep?"


    Annie looked confused but tried to remember. " was sleeping for a while, so I''m not sure. But when I woke up, Auntie was there. Then she told me she was worried about Great-Grandpa, so I told her to go check on him. I even asked her toe back and tell me how he was doing."


    "There! You all heard that, right?" Jane jumped in, pointing at Reese, her voice


    loud and harsh. "That proves it!


    "You went up first, cut the oxygen


    Pret


    line, then pretended nothing happened. You came downstairs, woke Annie up so she''d cover for you, then went back to check if he was dead yet. How could you be so cruel, Reese?"


    Reese felt ice settling in her veins. She turned to Sebastian, her voice shaking. "Is that what you think? Do you really believe I could do something like that?"


    Sebastian didn''t answer. He just stared at her, disappointment and anger written


    all over his face. He didn''t need to say a word; his silence said it all.


    Leslie watched from the sidelines, satisfaction blooming quietly inside her. She''d only nned for Mr. Ratcliff to die, to leave Reese with no one in the family to rely on, So


    never expected things to go perfectly, with every bit of me


    If Reese was found guilty, Sebastian would never forgive her. Then Leslie could


    slip right back into his life and use him to get de''s core data.


    Before she could savor her victory, the ICU doors swung open. A doctor stepped out, looking grim. He pulled off his mask and shook his head.


    "The patient''s condition is critical. His vitals are falling. I''m afraid... there''s not much time left."


    The room went silent. Jane''s legs gave out, and she almost copsed.